Authors: Sarah Brocious
"I could stop by his house," Jonathan offered. "I don't believe anyone other than you guys and Michael and Nolan know about my involvement. Grandpa knows about this but he won't say anything to dad. If my dad's not there then the servants will be there maybe I can fish in their brains a little and get some answers. There is a mortal there, Madeline, who I have always had favor with. My Dad holds her in high esteem. This could work,” he said with relief.Good idea, Arabella!" He gave her one of his killer smiles.
Thanatos frowned at this. He wasn't frowning at Jonathan's suggestion. He was frowning at the smile. "You do that," he agreed.
The rest of the meeting consisted of them mapping out when Jonathan would be going to Richards. They went over the questions he'd ask if it happened that Richard actually was there.
Mind reading, when it came to Richard, would be near to impossible. Jonathan had tried all his life but Richard had a gift at blocking. But he could definitely search the minds of the other immortal servants.
Thanatos checked his phone several times during the discussion. And before the meeting was up it did ring. But it was just Nolan checking up on the progress of their meeting. Thanatos excused himself and went out on the back porch. Turk swiftly got up from his spot on the rug and followed him. He felt a tug in his chest for the sad animal. He really was lost without his mistress!
"I spoke with Elenora last night again," Nolan sighed into the phone. "I feel like she was meaning to tell me something that never quite got around to it. All she would tell me about Raina was she was still alive. That was a great comfort," he growled sarcastically.
Thanatos growled himself. "She still hasn't called me."
Nolan actually chuckled but it wasn't a very heartfelt chuckle. "She knows you. She's hiding something from me. She knows you could get her to tell you whatever it is straightaway. I wouldn't expect a call. At least not until she's been given leave to give you information."
Thanatos snorted. He knew his friend was right. It didn't make it any less frustrating.
"So did you all come up with any ideas?"
Thanatos quickly relayed Arabella's idea.
"That's a terrific idea," Nolan said with surprise. "I thought you said she was just a quiet little thing."
Thanatos grinned. "Well now I just found out what her gift is. She observes and she deduces the situation. Sure came in handy tonight when we were pretty much idea less."
"You should go with Jonathan," Nolan insisted.
"Yeah because Richard isn't going to see right through that," Thanatos answered sarcastically. He swore he could hear Nolan rolling his eyes.
"Richard won't be there," Nolan said with conviction. "Jonathan going and fishing around the servants heads, that's a good idea. You should go because Richard is going to get sick of Elenora hanging around. He always does and you know this. There's a chance that you might catch her there. If you can, then we're ahead of the game."
Thanatos shook his head. "I swear everyone is stealing ideas from my head. Ideas I didn't know I had. I feel like I've gone dumb. I'm not bringing anything to the table. Should just take me out to pasture." He laughed at his own joke sadly.
"We're all a little fuzzy, Thanatos. I only just came up with the idea because of Arabella's idea. I've felt pretty useless too."
"At least you had contact with Elenora to try to do something. I've been sitting here with my thumb up my you know where."
Nolan chuckled. "Believe me, I haven't had any information given to me by her. She's using all of this as an excuse to talk to me... I'm thinking. I can't not answer the phone, and she knows this. She's just a sad lonely evil little thing."
"Can't seem to remember anymore what I ever saw in her," Thanatos sighed. "Raina asked me once. I told her it was because Elenora was like Raina. I think I believed at that time. But she's nothing like Raina is she? Never has been."
Nolan cleared his throat. "No, no she's nothing like my Aelan. The she-devils been trying to act all sweet over the phone…like I’m going to fall for her little act. She told me how she and Raina were bonding. It made me nauseous." He drew in a deep breath. "I don't want her anywhere near her. But I can't stop it from happening. The only thing I can do right now is just play along and hope that Eleanora’s feelings for me work to my advantage for Raina. She tells me she's made her more comfortable and I'm thankful for that. But I don't want her to just be more comfortable. I want her out of there, Thanatos. I want my Raina home. You know I'm going to do anything no matter the cost. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that but I thought I should say it anyway." His voice had a panicked edge to it.
"We'll get her home my friend. I just don't want you to do anything stupid. You know if you were to get hurt… or worse yet killed, she'd never be able to forgive herself."
Nolan groaned. "I know. I know."
"So let's just stay smart about this okay? We are all working together. As long as we stay together we are stronger. We don't need you going all rogue on us.”
"I can't promise that I won’t," Nolan said softly. "I'm just not myself."
Thanatos folded his arms against the cold air that blew by. He looked up to the heavens as if in answer would appear. "You think I'm not going crazy? I'm her Protector, Nolan. Her invisibility in my life right now goes against everything in my nature. You should know! You didn't get to experience it in the way I'm experiencing it but you know what it feels like when everything you are is centered around one person. I know that you love her with every fiber of your being and you guys have this crazy connection.”
“It’s driving me crazy,” Nolan growled in response.
“Still, you need to control what's going on around you Nolan. For her sake you need to be calm and you have to take this day by day. Believe me, patience is not my strong suit either but we have to deal with the hand we've been dealt."
Nolan was silent on the other end. He was at war with himself. He heard the wisdom in Thanatos words, but he didn't want to accept.
"Talk to Michael. When you feel like you're about to explode or about to do something stupid! Go talk to him. He has your back, Nolan.”
“I know!” Nolan’s voice snapped.
“Just remember this, if you do something stupid in a moment of weakness; It's Raina who will pay the price. Sure they need her but it's really you that they are wanting. I know they figured out that she's some sort of catalysts for you but even without Raina you have something they want. Remember that. Right now she's valuable to them but you do one crazy thing and she's disposable. They don't care about mortal as you and I do…that is…as I have come to. It's all selfishness and greed when it comes to Richard."
