Free Phoebe Wren and the Vortex of Light by Julie K. Timlin

structural wear and tear – ‘if only you knew’ thought Phoebe, but she was well aware how crazy she would sound if she tried to explain the real reason for the elevator collapse. For now at least she would have to keep her thoughts to herself and trust that Cosain and his companions had everything under control.
    “Wow, I’m beat!” exclaimed Eva, wiping the back of her hand across her brow. “Who would ever have imagined how today would pan out! We’ve got so much to do, Jack – how are we ever going to be ready for our flight tomorrow? We really could have done without all this !”
    “It’s okay Love,” said Jack, “I’ve been on to the airline, and explained the situation, and somehow convinced them to let us change our flight. We won’t be flying tomorrow, we’re booked on to the 1.30pm flight on Friday.”
    “Friday? That’s the 16 th ?” asked Eva. “That’s great, we’ll still be home for Kate’s birthday on Saturday. She’ll be so pleased! I really can’t wait to get home now and just spend some time with our family and friends.”
    “Not long now, Love,” Jack smiled at Eva, and they turned their attentions back to clearing up what remained of the elevator dust and debris.
    Aunty Kate? In the midst of all that had happened during the last twenty-four hours, Phoebe really hadn’t given much thought to her family back in Ireland. Aunty Kate and Uncle John had been so kind to her. Even in the midst of their own grief and loss after the plane crash, they had made Phoebe their priority and made sure that she knew that she would never be alone. Phoebe had been so grateful to them, and now the thought of seeing John, Kate, Abi, Jamie and Caitlin again made her smile broadly. The notion of a family reunion, something as simple as a gathering to celebrate Kate’s birthday on Saturday, filled her with inexpressible joy, and she really began to believe that a return to life as she knew it was not only possible, but was so close she could almost feel it. Surely now that the family wouldn’t even be catching Araco Airlines flight 434 tomorrow, the crash of Thursday 15 th July would never happen… right ? Despite desperately wanting this to be the case, somehow Phoebe felt that it was just too straightforward – and she was right.

 

C HAPTER 14
    Back in Johannesburg International Airport, two feet worth of invisible but nonetheless roguish demon was dancing around the Araco Airlines check in desk in sheer glee. Graygor – Braygor’s despicable and equally twisty twin – was literally puffed up with pride at his latest meddlesome interference. His normally squinty orange eyes were wide open and his hacked purple lips were parted in a muted celebratory cheer as his clawed and gnarly fists punched the air with pride. His plan had been simple yet clever – and all his own doing – and now Graygor was certain that his ingenuity would be handsomely rewarded. Distracting the pretty lady at the Araco desk while he wrought his mischief on the airline’s computer system had been much easier than he had anticipated, and now Araco Airlines flight 454 from Johannesburg to Ireland registered empty seats on Friday 16th July, which Graygor knew Jack Wren would snap up for his sickeningly sweet little family.
    Graygor simply could not contain his mirth at the fact that now he and his grizzly cohorts knew which flights the Wrens would be on, since he had manipulated the flight manifest to suit Captain Schnither’s schemes. But even better than that was the incomparable knowledge that was inebriating him so – those annoyingly persistent angelic do-gooders would be fooled into believing that because the Wrens would not board the doomed flight of Thursday 15 th July, they would be safe and live happily ever after. WRONG! Graygor could not wait to tell Schnither that he had set his demonic brothers one step ahead of those blasted angels – and this time, there would be no second chances for Phoebe Wren.