3

They parked hastily in all directions, blocking my escape. Normal cops I could probably outrun, even with an injury, but peacekeepers? They were bigger and badder than humans. A bit like me, except worse because they were actually trained and consisted of vampires, werewolves, and, most iconically…

Angels.

I looked up at the sky, seeing what appeared to be shooting stars fresh from Heaven. Not one, but two angels dropped down onto the scene. Their wings billowed like white flames made of starlight, burning lines in the sky that extinguished as soon as they landed.

One of them turned to me. Bile crept up my throat. I’d only seen an angel in person one other time, as my aunt and I made an effort to avoid them. His golden eyes scanned me and then the area around us.

I pressed my lips firmly together. Surely, he was calculating if I was the threat. Assuming the rumors were true, angels were very perceptive of people. Able to see the good and evil in others, and all that. Basically, I’d escaped death for nothing.

“Are you injured?” he asked, “What happened here?”

My bravery slipped as I gracelessly fumbled on my words. “P-Please. There’s a boy in that house, Peter, and he’s—”

I faltered, suddenly feeling lightheaded. Their car lights continued to blind me. Squinting made my headache worse. Voices shouted all around me, but I couldn’t make out what anyone said.

The second angel came forward and caught me by the arm. I hadn’t realized I’d been wobbling in place. A surge of warmth overtook me. And panic.

He touched me.

The hand clasping my elbow grew hotter by the second. My sleeve kept him safe. Or was it keeping me safe? His face be came a blur, but I continued to suffer from his comforting aura. Collapsing in his celestial prison would almost be a welcomed outcome, but I couldn’t fall for the enticing trap.

“You okay, there?” he asked, “What’s your name?”

Don’t answer.

“Jess…”

Idiot!

“You don’t look so good, Jess. Can you tell me what hap pened?” He kept asking questions but I feared giving away vital information by accident. I’d already given him my name. Not all of it, but enough that Naomi would have my head.

I had to get away from him as soon as possible.

A peacekeeper came over in his all-black suit. Others scattered around the scene. I eyed his curious material, both padded but thin around the joints, almost like spandex. Two arm cuffs made of heavy metal swung by his hip.

“…license?”

I shook my head, missing half of what he said.

“Your license .” The peacekeeper repeated more gruffly. “If you’re human, a driver’s license.” But the cold scan I received from him told me he already sensed that I was otherwise. “Are you under the influence of drugs or alcohol, natural or otherwise?”

“What… No! Get Peter, he could be dying .” I needed them to grasp my sense of urgency without making myself look like a lunatic, so I did my best to stop swaying. Peter had been breathing when I left him, but barely.

The peacekeeper said something to the angel still supporting me. They sounded tense. My focus still sucked. If they weren’t going to mention Peter, it wasn’t important. Could I make a run for it? My ribs hurt less than my pulsing head.

As if hearing my thoughts, the angel’s grip tightened. I jerked back, realizing the danger, but he whispered in my ear. “Just do what he says. I’ll look for your friend.”

It hurt my pride to hear myself plea. “But I didn’t do anything wrong. What’s happening?”

Had they figured it out? Was my cover blown?

The angel handed me off to the peacekeeper who’d asked for my license. He wasted no time in ushering me toward one of the black cars. His hands felt tougher than iron. I searched over my shoulder for the angel and found a handsome man with wavy hair entering Peter’s home.

Good… Peter is safe.

Unlike me.

“Please, wait—” I attempted to stall but the peacekeeper shoved me forward. My wrists were held down at my lower back. Cool metal bit at my wrist.

If they took me in, my aunt and I were screwed.

With a deep inhale, and enough strength to potentially re-break my ribs, I twisted myself free of the peacekeeper. I succeeded in catching him by surprise. He fumbled just enough for me to jump away. To seal my coffin, I shoved my foot into the middle of his back. Nothing for a big guy like him but, technically, still assault.

He toppled right over and my window of opportunity flew open.

The wind licked at my face as I ran. A burning pain still throbbed in my side. He’d managed to cuff one hand, and the chain, along with the empty hoop, kept threatening to whack me as I pumped my arms.

Voices rang from behind me.

And then, sirens.

***

Crap.

Crap.

Shit.

Crap.