"You're right," Nolan said in defeat. "I'll be good. For now," he promised.
A wave of relief swept over Thanatos. He closed his eyes and contemplated saying a prayer of thankfulness. He may actually have done it if he had thought God would actually be listening to him.
"But back to the plan," Nolan spoke up. "You go with Jonathan and hopefully I'm right. Even if you can't get something from her she may let her guard down enough to let Jonathan hear what’s going on in that crazy little head of hers."
"Sure thing," Thanatos agreed. "We were just making plans. I'll let everyone else know."
"Thanks," Nolan breathed into the phone. "Take care, my friend."
Nolan hit end on the call and then turned toward the other occupant in the room. He and Michael had been occupying this room (the sound proof room) often the last three days. Any time they called for an update.
"You have that look in your eyes," Michael said warily. "Everything's okay right?"
"Sure. Thanatos was just updating me. You heard, don't act like you didn't."
Michael grinned. "Yes, I heard, but I was just wondering if you were listening. You didn't seem to like what Thanatos said there at the end. But you do know he's right."
Nolan crossed his arms. "If an opportunity comes up and I have a chance to go on my own and bring her back… I'm going to take that opportunity. I'm not going to call a team meeting and discuss what I should do. I'm just saying." He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm the reason she is where she is and I should be the one putting myself in danger not all of you."
"Stop being stupid," Michael growled. "We're not just talking about the situation that you're in with Raina. We’re talking about the future, when something like this comes up again. We are going to deal with it now, so we don't have to deal with it again down the road. This affects every one of us. I don't know Raina personally but you, Thanatos, and all of her friends seem to think that she's something worth protecting. So I'll put myself at risk and I don't need you to tell me to stay out of it because this particular situation doesn't involve me. She's important to you so that makes her important to me. I sort of thought we were friends."
"We are," Nolan sighed.
"Well, friends help friends when their significant others get kidnapped," he attempted a joke.
"Not funny," Nolan growled. He ran a hand through his dark hair and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Let's hit the gym. You need to get rid of some of this stress."
"I don't want to go to the gym."
"No, you want to stew, and worry, and pull your hair out. I'm not going to let you do that. We are going to go and you are going to allow this distraction. Besides you need to keep your strength up. You don't know what you're going to have to face."
His words made sense so Nolan followed Michael out of the room. They silently walked down the hallway and as they turned the corner at the end, Nolan felt a chill go down his spine. They ran right into Emmanuel.
Nolan felt the muscles tighten, and his jaw clenched against a torrent of words. It took his full control to keep from losing it. He was not the mood tonight and with his emotions raw as they were he didn't know if he could control himself.
"Good evening, gentlemen," Emmanuel greeted. His eyes were cool belying the warmth he tried to put into his voice. "What are the two of you up to?" He looked to Michael and then his eyes began to drift to Nolan.
"Heading to the gym," Michael answered quickly trying to catch his attention. He didn't want Nolan's expression giving anything away.
Emmanuel gave a nod. "Do you mind if I join you?"
Nolan minded very much but he didn't say anything.
"We all should spend more time outside of training, don't you think? I'm sure there's much to be learned about each other in a personal sense." This time he looked pointedly at Nolan. "I'd very much like to learn more about the two of you."
Nolan cleared his throat. “I change my mind about the gym. I think I'm going to go for a run." He passed without another glance not allowing Emmanuel to ask to join him. He couldn't stand to be near that thing. His skin literally crawled. Nolan found himself shaking his head just to clear the anger that was rolling over him in waves. How dare he dare to act like nothing was going on! Like he wasn’t imprisoning the woman he loved. He knew he had to keep his cool though. It would be dangerous to threaten one of Our Sovereignty.
He turned his mind instead to the track behind the massive house. There was a full tennis court, and outside Olympic size pool, and the running track that surrounded the pool and court. Nolan had taken solace there many times these past weeks. He'd go run it now to regain his composure.
He climbed the stairs to his room and, once inside, close the door behind him. He glanced down at his phone continually wishing that there would be some word of Raina. He frowned when there was no missed calls, no missed text. He tossed the thing on top of his comforter in frustration.
Would they ever find her? Would he ever be near her again? Would he get to hear her voice, or touch her, would he feel that stirring inside of him just at her appearance? He felt almost a panic when he knew he did not have the answers to these questions.
He ripped the shirt from his back and threw it into a corner. He kicked off his shoes and quickly undressed. He felt his muscles bunch and the tension in his neck was almost unbearable. The altercation had taken more out of him that he had realized and it'd only been a few seconds. A run would loosen him up.
He stretched his arms over his head moving toward the dresser. His heart skittered a bit around in his chest when he saw her picture. It was the picture he had taken down by the river. It was one of his most cherished possessions. Again a wave of mourning came over him. He felt tears well up in his eyes. Suddenly he froze. He gently set her picture down and his spine stiffened. He felt the chill run through him similar to the chill that had besieged him in the hallway. But this time it wasn't Emmanuel.
"Hmmmm, yummy."
His jaw clenched and a growl rumbled in his chest. He felt exposed and vulnerable in his state of undress. He was just thankful he had been completely stripped down. Still, boxer briefs were not enough.
"What a work of art you are. You put the David to shame." A feminine laugh rose up in her throat. "Does that sound cliché?"
Nolan did not want to turn to face the she devil. "What are you doing in my room?"
"Waiting for you, silly," she crooned. "Worth the wait by the way." Her eyes traveled the glorious sight before her. "So very worth it." She walked closer to him, licking her bottom lip, and then biting it. She didn't dare reach out and touch him like she was so tempted to do.