Zack paced outside the entrance to the university''s tunnels, a network of halls that snaked beneath the campus so students could avoid the rain. His messy blonde hair reflected the light from the tunnel as he turned and started in the other direction, while Rob leaned against the wall watching.
"Brian, Kenneth, thanks for coming," Zack said, as the pair appeared around the corner. The two approached, Brian looked eager to get started, but Kenneth trailed behind him looking concerned.
"We''re looking for Margret Horris," Zack continued, looking over at the pair. "The police think she isn''t here but Ahmed can feel her presence on campus. Ahmed hasn''t been wrong yet. We need to find her before she hurts anyone,"
Brian frowned, he clearly thought he had been summoned for another reason. "So does this mean we''re part of your covenant now?" he asked, looking over at Zack.
"No, but you can show me I can trust you if you help us now," Zack said unamused. Brian and Kenneth shared a look before nodding and following Zack and Rob into the tunnels.
As they descended into the cool bowels of the university, John and Ahmed came into view, they stood close to the painted cement wall, watching the others approach. "Are you serious?" John asked, as he noticed Brian and Kenneth behind Zack. "Why the hell would you invite them? How can you trust them?"
"We''re working together, it doesn''t mean I trust them," replied Zack, opening the bag to reveal Marget''s possessions, allowing the other vessels to pick an item from inside. John fished out her sock, Brian retrieved her watch and Kenneth drew her top. Armed with her aura, they were ready to start tracking her.
John grunted as Zack paired everyone off. "Why are you teaming those two together, they''ll probably let Marget stroll right past them."
"According to Kenzie, Margret might have targeted vessels, John," Zack looked at him, not impressed with his attitude. "That means she''ll be targeting all of us, she won''t just walk by us, she''ll try to kill us." That thought seemed to please John, as he and Zack split off from the rest of the group to start their search.
Brian and Kenneth continued straight, taking the stairs to the English building, their steps in sync. A sudden noise stopped them in their tracks, and Kenneth''s hand shot up, signalling Brian to pause. They sprung around the corner ready to fight, only to find Leona pressed against her ex-boyfriend, in the middle of a make-out session.
"Really?" Brian laughed, the sound echoing off the walls.
Kenneth sputtered out an incredulous, "Oh really?" at the sight of his ex making out with her ex.
Leona''s eyes widened, and she pulled away, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment. Her ex merely averted his gaze, avoiding the awkward confrontation.
---
Hours later, in the chemistry lab, Rob complained to Ahmed as they searched through another lecture hall. "So we''ve gone floor by floor, leaving no stone unturned. Not even a broom closet and still nothing. I say after this we go meet up with Zack and the others in the Earth Science Museum."
Ahmed, who was busy checking under desks, nodded slowly, his deep brown eyes scanning for any sign of Margret. A framed photograph of a group of TAs smiling back at him got him thinking. "We''re all meeting in the Earth Science Building, everyone with powers in one place," he said out loud.
"Exactly," Rob agreed, realization dawning on him. "Oh shit, we basically served the vessels up on a silver platter." Without another word, he dashed to the fire alarm and yanked it down.
The shrill bell sliced through the silence, and students began pouring out of classrooms and labs. In the chaos, Coach Reynolds caught Rob red-handed, his face crimson with anger. "If I was four years younger, I''d punch you myself," he barked.
"I thought I saw a fire." Rob lied, but Reynold grabbed his wrist dragging him toward the exit.
Zack appeared in the hall, sensing the fear and worry of the students evacuating. He spotted Ahmed and moved toward him, noticing Ahmed looked more afraid than before.
"Is everyone safe?" Zack asked, worried Ahmed may have had a vision.
Ahmed shook his head, looking over at Zack. "Someone is in danger, I can feel it," he admitted, Zack turned to the rest of the fleeing crowd, he could feel his heart begin to race, Ahmed''s feelings were never wrong.
