I watch from the Veil as Maddy and her friends drive off in the limo. I hope she enjoys her day of fun. I hope she’s looking forward to our date tonight as much as I am. The way her eyes lit up with that elated sense of pure happiness assured me this is the right path for us.
But I know she’s holding back. When we were getting to know each other, she told me she’d never fall in love. I just don’t know why yet. I can’t get her to open up to me about it, but hopefully my next surprise—waiting for her at the mall—can help with that.
“Don’t tell me we’re shopping too,” Alexander says beside me.
He was joking, but in a way he was right. While Maddy’s time will be spent relaxing, as she deserves, mine will be spent gearing up to keep her with me. After the events today with the demon possessing her, I know it’s only a matter of time before someone or something comes after her again.
“We are going shopping,” I reply. “Just not down here.”
He arches a brow. “Okay. Lead the way.”
“In a moment,” I say as I turn to him.
Suddenly, my hands feel damp. I’m sweating. I’ve never been nervous around Alexander before. But then again, I’ve never done what I’m about to do either. I myself need to open up.
“There are things I need to tell you first.”
Alexander tilts his head.
“Remember how I said I’d tell you why I’ve hidden my thoughts from the Council for so long?”
I start from the beginning, telling him about the day I died and the role the Acquisitioner played. Then I tell him about Lifa’s thirty descendants I secretly protected—unsuccessfully, that is. I tell him how the Acquisitioner is responsible for their deaths as well.
As it pours out, I can’t even look Alexander in the eye. “I’ve done all this without the Council’s knowledge or approval. Without anyone’s knowledge.”
I know he would have helped me, had I only asked. Maybe we could have saved some of them together. But I never gave him that chance. I foolishly believed I alone had to carry that burden. I’m making the same mistake with Maddy.
“Well, what’s done is done . . . ” Alexander begins. “So let’s focus on what we can do now,” he says. “I’ll help you protect Maddy from the beings after her. Once she’s safe, you and I will deal with the Acquisitioner together.”
His support should lift my spirits, but the situation is much more complicated than he realizes. It’s time to open up about everything.
“You were right all along,” I admit. “There’s no such thing as coincidence. Maddy is connected to everything.” I hesitate. “She’s the true target of the demon serial killer.”
He staggers. “What? Have you . . . when did she tell you this?”
“Earlier today.” I turn to him, my eyes beseeching his. “I’m going to lose her.”
He straightens. “No, you won’t. We’ll help. We call more Protectors down if we have to. And Maddy—she’s not defenseless either.” He pauses, placing a hand on my shoulder. “You’re not alone, brother. Together, we will stop this.”
In his face, I see determination. I smile as my chest lightens. A sensation I haven’t felt in days fills the air—hope.
I don’t know much about the demon killer or the female demon who possessed Maddy, which means I don’t know what chance I stand against them. And eight centuries of experience tells me I have zero chance against the Acquisitioner. But I’m going to battle him anyway. Battle them all. With help from Alexander and the others, there’s a chance—albeit slim—the Acquisitioner won’t get Maddy. None of them will.
“Thank you, my brother,” I say.
Then together we step into the Great Divide.
. . .
With a renewed sense of purpose, I stride through the gates of Immortal City with Alexander quick on my heels. The main streets are polluted with more angels than I have ever seen. They call out to me, but I ignore them. I’m on a mission.
I know what they want to talk about. There’s a buzz in the air. They’re filled with confidence, counting on me—us—to stop the demon serial killer. They know we’re close, especially now that there’s news of my “psychic.”
The Supplementum is crowded when we enter. I breeze past the desk, again ignoring the angel’s protest, and open the double doors of the workshop. There are more angels than before immersed in projects.
“Whoa,” Alexander says, taking in the massive number of weapons scattered across every available surface. “I’ve never noticed how overwhelming this room is.”
I nod. There was a time when this place was run by one weapons master and a lone assistant. But as time went by, demon attacks increased, and so did the need for heavenly tools. Thus, more assistants were added. Yesterday John had eight assistants. Three more angels have been added since then. The space has grown to accommodate them.
