Chapter 37
Grace
I was getting bored, sitting in the small hotel room. I watched Serra pace for a while and then ventured to the window to stare out at the water. The voices that I normally heard on Angel Radio had gone eerily silent and I turned inward, seeking comfort from Lailah.
"Have you heard anything?" I asked, gazing into the wilderness. I waited for a reply and none came. "Lailah," I ventured again, "What is happening? Are we safe here?"
There was only silence. For the first time in our tiny room, I was afraid. Turning towards my sister, I took a deep breath. "Serra," I whispered. She turned, her hazel eyes wide. "Lailah is gone."
In three steps, she was at my side, shaking her head. "What the fuck does that mean? Where the hell did she go?"
"I don't know!" I exclaimed, my voice raising. "I asked if she had heard anything and if we were safe here, and she isn't answering." I was fighting the panic rising in my chest. "Normally I can feel her. There's nothing, Sere. She's gone."
Silence fell around the room; even the birds outside in the trees had gone quiet. Libby stirred at the absence of sound and for a moment, I didn't breathe. I knew, deep in my chest, that Ouriel had found us. I stared into my sister's eyes and terror strangled me. "He's here," I whispered. "How did he find us?"
Serra turned towards the open room, standing in front of me and pushing me into the corner. Lib sat up in bed and stretched, looking around. I gestured to her, forcing her to come to me without using words. There was a flutter of wings as my world crashed down around me.