Damian's Oracle

"Pierre, I want to go home!" she complained.

"Okay."

"Really?" She poked her head out of the bathroom. He lowered his phone.

"All clear. You are coming with us, mademoiselle," he said to Traci.

Traci sprang up and snatched her purse. Pierre grimaced and rose more slowly. Sofia slipped on oversized flip-flops Traci dug out of one of the closets. Pierre's phone dinged, and he opened it again.

"There are a few missions going on, but they said the house is clear," he said. "Linda is there. Looks like we'll have to evac and rebuild the Tucson Sector. Czerno knows where all our safe houses are."

Sofia only half-listened as she led them down the stairs, anxious to get back to Damian and the place that had become her home. Grande and Lon awaited them in the living room, and they rose as she approached. Two armored Tahoes sat out front with an additional two more well-armed Guardians. They all piled into the SUVs.

"If I weren't so scared, this would be neat," Traci whispered to her. "Armored cars, bodyguards … like we're famous or something."

"It is kinda neat," Sofia agreed. "Until your bodyguard shoots you."

"If you keep mentioning it, it won't be an accident next time," Pierre retorted, shooting her a look in the rearview mirror. She smiled, and Traci covered her mouth to keep him from hearing her laugh.

"Pierre," Sofia said with a serious note. He glanced at her. "Thank you for taking care of me. You're a good man. I hope you stay my bodyguard."

"You're welcome." Though still arch, his tone had softened enough to show her he wasn't unaffected by her genuine words.

He drove them through back roads and alleys to ensure no one followed before taking the highway and exiting into a direction that appeared to be nothing but desert. The mansion was invisible until they crossed the boundary of Damian's magic, when it appeared out of nowhere: an expanse of green grass, trees, and the stone building in the middle of the desert. Pierre dropped them off in front, waiting until they stepped across the entrance before driving off. The compound hummed with activity, from the gardens that served as a helipad to the teeming barracks and Guardians pacing the halIs. She was reminded of a scene from a movie, where an army mobilized for war. They remained in the foyer, uneasy with the amount of activity and weapons, until approached.

"Linda's asleep already. Go on up and rest. We've got to start moving everything within twenty-four hours," Lon told them, slinging a machine gun over his shoulder.

"Traci," Rainy appeared from down another hallway, holding out his hand. She went to him, ducking out of the paths of a few Guardians.