Chapter 2

It was late when I woke up. Eustace was awake and he'd found the marijuana. He and Nancy scolded me like some child. We argued for a long time, longer than I would have preferred to. While they shouted at me, I got dressed and left in blinding speed.

I was planning on coming back but I needed to adjust. I could still feel the death on my skin from that awful place. I was five when they-when I-

I was choking on the mere thought of it. Saying that was enough to make someone vaguely grasp the momentum of those four years.

I clenched my pant leg as a chill teased the hairs on my body. It wasn't something you could just explain to someone. You couldn't make anyone understand. You just couldn't.

It's a kept a secret between chosen few. I didn't even tell those who I kept close to me.

The sun had set but it's glow could still be seen, fading into a green before fading into black. I stood in the sidewalk, watching the monsters crawl out from their dens to come play with one another.

I could smell the cocaine, blood, and heroine on their airs. It was disgusting. They were all disgusting. The entire city was just disgusting.

Something scurried between my legs. It was a shadow, only it had nothing to trail behind. It climbed up the buildings, then back on the ground, then back on the buildings, circling the street. I heard it whispering, seemingly talking to itself.

It was a Shadow. They were creatures made from shadows of the souls that the Gods destroyed or regular shadows that were brought to life by the Forbidden Practice to serve whoever animated them. They weren't sentient creatures, they couldn't think for themselves and they were vulnerable alone.

Shadows were never found alone unless they were sent to scout for something.

I went back to the apartment, trying to stay away from the scout and everything else.

Eustace and Nancy were gone and they took my stash with them. I took the last beer from the fridge and called Jerry on the house phone. "Hey," I looked to the clock. It was one in the morning. "did I wake you?"

"Sort of. I went to the apartment but the door was locked. Eustace said you were out to calm down, that you were getting anxious inside. Um…the others couldn't come, they had stuff to do but they hope you're okay."

"That's nice."

"So, why'd you call?"

"I'm combining all of the past sick days you tried to give me and I'm using them now."

"Oh." He stopped. "That's a little more than a month, then."

"Yeah, I know."

"That's a long time, but I get it. Eustace also said that you've been going through a rough patch with your family."

My gut twisted into a knot, nearly making me throw up on the spot.

"I don't want to sound like an ass, but I didn't even think you had family. You never talked about them."

"I don't want to talk about it, okay?"

"I figured. Just take your time. You have been working overtime, nonstop and you deserve some time to relax. We have three new guys who applied today, so we don't need you as soon as possible."

"Already, you want to replace me?"

"I'd never."

"Night, Jerry."

"Good night."

I hung up, looking to the window I'd broken. It was covered in black duct tape. I walked to it and stared down at the streets. Nothing unusual was moving but I didn't trust my position anymore. After digging into the purpose of the Shadow scouts, I'd leave.

I didn't know what it was looking for but I had to assume it was me. In the eyes of Beings – of creatures made by the Gods and Goddesses – I was worth more than just money. I did not want to be caught by anyone.

'Where will you start, Avi?'

I went to my room and opened the bottom drawer. That was where I'd start.

I waited for morning. Morning was when the Shadows had to be more cautious and hurry into the shade. I grabbed all of my money, locked the door behind me, and left the apartment without saying goodbye to Eustace. But I felt bad because he said good morning to me.

I took a taxi farther up in the city. I told the driver to stop at the Church a few feet in front of us. He dropped me off there.

I stopped at the feeling of God's presence hovering over the beautiful structure. To humans who embraced God, it was an empowering feeling. To me and all who spat upon the name of Christ, it was threatening.

I opened the doors to be speared by the stares of stone angels. Their eyes seemed to narrow upon me but I brushed past their judgment, entering the large hall filled with bold stones and gold. Benches stood neatly, leading down the hall to the base of a white altar and the stone statue of crucified Jesus.

A priest turned from the altar to glare at me. I gripped my bandana.

There wasn't much in the world that could intimidate me, but God and his cult certainly could.

A man stood from the front bench in a yellow and green flannel. His hair was pitch black and his skin had been browned by an exotic sun. He reeked of God's divinity in visible pale-yellow wisps. "Padre, puedes dejarnos por favor?"

