Hunting Shadows (Shadows 3)

Sarah frowned but she didn’t argue, and I was relieved that Grant didn’t make any further objections.

Being tightly wound up and waiting for something to happen is even more tiring that facing actual danger. We got into a routine the next couple of days, which consisted of eating, watching television, and talking endlessly about what could happen. Sarah called Jenny with the ludicrous excuse that we had all caught a virus from each other, and that she and Marcus needed to stay away until we got better and were no longer contagious. Jenny protested at first, saying that she didn’t care and wanted to check up on us, but Sarah was finally able to convince her not to come over.

By Wednesday we were all on edge, having spent three days waiting to be attacked, only to be faced with another day of being trapped inside the apartment.

“That’s it,” Grant bit out, standing up from the couch where he had been watching TV for the past two hours. “I’m going stir crazy trapped in here. I can’t take this anymore.”

He paced the length of the living room, running his hand through his hair. “We’re like animals just waiting to be slaughtered. There’s gotta be more that we can do.”

Sarah remained seated on the couch, but she looked over at me on the recliner. “I’m sorry, Caitlin, but I agree. I don’t think I can take being trapped in here any longer either. Can’t we just go to our classes?”

Simon walked back from the kitchen where he had gone to get a drink, obviously having heard Sarah and Grant. “That’s what Caitlin’s father wants. For us to get fed up and have our defenses down. Once we separate, we’ll be even more vulnerable.” He gave Grant a hard look. “If he can’t get Caitlin, Sarah is his next choice.”

“Maybe we can compromise,” I spoke up, not wanting a fight to erupt. And I had to admit that I was going a little crazy trapped inside the apartment as well. “I’ll go with Sarah to her classes so she’s never alone. You can stick with Grant.”

“I do not need Simon to defend me,” Grant spat out. “I can take care of myself.”

“Grant, be reasonable. These vardogers are powerful. I know you can normally take care of yourself, but these aren’t normal circumstances.”

Simon spoke before Grant could respond to my entreaty. “No. That’s not a good idea, Caitlin. There’s no way you and Sarah are going off on your own.”

“We’ll just be going to class. It’s not like we’re going far away.” I sighed heavily. “Are we just going to move around like a pack, doing everything together like we’re joined at the hip? My father has controlled me enough. I don’t want him controlling me now, making me too afraid to venture out into the world. Honestly, I’m sick and tired of being stuck in here, too. I can’t take it anymore!”

I realized my voice was becoming loud, but the frustration and stress was taking its toll on me. Simon frowned and studied me for a few beats before responding.

“We’ll both go with Sarah to her classes. There’s safety in numbers.”

“Wait a second.” Sarah put up her hand in protest. “I can’t have you two following me around to all my classes. It’s one thing for you to show up to my lectures where there’re so many people that you won’t be noticed. But what am I going to say to the professors in my smaller classes? That you’re my bodyguards?”

“I should be the one protecting Sarah,” Grant interjected. The argument swelled as everyone put in their two cents about the best way to proceed, and soon we were just talking over each other.

“Stop.” Simon’s voice was quiet but authoritative, cutting through all the bickering. We all automatically looked at him. “This is ridiculous. No one’s going to any classes. Period.”

Simon’s command riled up Grant and he stalked over to him until they were just inches apart. “Who put you in charge? We agreed to follow your plan, but you have no plan! You don’t know what to do any more than we do! Hell, how do we know you’re not a part of the trap? You could still be working with Caitlin’s father. You guys are two of a kind, after all.”

Simon’s jaw tightened but his voice was calm when he answered. “I’m just t

rying to keep everyone alive. Sarah and Caitlin are in the most danger. Do you want to risk their lives just because you’re tired of being in this apartment? This is nothing compared to what we could be facing.”

Sarah walked over to Grant and put a hand on his arm, her tone coaxing. “It’s okay, I don’t need to go to class. It was a stupid thought anyway. Simon is right. We need to stay here where it’s safe.”

Grant took a deep steadying breath, and then backed away, allowing Sarah to lead him back to the couch. He sat there silently, watching the television, but I knew he wasn’t really paying attention to it. His hands kept clenching and unclenching into fists and I knew he was trying to control his anger.

The silence was interrupted by the sound of Sarah’s cell phone ringing. After she answered it, she listened for a few moments and then held out the phone to me. “It’s for you. It’s Marie.”

I had given her Sarah’s cell phone number since neither Simon nor I had one anymore, but this was the first time I had heard from her since we left Connecticut. I took the phone from Sarah eagerly.

“Marie?”

“Caitlin, I have someone that I think can help you. He’s a seer with incredible powers and I believe he’s going to be a pivotal force in the movement to eradicate not only vardogers, but seers who have betrayed us.”

“He?” I asked in confusion. “I thought all seers were women.”

Marie seemed amused by my response. “The majority of seers are women, but it’s a not a hard and fast rule. There are male seers as well. They’re just not as common.”

“Is he someone we can trust?”

“I believe so. And he’s the only one willing to help.” Marie paused before continuing. “A lot of seers are afraid of your father. They’re afraid to help you. He’s been responsible for a lot of seers’ deaths, and they don’t want to meet the same fate.”