Chapter 23

23

Jericho

“I’ve admittedly never seen anything like that before, Master. You can’t deny that it wasn’t just a bit strange yourself?”

I stood at my office window, staring down at the young woman, who laughed and played with the dogs on the front yard as if they were a litter of puppies, and not the dogs I’d trained to attack on sight.

Yes, I could admit, it was strange.

The only other being, besides myself, who could command the dogs without risk of attack, was Solomon, the caretaker from years ago, who was killed on his way back from town. Still, the dogs had never played, and except for the brief time when they’d been rambunctious and unruly puppies, I hadn’t thought them capable of such a thing. They’d been bred for one purpose alone, and watching them wag their tails, prancing around the woman like a bunch of poodles, sent waves of alarm through me.

They looked ridiculous.

“It’d be foolish to send her off at this point,” Anya added.

“I’d like to think you didn’t just call me a fool.” I twisted around, stamping my cigarette out into the ashtray there. Smoking was only an occasional vice—reserved for times when something gnawed at me.

Like the strange woman.

“Of course not. But perhaps you might consider letting her stay?”

Letting her stay. As if the decision were that easy.

Closing my eyes gave momentary reprieve to the way she looked in that dress, capering about the yard like some kind of winter nymph. Except, in the refuge of my thoughts, I imagined stealing away with her at night. Sweat. Moans. Exhilaration.

Distraction.

“Have you so easily overlooked the fact that I do not take in strays? Or have you forgotten?”

“I know quite well, Master. And under any other circumstances, I’d tuck my tail for having defied your orders. But she is different. Clearly.”

She was. I could smell it on the air, the sweet perfumed scent which separated her from every other female in the place.

“Regardless, I’m not interested in watching my dogs prance around like show ponies.”

“Today was the first time I realized they were more than killing machines whose loyalty extended only to you.”

“Which begs the question … why her?” Again, I found myself staring down at her, the confusion and fascination from earlier, when I’d first lain eyes on her, still pulsing through me. Beyond the familiarity in her gaze, she gave off a strange sort of warmth that settled deep in my bones. And that scent. That indescribable, cloying scent, ripe with delicious femininity, sentiment, and the unrelenting vitality of an unwilted mortal soul. A savory aroma only found in the earthly realm. “Tell me exactly what happened.”

“We were walking toward the gate when the dogs attacked. They tore her dress, and for a brief moment, I thought I was about to bear witness to all three of them tearing her down to her bones.” Pressing a hand to her chest, Anya shivered. “But out of nowhere, Cerberus stopped. He sniffed her then sat back. As if he recognized her scent.”

“Impossible.”

“Quite.”

“When you said he sniffed her …. Where?”

“Her arm, I believe. It happened to be shielding her face from his teeth at the time.” Anya let out a weary sigh. “I certainly don’t want to overstep my boundaries, Master, but I must say, it’s gotten rather exhausting trying to recruit caretakers that end up disappearing without a trace.”

It wasn’t charity that left me pondering whether, or not, to keep her, but curiosity. An overwhelming curiosity that tugged at me.

Those eyes.

Those peculiar-colored eyes that bore a striking resemblance to the woman I’d fucked during my dreams for months. Her long, black locks of hair that I’d held tight in my palm.

My hand flexed and curled into a fist at my side, just imagining it.

Her exquisite beauty had compelled my interest the moment she’d looked up at me. Even as she’d blabbered on about the caretaker, I could hear those distant screams of her calling my name. Could smell the intoxicating heady scent that I wanted to drink from the air. She had only to touch me in that moment, and I’d have thrown her against the wall, my imaginations so vivid and tortuous. The tension in my muscles had paralyzed me, watching her walk out of that room.

“She’s not to frolic with them. Her job is to feed and care for them and show them discipline, when necessary.”

“Of course. I’ll see to it that playtime is kept to a minimum.”

“She’ll be held to the same expectations as every other worker here.”

“Yessir.”

“You’ll keep a close watch on her and see to it that she doesn’t venture where she doesn’t belong.” The knowing look I sent over my shoulder had Anya lowering her gaze with a nod.

“Absolutely. I’ll keep her out of the undercroft.”

“Then, she stays. What is her name?”

“Farryn.”

At that, I swung around to face Anya and frowned. “Did you just say Farryn?”

“Yes. Is something wrong? You seem troubled.”

I knew the name. Had heard it before, many years ago. “No. Nothing is wrong.”

* * *

Staring at the timepiece in my palm, I studied the slow tick of the second hand that didn’t quite match up to the clocks throughout the cathedral. It’d been given to me years ago by a stranger whose name had eventually escaped me. A man who’d stood at the gates of my property, insistent on speaking with me. One who’d claimed to know me, but I couldn’t recall having ever seen him in my life. The crazy old man had left me with the timepiece and a plea: To seek out his only daughter and watch over her.