The priest gripped his rosary, lifting his nose to me as he left. The man stared at Jesus. "Please, come closer."

"I'll stay over here." I popped my knuckles. "I'm not offending you with my presence, am I?"

"Is that a serious question?"

"No."

"Hm. The Priest is a bit offended, but I find myself being more surprised." He knelt at the bench. "I don't think I've ever heard of a Druid willingly walking into the House of God."

"I'm not here for fun."

"Ah," He bowed his head in prayer. "then you need something from me."

"Good guess."

"It wasn't much of a guess, it was logic. Why else would a Druid come to a fallen Angel? I don't think you'd come here to apologize for being born."

"I have questions for, then you'll do something for me."

"I have questions, as well. If you answer them, I'll answer whatever questions you have for me. And we'll see about what you want me to do."

"What did you get kicked out of Heaven for?"

"For asking God why He hates Fate and his creations."

I snorted. That was a lie if I'd ever heard one. But I didn't really care about the truth. "I remember being told that Rogue Angels came here on Tuesdays."

"That wasn't a lie."

"Where are the other Rogue Angels, then?"

"Dead."

God didn't care much for Rogue Angels (that was what we called fallen Angels), but Leashed Angels (Angels that were still in Heaven) despised their fallen brethren and came to Earth to kill them. That being said, there weren't many Rogue Angels that lived past thirty in their human bodies.

"They'll come for me too." He murmured.

"Is that why you're praying? You're praying to God in hopes of going back to Heaven before they can kill you?"

"I'm praying to my brothers and sisters. I'm asking them to not kill me, that's all."

"Do you think it'll work?"

"No, but there's no harm in trying."

I looked to the stained-glass figures of Adam and Eve in the windows. I thought it was strange how God built Adam from Fate's twigs and then he was claimed to belong to God. If he was built from Fate's little creations, then wouldn't Adam technically belong to the Fate?

The Angel opened an eye to peek at me over his shoulder. "Is it my turn to ask?"

"Sure."

"Why did you retire? You didn't just retire, you washed your hands of the Supernatural Underworld and all of its affairs. It angered everyone."

"I know."

"Why did you leave?"

"Because I didn't want to be a part of a world that took me for granted."

"I sense there's more to your reasoning."

"Are you ballsy enough to pry?"

He faced the altar again, "No."

I waited for a moment. "Is that it?"

"One more question, I hope you don't mind. Is it true that you're the descendent of the famed warrior of your culture, Síle Ó Faoláin?"

I had a feeling that if I asked how he knew about her, I wouldn't like his answer. "It's not Ó Faoláin. It's Faolán, Síle Faolán."

"There's a difference?"

"A big one."

He turned around, ceasing his prayer completely. "Are you the descendent of Síle Faolán?"

"Yes."

He got to his feet, walking to a small basin of water and dipping his fingers into it. He drew a cross over his body and headed down the aisle to meet me. Something uncomfortable was coiling in the space between us. The closer he got, the greater the volatility became. I could tell that he felt it too. He stopped a foot from me, flinching.

The pain that French-kissed the core of my power and skin, was already numb. My tolerance for pain was world renown, it was one of the things that made me famous.

"Are you Mexican?"

"Yes. I was born into a Mexican family after I fell."

I grabbed at his sleeve to take his hand. The force tried to repel us. It tossed the both of us back a few inches. "Ow!"

"You felt that?" I laughed, "What, are you actually human?"

He glowered at me, brushing himself off. "I have a human life span and a human appearance."

"But?"

"But I still have my wings."

"Is that all? Good, then. To business."

"I'm not a soldier in your army. I don't take orders from anyone anymore."

"You're going to do what I tell you."

"Typical Druid, demanding, self-centered-!"

I took a dagger from my belt and pressed it against his throat. The force sent my blood to turn into barbed wire. I clamped my hand over his mouth as he screamed.

"Don't forget careless and lesser and all those other things you think we are."

Tears dripped down his face.

'What I baby.'

"I don't know much about Angels, but I know Rogue Angels can be killed by anything. They are just as vulnerable as humans are." The tip of my blade pierced the side of his jaw. "You're going to do what I tell you to, yeah?"

