“Like in action movies, you always have an A-Team, which, as implied by the name, is better than the other teams. They’re the elite.”
Surin’s dimples flashed. “Don’t you mean theA-plusTeam? You got yourself a bunch of chronically overachieving teens as your hit squad.”
“Ash’s Team,” he said with a decisive nod. “An inner circle of my most trusted.”
“More likeAsshole’sTeam,” Surin teased, playfully elbowing him in the ribs.
He side-eyed her. “You’re part of it too, you know.”
Truthfully, Ash wasn’t too keen on recruiting kids to go on increasingly dangerous missions—even if the “kids” in question were highly skilled Exorcist cadets. He’d always felt like his own childhood had been stolen from him because of his family’s standing in the world. And he hated to think thathewas the one stealing a piece of someone else’s youth. He wanted to break the cycle, but he didn’t know how.
“Any updates on the mole situation?” he asked.
“Unfortunately not. Shuang and I have gone through most of the units’ profiles, but no red flags.”
It was discouraging news. “With everything going on with mutilated bodies and the media circus, there’ll be a Guild Council meeting soon, I expect. Would be good if we have a list of suspects before that so we can screen them.”
“We’ll continue to work on it,” Surin promised.
Ash’s phone rang. “Yes, Cadet Lin?” He listened to Rui’s rambling while Surin played with her butterfly knives restlessly.
“Good news?” she asked after he’d hung up.
Ash nodded. “Seems like one of those chronically overachieving teens has an idea about how to find the spell.”
17
Zizi
In all the worlds and all lifetimes, our souls are bound together.
Time passes, but Four never forgets.
With the brief light in his existence extinguished, his smiles grow rarer; his laughter is never heard. If the other Kings notice, none have mentioned it. And becauseFourno longer visits the mortal realm, none can complain.
Four pours himself into his kingdom, executing his duties with fervor. A distraction, perhaps, from the pain deep inside. Still, hope does not abandon him.
Standing at the edge of the mist, Four steadies himself. Expending his spiritual essence this way leaves him drained, but it is the only plausible solution he has come up with. An old pocket watch with gold gears whirs softly in his hand. A relic he discovered after decades of exploration. He scans the darkness of the Nothing, the liminal space between realms.
Wishing. Hoping.
There is movement.
A figure crawls out from the fog. Unnaturally thin and dressed in rags. Feeble and helpless.
Frantic, Four rushes forward. But when the figure raises their head, he sees a different face from the past.
If you hurt her or bully her or make her sad, I won’t ever forgive you.... I have pledged to protect her with my life.... Will you do the same—a life for a life?
How is this possible? Why did this young man’s soul appear instead of Lei Ying’s? Why did she not come whenFourcalled?
Four stares at the young man shivering on the ground. Souls sentenced to the Nothing retain their mortal memories. But for some reason, the young man does not recognize the immortal.
She is my light, and I will do all in my power to guard her precious flame.
The hole in Four’s chest where his heart should be hurts. He has broken his vow, and he can only offer his penance. This young man was important to her.
“You are not who I am looking for,” Four says. “But whether by chance or fate, I have found you. If you come with me, I will make sure you never have to suffer like this again.”
