《Demon Reaper - Book 2 - Kiss of Judas》 Chapter 1 March 5, 1969, 06:00. 28 Kilometers NW of Da Nang, Vietnam. The sun crawled above the South China Sea, spilling light over the beach. The jungle spit them out¡ªten sweaty, panic-stricken men, dragging exhaustion and death behind them. Some soldiers already lay buried in the sand, their graves shallow and hastily marked. The rest had been clinging to life here for days since the Tet Offensive left their Naval Support boat a smoldering wreck, forcing them ashore and into hell. Sergeant Robert Edwards scanned the haggard crew, sweat dripping into his eyes. ¡°McGill¡¯s missing! Where¡¯s John?¡± ¡°He was right behind us¡ª¡± one of the men wheezed, slumping against Private Harris. Blood oozed from the mangled remnants of his leg, barely held together by tattered, blood-soaked trousers. Harris lowered him gently to the ground, jaw tight. Edwards didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°I¡¯m going back to find him.¡± ¡°Sarge, I¡¯m coming with you,¡± another soldier said, snapping the clip into his M-60. ¡°No. You lead the rest to Da Nang. Get them to safety. Stay under the canopy, but keep the beach in view. John and I will catch up.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t go back alone!¡± the man hissed, crossing his eyes and twirling a finger next to his head. ¡°You¡¯re boocoo dinky dow if you do! If Charlie hasn¡¯t got him yet, they¡¯ll sure as fuck get you. That camp¡¯s a goddamn meat grinder.¡± Edwards shot him a sharp glare. ¡°It was John¡¯s plan that got you lot out of there. I¡¯m not leaving him.¡± ¡°Then let us help repay the favor,¡± Harris said quietly, voice taut with resolve. Edwards hesitated, his gut twisting. ¡°Fine. Lang, Fisher, take the others to Da Nang. Harris, Allison¡ªyou¡¯re with me.¡± The men exchanged ammo silently, each movement heavy with unspoken understanding. Harris passed his wounded buddy off to Lang, who murmured reassurances while wrapping fresh gauze over the bloody stump. The jungle swallowed the three of them whole. The air pressed down thick and wet, buzzing with insects and the constant, low hum of danger. Every step felt too loud. Every breath too sharp. After half an hour, Harris whistled low and made a clicking sound with his tongue. ¡°What is it?¡± Edwards barked, crouching beside him. ¡°Allison found him. McGill¡¯s about fifty yards ahead¡ªalive.¡± Harris wiped his brow beneath his helmet, his fingers trembling. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Edwards snarled. They found Allison kneeling in front of McGill. The man stood frozen mid-step, sweat soaking his fatigues, his eyes darting wildly. ¡°Damn it, Eddie. Get the fuck out of here,¡± McGill croaked, voice hoarse. ¡°Good to see you too, Cuddy,¡± Edwards muttered, crouching beside Allison. ¡°What¡¯s the status?¡± Allison gestured grimly. ¡°MD-82 mine, sir. Same as the one that took Billy¡¯s leg. But this one¡¯s rigged with a ChiCom claymore underneath.¡± ¡°Jesus fuck,¡± Edwards muttered, the words almost a growl. He turned to McGill. ¡°This is gonna hurt, brother.¡± McGill¡¯s voice shook, but his eyes didn¡¯t waver. ¡°Get out of here, Bob. The blast radius on this thing will shred anyone within thirty feet. If it¡¯s modified, who knows how stable it is.¡± ¡°Not leaving you,¡± Edwards snapped. ¡°Allison, Harris, you¡¯ve done your part. Go join the others. I¡¯ll handle this.¡± ¡°But, sir¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s an order, Harris!¡± Edwards barked, his voice slicing through the tension. ¡°If we all stay, we all die. If it¡¯s just me, then no big loss. You and Allison aren¡¯t even twenty yet. Now get the fuck out!¡± Harris¡¯s jaw clenched, but he nodded. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Allison hesitated, his lip quivering. ¡°Thanks for everything, QM,¡± he whispered. ¡°Get moving, Jimmy,¡± McGill said quietly. ¡°And take care.¡± When they were gone, Edwards crouched lower, eyes locked on the mine. ¡°All right, John. Talk me through this.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t without seeing it. Bob, I¡¯m telling you, walk away.¡± Edwards snorted. ¡°Yeah, no. You can court-martial me later. What am I looking at here?¡± McGill exhaled sharply, the sound almost a laugh. ¡°If it didn¡¯t blow when I stepped on it, something¡¯s wrong. Safety clip slot¡¯s already dropped.¡± ¡°So, pin the plunger down without moving your foot?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a start.¡± Edwards¡¯ fingers worked quickly, sweat stinging his eyes. The jungle seemed to hold its breath around them. ¡°Can I cut the detonation wire?¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t.¡± ¡°What if I¡ª¡± Edwards stopped mid-sentence. Pop-pop-pop. AK-47 fire shattered the stillness. Bark splintered off a tree inches from their heads. Edwards whipped around, rifle raised. ¡°Fuck, John! You said it¡¯s defective¡ªlet¡¯s move!¡± ¡°You pin it?¡± ¡°Yeah¡ª¡± The gunfire roared again. Something slammed into Edwards¡¯ arm, spinning him to the ground. Pain seared through him. He fumbled for a grenade, teeth clenched, pulled the pin, and lobbed it toward the advancing shadows. ¡°Are you fucking ready?¡± ¡°Goddamn it!¡± McGill snapped, his voice raw. Edwards surged to his feet, grabbing McGill¡¯s arm to pull him forward. Pop-pop-crack. McGill jerked, a strangled cry escaping his lips as he fell forward. ¡°Shit¡ªget up!¡± Edwards shouted, trying to lift him. But McGill didn¡¯t rise. The ground erupted beneath them. Heat, shrapnel, and blood tore through the air, swallowing the jungle in chaos. Chapter 1 From this height, the world curved below Suzi, a breathtaking reminder of its enormity. The Earth, a speck in the endless expanse of the universe, seemed so distant and insignificant. Yet here she was, plummeting toward it with terrifying speed, the pull of gravity relentless.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. The air screamed past her, tearing at her lungs and stealing her breath. Panic clawed at her chest as she fought to inhale, each gasp a futile struggle against the rushing wind. Her heart pounded frantically, as if trying to beat its way free from her ribcage. Tears blurred her vision, stinging her eyes as they froze against her cheeks. Her pink and blonde hair whipped wildly, lashing her face, her screams drowned by the deafening roar of her descent. Her limbs flailed instinctively, desperate to grasp something¡ªanything¡ªto slow her fall. She was a flailing marionette, her strings cut, tumbling toward the earth at terminal velocity. Suzi knew she was about to die. ¡°How high do you think we¡¯ll bounce?¡± Spike¡¯s voice drawled within her head, dark and sardonic, slicing through her panic like a blade. Guillermo stirred, her crowded superconscious mind, coming alive as the other facets of her fractured psyche chimed in. ¡°This would be a hell of a trip if we were high right now,¡± Annie giggled, her voice a mix of delight and detachment. Judith, ever the academic, added with clipped precision, ¡°For once, I agree with Annie. I''d prefer hallucinogenic oblivion over this impending mess.¡± ¡°Another top ruined!¡± James wailed, his flamboyance unshaken by their dire predicament. ¡°Focus,¡± Suzi snapped inwardly, her voice sharper than the cutting wind. But even she couldn¡¯t stop the hateful Judy from snarling, ¡°Whose fault is this, anyway?¡± ¡°Judas,¡± J, the firewall, declared, a protective edge in her tone. ¡°We were fine before she came along.¡± Judas didn¡¯t respond, but Suzi felt her warrior aspect bristle. Ralph, ever the peacekeeper, murmured, ¡°No one is to blame.¡± Logic finally broke through the cacophony, dissecting the chaos with cold precision. How did I get here? The thought pierced through her terror. Why don¡¯t I have a parachute? Will my loved ones know what they meant to me? The ground loomed closer, its details sharpening¡ªrolling hills, jagged trees, the cold, unyielding surface that would end her. To the east, the vastness of Lake Michigan shimmered, indifferent. To the south, Chicago sprawled, its skyline cutting into the horizon, and Minnesota''s snow-covered fields and frozen lakes to the north. Her chest tightened as her breath caught, her body trembling against the cold slicing through her thin clothes. Tears froze in her hair, a cruel testament to her helplessness. She stopped floundering and let herself glide towards the inevitable impact of her body and the place in the ground where there was about to be a Suzi-shaped indention. She shut her eyes, surrendering to the inevitable, and thought of Aiden. Aiden. Her husband. The man she loved. The man she had hurt. The father of her children. His face filled her mind¡ªa bittersweet anchor as she hurtled toward oblivion. She had left him behind, chasing a new life in a city that embraced her eccentricities. And because of her choices, he had suffered¡ªbeaten nearly to death, left in a coma because of her. ¡°We never told him,¡± Suzanne whispered, her voice tinged with guilt. Suzi bit back a sob. She wanted to open her eyes, to face her fate, but terror kept them shut. She would wait¡ªfor the impact, for the pain. She would wait for the sudden deceleration energy to vaporize her internal organs and shatter