Chapter 12: Skinwalkers

Palmer's gaze was unwavering. "It was one of these guys. But of a higher rank." He said, kicking the unconscious skinwalker laying on the floor

The words hit like a brick wall.

Damien felt his breath catch. What do you mean by 'not him'?

Valen spoke next, his voice emotionless. "Skinwalkers can manipulate perception. They make you accept odd behaviors as normal. He was good—very good."

Damien's mind reeled. That means—

"What happened to Eliot?" he whispered, his throat dry.

Palmer's answer was quiet. "Skinwalkers can only use bodies they've absorbed. By doing so, they rob their victims of their life."

Something inside Damien cracked.

He staggered back. The air in his lungs felt wrong. His vision blurred.

His best friend was dead.

Had been dead for months.

And he never noticed.

Sarah grabbed his arms, whispering reassurances he couldn't process.

Palmer's voice cut through the fog. "As much as I'd want you to mourn your friend, we must hurry. The orbs need to be separated before they find us."

Damien barely processed the words. His thoughts were a chaotic mess.

Sarah, still holding onto his arm, turned to Palmer, her brows knitting in confusion. "Before who finds us?"

Palmer crossed his arms. "Every single faction of supernaturals that exists are being signalled our location with those two orbs in close proximity."

Sarah shuddered. "O-okey, that's not good."

Valen finally spoke, his voice as cold as ever. "The moment two orbs get close together, they awaken as they've always been in a dormant state. And at its wake, signals all the entities the god created before his fall." His eyes glowed faintly. "Every single faction will stop at nothing to claim the orbs for themselves. Seeking its power. That was probably the aim of the skinwalker that disguised himself as your friend, Damien."

Damien felt his stomach drop.

Palmer stepped forward, his presence looming. "If any of the supernaturals gets their hands on just one, they become immensely powerful. And once they have one, finding the others will become a piece of cake. And if all five are gathered…"

Valen finished for him. "The location of the book where the entity was sealed will be revealed."

A tense silence followed.

Sarah shifted uncomfortably. "But Palmer… you're strong, right?" she asked, hopeful. "Can't you just punch them to oblivion? Like you always do?"

A sharp chuckle escaped Valen, but Palmer's expression remained serious.

He shook his head. "Even I have my limits, Sarah."

"Ohh," Sarah's face fell.

"The supernaturals aren't as weak as you think," Palmer continued. "Each faction has Nobles. Vampires, Werewolves, Daredevils, Wraiths… they're the elite—the ones who inherited the last remnants of the Fallen god's power before he was sealed."

His voice grew quieter, but no less dangerous.

"And the one who stands at the pinnacle of them all? He exhaled, his gaze darkening. "The one who gave birth to me."

Sarah's eyes widened. "Your—Fa"

"My mother," Palmer said simply. "That's how vampires have long stood at the top of the food chain. Dominating all factions."

Damien swallowed. "So what you're saying is… the people coming for us aren't just monsters."

"They're monsters born from the Fallen god himself," Palmer confirmed. "And I alone can't stop them. We'll need all the assistance we can get to stop them from obtaining the orbs."

Damien sat back, rubbing his face. This was getting worse by the second.

Then, a memory surfaced.

His phone call.

The voice of the man who had contacted him before the ambush.

Damien straightened, his face tense. "No wonder he said that…"

Palmer's gaze sharpened. "Said what?"

Damien exhaled. "A man called me before the attack. He told me to come to the church if I wanted to know the truth about my parents' death. But…" He hesitated. "He said not to bring the Noble along. He probably assumed I understood him, because I ended up taking you along before those beasts attacked. And I got another phone call from Mr Edward, but I was too shaken to even notice my phone ring."

Palmer's expression immediately darkened.

Valen turned toward him. "That's not a coincidence."

"So that was their plan to wipe out the Montgomery family without having to face me." Palmer's fingers flexed, then tightened into fists as he thought to himself. The temperature in the room dropped slightly. He had noticed their pattern of making the family alone and vulnerable before they attack them as they did to Elias and Jasmine.

Damien shivered. He had seen Palmer fight countless times. But this… this was different.

The tension in the air became unbearable.

"Did he say his name?" Palmer asked.

"No," Damien admitted. "Just that I should come alone."

Palmer exhaled through his nose. "Then at least we know where to start." He said as he glanced at the skinwalker on the floor. "Hey, you pest playing dead! I'll make sure you spill everything you know before putting an end to your miserable life." He said with a cold death stare