32. Sloan
THIRTY-TWO
SLOAN
People started to smile and clap as they looked on optimistically. Sloan could practically see hope in their eyes as the city population examined their saviors. The room erupted in talk and speculation. Sloan even received a few handshakes and claps on the back.
“Order! Please, order!” Elijah yelled from the podium. The crowd quieted and looked to their leader. “It seems as though our prayers have been answered. Let us not forget who we have to thank for this blessing.”
Heads nodded as the citizens of Burrow Den again turned to Sloan and her companions.
More hands were shaken and smiles exchanged as people thanked her for coming.
In seconds, Elijah was standing in front of the group himself.
He was as tall as Aareth but not nearly as muscular.
Distance had deceived Sloan. Elijah was much older than she originally thought.
Elijah was clean-shaven with a warm smile and thinning hair. Sloan guessed that he had to be just as old, perhaps older than Marcus. His hand was strong as he introduced himself above the din of the crowd.
“My name is Elijah Ahab. I’m the pastor of this community. Perhaps we can talk somewhere where there’s more room and less noise?”
Sloan and the others nodded as they followed Elijah through the front door and outside. The crowd trailed after them, eager to catch any news of New Hope or plans the strangers had for aiding them.
Elijah led the group past the town center, fountain and down a dirt path. There was still a large group of excited citizens following as Elijah stopped at a single-story white house. He turned to address the crowd.
“Friends, I know how eager you are to converse with our guests and how hopeful you feel to see them in our city. But please give me some time to talk with them and let them rest. I’m sure they’ll be here for a few days and everyone will get a chance to interact with them.”
Some members in the crowd nodded and said farewell to the strangers; others scowled at Elijah for being dismissed like small children.
“I’m sorry.” Elijah turned to his visitors. “I’m afraid they are a bit over eager about your arrival. Please come inside where we can talk.”
Sloan led the way, following Elijah inside his small house. Clean wood floors and furniture gave the space a warm, inviting look. Elijah motioned them to all sit at a table as he lit candles and lamps in the light of the setting sun.
“Thank you for your hospitality.” Sloan was the first to speak when they were all seated. “I’m Captain Sloan. This is Aareth, Marcus, and Jack.”
Elijah swallowed hard, fidgeting with his hands.
“No disrespect, Pastor Ahab, but is there a mayor or sheriff available we can speak with?”
“I’m afraid not, Captain.” Ahab lowered his eyes to the floor. He shook his head slowly. “They’re both dead. Fallen victims of the animal that has ravaged our city.”
“So you’ve assumed control?” Sloan raised a skeptical eyebrow.
“I had no choice.” Elijah looked up, shocked at Sloan’s tone. “The town needed someone to turn to. Who better than the man who can fortify them with faith?”
“Of course,” Sloan responded.
Sloan let the silence build before she was willing to speak again. There was something about the way the man fidgeted that reminded her of Fenrick Trillion.
“Well,” Sloan began again, “we’re here now. What can you tell us about the animal and the attacks?”
Elijah opened his mouth but stopped himself short. “Wouldn’t you like to rest or have something to eat before we jump right into business? I’m sure you all have had a long journey.”
“If it’s all the same to you, Preacher,” Marcus spoke up for the first time, “we’d like to get started as soon as we can.”
“Of course. Well, the attacks started just over two months ago.” Elijah took time to look them all in the eyes as he spoke. “Since then, dozens of men and women have been killed. I haven’t seen the creature myself, but there are some eyewitnesses I can refer you to.”
Sloan wasn’t sure what information she expected from the preacher. Still, she expected more than what was offered in the brief few sentences provided. For someone whose town was under attack, Elijah seemed rather comfortable with the fact.
“What do you think is causing the attacks, Pastor Ahab?” Jack leaned forward, awaiting the answer.
Elijah looked at Jack with a startled expression as if he hadn’t expected the young man to speak.
“I’m not sure, Jack. I know that the reports are of an animal, and of that I have no doubt, but—” Elijah looked down as he chose his next words carefully. “Something inside is begging the question of what if this animal was sent by the Divine as a persecution for our sins?”
“Explain,” Sloan insisted.
“I mean,” Elijah wet his thin lips, “no one has been able to stop the beast. Before the attacks began, Burrow Den was heading into a morally dark place. I’m not saying I think the attacks are justified in any way, but the way the creature turns up and disappears has to be answered.
In the last few months, the church has seen its best days as more and more people realize what’s important in life and turn to the Divine One for hope. ”
Sloan was going back and forth in her mind, asking herself if she trusted the preacher or if the man was a few sandwiches short of a picnic.
She was forced to shelve the question, when the door to the small house opened.
In walked a young girl somewhere around Jack’s age.
She was slender with thick dark hair and a quick smile that accentuated her pearl-white teeth.
A loud crash echoed in the room as Jack fell backward on the wood floor. Everyone, including the girl, looked at him with a mixture of mirth and concern.
Jack immediately regained his feet and righted his chair. His face brightened to a shade of dull red.
“Are you all right?” the angel in the doorway asked, hiding a smile.
