“Julie, my phone is in the other room on the coffee table. Please get it and call Rob then bring it to me.”
“Ann?” Julie asks. She doesn’t want to leave the room, doesn’t want to leave the switch. “No.” She flips the switch and the Molawner vanishes within the light.
CHAPTER 10
James sits at the table quietly as the others continue to talk.
“I didn’t know that,” Jeff says. The more he hears on the current conversation the more he feels helpless.
“Yes,” Rob says. His experience shows in his tone. “They can walk through light. Or in Nancy’s experience reach through the light.”
“It slows them,” Professor interrupts. “The light weakens them and even causes them pain. But yes Rob is right. They can travel through light. Not fast but they still can.”
“Molawners,” Jeff says. “I know they can appear in lighter conditions. There are times when Rel visits me and it’s not that dark. Before, when he was a Fearling he would not have been able to visit me with any light.” He looks at Nancy. “You said that your Fearling Lelah is resting.”
Nancy nods yes. She knows everything that Jeff is saying but they have all learned that it is good to let the new Vaun speak his thoughts.
“So you guys know that,” Jeff continues. He has a thought and he doesn’t like. “Does that mean that the Molawners can travel better through the light? I mean they’re more powerful or whatever, so what?”
“Yes,” Rick says. His tone is as always, serious. “They travel differently through the light but it still limits them and it still causes them pain.”
“I have two Fearlings,” James says. He is tired of listening and he wants to share his excitement. He sees the reaction on the faces of most of the Vauns sitting around the table. “I do. Ask my Dad, ask the Professor or Rachel.”
“It is true,” Professor says. “The boy has two. Their names are Hydron and Drawk.”
“We met them yesterday,” Rachel says.
“Yesterday we learned a couple things,” Rob says. He was going to wait to tell them all that Ann is pregnant but he figures now is as good as time as any. “James has two Fearlings, and, and my wife…” The words are still very new to him and still a little awkward to speak. “Ann is pregnant.”
Rob’s cell phone rings and steps back as the others react to his words. He answers his phone. “Hello.” His smile fades as he listens to the person on the line.
Rick watches as Rob talks on the phone. He sees his friend’s reaction and knows that it is not good news. He motions to the Professor.
“Wait,” Professor says to all in the room. He motions all to notice Rob. “Hey, quiet, quiet.”
James sees everyone stop talking and stare to his dad. He looks up and sees the look of worry as his dad talks.
“Do it now,” Rob says. His tone shows serious focus and sincere emotions. “Do it now. I love you Ann. I will call you right back but you do it now.”
“Is she, ok?” Rachel asks as Rob ends the call and puts the phone on the table. “Is Ann ok?”
“Right now my wife and Julie are in my kitchen talking to a Molawner,” Rob says. Instantly he has everyone’s attention. “She says that his name is Nanlar.”
There are multiple reactions from the Vauns but Jeff doesn’t give them much time to react. He knows something that they might not know and he needs to share it now.
“Your wife,” Jeff asks. “She cannot be in the dark.”
“What?” Rob asks. He instantly recognizes the tone from the new Vaun. “Why?”
Jeff looks to the boy then back to the father. He knows that his next sentence is going to change the entire night. “The Molawner is there to take her and he is not bound by the same rules as a Fearling.”
“What?” Rob says. He needs to know more. He needs to know everything now.
“From talks with Rel,” Jeff says. “I have learned that Molawners have nine months of pregnancy to attack the mother. It is one of the reasons I don’t date. You guys do not know that?”
“No,” Rob says. His tone shows instant worry. “What do you mean nine months?”
“The baby’s Molawner cannot protect the baby till after birth,” Jeff says.
“They don’t have a Vaun with them,” Rob says, “Julie and Stewart are with her. They’re defenseless.” He reaches for his phone on the table.
The Professor motions to Rick and Rachel as everyone intensely watches Rob on the phone. “Rick and I will go with Rob. You all stay with little James here.”
“Professor,” James asks. He sees and hears the tone in his father’s voice. He looks to the trusted Professor. “Is my Mom safe?”
CHAPTER 11 - HOUSE
It has been six minutes since Rob called and warned them about the Molawner. The living room is fully lit and Julie is in the kitchen while Ann is upstairs, both are lighting all lamps and candles throughout the house.
Stewart sits on the floor in the middle of the living room with two flashlights, one on each side of him. He has been watching his mother Julie and Ann walking around the house lighting lamps and checking the flashlights to verify that they are working. He is scared. He is young but he can tell the fear in the adults eyes and in their tone when they speak.
Ann holds a flashlight as she walks down the stairs and turns into the living room. She is trying to think of everything that she can do. She knows what the Fearlings are capable of and she knows that Rob says the Molawners are stronger. She sees Stewart on the floor with the flashlight and she sees the flashlight in her friend’s hand as Julie enters from the hall.
