Chapter 14
14
A ll right,” Bryant says, rapidly spinning her desk chair in a circle as she speaks. “Operation Find The Wyvern, hereafter referred to as Operation FTW for obvious reasons. Any ideas?”
“Nope,” JJ lies.
“Same,” Bryant says, and she holds up her hand for a high five.
Gratefully, JJ complies. Roma shoots them a long-suffering look from across the kitchenette’s table, and JJ can’t help but grin back at her.
Right now, the three of them are holed up in Bryant’s suite, as they usually are when they need complete privacy?—and sufficient space?—to plan a mission. Unlike JJ and Roma, whose bedrooms consist of a single room and a small half-bath, purebreds like Bryant boast sizable one-bedroom suites with kitchenettes and full bathrooms.
JJ is pretty indifferent about the stovetop and refrigerator, but he is jealous of the private shower. Communal showers on the mixed-breed floors aren’t awful, but he usually has to go early in the morning or late at night to avoid other hunters.
Just one of the many little inconveniences that have been nagging at JJ recently.
“I don’t get why the Council is so preoccupied with this stupid demon,” Bryant continues, a scowl creeping onto her lips. “Hell, I didn’t even know that finding it was still our assignment. We’ve had demons escape on our watch before, remember? And we were never expected to track them down.”
“But those demons were located at neighboring Chains within a few days,” Roma counters quietly. “This one wasn’t. And letting an unregistered demon prowl around…” Her eyes briefly flicker to JJ before darting away. “That’s bad news.”
JJ’s heart hurts. He knows that Roma and Bryant have always taken unregistered demons particularly seriously because of the ones who murdered JJ’s and Chester’s families, but??—
But right now, he would really prefer for them to forget about Desi altogether. “It is,” he says carefully, “but I feel like the Council is overreacting this time. We took out the summoner and his militia, which posed a clear and present threat to civilians, but the demon hasn’t even resurfaced since then. This just seems like a waste of the Sanctum’s resources.”
Bryant’s eyebrows rocket up. Roma shoots a sharp glance at the door?—closed and locked, as it always is?—before turning narrowed eyes back on JJ. “Watch yourself, Jackson. You sound like Chester.”
JJ flinches at the reprimand, automatically snapping his mouth shut.
And then, just as quickly, an unfamiliar surge of bitterness roils through him.
Roma has always done that?—“correcting” JJ whenever he does or says anything the Sanctum could perceive as disloyal. As a mixed-breed hunter, she’s particularly aware of the power plays and politics that go on behind the scenes, of the subtle ways mixed and purebred hunters put each other down??—
Of how swiftly an offhand remark could lead to public censure.
JJ knows that she means well. He knows that she’s just trying to keep him safe, and keeping him safe directly translates to keeping him off the Council’s radar. For over a decade, he’s been thankful for her warnings, trying to accept them as graciously as possible, but now??—
Does it ever bother you that they refer to you like you’re dogs?
And it’s not even the Council doing it. JJ distinctly remembers Naomi correcting Roma the same way when they were teenagers, ruthlessly keeping her little sister in line, and he knows for a fact that purebred Sawyer did it to Bryant, too.
The hunters enforce the systemic inequalities better than the Council ever could. Determinedly, he forces the thoughts away. “Okay,” he says reluctantly. “Forget I said anything.”
“I mean,” Bryant drawls, doing another twirl in her rolling chair for emphasis, “I don’t think either of us disagrees with you, Jayj. But, unfortunately, the Council decides which threats are worthy of our time and attention, not us.”
“Yeah.” Roma’s shoulders are still tense, like they always are when she so much as hints that she might disagree with the Council. “I think it’s because they’re ramping up their testing program?—that’s why they’ve had us prioritize capturing demons instead of killing them lately, right? They want every cell in the prison filled.”
JJ fights back a shudder. While he’s still not quite sure how testing differs from regular torture?—apparently, not even Chester is privy to that aspect of interrogation?—he knows that demons who are subjected to it are usually never seen again.