---
Angela''s fingers worked over time as she wrote the rough draft of her essay, the soft beats pulsing through her earbuds helped her concentrate. The library had emptied out around her, her own bubble of concentration was impenetrable until a firm hand grabbed onto her shoulder. She jumped, yanking the buds from her ears, to find her Dad looming over her.
"Library''s closing, Angela," he said, looking worried. "There is a killer on the loose and a curfew in effect."
"A killer—" she began, only to be cut off as her father started packing her things for her.
"Let''s go. Now," he ordered.
With a sigh, Angela complied, stuffing her books into her backpack. As they wove through the labyrinth of shelves towards the exit, they never noticed Margret watching from behind the stacks, eyes tracking their every move.
As they exited the building, Angela collided with Zack, who was looking for the others. "I am so sorry," she rushed to help him back to his feet. Her father watched the scene unfold with a smile on his face. "Did I hurt you?" she asked dusting him off.
"No I''m fine... really," Zack smiled, a little amused by Angela''s reaction to bumping into him.
"I am such a clutz, really I am so sorry,"
"No it was my fault, I wasn''t looking where I was going," Zack blushed, "You have nothing to be sorry about, really."
Finally, Mr. Benowitz could not watch anymore as their conversation halted and turned to awkward silence. "Well I''m sorry enough for the both of you, Zack we were about to head for dinner if you would like to join us? Think of it as a thank you for saving my daughter from that rabid animal,"
"Dad, I don''t think he wants to..." Angela''s face started to turn red.
"I''d love to, that sounds really nice," Zack said looking over at her with a sheepish grin.
"Then it''s settled," Mr. Benowits led them toward the parking lot.
---
Meanwhile, high above the city streets in Kyle''s loft, the looking glass remained untouched on the coffee table. Ethel stood in front of Kyle, her arms crossed as she watched him hesitate while he looked at the artifact, its surface shimmering ominously.
"Fine, I''ll do it," he grumbled, finally grasping the looking glass as if it could bust into flame at any minute. "This better be worth taking years off your life for,"
"Thank you, Kyle," Ethel replied, taking a seat in the leather chair across from him. She didn''t flinch as he turned the glass toward her, Catching her reflection and one of an elderly man just behind her. "show me, my mother," she commanded and the man nodded stepping aside as the mirror began to contort.
Ethel was pulled deeper into the reflective surface. The Fate led her to sacred stones, that pulsed with an eerie light. A hooded figure approached from the shadows, reaching out with hands that felt achingly familiar. As the hood fell back, the face of Ethel''s mother, Tara, emerged. "We need to talk," she said.
---
Across town, the Benowitz residence hummed as they entertained their new guest. Mr. Benowitz presented his carefully crafted sushi spread to the family.
"Ever have sushi before?" he asked, eyebrows raised as Zack eyed the array of exotic fish.
"Uh, no," Zack admitted, noting the fact it was raw.
Angela shook her head, setting out the chopsticks. "Dad, I thought we were having pasta tonight."
"We can have pasta any night, but tonight we have a guest," Mr. Benowitz explained. "But if you prefer, I can whip up some pasta instead."
"No, this is great," Zack assured him, though his first attempt with chopsticks sent a piece of Ikura soaring. Angela''s quick reflexes saved the rogue sushi from its fate, her hand snatching it midair.
She placed it back on the table and turned to Zack without missing a beat, "Like this," she instructed, gently guiding his hands into the proper position. Zack watched her in total awe.
---
Back in Rob''s bedroom, he worked on his corkboard, adding to its chaotic web of yarn. Ahmed sprawled on the bed, squinted at the yarn lines crisscrossing the wall.
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"What do the colours mean?" he inquired, gesturing to the tangle.
"Green for solved, yellow for pending," Rob listed off mechanically, tying another piece of red string in place. "Blue''s just ''cause I like it."
"And red?" Ahmed pressed, looking at the overwhelming amount of it on the board.