“Ummm—I—uhhh…” Jack sputtered as if he’d forgotten how to speak.
Sloan kicked Jack hard under the table. Not only was he being a poor representative for the Crown, but he was embarrassing them all in the process.
The pain from the strike brought Jack’s vocabulary back from the Stone Age in a rush. “I’m Jack—I mean, I’m fine, thanks.”
“This is my daughter, Abigail.” Elijah gave Jack a skeptical look as he rose from his seat and introduced the stranger. “Abigail, these are travelers from New Hope who have been sent by the Queen herself to offer assistance.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Abigail smiled at them all, inviting another fall from Jack. “I’m sure my father is answering all of your questions. If there’s anything I can do to help, please just ask.”
“She’s cute, right?” Aareth nudged Jack in the ribs. “I mean, too young for me, but perfect for you.”
“Actually, you can both help us.” Sloan turned the conversation away from Abigail with a searing stare at Aareth and Jack. “I’ll need a list of victims and the places the attacks took place as well as interviews set up with eyewitnesses. With any luck, we can start tracking the beast tomorrow.”
“Yes, of course.” Elijah’s eyes were locked on Sloan’s as he nodded like he was in a daze. “I can do that tonight. Right away.”
Elijah grabbed a coat off a hook that stood fixed next to the door. As if it was an afterthought, he looked back at his daughter. “Abigail, can you show our guests where they can sleep for the night, and prepare a meal? I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Abigail was opening her mouth to say something, when her father pivoted on his heel. He headed out of the house, closing the door behind him.
“Sorry.” Abigail turned toward the table of guests and cringed. “My father’s a bit?—”
“It’s okay.” Marcus waved her apology away. “No explanation needed.”
“The house next door is vacant. It’ll be a great place for you to live as long as you need. I would invite you to stay here, of course, but there wouldn’t be enough room. I wouldn’t want any of you to sleep on the floor.”
“Thank you, Abigail.” Sloan took a step toward the door. “Shall we?”
“Of course.”
Abigail motioned for the group to follow her as they exited the small, simple house.
As one, they walked next door to a much larger, more extravagant building.
Sloan was surprised she hadn’t noticed the gigantic house when they were walking to Elijah’s home.
By comparison, the estate they were being shown to was a mansion.
Abigail opened a small fence for them. The group walked past a lush garden and followed grey stone steps to the large oak door.
“No one lives here?” Aareth asked, looking up into the dark windows covering the second story of the building.
“No.” Abigail opened the door leading them inside. “This house used to belong to our mayor. When he was attacked and passed away, no one moved in.”
“We’re staying in a dead guy’s house?” Jack asked.
“Yeah.” Abigail looked at him and frowned. “I guess when you put it that way, it isn’t really that nice.”
“Oh, no.” Jack fumbled again. “I mean, it is really nice, I just wasn’t expecting that answer.”
“The rooms are located upstairs. Let me know if you need anything. I’ll be right next-door preparing dinner. When you’re done settling in, just come over and we can eat.”
Aareth was already lost, wandering the house.
“Thank you, Abigail,” Sloan said to the young girl. “This house will be fine.”
Abigail took her leave, allowing the travelers to settle in. As soon as she was gone, Sloan watched as Marcus turned to say something to his son.
“Don’t say a word,” Jack scolded his father.
“What? I wasn’t going to say anything… besides, you should be more careful about falling out of chairs. We haven’t even started tracking the animal yet.”
Sloan had her own warning for Jack, but it could wait. For now, she busied herself in exploring their new quarters.
The house was extravagant. What immediately struck Sloan was how expensive creating a house like this must have been.
From the hand-carved statues that were placed carefully around the home to the stone fireplace and library, Sloan could tell the Mayor of Burrow Den had been doing very well for himself before his untimely demise.
Sloan made her way up to the second floor that consisted mostly of bedrooms and washrooms. She chose her own room, a small, simple space that reminded her of the many foster homes she had lived in growing up. No, “lived in” wasn’t right, more like passed through.
Aareth chose a similar space, leaving the master bedroom and one other that faced the Ahab property.
Sloan wasn’t surprised in the least when Jack chose the room overlooking Abigail’s house. Sure, he might have left the master bedroom for his father out of respect, but it didn’t seem like he minded.
“I had a feeling you’d take this room.” Sloan stepped into the doorway.
Jack jumped and whirled around.
“Listen,” Sloan said, hating the way she sounded in her own ears.
The last thing she wanted to do was come across like a scolding sister.
“I know you’re an adult, so I’m going to treat you like one.
We’re emissaries of the Queen and here to do a job.
That’s it. No fraternizing with the locals or flirting with the town girls. ”
“I wasn’t going to do anything like that.” Jack’s face turned red for the second time that day.
“I didn’t think you would. I’m just making sure, Romeo.”
“Charlotte,” Aareth’s voice could be heard from somewhere down the hall, “leave the kid alone. Come on, let’s go eat dinner.”
Sloan bristled at the mention of her first name. “I’m going to kill him before this is all over.”