Bonewhite 1.0

[MrsCarterRivera]

Chapter One

The brick that flew within inches from my head and shattered on impact should have been warning enough, and if it wasn’t part of the family business, I’d honestly wonder how I always seemed to find myself in these ridiculous situations.
(Reworking beginning haha >\> )

My heart pounded like a drumbeat as sweat beaded the nape of my neck. The muscles in my back cried out in protest, but I didn’t dare leave my spot, pressed flat against the wall. It didn’t seem to matter how many of these I attended, they never seemed to get easier to handle. Adrenalin coursed through my body, knees nearly buckling with the urge to run. But I steadied my breathing and held sure.
Across the room, I could see Remi. He was crouched, gaze fixed intently ahead, so still he could have been a statue. His feathered wings were tucked close into his back, blonde hair tousled, a grim set to his mouth. Whatever he was staring at, I couldn’t see.
We’d received the report last night. Two teenage boys had broken into the ramshackle house and had been chased out barely ten minutes later, terrified for their lives. Remi and I had arrived first thing this morning and had only been in the abandoned house for a few minutes when the light fixings began to flicker. And the smell...
“Diannah!” I heard Remi shout my name and threw myself to the right. A heartbeat later, a brick shattered against the wall, exactly where my head had been. The cackling laugh that followed made the hairs on the back of my neck rise. I scrambled to my feet just as Remi reached me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I winced, catching sight of blood running down my wrist. “It’s just a scratch.”
“Shall I lick it for you, human?” sneered a nasally voice behind us. Remi instantly forced me behind him, wings flaring. The poltergeist, floating up by the ceiling, leered down at us. “Shall I /suck/ it?” Its face was grotesquely long, its mouth too wide, its eyes too small and close together. It was almost translucent and I could see the brickwork through its misty body. I took a step back. “Or shall your Guardian?” It jerked its head towards Remi. “I would love to taste him. Angels always taste the best.” It cackled again, then disappeared. Remi cursed.
“It’s playing with us.”
“Then, we have to play smarter,” I muttered. “I’ll go downstairs. Try and lure it to the entrance.” Remi looked uncertain, but I turned before he could protest. The wooden boards creaked beneath my feet with every step that I took, and I held the shaky bannister as I made my way back down. I could smell it. A horrible sulphuric smell that caught in the back of my throat and made my eyes water. The sooner we caught this thing, the better.
I didn’t have long. Poltergeists worked on bursts of energy and I knew I only had a short amount of time until it gathered enough strength to attack again. I hit the last few steps and hurried into the hall, footsteps littering in the dust across the bare floor. I could feel Remi around me, his protection like a warm blanket, and felt some of the tension ease from my shoulders; I’d always be safe with my Guardian around. I reached the front door, then turned and sat down, back against the wood. I shut my eyes and rested my hands on my knees and quietly began to murmur.
“/WHAT IS HER CHANT?/“
I felt the tremors through the floor beneath me, coming up through the very foundations. The walls began to shudder and tremble, dust falling like snow. I kept murmuring my prayer, envisioning the Light coming in through my crown, into my body, running down my arms until I felt my hands growing warm.
“Bitch.”
The word in my ear made me jump but I kept my eyes squeezed shut, kept murmuring, kept envisioning. I felt the hairs on my arms raise as the poltergeist pressed closer.
“Whore. Bitch.” A sly laugh. “I will come again and again and again. We will keep doing this for eternity.”
“Diannah!” I heard Remi’s call, but it sounded distance and echo-y.
“Again and again and again,” taunted the poltergeist. “And /again/.”
I wasn’t expecting the impact. It felt like a black of ice colliding with the side of my face, cracking my neck to the side, my eyes flying open, the cry escaping before I could stop it. My palms scraped the wood as I caught myself. The room was empty. “Remi?”
No answer.
I shut my eyes again and resumed by prayer. I felt my crown buzz as it absorbed the Light, felt it fire through my nerve-endings, setting each one alight. My hands grew warmer and warmer... I stood. My hands glowed white. “Remi?” My cheekbone throbbed and I could already feel a bruise forming as I took an unsteady step forward.
Then, Remi slammed through the ceiling, landing with a thud right at my feet. He was wrestling what looked like a dark storm cloud, unable to get a proper grip -
I thrust out my hands, palms facing the poltergeist, two balls of Light erupting. For the first time, a look of terror passed the poltergeist’s features before the balls collided with its midriff, sending it hurtling backwards. The Light solidified it and the entity crashed into the wall and slumped. Remi stalked towards it, wings outstretched and a fierce anger burning in his eyes.
“The Dark God sees and hears everything,” it spat. I followed behind Remi, looking down on it. “The Dark God /knows/. And he creates. Wait!” It said suddenly, cowering, as Remi raised a hand. “A bargain. I can tell you many things. If you let me free.” Remi scoffed. “I see too. I see in places you Guardians cannot go. I see-“
“I see a disgusting entity trying to save its own skin,” Remi replied coldly.
“Skin?!” The poltergeist suddenly cackled and lurched against the bindings of Light. “Disgusting creatures have skin and they shit like animals.” It spat towards me, or at least tried to. “Bitch.”
“I’m getting bored,” I said, folding my arms over my chest. Remi smirked at me, a ball of violet Light already growing in his palm. The poltergeist lurched again.
“Wait! I speak no lies. Lycus awaits to strike. He creates out of the darkness.” It wheezed. “There’s a divide in the Realm of the Most High. A crack.”
Remi rolled his eyes and I could sense his patience waning. I glared down at the poltergeist. “Why are you telling us this?” I felt the hatred in its stare and squared my shoulders.
“A deal. You must let me go. I speak no lies.”
“We didn’t agree to a deal,” Remi replied. “And you just like hearing yourself talk.” Because the poltergeist had a chance to respond, Remi raised his hand again; soft pink Light began to flow from his palm, encircling the poltergeist who began to strain and squeal. It began to fade away, its squeals going quieter until the Light and the poltergeist faded altogether... The hallway suddenly felt lighter and more open. I exhaled, shoulders sagging as I looked up at Remi.
“It’s gone?” Remi nodded, but he was still staring at the spot it had been, a crease in his brow. “Do you think it was telling the truth?”
“... No. They’ll say anything not to be taken. I doubt a lowly creature like that would have any access to Lycus’ plots. He may be the God of All That Is Dark, but he’s still simply that. A God. I don’t think he’s left his lair in over a millennia.” Together, we turned and left the house. DESC STREET. My car was waiting where I’d parked it by the curb and I stopped by the driver side door. “How’s your face?” Remi asked.
“It’ll heal,” I replied, leaning down to unlock the car door; the last thing I wanted was for someone to see me talking to myself. Remi nodded.
“I’m going to take a detour to the Astral. I’ll see you when you get home.” I nodded, watching him vanish out of sight. /Like stepping through a door/, he’d once told me. I climbed into my car, taking a last look at the house before pulling away. Dealing with poltergeists always freaked me out, they were so much worse than your average Lost Soul. More cunning and devious than any Spirit I’d dealt with in the past.
The side of my face was aching by the time I turned into the gates which led to Bonewhite Cottage. Though it was not so much of a cottage than an entire estate. I pulled it on the gravel outside the large ten-bedroomed manor and cut the engine. I’d been born and raised here, as had my father and his father and /his/ father before that. It had been built in the 1700s by one of my ancestors and had remained in the family ever since. And for good reason. The estate was set above the Soul Spring, one of only a handful around the world, and the source of my family’s business.
Climbing out the car, I slammed the door and made my way inside, trainers slipping against the stone. I’d always loved it here. From the old wooden beams that ran across the ceiling in my bedroom to the hidden pantry behind the main pantry, to the endless gardens that flowed out the back and stretched as far as the eye could see.
The front door was made of wood so old, all the wood taken from the nearby woodland hundreds of years ago, the handle a wrought-iron knocker. I hefted he door open, stepping into an expansive hallway. The woods were wood all the way through, a forest green runner laid out along the hall. A staircase to my left led to the upper levels and several doors led off from the hall. I took the one closest on my right.
My mum was in the kitchen when I walked in, pinning bunting up at the window. She was balanced on a chair, her Guardian, Fleur, on one side of her and the housekeeper, Mrs Tabitha, on the other. Her blonde hair was pulled into an untidy bun, wisps hanging around her face. She glanced at me over her shoulder as I walked in, wincing when she caught sight of my face. “That looks painful.”
“You need ice!” Fleur sang from where she was balanced on one leg on a stool. Fleur was my mother’s Guardian Angel and the form she’d chosen was that of a little girl. She looked to be about five or six with unruly blonde curls and the greenest eyes I’d ever seen. Her tongue jutted in concentration as she wobbled slightly, though her small white wings were flared for balance.
On Midsummer each year, the annual Shepherd Gathering was held, each one held in a different Sacred Space. Last year, we’d visited ?? and next year it would be held in France, at the home of my mother’s family. It was held on Midsummer because it was the only day of the year where the Light was powerful enough to protect the Springs and grant the Shepherd families a much needed day off. I only ever remember it being held here once before at Bonewhite Cottage, but I’d been far too young to remember much. They’d always been a lot of fun though.
The anxiety had only set in as I’d gotten older and realised exactly what these Gatherings were all about. Mum made her way to the freezer and open the door, rummaging around for an ice pack. Locating one in the bottom drawer, she shut the door and found a towel to wrap it in. She handed it to me. “It will get easier. You need to put more effort into your training though. You need to be able to draw your Light quicker.”
“I know,” I mumbled as I took a seat at the table, ice pack pressed to my cheek. Truthfully, I was having serious doubts as to whether I’d make it as a Shepherd at all. I watched Fleur balancing for a moment. “Where’s Dad?”
“Downstairs, on duty.”
“I better let him know how it went.” Maybe he’d have some idea to what the poltergeist could have meant as well. Despite what Remi said, I couldn’t help but fear there was some inkling of truth behind the words. I shoved the ice pack into the freezer as I passed them.
There was a wooden door that led off from the kitchen, down into the basement. This was where we housed the washing machine and tumble drier, but it was the large stone door against the back wall which I made my way towards. Nobody knew about this door. Well, Oli did, but nobody else outside the family. It wasn't as if we ever got guests that weren't fellow Shepherd's or Spirits, as my parents had always ensured to keep themselves isolated. I'd always considered myself lucky that they'd let me best friend Oli at all.
Opening the stone door, the ancient iron ring creaking in my hand, I stepped through into the stone stairwell. It had literally been etched out of the bedrock itself, heading down into the darkness below. I gripped the cold metal rail as I descended. According to my dad, it had been nothing but a frayed old rope when he'd been a child. There was a faint blue glow at the bottom of the stone steps, which grew brighter as I rounded into the chamber.
The chamber had been carved from the very earth itself. It was large (how big?) DESC. On the floor in the centre was a huge circular stone slab, which covered a huge circular hole in the ground glowing the most radiant blue light. Beneath the hole was the Soul Stream, a spiritual river that carried passed souls around the world. The hole itself was the Soul Spring and as far as I knew, they'd been around for as long as the Earth itself. Our job as Shepherds was to stop Spirits using these Springs to wander, and to stop Darker beings from stealing Souls and using them to create demons.
My dad, Willis, had just finished heaving the great slab back across the Spring, blocking out the blue glow entirely and leaving the room a soft orange from the torches burning on the walls. His Guardian, Pim, was with him, legs set apart and arms crossed as he stared at the stone slab. He was frowning and I wondered if they'd seen something in there. If they had, Dad didn't say. He stood up, dusting his hands on his thighs and flashing me an easy smile. "DeeDee. How did the catch go?" He nodded at her eye as he made his way to the table at the back. "Ouch."
I chuckled, probing the swell beneath my eye. "He was vicious, that was for sure. But we dealt with it."
"Another year and you'll be a fully-fledged Shepherdess," he smiled, marking something down in his ledger and turning back to face me. (info on fully-sledged Shepherd means)
"It... said something, though," I continued on and felt both sets of eyes on me. "Remi said he was sure it was nothing but..."
"What did it say?" Pim's look was searching and I felt myself shift on the spot. Of all the Guardians, I'd always found Pim the most intimidating. He was large, easily a foot and a half taller than my Dad, who wasn't short by any means. And his wingspan was a lot bigger than the other angels as well. And his wings... I knew all Guardians chose their wings, that they were unique to the personality of each Soul, but unlike the feathers of every shape, size and colour I was used to, Pim's seemed to be made from bronze metal, the feathers sharp and unyielding; I'd always found him terrifyingly fascinating as a child and didn't say a single word to him until I was at least twelve.
"It said... It said the God of Death sees and hears everything. It said he 'creates out of darkness'. It said..." I frowned, feeling an icy chill race down my spine as I recalled its grotesque features. "It said there was a divide in the Realm of the Most High. "I noticed Pim and my Dad exchange a glance and tensed. "What?" My eyes strayed towards the slab and I wondered if they'd perhaps seen something -
"What did Remi say?" Pim asked, his wings already stretching. I felt my cheeks redden, as if I'd come across some information I shouldn't have.
"He said it was saying anything to save its own skin."
"Where is he now?"
"The Astral." Pim nodded and stepped back into nothingness. I turned to Dad. "What's going on?" I saw the way his mouth tightened and felt uncertainty turn in the pit of my stomach. "Dad?"
"There's been a disturbance in the Stream. I..." He ran a hand through his thinning brown hair. "The best way I can describe it is... air bubbles. There are air bubbles in the Stream and we're trying to figure out what's causing it."
"Do you think the poltergeist was telling the truth?" And what did it mean for the rest of them? Dad had already turned away, grabbing one of his newly-created devices from the table. "What happens if the Most High separate?"
"I don't know." Dad moved close, reaching to place a heavy hand on my shoulder. I tried to fix the worry on my face but knew he could read it anyway. "I don't want you to worry. You're nearly done with college and we've got the Gathering in a few days... Whatever's happening, Pim will find out. He and Anju will decide a plan. We'll figure out what to do from there."
"Do you think we should be telling them?" I found myself asking. "The other Shepherds? Perhaps they've noticed something too?"
"It will be brought up, for sure," Dad replied gravely. He reached out to touch my chin. "Please don't worry. The Guardians will have a better idea than we do." I watched as he turned and headed for the stone stairs, his fading steps echoing across the stone as he disappeared upstairs. I looked back at the stone slab, crossing the chamber towards it. I looked at the old symbols etched into the edge, all the way around, like a giant clock. In the centre was a ??, let my fingers trail the indents. I felt a tug in my gut, a flicker beneath my ribs which told me something wasn't right.
Something didn't feel right at all.

