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“I go to the Council that governs my kind, plead my case and gain their support.”
“And then what?” Lisa asked, tears streaking her face.
“Then it may come to war. What these rogue Iridescents have done is a crime under Council law and it won’t be tolerated. If they don’t return her unharmed, all hell will break loose and believe me, there will blood.”
Lisa suddenly hugged Torin, clinging tightly and her sobs resonated. Torin slowly raised his hands to fall gently on her shoulders. Lisa pulled back, wiping at her face. “I’m going to trust you, Torin, because I know Donja loves you and in your eyes,” she whispered, “I can see that you love her as well. We’re with you, right, Carson?” she asked, looking over her shoulder.
Carson nodded avoiding eye contact. “I’ll do what’s best for my family but for the record,” he said snapping his head up, “I don’t like you, Torin, I don’t like your kind, or you, Gage,” he said. “The very thought of you touching my daughter sickens me. What are you, hundreds of years old, two hundred, chasing after a seventeen-year-old girl? I trusted you goddamn it!”
“Dad, please,” Makayla whispered. “He hasn’t done anything I didn’t welcome.”
“He’s just being honest,” Torin said. “And for what it’s worth, Carson, I respect that. In your shoes, if I were mortal I’d feel the same of my daughter.” He took a step forward and they faced off. “I only ask that for the time being, you put your feelings aside and think of your family.”
“Where’s Frankie?” Lisa blurted hysterically.
“Upstairs in his room playing a video game,” Carson said.
“He’s not safe,” Torin snapped. “Gage, Makayla, go watch over him while I call for reinforcements.”
Gage and Makayla took off as Torin flipped his phone from his shirt pocket, his fingers flying over the screen.
Carson dropped his head, with nervous fingers clutching his golden mane. “I feel like a failure. I didn’t protect my family.”
“Don’t,” Lisa said. “You’re a good man and you may yet have to protect us before this is over.”
Torin ended his text. “I have fifty men on the way. I had men on the house for the last week but after I marked Donja, I thought she was safe. I was a fool. I won’t make that mistake again.” He took a breath. “Do you have weapons?”
“I have Colt 45,” Lisa said.
“I have a shot gun and a .357 Magnum that hasn’t been fired in years,” Carson said.
“Get them out, and keep them handy.”
“Will guns protect against…”
“Iridescents,” Torin interrupted.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“They’ll slow them down long enough for one of my men to hopefully get to you and finish the job.”
Lisa exhaled dramatically.
“Just don’t try and be a hero, either of you,” Torin said, as he picked up the wrought iron fire poker from the fireplace. He held it firm in his hands, then bent it like a plastic straw. “Iridescents are strong, more than you can possibly imagine, so shoot, run and call for help. It’s the only way a mortal can survive.”
“One last question,” Lisa said, wiping at her face. “If by chance they got their hands on Frankie and drained his blood, would they need all of it? Could he possibly survive?”
“No,” Torin mumbled. “It’s a death sentence.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “Then we must keep him safe,” she sobbed, her voice breaking. “Please, save my babies.”
Drugs
With the sun dissolving into the western sky, Carson and Torin arrived at Sanderson Field Airport. Torin parked the Land Rover, got out and cast his eyes to the spectacular sunset of orange, red, and purple. He closed his eyes, Donja in his mind. Hearing Carson slam his door, he joined him, avoiding eye contact. They hurried inside amid the hustle-bustle of travelers. Nearing Gate 27 which detailed the arrival times from Grand Rapids, they paused as the first of the passengers appeared, greeted by excited faces.
They waited, side by side in hushed silence.
“Your pulse is bounding,” Torin said without looking.