Chapter 19 #2
I raise my arm, once again showing him the proof that I am undoubtedly part reaper whether he likes it or not. “I have the marks, which makes me a reaper as well. Something you’re just going to have to get over now that it’s proof.”
“I know you’re a reaper, Skully, you always have been—”
“Then don’t pull the my kind card on me,” I practically yell, cutting him off this time.
“I don’t remember what happened back then.
Sorry, it’s probably never going to come back to me.
But I’m here tonight, and I want to learn how to keep the Gate protected.
I want to keep the Haven safe. So while we’re doing this, try not to be an asshole so we can work together. ”
Madden’s chest heaves, and his silver eyes are blazing molten titanium. “You will listen to me, you’ll follow my direction, and you will not train with anyone other than me. Got it, Angel?”
My head whips up to look at him. That’s the second time he’s called me that and I don’t know if it’s meant to be degrading or a slip of the tongue. Does Madden know I also possess angel blood inside me?
“Why only with you?”
He stands taller, his eyes running over me. “It’s for everyone’s safety.”
Madden walks away, weaving around rows of headstones, and I almost have to run just to keep up with him. The night air seems to settle, the wind dropping off, and nothing stirs the very peaceful surroundings. “Aero was right, the hounds came through the gate and have been hunting.”
“What does that mean?” I glance at him, watching the way his face tightens with the mask I’ve seen him wear many times. His eyes become almost glacial.
“A demon escaped or resurfaced. The hounds are out to bring them back.”
My eyes scan over the cemetery and lock on the large, black iron gate. Up close for the first time, I notice the patterns, and symbols etched into it. “Is that common for them to escape?”
“No,” Madden answers. I can feel his eyes on me, but I can’t bring myself to look at him right now. Chills run down my spine as I think of the implication of his answer.
“Is it because of the blast?”
Madden’s hand lands on my shoulder and he twists me to face him. His face darkens, and his jaw clenches severely. “What do you know about the blast?”
My mind spins, and I force myself to hold onto the knowledge I have of that night.
No one except my aunt and Azriel knows that my magic returned at the exact same time.
No one knows I felt the same blast that they did and laid under a rain of flames as the world shifted around me.
My knowledge of the Nexa is just as deep as theirs; yet, no one is talking about it.
The whole town seems to not be thinking about it.
“Nothing. Just that I felt it too,” I tell him, giving him the most honesty I can without drawing more questions.
Madden doesn’t deserve to know the other parts yet.
I don’t trust him to hold my secrets. There’s a flickering feeling deep inside that lets me believe Madden wouldn’t let me get hurt, but I don’t trust him.
Madden’s gaze falls to the ground, and his shoulders tense.
“Every paranormal in the world felt it. Whatever it was, was powerful. There have been some shifts in the Gate. More demons are getting through, and we don’t know how or what is motivating them.
We have to be more active here because of the unknowns. ”
“But it increased with the blast, right?” I ask, my teeth sinking into my bottom lip. My stomach clenches anticipating his answer, somehow already knowing what it will be. As if I knew all along.
“Yes, that’s what we’re thinking anyway,” Madden answers, reluctance evident in every word he says.
“They’re after something,” I breathe out, the little pieces of information falling into line with the puzzle that’s been building in my mind. “Something in that blast is forcing them to the Haven. They’re searching for it.”
Madden scowls, his gaze raking over every inch of the cemetery. He’s holding back, I can feel it. The Nexa. Yet he won’t voice it, he won’t share what he knows or what he suspects. Frustration flushes across my chest, angry, red and reckless.
“You know it’s the Nexa. Why isn’t anyone talking about it?”
Before I can blink, Madden’s hand is around my neck and my body is pushed back against the side of the granite mausoleum.
The silver in his eyes gleam before they sharpen and deepen to an all-black.
I should be scared, I should be angry, but all I can do is stare into those eyes.
Calm washes over me even when I should be struggling.
“Do not talk about what you don’t know. You have no idea how dangerous the implications are if she’s here.
Wars. Murder. Blood shed would happen in order to possess her,” he grits out, his words cutting, a warning wrapped in protection.
His black, smoke-like shadows leak from his hold and wrap around us, shutting out the outside world.
My chin lifts. “It becomes more dangerous when we pretend to not acknowledge what is actually happening. Reapers protect the Gate. If the Gate is in trouble, then we should be made aware of why, before someone gets hurt.”
Madden’s fingers flex against the column of my throat. Not enough to cut off my air, but enough to remind me that he’s in control. His forehead touches mine, and his breath fans across my face. “That’s why we train. That is why it’s a horrible idea for you to be here.”
“Here tonight or back here in general?” I can’t help but ask.
“I told you not to come back,” Madden whispers, so low, I almost don’t catch it. His shadows retreat, his eyes flip back to normal, and he steps back, his hand releasing from my body.
“Come back tomorrow. Heath and Aero need to be here. You need all the help you can get without your memories.”
I frown, glaring at him. “Then why did you say only you could train me?”
Madden runs his hands through his hair and groans. “Just be here tomorrow night, again, like you’re fucking told.”
“Fuck you, Madd,” I throw out, moving past him and not caring that my shoulder smacks into his. He laughs behind me, darkly.
“Not even if you begged.”
Anger flares in my gut, and I turn to face him once more. His eyes widen and the smirk on his lips grows while he takes in my clenched fists. “I don’t beg. And you would be the last person I’d ever let touch me.”
Madden’s face darkens, and he storms up to me, the lines on his face pulled tight, frustration rolls off of him in waves.
He charges at me, catching me to him, one of his hands tangling in my hair as the other grips the back of my jacket.
“Why does everything about you drive me crazy? I’m the only one, Skully.
The only one. And you damn well know it just like I do. ”
I twist out of his grip, putting distance between our bodies again. My heart hammers in my chest and a heat builds low in my belly whenever his body presses against mine. My head shakes in denial at everything he just said. “I don’t know anything, Madden. You’re just my ex.”
Even as I say the words, my body wants to reject them. My magic pulls against my skin, desperate to get out. His hand tangles with mine, his mouth opens to argue and that’s when I hear it.
A low growl.
A haunting howl.
Snarling from a beast. Three of them to be exact.
“When you said, hounds…” I glance at Madden. He meets my eyes before returning his own to the dog-shaped creatures prowling their way through the cemetery. Their bodies are huge, massive, black in color with eyes that glow red.
“Hell Hounds,” Madden confirms, his lips thinking.
The three of them bolt through the cemetery, snapping their jaws and growling at the air.
I watch, transfixed, when they come to a stop at the Gate.
The air turns colder, a black mist drops from the sky and pools at the gate, screeching and groaning.
The hounds attack, pushing and chasing the apparition through to the other side.
The last hound to cross over, tenses, its smokey body frozen while it sniffs the air.
My heart thuds. Its head twists around and those red eyes pin me in place.
Its head tilts, and it feels as if it’s looking right through me before it springs forward and disappears.
I’m breathing hard and look up to notice that Madden had moved in front of me, trying to block me from the hound. “What was that?”
Madden’s body is tense, his fingers gripping mine tightly. He glances over his shoulder at me, his silver eyes flashing. “Be here tomorrow, Skully.”