Page 110 of Malice

Smiling, I nod, gazing into his eyes. “Yeah, we’ve got this.”

Epilogue

Aster

Two Years Later

As if my life couldn’t get any stranger, along comes a request to attend a mandatory meeting at Soul Chaser Headquarters, conveniently located in the underworld. At least my partner, the love of my life, can attend with me thanks to the love bond.

I’m not sure what to expect as I hold Hudson’s hand and lead us down the dark, narrow hallways, but as we step into the main area, a lit-up space with music playing wasn’t it. Is that Dean Martin crooning?

“What is this about?” Hudson asks.

“Um, I’m not sure actually.”

The cavernous room is filled with people,livingpeople, who I suspect are Chasers and possibly their partners, given the lack of aura around them identifying them as spirits. I spot Wilder leaning against a column, wearing a dress shirt and slacks like he’s attending a wedding. He looks growly and unapproachable,but when he sees me, he nods in acknowledgment and looks even kind of happy to see me. Sort of.

I walk over to him with Hudson glued to my arm. “Hey, Wilder. Do you know why we’ve been summoned?”

“Not a clue. Not too happy about it either since I was on a date.”

“Is that why you look so nice?”

Wilder shrugs, but his lips turn up with just the hint of a smile.

The music grows quieter as Farnsworth appears, dressed in a very dapper tuxedo and looking like a 1960s Hollywood leading man. His expression is tight as he forces a smile to his face. I wait for him to speak, but another figure steps from the shadows instead.

Hudson’s breath catches and he squeezes my arm, moving as close as possible. The figure is much taller than any normal human would be, I’d say at least eight feet as it towers over the petite Farnsworth. It’s wearing a hooded cape, but as it reaches up with impossibly long arms and removes the hood, a stunning woman is revealed.

She has fiery red hair that seems to move in an unfelt breeze. It hangs down to her waist, blowing softly. Her face is perfect, almost indescribably so, with features that make my stomach flutter.

Her eyes, a strange light blue color, pulse as she gazes at us, and her lips, bright cherry red, are curved in a serene smile.

“Whoa,” Hudson whispers. “I feel weird.”

“Me too.”

“Hello, Chasers,” Farnsworth says. “Thank you for coming. Our mistress has summoned us together for this inaugural moment.”

The mistress, whose name and existence I have no clue about, nods at us, and as her gaze roams across us, I’m filled with a sense of warmth and comfort.

“My brave darlings,” she says. Her voice is sweet, kind, and vibrates through me to my core. “Look how many of you there are.”

I can’t take my eyes off her, but I do notice in my peripheral vision how Wilder leans in, clearly as awestruck as the rest of us.

“I asked Farnsworth to assemble you here purely for my pleasure. It’s been two centuries since I’ve seen you all with my own eyes. How beautiful.”

“What is she talking about, Aster?” Hudson asks.

“Don’t know.”

The mistress’s gaze shifts immediately to me and Hudson. “Lovers,” she says. “Delightful.”

Hudson’s breath shakes, but a sense of calm washes over him that I feel in my chest through our bond.

“There has been a breach among us,” the mistress continues. “Don’t worry, it’s been handled, but it opened my eyes to the disconnect in our ranks. We’ve grown, and yet so many of you have never seen each other’s faces. You don’t know of each other’s existence. That ends tonight.” She turns to Farnsworth and nods.

“We’ll have a yearly party,” Farnsworth says, nearly spitting the final word. “A time to come together to ensure our continued focus on our goal to rid the Above of Horrors.”

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