Page 33 of Living Legend

“I tell you a piece of vital information and you tell me I don’t know anything?” Reese huffed, his neck growing red in a way that had nothing to do with the sun.

“Vital information yes, but have you really given any real thought to it?” I stated, the back of my t-shirt sticking to my back. Reese crossed his arms over his chest, waiting.“What’s she waiting for, hmm? She’s had ample opportunity to use it, more than enough time to use it on Markus when he walked in on us. She didn’t. What’s she been doing the whole time, Reese? She’s been trying to help us figure this shit out!” I took my sunglasses off; Reese and I were around the same height, so I looked him dead in his hazel eyes as I spoke. He never flinched as every word left my lips.

“You have it all figured out don’t you, Nick? Defending the demons. You spend like two fucking days with them and now what? They’re the good guys now?” he pushed, mocking me.

I pressed my lips together, swallowing hard, trying to keep it together. “Not in the slightest. That’s not what I’m saying atall, Reese. You’re just so fixated on them and what you think of them, and it's not going to help us in any way.”

“So this is my fault now?”

I let out an exasperated sigh, so deep that it took the wind out of my chest. “No! My God, can you stop being so fucking dramatic? This isn’t your fault—” I began, watching as he opened his mouth in what I knew would be a rebuttal. I continued before he could get his words out. “This isn’t their fault either. Weallwere asked to find out about the portals and that’s exactly what we are going to do. Then, they can be sent on their way. You harping on this is only going to prolong it, and you know what? More demons are going to come through and we’ll be in more shit and then it really will be all your fucking fault! I don’t know what changed your mind about their plan, but you agreed, so stop complaining, get your bow out of your ass, and focus on what we were asked to do. Do it for me.”

My chest felt heavy as I finished, my throat a bit rough; I hadn’t realized I’d been shouting. I ran a stiff hand through my hair, not realizing I’d balled it into a tight fist.

Reese looked back at me with an unreadable expression on his face. The only sound between us was the sound of wings ripping through the sky above us. He raised an eyebrow at me, his lips curling into a smirk.

“The last time you yelled at me like that, we were still living in the North Village and I wanted to give up the bow. You went ballistic on me.”

I released a small smile, the moment replaying itself in my head. “I didn’t yell at you.”

“Yeah, you did. Your dad had to come out and pop us both on the ass for being so loud that late at night. I hated both of you for all of three minutes.”

“So sensitive, even then,” I teased, punching him in the arm. He rolled his head up towards the sky, the tension leaving his body almost instantly.

“You seem to always know when I need a kick in the ass,” Reese said, pressing his palm to my forehead and shoving me slightly backwards. I swatted him away, setting myself upright again. He brought his index finger to his chin and tapped it a few times. “I’ll attempt to keep myself in check, although that in itself is asking a lot.”

I jogged over to the bow and pulled an arrow out of the quiver. “Oh, I’m well aware.” I aligned myself with a target and placed the arrow in the notch. I didn’t dare look back at Reese, most likely critiquing my every move. I would do the exact same thing, so I couldn’t comment.

“Do you have a plan on how to get us into Jonah’s office? And by that, I mean, do you have a plan that gets us into Jonah’s office when he isn’t there?” Reese asked from behind me, pure curiosity spiking in his voice.

I took two slow breaths as I tightened my fingers around the back of the arrow and bowstring. I eyed my target with determined purpose. I knew I could never slice another arrow like Reese, but I could likely hit any of the target’s rings. I waited a beat before I released, watching as the arrow sailed into the air, faster and further…

It darted past the target. It flew past the trunks of the trees that lined the woods, into what lay beyond them.

“Hmph,” I grunted, pressing the bow to my temple.

Reese’s muffled laugh filled my ears as he came up behind me and yanked the bow out of my grasp. “Leave it to the professionals, swordsman.”

I let out a fake laugh, shoving him away. “To answer your question, I do have a plan.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me?” he asked.

“Up until yesterday, I didn’t think you were coming, so forgive me for keeping you in the dark.”

He grabbed another arrow and started positioning himself again. “Care to share with the class?”

I shrugged, waiting as he set himself into his full archery stance. “You might have to dust off your acting skills for this one.”

Reese pulled back the bowstring and then stopped, whipping his head back at me, a confused expression all over his face. “Nick, what the f—”

Fluttering wings above us interrupted him, shadowing the green lawn. A female with long, fiery red hair gently descended onto the lush greenery. A messenger angel.

“Nicholas Cassial?” She looked to me, her eyes round and the color of dark green moss.

“Yes?” I answered. Reese looked at me over her shoulder, his eyes wide with interest.

“Jonah regrets to inform you he cannot see you, but says Ariel will see you in his place.” She spoke distinctively, as if she memorized the words exactly as they were spoken to her.

“Of course. I will see Ariel this afternoon,” I replied, meeting her gaze.

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