"Hi John, it's good to see you too," I said, allowing myself to sink into his embrace. If you would have told me two months ago that I would consider John one of my closest allies, I would have scoffed at the idea. Especially since he had once berated me in front of everyone for falling in the ice cold ocean at the most inopportune time. All of that was forgotten though once he and Kieran returned home and made it their personal mission to see who could text me the most in one day. What started out as daily antidotes quickly turned into long humor filled messages about pranks he and Kieran would play on each other. When I first met them shortly after graduation, I had no idea they would turn out to be so witty. I loved my band members dearly, but John and Kieran had become my sounding board, always willing to lend an ear.
I moved out of John's arms and slid into Amelia's embrace next. "I'm so glad to see you looking so well," she whispered quietly in my ear. I nodded my head, knowing I didn't need to answer.
"Hi Krista," Jenna said as I finally turned to her. Unlike the others, she waited to give me a hug, choosing instead to study me critically for a moment, much like Lynn would do. Their uncanny similarities made me smile. Jenna returned my smile before giving me a quick hard hug.
Paul and Keith, who were Amelia and Jenna's Links, were the last to pull me in for bone-crushing bear hugs. I giggled at their apparent happiness to see us.
"So, what's the plan Haniel," Paul asked once all the greetings were out of the way and we were all sitting on the oddly matched furnishings scattered around the room.
"When Jacob and his three other band members arrive, we will load up the provisions and sleeping gear that Robert and Shawn informed me you would need," he said in his typically formal way.
"Yeah, we kinda figured that. My question leans more toward what our plans are once we head out."
"The journey in motorized vehicles will take approximately five hours. I will be joining you there," he said, never being one to travel by traditional human methods.
Sam giggled. "Wow Haniel, talk about being a diva."
Haniel's expression at her words made us all burst out laughing. Picturing Haniel as the classic stereotypical role of a diva was comical.
Haniel had learned enough from hanging out with Sam and I over the summer to understand that Sam's remark was less than flattering, which made it even more hilarious.
"Haniel the diva, oh my lord, my side hurts!' Kieran chirped between the laughter bubbling out of her.
All seven plus feet of Haniel waited patiently while we finished laughing ourselves out. After several moments our mirth finally dissipated.
"Can I continue?" He asked Sam pointedly.
"Um, sure, sorry about that Hannie," Sam said in a tone that made it clear she really wasn't.
"Once we all convene at the location I have indicated on the parchment," Haniel said, indicating the map behind us on the dining room table, "We will set out on foot. The Dark Angel has chosen his headquarters wisely. There are no roads or trails that lead to Victor's headquarters. We will have to create our own path through the rough uninhabited terrain of Mt. Shasta"
"Then how does Victor get to his Lair?" Shawn asked.
I grimaced at Shawn's choice of words.
"He uses the motorized flying machines that seem quite popular with your military," Haniel said, clearly searching for the proper phrase.
"Helicopters," I provided, giving him some help.
"Ah yes, he uses helicopters to enter into his secure location. A word of caution however, once we are on the mountain, Victor will be aware of our presence. He will use whatever means necessary to deceive or destroy us. It is essential that you understand that Victor now possesses greater strength and ability than any of you have ever seen. He is no longer a mere pawn for the Dark One, but an ally, and is treated as such. His powers will equal mine in many aspects.
"What do you mean?" Sam asked, all joking gone from her voice.
"He will have many different resources available to inhibit the success of our mission."
"Like Daemons?" Sam asked.
"Daemons like you have never seen," Haniel answered without elaborating.
"Will they be worse than what we've dealt with before?" Sam asked, gnawing on her lower lip.
"Dude seriously?" Shawn said, clearly aggravated that Haniel had Sam worried.
"It's okay," Sam said pulling out of Shawn's arms. "I don't need it to be sugarcoated. What kind of Daemons?" She continued, turning toward Haniel for clarification.
"Daemons come in many different forms. To describe them all goes beyond my abilities."
"What else will we be facing?" I asked, noting an undercurrent in Haniel's vague explanation.
"It is impossible to know precisely what means Victor will use. For now, you should prepare yourselves for attacks in many different forms."
