I released his face and straightened, offering him that smile that chilled his very bones. “Tick tock, little cub, all of our heartbeats have a limit, let’s not find yours quite so soon.”
I turned away from him and headed for the makeshift door. There was a pathetic man child awaiting my taunting far away from here. The weak link, I called hi—
“Azrael.”
I paused and glanced over my shoulder at my garbled name.
“You called me Greyson,” he panted, his eyes already growing heavy again.
I kept my expression emotionless. “Don’t get used to it, I don’t do sentiment—”
“What’s wrong?” he asked as I turned away.
I ignored him and continued for the doors of the warehouse.
“Azrael, something’s wrong,” he half whined, half growled, trying to fight through the medication.
But by the looks of the drugs he was on, I held my doubts that he would remember anything about this conversation. Perhaps the feelings. The feeling of fear, the feeling of wanting to protect the mouse, the feeling of dread. So long as those seeds were planted, I had nothing to fear.
But he did, and so did the little mouse.
11
Scarlett
April 5th, 2022
Everyone was wearing black today.
Mr. Nelson had died a few days ago. Natural causes Pastor Masters had said.
It was supposed to be a day of mourning, but all I could think about as the rain pattered on our umbrellas, was the warm gaze lingering on the back of my neck.
I didn’t think he would come this morning. He had been gone for a few weeks now, something I was used to at this point.
It warmed me from the chill that had swallowed Seattle whole this morning.
Louis Nelson was dead, and Don Bastrom had taken his place. Pastor Masters had announced it after they lowered the casket into the grave.
I knew Mr. Bastrom. He hated following the rules, but what struck me as odd was why he was announced as the new Leader and not Azrael.
It’s been almost three years. I knew it took a long time to work through the ranks, but everyone knew that Azrael was in the running, that he was being tested. So, why had Pastor Masters picked someone who everyone knew broke all the rules over someone who might not have broken any?
Maybe Thomas had gotten to him. Maybe he had finally convinced his father that Azrael wasn’t who he portrayed himself to be in front of everyone else.
I wondered what his game was with that. Whatever his plan was, why risk it by saying such things to Thomas? Why not keep the act up all the time to ensure his place?
Unless…he wasn’t trying to be a Leader. Then what? What was his plan?
Soon after the first fistful of soil was thrown onto the casket, we made our way back to the venue. An old cathedral near the cemetery that Pastor Masters had rented for us to use during the memorial. The only reason they had been able to get everything together so fast was because Pastor Masters was so respected among the rich here. He could get anything he wanted without lifting a finger.
It made me wonder if the Elders had made any move on The Family. I hadn’t heard anything more about it in so long…maybe The Family failed. Maybe the church had won. Maybe this was just what it would be forever.
They had drinks and food but from what I could hear, there wasn’t much drinking or eating going on, just a lot of talking. Mumbled conversations about this and that, nothing truly important.
I followed Thomas, noting the feet of those we passed. Men and women of the church. Not many regular members, mostly just Pillars, Leaders, their husbands and wives, their Favorites, and of course, the children of the Leaders.
This memorial was a good time to bring even the Favorites who didn’t come to church. Who were left at home to do whatever it was their Pillars wanted.
