Page 78 of When Monsters Rise
“What’shappening?”Erelimasked, joining us. “Whereis this church?”
Itouched his arm. “Iwant you to see it.Look.”
Heturned his head, and his eyes flared. “How…”
“Later,”Gabrielsaid. “Geteveryone inside.Rue, we need to bring the veil down for the others.”
Thedoor to the church opened, andJilyanaappeared, relief etched all over her face.Hergaze locked with mine, and she beamed before searching the crowd.
Shewas looking forShem.
Myheart sank, andIturned away.Breakingthe news to her would have to wait a few moments.Ihad reapers whose eyes needed to be opened and beyond that, in the shadows, lurkedKabieland the devolved.Ineeded to speak to them too.
“I’lltell her,”Bastiansaid. “Yousort the reapers and speak toKabiel.”
Iloved how he was on the same wavelength as me.
Hekissed my forehead and broke away, heading to the gate and the church, whereJilyanawaited with her hand on her chest.
Sheknew.
Shealready knew.
* * *
Beeinsistedon coming with me to speak toKabielwhile everyone else went into the church.
Thedevolved watchers were hidden in the forest on the other side of the road across from the church, butKabielstood in the moonlight waiting for us.Helooked taller out here in the open—over seven feet off the ground, his body held aloft by his spider legs.Helowered himself asIapproached, legs contracting like pistons.Theusual shudder that went through me at the sight of his arachnid form was absent.Numbedby everything that had happened.
Beegrabbed my hand to stall me.
“It’sokay.Kabielwon’t hurt me.”
Shelooked wary but released me and trailed behind asIbridged the distance between me and the watcher.
Hisshadow fell over me, and he crouched further, tucking in his chin to look down at me. “It’sbeen a long time sinceIwas here.”
“You’llstay in the woods for now.Iknow you guys are fueled up with celestial power, but aside from the fact that it’ll be cramped inside,Idon’t think it’s a good idea for you to be so close to people.”
Hismouth twisted in a wry smile. “Iagree.Butyou need not worry.Wecannot enter.Wecan barely approach.Thechurch wards off monsters.Andeven with the gift you have given us, we are still more monster than watcher.”
Sothe celestials were blind to this place and monsters could see it but not approach it.
“Whyis this place special?”Beeasked.
Kabielturned his attention to her. “Wedo not know, and although we attempted to understand it, we failed to do so.Maybeyou will discover something we missed.”
Ididn’t have time for this. “Idon’t care about the damn church and its mystery.Aslong as it keeps my people safe, it can keep its secrets.”
Kabiellet out a ragged sigh. “You’rein pain.Angry.I’msorry we were too late in finding you.”
Thehollow pit inside me yawned wider, threatening to swallow me.Iexhaled and looked away, not wanting to see the sympathy in his eyes.
“Idoubt there was much you could have done,”Beesaid. “Michaelcame with a mission.TheDominionpowered him up for it.Idoubt anyone could have stopped him.”
“Agreat light was extinguished today,”Kabielsaid softly. “Itsabsence will be felt for eternity.”
Mythroat pinched painfully asIforced myself to look at him again. “We’llfinish what he started.I’mgoing to try to get a lock on the relic starting tomorrow.”
