Free Avenger by Heather Burch Page B

eventually it will adapt.”
    “What about the midplane? Is she safe there?”
    “No. The midplane is the doorway to both the heavenly and earthly realms, so the seeker has to pass through it to reach this realm. If he can go in once, he can go in again. Traveling the midplane can get you places quickly, but don’t linger there too long.”
    “It’s hopeless.” Nikki didn’t mean to say it out loud, but facts were facts.
    Raven gave her his full attention. “It’s not hopeless. Stop saying that.”
    “He’s right,” Christopher agreed. “The seeker also relies on your emotion to draw him closer. Your fear, discouragement, all those things are like smoke signals to the creature. When he gets close, he’ll rely on your emotion to draw him in. In fact, it’s rumored that once he gets in close proximity, he can no longer get a fix on your scent and has to rely on your emotions to bring him to you.”
    “If he can smell me from far away, he can smell me up close. What you’re saying doesn’t make sense.”
    “In close proximity, he frenzies. It’s not like he can’t smell you, it’s more like you’re all he smells. All around him. So he can’t find you. At that point, he has to rely on your fear or something like that to draw him to you.”
    “So, the aquarium isn’t any good if you’re hiding and terrified? He can’t see you, he smells you everywhere, and your fear will lead him right in.” She gave a quick nod. “That’s what you’re saying.”
    Christopher’s face fell. “Unfortunately, that sums it up. The water wouldn’t do much good in that case. Once you leave here, stay full of faith that you will overcome. You will find a way to beat the seeker or to send it back to the pit.”
    “How do you know all this?” Raven didn’t seem like he was questioning Christopher’s information, just how he gathered it.
    “I have a friend who came up against a seeker years ago. It became my life’s study after … after …” He gathered some papers to his chest. “Anyway, as I said, you’ll find a way to beat it or send it back to the pit. I have faith you will.”
    Nikki spoke up. “I have faith.” She thought back to the faith ball Will taught her to hold on the yacht.
    Raven cut her a hard look. She had no idea why. He was the one who’d helped her tap into the well of faith within herself. Mace had tried, but mostly ended up frustrated with her, and she with him, while Raven had gently guided her fingers over his until she felt the sphere of faith vibrating in her hands. That’s when she was able to hold it for herself.
    When she looked over to give Raven an appreciative smile, he dropped his gaze and almost looked … guilty of something. What was that about? It didn’t matter. He’d taught her how to use her faith. Which may help save her from the seeker. Right now, she’d forgive him anything.
    She could keep up a positive attitude if it would help her stay alive. After all, without it, she was doomed.
    “I think you should talk to someone else,” Christopher said, after a few moments consideration. “Her name is Kaylyn Quick, she’s a …”
    “A Xian. I know her.” Raven shrugged. “If it’s the same Kaylyn.”
    Nikki leaned toward him. “Do you mean the singer?”
    Raven ignored her. “What does Kaylyn have to do with this?”
    “Her uncle fought a seeker once.”
    “What happened to him?” Nikki asked.
    Christopher answered her with silence. He rose and filled his coffee cup. “Kaylyn may know some things that can helpyou. I’ve not talked to her in a while, but I have contact information here somewhere.”
    He rummaged through a drawer then handed a card to Raven. Nikki was about to ask Christopher if he’d let them send an email to Zero when she noticed the change in Raven. His foot tapped noisily, and he acted like a few hundred ants were trekking down his spine. “What’s wrong?”
    He stared at the window for a second. “Nothing.”
    She wasn’t