"Shawn and I purchased netting for us to surround our campsite with, per Haniel's instructions, to help give us some kind of barricade against any attack. The netting won't keep them out, but at least it will serve as a warning," Robert said, making it clear none of this was new information to him or Shawn.
"What about when we're hiking?" Jenna asked in a shaky voice, clearly not a fan of anything that could creep up on us either.
"Don't worry honey. We'll be on high alert as we hike up the mountain," her Link Keith said looking fierce.
An uneasy feeling suddenly curled its way through me. This would be another sad example of the fact that I was the odd man out. Of course, how could I complain about the absence of my Link in a situation that just the other day I was prepared to do alone?
"Ugh, I hope we don't run into spiders when we're hiking," Jenna mumbled.
"What spiders?" I practically screeched. Daemons I could handle, but if a spider fell out of some tree and landed in my hair, I would lose it completely.
"I got your back Sis, don't worry," Shawn teased. He had experienced my bug phobia firsthand when we were picking out furniture together at a garage sale and a big fat hairy spider crawled across the arm of an old recliner we had been contemplating. Needless to say, my screeches could be heard in the next county. After that, I flat out refused to even consider the recliner, convinced that a nest of them was hiding beneath the cushions.
"Thanks," I said, grateful I could always count on my brother.
"So apparently, we have multiple obstacles to face," Shawn said, doing a spectacular impression of Haniel.
His words broke the tension that had enveloped us all since learning that Victor would have multiple Daemons and who knows what else at his disposal.
Shawn's little joke started everyone talking at once. We all seemed to be in fairly good moods considering the uncertainty of the situation. When Jacob's small band arrived, we were all laughing and joking. Haniel of course, took his customary meditative position in the corner of the room. Once again, I was passed around in warm embraces. After the hugs had been issued, I found myself surrounded by my fellow Guides as we chattered about mundane things, steering clear from any subject that was off-limits. I could sense their keen interest in me and knew they had discussed my hybrid powers, but was relieved that none of them asked about them. After a half-an-hour of chitchat, we got ready to head out.
The guys got to work loading up the back of the Explorer with all the gear. They laid the second and third row seats down to maximize space. It was decided that Shawn and Robert would drive the Explorer and the rest of us would ride in the passenger van that John had rented from the airport.
Lynn gave Robert a searing kiss before she climbed into the last row beside Sam and me. The other Guides and Protectors piled into the second and third rows while John and Jacob sat in the driver and passenger seats.
It was a long scenic drive to the Cascade Mountain Range, where Mt. Shasta was located. After several hours, our tired crew finally pulled onto the narrow dirt road that Haniel had marked for us on the map. The trees encroached on the vehicles from all sides with many of the branches trailing along the exterior of the cars. After a quarter of a mile, the narrow lane ended, disappearing into the vast denseness of the mountain terrain. "Amelia's Paul," as we called him, since Jaime's Protector was named Paul also, slid the door open. We all took turns filing out of the large vehicle and standing in the narrow gap of empty space between the van and the forest that threatened to swallow us whole.
"Well this ought to be fun," Lynn muttered to Sam and I as we studied the woods beyond us.
Sam and I both shot her grimacing looks, causing her to burst out laughing which got a questioning look from Robert as he opened up the hatch of the Explorer.
"I wonder where Haniel is," I said to my friends.
"I see you made it here after all," Haniel said, stepping out from the forest in front of us. "I believe the journey should have taken less time to travel," he continued pointedly, looking at the new hiking boots that incased my feet.
I grinned at him sheepishly. "You couldn't expect me to trek through this terrain with my tennis shoes on," I said, trying to defend myself.
"Evidently not," he responded in a way that would have sounded sarcastic coming from anyone else but him.
"Besides, everyone decided that boots were the only way to go," I said, indicating the boot covered feet of all my friends. The whole crew had immediately jumped on board when I noticed a billboard advertising the REI store on the way here. We all made quick work out of finding the right boots and heavy-duty socks. Even the guys, with their tough attitudes didn't want to have to deal with bugs climbing in their shoes.
"I see. A wise decision," Haniel said, dishing out rare praise.
