AS I MAKE MY way to the lobby to meet up with Tasia, as is our agreed upon arrangement, I spot Miguel. He gives me a hard look, letting me know just how much he despises me, before passing by me without a word. No matter how many missions I go on with Gold Team, Miguel hasn’t warmed up to me one bit. I spot Sherri and Donovan next. Donovan’s laughing about something he said, and Sherri is listening quietly and politely. She isn’t one for giving input unless the situation calls for it.
“Hey, Rynne!” Donovan exclaims.
He raises his hand in a friendly gesture, so I raise mine in return.
“We don’t have an assignment today. Blade said to hit the gym and brush up on our skills. Come join us,” he says as he stops to talk.
Sherri nods at me, but then silently excuses herself as she makes her way to the gym.
“I will,” I reply. “Give me a few minutes.”
“Going to see that pretty girl of yours, huh?” he says, nudging my arm with his huge elbow.
“She’s just a friend,” I correct.
“Yeah, right. I seen the way you two look at each other. Take it from an old hunter: don’t wait.”
He moves past me, not interested in hearing a reply. Maybe I’d take his advice if circumstances were different, but Tasia and I aren’t meant to be anything more than what we are.
I walk through the base until I reach the lobby. Tasia’s already there.
“Sorry for making you wait,” I say as I take a seat beside her.
She glances up at me before returning her attention to fiddling with the heart-shaped black diamond hanging around her neck. I’ve noticed she’s been more anxious than usual lately, but I figured it had to do with all the pressure of everything going on. Today something is definitely wrong, though. She’s not even trying to hide her nervousness from me.
“Tasia?”
“Fiona moved me into the base. Didi and Connor were in Philadelphia. I saw them yesterday, but they’re gone now already. I didn’t even think to tell you. They’re your friends, too,” she chatters.
“It’s fine,” I say, unsure why this has her so upset. Despite what she thinks, I don’t mind that I missed them. It doesn’t bother me. It’s not like I’ve kept in contact with them.
“Arsen attacked Didi.”
My blood runs cold. Attacked her?
Tasia adds, “Fiona said she’s fine, but I guess Arsen tried to get inside her head. He wanted to know more about… me. I’m just so scared, Rynne. I’m so angry, so scared, and so confused all the time, and I just want it to be over. Didi and Connor’s parents won’t let them talk to me anymore either. They said we have to sever ties. I know my life can never go back to what it was, but I guess somewhere in the back of my mind I was hoping it could. They’ve been my friends forever, Rynne. I feel like I’ve lost my family all over again.”
This is the girl I’ve gotten to know all her life, the sunny wisp of a girl who used to laugh and smile shyly, but behind that nervousness was a sense of happiness. She’s become so broken in such a short amount of time. At moments, I hardly recognize her. This great destiny she’s supposed to fulfill has already changed her so much. I know I shouldn’t doubt the Oracle’s words; they’re God’s words. But I don’t think this fragile human will make it through in one piece. Her light doesn’t shine as brightly, and darkness is trying to take hold of her. I’m supposed to keep her on the right path, but how am I supposed to do that if I can’t keep darkness away from her heart? If I speed up the process, will that stop the pain? I can’t stand seeing her like this. I start to lose all objectivity, and the only thing that matters is to stop her from hurting.
Without thinking, I bring her into my arms and hold her close. I tell her, “Everything’s going to be okay.” And then I think to myself, I’ll make sure of it.
“I’m glad you’re here, Rynne,” she says. Then she snuggles up closer to me. “I always feel safe when I’m close to you.”
I don’t tell her that being close to her makes me impulsive. I hold her longer than I should.
“We should go,” I say. I stand up before I lose the willpower to part from her. “I’ll see you again soon.”
She stands up beside me. Our hands brush against each other, and then she takes my hand and gives a little squeeze.
“See you,” she says.
She’s the first to go. I stay glued in place and turn my head to watch her leave. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. She disappears from sight, down one of the halls. I’m going to take care of this. I’m going to ease her suffering just as soon as I can.
Reluctantly, I make my way to the gym to meet up with the rest of Gold Team. As soon as I get there, Miguel comes up to me. It’s like he was waiting at the gym’s entrance just so he could intercept me. He greets me with a shove, like usual.
“Let’s have a rematch,” he says.
“Didn’t you prove you’re better than me last time?” I ask.
“You let me win.”
“I didn’t.”
Miguel shoves me again, but this time he presses me into a wall. He’s on the verge of making a scene. He’ll probably punch me next, depending on if what I say sets him off.
He hisses. “Don’t insult me.”
“You’re the one who completed the last mission. Exorcising that ghost? That was all you,” I say, trying to back myself up.
“Yeah I know what you want everyone to think, but it isn’t the truth. It’s like the day you came here you were a whirlwind of competency, but since then you’ve toned it down to fit in. Just what is your game? What are you trying to prove?”
“I’m not trying to prove anything.”
“And what about your supposed knowledge on demons and the fact that you’ve been hunting them alone? Do you really think anyone here buys that shit? Hunting monsters alone is hard enough, but if demons are as bad as lore says, then how are you alive?”
I fall silent because nothing I say is going to be good enough for him. He’s seen through my lies, and I’m sure Blade has, too, but she’s emotionally involved. She was a close friend of Tasia’s parents. She wants justice just as bad as Tasia, and she’s not going to let a lead like myself just slip away.
“What’s going on over here?” Donovan demands.
He puts a meaty hand on Miguel’s shoulder. Miguel glances behind, eyes shooting daggers, but he lets me go.
“Hands off,” he growls. Then he jerks away from Donovan, shoving past the much bigger hunter.
Donovan looks at me apologetically. Despite any first impressions people might get from his looks alone, he’s a gentle giant. “Sorry, kid. Miguel will let up soon. He’s notorious for being hard on new recruits.”
I shake my head. “Don’t worry about it. We have training to do, right? Let’s do it.”
“You in a hurry?”
“I have something I need to do.”
I wait until it’s dark, and then I walk among the abandoned warehouses surrounding the base. The heaviness in the air around here is oppressing. It’s a weight that shouldn’t be here unless there’s a demon nearby. I’m not close enough to any populated areas of the city for it to be a conglomeration of human darkness. Philadelphia has been a rather clean city compared to many others, most likely because of the hunters based here. This foreboding feeling has to be because of him.
“Arsen!” I shout out among the abandoned warehouses, the ones I know don’t have any hidden cameras. “Face me, you coward! You hide in the shadows, watching her, but you never act.” I hold out my hands. “What are you afraid of? Some angels? After all the stories I’ve heard, I wouldn’t have taken you for a washed-up demon.”
The air around me stirs, the darkness along with it. Rage creeps in from all around me, the unfathomable rage of a demon. I stay perfectly still with my senses honed. I can’t sense any movement anywhere nearby, but I’m certain my challenge was heard. This is unusual. It’s not like a demon to hold back like this. If this is how the great Arsen acts around a made angel, natural demons can’t be as big of a deal as I’ve been taught.
It’s either that or Tasia has warped him to a degree I wouldn’t have thought possible until now. If that’s the case, it really is time to speed things up. Tasia needs to take control. Soon. She’s ready. She has the strength to do this. I have to believe that. I have to believe in her.
“I’m disappointed,” I tell the darkness.
I don’t know his exact location, but I’m certain Arsen is watching me from somewhere. He can hear my every word. But he still doesn’t come.