"Unsolved," Rob replied, turning around to talk to him. "And right now, besides the Wendigo thing, red is all we''ve got."
Rob looked annoyed, his eyes downcast. "What really sucks is coach benching me for pulling that alarm. It''s like clipping the wings of a hawk," he grumbled.
Ahmed pushed himself off of Rob''s bed, moving to get a closer look at the board. "I still don''t get it, we combed through every inch of campus, Rob. No sign of Margret, no aura... not even a clue to say she was ever there in the first place." He frowned, "Are my powers broken or something?"
"No way," Rob said, placing a firm hand on Ahmed''s shoulder. "You''ve never been wrong before, not about stuff like this. If you felt she was there, then she was there. End of story."
But Ahmed shook his head, scrunching his nose. "It’s different this time. I can only hear it but I can''t see it like I could before,"
"It''s been less than three months since we figured out you''re a siren," Rob interrupted, "It''s going to take time to figure out how to use your powers, but we will figure it out. You just have to trust your instincts until then." He yanked the cap off a nearby felt tip marker and inhaled sharply. He looked over at his schedule, a realization striking him at that moment. "That''s it. We need to go back to campus, now!"
Before Ahmed could protest, Rob was already grabbing his jacket and heading for the door, with a bewildered Ahmed trailing behind.
---
Meanwhile, Deb searched through her digital copy of the Book of Demonology, her gaze scanning lines upon lines of ancient text. A strange shuffle sound came from outside her window followed by a distinct sizzle. She barely glanced up before a high-pitched yelp echoed through the room, swiftly succeeded by another. John stumbled through the open window, one hand nursing his arm, the other gesturing accusingly at the window.
"You electrified your windowsill? A heads-up would''ve been nice!" he did his best to seem upset, but Deb didn''t seem to notice.
"Keeps the pests out," Deb said with a smirk, her attention returning to the screen. "So why are you sneaking around my windows anyway John?"
"I''m here to help. That, and you have way better snacks than Zack does," he admitted, sitting on the edge of her bed.
"So you want to help? Can you read Latin?" she asked, turning her laptop to face him.
"Uh, no, but I can look at pictures," John offered, turning it back to face her. The two froze as an image of a stone warrior, etched with intricate runes, filled the screen. "Glad we''re not dealing with whatever those are right now." John chuckled nervously and the pair kept scrolling.
---
At the Benowitz household, dinner was beginning to wind down. Mrs. Benowitz had finally come down from her office to join them, she seemed to be observing Zack as he ate, making him feel a little uncomfortable.
"So Zack, did Angela tell you we lived in Belgium before we moved here? Brussel''s was beautiful, but I must say it was nice coming back home," she started, her accent threading through her words. "You see I am a part of the Neutral people, this was our land."
"Ah yes, they have a truly unique history here," Mr. Benowitz nodded, taking his wife''s hand. "I plan to share some of it in my lectures."
Angela winced. "Dad, please don''t."
"Joining your mother''s family was a profound honour," he countered, just as Zack''s breath hitched. His face turned a violent shade of red, eyes watering.
"Zack, what happened?" Angela''s concern spiked as she leaned forward.
"Thought it was strawberry sauce," Zack gasped, pointing at the red drizzle on his ice cream that he''d shovelled into his mouth.
"We don''t have any strawberry sauce!" both Mr. and Mrs. Benowitz exclaimed in unison. They reached for the bottle Zack had used and turned to see the hot sauce label staring back at them. They sprang into action, pouring tea as Zack coughed and sputtered, sweating from the heat of the sauce.
---
Rob and Ahmed stepped cautiously into the chemistry lab''s storage room after they snuck across campus. The door, which should have been locked, stood ajar, inviting them in.
"Margret was here," Ahmed stated, noticing the broken glass on the floor and some blood droplets. "how did we miss this?" Shards of glass crunched underfoot, as he bent down to get a better look, finding the discarded stapler.