--

I took my time showering and mulling over the day. I couldn't come to anymore conclusions about the poltergeist of his cryptic words, admitting defeat and knowing I'd have to wait for news from either Pim or Remi. My mind drifted to the upcoming Gathering. In all truth, it was a glorified Debutante Ball for the spiritually-gifted. Shepherds were mostly expected to marry other Shepherds, for the combined [reasons]. And my Mum had been dropping more than enough hints about this. My parents had both met at a Gathering when Marcia had been eighteen and Willis twenty. It had been love at first sight apparently, and I'd come along two years later.
After I'd changed, I crawled into bed and tried to push away the nervousness that seemed to claw at my insides whenever I thought about the Gathering. And about who might be there. Remi still hadn't returned and while that wasn't unusual, it didn't fill me with reassurances.
And before I fell asleep, the last thing I saw was that poltergeist's face.

[MrsCarterRivera]

Chapter Two

I was bleary-eyed when I met with my best friend the next morning. Remi had done a detour to the Astral, letting me know he’d be back before I left, so I’d made my way inside to order while I waited for her.
It was barely eight and I was sitting at the cafe's outdoor table with a scalding latte to hand when Olivia Benson rocked up in her CAR TYPE? Despite my exhaustion from a fresh plague of nightmares, I couldn't help but smile. Oli cut the engine, still singing at the top of her voice even as the music died away. She climbed out the car, earning more than a few looks as she danced around it and came to greet me.
"It's Friday, motherfucker!"
"It's 8am," I reminded her, laughing when Oli wrinkled her nose. Her dark chocolatey locks were pulled into two space buns, soft tendrils curling from them. She had a pair of pink love heart glasses perched on her head and she was wearing her favourite lime green hoody, the darker green bug-eyed alien on the front faded from many washes. Her look was finished off with a pair of blue jeans and a black pair of trainers. Her Guardian was Animal as opposed to Angel, and Liana came in the form of a small red squirrel, currently perched on her shoulder. Oli had been my best friend since primary school. It had been my first experience around 'normal' people and I'd been utterly silent for my first week, too afraid to speak to anybody, or their Guardians. Remi had been there, of course, his form the same age as me. He'd always kept the same age as me. Had been as annoying as a brother at times too.
Lucky for me, Oli didn’t befriend so much as adopt me as her sister the day we met. She’d caught me whispering urgently to Remi, which of course had just looked like I was having a frantic conversation with myself. She’d hooked her arm around mine and led me off to the colouring table where she’d proceeded to draw several different coloured aliens.
Oli was huge into UFO conspiracies though and I thought her out-of-the-box mindset to life was what had attracted me to her in the first place. Some of my best memories of the past ten years had been UFO-spotting during sleepovers at each other's houses to the hundreds of hours we'd racked up watching UFO hunter videos on YouTube. I wasn't as much a hardcore believer as Oli, but despite the fact she couldn't see Spirit and I could, she had full confidence in everything I told her. Just because I couldn't see extra-terrestrials, didn't mean they weren't there, so I tried to keep my mind as open as hers.
Though, that wasn't the only thing. Remi had once told me that many Souls come to the physical together, to experience together. Oli and I were part of the same Soul Family, as were my Mum and her Guardian Fleur, and Remi, of course. I already knew we'd had many life times together, as I would often get him to recite me stories when I was younger. I used to imagine other children being read Fairy Tales before bed, whereas I'd be regaled with past adventures. All good stories, of course. Remi had never really spoken about bad past experiences, in lives I didn't even recall in this form.
This form. It was always quite strange for me to imagine myself in any other form than just me... Diannah. Diannah Bonewhite, the anxious nail-biter who could talk to ghosts. I understood that our Souls were actually part of a greater aspect, that this life I was living was just costume being donned... But, at the same time, while everything felt so real, it was hard to really understand that. Like I got it, but I didn't.
That's part of the fun, Remi had once told me.
Oli and I made our way into the Library; we liked to get in early before classes started under the pretence of cramming in as much revision as possible. Of course, it always ended up as a pre-lesson chat fest and this morning was no different. "Have you picked out an outfit for the Gathering?" Oli asked as she flung her bag on the desk and slumped into the nearest chair. I grimaced.
"Kind of? I know my Mum's expecting me to make a big effort and wow the next hot young Shepherd, but I don't want to look too eager."
"Or desperate," Oli agreed, sitting forward in her seat as I took the chair across from her. At least I went as far as taking my Literature book out of my bag, even though it remained unopen on the side. "I'm surprised she hasn't already picked one out for you."
I grinned. "Don't. That really wouldn't surprise me."
Oli tilted her head, resting her chin on her palm. "Do you know any of them who might be available?" I thought back to last year's meeting. Not every Shepherding family went every year, depending on location and duties at the time, but majoritively they were big gatherings.
There were Sacred Springs all around the world, which designated families or rogue Shepherds protected throughout the year. Some had been in the family business, like the Bonewhites, for centuries, their power passed down through the generations. Some preferred a more Nomadic lifestyle and might only take up a Spring for a few months to a few decades. Some of the families we knew well, some of the others hardly at all. “There’s a couple. I guess Andrei Orlov might sniff around, but he’s going to be twenty-five this summer... I mean, Mason’s close to my age. He’s from America.”
“So, not much choice at all,” Oli said with a wry grin. “Well, keep me in the loop. I was photos of the dress at all angles and constant updates on the night. All I’ve got is a fun night of studying ahead.”
I laughed. “Deal.” Though I still wished badly she could come, but my parents had been strict on this one. Shepherds only. Even the Guardians wouldn’t be there to stick their noses in. That one single night off for everyone.
Despite my nerves, I couldn’t wait.

