My brothers and the birds are no longer the only creatures that can fly. The humans have found other ways. Curious, I had Romulus bring me back books on the subject. He is the one of us who can move most seamlessly in their world by covering his brother’s face with a wig and wearing a large trench coat to hide his wings and tail. I’ve been shy of trying shadow-walking in that modern world, and considering the ease with which that female saw me today in the woods, I’m glad I haven’t. Am I simply out of practice?
Romulus has been getting us the human groceries Hannah-consort so treasures, along with other modern amenities to update the castle. For me, he brings back books. I have learned much these past nine months since I was freed from captivity.
So yes. I know the world has become both much, much larger and also, paradoxically, far smaller. This woman could have easily flown nearby in a small plane or helicopter. No angel involvement required.
I watch her out of my peripheral vision as she stands stoically still, back to the exit, eyes scanning the room.
She might have been startled when she first met me and again when she woke up to find Abaddon crouched over her, but she’s taken the situation remarkably in stride. She seems calm and focused, ready to leave but also prepared for deception.
I hope she can return to her helicopter and leave this place, our existence a strange nightmare phantasm she can simply chalk up to a bad bump on the head.
But then I remember that she came to us covered in blood.
It may not be good that she returns to wherever she came from. She was fleeing through the forest in terror.
“Here,” I say, alerting her before I step forward.
She’s immediately on edge, her entire body going taut. And like that first moment in the forest, I feel a tugging toward her.
I blink and rub my chest, staring at the tiny blonde woman covered in blood who looks ready to tear Remus and me apart if we make even a wrong step in her direction.
I make my offering clear as I hold the weapons I confiscated earlier. “In case you run into any danger out there.”
She looks up at me uncertainly but snatches her weapons back, flipping them expertly in her palms before sheathing them at her thighs again. She doesn’t say anything, just gives me a wary nod.
At the brief interaction, I am overcome byemotion. They are almost foreign, as it has been so long since I allowed myself to feel anything. I’m confused by my fear of her vulnerability and the overwhelming protectiveness I feel for her.
There is some strange connection between this tiny human and myself that I do not understand.
I decide right then and there that I will also follow her when she leaves us, just not for the same reason as my brother. I do not want to follow her to capture some stalking angel. I only want to ensure she is protected from whatever set her running in the first place.
If it was humans who frightened her so badly, they will learn how wrong they were to terrify this small woman, however capable she seems with those blades of hers.
Because I am Death incarnate. And as much as I have determined to change my ways, for this cause—remembering the abject terror on her face as she fled through the woods—I will not mind a little backsliding.
FOUR
KSENIA
I amon edge while we wait for the other monster to return. I don’t believe for one minute he’s gone to get me a “coat.” Surely it’s some codeword between them? This has to be a trap.
At least I thought so before the big blue one with too many arms gave me my knives back.
Then again, he proved that even with my skill, my big, bad knives weren’t much of a threat against an adversary like him.
All my muscles clench, preparing to attack or run. My hands are poised, ready to grasp my blades should I need them at a moment’s notice.
Waiting with the six-armed blue guy doesn’t feel as scary, somehow, though that’s likely foolish. But it’s like whenever he looks at me with those deep-red eyes of his—which, hello, should be freaking me out—it does the opposite. I feel a little calmer.
Clearly, my danger meter is broken after everything that happened today. He might not seem so scary right now, but he’s probably just playing good cop to the other guy’s bad cop, and I’m the idiot who’s falling for it.
I stand up straighter, trying to shake off any perceived calm. Paranoia is the only thing I should be feeling right now. I’ll just get the hell out of here, back to the land where everyone has two arms, no wings, and, you know, human skin colors. Then I’ll make my uncle rue the day he was born.
But first things first. Get the hell out of the creepy castle.
I tense as I hear heavy, clodding footsteps on stone, and then the big lion-goat man comes around the corner holding a huge, puffy, pink women’s coat and gloves. It’s got to belong to the woman who was here before. The one who had to check on their crying babydaughter.
Okay, this is obviously just one bizarre dream.Take the coat and gloves, get the hell out of here, and then work on waking up.