every bone in her body like glass against the unforgiving ground. Then it hit her¡ªpressure on her chest, gentle at first, then heavier. Wetness on her face. A smell, familiar and jarring. She opened her eyes to find Ygritte, her white Staffordshire Terrier Pitbull, licking her face, her tail wagging with urgency. The nightmare dissolved as Suzi bolted upright in bed, drenched in sweat. The early morning sun seeped through the edges of her curtains, a cold reminder of reality. Ygritte pranced in circles, whining to be let outside. Suzi groaned, dragging herself into the freezing winter air as her dog bounded through the snow. The chill bit at her sweat-drenched skin, but it wasn¡¯t enough to shake the lingering fear. She was a celestial now¡ªa reluctant warrior in the eternal battle between Heaven and Hell. But standing barefoot in the snow, nipples frozen and breath fogging, waiting for her dog to take a piss, she felt anything but divine. Three days had passed since her encounter with the demons Rotic¡¯al and Bortis. Three days since she had bartered her angel Kariel¡¯s humanity for Tom¡¯s life. Three days since Kariel was sent to serve a hundred-year sentence as a human for her portion of the favor. Three days and Suzi was still unsure what her portion of the payment would be, although her new guiding angel, Lahabiel¡ªwhom Suzi was sure hated her¡ªsaid that payment had already been taken. And three days since her nightmares began, haunting her with the memory of falling. Suzi stood in the bathroom, her reflection catching her off guard yet again. Two weeks as a celestial, and she still wasn¡¯t used to it. The face staring back at her wasn¡¯t hers¡ªor at least, not the version of her she remembered. She tilted her head, tracing her gaze over her smooth skin, flawless like some fucking airbrushed magazine model. No crow¡¯s feet, no sunspots, no scars. Even the gaping hole in her wrist from a few days ago? Like it never fucking happened. Her body looked like it belonged to someone else. Someone in their twenties. Someone untouched by kids, late-night stress, and too many margaritas. Suzi wasn¡¯t sure if she should feel flattered or violated by the transformation. She touched her face, her fingers trailing down to her neck. It wasn¡¯t just her appearance that had changed¡ªeverything about her felt different. Lighter, stronger. Like a tightly coiled spring waiting to snap. But it was the power that fucked with her head the most. The raw energy coursing through her veins, begging to be unleashed. She hadn¡¯t asked for this celestial shit¡ªdidn¡¯t want it. Yet here she was, standing naked in the mirror, an unrecognizable goddess staring back at her. She wasn¡¯t sure whether to laugh or cry. Her stomach churned as her mind drifted back to Bortis. That bastard. She could still feel the oppressive weight of him, the stink of his rage and hate clinging to her even now. Binding demons was supposed to be empowering, but it felt like playing with fire. Rotic¡¯al was safely trapped in Father Gil¡¯s St. Joseph pendant, and Malphas remained locked in Rogziel¡¯s Blade¡ªthank God for that¡ªbut Bortis? Fucking Bortis had slipped through her fingers like a bad dream. The aquamation bath was supposed to purify him, dissolve him into nothingness. Instead, the girl¡¯s body, his vessel, had melted away, leaving Bortis to slither back to Hell like the slimy, rage-filled cockroach he was. She could almost hear his guttural laugh, mocking her from the shadows of her mind. And that fucking nightmare¡ªthe falling one¡ªkept coming back, night after night, leaving her gasping and drenched in sweat. She¡¯d bound him, but the bastard wasn¡¯t done with her. She clenched her fists against the porcelain sink, the cold biting into her palms. ¡°Focus, Suzi. You¡¯ve got shit to do,¡± she muttered, forcing herself upright. The past couple of days had been a blur of hospital visits and work. Aiden still clung to life in the ICU, quarantined and unreachable except through the layers of glass that separated him from the world. Every day, she stood there, her breath fogging up the window, willing him to wake up. Then it was off to teach Gracie Jo the intricacies of the Bachman-McCord Reconstruction Process¡ªwork that she hoped the patent office would hurry the fuck up and approve already. The memory of Monday¡¯s chaos flashed through her mind¡ªher visit to the patent lawyer, followed by hammering out the partnership with Nick for the Jatha Washington Foundation. That man had given her a look that could strip paint, still pissed about her little tussle with a grieving family member earlier in the week. An action that should have cost her career, but at least Nick had begrudgingly admitted that her work was indispensable. The mirror¡¯s surface blurred as her thoughts wandered to Devin Bowers. His reconstructed face had been a turning point¡ªnot just for her work but for her soul. The man¡¯s father, Don, had been so moved that he¡¯d taken to representing her pro bono with the patent offices. And the donation he¡¯d made to the foundation? It was a fucking game-changer. She sighed, stepping back from the mirror. There was no time to dwell. Routine was the only thing keeping her grounded right now¡ªwake up, visit Aiden, work, teach Gracie, maybe sneak in a visit to the nursing homes, then back to the hospital before visiting hours ended. Repeat. It wasn¡¯t glamorous, but it was hers. ¡°Flaunt it, darling,¡± James purred in her mind, ever the cheerleader. She shook her head and focused. Today was not routine. Meetings with the McGillicuddy family loomed, along with apologies for the black eye she¡¯d delivered to Mr. McGillicuddy¡¯s daughter. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you¡¯re such a bitch,¡± Suzi muttered dryly to herself, playing her options in her head. Before leaving, she summoned Miraleth¡¯s Pellet, the golden orb appearing in her hand. ¡°Any luck finding Dr. Adamson?¡± she asked. Miraleth¡¯s voice echoed softly. ¡°Not yet, Demon Reaper. If he¡¯s celestial, he can change his appearance. There is also the chance he has blocked himself from being tracked. Your best bet would be to ask Lahabiel.¡± ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t think that is going to happen. He hates me,¡± Suzi replied. ¡°Hate is a strong word¡­¡± Miraleth began. Suzi interrupted, ¡°He strongly dislikes me then. He doesn¡¯t trust me. I get that. I need to find Dr. Adamson to help understand my role and what I¡¯ve gotten into.¡± ¡°I understand, Demon Reaper. I¡¯ll keep looking and see if I can expand my search parameters. However, I can search better when the pellet is not absorbed. Would you mind?¡± ¡°No problem. I¡¯ll leave you¡ªer, it here. Thank you. And, Miraleth?¡± ¡°Yes, child?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to call me Demon Reaper. Suzi is fine.¡± Suzi sighed, placing the orb on her kitchen counter. It morphed into its cannonball form, the bolt-pattern make rising, adding intricacy to its surface, as she grabbed Aiden¡¯s truck keys. Driving his truck felt like holding onto a piece of him¡ªa fragile tether to the life they¡¯d shared. At the hospital, Suzi pressed her forehead against the window of Aiden¡¯s room, willing her vision through the plastic barriers enshrouding his bed and obscuring her vision. This, unfortunately, was not an ability she had, but a girl can dream. ¡°Good news,¡± the nurse said with a smile. ¡°No signs of infection. We¡¯re moving him out of quarantine today.¡± Tears blurred Suzi¡¯s vision again, but this time, they carried hope. She knew that even sedated, she would be able to touch him and be able to communicate with him as she had before by bringing him into her mind¡ªinto Guillermo. She nodded, her voice trembling. ¡°Thank you. That¡¯s the best news I¡¯ve had in days.¡± Chapter 2 The smell of formaldehyde and faint antiseptic lingered in the air as Suzi stepped into Eternal Springs Funeral Home. She tugged at her too-loose blazer, making a mental note to replace it soon¡ªshe couldn¡¯t afford to look unprofessional. Her gaze flicked to the intake board, her fingers swiftly writing her name and Gracie Jo¡¯s beside one of the cases requiring reconstruction. She barely finished when Nick¡¯s voice called out from the hallway. ¡°Morning, Suzi!¡± Nick¡¯s ever-joyful tone wrapped around her like a snug sweater. ¡°Good Morning, Nick.¡± She gave him a polite smile. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°The McGillicuddys are here with their lawyer. Are you ready for this?¡± She stifled a sigh, running her fingers through her hair as she adjusted her composure. ¡°Might as well get it over with. Jo and I have work waiting.¡± Walking toward the meeting room, Suzi spotted Gracie Lynn, Nick¡¯s daughter, multitasking at the front desk. The girl waved a pinky finger in greeting, her phone perched between her ear and shoulder. Suzi returned the gesture, her focus already shifting to what waited ahead. Inside the room, tension thickened the air. Four pairs of eyes tracked her and Nick as they entered. The woman who¡¯d swung at her last week glared daggers, a small bandage marring her right eyebrow. Her brothers sat stiffly beside her, their somber expressions a stark contrast to the older woman¡¯s half-lidded gaze, as though she teetered on the edge of sleep. ¡°Ms. Bachman,¡± the bald man with wire-rimmed glasses stood and extended a hand. ¡°Ernest Byrd. Mr. McGillicuddy¡¯s attorney. It¡¯s a pleasure.