—-

Somehow I'd been roped into polishing the silver. I didn't even know we /owned/ silver. Yet, here it all was, amassed on the dining room table like some kind of dragon's hoard. I picked up a silver goblet and inspected the crest engraved on the front. "Since when did we have a family crest?"
Dad gave me a broad smile from where he was stirring hot water into his coffee. "For about three hundred years now? Give or take a couple of decades." I shook my head and set the goblet down.
"Why are we bothering with this again?" I asked, as Mum came back through and set the tub of silver polish on the table with a couple of yellow cloths. "
"If this isn't a special occasion, where we can actually use all this stuff, then why not?" Marcia cast an eye over the assortment of cutlery, plates, goblets and serving platters. "Plus, I want to make a good impression." I tried not to make too much of a fuss as I twisted open the tub and grabbed one of the cloths. If I started now, maybe I'd be done before dinner.
Fleur appeared at my side to watch, the silver reflected in her round blue eyes. Reaching out, she prodded a silver bracelet hidden amongst the cutlery. “You should wear that on the night. It would go lovely with your dress.”
I picked it out from between the forks and angled it into the light overhead. A faint engraving gleamed across the silver band. /Bonewhite family motto or protective prayer/ (to use in later books) It was simple yet elegant and I couldn’t resist slipping it onto my wrist. Fleur beamed.
“Fleur is right, that does look beautiful,” Mum agreed as she passed, flashing me a warm smile. “Take good care of it. Who knows how old that thing is.”
The morning of the Gathering came quickly. Standing in front of my bedroom mirror, I fixed a diamond studded clip into my hair and appraised myself. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I was nervous. I'd been to a Gathering practically every year since I was born, but this time felt different. I knew what was expected on me. I'd be expected to take a partner from a similar background, from one of the families that protected the Sacred Spaces across the world. Not that I had many options out of those families either... We were a dying breed
Fleur came in through my bedroom wall and settled on my bed, swinging her legs as she looked at me. "You look pretty."
"Thank you, Fleur."
"Making an effort?" said another voice and I glanced towards the window where Remi had appeared. He had his hands sunk into his trouser pockets, wings tucked in as he leaned against the wall. I stuck out my tongue and went back to fixing my hair.
"I always make an effort."
"You need to wear your silver earrings," Fleur added sagely. "The ones with the diamonds. They'll match your hairslide." I nodded my thanks before hurrying across to my bedside tble and rifling through the top drawer. I'm sure they were in here somewhere.
"How long do I have?"
"The first guests will arrive just after lunch," Remi informed her. "You have about forty minutes." I nodded again and tried to force away the uncertainty curling in the pit of my stomach. He must have seen the look on my face because he chuckled and reached out to squeeze my shoulder. “You’ll be fine. You’ll have an amazing night.”
“I wish I could come,” Fleur sulked by the door. “I love a party.”
“We’ll be back by dawn,” Remi continued, as he made his way towards the little angel. His eyes met mine and I swore I could see the humour in his eyes. “Have fun.”
Before I could throw the chair cushion at him, they’d both disappeared.

--

The Guardians were gone by the time the first guests arrived at Bonewhite Cottage. Pim and Anju had ben tasked with patrolling the borders, and Remi and Fleur had headed into the Astral for the evening. The Midsummer Gathering was the only night of the year where both Shepherds and Guardians had the night off. Spiritual magic beyond my knowledge, but I made a mental note to ask Remi about it tomorrow.
My grandfather Pierre Moreau, and my aunt, uncle and cousins were the first to arrive, having caught the EuroStar earlier that day. They were followed shortly by the Cathros, who hailed from New York.
Drinks were already being served when the next cluster of Shepherds arrived. Both Russian families, the Orlovs and the Ivanovs, turned up in several taxis, along with the Greens, who’d travelled for over a day, all the way from West Canada. Introductions were made, but I barely had time to greet my old acquaintances when the final family arrived; the Davies and with them, Mason. I made sure to involve myself in a very interesting conversation about a rise in poltergeist activity with my Dad and Mischa Ivanov as my Mum made her way over to greet them; she gave Rita Davies a big kiss to each cheek.
The sun was starting to set beyond the distant treeline. Mrs Tabitha was gathering empty glasses, a happy smile on her face. It must have been a long while since she'd hosted anybody on the estate and her happy mood kept the bulbs burning bright in the chandelier overhead.
I decided it was time to mingle. I took my glass of sparkling wine and began to circle the groups in the room. Music played low, delicate notes that rose just high enough for people to ease comfortable talking without hushing their tones.
Close by, I heard the Americans, Martha Green and her teenage daughter, Shaylin, chatting with a Russian couple I'd yet to get the name of. My ears perked in interest at the topic of choice. "... completed his tenth life. And Efren - that's my Guardian - he said to accomplish such a thing is a rarity, even in the Spirit Realm."
"Why do you think there are so few Grims compared to the Archangels?" The husband in the Russian duo agreed. "I heard the lives are some of the worst a human can experience. And to endure ten in a row without a break?" The man shook his head and knocked back the rest of his drink. "No thank you."
"Is it really that bad?" Shaylin exclaimed, wide-eyed. Her mother nodded.
"Efren said most Souls can't make it past four lives."
I slowed close to them, making out I was admiring the ornaments sat above the mantle.
"It's true," Mischa agreed, his voice rumbling. "I can't imagine the amount of demons that must attempt but never succeed."
"I wonder which territory he'll cover," Shaylin wondered, as did I. I'd only ever met Kerslake, but I'd never dare ask him the process of becoming a Grim Reaper. Mischa opened his mouth, but I missed whatever he said, as at that moment, Mum called out my name. I turned to see her approaching, the Davies family in tow. And wanted nothing more than the ground to swallow me whole.

[MrsCarterRivera]

