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“They were also students at Akarnae at one time or another,” Darrius said, his expression sombre. “Just like Calista, their giftings were powerful; unique, even. And they too have disappeared over the years. I fear they may have met the same fate as hers.”

Alex felt the room tip. “What are you implying? That Aven has some kind of gifted… army? With all of them under his control? Hehateshumans! Why would he use them? And what for?”

“I don’t know, Alex,” Darrius answered gravely. “But it can’t bode well for any of us.”

It was then that Alex noticed just how tired he looked. He was not the vibrant man she’d first met. Instead, he was a man burdened with the weight of an uncertain future.

“What do you need me to do?” she whispered.

Darrius captured her eyes with his own silver ones. “You know the answer to that, Alex.”

She held his gaze. “You need me to go to Meya.”

With an apologetic look and a tone to match, he said, “I know I agreed to give you time, but the circumstances have changed. We need to know what we face, and we need the Meyarins to be aware of what might be coming. Only you can do this.”

Understanding the truth of his words, Alex knew her answer.

“I’ll do it. I’ll go on Saturday.”

His relief was apparent in every line of his body. “Thank you, Alex. I know how much you don’t want to do this. And I realise how dangerous it may be.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” she warned him. “I have no idea what will happen. I may not even be able to find a way there. And if I do, who knows how receptive the Meyarins will be?”

“I have the utmost faith in you.” Darrius smiled warmly at her for the first time since she’d stepped into his office and Alex was relieved to see the cheerful expression back on his face, regardless of why it was there.

“We’ll see,” she said.

“In the meantime, I don’t want you to worry about the rest of this,” Darrius told her, indicating the file on the table.

“I’ll agree to that if you will,” she returned.

“I… Huh. Well, then,” he said, “I guess I’ll try if you will.”

“Deal,” she agreed, holding out her hand to shake on it.

“On that note, it’s nearly curfew,” he said, after sealing their agreement. “I apologise again for keeping you up.”

“No problem,” she said. “And despite how much I’d rather not have learned what you told me, I’m glad you trusted me enough to share. At least this way I’ll have a heads-up if any zombie-like gifted humans come my way in the future.”

Judging by Darrius’s grimace, Alex guessed it was too early to be so cavalier about it.

“Sorry,” she said sheepishly. “Humour is my best coping mechanism.”

That prompted a dry chuckle out of him. “We all have different strategies,” he agreed. “You may be pleased to hear that humour is one of the more normal tactics.”

Alex gasped dramatically and placed a hand to her chest. “Heaven forbid I do anythingnormal.”

Darrius laughed with her, and Alex felt significantly better than she had a few minutes earlier. Whatever was coming in the future, they would all face it together.

That was all she needed to know.

. 1D;

Ten

“Are you sure about this?” D.C. asked.

“Not at all,” Alex answered. “But right now, I don’t think that matters.”