The peacekeeper I evaded let out an earth-shaking roar, only adding fuel to my hastening legs. I didn’t know who else fol lowed. Sprinting off made me look as innocent as attacking him did, but what other choice did I have? They tried arresting me and hadn’t even seen what happened.

I used the city to my advantage, dangerously running through traffic and leaping over oncoming cars. Their headlights praised me while the drivers cursed my existence. I made it across, but behind me, I saw the same peacekeeper having no difficulty using maneuvers similar to mine.

He landed a bit heavier after each pounce, causing cars to swerve around him instead. There were no significant indicators as to what supernatural he was, but he ran hunched forward like he’d go on all fours any second.

He was fast. Too fast.

Just then, I heard a guttural growl and looked again. My pursuer made a half transformation, keeping most of his facial features the same, except for larger teeth and hair around his neckline. He used his larger arms and legs to increase his pace and push him forward.

Oh , gods. Just my luck.

He was a werewolf.

Black claws sprouted where his fingers used to be. I had to mess with his senses somehow; find somewhere loud and congested with plenty of smells to go around. I spotted a crowd of people lingering outside of an old movie theater. If only Haverwick had more citizens to disappear into.

Several pedestrians grumbled at my rudeness as I rushed through them, bumping shoulders and chests.

“ Out of the way !” A deeper and darker voice commanded from behind me and the mob scattered nervously. My heart pounded even louder, realizing the peacekeeper sounded different now. Scarier. Closer.

A woman squealed behind me. People avoided me, ruining my sensory shield. The situation probably became clear to them. The excitement that numbed my injuries faded. My poor rib kept attempting to repair itself only to get jiggled free, reawakening the shooting pain in my side again. I needed one more street—one last distraction—to evade the peacekeeper’s vision.

A city bus pulled up to a stop. I could hear the peacekeeper’s ragged breathing closing in. Turning around would slow me down, so I didn’t dare check if he had made a complete transformation.

He followed me across the street again. Peter’s flannel had splotches of my own blood scattered all over. Fresh blood. I’d never lose the peacekeeper with it on. I gripped the top button of the shirt and yanked. One down. Two…

More oncoming traffic. Even out of range, the cars swerved and honked angrily at me. The bus lights blinked, indicating de parture, and the doors hissed. I ran to the first double doors I could reach with my flannel wide open and one arm already free. With a final pull, I chucked the soiled shirt into the closing doors.

Blood should be too tantalizing for a werewolf to ignore. If that didn’t work, it was over. I couldn’t run anymore without healing. Using one hand to hold my ribs together, I dove behind the nearest building next to a potent dumpster.

The bus rolled away, but then, the peacekeeper jumped on top of it.

It clanked and teetered from his weight. I threw a hand over my mouth to stifle my alarm. Hair covered his body now; teeth bared and dripping with saliva. His uniform ripped to make room for his widening beast form.

With a harsh screech, the bus stopped. Doors were flung open and a man stomped out looking red in the face. He exchanged some choice words with the peacekeeper, bravely I might add, who responded in growls. More importantly…

He’d taken the bait.

The peacekeeper’s claws scraped the metal roof while he prepared to dismount. He sniffed loudly and I cowered deeper into my hiding spot. After the sickening sound of cracking bones, he shrank back down into a man. The transition didn’t seem to bother him, but I shared the same stricken expression as the driver, whose flustered face turned a shade of green.

I waited until the peacekeeper entered the bus before mak ing my move. My throat felt shredded and dry. I didn’t have anything to cover my bra, but I kept going down the dark alley and then another. People had seen weirder shit, right?

I crossed my arms and regretted having worn the lace.

When I had a moment, I leaned against a cold, brick wall and tried mapping out the area. I took every narrow alley available in a smaller town, avoiding strangers and car sirens. My aunt said that if I were ever compromised to call her immediately but as fate would have it—assisted by my own stupidity—my phone was still at Peter’s.

Borrowing a stranger’s phone while cuffed and bleeding didn’t sound promising either. Someone could get the wrong idea about my intentions with so little clothing on, especially at that time of night.

I walked in more circles until I found the path toward home, crossing my fingers that I hadn’t been followed. Eyes were everywhere, and you never knew whose. Good guys, bad guys; a thin line depending on who you asked.

