21

Something was wrong.

I awoke out of my room and staggered halfway down the stairs. Adrenaline brought me back to full consciousness and I tripped over my bare feet. The darkness surrounding me didn’t help calm me down at all.

Sleepwalking ? I’d never done that before. My dream hadn’t been that exciting. I followed a voice that came from outside, but my body took the dream literally and I ended up leaving my bed.

The day following wasn’t so hot either. I was getting slug gish already, even after Guy’s help last night. We had to practice running in our new gear which was awkward at first. The boots were much heavier than my sneakers.

The video of me gathered mixed reviews. While people like Barrett were loud with praise, others took to judging in silence. Max’s glares could burn through his sockets. Aiden and Mallory both wore smug expressions but never approached.

That unsettled me more.

After a warm-up, we separated for specialized combat. Yara removed herself from the field entirely. Not sure why. I had looked forward to seeing what she could do. That left Guy, Tori, and me in our group, but those two had their own system to gether. There weren’t many ghosts to help Tori, so Guy filled in.

And since there were no demons, I had Zak again.

“You okay, Jess?” he asked. I could feel him observing my failing complexion. He’s going to offer his energy again, I thought. It wouldn’t kill him so why did it still bother me?

“I didn’t sleep well,” I said. Almost fell down a flight of stairs, actually.

Zak pressed his lips firmly together. “I know I said angels can’t read minds but I can tell you’re lying.”

“I’m… feeling slow again.”

He removed his hoodie and tossed it onto the grass. “More practice then!”

I groaned but not at his offer. It just felt like we’d made no progress in controlling the energy I consumed. My disappoint ment didn’t last long, as getting to feel angelic power, especially Zak’s, had become the highlight of my days.

Odd that I never craved Jarmiel’s energy, though I assumed they’d be similar.

“It’s all a mental game,” Zak tapped the side of his head at me, “We all have to learn control. Not just demons. Tell your brain what to do and your body, your ability, will listen. Take my hand, but try not to take anything. Just for a moment.”

The fact that his simple request felt impossible made me worry I might’ve been dumber than I thought. Weak minded. I tried self-talk at first, literally screaming into my headspace when I took Zak’s hand. STOP!

My skin still buzzed. His warmth remained. However, I did manage to make the pull weaker. If I could turn it off completely, I’d feel invincible.

“Hey, that’s an improvement!” Zak said.

“You felt that too?” I almost convinced myself it was nothing.

“Yup. Usually, your timidness is what makes your grasp weaker, but you did that all on your own. Maybe we should try going all out.”

All out and kill him? “I’m fine with slow and steady,” I said.

“Fine. Since you got a win today, I’ll be nice. I just want you to practice dodging this time,” Zak said, “Look alive.”

I could dodge. I had to dodge him all the ti—

Zak swooped in before I could finish my train of thought. He was much faster than before. I didn’t realize the dramatic difference from his holding back until now. His fist aimed for the center of my head. I jerked to the side so violently that I fell over.

“Not bad.” He laughed. “I really went for it that time.”

I guess he was ready to start actual training and not the fun kind. My chest hurt from my harsh gasp. “No shit.”

“You’re getting better,” he noted, trying to sound encouraging. I think.

“Is she, Zakiel?”

I thought it was me who responded with that sarcastic tone but I never used his real name or spoke about myself in the third person. We both acknowledged the woman sparkling with glittering gems accenting her flesh.

“You know I love your surprise visits, Lisha, but I’m in the middle of something,” Zak said.

“This little flirt-fest?” She pointed between us.

While my insides disintegrated, Zak made an effort to save face. “No need to be jealous, captain. What do you want?”

“My kids are bored,” Lisha said, “They want to play with yours.”

“Your kids are in their twenties,” Zak countered.

Lisha muttered under her breath, “The wolves certainly whine like babies.”

“And this has nothing to do with spying on my new recruit?”

