Chapter Twenty-Nine: "The Moment You See Her Might Be the Moment You Freeze Up"

Fortunately, we weren't far from Kentucky and within half an hour, Abe and I were stepping off of the jet. "...Do I want to know how you discovered Mikhail's location?' I asked him, blindly following him through the unusually isolated setting of trees and wilderness.

"Probably not," Abe vaguely replied.

I expected such an answer, but I still couldn't help but be disappointed. Someday I would learn at least some of Abe's many secrets. If I was going to be travelling with him from now on, I knew it would only be a matter of time before I discovered the truth about the mysterious man. Of course, whether or not I liked the truth would be a whole other story.

"What are we going to say to Mikhail once we find him?"

Abe glanced back at me with a sympathetic smile. "I'm afraid that's your job, not mine."

I sighed, knowing he was right. Only I understood what Mikhail was going through; thus, it only made sense that I would be the one to talk. However, I wasn't quite sure what to say. Did I dare try to send him back to St. Vladimir's? He probably wouldn't return if I didn't, and heading back to that school was not an option for me. He technically could tag along with me and Abe, but I had a feeling Abe wouldn't appreciate that. This whole situation seemed like a dead end.

I continued to follow Abe, unsure of where we were heading. Part of me wondered if he was just dragging me out into the middle of nowhere for the heck of it. However, I knew Abe was always a man with ulterior motives. He wouldn't bring me here for no reason. "Abe, are you sure Mikhail is here? This seems like a really random place for him to be."

"Do you trust me, Schoenberg?"

"Of course I do," I replied without hesitation. Abe found me and saved me after I watched Ivan turn into a Strigoi. Abe was by my side when I had to break the news to the Belikov family. Abe staked Ivan for me when I couldn't. He was my strength when I was weak.

My answer stunned him as he stopped in his tracks. "You really mean that, don't you?"

I smirked at him. "Do you not trust me, Abe?"

"How could I not trust a face like yours?" He remarked as we continued on our way.

Sure enough, we miraculously caught sight of Mikhail. Once again, Abe had pulled off some miraculous search that no one else could have. "Mikhail!" I exclaimed as I ran past Abe and toward the familiar-looking man.

Mikhail looked more alarmed than anything else. "Maya? Are you with St. Vladimir's to bring me back?"

"No, no...I just...I was worried. I know you wanted to go after Sonya..." This was harder than I thought. No words came to my mouth. I glanced back at Abe, who was taking his sweet time to meet up with us. "...It's not worth it, Mikhail," I blurted out. "Staking her will be the most painful thing you could ever do."

"No, letting her continue to be a monster would be the most painful thing I could do," Mikhail reasoned. "I can't stand the thought that she's out there and hurting people...Maya, you understand, right? I have to do it. I know it's not going to be easy, but taking the easy option isn't what I do. I have to do what's right."

I blinked back tears, knowing he was right. I secretly hated myself for not staking Ivan myself. It's what he wanted. I always failed Ivan, and it was my last chance to do something for him instead of myself. "...Of course I understand..." I whispered. "I respect what you're doing, but are you sure you're ready? I mean, the instant you see her might be the instant you freeze up."

Abe silently watched me and I could see him interpreting all my words based on what had previously happened with Ivan. He stepped toward me and I was afraid he would try to console me, but he just stood closely by my side. Mikhail glanced over at Abe in curiosity, but fortunately he didn't say anything about it even though I could imagine what he thought about our relationship. "...I guess I won't know if I'm ready until I face her," he truthfully replied.

I bit my lip, unsure of what else to say. "Mikhail-"

"-Well, Schoenberg, you lead us to Mikhail one way or the other."

I recognized the voice immediately and my stomach dropped to the soles of my feet. I turned to see a man I really didn't want to see: Stan Alto.