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While I wasn’t currently hearing the call, I didn’t want to risk surfacing in front of a predator. Who knew what types of predators could be lurking, of both the wild creature and Ancient variety?
I also wasn’t too keen on talking with Lokene or Bion right then, and I wasn’t sure how far I’d blinked from our tiny cave shelter. For all I knew, they were sitting on the bank waiting for me to surface. I wondered if they had a way of tracking me. They were Ancients, after all.
Then again, I’d blocked both of them from my mind, which shouldn’t have been possible. Perhaps that would keep the Ancients from being able to track me as well. Exactly how ‘all knowing’ were the Ancients?
Without making a sound, my head broke the surface of the water just enough so that my eyes were above the water and I could take in my surroundings.
It was still dark out, but the sky on both sides of the horizon was growing lighter. It wouldn’t be long before Iolatara’s twin suns rose. Glancing around, I tried to figure out where I was and how far I’d teleported.
Even more importantly, how far was I from my prey?
It turned out I’d landed in their backyard. Well, I was in someone’s backyard. I just needed to figure out who it belonged to.
I sensed no presences, and no unwelcome thoughts bombarded my mind. Yet looking around, I could see signs of life. Someone had been here recently.
Several small wooden buildings surrounded a large firepit, and a path had been trampled through the tall purple grass down to the shoreline. Upon closer inspection, I could see tiny wisps of smoke coming from the fire pit. They’d been here recently, and with any luck, they’d come back.
As much as it grated on my nerves, I needed to wait.
Who knew? Perhaps I’d get lucky, and they would come down to the water on their own.
With that thought in mind, I slid beneath the water and moved away from the trampled shoreline. I made my way over to an untouched patch of grass where I could stay well-hidden if someone came this way.
I could always sink below the surface for a quick escape, but unless they were flying overhead, I would be difficult to spot in my hiding place among the water and thick grass.
I just needed to be patient, like a lioness stalking her prey on the plains of Africa and waiting for that perfect moment to strike.
* * *
It was justpast noon when the suns had crossed paths that the sound of voices drifted through the clearing. My muscles were fatigued from remaining motionless for so long, but I dared not move now.
The call pounded in my skull before the new arrivals had even stepped into view. These people were tainted.
My heart raced. I’d found who I was looking for.
But were these the leaders or just more tainted Ancients? I didn’t know, so fighting the urge to answer the call, I settled in to watch and listen. If I was lucky, these Ancients would spill some helpful information.
A tall blonde woman and two brown-haired men strode into view, laughing and talking. The woman’s hands touched both men in a way that left little doubt that these men were her sexual partners or her mates.
I analyzed every interaction between the three Ancients, searching for signs of which of the three were in charge. They would all need to die, but if I wanted to defeat the Lure, I needed to go to the source.
The woman spoke first. “Nick, have you heard from the assassins?”
Nick, who was apparently the more muscular of the two men, answered. “No. I haven’t heard from them. I can’t even sense anything from them.”
The woman fidgeted with the end of her long braid. “They should have returned by now.”
Nick rubbed his chin. “I agree, Lexi.”
The woman, Lexi, gave a strained laugh. “Well, they couldn’t have been killed. There is no way the ever-pure Bion and Lokene would dare to take the life of another Ancient. They’d never risk becoming corrupted. The little half-blood wouldn’t have the power necessary to kill an Ancient.”
Both men chuckled.
The second man spoke up for the first time. “Although she has some impressive skills for a mutt. I heard about the damage she caused yesterday. It’s going to cost a small fortune to fix the floor of the meeting building, since only the original Ancient artisans are allowed to work on it.”
Nick shook his head. “They should just use their magik to repair it. Less time, less work, and less money. Although maybe there is something to be said about handcrafted work.”
Lexi coughed, looking at the second man. “Raq, when will the others arrive?”