Chapter Three

I hadn't seen Mason Davies in five years. It had been at the Japanese Gathering in ?? and we'd befriended each other over a shared dislike for sushi. I'd found him especially cute at the time and there was no denying now that he was good-looking, his jaw-line chiselled, nose in seemingly perfect proportion, his teeth white and straight and looking a little something out of a commercial.
Mum was smiling at me in that strained-way of hers and I realised I was yet to say something. I forced a bright smile and shifted closer. "Mason! Hi!" Gods, I sounded so fake and stupid I wanted to crawl into the nearest hole. His eyes took me in with one sweeping look and I noted the approval in his eyes. Oh /Gods/...
"Diannah. It's been a few years." His delicate twang was enough to send heat creeping into my face and my stomach flutter. He reached out to shake my hand. "Nice to finally see you again."
"You've grown into such a beautiful young lady, miss Bonewhite," Rita Davies said, emerging from behind his elbow and I blinked. His parents, right. Rita was surprisingly short compared to the man she'd married and the sons she'd raised. Bernard Davies was an easy six two, his face more lined than when I'd seen him last, pale eyes shadowed beneath his round glasses. Mason was already an inch or two taller than his father, and I guessed Colton wouldn't be far behind; the teenager was lurking behind his dad, attention wholly on his mobile phone.
"Mrs. Davies! Thank you, but you've barely aged a day," I managed to reply, Mum's many years of coaching kicking in. Rita hummed her delight and patted the bright red bun of hair atop her head.
"Now you are kind. You remember my husband, Bernard. And... Colton -" She reached out and grabbed her youngest son by the arm, pulling him to the forefront. Colton scowled, but muttered his greeting. He must have ben about fourteen by now and clearly wanted to be anywhere but here. Rita turned to Mum. "Thank you again for the hospitality. I look forward to this event more than any other."
"As do I," Marcia purred, slipping her arm through Rita's. "Now, have I showed you the vintage wine? You really must have a taste..." And they disappeared, Bernard on his wife's other side and Colton trailing sullenly behind. Mason lingered and I felt his eyes on my face long before I looked at him. My palms were sweating and I tried to give a smile that wasn't such a nervous grimace. I wished Oli was here.
"I can't believe it's been five years," I said unhelpfully. Mason smiled.
"Me either. You... really have changed a lot."
"I hope that's a good thing." I laughed nervously, casting around, suddenly desperate for a drink. Where had I put my glass. Mason's gaze still hadn't left my face.
"You've blossomed," he amended. Sincerely, I realised, and my face grew hotter. Mason finally tore his gaze away and gestured towards the bar. "Shall we get a drink?" I nodded,
"T-Thank you. For the compliment," I remembered to say, as we reached the bottles lined on the bar; Mason reached for two glasses and handed one to me with a smile.
Taking the glass of bubbly, I murmured my thanks and turned to survey the room. Mason joined me, one hand sunk into the pocket of his jeans, lifting the glass with the other to take a sip. "Your home is beautiful, by the way. How long has it been in the family?" Practised words. Formal. I cleared my throat slightly.
"Close to three hundred years, give or take," I said, echoing my dad's earlier words. "It was built by some forbearers of the family and has remained with our line ever since."
Mason pulled his eyes from the angels painted on the ceiling, resembling something you'd see in the Sistine Chapel. "That's pretty cool. We have nothing like this at the ranch."
"Ah, the fabled ranch." I let a smile lift my mouth. "The one I've yet to visit."
"It wasn't my fault you were sick the year we were hosting." He flashed me a grin that had my stomach writhing. "I still saved you a spot though."
I blushed, smiling as I dropped my gaze. "It has been a while, hasn't it?"
"Not touched anymore sushi, I hope?" We both grinned. "Maybe this time I won't be so stupid as to leave without your number," he added and I felt my entire body flush.
"S-Sure," I stammered. "My phone's upstairs, but-"
"Don't worry. I'll remind you before I leave." I nodded again, all my instincts screaming at me to bail. I could barely look him in the eye without my palms sweating.
"I-I'm just going to..." I couldn't even think of a viable excuse as I hurried away into the crowd.
Katia Orlov grabbed my arm as I passed, a bright smile erupting on her face. "Diannah! I've been looking for you." I grinned back as she pulled me into a tight hug. A moment later, I was engulfed by her sister.
"You are looking so well!" Yula's voice was like honey in my ear and she pulled away to admire the dress. "Stunning." The Orlovs hailed from a village in ??, Russia. Along with their older brother Andrei, and their parents Lev and Zoya, they maintained two Springs on their land, which we normally referred to as the Twins. They were the only two Springs in the world that were in such close proximity to each other. I only been there once when I was ten, but Katia and Yula, who were only a couple of years older than me, had taken me under their wing and really made me a part of the family. We normally kept contact via social media, but it was always a great feeling when I got to see them in the flesh.
Katia had wavy blonde hair, quite a few shades lighter than mine. Andrei was the same, both taking after their father. Yula on the other hand had tresses the colour of caramelised chocolate that fell in thick curls that hung loosely over her shoulders and down her back. Even I knew Remi wouldn't have been able to take his eyes off her.
"It's so nice to see you both," I said, as both girls looped their arms through mine and steered me to the drinks table. "I haven't had a chance to speak to Andrei yet."
Katia rolled her eyes. "He's been at your cousin's side all day." That explained everything. My cousins were the children of my mum's older sister, Aunt Noelle and her husband Louis. Lucille was in her late twenties and utterly devastating when it came to looks. Her eyes were as blue as the Arctic ice and held the same chill. Her younger brother Hugo was twenty-five this summer, looked similar in features but was nowhere near as confident as Lucille. He wore circular glasses and normally kept himself buried away with a novel somewhere during occasions like this. I know because sometimes, I hide with him.
And then there was Boone, my youngest cousin, who was about to turn twelve and already trying to show the world how grown up he was. According to him, he was going to be the best Soul Shepherd this world had ever seen. With his confidence, I believed him.
I could see Andrei now, chatting way while Lucille idly scrolled through her phone. Ugh. I'd never really gotten along with her; she's always been far too much older and superior, in her eyes. "Well... Good luck to him!"
Yula pretended to retch. "I hope not. She is most awful woman I have ever met." Her eyes slid to mine. "No offence."
"None taken." All three of us laughed. Between Lucille and Shaylin, I wasn't sure who was more self-obsessed.
"Guess who /has/ been messaging Yula though?" Katia said, a teasing note to her voice; Yula groaned beside me.
"Who? Are they here?"
Katia nodded, grinning widely. "/Jimmy Green/." I couldn't hold back my surprise. Jimmy was a Canadian Shepherd, whose Grandparents protected the only remaining Spring left there. He turned thirty this summer, and while he was genuinely a nice guy, people were often put off by his heavy stutter. He didn't speak much during events like this, and only once he felt comfortable enough with you would you ever have a true conversation with him. But, a good guy none of the less. I wondered how drunk he'd been when he'd messaged her though; like Hugo, confidence wasn't a strong suit and Yula had looks that would make a man weep.
Something I'd seen before too.
"I'm surprised nobody is up in your DMs yet, Diannah," Yula said, a swift change of focus from herself. She narrowed her eyes. "Unless there is something you haven't told us?"
"Honestly, do you ever post anything on socials?" Katia groaned. "We never know what you're up to."
"Nothing exciting, really," I admitted. I'd been so focused on my studies that the most social time I was getting right now were the times Oli could drag me to the milkshake shop. "And no. Nobody is sliding into my DMs, or my messages for that matter." But, even as I spoke, my eyes found Mason across the room. Chatting with his younger brother, shoving his shoulder teasingly; Colton scowled and batted him back. Both sisters followed my gaze.
"Oh?" Katia purred.
"Mason Davies?" Yula batted her thick black lashes. "I saw you both talking earlier. You were red as tomato."
"I was not," I retorted, even though we all knew I was lying. "It's... warm in here."
Katia sniggered. "Don't bullshit me, Diannah Bonewhite. Don't forget to send us an invite to the wedding."
I lifted my glass to my lips to hide my smile, even as I turned tomato-red once again. But, I couldn't stop my gaze lingering, taking in his handsome profile and the way his lips curved when he smiled.
"You two are the worst," I muttered, the two sisters dissolving into laughter beside me.
Mrs Tabitha floated through the wall, a gracious hostess smile already plastered on her face. "If everybody would like to take a seat, dinner is about to be served."
The chatter increased as everybody moved to find their place names. I was seated at the head of the table with Mum, Dad and Grandad. Grandad had been deep in conversation with (French old man related to Marcia) for most of the evening so far and Marcia made sure her father was sat beside her. My grandpere. My Mum definitely took her looks from him, from the dark hair to the dazzling blue eyes. He was smiling as he filled her glass with wine. I looked across at my Dad, who was chatting about his latest technological development in Spirit Tracking with Alexei (Russian?), completely in his element, and felt a warmth peaceful glow settle over me. Despite what might be happening in the Stream, at least everything was perfect in this very moment. Everybody safe and happy and enjoying themselves. My Mum's tinkling laugh filled my ear before Rita's raucous laugh filled the room.
At the far end of the table, I noticed Shaylin had grabbed the spare seat beside Mason and was now talking animatedly to him. Mason wore a pleasant smile, nodding in response to whatever she was talking about. Which, when in came to Shaylin, was probably one of three things; her latest shopping haul, some terrible minor inconvenience or her horses. I wouldn't have regarded myself a friend by any means, but the eighteen-year-old had insisted on swapping social media handles during last year's Gathering and I'd spent the past year wading through her constant uploads on my newsfeed. She was the only daughter of two wealthy and prominent Shepherds and had grown up in a similar estate in New Hampton (?), New York, where she'd been given everything she'd ever wanted for little effort on her part. I wasn't even sure she'd hunted a ghost in her life. From what I did know of her, I'd never heard it mentioned. Not even during the Gatherings.
As the only daughter of a (once) wealthy and prominent Shepherd family, we'd been expected to become fast friends. It was something of a work in progress.
Still, I was more than happy for Mason to take the ear bashing for a while so I could eat. I was /starving/. I'd skipped lunch to help Mum with the final preparations and it seemed all the hard work had paid off.

--

I was coming out of the kitchen after carrying through some empty dishes when Mason found me. I didn't notice him at first and struggled to hide my surprise at the sight of him in the small hall. Music was playing a few rooms away; everybody had retired to the games lounge, where the bar was open and the coffee machine hot. I was helping Mrs Tabitha move the empty plates and stack the dishwasher; her limited power meant she could only shift a few pieces of cutlery and maybe a plate at a time, and even then she needed a bit of time to recharge. But, she always took to her tasks with a sheer determination that even impressed me. But I knew she must have been struggling, as she accepted my offer to help with a grateful smile, wisps of hair falling from her bun and tendrilling around her face. I'd just filled the dishwasher for the second time and set it to wash, now finding myself looking up into Mason's handsome face.
"Hey," he smiled, reaching to rub the back of his neck and the subtle display of his nerves made me nervous too.
"Hi." My voice was ridiculously quiet and I tried to will the heat away from my cheeks. Suddenly, I was quite aware of how tight my dress was, how far the slit up my thigh went. Whose stupid idea had it been? Fleur's, if I remember correctly.
"I just..." As if he'd been thinking the same thing, I saw his gaze wander my figure and my entire body seemed to flush beneath it. His brown eyes rose to meet mine. "You really do look beautiful, Diannah."
"T-Thank you." I honestly didn't know what else to say. Every other word in the English Dictionary evaded me and I could still feel his eyes on my body and I knew I should be saying more, I should be saying /something/ more, but-
"Mason?"
We both started as the door behind him burst open and Shaylin came through from the dining room. She stopped short when she saw us, pale green eyes roaming us both. Then, she tossed her thick black hair over her shoulder and smiled brightly at Mason. "I was just looking for you. Your mom was wondering where you'd got to."
Mason nodded, looking back towards me for a moment. Then, he nodded and turned back to smile at Shaylin. "Thanks. I'll catch you girls up." He left the room, leaving Shaylin and I alone. She stared at me. Full on stared at me until I grew uncomfortable enough to shift on the spot. Then, she gave me whiplash with a sudden stunning smile she flashed me before she turned on her heel.
"You /really/ need to update your ‘gram more, Diannah. It's honestly the lamest page I've ever seen."
Mum found me twenty minutes later, back in the kitchen. I'd resolved not to venture out there again, lest Shaylin should make any further comments on my social media game, so I started on washing and rinsing all the glasses. And there were plenty of them to keep me busy. I made a game out of guessing which lipstick stains belonged to who; Rita's were easy to spot as her lipstick bordered on a vibrant orange. It brought out the highlights in her hair, apparently.
"What are you doing, hiding back here?" Marcia asked as she crept in, cheeks rosy, eyes glassy. I didn't even want to guess how much wine she'd drank already.
"Keeping out of trouble," I retorted over my shoulder, holding a rinsed wine glass to the light to ensure I'd gotten off all the marks. Mum laughed.
"I /wish/ you got into more trouble," she said, coming behind me and wrapping me into a hug. "It's sooo boring having a daughter who does so well at school, never breaks her curfew, has never even... stolen a car!"
"You're very drunk," I laughed as she rested her chin on my shoulder. I set down the glass. "You wouldn't be able to cope if I was all those things."
Marcia laughed. "Yes. You're right. I would not." She released me and twirled to the fridge to rummage through the contents.
"Mrs Tabitha spent an hour foiling all of that," I warned her, but Mum simply waved a hand and tore into the cocktail sausages.
"Starving."
"We've just finished a three course meal," I said in disbelief; my stomach felt so full that it had been difficult loading and unloading the dishwasher. Marcia slammed the door shut and bit a cocktail sausage in half.
"And you are avoiding the fun. The dinner is just the start of it, baby girl. Tonight's where the fun really starts."
"I've been to Gatherings before," I reminded her, grabbing a tea towel to dry my hands.
"You haven't been to a /Bonewhite/ Gathering," Mum replied with a knowing smirk. She reached to grab my free hand and pulled me towards the door. "No more hiding. No more cleaning." She more or less kicked me through the door. "Have fun!"
I grumbled to myself as I ran my hands over my dress and made my way down the hall. I wasn’t in any rush though. I detoured upstairs to my bedroom and checked my phone. Oli had messaged me five times already, the last one only twenty minutes before.
/I’m bored, are you having fun?
Save me a slice of that nice dessert your mum makes, I’ll have it for breakfast.
Doug Appleby uploaded a new video, it’s fucking insane.
I’m going to marry Doug.
Found a potential husband yet?/
I was quick firing off my reply.
/Kind of having fun? I’ve got a slice for you in the fridge, triple chocolate. And you watched it without me??? You suck. Make me bridesmaid though. No husband yet xx/
My hair had gotten a little frizzy so I quickly worked my brush through my blonde tresses before I headed back downstairs. The last thing I wanted was for Mum to come looking again and forcibly drag me in. I took a deep breath to prepare myself before I pushed open the lounge door and entered the room. The lights were low, the music coming from a black speaker on the mantle filling the room with background ambience. People stood in groups laughing, talking, drinking. Mum was dancing with Rita. Shaylin was talking to Russian Daughter, hands flying as she spoke. Dad and Grandad were gathered at the billiard table with a few others.
I spotted Mason by the fire and made my way over, despite the nervous churning in my stomach. He smiled and straightened when he caught sight of me. “I’m glad you finally decided to make an appearance,” he teased lightly and my cheeks warmed.
“I’m not especially social,” I admitted with a soft shrug.

