Ascending the Veil by Venessa Kimball Page B

looks back at the door. She catches a glimpse of me looking through the window in the process. I hold my breath and hope my presence won’t spook her. I can’t hear her thoughts, she has blocked them from me. I can’t blame her, I would have also. She slowly gets up and walks to the door. My sister, Bethany comes to mind when I look at her. What if Bethany was in Isabel’s shoes and it was me lying on that table. I can’t imagine putting such a burden on my little sister. I know Corinna, our Corinna, wouldn’t want that for Isabel either. Isabel opens the door quietly and looks from Monica, to Xander, then to me. She quietly says, “There has been no change.”
    Monica’s voice is soft and tender, “There will be. It will just take some time. We hope that the presence of those she knows will bring her back to us.”
    Isabel nods and lowers her eyes to the ground briefly. It is strange to hear Monica sound so nurturing. Then, I realize that she is probably playing up the pity card to persuade Isabel to let us help bring Corinna back. Isabel looks back up at Monica, “So. Um, why are they here.”
    Her eyes shift in Xander’s and my direction. Monica dodges her question, “Can we come in and talk quietly.”
    Isabel moved toward Monica and pulls the door shut behind her, closing Corinna off from all of us. “We can talk out here.”
    I gotta give it to her, Isabel is a no nonsense kind of girl. I admire her and feel compassion for her plight of protecting the ones she loves.
    Monica responds diplomatically, “I understand you are wanting to keep your sister safe. I would want to do the same thing. Hell, if I had a chance to rewind time and protect my mother, I would.”
    Monica’s mother, Joan Leal, was a very high ranking Dobrian guardian that was heading the Tokyo team here in Japan. She and the rest of the team were ambushed by Sondian guardian spies that were deep cover. Their mission was to access and lift Dobrian data as well as Dobrian Copulas and eliminate the safe house Joan and her team occupied, she martyred herself in order to keep our data and devices safe from that Sondian attack.
    Monica’s eyes become glassy and she quickly looks up to the ceiling, trying to pull back the tears brewing within her. She blinks quickly and looks at me. “Jesca knew your sister, Isabel. I think it is worth a shot to let Jesca try and spend some time with her. Maybe her presence will have an effect on her.”
    I know Monica means well, but I feel convicted to give Isabel the raw, straight up deal. I move slowly to stand in front of her. Isabel uncrosses her arms, letting her hands dangle by her side. I carefully reach for her hand and take it in mine. Isabel’s body tenses upon the contact and she looks down at our joined hands. She seems a little shocked by my gesture, but she doesn’t pull away; a good sign.
    I ask gently, “Isabel, would you look at me please?”
    Isabel pulls her eyes from my hands and looks at me. “Isabel, I want to help your sister. We all do. The bond of sisters is unbreakable.”
    Isabel tightens her hand around mine. Her eyes are pleading now, “I just want to keep her safe until she wakes.”
    I breathe in deeply and nod my head, “I know you do. And, I know Corinna would be so proud of you. I know I am so proud of what you are doing.”
    Isabel’s resolve breaks a little and tear streams down her cheek as she sucks in a ragged breathe. “Thank you.”
    I gently pull Isabel to me. She doesn’t resist, rather she falls into my arms needing to lean on someone after all she has endured being on guard for the past two days. I brush my hand over the top of her head and look at Xander and Monica when I ask her. “Isabel, will you let me try something?”
    Isabel slowly pulls away from me, wipes her eyes with the sleeves of her sweater, and crosses her arms. She looks at me nervously, hiccups softly, and sucks in a breath before she whispers , “Try something with Corinna?”
    I nod