16

When I woke the next morning, I felt like a piece of marinated poultry that sat in rosemary overnight.

Which I had. I used most of Naomi’s herb stash to keep the nightmares away. It worked, apparently. I was able to fall back asleep without a creep smiling at me in the corner. The crap I was reading would’ve given anyone nightmares.

It had been a dream… had to be.

But it felt so real.

My feet barely touched the floor when I recoiled back into bed.

“What the hell?”

Jarmiel’s books had been scattered everywhere. I’d placed them outside my door after last night, but there they were in front of me again. Part of me really hoped someone outside saw them in the hall and chucked them unceremoniously back into my room, but my door was locked.

Enough of this.

I shoved them back into the bag they’d arrived in, saving the opened book for last because I was chicken. It wasn’t the book of “Lust” like in my dream. It was one labeled Invidia: King dom of Envy.

My pulse quickened. I hadn’t touched that book last night but as soon as my fingers were on the pages, the similar feeling of someone watching me from inside my room resurfaced. Was something really trying to communicate through the damned books?

Jarmiel said it could happen.

He’s taking these back… today!

I carried the heavy bag downstairs and stormed outside, motivated by my new sense of urgency. The brisk morning air grazed my cheeks but I was stopped by a line of peacekeepers waiting for me.

Us, actually.

Tori and Guy stood beside each other, both wearing puzzled expressions. I let my bag slump off my shoulders to greet them. “Morning. Are we in trouble?”

“We’re about to find out,” Tori said but her eyes were wide with glee, not terror.

Guy looked about the same as he did any morning. His lazy eyes turned to me. “Sleep well, Jess?”

I hadn’t realized before but the man didn’t blink. For looking so tired all the time it didn’t seem like his eyelids knew how to close. I engaged in a staring contest with him to prove my point further. “I’ve slept better,” I said before surrendering.

Both Zak and Jarmiel dressed in black bodysuits with sculpted padding. Zak looked sexy as hell. Though, I couldn’t imagine saying something so irreverent to his angelic face.

“Books won’t be necessary today, Miss Winters,” Jarmiel said.

I tore my gaze away from Zak. “O-Oh. No, I know, I just wanted to return them.”

“You read them all?”

“I read enough.”

I forced a smile and Jarmiel’s brow furrowed. “Why don’t you place them back inside for now,” he said, “We have business to take care of today.”

I knew he’d agree with me once I told him what happened, but the look on his, and Zak’s, face stopped me from explaining. Something serious must’ve happened. The twinkle remained in Zak’s brown eyes but he delivered no jovial introductions.

I left the books back inside the lounge just in time for the remaining trainees to arrive.

“Morning troops,” Zak said, “We’re getting suited up today. Meet us in the gym”

Tori clapped her hands together. Guy was slow to follow after her and the angels. I must’ve been dragging my feet as well because someone pushed ahead of me.

Max. I scoffed and let it roll off my shoulders. He had some incessant need to exude toughness in the least mature ways possible.

“Hey, newbie.”

Barrett arrived next to me, feeling like a hot and cold contrast to his friend. His next question was directed at the back of Max’s head. “We’re getting new suits today? Don’t we have to pass exams first?”

“Whatever’s changed their mind isn’t something to take lightly,” Max said. His icy blue stare pierced us both when he glanced over his shoulder.

Barrett leaned down to reach my ear. “We’re going to look awesome, though,” he whispered.

The angels had looked pretty cool in their getup. The material fit snug but no one stretched or pulled at it with discomfort. I had a perfect view of Zak’s toned shoulders when cool fingers brushed against the back of my neck like tiny ice cubes.

“Careful. Someone might notice.” Mallory floated ahead like a phantom in white. Her faint smile and narrowed red eyes told me that I’d been caught. She tilted her head toward Zak and lifted a finger to her lips.

My mouth opened but only air came out. Zak had gorgeous features and a friendly soul. How could anyone not like him? I’d never do anything about it, anyway.

We stopped outside one of the low-standing buildings where peacekeepers and purifiers formed lines outside the doors. In side had been emptied to make room for booths and tents walled with black fabric. Each table had stacks of silver cases sitting behind them.

“We made updates to the gear months back,” Zak began explaining to us, “but after a recent case, we decided it was best to assign everyone their suit now. They’re built to help you with stand most attacks, teeth, claws, knives, and bullets, of course, don’t rely on them to save you. We have varying styles depend ing on your individual mobility and comfort. Grab your size and head to the changing stations.”