—-

This morning, it was quieter than usual. Head pounding, I made my way downstairs to the kitchen in search of something greasy to eat. I didn't often allow myself to drink like that, but damn... Oli would be proud. I rubbed my brow, trying to ease some of the throbbing as I shouldered through the kitchen door.
Mason was sat at my kitchen table, drinking from a glass of orange juice, his phone lit up in front of him. I stopped in surprise; families normally left by the early hours, as the power protecting the Sacred Springs waned by sunrise, and I honestly hadn't expected to see anyone until mid-morning. He set his phone aside and shifted in his chair to face her. His smile was especially sheepish. "Good morning."
"Good morning." I managed to shake off the surprise with a smile as I crossed to the fridge to grab juice. I was quite aware I was only in my thin pyjama vest and a pair of tiny shorts, and the state I was in last night, I was lucky I was wearing that.
"No offense, but you look as rough as I feel."
I chuckled, grabbing the carton out of the fridge and nudging the door shut with my hip. "None taken. Today, at least. I feel like my head's in a vice." I made my way over to the table, noticing the way he snuck a glance when he thought I wasn't looking. I bit my lip to fight the smile threatening to break free. "You're still here." Not entirely a question. Mason gave me a sly look out the corner of his eye and it was enough to make my stomach flip.
"My Grandma and Aunt stayed behind, so the place is covered for now. We're catching a flight mid-morning though," he replied, leaning an elbow against the back of the chair. "So, I'm yours for the morning. I never did get your number by the way."
His bold approach made me catch my breath, especially when he slid his phone towards me. He smiled and raised an eyebrow, and I got the feeling he wasn't used to having his wishes disregarded. Cheeks rosy, I picked up his phone and added myself as a contact. He grinned when he took it back. "Nice. I'll message you later. Let you know I'm home safe."
I chuckled, once again lost at what else to say. My head really ached and I'm sure the juice I'd just drank was ready to come straight back up. "Sure. I-I'll add you." Gods, I needed to get out of there. This wasn't the conversation I wanted to have when I was still in my pants. "Well, I'm going to go and freshen up. I'll see you in a bit."
"Catch you later." He went back to scrolling on his phone. I tried not to look like I was hurrying out the room, but as soon as I made it to the hall, I ran up the stairs. My whole face was burning with embarrassment by the time I reached my bedroom, where Remi was already waiting, lounging at my desk with his feet up. He had a magazine sprawled open on his lap as he idly flipped through it.
"Can I smell a little /romance/ in the air, Bonewhite?" he smirked, raising his gaze to mine. I pulled a face at him.
"Piss off, Remi. You're my Guardian, not Cupid."
Remi grinned, letting his legs down with a thud as he straightened in the chair. He tossed the magazine onto the desk. "Little peculiar he should want to stay longer. He pushed his parents into postponing their flight for a few hours. I overheard them last night." He grinned. "You must have really made an impression."
"One. You didn't /overhear/ them, you've were eavesdropping. And two..." I couldn't think of an argument about his second point and groaned, turning to snatch my dressing gown off the back of my bedroom door. "I need a shower."
I flipped Remi off as he made smooching noises and fled for the bathroom.

—-

I'd just finished drying my hair when there was a knock on my door. Mum stuck her head through the crack. "I was thinking you could take Mason to town, give him a chance to buy a few things? Have a look around?"
"Alone?"
Mum laughed. "You're a big girl now, aren't you?"
"Very funny." Still, I couldn't hide my rosy cheeks as I snatched a faded demin jacket from the back of my chair. "All right. I guess it wouldn't hurt."
"Perhaps you might even... I don't know... find you really like him?" Marcia's face was a picture of innocence as I opened the door wider, pulled on my jacket and sliding my hair out the back.
"Mum, I love you, but I don't need you - or Remi, for that matter - trying to play matchmaker. I know you're all eager to secure the next generation of Shepherd and all that, but please. Just stop."
"Fine." Marcia straightened with a pout. "But, I've already told Mason you'd take him to town, so I'll leave you alone after this one thing, okay?" I did my best to give her a smile that radiated confidence, if only to mask to writhing anxeity in my gut. It wasn't that Mason was a great guy; he was good-looking and confident without coming across as arrogant. I simply couldn't stop falling apart as soon as I was around him. I was always left a babbling mess, saying stupid things, my palms sweating... How was I supposed to spend a few hours with him when I could barely stand five minutes?
My solution came as easily as my next breath and as I headed downstairs, I already had my phone in my hand, sending a message to Oli.
Mason was already waiting in the hall below. I pocketed my phone and flashed him a smile. "Ready to go?"
"Sure." He followed me out the front door and into the glorious early afternoon sunshine. I led him over to my car (type) and unlocked the doors with the fob. "Your home is beautiful, by the way." Mason cimbed into the passenger seat and shut the door, reaching for the seatbelt. "I got lost a couple of times in the night trying to find my way to the washroom though." We both laughed. I clipped my belt in place.
"It does take a bit of getting used to. Normally Mrs Tabitha's floating around somewhere. She'll point you in the right direction if you ever need it." I started the engine and pulled off down the driveway, gravel churning beneath my tyres. Mason looked over at me as I slowed at the gate, waiting for them to open.
"What's Mrs Tabitha's story?" he asked and I smiled again, glancing over at him.
"She comes with the house," I said, as an easy way of explaining. "She's been here since in the 1800s. She loved this house, the family, and didn't want to leave. So, she didn't. And because she's never caused trouble..." I shrugged lightly. "The angels decided she could stay, to help serve the family."
"That's pretty cool," Mason replied, watching the fields flit past the window. "I've met a few ghosts like that, but I've never lived with one. It's hard enough with the Guardians, trying to get a bit of peace and quiet."
"Tell me about it," I laughed, before glancing over at him. "Where is your Guide? It's a Spider Monkey, right?"
Mason nodded, turning back to face me as a grin slipped onto his face. "Colsus is sulking. I told him to sit this one out."
My own grin widened to match his. "I told Remi the same." It suddenly didn't feel as bad, sitting alone in the car with Mason, his eyes lingering on my mouth even as I turned my attention back to the road. It didn't take long to reach town and I pulled up outside Dreamers Milkshake Parlour, the first of four units that shared the same huge car park. I managed to snag a space close to the front and caught sight of Oli's baby blue Beetle a couple of rows behind. She was leaning against the hood, waiting for us.
"What's up, lovers?!" She called out, waving with both hands. I tried not to cringe outwardly and as I glanced at Mason, I swore I saw disappointment there.
"I invited my best friend. I hope you don't mind. We'd planned to go in together anyway." Only a small lie. Mason smiled, giving a lazy roll of his shoulder in response.
"It's not a problem at all." I lead him over, giving Oli a quick warning look to behave. I hope she heeded it as she straightened.
"I hope you're ready for milkshake," she smiled, moving to link her arm through mine. "I literally only have half an hour because I have an assignment due today and Mr Havers is already gonna kick my arse." She grinned sheepishly. "I'm already on my second extension."
"That's fine. Mason and his family have to leave soon anyway."
"Don't sound too eager to get rid of me," Mason teased and Oli chuckled, pushing open the door and leading the way inside.
"Don't take offence. Diannah hates everybody."
"I don't hate everybody," I protested, slipping past Mason as he held the door open for me.
"Most people then," she smirked. We made our way to the counter.
I rolled my eyes. “I try to avoid most people for obvious reasons,” I explained to Mason, leading him to our usual booth as Oli ordered. “Having to keep what we do a secret isn’t always easy, and as soon as their Guardians find out I can see them, they usually want to talk to me. The amount of people who think I’m crazy because they’ve caught me ‘talking to myself’.” I cringed. “Embarrassing. It’s easier to avoid people.”
Mason’s easy smile told me he agreed. We sat down beside each other, Oli shooting us glances from her spot in the queue. “Amen to that,” he returned. “Though, your friend isn’t a Shepherd. Or a Clair for that matter. How did you meet?”
“Primary school,” I replied, watching as Oli pointed out a few items on the menu to the woman behind the counter. “Lucky for me, Oli’s extremely open minded. She’s obsessed with UFOs and anything out of the ordinary. When she worked out what I could do, she wasn’t even phased. That’s when I knew she was different to the others.”
“Soul family,” he murmured. I nodded. A moment later, Oli appeared with a tray of milkshakes.
“Breakfast is served,” she grinned as she set it down, then slid into the booth opposite us. “Well, my breakfast at least.” She passed them around, then shoved the tray aside and dragged her huge glass towards her. “So,” she fixed Mason with a sharp look. “How was the Gathering?”
“It was fun,” he replied, flashing me a grin. “It’s always nice seeing everyone again, especially as we only get this chance once a year. I uh...” He chuckled and reached to rub the back of his neck. “I thought I’d hang around a bit before our flight. See what the town had to offer.”
“Not much, except milkshake and bowling,” Oli laughed, before slurping at her shake. “Sure there wasn’t another reason you’re hanging around?” Trust Oli to get straight to the point. I groaned slightly, hunching over my milkshake. Mason’s smile turned thoughtful.
"I guess..." Mason swirled his straw through his milkshake. "It's hard finding someone who understands all of this." He nodded towards Oli. "You're lucky to have a friend who accepts everyone how they are. Without questions, simply... inner faith." He smiled wistfully. "That's rare. It definitely isn't easy for everyone."
No wonder Mum had been pushing so much for me to make connections. Shepherds really were few and far between, which was what made the Gatherings so important.
We finished the milkshakes. Hugging Oli goodbye, we watched her leave in her beat-up old car before climbing into mine. We headed back towards the estate, all the while thinking about what Mason had said.
Would it really be so bad to make a few connections?