¡± His handshake was firm, his fingers rough from paperwork rather than manual labor. Everything about him screamed desk job¡ªa paunch pushing against his waistband, a double chin hinting at long hours and little exercise. Pale and soft, like a man who hadn¡¯t seen the sun in years. ¡°Just Suzi,¡± she replied, shaking his hand briefly. ¡°Then call me Ernie,¡± he offered with a genial nod before gesturing to her chair. Nick pulled it out for her, a gesture that felt both courteous and grounding. She slid into it, placing herself squarely across from the glaring woman and her subdued entourage. The lawyer reclaimed his seat and dug into his briefcase, the rustle of papers amplifying the uneasy silence. Suzi broke it first. ¡°I want to apologize for last week.¡± Her tone was steady, but her chest tightened as she met the woman¡¯s venomous gaze. ¡°For my face being in the way of your fist,¡± Annie laughed. ¡°For not properly kicking your ass,¡± the hateful Judy interjected. ¡°My actions were¡­inappropriate. I should have understood you were grieving. If you decide to press charges, I won¡¯t contest them.¡± Ernie raised his hands to cut in. ¡°There will be no charges,¡± he said firmly. ¡°The family and I agreed to move past this. But first, we need to address Mr. McGillicuddy¡¯s final wishes, as laid out in his living will¡± He pulled a thick manila envelope from his briefcase, Suzi¡¯s name scrawled across it in Mr. McGillicuddy¡¯s unmistakable handwriting. Her heart skipped, the weight of it heavy in her hands before Ernie began to read aloud. ¡°I, John Quincy McGillicuddy, being of sound mind and body, leave my entire estate, belongings, wealth, property, and holdings to Suzanne Bachman of Eternal Springs Funeral Home in Naperville, Illinois.¡± A sharp exhale escaped the glaring woman¡ªa sound somewhere between a scoff and a snarl. Ernie kept reading, unfazed. ¡°I fully anticipate this decision will upset my children, whom I love dearly but who rarely visited me. Ms. Bachman spent time with me regularly, treating me with kindness and respect. She didn¡¯t coddle me or treat me like a burden. If I were fifty years younger, I would have made her my fourth wife. I expect my family to respect my wishes and not pursue litigation against Ms. Bachman. Enclosed are keys, deeds, lock codes, maps, and a personal letter for her.¡± The bald man folded the paper and placed it in a folder in his briefcase. He removed four hand-sized, clasped dark blue jewelry boxes and closed the briefcase. ¡°This was dictated to me by John almost a year ago and signed and notarized in our office with witnesses.¡± ¡°Maps?¡± Suzanne questioned. ¡°What the fuck?¡± Judith chimed in from within, ¡°Consider me intrigued¡± Spike added, ¡°A treasure map!¡± ¡°How much is she getting?¡± The daughter¡¯s voice cracked through Suzi¡¯s inner musings, her words barbed with resentment. Ernie¡¯s tone remained neutral. ¡°John didn¡¯t disclose the estate¡¯s value, nor was he required. I¡¯m sure everything is outlined in Ms. Bachman¡¯s documents.¡± He looked at Suzi. ¡°As for last week¡¯s incident, the family has one request: they wish to retain Mr. McGillicuddy¡¯s military honors in lieu of any litigation.¡± He laid his hand on the stack of jewelry boxes. Suzi¡¯s fingers tightened around the envelope. ¡°His Purple Heart? His Silver Star?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Ernie nodded solemnly. ¡°My mom was with him for 20 years and gave him three children,¡± the woman who attacked her stood, pointing to the dozing woman next to her. ¡°She is entitled to something.¡± Suzi thought for a moment and calculated her next words. ¡°John had three wives and six children. Are his other children not entitled to anything?¡± ¡°They are not here,¡± she protested. ¡°They didn¡¯t bother to show up for his funeral.¡± ¡°My condolences for your loss, ma¡¯am. But it sounds like none of you could be bothered to see John when he was alive. John entrusted those to me. They meant something to him, and I¡¯ll ensure they¡¯re respected.¡± The lawyer¡¯s eyes went wide-eyed and tucked in his lips. ¡°You go, Girl!¡± James cheered in her head. The woman¡¯s chair scraped against the floor as she surged forward, rage pouring off her. ¡°You fucking bitch!¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Nick rose, ready to intervene. Suzi stayed seated, calm and unflinching. ¡°You¡¯re angry because you think I manipulated him,¡± she said evenly. ¡°I didn¡¯t. John made his choices. If you want to sue, go ahead. But you¡¯ll lose.¡± ¡°Ernie,¡± Suzi said, her voice steady but cold as she turned to the lawyer. ¡°I need the mailing addresses of all John¡¯s kids. If I knew him as well as I think I did, he left them something in here.¡± She gave the envelope a small shake, the weight of it in her hand feeling heavier than paper should. ¡°And if he didn¡¯t, I¡¯ll decide what¡¯s fair and send it to them myself. But for now, I¡¯m declining the family¡¯s request for Military honors.¡± The room went silent. She slid the neatly stacked boxes closer to her, picked them up in one hand, and straightened her back. Her gaze swept the room, landing on John¡¯s sons. The resemblance to him was uncanny¡ªsame sharp cheekbones, same deep-set eyes. It was like staring at photos of John from his younger days, brought to life. ¡°My deepest condolences for the loss of your father,¡± she said, meeting each of their eyes in turn. Her tone softened just slightly. ¡°I know he was proud of you. But he missed you, too. Don¡¯t fool yourselves into thinking otherwise.¡± Then her eyes locked onto the woman sitting stiffly to the side. Her presence made Suzi¡¯s stomach tighten, not in anger, but something darker. The woman¡¯s expression was a mask of judgment and defiance, but Suzi could see through it. ¡°Your mother left John,¡± Suzi said flatly, her voice sharpening. ¡°I don¡¯t believe she¡¯s entitled to anything.¡± The words tasted bitter as they left her mouth. It was too close to home. Suzanne flinched.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. But she didn¡¯t backtrack. Didn¡¯t soften. ¡°If you want to share whatever you get with her, that¡¯s on you. But don¡¯t expect me to. And I hope you visit her more often than you visited John.¡± Her eyes darted to the elderly woman, who sat slumped and dazed in her chair, lost in whatever fog had taken her mind. She didn¡¯t wait for a response. She turned on her heel, ready to leave, the tension in the room pressing against her back like a physical weight. Nick¡¯s expression caught her off guard. He looked... proud. But there was something else, too¡ªshock, maybe. Or approval mixed with disbelief. He stayed silent, though, as did Ernie, who gave a small nod of acknowledgment. And then the eruption came. ¡°I¡¯m going to fucking sue you!¡± The woman¡¯s voice cracked through the tension like a whip. Suzi froze at the door. Slowly, deliberately, she turned around. Her expression was calm, but her eyes burned with restrained fury. ¡°Go ahead,¡± she said, her tone low and steady, like a predator waiting for its prey to make a fatal mistake. ¡°You attacked me. Your father¡¯s will explicitly stated that you were not to take action against me, but you ignored that. You knew his wishes¡ªyou had already heard the details of his will¡ªand you still attacked me. You thought I manipulated him, didn¡¯t you? Thought I seduced him into rewriting his will?¡± She took a slow step forward, her voice growing sharper. ¡°Let me be very clear. I didn¡¯t. I was just his friend, just like I am to dozens of veterans at Lone Pine. John trusted me. He gave me his estate because he trusted me. And you? You attacked me because you couldn¡¯t handle that. I can forgive you for being angry, but if you sue me or press charges? You¡¯ll get nothing. Not a damn thing.¡± The woman¡¯s face twisted in rage, her eyes wild as she lunged forward, but one of her brothers held her back, his grip firm. ¡°Come on, sis,¡± he muttered, his voice tight with frustration. ¡°It¡¯s fair. Let it go.¡± He turned his attention to Suzi, his expression a mix of guilt and gratitude. ¡°Thank you for being with him,¡± he said quietly. ¡°We weren¡¯t great kids. But we¡¯re glad you were there. You gave him peace.¡± Suzi stared at him for a long moment, the fire in her chest cooling just slightly. She gave a small nod, turned back toward the door, and walked out without another word. As she passed Lynn, she caught her eye, threw her a quick wink, and made her way to the employee dressing room. The familiar scent of disinfectant and worn wood hit her as she entered. She eased onto the splintered bench in front of her locker, her military honors cases balanced precariously in one hand and a sealed envelope trembling in the other. Her fingers itched to rip the envelope open, but the thought of its contents paralyzed her. Not here, not now, she decided, shoving it deep into her bag. Her hands still shook as she zipped it up, hiding the weight of anticipation away. With a deep breath, she rose and headed out to find Gracie Jo. The kid was already in the thick of things when Suzi found her, hunched over the computer with her curls spilling over her shoulders. The wireframe software glowed on the screen, X-rays and living photos meticulously aligned. Or so Jo thought. ¡°Hey, Jo. Hard at work, huh?