“Times are changing. We need to adapt and change with them. We’ve never faced an enemy like Drekavac and I for one, am proud of our new councilwoman and her team for what they have done. We need to all think of ways to improve our current procedures and discuss them at the next meeting,” Councilman Brent speaks up, causing my mouth to drop open.
Here I thought he hated us.
“Meeting dismissed. I agree with Councilman Brent. Luz, welcome to the council. I’ll send Arianna with your new contacts and phone. I would offer you new accommodations, but it seems that has already been seen to,” he adds with a smirk.
When I walk out of the chambers, followed by my team, I’m practically floating. I’m hopeful that we can turn this city around, and with half the threat handled, I feel like we can finally breathe.
I’m glad they listened to me. I don’t want any other reapers to come in with awelcome like I got from my trainers.
“That was hot as fuck,” Sam says in a sexy, growling voice. I smirk at him.
“I put way too much work into this city to just become a reaper again,” I defend even though they’re on my side.
“Plus half of the councilors are pompous dicks,” Liam adds helpfully. I chuckle and nod in agreement. He isn’t wrong.
“And I’m the first woman, so that’s a problem,” I agree.
“The real question I have is, how many other layers are out there that Luz can find?” Mason’s voice is full of excitement and he has a mad scientist smile on his gorgeous face.
“No,” Sam says with a glare that has me laughing.
“Itisinteresting. I didn’t focus on the demon layer, but we ended up there to escape the one we saw. I may have to be physically near someone or something from that realm, to travel there,” I muse out loud, getting into Mason’s enthusiasm.
“No,” Sam interrupts again and we all look at him. He just shakes his head, knowing damn well this is a losing battle.
“So about this Emmett,” Mason says, changing the subject. I turn and give him a questioning look. “Do we trust him with our Thea?” he asks playfully, but I can tell he really wants to know my opinion.
“We don’t have a choice. She chose him. Don’t worry, if he hurts her or is shady, I’m pretty sure Thea will kick his ass herself,” I inform him. “I like him though.”
“Me too,” Thea whispers to me conspiratorially, stepping up to join our group.
“I wouldn’t hurt her,” Emmett says defensively, giving the others a glare.
“They know that, babe. They’re just looking out for me,” she reassures him.
“So, have they decided what to do with us?” Emmett asks, looking at me.
“Not yet. I think we’ll all be a team though. So mostly reaping until we have new reapers to train. It shouldn’t be long. I think the demons were working to eradicate the reapers before the council even realized. With them out of the picture, even if Drekavac somehow finds a workaround, we should be able to build our numbers,” I answer with a smile.
“I miss the simple reaping days,” Thea says with a groan. We’re interrupted when Sam’s phone rings. He steps away and we all stop walking to wait for him. Thankfully we’ve made it outside at this point. My goal is to drag them to the diner for some actual, hot food.
“We have new recruits already,” Sam informs us excitedly as he walks back to the group.
“I guess reaping is on hold,” Thea says excitedly, practically bouncing up and down.
“The Head Councilor has named us as the training team for now. Let’s hurry and eat because he wants us ready to meet them as soon as they wake up,” Sam explains, and even he looks excited about this. I can’t help but join in on the celebration, since this is what I wanted. Things are definitely shifting in the City of Souls.
It always seems crazy how fast things can shift. I started here as the scared recruit, bounced from trainer to unhappy trainer and thrown mostly unprepared right into the thick of things. It seems odd to say that death was the best thing to happen to me, but I’m thankful to be a reaper. I have happiness and a family, and I can’t wait to see where the new changes take us. We will make a new type of reaper. Stronger, smarter, and open to new ideas. It’s exactly the thing our city needs.
* * *
Drekavac
“I’m sorry sir,it’s spelled ink. Even if you burn it off, it will come back,” my healer informs me, but I’m barely listening. I knew when I tried to follow that bitch through the portal that she bound me somehow. I spotted the new tattoo later that night and tried to burn it off, but I don’t bother to tell the healer that. He’s a useless witch I’d imprisoned years ago.
“Dismissed,” I spit out as I start pacing my room. Seeking her out, I close my eyes and slip into the void. I can hear the other layers of the veil, but haven’t been able to reach them yet. Each moment I spend here, the easier it becomes to navigate.
As the voices become more insistent, I zero my attention on the loudest ones. “I can help you, come talk to me,” I encourage, repeating myself until something responds. It doesn’t answer in words, but a menacing growl that spreads a smile across my face.
Perfect.
I keep encouraging the creature further into the void until it’s close to my layer. The creature is a fearsome sight to behold and new plans formulate in my mind. Until the day I can break this wretched curse, I will make their lives miserable from the void itself. They underestimated my powers and their stupidity will cost them.
With a few final encouraging words the creature is pulled into my realm. My demons subdue it quickly, binding it in ropes. It screeches and spits in outrage, but our numbers are too vast, especially now that they’ve all returned home.
This… this will do nicely to draw Luz back to me. I will have her powers, and the next time she slips through will be the last.
Shewillbe mine.
The End.