[MrsCarterRivera]

Chapter Four

I stood on the gravel as Bernard piled their luggage into the back of the waiting taxi. They'd spent the morning touring the house and the grounds and I couldn't help but feel as if there was a little background preparation going on between our parents. In particular, our mothers. If Mason noticed the same, he hadn't mentioned it. Rita came to give us all a tight hug and a cheek kiss, Bernard came to shake our hands, Colton grunted his goodbyes. Mason didn't hesitate in pulling me into a lingering hug, that charming smile in place when he pulled away.
"Catch you later, Diannah."
I smiled shyly, moving to stand beside Dad as they piled into the taxi. We waved them off and I watched Mason's figure in the back seat and wondered what it might be like to be in a relationship with him. To possibly marry him.
It made me dizzy.
Pim was waiting for us when we went inside. Grandad was sat in his usual armchair, Anju perched in her usual spot on the arm. Her small hands were folded on top of the other on her knee. The serious look on their faces made me glance to my parents, uncertainty brewing in my gut. Dad looked towards his father, who was watching the flames. I didn't realise Remi had appeared until he brushed against my arm, standing beside me.
"I have news," Pim announced, looking between us all. "Kerslake will be arriving tonight with the Grim Reaper youngling."
"Are you /serious?/" Remi's words were more of a snarl than a coherent sentence and I looked at him in surprise; absolute fury seemed to roil from him. "Send him elsewhere." Pim glowered at him.
"It is not up to us, Remi, and need I remind you-"
"Talk to the Archangels. Explain that we can't have him /here/." I swear his eyes slid towards me when he said that. I looked towards Pim, my heart already pounding with fear. I /hated/ arguments, hated any kind of confrontation.
"It is the Archangels who have spoken," Anju snapped from her perch. "Michael decreed it this morning. When Kerslake arrives, he will offer more insight into the agreed deal." Her eyes narrowed on my Guardian. "Stop being foolish, Remi. There are reasons for everything. Even if you cannot see it now. You of all should know that."
Remi scowled, but wisely bit his tongue. Anju nodded in approval. Pim shook out his wings, the metal gleaming beneath the light.
Mum cleared her throat, gesturing for me. "Then, I better start tidying this place up. Diannah, you grab a rubbish bag. Mrs Tabitha, could you turn on the washing machine? I've already put the napkins and a pod in there." She leaned, kissing Dad's cheek; he flashed her a thankful smile. "We'll make the most of it. A guest is a guest."

--

After a few hours of cleaning and tidying, and a late lunch, it was late afternoon by the time I went upstairs to get ready. I would have been happy in a simple hoody and jeans, but for some reason, Mum insisted that I wore a dress and made myself look a little more presentable. "I want to make a good impression," she'd said anxiously in the kitchen, heels tapping the tiles as she'd paced.
In my bedroom, I found a dress I'd worn last Autumn and slipped it on. (desc) We'd never dressed up so formally to meet Kerslake before and I couldn't ignore the buzz of apprehension in the air. Remi had been tense ever since hearing the news, his wings and shoulders rigid.
Eventually, we gathered in the front room to await our guests. Only twenty-four hours go, this room had been bustling full of people and music and life. Now nothing but a solemn weight blanketed the very air around us. It would be another year before I saw any of those faces again.
I nervously smoothed down the front of my dress as I took a look around the room. Grandad stood behind the armchair with Anju at his side. Dad was stood by the fire, his arm around Mum's shoulders; Pim stood behind them, towering over the couple, and Fleur stood in front, arms crossed across her small chest.
Remi was completely rigid beside me. He’d been on edge ever since he’d heard the news.
Black mist pooled on the floor, growing rapidly into vaguely humanoid shapes. Within a few seconds, two males stood before me. The first I recognised straight away. Kerslake was the Grim Reaper our family had always dealt with, the only one I'd ever seen actually. He was a foreboding figure, thick black robes billowing. His dark brown hair curled as it fell in waves down his back, his beard equally long and thick. His dark eyes were as cold and hard as flint, scoping everybody present in a single sweep, and I noted the array of stark black oval tattoos that marked his brow and cheekbones. His scarred hand tightened around the heavy staff he carried.
My eyes shifted to the second figure and I was a little startled by what I saw. He looked a lot younger in the flesh than Kerslake, probably no older than myself. His hair was jet black, falling a little past his ears and brow as if he were overdue a haircut. He was closer to Remi in height, looking so ordinary that I found myself blinking in disbelief. His face was clear of tattoos and I noted the sharp jaw and a nose that was somehow even more perfect than Mason's. His grey eyes found mine and pinned me to the spot in a single, searching look. Then, as if he approved of what he saw, marking off some mental checklist in his head, he nodded and looked away. I found myself glancing up at Remi. His jaw was clenched, eyes fixed on the newcomer as if he was staring at a demon from the Underworld. I reached out and touched his hand, breaking whatever trance he was in, but he still couldn't quite take his eyes from the Reapers.
"I am here to formally introduce Kyrie, Grim Reaper youngling," Kerslake announced, his voice deep and rumbling, as if I could feel the bass of it in my chest. "The Archangels and I have decided he shall use this Spring in his training. This training will commence with immediate effect. Training will not hinder your use of the Spring, nor shall it impede on your duties." He cast a look to Kyrie. "He is here to learn. We chose this Spring in particular Spring because of the fast current." Kerslake turned back to my Grandad and parents. "We can speak a little more in private. Flesh out the details." I watched the group trail from the room, though Remi remained at my side. I knew things would be going down on paper and signed, that certain requirements and protections would be put in place, but it didn't make me feel any easier.
Anju was the last one through the door. She turned, beckoning Remi was a knobbly finger. He huffed but followed, leaving me alone in the front room. I sagged onto the armchair, trying not to feel so nauseous. The Grim Reaper never fails to scare the shit out of me and now there were two of them?
Mrs Tabitha came in through the wall behind me, wringing her hands together. "Mrs Tabitha? Are you okay?"
She shivered. "Those Grim Reapers give me the chills." She hovered beside my chair, looking paler than normal. I'd never really thought much about the fact Mrs Tabitha had never gone back to the Spirit World, had never thought to ask her why. And while I knew the Reapers were terrifying in their own way, I knew their role in the Spirit World was just as important as any other, if not /more/ important. They were the ones guided Souls through the Astral to Lake Tranquilla, the place all Souls went to heal and review after their Earth lives. I couldn't deny the fearful awe I held Kerslake though.
And if Remi didn’t like him, then I would keep my distance. My Guardian had never let me down yet. “They’ll be gone soon,” I tried to reassure her, but she just shivered again, circling the room.
The Grim Reapers left half an hour later. As they emerged from the study, I got to my feet. Mrs Tabitha had long since excused herself, insisting on a lie down to settle her nerves, and I found myself twisting my fingers anxiously as I tried to read the expressions on their faces. Remi looked furious, but he was the only one. Both my parents were smiling, Grandad was murmuring softly to Anju... Unable to help myself, I looked towards Kyrie, who was just leaving the study behind Kerslake. He also looked pleased.
"It will be a few days before he returns. We have to work to do in the Astral before hand," Kerslake turned to explain to Grandad and Anju. Grandad nodded and reached out to shake his hand.
"All in good time. We'll be waiting."
Kyrie bowed his appreciation. As he straightened, his gaze found mine across the room. I could have sworn a small smile curled his lips a moment before they were consumed by shadow and disappeared altogether. Remi was the first to talk.
"This can't be a good idea."
"Remi." Pim's words were a warning, arms folded across his broad chest as he looked over at my Guardian. "Kyrie has succeeded in his lives. The past must be dropped."
"He's no better than a monster."
"You don't believe the same about Kerslake," Anju pointed out and I had a feeling these were all points Remi had tried to make inside that study.
"Kerslake has done this for three thousand years. Kyrie could turn on us tomorrow."
"As unlikely as that is to happen," Anju said, cutting off whatever Pim had been about to launch into. The warrior looked away, jaw clenched. "We've made an agreement. The estate conceals one of the most powerful Springs in the world. It's the perfect place, and the safest, for the Reaper to learn what he needs."
"How long will he be here?" I found myself asking, drifting to Remi's side. I didn't quite understand what the argument was all about, but if Remi was worried, then I was too. My Guardian had never let me down and I knew everything he said, every action he made, was to protect me. Anju settled her watery gaze on mine.
"A year. Midsummer to Midsummer."
"A year?!" Remi shook his head in disgust.
"If you have a problem with it," Pim said, voice more threatening than I'd ever heard it. "Feel free to take a trip to the Angel Realm. Tell Michael exactly what you think."
"Maybe I will."
Pim's lip curled. I glanced towards my parents, but even they looked surprised and wisely stopped themselves from saying anything at all. Disagreements between the Guardians were rare, but always uncomfortable to witness. Remi stepped forward. "This is all going to end badly. The success rate of Reapers is so pathetically low-"
"Before the ten lives," Anju reminded him. "The success rate is low /before/ the endurance of those ten lives. Kyrie has as much chance as reverting now as the rest of us."
"Do you honestly believe that?"
"I know it, boy," Anju spat and I found myself looking away. "I've been playing this game a very long time now, Remi. And so have you. I'm disappointed."
He shook his head, but said nothing more, simply stared back at her. Finally, Anju pulled her gaze to the rest of the room. "Kyrie will remain here for the foreseeable. His presence will not detract from our own roles and duties. Life /will/ continue on as normal." Everybody nodded their agreement, except for Remi. She glared at him. "Understood?"
He jerked his head in some vague semblance of a nod. "Fine."
"Good. Now back to work." Anju disappeared. After another dark look from Pim, he followed suit. Mum let out a breath.
"Let's just try and make the best out of the situation," she said, smoothing down the front of her dress in an action so familiar in was like watching an older, darker-haired version of myself. "We may not all agree, but we have to make the best of it. Okay?"