Fear poured from his skin, making my mouth water. My legs ached to run at the taste of his adrenaline on the air.

"Take a breath before you pass out." I stepped back. "It's a simple request. A child could even do it."

"Then why not ask a child?"

"Because children don't have wings."

"What do you want?"

"I want you to fly around Los Angeles for three weeks and tell me if you see anything that relates to Shadowmancy."

His eyes narrowed, "There are Shadowmancers?"

"There's at least one in the city, but I want to know if there's more of them. If you see something, you'll go to Siobhan 's Inn at eight pm. I'll be there every day. If you run, I'll find you."

"People always say that in movies."

"Yeah? I can smell you from six miles away. If I hear you flying, I can shoot you down with my eyes closed. So, you'd best be a good boy and do what I tell you."

"And if I don't see anything for three weeks?"

"Then I'll never bother you again."

"Is this really about Shadowmancers? What could they do that would make you worry?"

"I don't know but I don't like it."

"There's nothing to worry about."

I threw my knife. It shaved the side of his head and stabbed through the stone floor. "Don't patronize me! You have no fucking clue of what they could do. You know about the war they started but you don't know what they did. They destroyed an entire planet."

"That was years ago."

"It doesn't fucking matter."

"Please, stop swearing."

"Shut up! You could at least stop trying to argue and just help me, since God did nothing to stand up for the race he made."

"It wasn't the Shadowmancers that tried to kill the humans, it was one of your Gods. It wasn't our problem to fix. It was yours."

"Don't try to fucking educate me on my history. I know who started the war, I know who fought in it, and I know who didn't help."

"It doesn't matter. That war is over. It's been over for thousands of years."

"So, help me prevent another war from starting."

"If they're really trying to start another war, how will you take care of it? You're by yourself."

"Just do what you're fucking told."

The Angel frowned, "Why does everyone swear so much?"

I put a cigarette in my mouth. "Because you're a religious fuck-wit who needs to grow a pair of fucking stones."

As I was leaving the church to call another taxi, I knew I couldn't be mad at the Angel for scoffing at the idea of Shadowmancers causing trouble. They were a dying breed and their practice was declared forbidden by the previous King of the Capital. Now, the Shadowmancer class is so weak that they aren't really something to be concerned about. After their God was locked away, they grew weak, unable to inflict mortal harm on anyone. We even laugh at them as they pass. But my father never took his chances with them. He'd force them out of the territory as soon as he could.

Many forget their attempts to free the God of Shadow. All attempts failed, of course, but they had a possible ally that had the power to bring him back.

'He's locked away in the Shroud, Avi. You saw to that.'

'Still...'

I took one last look at the Church. The cross planted at the top was shining in the sunlight. My skin crawled.

I asked the driver to take me to an Inn at the corner of the city. It was a fancy little hole-in-the-wall that sat between two abandoned buildings. The entire area was basically abandoned.

I shoved my hands into my pockets and headed through the glass doors. The Inn was buzzing with gossip and drunken conversation. I sat at the bar, dropping my head on the wood.

The barkeep came to me. "What would-?"

"Five shots of something nasty."

"You!" She hissed, grabbing me by my knotted curls to lift my head.

"Siobhan, you look good."

She had honeyed eyes in her petite face, which held ancient Celtic fury. Her auburn hair was tied back into a bun but a few strands cupped her jaw.

"I should kill you."

"Gods, please do."

She leapt over the bar and dragged me across the room to a broom closet. Breast to breast in the cramped darkness, I felt her lethal stare. "Two whole years, it's been. I haven't heard from you or seen you in two years. What the hell?"

"That's not what's important, now."

"What the fuck would be more important than your reasoning for leaving me to worry for two years?"

"Shadowmancers."

"Yeah, and?"

"I think they're going to try and free the God of Shadow again."

"Okay?"

"Let me rephrase that, I think they also freed his last living Disciple whom will help free the God of Shadow."

She drew back. "Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"How do you know this?"

"It's a very strong, gut feeling. You know how those are."

"Are you lying?"

"That's the dumbest question I've ever heard in my fucking life."

Through the thin blackness, I saw her put a hand to her mouth. "Fuck."