Not a peep on our street. Good. Most everyone closed their stores and went to bed. I made it through the back entrance of our potion shop with my key, plus a wordy enchantment Naomi forced me to memorize. It was worse than a network password, mainly for the repeating phrases.

We lived just one floor above in a small apartment. I pounded on our front door with both hands and heard the deadbolt sliding out of place.

“Eggs or flour?” Her muffled voice asked from behind the wood barrier.

I rolled my eyes. We had a code to be sure neither of us was a shifter in disguise. “Just a pinch of salt…”

Once it opened, Naomi’s wild, dark, and curly hair blocked the vision of our living room. The heavy scent of lavender and patchouli wafted in my face. My aunt looked me up and down. “What the hell happened to you? You’re naked .”

“I could’ve been followed,” I said, hoping that would get me through the door faster.

“Gods of Terra.” On occasion, when something real ly incredible occurred, she would acknowledge the ethereal entities; whichever came to her mind. Naomi made a quick scan of my face. “Are you hurt? Where were— never mind ! Get inside.”

She ushered me in and slammed the door. Not that a deadbolt would do much against peacekeepers.

“What do we do?” I asked, “Naomi, I’m sorry—”

“I found your little note letting me know that I ‘didn’t need to worry.’ Wanna run that by me again?” Naomi snapped at me as she threw open cabinets, grabbed miscellaneous jars, and shoved them into a bag. “Where is your shirt?”

“Oh. It’s uh—” But there didn’t seem to be enough time for me to answer anything.

“Change into something else and pack a bag. Gods , Jess. I’ve done everything possible to give you a normal life and you threw it away for what?”

I didn’t want to unload on her right then about how I’d been feeling. Suffocated. Stagnant. Bored. Depressed at times. I could only make so many candles and soaps at work with her before descending into madness.

When I opened my mouth, she cut me off, “Talk while you pack.”

Huffing, I hurried to my room and grabbed a duffle bag. “I wanted to feel normal. I’m almost twenty and I’ve never kissed anyone. Peter was nice—”

“You kissed him?”

We shouted at each other from across the apartment. I pulled on an old hoodie that I’d left on my bed. “Yes, I kissed a boy, Aunty. Don’t act so surprised.”

She barked a laugh. Her short little body bumped into mine on her way to my closet. “You knew what would happen. You know it’s dangerous.”

“I had gloves,” I said.

“ Really , Jess?”

“It’s not like you and I ever talk about it! So, what, I can’t have a relationship with anyone? I can’t…”

“Kissing is worse!” She shoved a sweater into my chest but the anger melted from her face. Her voice came out much softer. “I know. I know. We’ll have a real talk after we get the hell out of here. Okay?”

I nodded but my earnest packing fizzled. Did that mean I could never be with someone?

“I hurt him,” I muttered.

“What?”

“At the party, I think I really hurt him… I also blew up this giant monster thing with three heads.”

“What were you doing at a party?” she asked.

“ That’s your concern?”

She threw her hands up and her curls bounced aggressively. “It’s why any of this is happening in the first place.”

I felt my own temperature rising. “ Why is this happening, Naomi? Why do we have to run? Why couldn’t we just register like everyone else? Look at me. Do I look like something that wants to go crazy in a town of helpless citizens? But that idea’s fudged now because I already look guilty as hell.”

“Register you?” She spat. “So EXO can take you in as one of their little soldiers?”

“Speaking of, a peacekeeper followed me. A wolf. I lost him in town.” I paused, knowing I should add the rest, “They had angels, too.”

Her face paled and she stared at the floor with wide, brown eyes. The longer she took to respond the more sickness I felt sitting in my guts.

“As I said, we’ll discuss all that later.” She took a breath. “We have to go.”

We returned to our efforts in silence until we both had stuffed backpacks with popping zippers. An emergency evacuation happened once before. That involved a group of zealots and I’d only been six, maybe. I couldn’t remember much, only the fear coming from my aunt, but Naomi brought it up any time I was feeling extra rebellious.

We were uprooting our lives. Again. We hadn’t gotten close to anyone local, but I enjoyed Haverwick. I liked how the leaves turned red instead of yellow. My favorite hiking trail had a great view of the mountains. The memories of Peter would fade from a childish dream and into a distant nightmare.

