17. Rissa

17

RISSA

I perched on the edge of the park bench, near the ocean, a breeze tugging at my hair as dusk settled over the city. The stink of the Council's magic still hung in the air, its reek a stark reminder of the line I had drawn in the sand. My mind churned with memories, each one a bitter pill.

"Never again," I muttered to myself.

"Talking to yourself, Rissa?" A familiar voice cut through the twilight, tinged with amusement.

Edward stepped out of the shadows, his red hair like a beacon in the dim light. I suppressed a shiver; not from the cold, but from the complicated mix of emotions his presence always stirred within me.

This once, violence might not be the correct answer, even though it had served me well in the past.

"Only because I find my own company more palatable than most people's," I replied, keeping my tone even.

He took a seat beside me, his ice-blue eyes meeting mine. Caution lived in his gaze, a delicate dance between what he was and who he wanted to be. "They're rotten to the core. You know it, I know it."

"Of course, they are." I couldn't help but let a trace of venom seep into my words as I remembered their plan. "Breeding humans for magic, only to leave them helpless against... against things that should never have come here."

"Formless ones," he offered the term quietly, almost reverently.

"Monsters," I corrected sharply.

"Monsters." He echoed, a flicker of agreement in his tone. "That's why I've been looking for you. We need to put an end to this."

"By 'we,'" I started, narrowing my eyes at him, "do you mean me? Because your lot doesn't exactly inspire trust."

The corners of his well-trimmed beard lifted in a half-smile. "I can't blame you for that. But yes, you. You turned down a spot on the Council, ages ago. You see through their lies."

"Still, that doesn't mean I'm signing up for your revolution," I said, standing abruptly. The last rays of sunlight dipped below the horizon, casting us both in half-shadow.

"Listen or don't, Rissa. But this isn't going away." His face was solemn now, earnest in a way that made it harder to dismiss him outright. "And neither am I."

"Damn it." I cursed under my breath. "I'll hear what you have to say. But that's all I'm promising."

"Fair enough." He stood too, the tension between us a tangible thing. "For what it's worth, I hope you do join us. The Council needs to fall, and you... you could be the tipping point."

"Or a sacrifice," I countered, thinking back to their despicable plans. But as I walked away, leaving him standing in the growing darkness, I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe—just maybe—I was already part of his revolution.

The crunch of gravel under my boots was a welcome sound after the tension-soaked conversation with Edward. My little house, tucked among the forested hills just beyond the reach of Los Angeles' glow, stood silent and unassuming. I fumbled for my keys, still mulling over Edward's words, his earnestness, the weight of his words. Damn him for not being easy to dismiss.

Inside, I tossed my jacket on the hook and made a beeline for the kitchen counter where I had left the folder from the dating agency. The idea seemed ludicrous now, finding some semblance of normalcy and family in a world teetering on the edge of upheaval. But there it was, the paper folder, an absurd promise of mundane romance.

I flipped it open, and son of a bitch. There he was. Edward's name at the top of my matches. A bitter laugh escaped me, and I swore under my breath, the sound sharp in the quiet room. It was like fate itself was mocking me, pushing me toward the very person I had kept at arm's length for a very long time.

"Of course," I muttered, staring at the perfectly typed letters that spelled out his name. "Because why make it simple?"

The phone rang, slicing through my irritation with its shrill insistence. I snatched it up, "Hello?"

"Rissa Halo?" The voice on the other end was crisp, businesslike.

"Speaking."

"This is Agent Marks with the MIIB. We have a situation concerning the Council. Your... expertise is required."

"Is that so?" I leaned against the counter, thumbing the edge of the folder. "And what makes you think I'm interested in playing liaison?"

"Your past interactions with them make you an ideal candidate. And we are aware of your... unique perspective."

"Great." No good deed, indeed. I let out a slow breath, pinching the bridge of my nose. "When do we start?"

"Tomorrow morning, Ms. Halo. We'll send a car."

"Can't wait." The sarcasm dripped heavy even to my own ears. I hung up without a goodbye and stared at Edward's name again.

"Looks like you're going to get your wish," I said to the empty room. "You wanted me involved, Edward? You got it." But whether that would be a victory for him or the final nail in an already closing coffin, only time would tell.