TASIA’S BODY IS LIMP and slumped at my side. Even though her soul has left, her body is still alive, still warm and breathing. It’s a little disconcerting. I’ve never witnessed astral projection before. I still feel like I haven’t witnessed it. For someone like me who doesn’t have access to a sixth sense, it’s almost like Tasia’s just fallen into a deep sleep. The only difference is her breathing is much slower and shallower than it would be if that were the case. How long can the body last without its soul?
I continue holding her hand in mine. I haven’t let her hand go through all of this. Only an hour has passed, but it feels longer. Waiting makes everything feel longer.
A subtle twitch in Tasia’s hand catches my attention.
“Tasia?”
She shifts, bringing her body upright again as she pulls her hand away from mine to stretch.
“How did it go?” I ask.
I look past her to see Divya awake now, too.
“Give us all the information you can,” Blade says from the front.
“He’s still asleep,” Divya answers.
Tasia sits stiffly at my side, her hands in her lap. I can see that she’s fighting to keep herself from fidgeting. She’s nervous.
Divya adds in a whisper, “I’ve never seen anything like it. Even in his sleep, there’s this power he exudes…”
“We’ll handle it,” Blade replies, confident.
The coming battle will be a big test for these hunters. They’ve never faced a natural demon before. I’ve never even faced a natural demon before. I only know what I’ve been told and trained for. Made demons are enough of a problem, but I’ve never heard of one leveling a town. Tasia has a right to be afraid. I’m nervous too. I know how to kill a natural demon in theory. If I can actually execute what needs to be done is a different story. The hunters are in real danger of losing members today. And Tasia. This demon isn’t Arsen. Arsen is the demon Tasia will learn to control. That’s what the Oracle said, but she hasn’t gotten to that point. I don’t like this at all.
I resist the urge to take Tasia’s trembling hands again. I hate seeing her like this. All I want to do is comfort her.
I wish I could tell her the truth about me, but humans shouldn’t know about the existence of angels or demons. Demons revealed themselves, and they’ve caused a lot of problems because of it. The fact that we’re on our way to kill a natural demon right now doesn’t bode well for any of us. This isn’t the way things are supposed to happen.
I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her, but I’m still only a made angel. I hope Imae or whoever else is watching over Tasia right now will step in and help if the situation becomes dire. Surely they will. Saving Tasia’s life is more important than keeping angels a secret. Tasia is the key to righting the wrongs done to Terra. She is the key to stopping the demons’ rise in power.
“What are you thinking about?” Tasia asks.
She puts her hand back in mine and snuggles up next to me, as close as our seatbelts will allow. My initial thought is that I should look away. I shouldn’t engage or encourage this behavior any further, but then I remember what Cassius told me. He told me my feelings aren’t wrong. He told me my feelings are valid. So, I do look at her. I look at her and see the concern in her brown eyes.
“Nothing,” I whisper.
“You’re thinking about something,” she insists. Then she whispers back, “It’s okay to admit you’re scared. I’m scared, too.”
I squeeze her hand, but I don’t voice my fear out loud. She doesn’t ask me to either. She’s already seen through me.