¡± Suzi leaned over, her voice light but probing as she peered at the screen. ¡°Yup!¡± Jo¡¯s tongue poked out, a telltale sign of her intense concentration. ¡°Did you resize the images to match resolution?¡± Suzi asked, her tone betraying her expectation that the answer was a no. Jo froze, her fingers hovering mid-air above the keyboard and mouse. ¡°Ah, crap!¡± Suzi chuckled, ruffling the girl¡¯s curls. ¡°Yeah, if you don¡¯t, the negative image will be a mess. You¡¯ll end up wondering why an eye socket¡¯s where the nasal bridge should be. Start over.¡± Jo groaned, her pout exaggerated as she hammered away at the keyboard to fix the oversight. Suzi slipped on her protective gear, her mind already cataloging the day¡¯s tasks when Jo¡¯s voice broke through her thoughts. ¡°Hey, Suzi, can I ask you something personal?¡± Jo¡¯s tone was hesitant, uncharacteristic of the bubbly intern. Suzi paused, her gloves halfway on. ¡°This must be serious. You¡¯ve never asked permission before. Fire away.¡± Jo¡¯s cheeks flushed, her voice dropping to a whisper. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m attractive?¡± For a moment, Suzi didn¡¯t respond. Jo¡¯s question hung in the air, raw and vulnerable. Slim, plain, and painfully naive, Jo wasn¡¯t ugly¡ªjust... unpolished. Suzi perched on the edge of the desk, cupping the girl¡¯s face with gentle hands, forcing Jo to meet her gaze. ¡°Gracie Jo, you¡¯re beautiful. Why would you think otherwise?¡± Jo¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears. ¡°I¡¯m almost 27, and the other day, when Doyle¡­¡± She practically whispered the next part. ¡°Wanted to have s-e-x with us, it was the first time anyone showed interest. Now he avoids me like I¡¯m diseased.¡± A single tear slid down her cheek. Suzi suppressed a grin, knowing exactly why Doyle kept his distance. She¡¯d made damn sure of it. Swiping the tear from Jo¡¯s face, Suzi searched for the right words. ¡°Sweetie, you don¡¯t want Doyle. He¡¯s just...¡± ¡°Ew?¡± Annie offered. ¡°Repulsive?¡± Judith added, her tone dripping with disdain. ¡°Nauseating,¡± Suzanne chimed in. ¡°Vile,¡± James finished with a growl. Suzi cracked a smile. ¡°You¡¯ll find someone worthy of you soon enough, but it¡¯s not him. Don¡¯t rush it, Jo.¡± Jo sniffed, her expression a mix of relief and lingering doubt. ¡°I¡¯ve never even been kissed by anyone who wasn¡¯t family. My parents were married at my age. You had kids by now, and I don¡¯t even believe that because you look my age.¡± Suzi laughed, brushing the comment aside. ¡°Stress and not eating, babe. But seriously, the right person¡ªor people¡ªis out there for you.¡± ¡°People?¡± Jo¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°No, my mom says once you give yourself to someone, you¡¯re with them forever.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a nice fairy tale,¡± Suzi said gently. ¡°Life doesn¡¯t always work that way. Don¡¯t rush it. Don¡¯t kiss someone just for attention, and don¡¯t lose your V-card to feel validated. It doesn¡¯t bind anyone to you¡ªtrust me.¡± Jo nodded, her focus returning to the computer. Suzi watched her for a moment, a wave of protectiveness washing over her. She hoped Jo¡¯d make smart choices¡ªbetter ones than she herself had made. ¡°So, Jo, what¡¯ve we got today?¡± Suzi asked, pulling her gloves tighter. Jo opened a file. ¡°John Dale Conway. Fifty-three. Air Force vet. Carpenter, truck driver, mechanic. Massive cranial trauma from a car accident. Left behind a wife, a teenage son, and three daughters, one of them just a toddler.¡± Suzi raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why¡¯s that important?¡± Jo¡¯s voice wavered. ¡°Because it reminds us he was a person with a life worth respecting and honoring. Our best effort is the least we can do?¡± ¡°Are you asking me or telling me?¡± ¡°Telling you?,¡± Jo said, hesitating. Suzi raised an eyebrow at the girl. Jo stood more confidently and conclusively, stating, ¡°I¡¯m telling you.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Suzi pulled back the sheet covering Mr. Conway¡¯s remains. Her stomach twisted at the sight, but her face betrayed nothing. ¡°This one¡¯s tough, Jo¡±, she called, examining the tissue and bone closely. ¡°I can do it, and you can watch, okay? This really should not be an open-casket visitation, even if we succeed with the reconstruction. I don¡¯t know that there will be anything original that will be viable. This is basically a decapitation.¡± ¡°Yeah, I looked. It seems very challenging. I thought the same thing, but if we remove the entire bone structure, not just the damaged parts, couldn¡¯t we print a new skull, attach the soft tissue, and suture the wounds? Shouldn¡¯t that work?¡± Jo asked. Suzi pursed her lips and thought. ¡°Yes, that should work. We¡¯ll rebuild the entire skull. It¡¯ll take all day to print. Let¡¯s get precise measurements from the living photos. Tissue depth, too. No shortcuts.¡± Jo nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll start and check with you before printing.¡± ¡°The student becomes the master,¡± Suzi said with a smirk. The hum of the embalming machine filled the room, a low, steady noise that Suzi had come to find oddly soothing over the years. Her hands moved with practiced precision over Mr. Conway¡¯s body, each motion automatic, a muscle memory she could do in her sleep. Her mind, though¡ªher mind was anything but still. Aiden was out of the woods. That¡¯s what they¡¯d said, moving him to a standard ICU room. It should¡¯ve been a relief, and maybe it was, but the knot in her chest hadn¡¯t loosened. Not yet. Every beep of a monitor, every phone call from the hospital brought with it the possibility of more bad news. Tom and his crew flashed through her thoughts next¡ªthe ragtag group who had somehow become her allies in this fucked-up war against demons. Tom, steady and loyal, always there when shit hit the fan. And Phineas... poor Phineas, taking leave from the department after stabbing his own goddamn brother. The look in his eyes that night still haunted her. And Ricky¡ªshe didn¡¯t even know what to think about Ricky. Whatever that bastard Rotic¡¯al had shown him, it had left him pale and shaking like a fucking leaf. But the next day, he¡¯d plastered on a smile like nothing had happened. She knew better. People didn¡¯t just bounce back from something like that. Then there was Kariel. Suzi¡¯s hands faltered for a fraction of a second, the thought of the angel tugging at the edges of her focus. One favor. That¡¯s all it had been. And now he was paying for it with a hundred goddamn years as a human. What the hell did a hundred years even feel like to someone who wasn¡¯t supposed to age, let alone die? And what about her? What was her price? She hadn¡¯t dared to ask, hadn¡¯t wanted to know. But it was coming¡ªshe could feel it, hanging over her like a storm ready to break. And Dr. Adamson. The thread that tied this entire fucked-up mess together. Why had it started with him? And the man who shot him? Every time she tried to make sense of it, it was like grasping at smoke, the pieces slipping through her fingers no matter how tightly she held on. Jo¡¯s voice cut through her thoughts, grounding her. ¡°Skull template¡¯s done,¡± she said. Suzi¡¯s eyes scanning the work. She didn¡¯t say anything, just made a few precise adjustments, her fingers dancing over the keyboard. The printer whirred to life, its screen flashing a daunting fourteen-hour estimate. She didn¡¯t realize how tense she was until lunchtime rolled around, and she found herself sitting across from Gracie Jo at Guillermo¡¯s Tacos, the establishment who¡¯s flyer beaconed the moniker she¡¯d given her superconscious mind, housing her alter selves.. The warm, savory aroma of carne asada and spices filled the air, pulling her mind back to the present. The meal was a brief respite, filled with Jo¡¯s chatter and Suzi¡¯s occasional hum of agreement. When they left, Suzi was mid-sentence, gesturing animatedly as they approached the door. Jo had already wandered ahead, kicking little patches of snow, oblivious to everything else. Suzi reached the door just as someone else approached from the opposite direction. A strange, awkward dance followed¡ªboth stepping left, then right, mirroring each other like a bad comedy routine. It was ridiculous, and for the first time in days, Suzi found herself smiling. ¡°Please, go ahead,¡± she said, stepping to the side and gesturing them through with a sweep of her arm. But something was off. She hadn¡¯t looked closely at the person before, but now, as they moved past her, she noticed the hoodie. Dark green, pulled low over their face, casting it into shadow. Her stomach tightened. Before she could react, a hand shot out, gripping her wrist like a fucking vice. There was a sharp prick in her arm¡ªa needle, she realized too late¡ªand a cold rush swept through her veins. Her vision blurred, the world tilting at strange, nauseating angles. The last thing she saw was Jo, her back to Suzi, completely unaware. Then the world went dark. Chapter 3 Suzi¡¯s eyes shot open, a dull ache blooming behind her skull, the sound of metal clanging against concrete just on the edge of her awareness. She was laying on a soft, cushioned surface, no restraints, no pain¡ªnothing holding her down. Yet, a queasy knot twisted in her gut, like the aftershock of a motion sickness episode or trying to read while someone else sped down a highway. She sat up slowly, blinking, trying to adjust her eyes to whatever unfamiliar place she found herself in. ¡°Good evening,¡± a voice called out, smooth and cool, coming from behind her. ¡°There¡¯s a can to your right if you¡¯re about to lose your lunch.