Dinwiddie, VA, during third period FST

[demonbelthazor]

While they were stuck in Dinwiddie, waiting for parts for the van, Bel checked his phone for messages. Miraculously, he had a feeble signal. He listened to the message from Isabel, and since he obviously couldn't stop by the library that day, he called her back.

Comments

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You're not? Damn," she said. "I need a favor. I hate to ask but it's kind of an emergency. Do you know Cedric? Jack's boyfriend?"

[demonbelthazor]

"Not really personally, but yeah, I know him," Bel said. "Why, what's going on?"

He had a funny feeling he was going to have to explain something to Isabel in a moment or two.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"He's missing. He disappeared sometime on Sunday and we can't find him anywhere on the island. We think he might have been taken back to England," Isabel explained. "I hate to ask but is there anyway you can get us over there? We just want to make sure he's okay. He could be in trouble."

[demonbelthazor]

Bel winced, staring at the ground for a minute. Finally, he said, "I'd like to help...but I can't."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel blinked, surprised. "Can't? Please? It's not like I'm asking you to shimmer me somewhere to go shopping. This is serious."

[demonbelthazor]

"I know, and I wish I could help, but...." Bel kicked at a rock on the ground, frustrated. "I can't shimmer anymore."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"What?" she asked. "Did I miss something? What happened?"

[demonbelthazor]

"I'mhumannow." But between his mumbling and the weak signal his phone was getting, it may have been hard to make out.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel couldn't quite make out what he was saying. But she had a feeling that this was a conversation that was better suited for face to face then over a phone. "Okay, so shimmering is a no go," she said resignedly. "We're just going to have to come up with alternate plans. But you! When you get back. Find me! We're going to talk."

[demonbelthazor]

"I'm sorry," Bel said. "And I will. Hopefully I'll be back soon. Friday I'm taking off for Tortall -- but you're going there too, right?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Yes, I am," she said, not at all surprised that the connection was suddenly clearer. It's not like she hadn't used that trick herself. "So we'll talk. Here if you get back in time, otherwise I'll track you down in Tortall."

[demonbelthazor]

"We're stuck in Virginia right now, but we're heading for the Statue of Liberty," Bel started to explain. "Uh, long story. But yeah, hopefully we'll be back soon. I'll come find you."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Okay," Isabel agreed, already trying to come up with an alternative plan for Jack. "I'm afraid to ask what you're doing, so let's just leave it at be careful okay?"

[demonbelthazor]

"I will," Bel promised. "I'll see you soon."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Bye," she said and hung up the phone.