Of course, I never did. He’d seemed unhinged, at best, speaking fast and incoherently about ancient creatures roaming the woods. Ones that would shift the balance and blanket the world in eternal darkness. In the same breath, he’d accused me of trying to kill him. Didn’t make sense. You tried to kill me, but I’d like you to protect my daughter.

A deranged fool.

Not entirely sure why I kept the pocket watch all those years. Perhaps just the earthly sentiment.

It was when he’d begun to speak of the Pentacrux that I’d finally sent him away. It’d been a number of years since I’d heard anyone speak of them, and in spite of wondering how the man could have known of their existence, I didn’t care enough to continue the conversation.

I’d washed my hands of Pentacrux long ago.

I clicked open the timepiece to the message engraved inside.

Let all that you do, be done with love (Corinthians 16:14).

Farryn

I hadn’t heard, nor thought, about the name since then, until Anya had mentioned it earlier. As soon as she spoke the name, I recalled having seen a picture of her that the man had waved in my face. Black hair. Unusual eyes. All this time I’d been dreaming of her, forgetting where I’d first seen her. The old man had cursed me with visions of his own daughter.

It wouldn’t be by accident that she’d ended up at the Cathedral. Despite whatever had happened between her and the dogs, I didn’t trust the girl. And I sure as hell didn’t believe that she’d just happened upon Anya in the woods. She came here for a reason, and I’d already informed Cicatrix to keep a close watch on her. As I would, myself.

She was trouble and temptation wrapped in a scent that would eventually drive me mad, unless I could stay away from her. Force myself, anyway. Nothing like having an enticing little snack, a vibrant soul, innocently cavorting about when you’re fucking starving.

At the knock on the door, I didn’t bother to look up from the inscription when I said, “Come in.”

A quick glance showed Remy striding toward my desk, but my thoughts remained wrapped around the mystery of the timepiece and the name.

“Cassiel hasn’t returned.”

“Have you checked the brothels in town?”

“Yes. This morning. He patrolled the woods last night. Haven’t heard from him since.”

Finally stuffing the watch back into my pocket, I reached for the drink on my desk. “I would venture to assume he’s wrapped himself up in a busty woman with a sharp tongue.”

“I’d like to think that, as well.” As he sat, Remy tossed an object onto my desk that looked like a torn bit of fabric with blood stained across the emblem. The emblem of the Fallen. And in the center of it was Cassiel’s sigil. “I’ve searched all of the woods in Blackwater, and that’s all I’ve recovered for my efforts. I can’t help but think he might’ve encountered one of the wild animals rumored to be behind the recent attacks.”

“Not an animal.” At a glance of Remy’s confused stare, I continued. “I stumbled upon one myself while in town. It was no animal. Humanoid in appearance, but not quite human, either. I’ve never seen anything like it before.” I twisted in my chair and lifted my shirt just enough to show the unhealed claw marks across my ribcage. “It attacked me, as well.”

“Must’ve been quite fast to accomplish that.”

“I didn’t even see it coming.” I lowered my shirt and swiped up my drink, easing back into my chair.

“So, what do we do? About Cassiel?”

“Keep searching. Allow Cerberus to accompany you. Perhaps he can track Cassiel’s scent.”

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

“These rumors fuel fear. I, myself, had an encounter and walked away with little more than a scratch.”

“A scratch that hasn’t yet healed.”

“Perhaps it’s age.”

“Probably.” Remy snorted a laugh and ran his hand over his jaw. “What’s the news with Virgil?”

“Seems he’ll be in attendance at the Hollow Harvest Ball.”

“Ah, yeah. Heard some big unveiling is supposed to go down.”

“As did I.”

Fingers curled around the arms of the chair, Remy frowned and sat forward, clearly troubled by something. “Listen, I promised I wouldn’t say anything, but Cassiel’s been crossing over to the earthly realm quite a bit in recent weeks.”

“What for?”

“He doesn’t tell me everything, but it’s part of the reason why I’m a little concerned. Fallen don’t fare well on the other side.”

“Cassiel is smart. Level headed. I can’t imagine him doing anything foolish.”

“Maybe. But he seems to think that’s where these … whatever they are, are coming from. Crossing over to escape something.”

“An Earth-borne creature seems unlikely.”

Lips tight, Remy nodded. “I agree. I’ll do as you asked and sweep the surrounding woods.”

“Keep me advised. At the very least, I trust that whatever these creatures might be, they’re as defenseless against celestial steel as the rest of us.”

“Let’s pray they are.”