When she finally opened her eyes again, it was dark outside. She snatched her phone up off of the nightstand and quickly scanned the empty room. Cass wasn’t here. The clock said it was past 11:00. “Holy hell,” she muttered, shocked she’d slept that long.
She had a text from Aaron, and the one she’d sent had gone through. “Hey, Mrs. McReynolds. I hope you’re holding up okay. Sorry I didn’t text you sooner. Who knew, right? Anyway, we’re all fine. Heather is here, if you haven’t heard by now. I’m not sure what these kids are sending out. She’s been here a long time and seems to know the place. With her help, I’m sure we’ll find our way out of here in no time. She claims there’s some sort of a key that’s supposed to open a door, but then it also opens by itself every once in a while. We’ve also found a spike in the ground in an open area with a bunch of tunnels heading off in lots of different directions. We’re trying to figure out what it all means. I think we’ll get to the bottom of it soon. I know you’re doing everything you can on your side as well. Don’t forget to get some rest, though. You won’t be any help to anyone if you’re exhausted. I love you so much, Cadey. I’ll see you soon.”
She had tears streaming down her face by the time she’d read it once, but that didn’t prevent her from reading it several more times before she realized she also had a text from Elliott. He said he was fine, so was Brandon, and she’d better be waiting with a really large bag of Cheetos when the portal opened up for them to come home. It had made her laugh, but then the giggles turned to tears, and she was glad her sister wasn’t here to see her toss herself backward onto the bed and bawl like a baby for several minutes.
Eventually, she got herself together because she had to. There were IAC messages from Hannah and a voicemail from Ward to answer, a missed call or ten from her mother, and Job checking in on the IAC to make sure he had everything right for the potential goon chase later that evening. Funny how her world kept on turning when the most important person was no longer in it. This was not the first time she’d had this experience, however, so she knew how to keep plugging along, even when she felt like curling up on the floor and dying.
Cadence tossed the rest of her stuff into her suitcase and then carried both hers and Aaron’s out to the SUV the team had left for the three remaining women to get to the airport the next morning, assuming no one was nabbed by Vampires. When she walked past Ashley’s room, she heard Cassidy’s voice, too. A pang of jealousy stabbed her a bit, but she let it go. Her sister had a way of warming to people Cadence couldn’t tolerate, and there was nothing wrong with that.
Outside, she noted Cass and Ashley had already loaded up the rest of the missing Guardian’s bags, too. So they were all packed. All she’d left in the room were her weapons. She really hoped she didn’t need them, but there was a sizzle in the air, a stirring, one that let her know Holland was planning something.
She’d decided to go back to Kansas City the next day so she could talk to Ward. He’d said he had gotten a lot accomplished with the book earlier that day, but he needed to go over it with her. Also, Daniel would be transporting Dr. Stewart to Kansas City the next day so Cadence could interview him—or if necessary, Cassidy could better probe his mind. So far, Daniel and his team hadn’t gotten very far with the crotchety old Vampire. Cadence would have the upper hand in that battle, though. She was sure of it.
She slammed the back of the SUV into place and dusted off her hands, looking around at the suburban streetscape. The lane was lined with old houses much like the B and B with a mid-century ranch sprinkled in now and again for good measure. People were home watching television or already in bed for the evening. She hoped the local team members could handle the interference they’d have to run when these neighbors were all awakened to the sound of gunfire in a few hours.
The moon was just beginning to climb over the tops of the trees in the distance. She’d had to peer around the side of the house to make it out, it hung so low in the sky. The logic of how such a beautiful, peaceful looking orb could’ve swallowed up so many people she loved was beyond her, though she had a feeling they were not actually trapped somewhere between here and the moon, just like she’d assumed Elliott hadn’t actually been anywhere near the moon the first time he was gone either. In a way, she felt a little sorry for the inanimate object. All these years, it had been manipulated to further the agenda of those who simply wanted to profit from its enormous reflective surface. When this was all over, she’d never be able to look at the moon the same way again, but for now, she hoped they could be friends or at least cooperate to end Holland’s scheme.
Walking back upstairs, she heard Cassidy’s familiar giggle and was glad she still remembered how to do that, even if it was alongside Ashley’s annoying cackle. Part of her wanted to tell her sister she had to get in the SUV right now and leave before Holland’s army arrived, but she knew now that Cassidy could handle herself. She’d proven that at the amusement park and several other times in smaller hunts since then. Having her sister here would be beneficial to her side, even if it was a little terrifying.
As much as she didn’t want to be alone, she couldn’t bring herself to disturb them either. The portal would open again in a couple of hours, so she had some texts to send. She wondered how much battery power the Guardians had left on their phones. Another problem she’d have to work through. But not now. That evening, if she couldn’t get the Guardians out of the portal, all she wanted to do was kill some Vampires and then go home. Something told her she’d have the opportunity to do both soon enough.
