Jared rolled his eyes and led me to the street, and Beth and Chad followed. When we reached the parking lot, Chad took a deep breath. His hands were trembling, as were Beth’s. I felt so sorry for them. They didn’t deserve to be dragged into our mess.

“Beth,” I said. I licked the blood from my bottom lip. “We’re going away.”

Her eyes shot up. “Again? But, you just got back.”

“I need you to cover for me at Titan. Work under Grant. We’ll be gone for the summer.”

Beth left Chad and wrapped her arms around my neck, squeezing me tight. “I just need to know one thing: Are you going to be okay?”

I smiled. “Yes.”

She nodded, taking a deep, cleansing breath, and straightened her shoulders. “I’ll take care of it.”

“I know you will.”

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Direct Flight to Hell

My hands shook. The seat belt clanged as I tried to buckle it for the forth time. Claire was two feet away, stuffing her carry on in the overhead bin. Jared was outside, directing baggage and making doubly sure the preflight check had been carried out at least three times. Bex’s deep voice hummed from the back as he joked with Ryan. His nervous energy was evident in his tone, and even though he was trying to play it off, it was there.

The sun had set, and because of an earlier light summer rain, the tarmac glistened. Jared was pointing in every direction, answering questions, his expression severe. I was glad that he was able to burn off some of his anxiety by choreographing our departure.

“Oh, for Pete’s sake, Nina. Here,” Claire said, snapping my seat belt closed.

I sighed, and nodded in thanks, and she left me for Bex and Ryan. I rested my head against the seat and took a deep breath. My nerves seemed to take a back seat when I watched Jared work outside, so I tried to keep my concentration on the window.

A dark figure approached Jared. Kim. She was unhappy, and when I realized she would ride with us for the duration of the trip to Jerusalem, my anxiety level doubled. We had all abandoned her. She was left to fight alone, even after she was promised for some relief. She had helped us, and we turned a blind eye while she lost sleep and her uncle. I was afraid of what she would have to say to me. And she had plenty of time to either let me squirm, or call me out.

She held out her hand. With the abilities Bean had given me, I could hear her dry voice.

“The book.”

Jared put the Naissance de Demoniac in her grasp. “I know you don’t believe me, but I am sorry.”