"Exactly," I said impishly before heading off to help my friends divvy up the supplies.
The weight of the food, water, tents and backpacks filled with clothes was distributed evenly between the Protectors. They left the lightweight sleeping bags with shoulder straps for us "delicate Guides," as John put it, to carry. The wise crack of course earned him a firm sock in the arm from Kieran.
"I'll show you delicate," she taunted him, dancing away from as he tried to grab her. "No, way, I'm much too delicate for a big strong man like you to touch," she added, using her supernatural speed to keep herself at arm's length.
"Okay guys, we got a change of plans. The girls will get the heavy stuff," John joked, making a grab for the sleeping bag I had cradled in my arms.
"Uh oh, no way am I lugging all that stuff up the mountain. I'm a delicate girl for sure," I said laughing.
"Me too," Sam chimed in, raising her hand in the air.
"Um, smart move girls," Kieran said, finally stopping long enough for John to catch her. "Whatever would I do without my handsome stud to carry my heavy belongings," Kieran said from the security of John's arms in a voice dripping with southern charm.
"Playing with fire there my dear, you know I can't resist that sweet honey-filled voice," he said huskily before dipping his head down to claim her eager lips.
I turned away quickly, telling myself it was rude to intrude on their intimate moment, but to tell you the truth, I felt a little jealous. Not because I had a thing for John or anything like that. I lusted after the tender, intimate embrace they shared. My friends had been careful about their displays of affection when I was around over the summer, so seeing Kieran and John locked in each other's arms made my knees threaten to buckle. I closed my eyes and forced my emotions back under control.
When I opened my eyes again I saw that Sam was studying me, well aware of what I was feeling. I turned away and pretended to sort through the rest of our provisions.
"Hey, Haniel, how about you teleport our stuff up to the campsite for us," Shawn joked as he threw one of the oversized backpacks onto his back. The two small aluminum pans we had hooked to the side clanged together as he adjusted the straps so the pack would set flush against his back.
"Teleport?" Haniel asked, clearly confused.
"Yeah, you know that whole beam me up Scotty thing."
"Scotty?" Haniel asked, more baffled than ever.
"Shawn, isn't that way before your time? As a matter of fact, that's almost before my time too," Jacob added laughing.
"You wish old man," Shawn said, pretending like he was walking with a cane. He chuckled when Jacob let out a fierce growl and tried to snatch the invisible cane from Shawn's hands. "Kidding man, seriously though, I've been a "Trekkie" for ages. Of course, the last movie didn't do the classics their due justice."
"Hey, I liked the newest one," Sam said, raising her eyes suggestively. "Captain… whatever his name was is hot," she added mischievously.
"I'm sure," Shawn said, swooping her up into his arms.
Sam giggled as he dangled her upside down. "Stop," she gasped, trying to keep her shirt from sliding up.
"Shawn, we could use your help when you're done screwing around," Jacob called from the back of the van where everyone had finished loading up the gear.
I adjusted the straps of the sleeping bag on my back and pulled my iPod out of my pocket. I slipped on my headphones, letting the music drown out my friend's voices. I was overjoyed to be with all of them, but after almost four hours in a van, I craved some space and this was the only way I knew how to get it while being surrounded by so many people.
Chapter 5
It took us most of the day to hike to the temporary campsite Haniel had chosen beforehand. The hiking wasn't as bad as I had originally anticipated although the throbbing blisters on my heels would beg to differ.
The terrain of the mountain slowly changed the further we hiked. The trees now seemed larger and more forbidding. There was a tranquil beauty to the vast wilderness that surrounded us and yet, an eerie feeling that something unexpected could happen at any moment. Strangely though, the weight that had been sitting on my chest for the last two months began to ease and I wasn't sure what to make of it. Was I getting closer to Mark? Within the cloud of unease that had each of the Guides on edge as we trudged along, I could pick up the slightest flicker of pure goodness shining in the midst of it all. Maybe it was coming from our missing pair, but somewhere in my heart of hearts I wanted to believe it belonged to someone else.
Haniel stayed by my side the majority of the afternoon and after several hours I removed my headphones so I could chat with him.
"You are done with your instrument?" He asked, indicating my iPod Touch.
