Staring at maps, charts, and communication logs all day was making Cadence’s eyes cross, and it seemed like time was crawling by as they all waited for 7:00 to arrive so they could see if they received any more texts from inside the portal. She hoped her text to Aaron was worded in such a way that he’d know she missed him but wouldn’t freak him out any more than necessary either. She’d also sent a text to Elliott and one to Jamie.
By 5:00 her eyes were starting to burn and no amount of caffeine was going to keep her awake. Pushing back in her chair, she stared across the table at Cassidy, who looked wide eyed and ready to take on the world. “I think it’s time we headed back to the B and B.” Her sister’s eyebrows raised. “We need to get a few hours of sleep and then see if Holland sends her minions after us.” They’d already decided Cadence, Cassidy, and Ashley, who was sound asleep on the floor at the other end of the room, would go back to the B and B and see if they could draw Holland out. The rest of the contingency in the area would be close by, and Cadence was hopeful they were capable enough of handling what was sure to be a ruthless situation.
“You don’t expect me to actually take a nap at a time like this, do you?” Cassidy demanded.
“I do. What sort of use are you going to be if you can’t keep your eyes open?”
“Do you think I could fall asleep during a Vampire attack?”
The other people in the room ping ponged back and forth, following the sisters’ discussion as it heated into an argument. “Your reflexes will slow down if you’re not well rested, sister dear.”
“Cadence....”
“Cassidy?”
“Fine. You can take me to a bed, but you can’t make me sleep.”
“Fair enough.”
Cadence went over a few more things with Oswald and Trina, who would be following them to West Virginia soon to help out in case Holland’s Vamps did show up, and then she headed out to the SUV, leaving Cass to rouse Sleeping Beauty. Job offered to drive them back, and she was thankful for it because she was pretty sure driving was out of the question considering her mental state.
The landscape out the window was a blur, and it just made her more tired. Cadence tilted her head back and closed her eyes, trying to stay awake for the drive but not having a lot of luck. She was afraid if she did fall asleep right now, she wouldn’t be able to go back to dreamland once she reached the bed. At least the B and B had been willing to accommodate them one more night. After how suspicious the owner had been acting that morning, Cadence thought it was a miracle, but then, perhaps Hannah’s powers of persuasion worked just as well over the phone.
She did nod off, though not for long. Job pulled to a stop in front of the familiar structure, and the girls climbed out, Ashley barely awake at all. “Thanks a lot, Job,” Cadence said, leaning in the window.
“Sure. Get some rest, and I’ll talk to you later.” His smile had a tinge of sympathy around the corners, something Cadence was starting to get used to. She hoped she didn’t actually have to see Job again until the next day because, if she did see him, it would likely be in the midst of battle, and while she was just fine ending Holland, she had a feeling the queen couldn’t make it across the ocean as quickly as she’d like, not without being detected anyway. There were ways; Cadence was aware she could’ve rented a private plane, one they wouldn’t be as likely to pick up on, but she had her people watching every airplane of every size coming in and out of Europe. If Holland headed this direction, it had better be on a broomstick because that would be the only way she could sneak in.
Cadence took a shower, trying to let the hot water and steam wash away her worries, but that was near impossible. She didn’t linger for as long as she’d originally thought she might because being alone with her thoughts was detrimental at the moment. Instead, she got out, dried off, wrapped a towel around herself, put her wet hair in a ponytail and headed out to the bedroom to see her sister curled up in a chair on her phone. Cadence was pretty sure she wasn’t perusing Facebook or Instachat or whatever the kids were using these days.
Cassidy only glanced up as Cadence grabbed a change of clothes out of her suitcase, which was next to Cassidy’s on the bed. It looked like her sister had packed up her stuff while she was in the shower.
Her eyes flickered to Aaron’s luggage, which of course was empty and in the closet. He almost always went to the trouble to unpack and hang his clothes in the closet, utilizing the drawers, putting things where they belonged, while she lived out of the suitcase itself, not bothering to hang anything that wouldn’t wrinkle. Most of the time, he’d unpack for her. He hadn’t this time. This was a quick trip. Two partial days, one night, no big deal. Back to Iowa in time for the wedding....
“Hey, are you all right?” Cassidy asked, her voice showing more concern than it had for most of the day. She’d been too busy being furious to be too sympathetic.
Cadence glanced at her sister and found a small smile somewhere in the back of her mind, shoving it onto her face. “I’m just fine.” Her eyes went back to his suitcase briefly before she headed into the bathroom to get dressed.
When she came back into the bedroom a few minutes later, she noticed his suitcase had been moved slightly, and none of his clothes were hanging in the closet anymore. It hadn’t been much for such a short trip anyway, but it was gone. Cassidy was back in her chair, pretending like she didn’t notice her sister’s disposition. “Thanks, Cass.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Well, if we are leaving tomorrow, I figured, you know, may as well. I have the key to the other room. I think I’ll go pack the rest of the guys’ things. Although... I’m pretty sure most of them don’t actually unpack either.”
“Do you want a hand?”
“No.” Her answer came quickly. “I can do it. Thanks.”
Cadence understood. Where she couldn’t stand to think about putting Aaron’s belongings away, Cass wanted some time alone with Brandon’s. Elliott’s stuff would be in there, too. “What about Dax and Alex’s room? Weren’t they sharing with Christian?”
“No, Alex was with Christian, and Dax was sharing a room with Hannah since neither one of them sleep anyway. Hannah got their stuff when she checked out.”
“Oh.” How her sister knew those details and she didn’t was beyond Cadence, but she was glad Cass did. She was usually up to speed on things like that, personal matters Cadence didn’t have time to think about. “I think... I’m going to lay down for a little bit.”
“Yeah, good idea. I’ll be back.”
Once again, alone with her thoughts, Cadence scooted her half-filled bag out of the way and sat Cassidy’s on the floor. She plopped onto the pillow and checked the clock. It seemed like it should be almost time for the portal to open again, but it was only a quarter past five. If she went to sleep now, she’d miss it. But if she stayed awake, it would be harder to fall asleep later, and she really didn’t want to think anymore. Reluctantly, she closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep, hoping her body knew better than her brain.