"Yeah."

She paused for a moment. I waited. She slammed her head into the wall. "Fuck!"

"Yeah."

"You have to call the other Saviors."

"No."

"If this hunch is right, then you can't take them on all by yourself."

I opened the closet door, dragging her to the next room over. "No one is calling them."

"This is dangerous shit."

"You don't think I know that? I'm already looking into this to see if I'm right. If shit gets too out of hand, then I'll call them."

"Yeah, right."

I pushed her out of the way, storming across the room while hiding my face from everyone else. She ran after me. "What did they even do to make you hate them? You guys were, like, family."

I went up a flight of stairs. "You wouldn't understand."

"Where are you going?"

When I reached the top, I walked into a small room. "I'm renting a room."

"What?"

"I'll be staying here for a few weeks."

"Why?"

"G'night." I shut the door in her face.

I flicked the light switch on. There was a twin-sized bed, a lamp on the floor along with a small TV and a tiny fan plugged into the wall. I unbuckled my belt. Several hidden blades fell with it. I took off my shirt, which only showed a full vest of knives. I unbuckled that vest as well.

I peeled the skinny jeans from my legs, tossing them with the pile of clothes.

I reached around to the back of my bra to where another weapon hid. I took off the blade and unsheathed it. In the shine of the stone face of the dagger, I heard my father speak as a phantom in a memory.

--

"Obsidian burns us." My father said, presenting the black blade to me.

I looked up into his eyes. A cracked, frozen lake reflected my curious stare back to me. He was a gruff creature with a strong frame and a firm voice. His brown hair was always tied back into a low ponytail. I didn't know why he kept his hair long.

"You must be careful with this weapon, Avi." He knelt down to face me. "It's sharper than most weapons. It can cut through skin like paper."

I lifted my head, snapping my ten-year-old self to attention. "I can cut anyone like paper."

He smiled but it wasn't a happy one. His hands slipped under my arms, regret weighing on his brow.

He eyed my scars. "I know that."

Though he said he knew, he didn't sound certain.

His rough fingers ran across the long marks. "You've done more than prove yourself to me, Avi. You've proven worthy to yourself." He looked up again, gently pinching my cheek. "I just don't want to lose you to anyone. I couldn't bear that pain again."

I dropped the blade and hugged him. "You won't. I'll become Beta, and no one will get lost. Never again, Alpha, I won't let it happen."

He hugged me even tighter. "Is that a promise?"

"Yes."

Tears landed on my little shoulder. "I'll hold you to that."

--

My father, the Clan leader and the Alpha…I missed him so much.

I sat down. I reached into the small pouch of Eternal Storage tied to my belt. I took out a bottle of water and a whetstone. Aisling taught me and my fellow clan mates to sharpen our weapons. Hell, she was more of a Beta than a warrior. At the time, however, my Clan already had a Beta; a second in command.

--

"Attention!" She barked.

We straightened, dropping our eyes to her feet as she passed us. She stopped when passing me.

She shot her leg out, knocking me onto one knee. "You shouldn't even be standing, soith daonna."

I clenched my jaw. She hated me, she hated me because I went to a human school. Druids didn't go to school, especially not with humans.

I looked up to glare at her as she kept walking.

Beta's eyes were like coals, dead and black. Her dark hair was pulled back into a whip-like braid. Her mouth was thin and cruel, curses usually dripped from her lips. But she only acted like a bitch when Alpha wasn't around.

She wore her casual suit: a thick leather chest plate that wrapped around her waist and secured her backside, dark green breeches covered her legs, with knee-high hunting boots buckled around her thighs.

She whirled, kicking me in the face. "Druids look upon their leaders with respect."

The rest of the Clan came to see the spectacle. I licked my busted lip.

Now you've pissed her off, Avi.

Beta kicked me onto my side. "Get up."

I stood. She punched me. I staggered back but I didn't make a sound. She hit me again.

"I wish you died in that camp." She kicked me down.

I got back to my feet, still keeping my eyes on her feet. "As do I, Beta."

She twisted, bringing her foot to my cheek. I hit the ground with blotches of color filling my vision.

"Get up."