¡± Suzi jerked her head in that direction, a quick ¡°No, I¡¯m not¡ªurk.¡± The words barely formed before the rush of nausea hit. She fumbled for the trashcan, her stomach heaving as she emptied the contents of her stomach¡ªchicken quesadilla, mostly. The man¡¯s laugh echoed, low and amused. ¡°Everyone gets sick the first time.¡± Suzi gagged one last time before wiping her mouth and spitting. ¡°Their first time what?¡± she rasped. ¡°Limbo traveling,¡± he replied. ¡°Probably for the best you don¡¯t remember it all yet. Your body¡¯s still reacting strongly, even though you were unconscious.¡± A cool, damp hand towel appeared before her, and her gaze slowly trailed up the hand, the sleeve of a tweed jacket, a clean-shaven jaw, and then¡­a face she didn¡¯t recognize. But something about him, something familiar about the tanned skin and athletic build, tugged at her brain. ¡°Thanks,¡± she muttered, then stared up at him. ¡°Can you tell me why the hell I¡¯m here? And more importantly, what the hell limbo traveling is?¡± The man simply sat beside her, facing her fully, an easy smile playing on his lips. He didn¡¯t say anything. Suzi¡¯s gaze sharpened, her irritation bubbling over. She raised an eyebrow, arms crossing over her chest. ¡°Well¡­?¡± He didn¡¯t respond. Just smiled. She looked him over: sharp jawline, a dimpled chin, golden-brown eyes that glinted with something like amusement. A hint of cologne teased at her senses. Calvin Klein¡¯s Obsession. A sudden recognition struck her like a prod to her posterior, and Suzi shot to her feet, her heart hammering in her chest. ¡°Dr. Adamson!?¡± The man¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Hello, Suzi. I thought for sure the tweed jacket would¡¯ve given it away.¡± ¡°You¡­ You¡¯re¡ªyoung!¡± He raised a hand, as if dismissing her surprise. ¡°You don¡¯t look like you¡¯re 45 anymore, either.¡± ¡°46,¡± she corrected, staring at him, still in disbelief. ¡°Ah, right. It was the week of your birthday.¡± She shook her head, her mind racing, but she steadied herself. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for you. I need answers.¡± ¡°I know,¡± he replied, his smile softening. ¡°That¡¯s why I had Darcy bring you here. But first things first¡­ It¡¯s not Adamson anymore. You¡¯ll call me Dr. Everett.¡± ¡°You changed your looks¡ªand your name.¡± Slowly, realization crept over her, the pieces of the long game falling into place. ¡°Yes,¡± he agreed. ¡°We celestials have to hop through time, lifetime by lifetime. We can¡¯t keep the same names each generation.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been at this for two weeks. What the hell is going on, Everett? What do we do?¡± The man sighed, something almost condescending in the gesture. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be further along by now.¡± ¡°I know I¡¯m a celestial,¡± she spat, her voice tight with frustration. ¡°An angel told me that. And I know I can capture demons¡ªbind them to things.¡± ¡°Ah, a Binder,¡± Everett mused, intrigued. ¡°That¡¯s valuable. What else did your angel tell you?¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Suzi frowned, narrowing her eyes. ¡°Why is that ¡®valuable¡¯? Can¡¯t you bind, too?¡± The door behind her opened, and in stepped a massive figure¡ªa large Native American man, like a body builder, but not nearly as large as Kyle. His skin gleamed with sweat, shirtless, his muscles taut beneath the blue tattoos of animals that snaked across his body, with long black hair tied back. He wiped his brow with a leather-gloved hand, his chest rising and falling with each breath. ¡°The cage is ready for the bait, C,¡± he rumbled, his voice deep, gravelly. Everett stood and offered the man a hand. ¡°Suzi, this is Barron Whitecrow. Bear, this is Suzi Bachman.¡± Suzi stood as well, extending a hand. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± ¡°The Demon Reaper in the flesh,¡± Bear said with a smile, his gaze lingering over her. ¡°Heard a lot about you.¡± He raised his gloved hands, indicated towards his sweaty body, ¡°You¡¯ll have to forgive me.¡± ¡°Bear¡¯s a Shapeshifter,¡± Everett explained. ¡°Darcy, whom you¡¯ve met, is a Limbo Skipper. I¡¯m a Death Reader. Celestials all have unique skills. And no, we can¡¯t all bind like you can¡ªunless we use artifacts. But the core of our powers is the same: will and energy. We all have to exert our will to use our abilities.¡± Suzi turned her gaze back to the massive man in front of her, still dripping with sweat, her mind trying to catch up. ¡°You¡¯re a shapeshifter?¡± Bear raised his arms with a sigh. ¡°Why do they always look at me like that? Like Limbo Skipping and Death Reading are believable, but shifting is a stretch?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Suzi muttered, awkwardly shifting on her feet. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Bear¡¯s smile was sharp, showing off pointed teeth as he blinked¡ªnot with human eyelids, but with reptilian membranes that slid across his eyes. His tongue flicked out, long and forked. A cold shiver crawled up Suzi¡¯s spine, and her instincts screamed at her to run. ¡°Bleh¡­¡± her personalities groaned, shivering in disgust, but Suzi fought to keep her composure. She swallowed, forced a smile, and turned back to Everett. ¡°What the hell is a Death Reader, then?¡± she asked, trying to shake the image of Bear¡¯s eyes from her mind. ¡°When I touch someone, I get a vision of how or when they¡¯ll die. Sometimes, if there¡¯s a culprit, I see who, why, or what method, too.¡± Suzi raised an eyebrow. ¡°So, what¡¯d you see when you touched me?¡± Everett leaned back, his gaze sharp. ¡°Ah, sharing that information is unhealthy. It could drive you mad.¡± Suzi laughed but couldn¡¯t hide the knot tightening in her stomach. ¡°Fair enough. Do you see your own death?¡± That drew a hearty laugh from Bear, and Suzi blinked, confused. ¡°No, I don¡¯t see my own death,¡± Everett said, his voice level. ¡°Celestials can only die by one method, which is unknown to us. Anything else that would normally kill a human, we just heal from and then reanimate. Our minds never know or process the passages of time.¡± Suzi furrowed her brow, turning to Bear. ¡°Why¡¯s that funny?¡± Bear shot a sideways glance at Everett. ¡°He spent, what?¡± Bear chuckled, eyes gleaming. ¡°A thousand years trying to off himself. If he could see his own death, and he tried all those ways, he¡¯d be a fucking masochist.¡± The doctor glared at him, but his lips twitched. ¡°Anyways,¡± Everett cut in, ¡°You weren¡¯t there. You just heard the stories.¡± ¡°A thousand years?¡± Suzi gasped. ¡°How old are you? How long have you been doing this?¡± Everett gave a small shrug. ¡°Been doing this for a while. You¡¯ll get the full story eventually. But for now...¡± His eyes were back on her, calculating. She wasn¡¯t about to let it slide. ¡°But you know how or when Bear and I will die, right?¡± He stared at her, then looked away, nodding once. Bear straightened up, clearing his throat. ¡°I¡¯ll wake Darcy and have her get ready.¡± ¡°Ask her to come here,¡± Everett said, his tone low. ¡°I want her to meet Suzi properly now that she¡¯s part of the team.¡± Bear clasped his hands together and bowed deep. ¡°Yes, master.¡± Everett threw a book at him, but Bear dodged it with ease, laughing as he left the room. Suzi blinked, unsure of the sudden shift in tension. ¡°That reminds me,¡± she asked. ¡°Why¡¯d you send me Miraleth¡¯s Pellet?¡± Everett¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Oh, good! You mastered it. Honestly wasn¡¯t sure you¡¯d pull it off.¡± Suzi¡¯s mind started running a hundred miles an hour, trying to piece together what he was implying. ¡°If he knew we were Celestial, then he knew the only way out was to master it or retire willingly,¡± Judith¡¯s voice echoed in her mind. ¡°Unless he didn¡¯t know how to master it,¡± Ralph added. ¡°Maybe the codex didn¡¯t say it absorbs a Celestial. Judas said it¡¯s just thrown and hits something, right?¡± ¡°Huh? What codex?¡± Annie chimed in, clearly lost in the conversation. ¡°We mastered it. So he sees us as worthy,¡± Judas added, her tone dry. Everett¡¯s grin faltered. ¡°I hope you¡¯ve got it somewhere safe. It¡¯s a valuable artifact. Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s just sitting on your coffee table.¡±The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°No way,¡± Suzi scoffed. ¡°That¡¯d be insane. Besides, I don¡¯t even own a coffee table.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t we leave it on the kitchen counter?