“All the candles are lit,” Julie says. Her tone shows the nervous fear she tries to control, “How long till Rob and the Professor get here?”
“Less than twenty minutes and Rick is with them.”
“Mom, we aren’t safe are we?” Stewart asks. “James always says that we are safe when a Vaun is here because their Fearling will protect us.” He is eight years old and he knows what is happening. He is very aware and his fear is growing. “There’s no Vaun here.”
“You heard Ann,” Julie says. She stares at her son as he nervously looks up at her. “Rob and the others are on their way home and they will be here soon.”
Ann looks at her friend and Stewart. Her eyes tear at the thought of something happening to them. “You two could leave. Then he wouldn’t be able to reach you. You don’t have to stay with me.”
“Not really a good plan,” Julie says. She takes a breath as she looks around the room. “If I did try to leave who’s to say that the Molawner can’t shatter the lights outside and attack us? We don’t know how far his reach is. No, even if I wanted to leave we are safer here with more lights. We are safer in numbers.”
“Julie,” Ann starts.
“And,” Julie interrupts. Her next thought is one she has lived with for eight years. “I wasn’t with you when Rob and Grandma were taken. I promised myself that would never happen again.”
“Is James with them?” Stewart asks.
“No,” Ann says. She looks at the eight year old. “James is staying with Rachel and the others at the cafeteria.”
“They are going to pick us up then we are going back to them,” Julie says. She looks at her watch then to her son. “They’ll be here soon.”
Ann nods and wipes her eyes. She scans the room. All lamps and candles are lit. Everyone has a flashlight and there are more around the room. She knows that they are as prepared as they can be.
CHAPTER 12 - CAR
Rob drives fast as he turns the car down a road. The inside light is on so no Fearlings are present. He knows that Ann is defenseless and that he has to get to his wife as quick as he can. It is one of the reasons Rick sits beside him. Rick has Sevol and he is a powerful Molawner. Rob knows that with his Fearling Kynar and Rick’s Sevol, they should be able to protect everyone. He doesn’t like the idea that they left James at the gathering but to be around all those Vauns with their Fearlings and with R
achel and Jeff’s Molawners, Rob believes that it is the safest place for his son right now.
Rick sits in the passenger side next to Rob. The Professor sits in the middle of the back seat talking the entire time. “We will get there in time. Do not wreck us.”
“I’m not going to wreck Professor.”
“James will be fine with the others,” Professor says.
“I know,” Rob says. His current worry is about what he is going to do in a minute. The road that he must take is on the backside of an unfinished neighborhood. There are no streetlights for two miles but it is the fastest way to get there.
Rick looks ahead and sees the road Rob fears. He is aware of the lack of streetlights too. “We’ll be fine.”
“You worry about what you cannot control,” Professor says, “There is no reason to worry about that.” He watches as Rob turns the car down the street. He feels the vehicle accelerate and knows the father’s fear. “Worry about only what we can control.”
“Professor I know that,” Rob says. His grip on the wheel tightens as he increases the car’s speed. “We should be there in a few minutes.”
“Oh I know,” Professor says. He continues to speak with purpose of distraction but also to keep them focused. “When we get there what are we going to do? Are we going to rush out of there or are we going to pin them and try to get more information?”
“No,” Rob says. “We are going to leave and get back to the cafeteria. I know he is safe but I don’t like James being there without us. We get back to James then we figure out what we are going to do next.”
The professor smiles as Rob turns the car off the dark road and onto a street that is well lit.
“We’re five minutes away,” Rob says.
CHAPTER 13 - CAFETERIA
There are fifteen Vauns; most are standing around talking about the current situation. James sits at the end of a table. He is nervous and scared but not for himself. He is scared for his mom, Julie and his friend Stewart.
Rachel is standing beside Jeff and Nancy a few feet away from James. She sees the distant look of fear on the eight year olds face.
“You ok James?” Rachel asks as she approaches the boy. He nods yes to her as she sits beside him. “Your dad is just going to get your mom and bring them back here. It will not take long.”
“What if they attack him before he can get to her?”
“Well,” Rachel says. She and the others have had the same thought. She speaks what she believes is the truth. “Kynar and Sevol will protect them. They are very powerful.”
“I know they are,” James says. That wasn’t his thought. His thought is something different. “But if the attack could stop Dad from reaching Mom.”
“Rachel is amazed at how deep James’ thoughts are,” She reaches out and hugs the boy as she talks. “Your dad will do everything he can. I promise you that.”
Jeff and Nancy see Rachel talking to James at the table. They know the reasons why Rob did not take his son. “He’s a brave little boy,” Jeff says.
