by Lan Chan
“Because soul bombs are unpredictable. If one goes off unexpectedly, nobody knows what might happen. They can’t rule a dimension that’s breaking down.”
“Why does it matter?” Declan demanded. “We need to do something to protect them.”
Dorian nodded his head in agreement. “That’s exactly what Buchanan is hoping for. Think about it. Hawaii, Dubai, and Bristol. None of them are locations close to a supernatural stronghold.”
“Divide and conquer,” Jacqueline agreed. “We don’t have the resources to protect every corner of the human world and they know it.”
“Then go public,” Declan pressed. “Allow the humans to protect themselves.”
“How?” Victoria asked. “Guns don’t do anything to demons except irritate them. We tell the humans, and they’ll panic. Demons love the taste of fear.”
“What do you want us to do instead? Sit around and wait for this Jacob Buchanan to line up his next massacre? The only reason we knew about them at all is because of Alessia’s dream. Which in itself is dangerous. She almost destroyed the dor –”
Jacqueline cleared her throat tersely. But it was too late. “I almost did what?”
Declan kept going despite being stared down by at least three supernaturals. His eyes shone with fervent rage. “You almost transfused the dorms of the Academy into the Ley dimension! You weren’t even conscious! This is an unacceptable risk to ask humans to take because you don’t keep control of your adversaries.”
My mouth parted as my brain fled into memory, trying to figure out when I’d lost control like that. I hadn’t realised I’d whimpered until the bond lashed out in a whip that kept Kai plastered to the wall so he wouldn’t throttle Declan. To a casual onlooker, nothing in his physical demeanour had changed. Dorian’s were the only emotions that made themselves evident in the gold rolling over his eyes.
“You think this is so easy?” the shifter asked the human.
“I think you’re in denial. There’s no more time for debate. We’re the ones dying out there.”
Nora let out a sigh. “Why don’t we all take a breath?”
Declan’s disbelief was palpable. “We’ve been quiet for too long.”
“Have you not seen how your other human is adjusting to this world?” Ivan asked. Had he even bothered to learn Emily’s name? I suspect not. He pointed a finger at me. “Alessia and her grandmother are the exception. Most humans take years to accept what we are. Your girl is on the verge of hysteria most of the time. That’s the kind of fear that turns into a pact with a demon for protection and power. You think this is bad, imagine what will happen when you humans turn on each other.”
“At least we will do it with the full knowledge of our actions!”
“In this instance, ignorance might be bliss.”
Angus lifted his hand to stop their argument. “The point is moot. We have secured the sites and will continue posting guards to protect the humans.” He regarded Declan coldly. “We have no authority to stop you should you wish to go public. But from experience, I would caution you against it. If you decide to anyway, we won’t have the manpower to safeguard the whole human population.”
Declan’s already-strained jaw muscles contracted but he said nothing more. That was the difference between the elite guard and the Council. The latter wanted control. Angus didn’t give a damn about anything but his job. If the humans wanted in on the knowledge of demons, then he wouldn’t stop them. But the fact remained that we didn’t have enough resources to cover ourselves let alone the billions of humans.
Declan’s mute disbelief didn’t last long. He tried for another angle. “What about the blade?”
“What blade?” Before I could even finish the question, my mind brought up the memory of me grabbing Jacob’s blade from him. “That was real?”
Jacqueline opened the safe behind her painting and produced an iron box about a foot long. She set the box on her desk and unlocked it. Before she even produced the blade, a stitch formed in my side. I got up anyway and grabbed it by the handle. In my hands, it looked more like a machete. The workmanship was impeccable. The metal was polished to a shine. It wasn’t the dull shine of rough metal forged together either. The blade seemed infused with starlight. Like tenderly beaten Mithril and rhodium. Upon inspection, there were words in a foreign language engraved on the blade. My eyes narrowed trying to decipher it when – I dropped the blade onto Jacqueline’s desk and took a step back.