¡± Annie asked. ¡°Shut the hell up, Annie,¡± Judy snapped. Suzi narrowed her eyes. ¡°But seriously, why¡¯d you send it to me?¡± Everett¡¯s face hardened, losing its humor. ¡°Because it¡¯s important to you.¡± ¡°Important to me?¡± Suzi snapped, her patience slipping. ¡°What the hell does that mean?¡± Before he could answer, the door opened. A young woman with strawberry-blond hair in a crew cut walked in, wearing a dark green hoodie with the hood pulled back. She froze, her eyes locking on Suzi. ¡°How the hell did you get in here?¡± Everett sighed, turning toward the girl. ¡°Darcy, this is Suzi. Suzi, this is Darcy Jean.¡± Darcy looked between them like she¡¯d just caught a fly in the air. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ve met.¡± She smirked. ¡°The Demon Reaper. You don¡¯t look like much, honestly. And if you ever come into my room without my permission again, we¡¯ll have some serious problems, j''ai compris?¡± Suzi blinked, utterly confused. ¡°Uh... oui? But I haven¡¯t left this room. I literally just woke up.¡± ¡°She¡¯s been here with me, Darce,¡± Everett confirmed, his voice carrying a note of finality. Darcy stared at them, clearly unsure whether they were fucking with her, then bolted out the door. ¡°What the hell was that about?¡± Suzi asked. Everett, his brow furrowed, shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Let me talk to her.¡± Suzi glanced around the room, feeling out of place. ¡°Hey, can you point me to the bathroom?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll show you. It¡¯s on the way,¡± Everett offered. He led her to a washroom, then continued down the hall, knocking on the next door. Suzi splashed water on her face, still tasting the remnants of vomit. As she stared at her reflection, she could feel the weight of everything that was happening pressing down on her. A knock at the door startled her. She gripped the sink, her pulse racing as she opened the door. No one was there. ¡°Hello?¡± she called, stepping into the hall. She glanced left, toward where Everett had disappeared, then right, toward the room she had awoken in. Suddenly, a hand gripped her shoulder and shoved her hard. The world blurred. Reality shattered. The hallway stretched, splitting into infinity. Standing face-to-face with Darcy, ¡°Where is it?¡± Darcy hissed, her eyes glowing wild, like a predator stalking its prey. Suzi jerked, her voice shaking. ¡°Let go of me!¡± ¡°The Dagger of Roanove,¡± Darcy growled, her voice low and menacing. ¡°You took it from my room. I want it back. Now.¡± Suzi¡¯s confusion was replaced by rage. ¡°I don¡¯t know what the fuck you¡¯re talking about. I¡¯ve never even been in your room, let alone heard of the Dagger of Roanove.¡± She expected Judas to rattle off the history and usage of the item, but the warrior was quiet. Darcy¡¯s lips curled into a wicked grin. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll find it myself.¡± She stepped back and disappeared into thin air, leaving Suzi alone in the surreal, twisting hall. The echoes of reality warped around her. The hall stretched further than she could fathom, and her body felt disconnected. She reached out, and even her arm seemed to separate the further she reached. She saw one arm, five elbows, twenty-five hands, although many of them overlapped a portion and hundreds of fingers. ¡°What the hell is this place?¡± she asked, her voice cracking in the void. ¡°Thin Limbo,¡± Judas¡¯s voice answered, though it wasn¡¯t in her head. Suzi spun around, disoriented. She caught a glimpse of herself, her mind warping with the disjointed sensation. ¡°What the hell is ¡®Thin Limbo¡¯?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the veil between reality and the Ethereal Plane. A gap between space and time,¡± Judas explained, her tone detached. ¡°How the hell do we get out?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t,¡± Judas¡¯s voice echoed coldly. ¡°At least not on our own. We find Darcy. She¡¯s a Limbo Skipper. This is how she traps demons.¡± Suzi pushed forward, her breath hitching with every step. The hallway stretched endlessly before her, mocking her efforts. No matter how hard she tried, her feet landed in the same goddamn spot, as if the ground beneath her was a cruel loop, erasing her progress with every attempt. ¡°Or we wait for her to find the Dagger of Roanove and free us,¡± Judas suggested. ¡°Fuck that,¡± Suzi muttered, eyes burning with frustration. ¡°I don¡¯t trust her. She¡¯ll leave us here forever.¡± Judas was quiet for a long moment. ¡°You could meditate. Finish the transition into the Ether and return to reality.¡± Suzi didn¡¯t hesitate. She sat cross-legged on the ground, focusing on her breath, on the pull of the golden cord she knew would lead her to the Ether. The moment she made the connection, her mind exploded into a blaze of color and sensation. As she always did once in the Ether, she thought of Aiden. She saw his pale blue aura, lying in a slightly elevated position, as he¡¯d been in for the last week, although it felt much longer. Confident she had beaten the Limbo Skipping bitch at her own game, Suzi pulled the golden cord and felt her consciousness return to her body. Suzi opened her eyes, blinking as her vision fought against the stretching, endless hall. Her heart sank. ¡°God damn it!¡± She was still trapped in this never-ending space. Frustration clawed at her chest, but she refused to stop. Her eyes locked onto the bathroom doorframe ahead. If walking wouldn¡¯t work, she¡¯d drag herself forward by sheer will alone. She reached out, fingers trembling, and gripped the frame like a lifeline. The moment she pulled, pain exploded in her shoulders, radiating down her arms as if her muscles were tearing apart one fiber at a time. Her legs felt like lead, each step forward a battle against invisible chains trying to yank her back. She gritted her teeth, a guttural sound escaping her throat as she dragged her body inch by agonizing inch. It was slow. Exhausting. Each movement cost more than she thought she had left to give. Her lungs burned as though she¡¯d been running for hours, though she¡¯d barely made it a few feet. When she finally reached the corner of the wall, it felt like a hollow victory¡ªlike she¡¯d just crawled through hell and barely survived. Suzi leaned heavily against the cold surface, her back pressed flat against it as she fought to catch her breath. Her hand clung to the corner, knuckles white with tension, unwilling to let go. Her heart pounded in her chest, every beat echoing in her ears. Lying flat on the floor, her body screamed for a break, but there was no way in hell she was going to just sit there and waste time feeling sorry for herself. She needed to move. And right now, moving was everything. Maybe, just maybe, if she pulled herself a few feet closer to the corner, she could push off and launch herself further. She dragged her body across the floor, her limbs heavy, each inch like she was fighting through molasses. Finally, her feet brushed against the corner, and she pushed¡ªhard. It felt like she was carrying a goddamn truck on her back, the wall should''ve crumpled under the pressure, but it didn''t. The hall held steady. She gritted her teeth and pushed again, feeling her muscles straining, her breath shallow. Minutes passed. Her arms were extended fully in front of her, her toes barely brushing the corner. She was stretched out as far as she could go, and yet, the damn doorframe was still a foot away. The wall, the space, the damn hall¡ªit felt like everything was fighting against her. Exhausted. She should¡¯ve been drenched in sweat, but there was no sweat. No nothing. Just a dull ache in every joint, every muscle. She turned onto her back, heaving, but something felt off. The air wasn¡¯t moving. Testing it, she grabbed a coin from her pocket and flicked it. It felt too heavy¡ªlike a manhole cover, not a coin. The damn thing barely spun, but when it left her hand, it just hung there. Like time had stopped. Like nothing mattered. ¡°What the hell...?¡± Suzi muttered, staring at the coin suspended in the air. ¡°We are between space and time. Between reality and the Ether,¡± Judas'' voice rang out from her mouth, calm but distant. She hadn¡¯t even realized she was speaking. ¡°Time doesn¡¯t pass here. We only perceive it. What¡¯s happening in the hall... it¡¯s all happening in a fraction of an instant, to everyone else.¡± ¡°So, what? To everyone else, I¡¯m just hugging the wall and pushing myself down the hall in a fraction of a second?¡± Suzi''s voice felt too small, too quiet in her head, but the words still came out. She felt an annoying blush of embarrassment creep up her neck. ¡°Yeah. They probably wouldn¡¯t even notice,¡± Judas said, unbothered. ¡°Then why the hell is it so hard to move?¡± She couldn¡¯t stop herself from growling. Her entire body ached with frustration. ¡°Space doesn¡¯t exist here. You¡¯re trying to traverse something that isn¡¯t even here. The wall¡¯s just a thing you can grab hold of as a permanent structure. Without it, there¡¯s nothing to move against.¡± Suzi¡¯s mind raced. She closed her eyes for a second, trying to pull it together. They were stuck. Completely fucking stuck. ¡°I can¡¯t move off the wall any further,¡± she said, voice quiet, defeated. ¡°I have nothing to grab, nothing to pull.