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Wednesday, July 1.
“Mom? Dad?” I walk through an empty kitchen, wondering where they could be.
“Zoe? We’re upstairs.”
I climb the staircase and enter my parents’ room. Luggage lays on the bed, and dresser drawers are open.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“Are you packed?” Mom asks. “We’re leaving early tomorrow morning.”
“No. Where are we going?”
She looks at me and to Dad. “Honey, we always go to the cabin over the fourth. Are you feeling okay?”
Of course. My family is headed to our summer house in northern Minnesota. It’s about two hours west of Duluth, so I know that they’ll be safe there. And if any demons come looking for us here, we’ll be gone.
“Oh, yeah. I’m almost packed. You know me, last minute clothes washing.” I turn and shuffle toward my room to start packing for the week-long vacation.
How am I going to get Shay up there? Kieran and Sidelle can make themselves invisible and just hang around. Vash, Cali, and the Packs will meet us north of Duluth, so they can stay in hotels. So it comes back to Shay.
“Um, guys?” I turn around. “Can Shay come with us? His mom is out of town, and he doesn’t have any place to go. And I think Kieran won’t be around, or he’d stay with him.”
“Sure, Zoe,” Dad says. “The holidays are for celebration with family and friends. It’s nice that you think of them. Plus, your Mom and I will take all the time you want to give us. Next year, we’ll hardly ever see you since you’ll be an important senior in high school.”
“Great, I’ll let Shay know.” I head back to my room. “And Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Thanks. I love you guys.”
“We love you, too.”
When I return to my room, I dig out my phone and text Shay to let him know what’s happening.
Me: You’re coming with us to our cabin!
Scrounging around for my suitcase, which I find buried under a mound of clothes in the walk-in-closet, I toss in jean shorts, tanks, and T-shirts. My cell chimes, alerting me to a message.
Shay: Sounds good. I was trying to think of a way to get us to Duluth without raising suspicion.
Me: Problem solved. You should pack and come over here. Maybe I can convince my parents to let us drive separately.
Shay: OK
Taking a toiletry bag, I fill it with makeup, hair product, and plenty of elastic bands. The cabin already has most of my belongings since we spend most of our summer weekends there.
Reorganizing the luggage, I painstakingly refold everything so more items can be brought with me. Even though I know I won’t wear most of it, I must bring enough clothes because a girl has to have choices.
I hear the doorbell and run downstairs to let Shay in. Opening the front door, Shay greets me with a warm smile.
“Hey, Beautiful.” He leans in and kisses me. I wrap my arms around his neck as his arms snake around my back, dropping his bag to the ground. “Miss me that much?”
“Always,” I pant, leading him back to my room. “Shay’s here,” I say to my parents.
“Glad you could come with us, Shay.” Dad’s voice carries through the hallway. “We’re about ready to pack the vehicle.”
“Yeah, about that, Dad. Would it be possible if Shay drove me? I’m going to show him around town and some other tourist attractions later in the week.”
“Sure,” Mom says as she walks out of her closet. “And when you’re done with that, you can take Shay to the iron range and Duluth. It’s not too far away, and you can view the harbor and watch ships come and go.” She comes and leans against the door frame. “Oh, have you been to the Glensheen Mansion in Duluth, Shay? There’s a ghost story involved, if you like that sort of thing.”
Shay glances at me and I shrug.
“No, I don’t think I’ve been there before. Sounds cool.”
“I have to finish gathering my stuff. Come on, Shay.” I tug his hand back into my room. “That’s so weird of them. I thought they would kick up a fuss about you coming along, and then for Mom to suggest we go to Duluth for the day.”
“I know. It’s like someone is watching over us.”
“Maybe He is?”
“Could be. Or it could be luck is finally on our side.” He sits on my bed and watches me pack.
“Most of my stuff is already up there, so I won’t need to bring too much in the way of personal items.”
“This isn’t too much stuff?” Shay smirks.
“This? Nope. You should see the first and last trip of the season. I think I could fill an entire truck. But I like having variety. You never know when it’ll rain, snow, or be cold.”
Shay glimpses back to the door and lowers his voice and says, “My car is loaded to the gills with weapons and amo. We won’t have enough time to come back for it, so we need to bring it all with us.”
I nod and continue to fold clothes.
“Zoe?” Shay and I look up at my sister who is standing inside my room. “I know I should ask to be in here, but I thought you guys would want to know that something is happening.”
“What do you mean?” I pull Stella deeper into my bedroom. “What have you seen?”
“Right now, we’re in the calm before the storm, and all of Hell will be unleashed and that’s not a figure of speech,” she says. “There are rumblings that the Knights are gathering near the Canadian border.”
“We know,” Shay says. “Kieran let the angels know that that’s where Zoe’ll be for the trap. We need them there, so the Veil can be opened with as little prying eyes from Ordinaries as possible.”
“Wait. You’re the bait? You can’t be!” Stella hugs me. “I have a very bad feeling about you being there. I know you have your sword now, but I can’t see beyond the battle.”
“What do you think that means, Shay?” I ask.
“Not sure. But I’ll protect you. We all will. We knew using you as the bait was risky, but it’s the only way to make sure that the demons go up north and not force our hand and take the fight where the population is high.”
I sit next to Shay and guide Stella to sit on the other side of me. My hands shake, and my breathing labors.
Shay threads his fingers through mine and squeezes. “I know you’re scared, Zoe. You have every right to be. You’ve only known about angels and demons for a couple of months, you’re just learning how to use your sword, and you only recently received your wings. It’s a lot to take in. I understand. But your friends are all with you. I know you can do this, and we will be by your side. And we will drive back evil and win this war.”