Achilles had spent a long life learning when not to move, and this was one of those times.
Of course, standing still was easier said than done. Rose's flames were climbing beside him, and the pressure of the thing in the torn light had settled over the orchard and every instinct he owned was telling him that a man who did not act was a man who got acted upon!
But he held his ground.
"You and I have had no negative dealings," he said. "One of the last times I was near you, you came down with THE Creature to attack another Vessel of THE Sealed One. Not me."
He kept his voice level. "So before I do everything I can for my survival, can you at least tell me why?"
Why, indeed.