"I was supposed to be in here for a lab test, but totally forgot about it. The stress would have covered up a hollow aura like Margret''s" Rob murmured, "But how would she know that?"
"I don''t know, but I think you might want to see this." Ahmed pointed to the blackboard where the word find was followed by the symbol for alpha and three atomic numbers were scrawled across it: 7, 32, 57. "Alpha, Nitrogen, Germanium, Lanthanum," he identified them. "A, N, Ge, La... Angela."
"Of course, she couldn''t have done all this alone, someone''s been helping her." Rob reasoned as he took it all in. "That''s how she knew so much about us and how to avoid being traced by her aura. And now she''s going after Angela..." They both looked at each other, unsure who Angela was or how they would find her time.
---
Back in Angela''s room, Zack fumbled with his phone, taking the call from Kenzie. He asked the question he had been needing an answer to before she could speak, "Have they found Margret?"
"No, not yet," Kenzie''s voice crackled through the speaker, sounding exhausted. "They have no idea where she went."
"Okay, keep me posted." Zack ended the call just as Angela appeared in the doorway, arms laden with chips and soda cans.
"Now it''s time for some real food," she joked, almost dropping the soda before she could place it on her bed. They settled in silence, neither one exactly sure where to start or what to say to the other.
---
Across town, Deb and John were still hard at work. She sat cross-legged on her bed, her laptop displaying ancient texts about flies being messengers of death. The article read they had once carried secrets to those beyond the veil.
"Maybe we should take a break," John muttered, leaning in so close his breath brushed her ear. "I''ve been meaning to talk to you about something... I''m kind of into you," he confessed.
Deb scoffed, recoiling from his proximity. "So you thought a good time to tell me this was while we are hunting for a serial killer? Seriously John?" She shook her head.
"I can''t help it, I can''t get you out of my head... You''re so smart and strong and you''re human but you''re better at this supernatural stuff than I am," John explained, his shirt coming off mid-rant as he moved closer to her. Deb didn''t pull away this time, instead shedding her own shirt without breaking eye contact.
Before they could go any farther, Deb''s bedroom door swung open. "Hey Deb, I was wondering if..." Jessica stopped and took in the scene in front of her, "You have got to be kidding me, another vessel?"
Deb froze, as John raced for his shirt. Jessica just shook her head as they quickly got dressed again. "Deb can speak with you... In private?" Deb shot John an apologetic look and then followed Jessica out into the hall.
---
Ethel slowly pulled away from the looking glass, its surface returning to normal. Kyle loomed over her, anxious to figure out what she saw while she was inside.
"Well? Did you talk to your mother?" he probed, taking in Ethel''s worried expression.
"Kyle..." Ethel''s voice barely rose above a whisper, her eyes wide, darting around as if expecting shadows to spring to life. She swallowed hard, the colour draining from her face.
"What? What did you see in there?"
"Death," she gasped, clutching at her stomach. Kyle stepped back, a flicker of concern breaching his usual indifference.
---
Outside Angela''s quaint family home, under the soft glow of the streetlights, Zack lingered on the sidewalk, an easy smile playing on his lips. Angela stood before him, doing her best not to make eye contact with him.
"Zack, remember when you saved me from that bear the other day?" she asked, looking over at him. "How did you do it, you were on the other side of the room but the stall moved like you were controlling it or something."
Zack went red and before he could respond, a shadow darted from the corner of his eye, racing full speed toward him. Pain exploded across Zack''s skull before he knew what was happening, sending him crumpling to the ground in a heap.
"Zack!" Angela screamed, but Zack was already out cold.
Consciousness returned to Zack in fragments, the world a blur of muffled sounds and throbbing pain. Rob''s anxious face swam into focus above him, with Ahmed hovering close by, both looked worried.
"Can you hear me, Zack?" Rob''s voice echoed in his head, helping him focus on reality.
