Chapter Nine
Penthouse Apartment
San Francisco Bay
'Where am I?' Wyatt awoke from unconsciousness holding his head at the exact spot that throbbed uncontrollably. He could feel a slight trickle of blood. 'Someone must have laid him on a couch,' he thought, as he swung his legs round to stand up.
He surveyed his surroundings. The room was spacious, with typical groupings of furniture complimenting the long expanse of windows along one wall. The style was modern and clean in neutral colors offset by bold accents. As Wyatt slowly stood he gravitated to the windows and the thriving city below marveling at the view. It was absolutely spell binding and like nothing he had ever seen before.
"Good, you're up kid." A deep voice said behind Wyatt.
Wyatt spun around to address his captor. "It's been a long time since someone referred to me as a kid?"
"Old habits die hard. How're you feeling?"
Wyatt caught the back of the chair behind him to avoid falling flat on his face as a wave of dizziness washed over him.
"Ok. I guess, under the circumstances and all. Where am I?"
"Well, you're in my apartment for one." The tall man leaned against a free standing pillar.
"Ok, and who are you?"
The man hesitated. Wyatt could easily see indecision and some other emotions flicker through the man's aura.
"An old friend of your mothers."
Wyatt's jaw tightened at the mention of his mother. Feeling more than a little flushed he turned the chair around and sat down heavily.
"Why did you stop me at the club? That was you that sucker punched me, right?"
"Hey!" The man bristled a bit. "I was saving your life. You could be a little more grateful. Besides I didn't sucker punch you. You hit your head when I pulled you from the stairs." The man looked a little embarrassed. "You don't know what you're up against, I do."
The man walked casually over to a wall of books. He tugged one down, which set about opening a small panel in which a bar moved forward. Once it stopped, he moved behind it and began making himself a drink.
"Martini?"
"No thanks. I'm not much in the mood for a drink right now. I'm kinda in a hurry and have a sister in law and a newborn niece to take care of, but thanks."
"Wyatt slowly tried to stand up, but as the blood rushed to his head and the throbbing intensified, he thought better of it.
"On second thought, I'll take water, straight up with ice."
Chapter Ten
Antarctica
"I know you're in there sweetheart." Chris spat the endearment. He stood outside the protected igloo taunting Bianca.
He shivered violently as he looked around at the encroaching darkness. Snapping his fingers, he instantly conjured a heavy coat and donned it quickly.
"Go away Chris! You're scaring our baby!" Bianca sat in the middle of the igloo watching Chris's fading shadow as he paced outside the small ice house.
"You didn't think you could stay off my radar for too long now did you? You've had yourself a nice break now? Come on out and I'll take you home honey." Chris leaned in trying to peer through a small hole.
Bianca scooted to the opposite side of the igloo holding Athena pressed to her shoulder. She was crying openly and begging Chris to leave when she started praying for Wyatt. She heard Chris swear loudly in frustration and then she heard nothing.
She stood up crouching so as not to hit her head and turned a quick circle to see if she caught sight of Chris's shadow. There was complete silence. 'At least the protection spell held even after the cloaking spelled bombed.' She held her breath. There was absolutely no sound, nothing.
Exhaling a huge sigh of relief and hoping that he might have given up; she situated herself and Athena on the large pillows and finally allowed herself to succumb to sleep.
Chapter Eleven
Penthouse Apartment
Overlooking S. F. Bay
"I've got to go right now! Bianca's in trouble." Wyatt started to orb out. The man dove for him as he snaked his hand out and grabbed Wyatt by the wrist.
"I don't think so son."
"You don't understand! We've been dodging Chris for a day and a half. I have to get to her before the cloak weakens." Wyatt frantically tried to escape the man's grasp.
"I do understand kid, but you are in no condition to flit more than half way around the globe right now."
Wyatt jerked his arm free and stared the man down. "What do you know about Bianca's whereabouts?"
"Let's just say I've been keeping an eye on you for awhile now kid. I know you left her in a protected igloo in Antarctica. I know it was the only place on earth that Chris could not track very easily. I know you tried to cloak several different places around the world, but Chris always got there before you could finish. I know that your head hurts so bad right now that you can barely stand up. Now do you want to waste anymore time arguing?"
Wyatt glared at the man and then looked away, nodding his consent.
"Good. You stay put. Chris can't find you here. Rest up. I'll go and get Bianca."
With that, the man shimmered out in front of Wyatt; leaving him filled with a mixture of dread, distrust, curiosity, and . . . hope.
'Maybe rest wasn't such a bad idea.' he thought as his lids became heavy. Exhaustion over took him quickly as he fell back on the couch.