--

I followed Remi as he strode out the room, fists clenched at his sides. I waited until we were down the other end of the hall before I spoke, reaching out to grab his wrist and pull him to a stop. "Remi, what's going on? It isn't like you to act like this."
"I don't even know where to start," Remi growled, but he stopped at my insistent tugging and turned to face me. "How many Archangels are there?"
I blinked at the sudden question. "Seven." The Divine Seven. Everybody knew that.
"Seven Archangels created by Vitus to protect and defend the Higher Realms. How many Grim Reapers exist?"
I opened my mouth, then shut it again. "One?" I'd only ever seen Kerslake. Remi shook his head.
"With Kyrie, there's now five. Five Reapers. They were never created by Vitus, never created in the Higher Realms with Light. Lycus is their true Master."
Lycus. The God of Darkness and Decay and Death. A chill set in my bones despite the warmth of the room. "I don't understand."
"Every Reaper was once a Demon. A Demon, that for some reason unknown to the rest of us, decided to defect. Wyldak was the first, nearly thirteen thousand years ago. She left the Lair and made her way as far as Tranquilla before the Archangels caught up with her. Nobody believed that she wanted to Repent. They took her to the Realm of the Most High and she made a deal; if she could survive ten lifetimes of the worst of Humankind, they would have to give her Status in the Realms. And somehow, an agreement came to pass. If Wyldak succeeded her lives, they would make her a Grim Reaper and give her honourable duty." A shadow passed over Remi's face. "She succeeded. Despite their doubts, she succeeded and went on to become the first Grim Reaper. Eight thousand years later, the Sisters took the Ascent. Makya and Inumez. They took each life together, one after the other, no stops..."
"Have any of them not succeeded?" I found myself asking, eyes wide as I looked up into Remi's face.
"Plenty. Too many to even count.
"What happens if they don't succeed?"
Remi's features set with grim satisfaction. "Life Five is normally where they falter. Most give in then. Retreat back to the Lower Realms to be punished and tortured by Lycus for the rest of eternity. He never takes the humiliation of losing a Demon lightly, especially ones who make the conscious decision to leave."
It was too much to think about and I rubbed my temple, trying to ward off the growing headache. Kyrie was a Demon. Had been a Demon? Had languished in the bowels of Hell for only God knew how long. I completely understood why Remi was upset about all of this.
"I don't care what the others think," he said after a moment. "His Soul is damaged. It always will be, no matter how much he tries to redeem himself."
It truly felt as if everything were changing and neither of us could stop it.

[MrsCarterRivera]

Chapter Five

Yawning, I pushed open the kitchen door to find breakfast already in the process of being made. Mum was poaching eggs on the stove, as Mrs Tabitha carefully floated plates from the cupboard to the marble counter. Fleur had shrunk herself down, balancing precariously on Mum's shoulder as she sang and danced to the radio.
"Good morning, baby girl!" Marcia winked as she caught sight of me, doing my best to fingercomb my hair. "How did you sleep?"
"Could have been better," I said, fighting off another yawn as I snatched a glass tumbler from midair and headed to the fridge. I felt Mrs Tabitha's scowl on the back of my head. Locating the orange juice in the fridge, I poured myself a glass, then carried it to the counter to start filling the rest. It felt as if I'd woken every hour last night, my mind plagued with images of demons. Not that I'd ever actually met a demon, ever, but I'd heard enough about them that I didn't want to. I'd only recently passed the test that ensured I could deal with Poltergeists and lower-level maliciants, and truthfully, that was more than enough for me to handle right now. But, I knew Mum's family specialised in all manner of demon, and that Marcia herself had dealt with a few before I was born. The details of what I'd never wanted to ask.
Setting the empty juice carton aside, I leaned against the counter and watched Mum slid eggs onto plates. "So..." She began and I already knew what was coming; Fleur smirked at me from her perch on Mum's shoulder. "Mason lingered."
"I noticed. Just like I've noticed the amount of times you've brought him up. Look, if you want to marry him-"
"Diannah Bonewhite, don't you dare." Mum nearly took my eye out with the spactular. "Mason is a charming young man. A great stable family, good background. A /Shepherd/."
"Let's not forget the number one component here." I swear the words slid out before I could stop them. Mum looked at me sharply.
"I'll put your bad attitude down to the excitement of the Gathering. But, I'm serious. You really need to start making connections, DeeDee." I bit back the words dying to roll off my tongue. Maybe I didn't want to get married? And even if I did, maybe I wanted to actually /get to know/ the person before plans were set in place. Plus, I was only twenty, I wasn't exactly a spinster.
"I'm probably not going to see him for another year, so who cares?" I muttered, turning away to search the top cupboard for painkillers. I hadn't exactly had a headache until I'd come into this damn room. Fleur giggled, leaving Mum's shoulder and hovering in front of my face.
"He /is/ handsome, Dee."
"I'm not taking advice from you, Fleur," I replied, wafting her out my face. She proceeded to start karate chopping my hand. "It always backfires."
"I'm older and wiser than you," she growled, which was awfully ridiculous coming from a Guardian who had the face of a six-year-old and was currently the size of a hamster. "That counts for something!"
"Girls, stop fighting," Mrs Tabitha chided from where she was attempting to squirt washing up liquid onto a sponge; the hovering bottle fell and clattered into the sink. "Oh, drat!"
Mum plonked a plate down in front of me. "Breakfast is served. Maybe, somewhere in there, you might find your happy mood."
I couldn't resist pulling a face.
"Smells good in here," said Oli as she burst through the door, her favourite neon green alien hoodie on. I swore she was never out of that thing. She was wearing cut-off denim shorts today with sneakers, her hair loose today and not in its usual spacebuns. Her Guide, Liana, was nestled on top of her head, bushy tail wrapped around herself as she groomed her paws.
"Olivia!" Mum made her way towards her, pulling her into a hug. "Are you hungry? I've just made breakfast."
"You know me, Mrs Bonewhite," Oli grinned, hugging her back. "I'm always hungry." She slid into the chair beside me and a moment later, a plate slid its way across the table towards her. "God, that looks so good."
"Maybe you can cheer Diannah up a bit," Mum added, moving back to the stove. "She's in a foul mood."
"I am not," I grumbled into my bacon. Oli chuckled.
“Don’t worry, Mrs B. I’ve got this under control.” I rolled my eyes but even I couldn’t stop the small smile pulling at my lips.
“I’m /not/ in a bad mood,” I insisted. “Mum decided to take it upon herself to invite Mason over for the summer. I think I should at least take things at my own pace if I’m expected to start... dating now.” I felt a little better when Oli winced at my side.
“I don’t expect anything from you, DeeDee. Except your happiness. That is paramount to me.”
“Now you’re just making me feel bad,” I muttered. Oli nudged me.
“Hey. I’m kind of on the fence about this. Sure, your mum shouldn’t have gotten involved.” Marcia pulled a face. “But you seriously weren’t considering waiting until the next Gathering to see him again?” She arched a brow. “I think getting to know him over the summer is a good idea.”
“Ugh, not you as well.” I crammed he last piece of bacon into my mouth to save from having to talk anymore. Oli’s eyes slid to my mum.
“What Diannah doesn’t tell you is that she spent four solid months gushing about Mason five years ago.” She shot me a sly grin. “What was it you said? /We share a palette/?”
“I hate you. Stop talking.” I felt the heat bloom all the way up to my hairline. Oli and Mum both laughed.
“Whether you get a relationship at the end of it, or a good friendship, you need to make these connections,” Mum continued. “It’s important. Important for /your/ future, if we’re not here -“
“Don’t talk like that,” I muttered, scowling at my plate. Mum simply looked at me, then turned back to the washing up.
“You haven’t told Oli about the new Grim Reaper.” God, she made it sound as if he were a new toy or gadget or something. Oli perked up in interest.
“I’ll tell you in my room,” I muttered, and we finished eating and excused ourselves to my bedroom.
“Tell me all about it,” Oli said, launching herself onto my bed. I moved to my wardrobe and began to rifle through my dresses.
“The Grim Reaper? He’s called Kyrie. And there’s not really much else to tell you. I only saw him for five minutes and I didn’t even speak to him.”
“What does he look like?" Oli asked and I laughed at the almost predatory gleam in her eyes. I rolled onto my front, fiddled with the edge of my blanket. <—rewrite
"Surprisingly young," I chuckled. "He's probably tens of thousands of years old, I don't know. But, he doesn't look any older than us."
"Details, Di, I need details."
"Short black hair. His eyes are... like silvery grey."
Oli rolled her eyes. "You're missing the most important point here, the reason I'm asking. Is he /hot/, Diannah?"
I felt myself blush even before I could contemplate the answer. Did I find Kyrie attractive? I bit my lip and darted a glance towards her. "... Yeah. He's pretty hot."
The two of us were still giggling as we left the house for college.