¡± Annie, the one who always had an idea, good or bad, piped up. ¡°Sure we do. Grab the carpet.¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± Judy shot back. ¡°That won¡¯t work.¡± Annie didn¡¯t back down. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough rug burns to know better! Plus, the wall didn¡¯t even crack when we pushed off of it. The pressure we¡¯re feeling here isn¡¯t the same that the wall felt, so I¡¯m guessing the carpet will hold.¡± ¡°Worth a shot,¡± Suzi muttered. She turned to her stomach, hands scrabbling at the carpet¡¯s knap, fingers digging in with everything she had. An hour later, her fingers were raw, her arms shaking with the strain, but she was moving. Slowly. Painfully. Every pull felt like it was tearing her muscles apart. She reached the doorframe, something solid she could finally use for leverage. Every inch felt like it took forever, each movement slow, agonizing, but she made it. She stood, barely. Her knees buckled beneath her as she braced herself against the doorframe, her body threatening to give out, but she pushed through, leaning on the handle. At first, she thought it was locked, but then she realized¡ªit wasn¡¯t locked. It just needed more pressure. Just like everything else here. Finally, with a groan, she pressed her weight into the door, feeling it give. The sound of creaking hinges echoed, reverberating infinitely in the stillness. She squeezed her body through the gap, the air thick and strange, like it was pressing back against her. She stepped into a room, a small living space. Books sat on a shelf, their spines worn and weathered. The corners of the room were twisted, warped, repeating on themselves in the same way the hall did¡ªnothing made sense. A single bed sat across from her. Darcy, asleep, her figure glowing faintly, golden but not bright enough to be an aura. Suzi frowned. She crouched low, pushing off the floor with her feet. This was easier, less painful. She moved forward, her foot landing on the bookshelf for leverage. She was close enough to reach the bedframe now. Her hands slid under the frame, pulling herself forward until she was standing. Her pulse quickened. She wanted to wake Darcy up and scream at her, but there was something else, something pulling at her¡ªa nagging, subtle pull to make this moment feel right. Darcy had sharp features, a jawline so sharp it could cut glass, and her chest looked almost too flat¡ªeither a chest binder or wrap, Suzi guessed. Suzi¡¯s own body had regressed to her mid-20s with no effort. And Dr. Adamson¡ªor Dr. Everett, as he now called himself¡ªwas around the same age. But Darcy? She looked like she was in her teens. By choice? The urge to strangle her flickered, but Suzi stopped herself. No. This girl was asleep, calm, peaceful, and that pissed Suzi off even more. Suzi stared at Darcy¡¯s sleeping face. Quiet. Serene. So fucking calm. There was a faint warmth about her, like she was hiding something, something that felt far too comfortable for someone in a goddamn dimension like this. No. She wasn¡¯t about to kill her. But she couldn¡¯t resist waking her up. With a gentle poke to the shoulder, reality slammed into her. It hit her like a freight train. Her joints popped, her vision solidified, everything snapped into place¡ªpain, excruciating but so fucking glorious. She stood, groaning, her body instantly weary, but the sensation was... real. Like she was finally grounded in something solid. She wanted to crawl into that bed and sleep until the world stopped spinning. She glanced around. The door was still shut. The nightstand near the bed held a book¡ªwell-worn, its cover falling apart. A drawer beneath it was slightly ajar, and something glimmered from the gap. ¡°What¡¯s in there?¡± Suzi muttered, before Darcy stirred. ¡°Can I help you?¡± Darcy asked, sitting up, her voice smooth, calm, like this was a normal day. Suzi clenched her jaw. ¡°Surprised to see me?¡± ¡°Suzi, right?¡± Darcy didn¡¯t seem fazed. ¡°I assume you¡¯ve talked with the ringleader?¡± ¡°Ringleader? You mean Dr. Everett?¡± Suzi snapped. Before Darcy could answer, a knock on the door sounded. ¡°Yeah?¡± Darcy called. ¡°Darce. He wants to see you. We gotta get the trap ready,¡± came the deep voice of Bear. Suzi¡¯s confusion grew. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be right out,¡± Darcy said, standing up. Suzi¡¯s head was spinning. There was so much happening at once, so much she didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Darcy asked. ¡°Sit down. I¡¯ll be right back.¡± She gently pushed Suzi onto the bed before walking out. Wait a second, Suzi thought. Shouldn¡¯t Bear have already taken Darcy? They¡¯d been talking to Dr. Everett right after Bear left. ¡°And she told us the first time we met her that if we entered her room without permission again...¡± Judith¡¯s voice echoed in her head. Suzi looked around, her heart pounding. ¡°Meaning we¡¯ve been in here already,¡± she said aloud. ¡°Impossible,¡± James disagreed. ¡°Yet here we are,¡± Suzi muttered, glancing at the drawer again. Excited, Annie¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°Did we find the Flux Capacitor?¡± Her hand reached for the drawer¡¯s handle. The glimmering object inside caught her attention¡ªa small, golden dagger, its handle simple, unembellished, almost childlike in design, no larger than a letter opener, with a black, leather sleeve. ¡°The Dagger of Roanove,¡± Judas exhaled. ¡°So, she found it and left us in that pocket dimension?¡± Annie asked. Understanding settling, Suzi replied, ¡°No. For her, it¡¯s not missing yet. She returns to the room to discover it missing.¡± The ever-cautious J spoke up, ¡°Simple enough. We wait until she returns and show her we don¡¯t have it.¡± ¡°We have to take it,¡± Judas stated. Judith agreed, ¡°Judas is right. It''ll create a paradox if it¡¯s not missing when she returns.¡± She pulled it out, the cold metal in her hand, and the instant the sheath fell away, a brilliant flash of golden light flooded the room, blinding her. And then, everything changed. Chapter 4 A harsh neigh and the clattering of hooves jolted Suzi awake. Mud caked her face, gritty against her skin, and her cropped hair clung to her scalp in uneven, sweat-matted tufts. Her clothes¡ªif you could call them that¡ªwere nothing more than scratchy burlap rags, fraying at the edges. The room around her felt suffocating, its mud-brick walls damp and its dirt floor cold against her bare legs. She blinked, disoriented. Her gaze caught on the small, barred window high on the wall, filtering weak light and a misting rain that clung to the air like despair. Outside, muffled voices rose in a cacophony¡ªhaggling, shouting, the sharp chop of axes splitting wood. Mixed with the earthy scent of bread baking and meat roasting was the rank, unmistakable tang of manure. The bile rose in her throat as she tried not to gag. A rat scurried across the corner of the room, its sleek body darting into a hole, and Suzi flinched. Where the fuck am I? Her mind reached out instinctively, searching for the familiar voices in her head¡ªJudas, Judith, Annie. Silence. The absence was deafening. Panic flared. She ran her hands over her arms, finding angry gashes and scabs she didn¡¯t remember earning. Her heart thudded painfully. ¡°Hey!¡± she shouted, but her voice betrayed her, emerging as a clipped, unfamiliar Bonjour. Her stomach clenched. The fuck? The scrape of wood on wood snapped her attention to the door. A small window slid open, and a filthy hand tossed a half-rotten potato and a chunk of moldy bread onto the floor. Dirt puffed up as they landed. ¡°Please,¡± Suzi pleaded, instinctively reaching toward the sliver of light, ¡°let me out¡ª¡± But her words twisted, the plea mangled into something foreign to her ears. The reply was guttural, harsh. She caught one word: sorci¨¨re. Witch. Her blood ran cold. Witch? The pieces didn¡¯t fit, like a puzzle smashed together with a hammer. She pressed her back against the wall, trying to quiet the trembling in her legs as the light from the door disappeared with a heavy thud. Alone again, the room closed in, the air pressing on her chest like a weight. Hours crawled. The sun¡¯s rays replaced the drizzle, but the change brought no comfort. Suzi tried again and again fall into the Ether, or into Guillermo. Nothing worked. She was trapped. Every sound outside twisted in her mind: the thunk of a butcher¡¯s cleaver became bones cracking; the bleating of sheep mixed with the delighted shrieks of children transformed into the unholy cry of some monstrous, goat-like beast. Her imagination spiraled, each thought darker than the last. By evening, hunger gnawed at her. She shoved the potato and bread closer to the rat¡¯s burrow, unwilling to touch them. The little creature darted out, sniffing cautiously. ¡°Here, have at it,¡± Suzi muttered bitterly, her words not the same in her ears as they were forming in her head. The pounding on the door came suddenly, breaking the oppressive quiet. Her heart slammed against her ribs as the door creaked open. Three men entered, muddy and unkempt, their heavy boots thumping on the dirt floor. The shortest of the three barked something in a language Suzi couldn¡¯t decipher, holding out a tangle of chains. ¡°No,¡± she whispered, backing into the wall. ¡°No, no, no¡ª¡± The man growled, tossing the chains at her. The weight of them landed hard on her head, sending a sharp, metallic sting across her scalp. ¡°Son of a bitch!