My stomach tightens, knowing war is fast approaching.
With time no longer on our side, I rush to the back of the shop. As we walk, I reach out to Alexander using Cerebrallink.
What happens here you are not allowed to repeat. Not even to Tamitha. Not yet.
His eyes drill into me as I continue on to the last workbench cluttered with the weapons of the multi-tool pocketknife. John is where I saw him last, standing over a blade and bending it to his will. This one seems like a simple long sword, but knowing him, it’s much more.
I clear my throat in between bangs.
“Yes. Yes. Just a minute,” he says, waving the hand with the mallet in our general direction.
We back up to avoid being hit.
He bangs the orange blade several more times, then dunks it in a barrel of brilliant white light. He turns and removes his goggles.
“Ah, MJ. I was hoping you’d come back. I have something for you.” He pulls out the sword he just made and hands it to me.
As before, fire dances along the blade once it’s in my hand. I hear Alexander inhale. All breath leaves me too. Memories come rushing back.
The clang of metal on metal echoes so loudly, my bones brace for impact. The putrid stench of charred flesh fills my sinuses. And in my mind’s eye, I see Nikolas and Lifa. She was brave, like Maddy. She kept trying to hide me and get me to safety, even though I was the king’s warrior. And then there’s him, the bastard Acquisitioner responsible for eight centuries of torment.
The memory fades, leaving his black gaze seared in my mind, as it has always been.
I turn my attention back to the sword. The hilt is shaped like a closed fist, the grip is wide enough for single-hand use, and the blade is long and double-edged. In the inlay, beside the fire insignia, is the inscription “Ulfberht.” It’s an exact replica of the sword from my mortal days.
“How did you come by this?” I ask in astonishment.
He taps his temple. “Knowing the how and why ruins the beauty of mystery.”
Alexander’s gaze is glued to the fiery sword still in my hand. “Is it true, then? Is the Holy War upon us?”
John rubs his chin while I grab a scabbard from the counter and sheath the sword, extinguishing the flames. I hold up a finger to John.
“Excuse us a moment, will you?”
Then I turn to Alexander and connect with Cerebrallink.
I believe it is, I reply. And because of this, we must do whatever we can to keep the demons from getting Maddy.
If she’s connected to everything, as you said . . . do you think she’s somehow connected to the war too? he asks.
I sigh. Justin, Damien, the unknown demon killing the girls, the female demon from this morning, and the Acquisitioner are all after Maddy. Why do you think that is?
I don’t know, he replies.
Think about what she can do. Then think about what would happen if they managed to get her right before the Holy War. The scales would be tipped in their favor. We would lose. There isn’t a weapon in this room that could stop her abilities. And even if there were, I wouldn’t allow anyone to use it on her. I will do whatever it takes to ensure I don’t fail her. I cannot lose her. I can’t ask you to help me with this, but I hope you will.
He gives a small smile. I’m with you until the end. So that’s why we’re here? To arm ourselves?
Just as a precaution, I say.
He slowly exhales and takes a closer look at the weapons surrounding us. All right. Grab whatever you think is necessary.
I nod and turn my attention back to John, whose eyes have been flickering between us.
“What do you have to ward off entities?” I ask. “Demons, spirits, renegade angels, et cetera. All are dangerous at the moment.”
“Hmm . . .” His bushy brows pull together. “Nothing like that exists that I am aware of, but I will work on it.”
That’s not what I wanted to hear, but I had suspected as much. If he had created something like that, we’d be using it already.
“For now, though, take this.” John picks up the multi-tool pocketknife and holds it out for me.
“I thought you said it was a prototype.”
“Someone has to test it out. Seems fitting it’d be you.”
I shove it in my pocket. “What else?”
“Take whatever you think you’ll need. Everything has been enhanced with the power of the Veil of Shadows as well as the Immortal Flame insignias.”
We load up, both of us harboring dozens of weapons concealed on our bodies through the Veil of Shadows. Even Tamitha and Sissy will not detect them.
I think about Tamitha and Sissy, back there with Maddy and her friends. I hope, for all our sakes, tonight goes smoothly.
But if not . . . Alexander and I will be ready.