Arek grinds his teeth at the man. “She remembers nothing. There are too many rebels in the Cellar. She wouldn’t make it one day in there. Let me take her until the Powers convene. She deserves a fair trial. Two of the Prophets have already given their approval.”

Leigh doesn’t bat an eye. “This woman has already had a trial and was declared guilty. It is rather lucky for her that she had a chance to hide again, but we cannot let that change the verdict.”

“Of course, we can. At least until she remembers.” They speak with such intensity and neither give any indication that they will back away. “As of now she is only Willow. I don’t see why you are so threatened.”

“Son,” he says.

My breath sticks in my throat. It can’t be possible that these two men are related from the way they speak to each other.

Leigh continues, “You know my duty.”

“I know your duty well,” Arek jabs at Leigh.

Briston jumps in. “Leigh, I agree with Arek. Nothing but harm will come to someone like Willow if we send her to the Cellar.”

“You cannot ask—” Leigh begins with a shake of his head.

“I can and have. I will ask for her well-being.” Briston places a hand on Leigh’s shoulder as though he clearly trusts the man.

Yet Leigh refuses to relent, “How will this look to everyone else if I let her go with Arek?”

“People should understand the danger of sending her to the Cellar too quickly. There will be no chance for her there and everyone knows what kind of war will break out if something happens to her without proper investigation.”

Standing in the middle of these men I feel small and intimidated. “What’s the Cellar?” I ask.

“The Cellar,” Arek begins, “is a place for criminals—like any prison. There are Velieri prisons built to remain hidden.” His thumb moves down the skin of my palm as he holds on to the handcuffs like he can somehow sense my fear.

Leigh is quiet.

“One more thing before you make your decision,” Arek begins. “Japha is back.”

This doesn’t just snatch the attention of Leigh and Briston—the entire room quiets. Every eye is now on us.

“Are you sure?” Leigh asks quickly.

“Yes. He was there with Navin. We nearly didn’t get her out. He took down three men.”

Leigh is upset by this news. He places his hand on his forehead and growls. “I guess this can only be expected. It was about time that he showed up.”

“What can be done?” Briston asks Leigh.

“Nothing. Our worries right now belong to the Powers. Not Navin and Japha,” Leigh explains.

“I hate to disagree with you,” Arek says confidently.

“Oh, yes, we all know how you hate to disagree with me.” For the first time Leigh’s response pulls a smile from the men.

“She has a long road to recovery and now is the time to protect her.”

“You don’t have to mention things that I am already aware of, Arek. You may take her.” Relenting seems to take all that Leigh has until even his shoulders drop in agitated submission. “But the moment that I hear from the Powers, you will bring her back.”

“Yes, sir.” Arek finally drops his chest and steps back.

Before we can go, Briston steps to me. “It was nice to meet you . . . Willow.”

“You too . . . sir?” I have no clue what to call him.

He chuckles, “You can just call me Briston. I have someone here who would like to say hello.”

In the corner of the room, a man with crossed legs sits reading a book. Briston calls for him and when he walks to me, my eyes widen. “Dr. Richards!” I cry out. “How are you . . . what?”

The doctor smiles as he nears me. “Hi, Willow. It’s good to see you again.” He hugs me just as he did in the hospital on my last day there after the attack.

“I don’t understand,” I answer honestly.

“I’m actually Briston’s personal doctor. When everything happened to you, the government and—” he hesitates as though catching himself from saying more, “Briston put me on assignment. Just to keep an eye on you.”

How did any of this make sense? “So, you were always a part of this?” I whisper.

“I had to be, Willow. For your protection.” Dr. Richards puts a hand on my shoulder.

Leigh interrupts, “I will get in contact with you when you are to have her back.”

“Let’s go,” Arek says, “before Leigh changes his mind.”

“We’ll see each other again soon.” Briston winks at me, so I smile. Yet the smile feels labored with questions.

“Okay,” I say. Arek and Kilon lead me out of the room and back through the house. “Where do you plan on taking me?”

“I haven’t yet decided.”

By his tone I know that is all he wants to say. None of these people are to be argued with. I’m not sure whether it is the fact that they always speak with such confidence and intensity, or it could be that some of them are apparently thousands of years old; but whatever it is, I’m not going to argue.

He takes off my handcuffs before we walk through the house. I pass a window through which I see Briston’s entourage trek through the snow under umbrellas. Several black sedans sit outside along the driveway. They wrap their arms around themselves to keep warm in the below-freezing temperatures. From under one of the umbrellas, Briston looks up and his eyes catch mine.

“Where will they go?” I ask.

“They will call a meeting of the Powers to determine what we should do with you.”

“Oh, is that all?” I whisper as Arek grins.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

When night falls on the house, from the room where they let me stay, I can see very little beyond the black windows. Tender snowflakes still lightly drop on the ceiling—not enough to accumulate, but just enough to crystallize the edges. It has been three hours since they led me here to sleep, and two hours since I figured out that sleep will be nearly impossible.

A natural wood dresser sits across the room and my bare feet pad the floor with a small ache in my arch. My shoulders feel tied to my ears and my calves are sore from my knees down, but I want to find something lighter to wear to bed. Should I open something of Arek’s without permission?

I am worried about it until I open the first drawer. Every article of clothing belongs to a woman. My hands push through stacks of folded shirts and pants, colorful in nature and feminine in size. The small drawers at the top are both for bras and panties.