Chapter 6 Lack of Faith
Lack of Faith
Jake had been busy, of course. He liked gathering intel, and had set up the screen-and-laptop array in one of the smaller temple cells years ago, updating it religiously.
“Olivia Stellack.” Electronic glow bathed him; their lirai’s face looked gravely down from the screen.
It was her driver’s license photo, and managed to make her look plain, probably the only thing that could.
“Born in Los Angeles, her mama was a single hairdresser. Thirty-two—”
Erik shifted in his office chair. He hated the damn things; they felt too spindly to support any real weight. “She said thirty-five.” Once this had been a monk’s or a Son’s bedroom; nowadays, the cells stood mostly empty. Only three men in residence, when the place could hold at least thirty.
Sometimes Erik thought they’d been forgotten out here.
At least Ignatius filed reports and arranged for gear drops and other shipments; sometimes he even mentioned directives from higher up.
It was a Father’s job to take care of all that, just like it was Erik’s and Jake’s job to run patrols and try to keep at least some sections of the city clear of shadowbeast and other predators.
“Did she?” Father’s eyebrow raised slightly. He would draw his own conclusions. “Proceed.”
“Paralegal for Maddox, Baker, they just had to keep her contained until then.
“Sorry, sir.” Jake even managed to look chastened for a second.
An inset on the screen was the live feed from the larger liraim.
The girl was at the window—at least she’d gotten dressed, jeans and a black T-shirt—gazing at the quad and its overgrown gardens below.
Was she hoping to see someone she could flag down?
After the Flame, she would have everything her heart desired, except freedom from the Sons. That would probably be the only thing she’d want, though. And why did the thought make him… uneasy?
Even if she didn’t trigger the first time, they’d keep returning her to the Flame until it took. Lirai could handle successive bathings; it was what made them Dreamers. It didn’t even hurt them, really.
It only burned corruption.
The god-mark on his wrist was raw and aching. If Father’s was acting up, he made no sign, but Jake grimaced slightly and scrubbed the sleeve-hem over his left wrist against his side as he turned back to the laptop, a slight habitual movement.
“She’s bound to be hungry,” Erik said. “What should I bring her?”
“Taking point on this one, huh?” Jake caught Father’s glance and sighed, spreading his hands. “Sorry. I just… I never thought this would happen.”
“I find your lack of faith disturbing,” Ignatius murmured.
Erik had to work to keep a straight face; it was a safe bet their trio’s leader hadn’t seen that movie. He probably remembered when silent films were all the rage.
Jake’s mouth twitched, and he tapped at the keys again. “So, the diet app on her phone’s got meals logged for months. She flirted with vegan around last New Year’s, but she’s been an omnivore since Fourth of July. Breakfast’s usually Greek yogurt and blueberries.”
“A healthful choice.” Ignatius’s dry tone could have been approval or irony. “Did you stock the kitchen accordingly?”
“Yessir.” Jake restrained himself from rolling his eyes with a visible, almost physical effort. “Delivery was yesterday while you were doing the clothes, Father.”
“I do not doubt your ability, my son.” As always, a Father knew when to praise a temperamental Younger. “I am merely being thorough.”
“Yes, Father.” Jake gazed at the laptop. “That’s about it. Everything else is details. We should probably get her some breakfast.”
“Erik will. Show me everything else.”
“He got to take her to the larger liraim.” Jake obviously thought this wasn’t fair.
“And he is the one who will carry her meal,” Father answered, inflexible. “I understand your eagerness. Now proceed.”
Erik pushed his chair back, slowly, giving Father plenty of time to add more—or to change his mind. Unfortunately, it didn’t look like the old man was going to. “Sir?”
“Yes, Erik?”
“When do we take her to the Flame?” That was the only thing he was worried about. Traveling with her was going to be a real joy unless she was sedated, which called up a whole host of other concerns.
“I consulted with Control this morning. The prevailing feeling is that it would be unwise until we have more daylight for traveling.” Father pressed his fingertips together, his nails turning pale from the pressure.
“Which will give us time to make her stable and at least slightly cooperative. That, Erik, is your task.”
Great. From the swift flash of startlement on Jake’s face, Erik was willing to bet little brother hadn’t figured out that his elder sibling was going to end up being the one she’d feel betrayed by. Now that he realized it, of course, Jake would be all sunshine and daisies.
“Yessir,” Erik said, and pushed himself upright.
The thought of a potential’s natural disgust didn’t hurt as much as he expected. No, it was distinctly worse, but that was the price of being a Son of Ymre. He saluted and left the room as Jake started going over the details.
Looked like Father knew the Younger was top contender for her first seal. It didn’t help that Erik had, dismally, suspected as much from the start as well.