“Yes he is,” Nancy says. She has known Rob and his family for a few years. “That’s how Rob is. He is always trying to be prepared and is always trying to think of everything. But that’s how we all are. That’s how we live, how we survive. If it wasn’t for you coming tonight we would not have known that they can attack a Vaun prior to his birth.”
“I…” Jeff says. His thoughts are moving fast and are hard for him to focus, “…should we have gone with them? Should there be more of us with them? There’s only two?”
“Yes,” Nancy says. She shakes her head in dislike of her words. “But Rob wanted you and Rachel here because of your Molawners and as far as the other Vauns here, they are not all as brave as you.”
“They wouldn’t help?”
“It’s not like that,” Nancy says. She defends the Vauns because she knows their stories, the reason for their hesitations and fears. “They do what they must. As far as me, my Fearling Lelah is resting. I cannot help. I can only bring Culav with me.” She stops. Quick images of memories of her sister being taken years ago flash throughout her thoughts and distract her for a second. She takes a breath then finishes her thought. “And his intentions are to take who he can. I do not go near darkness and will not until Lelah returns.”
“When is that?”
“Six months,” Nancy says. “It has been four and a half years since I have seen Lelah.” She shakes her head and takes a breath to focus. “I was close. Six months.”
“What?” Jeff asks. He doesn’t understand at first then he thinks for a second. “You, you what… You think they will attack us here, tonight. Even with all the Vauns and protection we have?”
“Yes,” Nancy says. “I always think that they are going to attack.”
“Me too, normally,” Jeff says. He looks around the room as he realizes something. “Here though I felt safe. For the first time that I can remember I felt safe.”
“That is a feeling that I do not allow.”
At the table, Rachel gives James a comforting smile then she looks to the others around the room. She doesn’t like how they are all standing around. The way lights are set up, if the main lights go out then the backup lights shine down onto the tables. She decides not to say anything. She doesn’t want to increase the fear or cause panic but she will keep the boy at the table.
“Do you think my Dad is there yet?” James asks. His words break Rachel from deep thought. She looks at him and smiles.
“Let’s call him and see where they are at,” Rachel says. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a cell phone. “Let’s do that.”
James nods yes. He watches as Rachel uses the phone.
“Hey,” Rachel says on the phone. “Rob, I have your son here and he wants to know how far away you are from his mother.”
HOUSE
Ann, Julie and Stewart sit on the floor in the living room. They have a tall skinny lamp in between them as they wait for Rob and the others. They have been quiet but Julie breaks the silence. She tries to distract with happy talk.
“If it’s a girl what are you going to name her?”
Ann is startled by the question and welcomes the distraction. She thinks for a few seconds then answers. “Carol.”
“Carol? Why?”
“Just like the name. Always have.”
“What do we do if he attacks?” Stewart asks. He can’t stop thinking about Nanlar.
Before they can answer the boy’s question, the four lamps on the backside wall shatter. A small gust of wind blows out the candles on the coffee table and the several that hang from the ceiling. All three jump back and turn to face the shadow of the darkness several feet away from them. The two moms stare at each other. They know what to do. They aim their flashlights ready to turn them on.
The shadowy figure of Nanlar fades into vision along the dark wall. He turns his head to the three humans in the middle of the room.
“No!” Ann yells. She aims the flashlight.
“You,” Nanlar says. He reaches his hand out but stops an inch from the light barrier provided from the lamp in the middle of the room.
“You can’t get any closer!” Ann yells.
“Yes I can,” Nanlar says. He raises his arms and points his hands to the corner at the other side of the room. A second later, the lamps shatter and the candles fade out.
Ann turns the flashlight on and strikes the Molawner with the beam. He raises his arms then vanishes from vision. A second later, he fades into the darkness of the other corner. Ann, Julie and Stewart are startled and turn to him as he talks.
“Your lights cannot prevent me from taking you,” Nanlar says. He raises his left arm and the lights from the hall and the kitchen shatter. The area he stands in grows in darkness as he points his shadowy arm to Ann. “You. You have value. You will be mine.”
Julie and Ann shine their lights on Nanlar and he raises his arms vanishing from sight.
“Stewart when you see him shine yo
ur flashlight on him and stay close to us,” Julie says. Her son stands beside her and Ann in the middle of the room. The rest of the candles along the outer wall fade leaving only the lamp in the middle of the room, he has pinned them in. “Stay close to us Stewart!”
“Do you see him?” Ann asks as she scans the darkness all around them. “Do you?”
“No!” Julie says with panic in her tone as she looks back to the stairs. “I don’t see anything!”
CAR
The car Rob drives is only a mile away from the house. The three passengers are readying themselves to get out of the car running. They are not ready for the loud thump on the vehicle’s roof. It startles the three men as they look up.
Fearlings Two (The Fearlings Series Book 2) Page 5