I turn away from the few dozen people mingling nearby to face Karl. “Believe it or not, only a couple of days. I know it sounds stupid, but I didn’t even know he was part Elf.”
It was decided an hour ago that a Métis meeting was needed to help address what was going on with the Elders. A telephone tree was enacted, and now here we are in the warehouse Cameron manages surrounded by dozens of terrified people and children. Looking around, I’m shocked to see just how many of the species are present. Human, Elvin, even Gnomish and Dwarven traits pop up in the faces before me.
“This is crazy.” Karl’s voice drops so only I can hear it. “I mean, I obviously knew that there were half-breeds out there, but . . . whole communities? How is it that Annar isn’t aware of this?”
I counter with something that I know will upset him. “What if they are?”
Bingo. He bristles big time. “Wouldn’t they have done something if that was the case?”
“Karl, you’ve been friends with Callie for a long time. C’mon. Look at how she feels people still treat her at times, and she’s the daughter of an extremely influential and powerful Seer. Wouldn’t it make sense if she still gets treated like she’s a second class citizen that others would, too?”
His answer is a grunt.
I stuff my hands into my coat’s pockets. “If the Elders are attacking the Métis, then we need to do something to help. We can’t turn a blind eye now that we know.”
Karl reaches out and fingers the lapel of my coat. “Did you make this?”
Uh, subject changer, thy name is Karl. “Yes. Why?” I’d made the coat during my binge of Magical creations after I caved into my craft.
Karl’s smile is slight buy sly. “It’s a replica of Jonah’s coat, right down to the button sewn on with red thread instead of gray. The only thing different is this coat is white.”
I start, staring down at the button he’s mentioned. I’d stolen Jonah’s well-worn and well-loved gray pea coat to wear numerous times in the past. It was comfy and smelled just like him, all minty and warm. This one, though . . . “Huh,” I murmur. “I guess I didn’t realize I did that.”
“That seems improbable.”
“No, I mean—I’d needed a new coat.” I guess I was unconsciously searching for comfort.
Talk of Jonah reminds me of where he is and what’s going on around him. Karl must see the panic on my face because he says, “I got an update on the mission while you were in the shower tonight. He and Kellan both checked in with Zthane on time. The Guard is requiring them to check in every two hours.”
I want to press for more about the mission, but Erik is asking everyone to quiet down. Once they do, he recaps the situation for the crowd. After eight months of quiet, the Elders have reappeared and managed to catch a thirty-something Métis named Burt Eversgreen unaware. His body was been found on the outskirts of Anchorage; apparently, according to Erik, it looked like he aged a hundred years in death.
In all the time I’ve dealt with the Elders, I’ve never seen a victim before. Or even thought to ask what happened to them. “Is that normal?” I whisper to Karl.
He nods gravely.
For nearly fifteen minutes, debates rage on about whether or not people should flee Anchorage and find a new city to colonize or even go underground. Will eventually joins us at the far edge of the room; we are the three outsiders in a group of outsiders.
“What are we going to do about this?” Will whispers to us.
Karl’s eyes don’t leave the trio of Métis debating the merits of joining Oklahoma City’s colony. “Meaning?”
“They said that there were a handful of these beasties. I suggest we go find them and kick their arses. That way, nobody will have to leave.”
“Are you serious?” Karl asks, voice low. “We need to call in a team to scout for them.”
It’s obvious this displeases Will. “What, like one of your Magical Guard teams?”
I take a deep breath and remind myself that I no longer have the luxury of being a coward, even when I’m scared at the mere thought of what I’m about to say. “Between the three of us, I think we can do it.”
I briefly debate if I just lost my mind, especially with how Karl is glowering at me.
But no—this is the right thing to do. “Lee is still in town, right?” He nods, so I continue, “If need be, we can get him to track their location. But Karl, let’s be honest. No team is going to effectively neutralize the Elders. Now that we know I can do it—”