So…what does Matt want? You'll see…

Chapter 9

Arkarian

We greet Matt outside, and it turns out that the rest of the Named are there, aside from Jimmy and Shaun.

"What's going on?" I ask Matt.

"Well," he starts, "it appears that the Order is planning to ambush us just when we were starting to live somewhat normal lives."

Beside me, Isabel groans. "What now? Are they going to send in a bunch of wren, or something?"

Matt shakes his head. "I wish. It's much worse than wren. They're bringing the demons of the Underworld as well as themselves. But that's not the worst part."

"You mean, there can be something worse than having to fight off the Order and their demons?" Rochelle demands. By the looks of things, Matt hasn't told anybody anything yet; not even Neriah.

I look around at the group's stunned faces, and notice that there's someone missing besides Jimmy and Shaun.

Matt sees me looking and nods. "Yes," he says, "there is something worse."

We all hold our breath, waiting. "I can't find Marcus."

At once, everyone starts yelling. Matt puts a hand up, and all falls silent. "Don't worry about it yet," he says. "For now, we should all be content with getting rid of the Order and their demons. If any of us sees Marcus fighting for the Order, they have both mine and my father's permission to kill him. If not, and he comes back after we're done, Rochelle will check him. If she finds anything that suggests treachery, we kill him."

"Great," Isabel says. "When do we leave?"

We all shout, "NO!"

She looks at me curiously, so I explain. "You can't come with us."

"And why not?" she demands, hands on her hips.

"Because you have to stay here with Ophelia."

"But I can't take care of a baby on my own!"

"We know," Matt says calmly. "That's why Rochelle will be staying with you."

"She will?"

"I will? When was this decided?"

"Last night," Matt replies, "when I was talking to my father and the Tribunal."

"And I don't get any say in the matter?"

"Rochelle," Ethan says, going over to her, "you are the only logical choice. Everybody else is needed in the battle. Although it would be nice for you two to be in it as well, that's not an option."

"What?" Rochelle exclaims. " 'Everybody's needed in the battle'? Why can't Neriah stay? Surely you don't need two Immortals in one battle!"

Matt thinks about it. "Actually, you're right." He turns to Neriah. "So it looks like you'll be staying in Rochelle's place…if that's okay with you, of course."

"Why does she get a choice but I didn't?" Rochelle demands.

"Because we all know what your answer would be," Dillon says.

"It doesn't matter," Neriah cuts in, "because I'll stay."

"Okay," Matt says. "Then we'd better get going." All of us except Isabel and Neriah leave.

As we're walking, I ask, "Why aren't Jimmy and Shaun coming?"

"They decided to stay behind. They're not as young as they used to be…"

An awkward silence breaks over the group, finally broken by Rochelle changing the subject. "So where exactly are we going?"

"I have no idea," Matt replies, "but wherever the Order meets up with us is where we'll stop."

"In other words," Dillon interprets, "if Mr. Carter only said that the Order is going to attack so we'd be out of Angel Falls, we'll be walking forever."

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Great," Rochelle says sarcastically. "This will be fun."

Yeah, there's alot of underlining in this chapter...not my fault! Okay, maybe it is...oh well!