Her gaze shifted to me and stayed. For sounding so serious about my training, suggesting we play games seemed ironic. Unless “games” meant something different around here.

“A curious video is floating around,” she said, “Was that your doing?”

“ No ,” I answered too quickly, “I don’t even have access to a phone.”

“Have you attempted to use these abilities again or is this fool holding you back?”

“Go easy,” Zak said, “She’s new to it.”

Lisha’s next words came out sharper than a blade. “I wasn’t asking you. She can tell me herself.”

I gulped. Better to answer her than let Zak get scolded some more. “I’m not sure how just yet.”

Her gaze sent accusing daggers at Zak. “Really. She’s not sure how, Zakiel?”

Great. I’d only made it worse. Zak slid his hand down his face, pulling his flesh nearest to his eyes. They reminded me of an old married couple having a quarrel. “Come on, Lish.”

“I’m aware of your process, angel. It’s lazy at best.” Her brow pulsed once. “Are you waiting for her to use it by accident and kill us all first?”

I crumbled under the awkward tension until a noise that sounded like a chuckle escaped her nose. Zak moved his hands to his hips and after a few seconds, he too was laughing. The weird moment turned into two people having enjoyed something that I had missed. Still laughing, Lisha lifted a hand in surrender. “I apologize. I enjoy giving Zak shit when I can.”

They’re… teasing each other?

“You’re good at it too,” Zak said with an eye roll, “I want to make sure Jess is ready. You know what it’s like using that kind of power. ”

Lisha didn’t argue. She looked between us with a silent understanding. “I’ll let you handle it then until I can’t stand to watch you pamper her any longer.”

“So, you were spying.”

“I never said I wasn’t.” Her hands clasped behind her back. I felt something unearthly coming from her, but it wasn’t like any angel or demon I’d seen. “I like new blood and powerful allies. I’d hate to see her potential wasted while in your pitiful hands.”

Zak feigned an injury to the chest, grasping at his heart. “Do all dragons have cruel tongues?”

I stood still. Stunned, more like.

Lisha was a dragon ?

That would explain the scales and her exotic pupils. I should have known right away, and yet, but I never would have believed it anyway. Dragons were more ancient than even the race of elves or vampires. People still believed them to be gods, and no one has come forward to deny that idea yet.

I thought I would be more afraid but I was in awe. If Lisha had been here with EXO the whole time, why hadn’t we had more news coverage on dragons? As far as I knew, dragons were either reclusive or dwindling in numbers. A dragon sighting was hardly heard of, even if they were the most fearsome of shifters.

“At ease, newbie.” Lisha noticed my gaping mouth and chuckled. “Anyway. How about it, Zak? Game tomorrow. Mine against yours.”

***

A dragon .

I paced my room, unable to sleep. Lisha was already cool but she was actually a legend. How long had she been with EXO? I hadn’t been a resident in Volhold long but considering it was the most populated area buzzing with various crimes, I was surprised no reports of a dragon warrior were broadcast. Wouldn’t that scare most criminals away?

Now I wished I had borrowed a book on dragons from Jarmiel.

It wasn’t only Lisha’s awesomeness that kept me up, but what she said about a “game” the next day. Zak said it was just more preparation for the peacekeeper exam, so, of course, I was curious.

Also, terrified. Holy fuck.

Zak also told me not to worry about magic, the dark matter, and to focus on my energy intake and strength. Weaken enemies and use their vitality to advance my own. I just wished we had practiced some more. It wasn’t the actual exam, I kept telling myself. Just fun…

I flung myself over my mattress. The stone I used in my attempt to communicate with Naomi sat idly at my desk for days, now. I grabbed it and held it close to my chest.

“Aunty,” I spoke into it like that would do anything, “I met a freaking dragon today. I haven’t actually seen her shift but I’m pretty sure it’s true. You would like her. She’s cold and witty, like you.”