"She took her, Margret took Angela," Zack struggled to get the sentence out as Rob helped him sit up slowly. "Ahmed, please you''re the only one who can find her,"
"Zack, I don''t know how to get them to work," Ahmed confessed, kneeling down beside him.
"In myths Sirens powers tend to focus on water and sound. Maybe we can use those to jump-start them," Rob suggested, looking around for anything they could use.
Ahmed thought about it for a moment before he started to hum the latest Taylor Swift song. The sound seemed to tune out the rest of the world, allowing the buzzing in his ears to come into focus. His eyes slipped shut, and he stood up, taking slow steps toward the sound''s source.
Zack and Rob looked at each other before Rob helped Zack to his feet. They followed Ahmed down the streets until they reached a closed office building, its windows darkened but the door had been broken off its hinges.
Inside and down a flight of stairs, Marget''s voice echoed off the walls. Angela was tied up and lying on the floor, she struggled against the zip ties but couldn''t free herself. Margret, her movements frantic and chaotic, cut some wiring out of the wall, watching the sparks fly as she did.
"Look at this," Margret crowed, revealing Angela''s phone like a trophy, she snapped a photo of the girl. "I''m going to prove that those people I killed weren''t human at all."
Her rambling sounded like madness, "I had to kill them, they were demons. But no one believed me... this time, this time I will have proof, photographic evidence," she spat, "I''ll show them what monsters like you can do."
"Margret," Angela whispered, her voice laced with a plea for reason, "I''m not a demon, I swear. You have the wrong person, I''m a nobody." But Margret didn''t seem to care, she simply returned to pull more live wire from the wall.
Rob stopped Ahmed before he walked into the room, breaking the trance, "Ahmed, stay back. We''ll distract Margret, you—"
"I know, I''ll grab Angela," Ahmed interrupted as he dug through his backpack. He freed a squash racket from inside, handing it to Rob. "Use this,"
Zack carefully opened the door, being sure not to make noise. He motioned for Rob to follow him, both young men crawling on the floor toward Margret and Angela.
As they ducked behind some office supplies, Zack peaked around to get a better look at the situation. He spotted Angela on the floor, their eyes meeting for a moment.
"Angela!" His cry was reflexive as he raced to save her, unable to control himself.
"Wait!" Rob called after him, stumbling behind him, racket raised.
Margret turned, her deranged gaze locking on Zack. In one fluid, malevolent motion, she swung the live wire. Zack felt the jolt before he heard it, the power sending him flying back into a desk.
"Margret stop, she''s not the one you want. I am," he gasped, struggling to free himself from the crater he created in the desk. His vision swam; he tried to summon his powers and change his eyes but he was too weak.
"Pathetic," Margret sneered, dismissing him with a glance as she advanced on Angela, the wire ready to be used again.
The moment the wire made contact with Angela, it was repelled. Her skin transformed, hardening and becoming transparent like diamonds. Margret recoiled as if struck by an invisible force, her laughter swallowed by a blinding explosion of light.
"Angela?" Zack blinked away spots as the world returned to focus. She was still tied up, her diamond-like armour fading away.
Rob raced for the circuit break, turning off the power. Zack looked over to find Margret, her limb body was in a heap in the corner. The wall cracked from the force where she hit it. He had never seen a power like that before.
---
John sat on the bed listening to Jessica and Deb argue, he hardly noticed as the door slowly creaked shut. The wind picked up inside the room as sand and dust swirled out of the carpet, stone hands reached from the dust, followed by the rest of the golem, its eyes glowing a dim blue.
"Deb! Jessica!" John shouted as he moved for the door only for a second golem to materialize, blocking his path.
"John!" Deb shouted as she and Jessica sprinted down the hall, finding the door locked. They threw themselves against it, but it refused to budge.
"John!" Jessica called, hearing the commotion on the other side of the door. But within seconds, only silence answered.