Time for a final teaser! You get to see some familiar characters and meet a new one 🙂 Again, this is subject to change and editing, but I hope you enjoy! As a reminder, the last teaser can be found here.
“Phillip, don’t go! Please!”
For once his mother was not ordering him, and of all the things that could have stopped him, her pleading cry was one. He hesitated.
His mother and Beausoleil drew near, but as Phillip backed away, they stopped.
“We’ll figure something out, Phillip,” his mother said. “I promise.”
“You always say that,” Phillip cried.
”We have new information,” Beausoleil said. “Trust me, Phillip. We can use it to search for your father.”
“When?” Phillip asked. “I have a plan now.”
His mother glanced at Delroy who looked away. “Please, don’t leave with Mr. Mendes.”
“You’re wrong about him,” Phillip said. “Dad trusted him. And Natalie said he could help us. She thinks we should leave with him too!”
“No,” his mother breathed. “Oh, Natalie.”
Natalie bowed her head. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Stone. I promise I’ll do everything I can to keep Phillip safe.”
Beausoleil turned to Delroy. “Are you going along with this? Are you going to take them?”
Delroy shook his head. “Absolutely not. Now, if you all don’t mind, I’ll be on my way.”
Anger surged through Phillip as Delroy, with scarcely a glance at him, turned heel and continued down the walk.
”My dad asked you!” he shouted at Delroy’s retreating back. “He trusted you!” When Delroy failed to turn around, Phillip pulled out his map and charged across the street. Delroy halted.
Phillip stared at him in challenge. He straightened his map in his hands.
“Aerthreis,” he ordered.
As the lines emerged on his map, he heard Delroy yell, “No! Are you crazy? You’ll get yourself killed!”
“What?” his mother screamed to Delroy. “What is he doing? Where is he going?”
Natalie had run to Phillip. The hazy, wiggling shape of Aerthreis had formed when she reached him and flung her arms around him. Phillip grasped her tight. He saw Beausoleil bolt towards them, saw his mother drop to her knees. He watched as Delroy raised his hands and closed his eyes, summoning his gift, Phillip thought. Then it all blurred.
“I’m sorry, mom,” Phillip whispered, as he and Natalie faded into the map and disappeared.