Page 82 of When Monsters Rise
Ihad people to organize, andIneeded to knock heads with the watchers,Gabriel, and the reapers to formulate a plan.
Thewoman who looked back at me from the bathroom mirror was pale and haggard looking.Thiswasn’t the face of a leader.Notthe face of authority my people needed.
Isplashed cold water on my face and patted it dry with my sleeve.Better.Okay.
Imade it to the foot of the narrow staircase that led to the upper floor—one of three staircases in the church—when the sound of voices had me slowing my pace.
“Didyou seeMichael’spower?TheDominiongave him that.Theygifted it to him, and he was whole.Weshould have never listened toShem.Weshould have thrown ourselves on the mercy of theGoldenCity.”
Irecognized the nasal pitched voice of one ofBaraqel’sscouts,Menuqel.
“There’sstill time,” another scout namedCarielsaid. “Baraqelwanted this, andShemconvinced him otherwise.Wecan do it now.Wecan go.”
“Wehave no bargaining chip.”
“Wehave the humans.Theywant humans,”Carielsaid.
“Idon’t know…”
“Doyou want to devolve?BecausewithShemgone, that’s what will happen.”
Icould have stepped out and corrected them.Toldthem that there was hope.Butthese bastards didn’t deserve that.
No.Iknew exactly what they deserved.
* * *
Thechurch wasa three-story affair with several rooms on each floor and three bathrooms.Oncemy people settled in their rooms, and the main chamber with the pews was free,Icalled a meeting with the watchers and the reapers.JilyanaandBeesat at the back of the room withBastian.
“Rue, canIhave a word quickly?”Gabrielasked.
Iwanted to get on with my plan, but he looked like he had something important on his mind. “Sure.”Westepped to one side, away from the main group. “What’sup?”
“Idon’t think you should make your ability common knowledge.”
“Myability?”
Heexhaled and leaned in to whisper. “Thatyou can fix the relic.”
Ididn’t plan to make it common knowledge, especially after whatI’djust overheard, butIneeded to know why he didn’t want me to spill the beans. “Whynot?”
“BecauseI’mnot sure you can trust everyone here.Especiallynot the djinn.”
“Jilyanasaved my life.”
“Iknow, andImight be wrong, butIstrongly advise that we err on the side of caution.Giveit a few days at least.Wait.It’swhatShemwould want.”
Angerignited in my chest. “Howthe fuck do you know whatShemwould want in this situation?It’snot like he knew that he was going to…”Oh…Myearlier suspicion surged to the forefront of my mind as his expression clouded. “Heknew…”
“Yes.Ididn’t want to tell you like this.Iwas hoping to speak to you tomorrow after you’d rested, but…Yes, he knew.Heknew they’d keep chasing him, so he gave himself to them to end their pursuit.Hesacrificed himself so that theDominionwould leave you alone.”
Thebarbed ball of emotion inside me swelled, pricking at my senses and bringing tears to my eyes.No.Nothere.Notnow.
“Heasked me to look out for you,”Gabrielsaid.
“Youlet him do it?Youlet him die?”Myeyes burned with rage asIsettled my gaze onGabriel. “Whydidn’t you stop him?”Myvoice was a strangled whisper when allIwanted to do was scream.
“BecauseIknew he wouldn’t have let me, and because…becauseIknew it was the right call.”