Upon command, I stood. The odd ability granted to my Clan by the Goddess Lilias, was that the leader and second in command could control the actions of the clan members. If she told me to stand, I had to stand.

The beatings she gave me would last for hours and I would have to take them. If I said anything, she'd make the entire month a living hell. I hated her. She picked on me, goaded me, and tested me, seeing if I'd break under her abuse.

I dragged a knife across the wet whetstone.

When I returned to camp after being tortured by my kidnappers, I was nine years old. In my Clan, warriors are trained from six to fifteen. At fifteen, a competition is held to see each trainee's skills and where they'll be stationed.

I had been behind in training, but I caught on quickly – a little too quickly for Beta's liking.

She tore open my ear with a swipe of her dagger. Everyone snickered and stared as blood poured down my neck. "Crawl back to the humans." She seethed, "Go back to your masters, soith daonna."

My little brother was shouting in the back of the crowd, trying to push past everyone to get to me.

"Why do you stay?"

"I'm part of this Pack."

She sent me into the dirt with the butt of her knife. "Wrong answer."

Excited growls rose from the Clan.

"Why do you stay?"

I rolled onto my side. "I'm part of this Pack."

She kicked me. My brother cried my name, finally pushing through to get to me. Beta stopped him with a glare. "The Alpha's son should be training with everyone else."

My brother, Neridai, he was a spitting image of his father; dark hair, tough build, frozen eyes, only he wasn't as smart.

"You shouldn't be kicking the Alpha's daughter." He returned.

"Alpha already has a daughter, your sister, Denias. She's out with him on a trip."

"Avi is my sister!"

She threw the knife at his foot, piercing in the dirt beside his boot. "She is not your blood. You took her in because her real parents live as humans!"

"Shut up!"

The voice snorted. Is he trying to get murdered?

Beta reached for the silver knife at her back, her mouth twitching madly, "What did you say to me?"

I spat blood at her feet. "Fucking bitch!"

She spun on the ball of her foot to face me. I punched her in the jaw. She reached to stab me.

There was another little voice tickling the back of my head. Put her in her place.

But I knew that I'd made things worse for myself, so I let the knife cut through my stomach. The dagger was hilt-deep in my flesh and I just stared at it. I felt the pain but refused to react to it. I was still numb from the torture.

I ripped it out. With the blade still coated in my blood, I offered it back to her. Beta couldn't decide whether she should be horrified or furious at me. In the end, she sent me to my hut. Neridai had to help me there. I was weak from blood loss.

Aisling cut us off, leading us towards her den. "It's best if you stay with me a while, Avi." She opened the door into her little wooden house. "I'm so sorry I couldn't help you. Her hold on all of us is-"

"I know." I dropped onto the rug in front of her fireplace.

"Neridai, go by bed. There's an aloe plant and bandages." She knelt down, lifting my shirt to reveal my wound. "She's abusing her authority."

My brother came back with an aloe leaf and bandages. "So?"

Aisling pushed the aloe essence onto my bleeding ear and smeared it on the cut. "Abusive leaders need to be killed. How do you think your father became Alpha?"

I winced as she wrapped the bandage around my head. "I remember that story. Connor was our old Alpha, right? 1860?"

"Your father and I were young when Connor started becoming paranoid about being challenged by younger soldiers." Aisling handed the bandages to Neridai so that she could roll up her sleeves. "He would attack us at random, screaming and frothing at the mouth, trying to crush us with his right to control us. But the day Connor attacked your father was the day he died."

She held her hands over the knife wound. Her palms glowed with the power of spring, the power of rebirth and healing. Gaelic flowed quietly from her murmurs to sew my skin back together.

"It's a difficult thing to stand up to a Beta or an Alpha. The bond between us and them is strong. It's not guts you need, it's emotional and mental strength."

Neridai tied off the bandages. "Someone has to kill her before she kills Avi."

"Did you not hear a word I said?"

"I could kill her. I don't care about her"

"It doesn't matter. She could still order you to do whatever she wants. She has sway over you."

I sat up. "Can't Alpha kill her?"

"He could, but she would have to do something to really piss him off." She sighed. "Enough about this. You both are fine, go back to training. The competition is in two years and you both need to be ready for it. Go."

