Chapter 12
TWELVE
SLOAN
Sloan sat alone, watching the sunrise over the ocean. Very quickly she was coming to love Azra and its place in the world. After a wonderful night spent with Kade, Sloan had left him in the early hours of the morning to be alone with her thoughts.
She soon found herself sitting on Azra’s wall, in a nook between the watch stations. Every so often an Azra guard would pass on routine patrol, but other than that, everything was quiet, peaceful.
“Don’t kill me, I’m not trying to sneak up on you,” Edison’s voice drifted over to Sloan.
She had heard him coming even before she had seen him. The inventor wasn’t exactly the most stealthy person in the world.
“Good morning, Edison.” Sloan lifted her feet off the wall’s brick surface and swung around to see her friend. “I was just admiring the view. What’s up?”
“Well, I’m glad you asked.” Edison handed Sloan a large mug with a top on it that looked like a cap.
“Kimberly and I have been experimenting on a substitute for your blood craving. Granted, I don’t think this is a cure, but maybe it will help satiate the cravings so you’ll have to indulge on animal blood less often.
At the very least, you can use it if you find yourself in a bind. ”
Sloan accepted the stone mug. By her thumb was a lever that when pressed would force the top open. She thumbed it now, smelling the brew inside.
Sloan breathed in the aromatic odor deeply. “It smells like coffee. You said Kimberly helped you with this?”
“Yes.” Edison nodded, squinting into the distance as if he were still trying to unravel the mystery himself.
“Kimberly comes from the far north, past the charted Outland where she said her people had a solution for deep cravings. She went on to explain various mating rituals and such, but I tuned her out after a while. She can be very … descriptive.”
“I know what you mean.” Sloan breathed in the smell of the liquid again. “So, what’s in it?”
“Well, coffee beans are the main ingredient.” Edison tapped the edge of his chin. “That’s to mask the taste. The rest is an assortment of chemicals and herbs that will hopefully work.”
“Have you tasted it yet?” Sloan asked, bringing the mug to her lips.
“Oh, God, no.” Edison shook his head with disgust. “Not after seeing what I put into it. The process was … I should just shut up if I want you to drink it, shouldn’t I?”
“Yep.” Sloan brought the mug to her lips again, and this time, she let the warm liquid slide past her lips and into her mouth. The texture of the drink was light, with a hint of a coffee taste along with something else Sloan couldn’t place. It tasted like a mix of berries and vanilla.
“Well?” Edison looked on expectantly. “What do you think?”
“It’s not bad.” Sloan shrugged and took another gulp. “I kinda like it. What are you calling it?”
“I let Elwood name it, and that was probably a mistake, but he insisted. He wants to call it coffee.” Edison shook his head. “I understand how that will be confusing, since that name is already taken by actual coffee, but he was insistent. Maybe we can call it vampire coffee?”
“How will we know if it works?” Sloan looked into the mug, still holding the top open, and swirled the dark liquid inside.
“We won’t, until you start having another craving.” Edison reached into his pocket and provided Sloan with a flask. “I’ve filled this with vampire coffee, as well. You can carry it with you wherever you go. We may have to adjust the recipe, but it’s a start.”
“Thank you, Edison.” Sloan exchanged the mug for the flask. She put the container in her pocket. “I know this must have taken a while to make.”
“Think nothing of it.” Edison rocked back and forth on his heels, pleased.
A sound of rushing wings interrupted the two from any further conversation.
A dot in the sky was coming toward them quickly.
The dot soon turned into Cherub’s familiar form.
The large grey gargoyle carried someone in her grip, her hands just under the person’s armpits to support them while she flew.
Sloan did a double take. Cherub was carrying Jack Walker to the wall. Sloan and Edison took a step back. A gust of wind hit them full in the face as she came to rest on the wall beside them.
Cherub released a stone-faced Jack from her grip.
He was different now from when Sloan had remembered him.
Despite the short passing of time since she had seen him last, he had grown.
Maybe not so much in age, but in wisdom.
His boyish grin was gone, his young, eager face lined with the weight of worry.
When he regained his feet and took in his new surroundings, he managed to weak smile toward Edison and Sloan. “I’m so glad to see you two.”
“You’re going to make me cry.” Edison flung his arms around Jack, fighting to keep his composure. “I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again.”
Jack patted the inventor on the back.
“He’s right.” Sloan stood by as Edison released his grip on Jack. “It’s great to see you. But how? And where’s Abigail? Is she all right?”
“They’re fine.” Jack looked back at the path he had flown over with Cherub. “They’re coming with the rest of the New Order now. But Sloan, the queen is?—”
“If we could wait to debrief you along the proper channels, that would be best.” Cherub gave Jack a hard stare. “I understand the urgency of your news and the fact that you want to share it with you friends, but let’s do it together.”
Jack looked over to Sloan for direction.
Sloan nodded her agreement.
“Thank you.” Cherub motioned over to a trio of guards who awkwardly stood by, pretending not to listen while they were doing just that.
“Kyle, I need you to get Theo and Croft. Have them meet us in the capitol building. George, do the same for Aareth, Kimberly, and Kade. Justin, there’s a party of tired New Order rebels who have traveled all night on the way to Azra.
Ride as fast as you can with a party and bring them back safely. ”
All three men saluted and rushed to obey.
“I understand you want everyone to know at the same time what’s going on.” Jack’s gaze returned to his grim vigil of looking back over the wall toward the path to New Hope. “But we have to hurry. I saw the mage engine. They’ll be here soon.”