“They’re fine. The little guy got scared and locked himself in a closet. It took a while to get him out. They’ll be in safe beds by morning.”
“How many families have you extracted?”
Stifling a yawn, Jordan shrugged. “Maybe ten? The days are starting to blur together.”
“Your team must feel stretched thin.”
Jordan narrowed his eyes. Mikael didn’t ask meaningless questions. Nor did he offer himself up for tasks readily. “It’s part of the job.”
“Still, having a fresh set of eyes won’t hurt.”
“Mikael,” he began uneasily, “I can’t let you in the field, not after last time.”
“You’re overreacting!”
“You killed five people.”
“They deserved it,” said Mikael, a pouting child being reprimanded.
“That’s not for you to decide. They didn’t deserve that brutality,” he countered as he shook his head. “There are lines in what we do, and you crossed too many. I can’t let that happen again.”
“They were killing innocent children for their blood sacrifices! You’d think that standards wouldn’t to apply to them.”
“Dead is dead. Once it’s been decided, it’s only a matter of time, so I’m not concerned about their feelings. Those lines are for us so that we don’t lose ourselves in the process. You can be a murderer or an assassin.”
“Is there much of a difference?” asked Mikael, bitterness lacing his words.
“No. But it matters. Murder is rage and revenge. An assassin maintains his cool. He does his job. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“Sometimes rage is the only appropriate response.”
“That’s the difference. A murderer can’t help but succumb to the rage. We put it aside to accomplish the mission. You’re not ready.”
“I won’t remain your errand boy forever.”
“You’re not an errand boy,” said Jordan, unsure of what to make of Mikael’s mood. “But you’re out of control. You’re still not going into the field.”
“You will regret that decision one day.”
“Is that a threat?”
“No. It’s a fact. One day you will need me, and I will be here, sidelined as always.”
Jordan’s patience snapped. “Right. And it will suck. So, have a good night. See yourself out.”
✽ ✽ ✽
Jordan climbed into bed with a sigh of relief. Mikael’s tantrum had been more concerning than it had been annoying. A man on the edge was a dangerous thing. Someone who could see the future, was prone to seizures and blackouts and was brimming with unspent rage was lethal.
“Screw it,” muttered Jordan. He refused to waste another minute worrying about others. It was the first time he’d been alone in nearly four days. Between avoiding Aurelia and attempting to remain upbeat, he’d used up his goodwill and energy. He’d barely been able to show kindness to the family they’d rescued.
They’d been so grateful for the safety offered by the Order. Once Jordan had explained that the Order would shelter them or teach them how to live in secrecy, they’d immediately decided to leave their hometown instead of a place where their child would be accepted and nurtured. They weren’t the first family, nor would they be the last, he’d rescue.
Images of the last few months flew through his head: families he’d rescued, the paperwork piled high on his desk. He willed his brain to stop throwing images and thoughts at him. Mikael and Aurelia were both right. He’d been spreading himself too thin. Something had to give. He resolved to put someone in charge of security in the morning. After he had a few cups of coffee, he’d offer the position to somebody.
Desperate for an escape, Jordan willed himself to dream of Jasper. It had been a few weeks since she’d visited him in his dreams and he missed her. How pathetic was he, missing a likely dead friend whom he talked to in his dreams? No wonder the Circle thought that he was crazy. Jordan tossed and turned, his nervous energy tangling him up in his sheets. He stared at the ceiling until his vision finally faded and he slipped into sleep.
✽ ✽ ✽
Jordan opened his eyes and grinned when he saw the familiar couches and tables that filled Jasper’s small apartment. Jasper was nestled into the couch with a bowl of popcorn and mischief in her eyes.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” she said.
“I’ve been too busy for sleep. And you always want to talk.”
“You’re always willing to listen.”
“Forced to listen is more like it,” he grumbled, failing to mask the pleasure in his voice. “You’re right. We do need to talk.”
Jasper rolled her eyes and pulled him down to sit next to her. He took in all the little details, like the bitten fingernails. Her hands trembled as she braided her hair and her smile strained at the corners. “Well?”
“Are you a dream or are you reaching out from somewhere?”
She shrugged. “Beats me. What do Mikael and Dakarai think?”
“Are you alive or dead?”
“If I knew I’d tell you.”
He bit his tongue to hold back a retort when he saw that she’d clutched a pillow to her chest. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Why are you always suspicious?”
“You’re the second person to say that to me in the last twelve hours.”
“Take a hint.”
Jordan barked out a laugh as he felt the familiar urge to strangle her. “You’re a pain in the ass even here,” he muttered. “What are you hiding?”
“I’m not hiding anything, Per Se. Something has changed. It feels like time is moving forward again. Whatever is going to happen is coming.”
Jasper’s animated expression slid off her face. She took on the same faraway look in her eyes and rigid posture that affected Mikael during his visions. She let out a ghost of a smile and stared through him.
“Jas?”
“My time when I’m not here is no longer the same. Too much has happened.”
“What are you saying? Where do you go?”
“I’m not anywhere, exactly. It’s dark and cold. There are voices, and sometimes my body hurts. It’s weird because I can feel it, but I can’t see anything. Other things happen, but it’s all a blur right now.”
“How is that different?”
“I don’t know how to explain it, just that it makes me feel uneasy.”
“Explain.”
“Do you ever have that vague panicky feeling that tells you something bad is going to happen? I don’t know more than that. Just be careful, okay?”
“Jas, you’re worrying me. Where are you?”
Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.
She disappeared.
Order of Vespers Page 24