--

Siobhan knocked on the door, waking me from my nap. "Breakfast is ready to be served! You know how much it costs."

I got up and opened the door. "Can you bring it to me?"

"We're not a bed and breakfast."

"Fine." I put on a white and silver flannel and some black yoga pants.

On the main floor were patrons that had also rented rooms. Some had been living at the Inn for decades, but Siobhan didn't care as long they paid up front. I kept my head down as I ate at the bar.

Siobhan gave me a tall glass of Guinness. "On the house."

"Why?"

"You look like shit, you're my friend, and the drink costs only six dollars. Do I need another reason?"

I took up the beer and drank. Alpha, Neridai, and I would always share a glass in the morning because of how great it tasted with bacon and hash browns. "Have you heard any news?"

She gave me a look. "Are you going to ask about your Clan, again? You've asked me that for two years and my answer was always 'No, I haven't'. Aren't you a little tired of worrying about them?"

The other Beings in the bar, glanced at me. I lowered my head even more. "No."

"Well, I haven't heard any news for almost two years, now."

"Do you know why that is?"

"Probably riots in the City, again."

"About what? The taxes on Beings above ground? That whole fight has been over for a decade."

"It's still a problem."

"Whatever. I think it's reasonable that Beings get taxed to still be allowed help from the City's agents. The travel agents and economic agents and whatever agents are the only people that help us escape from Hunters."

"I agree, I just think they're pricey."

"Living as a Being requires protection. Protection is safety and safety ain't cheap." I finished my breakfast and the beer quickly. I grabbed her hand when she came to collect my dishes. "If an Angel comes in here, call me down."

She recoiled. "What?"

"Please?"

"You better explain all this shit to me, later."

"I will."

"You'd fucking better." She took my dishes and stomped to the sink.

'You're doing great so far, Avi! Already you have pissed off the only friend you have in a two-hundred-mile radius.'

I went back to my room to finish sharpening my knives. Hours later, I bought dinner downstairs and brought it to my room. I looked out the small window above my bed. Every hour or so, a winged shadow shot across the street, making the street lights flicker.

At least the Angel's doing what he's told. I thought.

I ate the last of my cheesy baked potato with marinated bourbon steak when I noticed a Shadow darting under cars and crawling along the buildings. I dropped down when it scrambled past my window. I threw a blanket over the knives sprawled on the floor so the Shadow didn't see them. I cursed at Siobhan for being so cheap as to not buy shades for the windows.

I shoved my head into my pillow to hide my face as its claws scratched the wooden sides of the Inn. People murmured questioningly at the sounds. I watched it run down the street to continue scouting.

For two more weeks, the Shadowmancers kept sending scouts through LA. I looked out my window, hoping to see one of them following their Shadows but I wasn't lucky.

On the beginning of the third week, I came down to the bar. It was noon and I wanted a shot of whiskey.

The doors flew open, slamming into the walls. I looked over my shoulder. Lo' and behold, the Rogue Angel stood in the doorway. However, he was flustered. A better description is that he was ready piss his pants.

The moment his musk stunk up the room, a chorus of snarls and glares came from the Inn.

Before I could stand, a shout came from the back, "You're not welcome here."

He shoved his hands into his pockets. He was trying to seem collected but ultimately failed. "The sign said that all Beings are welcome."

A Faerie got up. His glare was lime green and his skin was tainted with a strawberry hue. "You're not a Being, you're a piece of trash. Get out."

I stood. "You're one to talk."

Everyone stopped to gape at me, seeing me for the first time in three years. I nodded to the Angel, "Go upstairs. My room is on the far left."

He hurried past us. The Faerie reached for him. I grabbed his wrist and pulled him down to my face. The Being's heart was racing, pumping adrenaline through his body and into the air. "A broken nose wouldn't look pretty on you, gorgeous." I smiled.

"Are you with them now?!" A woman screamed, slamming her fist on a table.

I pushed the Fae back into his seat. I took up my empty shot glass to try and get the last drop of whiskey. "Who do you think I'm with?"

"The humans!"

I sped across the room, taking her by the back of her neck. I shoved the glass into her mouth and forced her to chew it. I smashed her face into the table until blood poured from between her lips.