I grinned but my eyes felt warm and wet. Naomi’s absence left a lot of room for doubt to grow. She had to know more than she let on all those years but she chose to hide it. With her gone, I couldn’t ask about it. “I’m still mad at you…”

But I really wish you were here.

When I shut my eyes, I could still feel a tear sliding down my cheek. The lights were off but from behind my eyelids, an orange light burned brighter and brighter. When I blinked, the stone I held was flickering.

I sat upright, frantically pushing my hair out of my face. “Naomi?”

“ Poor, Jessebel .”

Not Naomi.

A lanky figure wearing a black hood faced me from across the room. I threw off my bedsheets and then froze. Just like before, slowly but surely my body stopped responding, like I was turning to stone. My heart stopped next when the man came toward me. Magic filled my lungs and made it harder to speak. “Wh-o… are y-you?”

His smile in the darkness was a crescent moon, except with rows of sharp teeth. I wanted to run. Wake up. Hide under the blankets. Anything. But I had to sit there and watch the night mare happen to me.

“Come on. We’ve met before. Remember?” He asked with a jarring tilt of his head. His voice was coarse and distant, but shrill, like bats at the end of a dark cavern. Had I been right then?

The man I saw that night with the Ghoul was the same man EXO was after.

“Necrom…ancer?” I uttered.

“I give them negative points on creativity for that one. You can call me Clay.”

The tightness was lifted from my airways as if he was allowing me to breathe. After a few recovering gasps, I used the bravest voice I could muster. “How do you know my name?”

He drew something from inside his coat pocket and my heart dropped. A knife. Not an ordinary kitchen knife either, but a wicked pitch black blade. The giggle that escaped him next made my whole body shudder. “I know a lot about you, Jessebel Winters .”

I was released from the paralysis.

As soon as I felt freedom in my fingers and toes, I ran for the door. What I collided with, however, was a blank wall. “No… No, no, no.” I banged my hands on the walls, waiting for a knob to show up.

“No one can hear you.”

I turned sharply to see Clay taking a spot on my bed. He crossed his legs over the footboard and twirled the pointed end of his knife into the wood. “What’s wrong? Weren’t you the one feeling lonely?” He made a clicking sound with his tongue. “You don’t belong here, Jessebel.”

The alarms should have gone off. If Clay were truly there, that is.

Was he real or was my subconscious trying to scare me? I could make out more of his details than in previous encounters. Thick-soled boots, crudely crafted rings across every finger, and fair, almost silver, colored hair that spilled from beneath his hood.

Clay rose from his seat and I tightened my fists. The only exit left was the window, but I couldn’t see any light. Just empty black. He took a step forward and the scent of his magic weighed down my knees. Curse it all . If I closed my eyes and opened them again, I’d have to wake up.

But when I opened them again, Clay was closer. He brought the knife up to the base of my throat. Magic now clogged my nose with burning charcoal. My eyes watered as I choked, “ What do you want?”

Clay lowered his face to my ear. His words, cold against my lobe, made me shudder. “I guess you can say I’m a bit of a fanboy. It’s such an honor… Princess.”

“W—” I started to ask, but he brought a finger to my trembling lips. For whatever reason, he hadn’t killed me. Yet. We were near one another but it wasn’t energy that I felt from Clay. His spirit was clouded in a toxic fume. Did that mean he was a demon like me?

“I came to save you.” Clay nodded toward my window which was still black. The window flew open and shook the walls. A magnetic force wrapped its large hand over my chest and dragged me toward its glass mouth.

No, no, no, no, no!

I took a huge breath but my lungs felt like they had been submerged in cold water. A scream finally broke free from my throat but it died when I saw that my surroundings had changed.

It was even darker than my room. And icy cold. I stood on trembling legs and beneath my feet felt crisp and damp. Was I standing on dirt? I looked down and sure enough, grass webbed between my toes. My sleepwalking had brought me outside.