Not for the first time, he’s beyond grateful that he didn’t resign Desi to that fate.
“And that means it’s on us to provide the demons to fill said cells,” Bryant says, resting her chin on her fist. “And our team can’t afford to take any more heat on this. So let’s start small. JJ, was there anything different about this demon? Like, did it seem especially powerful?”
It. Anger festers behind JJ’s sternum. They’ve all known from the start that this demon is a girl?—a little girl, based on her summoner’s late daughter?—but they still insist on referring to Desi as an “it.” He struggles to keep his voice even. “Not disproportionately so. Just seemed like a regular neophyte demon to me.”
Roma drums her fingers against her leg, considering. “I might have an idea about how to find it, but only if it’s still local to Redwater. Soul tracking.”
Bryant sighs dramatically. “You and your soul tracking,” she teases, bumping Roma’s shoulder.
“What?” Roma demands, eyes narrowed. “It’s how we find each other, after all?—our hunting enchantments increase our soul energy to the point where even anti-tracking spells can’t hide us. I might be able to modify the parameters to track our neophyte demon, instead.”
JJ’s stomach lurches. “Really?” he asks cautiously. “But how would that work? Demon souls are more powerful than human souls, but human souls have higher energy at baseline, and soul tracking relies on that higher energy. Right?”
“Aw,” Bryant says, punching his arm affectionately. “Look who actually paid attention in spellcasting class.”
“You know I paid attention. You used my notes to study.”
“Touché.”
Roma ignores them both. “You’re right, but studies show that neophyte demons tend to have higher-energy souls than established demons. Our neophyte has been on Earth for less than six months, right? It’ll still have higher energy?—not comparable to a human soul, but noticeably higher than a demonic one. If I can track down a high-power, high-energy soul, odds are good that it’ll be our wyvern?—or, at the very least, another neophyte demon.”
Nausea licks up JJ’s throat. If anyone could pull off a spell like that, it’d be Roma. He’ll have to tell Cass to reinforce the defensive spells around his house?—they might not be able to block a soul-tracking spell entirely, but there are definitely ways to redirect the signal.
Anything to keep Desi safe. “That’s cool,” JJ says faintly. “When, um. When do you think you’ll be able to cast that spell, Roma?”
Roma wrinkles her nose. “Dude, I haven’t even done the research yet. It might not even be possible?—just because it makes sense theoretically doesn’t mean it’ll work in practice. I’ll have to build out the spell before I can test it.”
“I love how she says that like it’s nothing,” Bryant says to JJ. “‘Oh, yeah, just gotta create a new spell from scratch. No big deal.’”
Roma rolls her eyes. “It’s not from scratch, Nehemiah. Creating original spells without proper precautions is how people blow themselves up.” A smile twitches on her lips. “But modifying established spells in field-tested, peer-reviewed ways is absolutely on the table. I’ll see what I can do.”
“Sounds good,” JJ says, nodding. “Just, uh. Just let us know when you get close, yeah? So we can help.” And so I can tell Cass to keep his guard up.
“Full offense,” Roma says breezily, “but I don’t want either of you anywhere near my spellcasting. You’ll just muck it up.”
“Rude,” Bryant says.
“But true,” JJ agrees. “Just keep us updated, okay?”
“Will do.”
Abruptly, a loud buzzing cuts through their conversation?—the buzzing of three cell phones vibrating in unison. Frowning, JJ fishes out his phone.
His eyes widen. “Another new mission?”
Bryant groans, dropping her head back. “Seriously? We just got back from the last one!”
“And it looks like a long haul,” Roma says, ignoring their theatrics as she scrolls through the preliminary info. “But it could be worse?—only five days or so.”
JJ’s heart plummets. His next day out with Desi and Cass was supposed to be in two days. If they’re gone for five, he might miss both of next week’s field trips. “Oh.”
