“Surely you can’t expect me to take on another job of that magnitude. Not after I was given the impression that the Brianne situation would be my last assignment.”
“Nothing of the sort was stated at the time, Matthias. That is just wishful thinking on your part. It has been known for some time you have hoped for a seat on the Council of Elders.”
Matthias was incapable of hate, but he could gather up feelings of disdain toward Lucius. The man could be so smug at times! He had turned even worse since he’d become a member of the council. He seemed to enjoy the fact he was on it and Matthias was not.
“While your work with Allie Walker and Brianne Sinclair was successful, we felt your methods were unorthodox, to say the least,” Simon, the head of the council, gently chided Matthias. “Still, as you said, it was successful.”
Pride was not permitted among their kind, but Matthias felt it nonetheless.
“That is why we are asking you to take on this very special assignment.”
A parchment filled with strange symbols appeared in the air and drifted toward Matthias. A quick scan told him all he needed to know about its content.
“This has to be accomplished during the Christmas holidays.” He made it sound like a curse.
“Yes, it does.”
“Does this mean I will have to deal with Santa Claus again?” He felt panic inside. “The last time we were forced together was not pleasant. I’d rather work with that blasted Easter Bunny!”
“I’m sure that could be arranged,” Lucius said with a sly smile.
Matthias tamped down his instinctive retort. It would not do to anger the elders when he so badly wanted to be one of them.
He studied the parchment again.
“She is very important to the future, Matthias,” Simon explained. “Her progeny will give the world a great scientist in the next century. It is our duty to make sure nothing goes wrong.”
“She is a very unhappy woman,” Matthias said after he finished reading the report.
“Yes, she is, but we are certain you will do whatever is necessary to bring her soul back to where it belongs.”
Matthias left the council chambers with a heavy heart and more than a little pique in his spirit.
“If that’s the way they feel, then I will just have to somehow turn this horrible disaster around,” he grumbled to himself as he made his way to the transportation chamber. “And here I thought I would not have to return to Earth again! As far as I am concerned, this will be the last time.”
With a heavy sigh, he entered the chamber and set the coordinates for his destination.
“Willow Hills, Indiana,” he muttered. “And to think I once called Babylon barbaric!”