U.S.A. - Mid-October, Current
Year
Alexia Reve-Drake pressed her spine more tightly
against the broad trunk of the tree, hoping
that the tree and the darkness would hide her
from the men seeking to harm her.
She forced herself to breathe
slowly, trying hard to listen over the rapid
pounding of her heart. A light breeze shuffled
fallen maple and oak leaves, rustling them across
the museum's parking lot. From a distance, the
sound of traffic on the expressway hummed. It
was long past rush hour, and no squeal of tires
or blare of horns broke the steady whir of passing
cars.
"Where'd she go?"
Alexia held the breath she'd
just inhaled and fought the hysteria urging
her to scream.
While the entire day had been
one confusing event after another, she hadn't
expected it to end like this.
"Alexia."
She swallowed the terrified
cry threatening to escape. This wasn't the first
time today she'd heard her name whispered.
A hushed crooning that came
from nowhere to beat against the inside of her
head. Even though she had never mastered the
skill of telepathy, she had learned how to protect
her mind from others.
But right now, she couldn't
concentrate hard enough to call up even an iota
of protection. She was too rattled by the men
after her. And this intruder was stronger, his
will more powerful than any she'd encountered
before.
Stronger and--not quite human.
She sensed the raw, predatory power of a beast--a
power that had touched her once before, sending
her life into chaos. This intruder was a lethal
enemy who could easily slip through her visualization
of a wall closing off her thoughts to others.
"I think we lost her."
Leaves crunched underfoot as the three men continued
their search. She shivered, certain the masked
trio would never give up their hunt.
"Alexia."
Her shivers turned to tremors
of fear. She took a chance and glanced around
the tree. Overhead lights glared, casting eerie
shadows onto the pavement of the museum's nearly
empty south-side parking lot. At this time of
night only two cars remained--hers and a pale
grey sedan.
The night maintenance crew and
security guard parked in the lot on the other
side of the building. Maintenance wouldn't reach
her end of the museum for another three or four
hours. And Bill, the young night security guard,
would most likely be on his cell phone with
his new wife.
Unless some miracle occurred,
nobody would be aware that she was still here,
let alone in danger.
"Alexia."
Unable to control her fear
and suddenly growing anger, she silently screamed,
"What? What do you want?"
The intruder laughed. A harsh,
evil sound that nearly sucked the breath from
her. Finally, he answered, "The grimoire."