I assisted Naomi in pushing the couch against the wall and sliding the coffee table out of the way. Not sure why, she just started doing so. She grabbed a black broomstick—that I didn’t know we had—and set it down in the middle of the floor.

My concern grew when she sprinkled dark powder in a circle around it.

“Naomi?” I asked cautiously, “This doesn’t look like white magic.”

“It’s not.”

I felt the hairs on my arms rising. The scent of charcoal made the back of my tongue taste bitter. Whether I wanted to acknowledge it or not, we were both creatures of darkness, but seeing her work so efficiently to make her witch circle gave me chills.

Naomi spun the broom once, like a bottle, but it continued to move on its own long after it should have stopped. Its speed increased until the dark circle she created started to fume. She chanted something under her breath and I could feel the power in her words like static in the air.

“What exactly are we supposed to do with that?” I asked.

“You’re going to take my hand and we’re going to jump.”

“Come again?”

She sighed. “It’s going to take us to a secret location. Far enough away that no one here should follow. It requires a lot of energy and expensive materials so let’s not waste it.”

I swallowed, watching the moving broom become a blur. It sucked in the air around us. My hair pulled forward, want ing to get swallowed by the black hole. “You sure about this?” I clutched at my billowing shirt. “We can’t just take the bus?”

“Hold my hand,” she said.

I did as she asked, feeling her pointed, violet nails digging into my skin. Naomi took a step forward, bringing me along. “You can close your eyes if you want. But do not let go. Understand?”

“I guess…”

“It’s going to feel like you have to pee. Just ignore it.”

“Wait, what?”

“One.” She started the countdown. “Two…”

I definitely shut my eyes. Not the worst thing to happen that night, but jumping down a hole made by her broomstick? The spell had given me zero hints about our next location.

I thought I heard her say “three,” but our door burst open at the same exact moment.

The room turned icy like Naomi’s spell had unleashed a blizzard instead. My aunt’s dark eyes flared but she never lost her focus.

I on the other hand couldn’t resist and looked at the intruder.

A messenger of Death stood in our doorway.

Ashen bone took the place of his face. A shadowy mist acted as the glue, replacing muscle and cartilage to keep the skeleton intact. The reaper didn’t wear black robes like I imagined, just a gray hoodie and jeans like some average guy but without flesh.

He did, however, bring his scythe.

Naomi tugged me forward. She took her leap, but my feet hadn’t moved. I couldn’t. My eyes were locked on his weapon. The handle, along with the curved metal, were both solid black, making it appear as all one, fluid tool.

I expected the peacekeeper again, or maybe the angel. Why a reaper?

Naomi’s hand tightened and I fell forward toward our dark portal. If a reaper came, did that mean we were about to die? Naomi’s broom could’ve been faulty or laced with black magic.

I fell in after my aunt but something yanked me back out.

“Naomi!” My grip on Naomi broke. I watched in horror as she disappeared. She continued through the portal while my hand closed around empty air several times in an attempt to reach her. I was stuck, like a worm on a hook.

When I looked back, the curved end of a scythe caught the back of my sweater. I choked from the fabric pulling up against my throat. My stomach dropped when I thought I noticed Death’s lipless smile.

The reaper swung his scythe across his body, vaulting me away from the dark circle. I rolled to the floor and caught myself on the edge of the coffee table. In a daze, I crawled back to where Naomi vanished, but the darkness snapped shut.

“No…” I smacked the wood surface but only a few sprinkles of the black dust remained.

She was gone. I’d been left behind.

The icy chill grew and swallowed all remaining magic in the room. Heavy footsteps took their time reaching me. When a pair of black shoes stopped inches from my hands, I brought my head up. No longer using the fleshless face of Death, the reaper appeared to me as a young, human man.

The hood over his hair shadowed his face. Still less intim idating than his earlier appearance. Silver eyes shone through, and I felt my soul freeze by his gaze. I prepared myself to fight or run, while the reaper seemed relaxed.

His shoulders slumped over as he studied me. His deep voice startled me, but nothing cruel emitted from his tone. “You’re in trouble, you know.”

I shuddered. “Am I… dead?”

Why else would he have come?

His lips curled. “Obviously not.”

“Why did you—” I started to ask but stopped when the man lifted a pale hand toward my face.

His cool finger touched my forehead and I immediately felt drowsy. Everything became numb and I succumbed to the comforting arms of gray fog.