Page 89 of Darkness

Farren’s heart fell. If FAET’s leader didn’t believe in their mission, they’d have no hope for success. “There are few of us even capable of banishing.”

“Some suggest execution would stop you.” Leary didn’t look up while making his pronouncement. Sounded like he recited someone else’s words.

Farren barked out a laugh. The gloves had truly come off now. “Only to have us enter the nearest body? Then, you’d have started a war by trying to fight battles with an enemy who might be standing next to you.” Farren had isolated himself in his quest to fit in. If humans thought these things, then some travelers likely thought them too. One by one, citizens of Domus could take over humanity.

If Morrisey arrived here as a newborn, assimilated so completely even he himself wasn't aware of his true origins, that might account for no one marking him as a traveler early on. However, the man drank a lot. To quash feelings he didn’t know what to do with?

Farren once witnessed a horrifying car wreck, convinced no one could have survived. But the driver crawled out of the smoking wreckage, escaping with minor injuries. According to a paramedic, the patient's blood alcohol level made him pliant, enabling him to roll with the hits and escape with minor injuries, whereas anyone else might have braced and been killed.

If alcohol dulled the driver’s pain, could it also hide whatever traces of familiarity could potentially remain for Morrisey?

Hiding in plain sight. What if all these maddening thoughts were true? What if Morrisey wasn’t the only one? A sleeper cell of travelers waiting to be activated.

By whom?

Leary’s point suddenly hit home. “I think we’re at a stalemate,” Farren ventured. "Without a great deal of trust and cooperation, neither of our people can survive. You need us to A, identify those like me and B, to handle any who become a problem.”

“So it would seem.” Leary steepled his fingers directly before his pursed lips, shoulders hunched.

“Since we’ve established suspicions about Morrisey, I can watch out for him. He doesn’t read like a traveler to me, but if what you say is true, he’s had an entire lifetime to assimilate. His record with Atlanta PD is solid. Though he’s questioned authority on a regular basis, I’d rather work with someone who questions than someone who blindly follows orders, even orders they might feel are wrong.” Like soldiers throughout time who'd slaughtered civilians because they were told to.

Now to throw on a little flattery. “Whenever someone casts doubt, I mention you as an example of what we can accomplish by working together. But as a race, if we can clash over ethnicity or even political party, imagine how much worse if the general population found out what they call demons really do walk among them.” Chaos. Shooting first, asking questions later. Farren shuddered. "I aim to keep that from happening." Funny how humans called them demons but not angels, even though Farren’s was actually a being of light with what humans would call wings.

No halo, though. Or harp. Hell, Farren could barely play a radio, let alone a musical instrument.

Leary tapped his lips with the tip of an ink pen he’d gotten from somewhere. It hadn’t been on the desk before. "You know I'll have to find you a new partner, right? An actual human?”

Farren clutched at straws to prevent losing his partner. “Then how will I oversee Morrisey? Learn what he knows and if he has any hidden talents?”

Leary angled his head, gazing over Farren's left shoulder. “You make a good point, something I’ve also mentioned to the higher-ups. Unfortunately, they’re in panic mode, thinking the sky is falling and demons are taking over the world. There’ve been reports from Berlin and Sydney where travelers are arriving in droves.”

Farren didn’t mention the difficulty of maintaining control of all those travelers, as he himself had no desire to conquer. He just wanted to live. Maybe someday he’d find someone to love, not be alone. But with doubters watching his every move, he’d only endanger someone else, be they human or traveler.

His mind momentarily flitted to him, Morrisey, and a few blissful moments. Nope. Farren couldn’t have that.

“Look,” Leary said. “I’ll tell you what. For now, I’ll leave you two together if you really want.”

“I do.” Not only to access Morrisey, but to keep him safe. Better not to seem too eager, however. “It’s the most logical course of action.” The only course of action Farren would accept.

“So be it. But I expect reports, not just on your cases, but on James as well.”

Farren fought a wince. All he needed. More reports. “Yes, sir.” At least Leary hadn’t ordered him to install surveillance equipment in Morrisey's rooms. Farren would still arrange regular sweeps to ensure the task didn’t fall to someone else who didn’t have Morrisey’s best interests in mind.

Leary reined in his typical loud tones, but not by much, even though he’d already showed the ability to speak without excessive volume. “You know I don’t enjoy saying these things to you.”

Fallon recalled the smugness on Leary’s face when he’d handed over the papers. While he may not be completely on board with banishing all travelers, he'd definitely given the matter some thought.

Which meant, not only would Farren need to watch over Morrisey, he’d need to include all travelers on the task force, Arianna and those he knew out in the world at large. A niggling suspicion grew in the depths of his mind: What of the traveler he’d seen Morrisey talking to that he’d never mentioned?

While Farren’s heart trusted Morrisey, keeping secrets didn't build trust.

For now, he’d keep all suspicions to himself. “Just remember all the good I and others have done.” Farren didn’t add, and all the bad we could do.

Leary already knew.

Chapter Twenty-nine

The email came to Morrisey’s personal account from a no-reply address and included only a few words.

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