“That’s –”
“Angelical,” Angus finished. “It’s a blade forged in the heavenly realm. Lucifer must have stolen it before he was cast out.”
I backed up a little more and scrubbed at my forehead in a weak attempt to forget the word I’d just read. If I didn’t know it, then I couldn’t use it. Anhiliah. Destroy.
Shit! That seemed about right. I couldn’t retain a lick of a dead language but Angelical stuck to my brain like superglue.
“I take it you won’t be staking a claim to the weapon?” Ivan asked with interest.
“I don’t want anything to do with it.” My legs felt weak. I sat back heavily in my chair.
“Then you won’t mind if the elite guard retains it?”
I chewed on the offer. There was no way I wanted that thing near me. It was a weapon of near destructive power. The last thing I needed was more stuff to make my mind collapse. But did I trust it in somebody else’s possession? They answer was a resounding no. A thought popped into my head.
“Do you need the blade for any particular reason?” I asked.
“No. We’ve tried a divination with it but there have been no results.”
“So, it’s just a weapon?”
“A powerful weapon.” That was what I had bet on. When they no longer needed my presence in the meeting, I excused myself and tucked the blade and box under my arm.
“I’m taking this.” There were no objections. Mostly because I ran out before anyone could react. Back inside the girls’ dorm, I asked the MirrorNet for directions to Emily’s room. I figured she was one of the stay-indoors types. The hunch proved fruitful.
Her mouth formed a perfectly round O when she opened the door. Her attention shifted to the blade in its box. She paled. In hindsight, why didn’t I close the lid?
“I have something for you.” I shoved the box at her.
Emily whimpered and backed into her room. There was so much white in here they could have filmed a bleach commercial. She had no roommate. Good call.
Her legs hit the bed in her haste to get away from me. She almost stumbled but collapsed on the bed instead. “Please stop brandishing that thing.”
“Listen.” I dumped the box onto her lap. “This is a blade forged in the heavenly realm. It’s just about the most powerful weapon besides an angel blade. And it hurt me. A lot. I know you’re scared of me. I know you’re scared, period. Take it. Protect yourself. That’s the only way you’re ever going to feel safe again.”
“I – I don’t know how to use it.”
“Then you’re in the right place to learn.” She grew quiet. Running a finger carefully along the hilt, she breathed out slowly.
“Okay.” Somewhere, there were pigs flying in the air. “Thank you.”
Say what you would about humans, but we were good at adapting.
27
Word got around that yet another human student was now in possession of a weapon forged in another realm. Unsurprisingly, I was summoned to Jacqueline’s office. “I’m in here so much I could take your job,” I mentioned to Alex.
He cleared his throat harshly. “Not exactly something to be proud of.” He swept his arm across the mountains of papers on his desk. “Be my guest! The complaints pile is especially invigorating.”
I blanched, just like he knew I would. Thankfully, Jacqueline’s door opened. She bade me inside with a flick of her hand. As I took my customary seat opposite her, the justification was already on my tongue.
“She has to be able to defend herself.” I lau
nched right into it.
Jacqueline’s brows almost touched the ceiling. “We can teach her self-defence with less devastating weapons.”
“That’ll take ages. She’s scared of everything. Maybe having the blade will help her feel safer.”
“Maybe she’ll accidentally hurt herself or somebody else.”
I snorted. “I bet she’s just shoved it under her bed. At the very least, I’m sure Declan is happy with my choice.”
Jacqueline’s lips twisted. She scratched the side of her nose as a distraction. “I have to admit, Emily’s adjustment period has been distressing for all parties concerned. Declan continues to push for unveiling our presence, but Emily’s progress has put a spanner in the works. We just don’t have the time or resources to hold humanity’s hand while they come to terms with our existence. Not with the looming threat of war.”
“If they come to terms with it at all. We tend to try and destroy things that scare us.”
She nodded. “It’s instinctual. Fight or flight. The Human League believes chaos is better than ignorance. And there will be chaos.”