“Yeah.” Bryant is still wrinkling her nose at her phone. “You’d think these stupid eclipse chasers would’ve gotten the hint that they’re not welcome here by now, but…”
The words throw JJ for a loop. “Eclipse chasers?” he repeats, frowning. “What do eclipse chasers have to do with anything?”
“Not civilian eclipse chasers,” Roma says, slumping back in her seat. “Eclipse-chasing summoners.”
JJ squints at her. “I don’t follow.”
“We learned about this in spellcasting class, remember?” Bryant says. “Or, at least, I remember reading it in your notes. Spells usually work best when astronomical bodies are in particular positions?—sunrise and sunset are popular, and so are noon and midnight. Full moons, new moons, blue moons…” She raises her eyebrows meaningfully. “Eclipses. Especially total eclipses.”
“Again: I don’t follow,” JJ says. He has the nagging feeling that he’s missing something obvious, and he resists the urge to fidget uncomfortably. “The eclipse isn’t hitting Redwater until December. That’s ten months away. Just because we’re eventually going to be in the path of totality doesn’t mean anything is special right now.”
“You see, we know that,” Bryant says sagely. “But they don’t. Apparently, there’s a rumor going around that the Deep makes it possible to tap into the eclipse’s power early. That’s why we’ve had this annoying uptick of summonings and general demonic activity.”
JJ stares at her. “That makes zero sense. The Deep is just a magic reservoir?—it can’t pull energy from an event that hasn’t even happened yet.”
“To be fair, it’s not just a magic reservoir,” Roma says diplomatically. “It’s a weird magic reservoir. Normal magic reservoirs don’t, like, passively enhance spellcasters’ abilities or keep a record of casted spells or all the other quirks ours has.” She shrugs one shoulder. “Still impossible to harness an eclipse’s power beforehand, though. That’s just stupid.”
“Right,” JJ says slowly, eyeing her and Bryant. “And?—and when did we learn about these eclipse chasers? Was it in an email I missed?”
Bryant waves a hand dismissively. “Nah, Roma and I just got into a conversation about it with Nasir a few weeks ago. You were, ah, otherwise occupied in town at the time.” She waggles her eyebrows suggestively.
JJ ignores the suggestion. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Roma frowns back at him. “It didn’t really seem important enough. We have to deal with it either way, right?”
It didn’t really seem important enough? JJ bites back his retort. Roma and Bryant have known the actual reason behind the increase in demonic activity for weeks, and they didn’t think it was important enough to share?
Or they didn’t think to share it, specifically, with JJ?
Does it ever bother you that? ? —??
If this were an isolated incident, he wouldn’t think anything of it. Accidents happen, after all, and if they thought he was out getting “metaphorical hay” with his fake boyfriend, they truly might’ve figured he wouldn’t be interested.
But this isn’t the first time Roma and Bryant have neglected to tell him pertinent information. Not bothering to share details from meetings with Council members, forgetting to brief him on key details of a mission until they’re nearly on the scene. Like it doesn’t really matter if he’s in the loop or not.
Like he’s incompetent.
JJ doesn’t know why he’s never noticed that Bryant and Roma act like that. Yes, he knows that Bryant is allergic to tact, and yes, he knows that Roma can sometimes be insensitive by accident, but he’s never fully realized just how deep that subconscious bias goes.
Honestly, JJ doesn’t even think they realize it. Because Bryant has put her reputation on the line to defend him on multiple occasions, and Roma has humiliated hunters who mistreated him with a precision bordering on vicious, but??—
But they don’t seem to notice when they do the same thing to him on a smaller scale. When their ingrained sense of the bloodlines hierarchy overrides their friendship with him.
Roma is right. JJ does sound like Chester.
Chester, or maybe Cass.
And that’s a comparison JJ really shouldn’t be entertaining right now. “Makes sense,” he says eventually, and he clears his throat, pushing himself to his feet. “I should, um, probably start packing. I’ll grab my supplies and meet you in the garage, yeah?”
