Chapter 48

'Where did you disappear to last night,' Helen greeted the moment he arrived. 'You said you'd be right back, I thought…'

'Nothing bad can happen to me H H; I'm pretty much indestructible on that score.'

'You shouldn't say things like that. Saying things like that is the reason you became a Nethher Herin in the first place, remember?'

'I remember my own life story well enough,' he smirked and there was something about the way he looked which made Helen's stomach knot.

'You still shouldn't have…' she hesitated. 'I was worried about you, where did you go?'

'I had to sort a few things out and it took a little longer to do than I had expected. But there's really nothing for you to worry about.'

'Not just yet maybe,' her eyes anxiously scanned the horizon. 'But they could be due any time now.'

'We still have at least another half hour or so.'

'How do you know that?'

'I checked back in with my sources before coming here.'

'You mean that boy I met yesterday?'

'No, but they were the same sources he uses.'

For a few moments Helen was silent. Something didn't quite add up, she knew that, but she couldn't bring herself to say anything. She didn't want to be suspicious of Nichee, not when he meant so much to her. But there was a nagging little thought in her brain indicating she only liked him so much because he made her like him so much.

'Your face is all creased up H H,' he laughed lightly and he gently smoothed the creases out with his fingers, 'did I really make you worry so much about me?'

'No… well yes, but that's not it.'

'Then what is?'

'Do you really care about me Nichee?'

'What kind of question is that? I told you I did, didn't I?'

'I know, but… Somehow it feels hard to believe.'

'Why?'

'Well, why not?'

'You're not sure you're good enough for me, is that it?'

'Not exactly.'

'Then what is it?'

'I don't know. There's something… wrong.'

'Don't you feel for me what I feel for you?' Nichee's face filled with an unbelievably hurt look.

'No,' she shook her head, 'I care a lot about you. So much so that sometimes I wonder how I'm able to think straight at all when you're around. But…'

'But what?'

'I'm not sure if it's right.'

'What do you mean right?'

'I don't know,' she turned away from him. 'I know I'm not making a whole lot of sense here, but…'

'No,' he disagreed, 'you're making perfect sense to me. You've never been in a relationship before, have you?'

'I've never had the time.'

'Then what you're feeling is just first time nerves. You're scared I'm going to take advantage of your vulnerability.'

For a few moments she stopped to think over what he'd said. There was something about his words she wanted to be true. Because what he said did make sense and felt strangely right.

'Maybe,' she eventually agreed.

'It's alright H H; I'd never take advantage of you. You're more than welcome to call all the shots in any relationship we have.'

'Really?'

'Of course, why would I lie about something like that? It would only give you reason to doubt me later.'

'This still doesn't feel right.'

'It's probably because we're currently on an assignment and really shouldn't be thinking about our personal lives. That's completely unprofessional. And even though we're both anti-Council, no one could really say we were unprofessional.'

'Yeah, maybe that's it,' a weak smile filled her face as she hoped once their mission was over all her doubts would fade away.

'Now, what do you say we get ready for their arrival?'

'Okay,' she nodded, 'so you're really gonna stick with me for this bit then?'

'Please, when do I ever pass up a good fight?'

'I don't know, do you ever?'

'I haven't yet. But then again, I've always been fighting for the right things. And when you're fighting for what is right, then everything else just makes sense, don't you think?'

'I think you think it,' unable to resist being a little strange with him.

'You don't trust me?'

'You know I do Nichee.'

'Then what is it?'

'I've already told you; something feels wrong.'

'I thought that was just about us, not about the mission.'

'I think it's about both.'

'Both?' Nichee frowned. 'What could possibly be wrong with the mission?'

'This city is completely empty apart from them.'

'And?'

'And I don't trust that's a good thing.'

'You're just seeing evil where there is none.'

'I think there's more to it than that,' her gaze scanned the horizon again. 'Everything about this place feels… I don't know, like the work of a Veronsen.'

'That's an odd connection to make. Most Veronsen died out generations ago.'

'Most?' Helen shot him a strange look. 'Didn't they all?'

'Two new ones were created nearly seventeen years ago, don't you remember learning about that?'

For a few moments she silently turned over everything she had been taught. Then, giving a heavy sigh, she nodded.

'You're right, I had forgotten to count them, because they're not fully Veronsen anymore.'

'Which obviously means they have nothing to do with this.'

'Why obviously?'

'Because…' for a moment Nichee faltered.

Up till now he'd been able to smoothly counter or explain anything she'd brought up with him. For him to start hesitating now seemed more then a little strange.

'I don't know,' he eventually shrugged, 'I just felt as though it was obvious.'

'Obvious to who?'

'I guess to me,' he turned away from her slightly. 'Obvious to me.'