I wracked my brain for a titbit that I’d learned in Magical History. “Wasn’t there a trial revealing way back when?”
“There certainly was. The Council back then thought we might be able to start slow with sorceresses gifted in natural magic. You remember how that turned out?”
“Witch hunts and burning at the stake.”
“That’s right. I think Declan was hoping for Emily’s integration to go more smoothly. Her ability to withstand magical compulsion is an absolute game changer for humanity. It’s just unfortunate that she’s so meek.”
I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “We lucked out then. Imagine if she was like me but with her power.”
Jacqueline didn’t try to hide her agreement. “Good point.” She brushed her hand through her soft wave of hair. “That doesn’t change the fact that she’s not equipped to wield that blade.”
“Maybe not. But I bet people will think twice about attacking her.”
“I should think not. At least not within Academy grounds.”
“She’s not going to be here forever,” I reminded her. “And I bet there are supernaturals who are a little apprehensive about the thought of a human who is impervious to their powers. Isn’t that why you’ve got Tyler posted here and the other guards have been doubled? It’s not just for our safety.”
Jacqueline’s blue eyes feathered over me, sharpening as they took in my unwavering stare. She smiled. “You’ve come such a long way, Lex.” She ran a hand tenderly across the ornate desk. “Maybe one day, when I’m ready, this place won’t need my guardianship.”
My heart kicked at the thought. Bloodline Academy without Jacqueline? It was unthinkable. “I’ll have to make arrangements for Emily’s training.” She massaged her brow. “There are getting to be too many students who need extra-curricular support. Between you and Sophie –”
“Sophie?”
She smiled fondly. “It’s taken seven years and an obstinate best friend, but Sophie is finally starting to shed the fear that has held her back. Professor McKenna reports that Sophie’s alchemy will overshadow our curriculum by the end of the semester. And now Emily needs further development.”
“I bet you’re starting to regret opening the doors to low witches!”
She pierced me with her steeliest glare. “Not for a second.” And then she paused. “Though I don’t know how I’m going to squeeze more resources from the board.” I left her to ponder the alternatives and speed walked to Supernatural Sex Ed.
I’d taken to calling it that in my head and now I couldn’t shake the title. When I stepped into the room, there was a huddle in the back corner where Isla usually held court with Emily and the Evil Three. Half the class were grilling Emily about her heavenly blade while Isla acted as a body shield, not allowing anybody too close. I hated to admit it, but one day, Isla would probably make an excellent bodyguard.
“Can I touch it?” I heard James say. My curiosity morphed into alarm. Emily’s soft voice was barely audible over the excitement of the group.
“I don’t think I’m supposed to let anyone near it,” Emily said. “At least that’s what Malachi told me.” I didn’t need to see her face to know it was flushed.
Diana poked me in the cheek when I grabbed the seat beside her. “Just so you know,” she said, “you’re emitting a death glare.”
I relaxed my features. “I am not!”
“You so are,” Sophie added as she took her own seat.
“This is how I always look!”
“Uh huh.” Diana tapped on the cover of the textbook on her desk. “It’s actually pretty timely. I think we’re onto the chapter about bonds and mating links.”
I was groaning when Doctor Thorne happened to walk into the room.
“Take your seats, please,” Doctor Thorne ordered. “The blade won’t just disappear. You can play with it all you like after class.”
Several students moaned but they followed orders. Emily gave me a small smile before replacing the blade in a hip holster strapped to her side. It was an odd fashion choice against her white blouse and ankle-length skirt, but she didn’t seem to mind. Neither did I if it meant she would stop cowering in my presence.
“Some of you might have already read ahead to this lesson,” Doctor Throne said. “Today we will be discussing Nephilim bonds and shifter mating links.” It was a gargantuan effort not to react in any way. I stared straight ahead at a spot on the wall behind Doctor Thorne’s back. “I know this is a topic that is very close to home so I want to reiterate that we will be speaking generally about these phenomena. I don’t want to hear any hypotheticals about anyone we know.”