I wiped my hands off on someone else's shirt. "I'll buy you another shot glass, Siobhan."

The Inn stayed quiet, even as I walked into my room to meet with my informant.

I rooted through my bag as he sat on the bed. His pulse was thumping at an unstable rate. I looked to him. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Are you going into cardiac arrest?"

His hands clenched the sides of his jeans. "I need a drink."

"Seriously?"

His eyes were starting to water.

"Okay, okay." I took out a bottle of brandy, breaking the seal. "I thought Angels didn't drink."

"We don't." He took a large swig, instantly choking on it.

I took the bottle back. "Tell me that you didn't come here because of a dumbass reason."

"I saw them." He coughed.

"Saw who? Shadowmancers?" He nodded and I pulled up a chair. "How many?"

"Eighteen, I think."

'Fuck, eighteen Shadowmancers?'

The voice sneered, 'Still think you can do this on your own?'

"Start from the beginning, and try to breathe."

"Okay." He started with a deep breath. "I was flying around the north-west side of the city. The sun was out, 'kay? All of a sudden, it was black."

"Was it cold?"

"No, it was, like, lukewarm. But I heard whispers and I looked down. There were people standing in the shape of a tear drop, kinda. I didn't understand the language they were speaking but it scared me. I felt hands touching me but nothing was there. I started flying faster and it was morning again. I looked behind me and there was nothing there! I couldn't see or hear anything weird."

I took out a cigarette. "Calm down." I lit the end with a match. "Drinking isn't gonna help you. You watch too many movies." I opened a window let the smoke out.

"What should I do, then?"

"Focus on the memory and know that it's over now. I'm not going to ask you to do anymore for me, but I need to know the details." I took a slow drag of the cigarette.

He looked to me. "Why did it go black?"

I let out a plume of smoke. "Shadowmancers – if there's enough of them – can make a small cut in this plane of existence and reach through to grab the Veil. They can pull a sliver of it into this world for a short period of time."

"What's the Veil?"

"The Plane of Shadow. It's where Shadows originate and other things." I drank the brandy and took more puffs of the cigarette. "Could you see anything besides the Shadowmancers?"

"Um…I saw that the blackness was moving or squirming or something like that."

"Did any of them saw you?"

He drew a shaky cross over his chest, "God, I hope not."

"Where were you?"

"Somewhere on Morgan Street."

"Did you see who was leading them?"

"Uh." He rubbed his face.

"Anything small about him would help."

"Um." He held his head, trying to contain himself. "White hair. I saw white hair."

I rested the bottle on the window sill. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

'Eyes like the dead vacuum of space, swirled blue and lilac.'

"Did you hear anything repeated?"

"What?"

"When they were whispering, did you hear any repeated words?"

"Sort of. I heard something like 'grilocz' 'ehuhrikshi' and 'Haeyn'."

"You heard 'Haeyn'? Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

I took another swig of the bottle and rested my head on my arm. "Fuck me sideways."

The Angel turned, "Beg your pardon?"

"I was right. I was right about everything." I put the cigarette down and took off my flannel. "You need to leave."

He jumped up. "You're changing?"

"You need to leave the state as soon as you can. They most definitely felt you flying around and they'll look for you." I took out a pair of dainty peach flats and rose gold sunglasses. "Go."

He sped out of the room and out of the Inn.

I sheathed my knives in my vest again and put it on. I threw on a white t-shirt over the vest. I hid the obsidian dagger in my jeans and I slipped into a formal black jacket that I'd stolen. I wrapped a belt around my waist, tying my bag to it.

Lastly, I put a wallet into my pocket, a pack of cigarettes and one-hundred dollars in cash. I went outside and called a taxi.

When I got to Morgan Street, I found what I expected: cops and a flock of people.

I buttoned my jacket up while eying the scene. There was a large gap between two buildings. From what I could see, there were large impact marks on the sides of them.

'Oh no.'

I headed under the police tape. Cops came up to stop me. "You can't be here, miss."

I pulled out my wallet, hoping that the fake FBI badge would work. I flipped it open for them to see.

They backed away to let me pass.

