Chapter Thirty-Four
A sher sobered up real quick when Josh reported the body, emptying the house for the Aces to arrive without questions arising from civilians. He was able to get Nickie a ride home, stating he was feeling under the weather. After she kissed him, leaving a hickey on his neck, she left somewhat coherently in a taxi. I did my best to keep that mental wall up, trying not to let my personal feelings slip through the cracks.
Although we didn’t expect Father Benedict to come sporting a silk pajama set, we did prepare ourselves for Captain Harrison, flagged by Emilia and Cillian.
Captain Harrison called in a clean-up crew to remove the body for examination and sludge from the bathroom, while we all gathered in the living room, watching Saints and Scarlets from the experienced fleet come and go out the front door, monitoring the house or removing buckets of demon residue.
Some Saints carried down the black body bag, while Josh and I exchanged a nervous look. We couldn’t identify the female, but he informed Father of the strange symbol on the deceased’s chest. I wondered if they’d located her heart and shuddered, holding back my vomit, becoming numb to the butchery of innocent humans.
Emilia wore the signature scarlet cape, cleaning her blade with a white cloth. “Dare I ask how this happened when we were told security was put back into place?”
Father Benedict cleared his throat. “Security only extends so far.”
“I find that hard to believe,” she challenged, polishing the pommel of her dagger. The design showed three rubies in the center, with swirls and loops creating an intricate pattern.
Father Benedict didn’t respond. Instead, he whispered something to Dean Poverly.
Captain Harrison returned from upstairs, stroking his white goatee in thought. “A house full of college students, and only one pronounced dead.”
Thatcher wore a casual outfit, crossing her arms. “I think this attack was a message.”
“But to who? The kids? Wouldn’t they make it clear for us, the Aces?” chimed in Levine.
“Why not threaten the next generation? Deter them from continuing their training?” commented Toke. I swear that man always looked like he was on the verge of a mental breakdown.
Josh pulled up the strange symbol from his phone, showing Captain Harrison. “Definitely was a Magidoz. No other demon leaves behind that amount of residue, but this? Only someone with human hands could draw a symbol like this.”
Cillian asked to see the picture, zooming in with his fingers. “An omen of death.” The symbol in question, a circle with a line slashed down the middle, two perfectly formed dots on either side of the line, made no sense to me when I first saw it.
“We’ve been cleaning nests left and right, but I’ve never seen the city so infested in all my years,” said Captain Harrison.
Stoll spoke then, worry lines forming in between his dark brows. “Have the other Orders been informed?”
“Yes. Different fleets have been taking turns patrolling the city, all the way upstate. I got word from Orders across the country that their numbers are down, barely any demonic activity.”
Enjoying the silence from the mental wall I built was necessary, but Josh had knowledge I needed to access. Sighing internally, I smashed the mental wall apart, crumbling it into rubble at my feet. The floodgates opened once again, gaining direct access to his mind.
I tugged on that invisible string, and his eyes darted in my direction.
There’s other Orders across the state? I bit my lip, gauging his reaction, only to receive a cold shoulder, my question returned with silence. I guess I deserved that for blocking him out.
Dean Poverly finished his private conversation with Father Benedict. “There’s a way to strengthen security. After speaking with Benedict, another Priest must participate.”
“Strength in numbers,” muttered Emilia, sheathing her dagger at her waist. “But that should’ve been dealt with prior, especially if you knew that was the case from the beginning.”
Dean Poverly frowned. “With all due respect—”
“I would rethink what you’re about to say,” warned Cillian, stepping closer to Emilia.
Watching Cillian protect Emilia, not just physically but verbally in front of members of the Order, pulled at something deep within.
Putting my pride aside, I tried again. I’m sorry.
Josh’s eyebrows rose, and then he cleared his throat, stealing a quick glance in my direction. Forgiven . But don’t ever lock me out again.
Relief coursed through my body. Noted. So, about the other Orders?
His laugh echoed inside my head. We’ll do a crash course soon. Right now, pay attention, especially to Emilia.
Confused, I hadn’t realized she’d moved to the center of the room. She used the space to circle inside, staring at every single one of us. “We can’t pretend anymore that the streets are any safer than they were a few years ago. Something has shifted, something we’ve never dealt with before. I think it would be wise to have stronger patrols, and requesting help from other—”
Dean Poverly stood, interrupting her suggestion. “Calling other Orders to assist is unnecessary.”
“Then what do you suggest? We leave the younger generation of The Order, along with every innocent human on campus, open for slaughter?” growled Cillian.
Fear spiked my heart . You were right. He could break our necks using only two fingers.
I told you so. Josh then added, Cillian has a point.
Then why doesn’t Dean Poverly let more patrols have access?
Because he has too much pride. It’ll show everyone that he doesn’t have control over New York City. They could replace him.
Captain Harrison pulled a piece of paper from inside his collar. “We have the authority from the Spades to overtake this jurisdiction.”
All the professors’ eyes widened in shock. Dean Poverly snatched the paper from Captain Harrison, reading vigorously several times before letting the paper fall to the floor. “It’s true.”
Thatcher snagged it before anyone could get their hands on it and read it herself. I watched her mouth whisper the words she read until her fingers crinkled the paper. “They move in tomorrow. We must provide housing for the patrols.”
Chloe gasped quietly beside me, then whispered to mostly herself. “This is serious if the Spades are involved.”
Before I could even ask Josh, he’d already infiltrated my mind. The Spades are the highest council to exist in our world. Only a select few make it to that status. If they got word of what’s happening over here, that would mean everyone across the board knows.
Emilia looked taken aback. “I didn’t hear of this. Were you holding back for shock factor, Captain?”
He smirked, gesturing to Thatcher to return the note. “I always have a surprise hand up my sleeve.”
Cillian didn’t look amused.
Looks like Cillian isn’t happy being left out of the loop. In fact, Emilia’s face said it all—pure rage.
I’m surprised he didn’t tell them. They’re the highest-ranking members in their fleet.
How many fleets are there?
Seven.
Captain Harrison made his way over to the front door, tossing out his final words. “The Spades know what’s coming. Be prepared to send your trainees into battle.” He left the command hanging in the air, with Emilia and Cillian not too far behind, anger rolling off their backs.
Chills ran up my spine, and nobody spoke for several minutes. Nobody could even look at one another. If what Captain Harrison said was true, the idea of joining those well-trained fleets in an all-out blood bath, my mind began to spiral. I built a tiny wall in my mind just to hide behind in order to figure out what this all meant without having my fears displayed front and center.
Regardless of my chosen fate, I couldn’t, wouldn’t participate. Being responsible not only for myself but other lives too, even strangers’, was too much to think about. I knew what I saw that day outside the cathedral, there was no denying the presence of demons any longer.
But I wasn’t strong enough to fight them, even mentally.
I could use a stiff drink right about now.
“We’ll start fresh on Monday,” announced Thatcher before storming out of the house.
Soon after, all the Aces trickled out, even Dean Poverly, but Father Benedict remained, his hands clasped behind his back. “Times are changing. A collapse in the balance of what we know could very well crumble before it’s too late to change what is already set in motion.”
Not a word was uttered when he left. Only the sound of a muffled trap beat playing in the background filled the emptiness of the room.
My phone buzzed inside my pocket, a text message from my wonderful mother reminding me of tomorrow night’s dinner plans. Her condescending tone when telling me how to dress never failed to seep through our text conversations, or any for that matter.
But I knew the first order of business when I got back into my room.
To toss that fucking cape and pager in the trash.