There was a general groan. “Aww,” Sasha said. He leaned forward to speak directly in my ear. “I was looking forward to giving you so much shit!”
I tried to slap him, but he shrank back, his movement a blur. As if they didn’t give me enough shit anyway.
“Miss Pierce,” Doctor Thorne said. “What’s the difference between a Nephilim bond and a shifter mating link?”
Diana shuffled in her seat. Her gaze flicked to the textbook like she was drawing the answer from it psychically. Dwarves possessed no innate psychic magic, but the sight of the book seemed to trigger her recall.
“A shifter mating link occurs when a shifter finds their true mate. It is borne of total surrender to the other person. An acceptance that their fates are aligned. The link gives the mated pair undocumented powers that are different for everyone.” She scratched at her wrist. “Because of this, a true link is rare. Most shifters never find their true mates. Their long lives coupled with the war have meant that the balance has been displaced. Often, they choose to mate with someone they care about for love.”
“What’s the difference?” Doctor Thorne pressed.
“Love is love,” Diana said, in a reedy voice I’d never heard before. “But it isn’t the same as a mate. The mating link isn’t about reason or logic. It is all-consuming for a shifter and can make them do unreasonable things not normally acceptable.” I glanced at her softened features and it occurred to me that behind her tough exterior, she was a bit romantic. That thought made me smile until something cold slithered across my arms. Tension vibrated in the air around me as the shifters in the room became uneasy at Diana’s assessment of their future chances of finding their mate.
“Hey!” Diana snapped. “Don’t blame the messenger!”
“And the Nephilim bond,” Doctor Thorne asked.
“A Nephilim bond doesn’t have to involve any feelings at all,” Diana continued. “The Nephilim have traded in mutually beneficial bonds since the time of their making. It’s one way they can ensure their bloodlines remain viable.”
“Why do they do that?” Doctor Thorne threw this out to the room. James jumped on it straight away.
“Because the bond offers more than just a familial connection,” he said in a rush. “
It provides an exchange of power.”
“How so?” Doctor Thorne asked.
“Each line of Nephilim is gifted with powers,” he said. “Strength from Michael, healing from Raphael, Foresight and intelligence from Uriel, and diplomacy and control of the natural world from Ariel. If a Nephilim of Michael’s line bonds with one of Ariel’s line, they both grow in strength. This is why our kind wish for Malachi to bond with Chanel –”
Doctor Thorne raised a hand to cut him off. “What did I say at the beginning of class?”
James thumped his desk with his fist. “We can’t have a discussion about Nephilim bonds without addressing the biggest issue to ever affect Nephilim history! That’s just negligence. This is supposed to be a serious class.” He pointed right at me. “It’s not our problem if it makes her uneasy. Nobody asked her to butt into our affairs.”
I grabbed Dev by the arm before he could leap at James. He was sitting in the desk behind me. Dev’s eyes were ringed in beaten gold. The same vibrating rage sloughed off my back from where Trey was growling softly. The other shifters in the room picked up the scent of aggression, their lips pulling back to reveal suddenly sharpened teeth. I might not be their friend or their favourite person, but they didn’t make the same cold distinction between the mating link and the bond that the Nephilim did. To them, it was the same thing. And James was trying to mess with mine. Every shifter in the room was conditioned to defend the link with their life. I felt both humbled and sad for them that they might never find their mate. The potential loss made them dangerous.
“It’s fine,” I said, still holding Dev’s increasingly muscular arm. “He’s right.”
Doctor Thorne stood frozen, caught between his concern for me and his duty to teach the class to the best of his ability. I shoved at Dev’s chest to get him to sit back down. My shoulder ached from the effort.
Sophie flipped the pages of her textbook urgently. She found the chapter about the bond and scanned it. “But it says here that the bond is amplified if there are feelings involved.”
“Feelings can grow where there weren’t any,” James shot back. “Especially if the bond is with Chanelle Laurent!”