What the hell…

Clay was gone but his sinister essence still hung around me like a looming cloud. The dorms were just behind me. Thank fully, I woke up before getting much farther. How had I arrived without anyone noticing?

Many of the lighted buildings were extinguished for the night. No moon in the sky either. The fence looping the track squeaked as a gust of wind blew by. I backed away toward the dorms, feeling something else out there with me, drawing near.

It was staring right at me.

The snapping of a twig made my stomach flip but I recognized the fierce, wolfish aura before he even spoke. “ Gods …” I hissed, “Max?”

“What the hell are you doing out here?” Max scanned me once with his sapphire eyes. “You’re not wearing shoes.”

His face looked less pinched than normal and we’d both dressed poorly for the weather. Him in a black tank top with athletic shorts, and me in my pajamas. I bounced on my heels and flattened the dirt. “Yeah. Funny story. What are you doing out here?”

“Gym.”

The gym? It wasn’t even dawn. Or late . It was the witching hour. Max took being a morning person to a masochistic level. I guess you didn’t get biceps like his from sleeping.

“Were you trying to run?” he asked.

“Run? Run where?” I hadn’t even tempted myself with the idea and I definitely wouldn’t have executed such a plan while wearing hardly anything. Judging from the glare on his face, I hadn’t convinced him otherwise, though.

“Forget it,” I said and stomped around him with my naked toes. It was humiliating enough standing there like a crazy person, I wasn’t about to continue his detective work out in the cold.

He snatched me by the arm.

“What the fu—” But his other sweaty hand slammed over my lips before I could finish. He smelled like salt and metal with a hint of something sweet. Perfume. I had a feeling that late-night “gym” sessions were just code for hook-ups.

And he had his hands all over me. Ew.

Wait.

He’s touching me.

Max’s energy roared . Furious and blazing like the blue from his eyes. My eyes went wide. Even without me putting my hands on him, the flow of energy was like trying to block a tidal wave with twigs for a dam. My face, lips especially, burned from the heat of his palm. Training. I had to remember my training! Block it out. You don’t need it. It’s all a mental game…

I almost bit him but grumbled first in warning.

“Shut up,” Max growled, but he didn’t seem upset at me anymore. While desperately trying to communicate with my eyes, I watched his large ears twitch as he focused his gaze across the field. He could sense evil too.

Whatever waited for us outside distracted me just enough. My focus on Max’s energy slipped and I felt the flow of life channeling faster through me. I didn’t love the guy but I wasn’t about to kill him.

With his attention elsewhere too, I planted my bare feet and gripped him by the arm. He only had a moment for a quick “huh?” before he came flying over my shoulder.

He was heavy . My back would be feeling that later.

Max lay in the grass, staring at me upside down. His blue eyes blinked feverishly before he got up and dusted himself off. “The fuck was that?”

“Don’t grab girls from behind,” I said, “You spooked me.”

“ Spooked you?”

The screaming of alarms ripped through the hushed night. Red and white interchangeable lights strobed from every build ing. The threat was real. Not a nightmare. I didn’t see anything until Max’s voicebox started rumbling. He turned his attention to the gates that shielded EXO’s station from the city streets.

A figure blended with the shadows and slunk deeper out of sight. It felt like I’d fallen into a frozen lake. I knew someone would be there but hoped it had all been in my head. The voice from my dream cackled in the wind. Had that been in my mind?

The alarms continued to wail.

“What were you doing out here?” Max asked again.

Peacekeepers and purifiers exited from their respective build ings. Some were already in uniform while others kept to their sleep attire. The few that appeared combat-ready chased after our slippery visitor. Max, to my surprise, didn’t budge.

Also standing still, but in the courtyard, was none other than Faris.

He looked directly at us with a blank expression. His lumpy blue robes wrapped around him like a self-proclaimed king. I wouldn’t say it was satisfaction that crept up his face, but I was willing to bet he felt more confident in his prejudices against me. I finally answered Max while keeping my eye on Faris. “I don’t know.”