As hard as it would be, as much as it would destroy her very will to even live, Schuyler knew what she had to do.
She had to tell another lie.
A lie that would release him.
AUDIO RECORDINGS ARCHIVE:
Repository of History
CLASSIFIED DOCUMENT:
Altithronus Clearance Only
Cordelia Van Alen Personal File
Transcript, of conversation dated 12/25/98.
Cordelia Van Alen: Come here, child. Do you know me?
Jordan Llewellyn: Seraphiel.
CVA: Good.
CVA: Do you know why I have brought you?
JL: (child's voice changes) I am Pistis Sophia. The Watcher. A spirit born with its eyes wide open, born into full consciousness. Why have you woken me?
CVA: Because I am afraid.
JL: What are you afraid of?
CVA: I am afraid that we have failed. That the battle in Rome was a farce. That our greatest enemy still walks this earth, but I do not know how. You are Jordan Llewellyn. For this cycle you are the daughter of Forsyth Llewellyn. If my suspicions are correct, then you will be our first line of defense.
JL: What must I do?
CVA: You shall watch and listen and observe.
JL: And then?
CVA: If what I fear is true, you must complete what we failed to do in Rome. But I cannot help you. I am bound by the Code. This is the last time we shall speak.
JL: I understand, Godmother.
CVA: Be well, child. Take my blessing on your journey May it keep you safe. Facio Valiturus Fortis. Be strong and brave. Till we meet again.
JL: See you in the next life.
Pain.
Searing pain.
As if someone were holding a hot poker to her heart. It was scalding, burning. She could feel her skin turn red, then black, could smell the smoke rising from her frying flesh. This was nothing like the attack at the Repository. She would not survive this.
Bliss tore through the miasma of sleep, forced herself to wake up. Wake up! Wake up! It was like being suffocated and torn apart at the same time. But she salvaged what power she had, and gathered all of her effort, all of her strength, and successfully pushed the pain away.
There was a crash and a scream.
She blinked awake and sat up on the couch. She had taken a nap in their suite after coming back from the beach. She was still trying to make sense of what had happened when the door flew open and her parents appeared in the doorway.