I had my eye on a suit that another woman wore. Hers had a high neck, perfect for discouraging vampires. It also didn’t have sleeves like Zak’s, but came with sturdy looking gloves, reaching below her elbows.

My eyes finally reached the wearer’s face. Lisha! She stood tall and drew her hands behind her back. Her attention lingered on several faces that crossed her path. When I did, she gave me a slight and formal nod.

After waiting in line my turn arrived, and two cases were handed to me. “Pick your preference. Changing areas that way,” the member behind the booth instructed.

Tori, Mallory, and Yara, whom I hadn’t spoken with yet, were already heading in that direction. No one seemed to mind getting naked while in the tents. I on the other hand had never changed in front of anyone before.

Unless running around Haverwick topless counts?

The first box had a suit similar to Zak’s; fully-body but with a little stretch. Originally, I’d thought the more coverage the better, but I soon changed my tune when the fabric reached my thighs.

When I had to zip up the front, it got stuck on the fleshy roadblocks attached to my chest. Mallory, with her slim, proportionate, and fully nude figure, noticed my struggle. She sauntered on over and gripped the zipper stuck at my bulging cleavage while her other hand smashed my breasts flat.

With one hard yank upward, the zipper hit my collarbone and I was corseted in.

I wheezed. “Thanks.”

She let me deal with getting it off, which was somehow harder than getting it on. I tossed that suit away. A “no” for me.

“Girl, your body .” Tori suddenly chirped.

Several heads in the tent turned at Tori’s discovery. I closed my arms over my chest. “What?”

“Uh, you’re hot, that’s what,” she said, as if she’d never seen her own figure before. Granted, she wasn’t as developed that way. “If I looked like that I’d never wear clothes.”

It was Yara who spoke up on my behalf. Her voice poured out, fluid and smooth, like hot caramel and brewed coffee. “Focus, ghost-girl. We don’t have time to waste.”

Tori pouted. “ Okay .”

Yara tossed her eyes upward but her expression was full of humor. I mouthed “thank you,” to silently appreciate her efforts, but not at the expense of Tori’s feelings. She saw and smiled before returning to her business.

My second suit proved to be much easier to navigate and revealed my shoulders. Just like the one Lisha had. The zipper parked at the base of the spine instead. I liked the freedom in my joints and moved my limbs out and around, testing the limits.

Yes.

When I stepped out, I threw my hair back in a ponytail and glanced at the standing mirror by the tent. I looked like an expensive super-soldier. The gloves even made me feel extra secure. Where did EXO get the money to make suits like that for every member?

I liked seeing myself, though. Powerful. Professional. In my heart, I still felt like a poser but at least now I looked the part. Zak’s approving smile when I rejoined the group made my chest burn with pride. I should’ve been more concerned about why we were receiving our suits early.

Guy left his dressing tent next and I had to shut my mouth or leave it hanging open.

I almost didn’t recognize him. No more baggy clothes or disheveled hair. He emerged as an entirely new man with five-plus years of maturity on his face. Or maybe I could finally see his strong jawline.

The suits seemed to complement everyone.

Save for one.

Aiden crawled out looking like a miserable cat that had been forced to wear a sweater. His rebel spirit reflected poorly on the unified garb. Disdain dripped from his person.

I had to suffocate a snort.

“Not to your liking, Aiden?” Zak asked. I knew he enjoyed himself at that moment. Even Darren, who sometimes I forget about completely because he was so quiet, hid his mouth behind his hand.

Aiden grumbled, pulling at his neckline. “It itches.”

“Well, you look great, ” Zak said, “Okay, my team. Re turn what you aren’t keeping and sign out the suits you are. When you’re finished, meet with everyone else in the assembly hall.”

We did as we were told. A new and heavy tone settled with in our group as we filed into an auditorium. Lisha’s team was stationed next to ours and I hadn’t known until then just how small the supernatural portion of EXO was. Most of the faces in the room were purifiers. Their suits were thinner than ours like they didn’t expect to deal much in combat.

I shouldn’t have been at all surprised by their unwelcoming gaze. Not a single smile from the crowd was given to anyone in our group. I blamed the seriousness of the situation for the time being.

Tori had taken her teddy bear form again and jumped onto Guy’s shoulder, “What do you think’s going on?” she asked.

