Free Into the Dark (The Conjurors) by Kristen Pham

bamia, which was a vegetable that tasted sweet and sour at the same time. Sometime during the feast they heard the lilting sounds of a flute and the low percussion of a drum, adding to the enchantment.
        Cyrus, Valerie, and Thai talked excitedly, discussing their theories about who had sent Venu to attack Valerie. They barely noticed the curious looks of the other patrons of the restaurant until Chisisi stopped by their table. “It would be wise to keep your conversation quiet. You never know who might be listening,” he warned.
    The hours flew by, and finally Thai and Valerie were exhausted and stuffed. Totally satisfied, they let Chisisi lead them back to their room. For some reason, he did not lead them back through the breathtaking lobby to the elevators that would take them to their room. Instead, he led them to the end of the hallway to the emergency staircase.
    “Thirteen flights of stairs? You’ve got to be kidding me. Why don’t we take the elevator?” Thai asked.
    “You are less likely to be noticed if you take the stairs. We have many guests tonight, and all of their intentions may not be honorable. I must insist.”
    Thai started to contradict him, but Valerie jumped in before he could speak. “Thank you so much, Chisisi. Good night,” she said.
    “Be vigilant, young ones,” he replied, and watched them from below until they made it, exhausted, to their floor.
    Thai collapsed, out of breath, on the sofa. He was already asleep by the time Valerie tugged off her shoes. After she grabbed a blanket to cover him up, she thought how different he looked tonight. Not anxious and sullen, but happy and peaceful. “Sleep well, O Protector. Tomorrow is a big day,” she whispered with a smile.
    Valerie went into the enormous bedroom and snuggled into the middle of the king-size bed.
        “Sweet dreams for your last night on Earth, Val,” Cyrus whispered in her ear.
        “Night, Cy. See you tomorrow,” she murmured before falling asleep.
     
        Valerie awoke later in the night to the sounds of mumbled conversation coming from the balcony. She assumed that Cyrus and Thai were talking, but when she looked out at the balcony from the living room, she saw that Thai was alone. Behind him, the moonlight turned the sand and pyramids silver, deepening the mystery that surrounded them. Valerie heard him chuckle and say something softly.
        At that moment, Thai looked up and saw that Valerie was awake. He jumped slightly, as if she had startled him. She joined him on the balcony and stared out at the view.
        “You doing okay?” Thai asked.
        “Yeah. I’m nervous, but I’m ready to go to the Globe. I wish you were coming with me,” she said, and then felt the blood rush to her cheeks. She hoped he couldn’t see her blush in the darkness. “But maybe you have people you wouldn’t want to leave behind.”
        “Yeah, that’s part of it. I’m close with my brothers and sisters – there are six of us. And since I’m the oldest, my parents rely on me to help take care of them.”
        “That explains why you’re used to giving orders,” Valerie teased, nudging him slightly. “But how did you ever become involved with the Conjurors in the first place?”
        Thai hesitated, and then replied, “I never thought I would want to tell my story to anyone – it’s too weird. But now that I’ve gotten to know you, I've changed my mind. I think you have the right to know.”
        “I didn’t mean to pry. You don’t owe me anything. We’ve helped each other. I couldn’t have made it this far without you.”
        “Valerie, I want to tell you,” Thai said earnestly, and she nodded. “I was born in a small town in Vietnam where most people knew each other. Growing up, I did well for myself. I’ve got a talent for sports, and always did well in school. I was even accepted early admission into an American college with a full scholarship. That’s where my