Page 116 of The Female

These dates are all in the past? I groan and type them into the translator for clarification, confused when they come out confirming my initial assumption.

“Rock?”

He hums, and seconds later, I hear the hushed rustle of fabric as he approaches.

“What are these dates?” I ask, assuming I’m misreading.

The demonic language is complicated on its best day.

Rock leans over and glances at the paper. He sucks on his teeth before going into teacher mode.

“This is going to be the day, this is going to be the month, and this is going to be the year,” he says, sliding his finger to each set of numbers.

I’m stunned, and I hardly listen as he explains the differences in how humans view time and yearly calendars. I don’t understand why these dates are so far in the past. Why would somebody create a report and give timelines for something that’s already happened?

I gulp before flipping to the very front of the report. Rock continues his one-sided conversation as I scan the sheet for a date.

There’s absolutely no way they’ve been sitting on this information. They’d never do that. Even Aziel, who’s a complete dick in every way, shape, and form, wouldn’t do that. There’s no way.

I shake my head as I find the date of the report listed on the backside of the first page. I type it into the translator to be sure.

They’ve had this information for fifty-four years.

Rock goes silent and begins to flip through the pages as he notices what I’m doing.

“What the fuck?” he whispers, his voice hushed and full of shock. “I knew they had some information on the females, but I had no idea it was this comprehensive.”

At least I’m not the only one who’s been left in the dark.

Rock reads aloud at my request, his words barely audible as he does his best to keep the trio in Aziel’s office from overhearing. I wring my hands underneath the table as I listen intently to the information he shares, my heart plummeting with each ominously written warning of danger and extinction.

The only warning I have of Gray’s return is the sudden gust of wind against my side as Rock hurries back to his spot on the couch. He gives me a sharp glance before burying his face in his book.

Gray busts into his office with a grin so wide, his eyes are practically shut. He nods toward Rock, his gaze moving briefly to the book in the shadow’s hands.

“Did you borrow that from Silas?” he asks. “He never lets me borrow his books.”

Rock grumbles, his ‘angry at being forced to babysit’ attitude back. “Yes. Some of us are actually careful with his things.”

Gray laughs, and Rock shoots me another sharp look before leaving the room.

I remain silent as Gray turns to me.

“I’m so sorry! That went on a lot longer than I expected,” he says. “Want to get some lunch?”

I don’t move. Gray cocks his head to the side, his eyebrows furrowing as he tries to figure out why I’m so angry. He blinks and steps forward to see what I have laid out on his desk. I watch recognition spread across his face as he realizes.

“Charlie, I ca—” he starts, stopping as I hold up my hand to stop him.

I point to the chair opposite his desk. “Sit.”

Gray looks scared as he lowers himself into the seat I point to, his expression similar to that of a dog cowering in the corner after being kicked. I don’t let up on my glare as I wait for him to get comfortable, my current disgust for him too great to hide.

“When did you find out about the females?” I ask, cutting straight to the point.

I refuse to let him skirt around the subject any longer. A small part of me hopes he’s going to tell me the report is misprinted and he hasn’t been sitting on this information for decades, but a larger part of me knows that’s not going to happen.

I visibly recoil when Gray responds with the year stated on the report, and the last bit of hope I was hanging on to dies. Gray winces at my body’s reaction to him, his shoulders rolling forward and chin dropping to his chest in what I assume is supposed to be a display of shame.

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