“We’re about to see.” He muttered. Not only did he carry her but it seemed he had to hold her suitcase as well. She huddled closer to his ear and waited.

A small stage sat high enough for us to see who entered. I heard a unified clack of shoes. A godlike man in stature with rich, brown skin and striking white hair pulled back in two, thick braids took centerstage. He spoke with a thunderous and firm voice.

“Good morning. I apologize for arriving on short notice.”

He seems important, I thought. I heard someone muffling their chuckle. Lisha stared at me again. She sidestepped through people until she reached my side. “That is Raguel,” she said, “One of the three heads of the Angel Council. He is a big deal.”

I gulped. “I-I see. Thank you.”

An unpleasant prickle danced across my skin. It reminded me of the first time I saw Zak and Jarmiel. I still wanted to know what she was. Zak kept it secret but I had a feeling he was just playing again. Although, I hadn’t seen anyone quite like Lisha before. The dark scales that covered her neck seemed like an expensive piece of jewelry.

Her slitted eyes shifted back up. “Pay attention, recruit.”

My head focused back on the stage at record speed. Raguel continued, his voice booming without the use of a mic, “As some of you know, suspicious activity from the other realms has been higher than usual. After a recent report, we may have located one source of the rising attacks.”

He motioned to someone in the back and a large hologram appeared behind him. We were all hit with a bright, 3D portrait of a younger looking man in a hoodie. For how advanced their technology was, the image itself was poor and didn’t reveal his whole face.

My gasp stirred both Guy and Lisha at my sides, but they kept silent.

Crappy photo or not, I felt like I knew this person. The blurred image triggered memories from my nightmare. I felt ridiculous assuming since it could be any skinny guy in his twenties.

But still .

“Many of you have already adopted a name for him. The Necromancer,” Raguel said, “He was last seen a week ago with more of the undead abominations.”

The Ghouls. My fingers twitched at my sides. Raguel motioned again and the image switched. The projection became life-size sculptures of the mutilated bodies. Some had three heads instead of one.

“The man portrayed also seems to be in possession of a very dangerous object,” he said, “A blade made of dark matter. We do not know all that it can do yet, but judging by the similar markings on these bodies, we believe it gives him the power to reanimate and possess. While the attacks seemed random in the past, our latest theory indicates that he is targeting EXO members. I know many of us have lost friends and are frustrated that this man hasn’t been stopped, which is why we’re preparing for anything by giving you new uniforms earlier than expected.”

His thick, protruding brow darkened his gaze, making his crystalized eyes glow and burn into our minds. Mine, at least. I couldn’t seem to keep still.

“If our theory is correct, we could experience another attack close to home,” Raguel said, “We are putting together more teams to track him down as we speak. As for the recruits who have not yet passed their exams, you’re granted permission to use the means necessary for self-defense. This does not mean purposefully engaging with Ghouls or the culprit if spotted. You will retreat, signal for assistance, and fight only when those first options are ruled out. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir.” The room echoed.

As soon as the assembly ended, Zak whisked me away from the group. He didn’t say why but it seemed urgent. Jarmiel stayed close as well, with tired eyes and a glistening forehead. Neither said much but their pace was faster than a casual stride. The room still buzzed with murmurings about Raguel’s announcement.

“Where are we going?” I asked finally.

“Oh, just—” but someone cut Zak off.

We all came to a halt as the massive frame of the angel blocked our path. Raguel. I looked back at the stage, wondering how he’d appeared so quickly.

“Winters,” Raguel said, revealing zero emotion, “And you two. Would you follow me, please?”

Zak kept trying to make small talk with him but he replied with one-word answers. He took us far away from the others, heading toward the building with Zak’s office. I did my best not to panic but the entire walk felt like the burning end of an explosive.

We arrived too soon. I shifted my gaze to the angels at my sides and noticed a few peacekeepers had followed us. They closed the door after we entered Zak’s room.

“Sit,” Raguel instructed.

Three chairs already awaited us. Watching Jarmiel lower his tall frame into his seat would’ve been funny under normal circumstances, like a penguin trying to bend in half. Zak, on the other hand, plopped down, feet landing hard on the car peted floor.

Raguel made a slow turn about the desk before taking his own seat in Zak’s chair.

“Care to explain why a demon is sitting in your office, Zakiel?”