“Sounds good,” Roma says, and she and Bryant wave goodbye as he heads towards the door. Just before it closes, he hears them launch back into conversation behind him, clearly talking through the finer points of their newest mission.
Talking through those finer points without him. JJ’s face burns as he ducks his head, retreating as quickly as he can without drawing attention. Past the restricted access point that keeps mixed-breed hunters off the purebred floor, down two flights of stairs to the second level, towards his lone bedroom at the end of the hallway??—
Bryant is on the fourth floor with the other purebreds. Both Roma and Chester are on the third. JJ, though, ended up on the second, away from the rest of them.
He always thought it was just due to space constraints. Now, though, he’s starting to wonder if it was intentional.
Starting to wonder in a voice that sounds a lot like Cass’s. Grimacing, JJ shoulders his way into his bedroom, locks the door behind him, and sits down heavily on his bed, burying his head in his hands.
What is wrong with him? Just over a month ago, he knew his place in the world. He was a hunter, and demons were the enemy. If he found them, he killed them. No hesitation, no remorse.
No questions.
But then there was Desi, all bright eyes and excited banter and a smile that could light up a blackout. And then there was Cass, biting and sarcastic and fierce and caring and??—
And beautiful, if JJ is being perfectly honest with himself. He dismissively acknowledged that Cass is attractive from the very start, but there’s just something about the way he holds himself, something about the way he moves??—
Something about the way he goes soft whenever Desi is nearby, all gentle hands and warm hugs and fond smiles that make his eyes crinkle in the corners. Something about the way he looked at JJ last week, those same eyes deep and dark enough that JJ could barely breathe.
Like stargazing on a cool winter’s night and suddenly becoming aware of how vast and infinite the universe really is. Like knowing, despite all that fathomless distance, that JJ is still exactly where he’s supposed to be.
For two days a week, at least. Letting out a slow breath, JJ summons his burner phone from the gap in spacetime where he stashes it, swipes into the only entry in his contact list, and presses the button to call Cass.
He picks up within two rings. “If you’re asking whether you should bring more strawberries on Tuesday, the answer is no. Nobody needs this many strawberries, Jackson. Frankly, I’m shocked they let you walk out of the grocery store with all of them.”
Despite himself, JJ’s lips twitch. “But Desi said she likes strawberries, remember? And they were on sale.”
“Doesn’t mean we needed thirteen boxes.” There’s a brief pause. “Is something wrong, lackey?”
A few short weeks ago, that nickname sounded condescending. Now, though, it almost feels like a private joke. “I’m getting sent out on a long-haul mission,” JJ admits quietly. “Probably won’t be back until late next week. You and Desi might have to go to the aquarium without me.”
Cass scoffs. “Don’t be stupid. Desi wants to go to the aquarium specifically with you. We can wait.”
The words make JJ’s throat feel tight. “Thanks,” he croaks, and he swallows hard. “Can I?—can I talk to her?”
There’s a quick beat of silence. “Sure,” Cass says, and he raises his voice. “Desi! JJ is on the phone!”
JJ hears the pitter-patter of little feet racing down the hallway before Desi’s cheerful voice sounds over the line. “JJ! Hi! I miss you!”
JJ’s eyes sting. “Hi, sweetie,” he says. “I miss you, too. Are you having a good day?”
“The best! Cass made pancakes this morning with those strawberries you brought us?—they were so yummy! And then we got some new books from the library, and…”
JJ listens closely as she tells him all about her day, dreading the moment when he’s going to have to break the news about their aquarium plans. She’ll understand, of course?—she always understands when he has to reschedule?—but the disappointment is always clear in her voice.
And even though the Sanctum is JJ’s home, even though Roma and Bryant and Chester are his family, even though they gave him a home and a purpose when he had nothing and no one??—
JJ would give anything to be with Desi and Cass instead of here right now.