I scaled the site. The concrete base was shattered, almost like a mirror. The head of the investigation came up to me. "FBI? Maybe you could explain to me what you think this could be?"

"Classified."

"You've got to be kidding me."

"I'm not. I'll need you to back away for a few minutes while I take a look."

"Why? Is there something I should be aware of?"

"Officer, what do you think this is?"

"It looks like a terrorist bombing."

I looked at him over my sunglasses. "Where's the body of the terrorist, then?"

"What?"

I rolled my eyes, walking to the center of the scene. "Just do what I tell you."

Shadowmancy was heavy on the air, pushing on my body and burning my nose hairs. I could hear faint voices haunting the rock. I knew of the language, it was Veil Speech. It must've been the remains of the chants.

No, the voices are too similar to be the chants.

I bent down to listen. Something licked my ear.

I fell back, landing on my butt. Lukewarm tongues caressed my palms and legs.

My shadow was moving – nearly vibrating. Everyone's shadows were vibrating. It looked like they were trying to animate themselves. The longer I stared, the higher the shadows jumped.

I got up. "Everyone, leave! This site is under quarantine!"

The officer turned. "Come on, seriously?"

"Everyone needs to leave." I ordered. "They need to leave now."

I took off the glasses and tied my hair up into a ponytail. I needed to cleanse the site to kill the Shadows.

'That's not a good idea.'

"Do you have a better one?" I tossed my jacket away to let myself breathe under the hot sun.

'Yeah. Let's do what the Angel's doing, and leave.'

I looked to the camera across the street. A migraine pierced my head when I made it shatter with a nod. Blood poured from my nose as I clawed at old magic deep inside me, forcing other cameras to shatter.

I lifted my hands above my head, letting them form a triangle to concentrate the sun's rays while blood dripped off my chin to stain my shirt.

'You can't even light your cigarette, Avi! You'll fucking kill us both!'

My body ached just by me trying to say the word. The attempt struck me, sending me on one knee.

'Don't, just don't!'

I threw my hands up. Ice gripped my ribs with hungry claws as I choked on the spell. "Damnit!"

In the back of my mind, a ghost, with breath like winter's touch, padded to me. A wall of bars kept in from walking further but it looked at me. 'You need help.'

'Shut the hell up!' The voice snapped. 'Don't listen to it. It's another part of your imagination. Who're you gonna trust, it or me?'

I watched it shake its pelt. Flecks of snow flew from the fur it wore as armor. It was a spirit of snow made of unbridled strength. 'Would you like my help?'

'Say no!'

"So-S-" I fell with the taste of blood coating my tongue.

The eyes of the spirit pierced me like knives. The blades were cold but they gave me the warmth of life that I once had. They were of a bright color that sat amidst the snow, like a fresh flower sitting in the middle of a blizzard; a fresh flower with petals of glass that reflected any light that landed upon it.

I spat on the stone as the Shadows reached to pull me onto my back.

'Help me, for fucks sake!'

The creature smiled. 'Gladly.'

It gave me the strength to stand. I threw my hands up. "Solas!" (Light)

I worked as a magnifier, magnifying the sun's rays on the concrete. Then I became a conductor, becoming the vessel for the sun's power to flow through me, then release violently.

The Shadows howled as they disintegrated in the light.

I dropped to the ground. My lungs caved in, my ears were ringing, blood dripped from my nose, eyes, and mouth, I didn't know what wasn't wrong with me.

Magic lightly seared my veins as it flowed freely through me again. Dazed, I felt my numb ears, looking at my fingertips. Blood was also pouring from my ears.

'We need to go.' Said the new presence in my head. 'The police will come back to see what happened.'

I put my jacket back on and hid my glasses in the bag at my waist. 'Pray tell, what beast did I welcome in my head?'

'I have no name. But you called me a beast. I think that's fitting for me; Beast.'

The other voice growled, 'How nice. I love that we're all buddies, now.'

I sped down the street, reaching a speed of two miles per minute. I didn't stop running until I was safely twenty miles from the site. I took out the FBI wallet and crushed it in my hands. The leather caught fire. I tossed it into a trashcan and joined a moving crowd down the street.

The fight was on, as was the hunt.