¡± she spat, clutching her head. Her outburst earned her nothing but a sneer and another guttural command. Her hands shook as she fastened the shackles around her wrists and ankles. The shorter man gestured impatiently, and before she could brace herself, rough hands grabbed her arms. She thrashed, her instincts taking over, but it was useless. They wrenched her around, securing the final chains at her waist and neck before jamming a scratchy, burlap sack over her head. They dragged her into the open air. The sting of sunlight through the coarse sack burned her eyes. Each step she shuffled was agony; the chains cut into her skin, and her stride was reduced to pathetic half-steps. She barely noticed the crowd until the first egg hit her, splattering against the sack. The stench of rot filled her nose. Then came a tomato, striking her chest with a wet slap. The crowd¡¯s jeers rose to a deafening roar. Thousands of voices, a tide of hatred crashing against her ears. Her breath came in shallow gasps. The sack was yanked away, and she blinked against the blinding light. The scene before her was surreal: a sea of people packed tightly into the muddy streets of a Renaissance-era city. Their faces blurred into a mass of anger and revulsion, save for one. A friar in brown robes stood apart, his gaze piercing through the chaos, strangely familiar. A nudge from behind forced her up the stairs. Her reflection in a puddle stopped her cold. She wasn¡¯t Suzi. She was Darcy. At the platform¡¯s top, the truth hit like a punch to the gut. The woodpile, stacked high and ready, surrounded the stake where she would die. Suzi wanted to cry and fight her captors, but oddly, she was brave and calm.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! The two taller men who escorted her turned her back towards the pole in the center of the platform. The stouter man looped another chain around the pole and connected it to the band at her waist. They tested the chains and then exited the platform. The officiant¡¯s voice droned on, reading from an unrolled parchment, listing crimes in both old English and French. ¡°Heresy. Witchcraft. Dressing as a man.¡± Her heart thudded painfully. This can¡¯t be real. But the heat of the torches and the sharp stench of oil told her otherwise. Her gaze darted to the friar. Without thinking, the words left her mouth, steady and resolute: ¡°You! Priest! Hold your crucifix high so I may see it through the flames!¡± The flames came faster than she expected. The guards¡¯ torches ignited the pyre with a whoosh, and the heat was immediate, blistering. Smoke clawed at her lungs as the fire climbed, devouring the wood and licking at her legs. Pain ripped through her body, but she clenched her fists, refusing to scream. The crowd roared. Somewhere, amidst the chaos, she thought she saw the friar raise his crucifix, but her vision blurred as the flames engulfed her. The world narrowed to heat, pain, and the acrid taste of smoke. Her knees buckled. ¡°Jesus!¡± she cried out. Then, darkness. * * * * * The cool earth pressed against Suzi¡¯s cheek, the dampness of the soil clinging to her skin as she blinked into the dim twilight. Her fingers clenched the small golden dagger, its leather sheath slick under her sweaty grip. She sat up slowly, the river nearby a black ribbon in the fading light, framed by an old stone wall. Night had almost swallowed the sky. A voice cut through the quiet. ¡°Did you enjoy the view?¡± Her heart leapt. She twisted around, her knees digging into the dirt. Darcy sat on a weathered bench, tossing seeds to a gathering of pigeons, her face shadowed but unmistakable. ¡°Darcy?¡± Suzi croaked, her throat raw. The phantom sensation of searing heat still lingered on her skin, and the acrid tang of smoke clung to her nostrils. She coughed, trying to shake the memory of flames. Darcy¡¯s expression didn¡¯t shift. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you did it, but that was a good trick.¡± ¡°What trick?¡± Suzi asked, her voice thick with confusion. Darcy narrowed her eyes. ¡°Is that your ability? Or do you have a fucking twin wandering around?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°How the hell did you get from my room to another without anyone seeing? Or into my room without the ringleader knowing?¡± Darcy¡¯s tone was sharp, each word cutting deeper into Suzi¡¯s spinning mind. Suzi glanced down at the dagger, its weight unfamiliar yet comforting. She held it out to Darcy. ¡°This is yours.¡± Darcy snatched it from her hand with a scoff. ¡°I should leave you here to fend for yourself.¡± ¡°Where is here?¡± Suzi asked, rising shakily to her feet. Dirt and crushed grass stuck to her clothes as she brushed herself off. Darcy took a few steps toward a stone pathway, gesturing to a large marble slab etched with words. ¡°Rouen, France. This is where I died.¡± The words landed like a punch to the gut. ¡°Bullshit.¡± Darcy¡¯s lips curled into a smirk, though her eyes stayed cold. She motioned to the slab. ¡°Read it.¡± Suzi approached, the stone looming. She squinted at the French inscription. The letters twisted and shifted in her mind, the meaning bleeding through as if the language had always been hers: ¡°On this site, 30 May 1431, Saint Jeanne D¡¯Arc was burned for heresy.¡± Her breath hitched. ¡°You¡¯re Joan of Arc.¡± Darcy¡¯s expression tightened, her smirk vanishing. ¡°You could shout it a little louder if you want. No one¡¯s listening, Am¨¦ricain stupide.¡± ¡°Sorry, I¡ª¡± Suzi¡¯s words tumbled out. ¡°I¡¯ve just never met a saint before. You¡¯re the first female military leader¡ª¡± Darcy cut her off, her voice sharp as a blade. ¡°I was burned alive for dressing like a man.¡± ¡°You named King Henry VII,¡± Suzi pressed, as if the history would soften the edges. Darcy barked out a laugh, hollow and bitter. ¡°And he left me to rot. I gave him Orleans, and he couldn¡¯t even save me from the flames.¡± Suzi swallowed hard, her excitement souring into something heavier. ¡°Were you the first celestial?¡± ¡°No.¡± Darcy shook her head, the golden dagger twirling between her fingers. ¡°One of the last, actually. Until you showed up.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Suzi hesitated, remembering Bear had mentioned Dr. Everett had been around at least a thousand years. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I took your knife.¡± Darcy waved the apology away. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I left you in limbo. How¡¯d you escape?¡± Suzi shifted uncomfortably, the memories of that place clawing at the edges of her mind. ¡°I¡¯m not sure you¡¯d believe me. I¡¯m not even sure I believe it. It was hours¡ªmaybe days¡ªof agony. I had to find you. When I did, you were sleeping. I touched you, and¡­ it pulled me back.¡± Darcy¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You pulled yourself out of limbo by touching me?¡± She didn¡¯t wait for an answer, muttering to herself, ¡°Never heard of that.¡± ¡°It was excruciating,¡± Suzi admitted, her voice quieter now. ¡°Does it hurt for you?¡± ¡°Pain¡¯s part of life,¡± Darcy replied with a shrug. ¡°But no. It¡¯s simple for me. Like breathing.¡± Suzi looked down, her hands trembling. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine how you survived that place.¡± Darcy¡¯s gaze softened just slightly. ¡°Now, you don¡¯t have to. You experienced it firsthand. And now, I get to relive your last day before I can relive mine again.¡± A chill ran down Suzi¡¯s spine. ¡°What do you mean, that you get to relive my death?¡± Darcy¡¯s smirk returned, though it didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°The knife shows how you died. That¡¯s how it works.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m not dead,¡± Suzi said, her voice rising with panic. Darcy raised an eyebrow. ¡°You must be. Our human life ends so our celestial one can begin.¡± Suzi staggered back a step. ¡°No, it¡¯s not possible. Unless¡­ it was when you shot Dr. Adamson?¡± Darcy¡¯s smirk faltered. ¡°That was you behind him, wasn¡¯t it? I¡¯m surprised you died from that. You were still breathing when I pulled him off you.¡± ¡°I wanted to blame you,¡± Suzi admitted, bitterness creeping into her voice. ¡°But¡­ my life¡¯s been more interesting since. It nearly cost my husband his life, though.¡± ¡°Relationships never last,¡± Darcy said coldly. ¡°Love always ends in heartache, one way or another. Let¡¯s go.¡± Darcy extended her hand. Suzi hesitated but took it. Darcy stepped forward, and the world folded in on itself. Limbo roared around them, a chaotic blur of cities, mountains, oceans, and endless void. Suzi clung to Darcy¡¯s hand, her stomach churning as the Atlantic flashed by, then the familiar skyline of New Your City, then Chicago as they slowed. They landed with a jolt back in the dim room where Suzi had first awakened. The reality of the space pressed down on her. Suzi barely made it to the corner before emptying the remains of her chicken quesadilla into a dented can.