--

The textbook was propped open in front of me and pen was in my hand, ready to annotate... and after reading the same sentence four times in a row and still not understanding basic English, I slammed it down and leaned back in my chair.
I couldn't concentrate, not with so many unanswered questions in my head. The more I thought about our upcoming apprentice in the Shepherding field, I was struggling to understand what sort of work a Reaper might have been expected to learn from them. He’d have to learn how to listen to the Stream, how to pick out individual voices and sounds, how to view the memories imprinted there. Like me, he’d learn how the Stream wrapped around the entire world like a coil beneath the crust, the essence of every Soul to ever exist flowing through the rock like water.
He’d be here for a year. Surely there must be more he needed to learn, but what that would be, I couldn’t figure out.
/Remi?/ I called in my head and before I'd even finished saying his name, he was beside me, leaning against the desk with a lazy smile.
"Diannah. You called."
"What is Kyrie actually going to be learning with us?"
The smile slid off his face to be replaced by indignation. "You brought me all this way to talk about /him?/"
"Why? What else were you doing that was so important?" It was genuine question, but Remi took a long moment debating that fact. The next smile he gave her was more of a baring of teeth. "That's for your Guardian to know and you to potentially never-" Remi fell silent, straightenining, eyes distant and I felt my fear surge inside. I gripped the back of the chair as I spun to face him.
"What's going on?"
Remi jerked his head towards me. "We need to get home. Quickly." I shoved everything in my bag and slung it over my shoulder, rushing after Remi as we fled from the library.
"What's happening?" My mind went straight to my parents, fear seizing my gut.
"It's Ron." Grandad. I pushed my legs, begging them to go faster. My car felt as if it were miles across the car park, my hands trembling as I fumbled for my key and jammed it into the lock.
"Is he-?"
"No."
Thank the Gods. I yanked open my car door and climbed in. "I'll see you at home." Remi shot into the air, a blast of air lifting the ends of my hair before I slammed the door. I knew he'd follow overhead the entire way, much preferring it to riding alongside. He always said it was too cramped for his wings, but I didn't see why it mattered when he could pass through physical objects anyway.
Stupid irrelevent thoughts. I prayed and prayed the entire drive home that Grandad was okay. When I reached the wrought-iron gates, they were already open, two ambulances pulled up on the driveway. No, no. I'd barely cut the engine before I was jumping out. "Grandad!"
Remi landed a few feet away. I could see Grandad laid on a trolley in the back of the one of the ambulances, a mask over his face and hooked up to what looked like a half-a-dozen different wires and monitors. Two paramedics worked over him.
A third paramedic was talking to my parents. His Guardian, a large winged male, was talking to Pim, who was nodding almost constantly, eyes fixed on the other Guardian’s face. I ran over. Mum caught sight of me and closed the distance. “Diannah.”
“What happened?”
She swallowed, glancing over her shoulder as the ambulance doors were slammed shut. Two more Guardians appeared on the roof, seated comfortably as the ambulance pulled away. The third paramedic, after reaching to squeeze my dad’s shoulder, got into his own.
“Grandad didn’t feel right when he woke up. He said it was probably flu...” She watched the second ambulance pull away. “He’s had a heart attack.”
I felt as if the ground gave way beneath me. “I-Is he going to be okay?” I looked up at Dad as he joined us.
Dad looked absolutely heartbroken. “I hope so, Dee,” he murmured, pulling us both into a hug. We watched the ambulances disappear down the driveway and into the night. “I’m going to follow in the car. I’ll let you know if I hear anything.”
Reaching to wipe my tears, I stood with Mum as he made his way to the car. A minute later, he was heading in the same direction as the ambulances. Pim disappeared, no doubt on the way to join him there. Mum put her arm around my shoulders and we stood there, tears streaming down our cheeks.
I wasn’t ready to lose Grandad. And if anything happened, I wasn’t sure how I’d cope.

—-

It was hours before Mum finally received the message that Grandad was stable. We'd spent the afternoon pacing the front room, matching looks of worry on all our faces. I'd never dealt with a direct loss before, but Grandad was still only in his late sixties... It couldn't be time yet. Surely the Guardians would have said something. Surely they would have known.
"They are going to keep him in for a couple of days," Marcia read the message from her phone. "Your Dad is going to stay until visiting hours have finished. He'll be home later tonight." I nodded, but it didn't do much to ease the writhing in the pit of my stomach. For as long as I'd known, Grandad had always been on the go, still working his shifts with the Stream, he still gardened and walked on his free days. He didn't smoke and he only drank on occasions. I didn't understand it. How could he have had a heart attack?
I excused myself from the room and headed for my bedroom, finding Remi along the way. He'd been lounging in the upstairs window that overlooked the gardens, his wings drooping. They lifted a little when he saw me though. "Are you okay?"
I nodded, rubbing the sudden chill from my arms. "I guess so. I..." I hesitated, then slid onto the windowsill beside him, staring out at the jungle of colourful flowers and plants stretching across the estate. "What happens when you die? Is... Where do we go?"
Remi looked over at me, studying me for a moment, and I was afraid he might not be able to answer. Guardians had limitations on what they could or couldn't tell us, especially ones who had direct contact with Spirit, like myself, or the Clairs; people who had been born with the ability to see, hear, smell or sense the Spirit world in other ways. Shepherds were the most unlimited a Clair could be. Remi reached out and took my hand.
"When a Soul's life in the Physical ends, they travel with their Guardian or Guide into the Astral. It is there where Kerslake meets them. Kerslake's job is to ensure the Soul and Guardian reach the ?? Mountains. The Mountains form a barrier between the Astral and the Spirit Realm, which ensures no Lower beings can pass. Souls fresh from the Spiritual can be preyed upon by Demons, some of which can be a lot more powerful than your average Guardian. Kerslake's role is vital in the protection of the Souls during the passing. Once they enter the Mountains, they become untouchable."
I nodded my understanding.
"There's a passage beneath the Mountains which leads to Lake Tranquilla. The place all Souls go to heal. Every Soul must spend time at Lake Tranquilla before returning fully to the Spirit Realm. There's a Cabin at the lake where Souls review their lives, after the Healing process has taken place. Together, Soul and Guardian review the life to see what goals they hit and which they missed, and to discuss what their next steps will be."
"Next steps?"
Remi smiled. "Once you've Healed and Reviewed, you follow a path from the Lake which takes you to the Soul Bridge. This bridge takes you home. From there, you can chose to stay in Spirit, or, depending on your life, you may chose to perhaps train as a Guardian, or a Healer, or you could try and join the Divine Legion... Explore other Realms. The choice is yours."
"It sounds pretty amazing," I murmured, trying not to imagine my Grandad and Anju travelling through the Mountains, reaching the Lake... Remi squeezed my hand.
"It is. And you've been there many times before. We both have." His smile was warm, but sympathetic. Understanding. "It's the place we all go. No matter the life, no matter the experiences." And one day, we'd both be back there, maybe guided by Kyrie... The thought made me sick and I pushed from the window.
"I'm going to grab a shower," I said and Remi didn't say any more as he watched me hurry away.
Dad and Pim returned that evening. Dad looked exhausted, the bags beneath his eyes bruise like. I rushed towards him, giving him a tight hug before he'd even shut the front door. “How is he?”
“What did the doctors say?” Mum came up behind me, face lined. Dad embraced us both.
“He’s okay. For now. If all stays well, he’ll be home in the next couple of days.” I let out a breath of relief, murmuring my thanks to the Gods. There was nothing else to do but wait.

[MrsCarterRivera]

Chapter Six

A message from Mason was waiting for me when I woke up the next morning. I hadn't slept much better than the night before and was still pretty groggy as I tried to read the blurred message.
/Hey, Diannah. The Guardians told us the news this morning, I hope you're all okay. Your Grandfather will be in our prayers. M x/
Pushing myself upright, I ran a hand through my untidy hair and yawned, trying to wake myself up enough to at least respond coherently.
/Thank you. He's stable, should be home in a couple of days. I appreciate you reaching out./ I hesitated, then added, /D x/ at the end before pressing send. He began to reply almost instantly and I felt my stomach tighten in a way that had nothing to do with the fact I was starving.
/Any time. I've been pretty worried about you. All of you x/
I bit my bottom lip, unsure of what to say. I wished Oli was here, she'd have known what to put.
/As soon as I hear something, I'll let you know. I think my parents are heading back to the hospital soon... Have you got any plans for the rest of your day?/ I wasn't even sure what time it would be for him.
/Already in bed/ came his response and I blushed a little as my mind instantly took me there. I wondered if he was shirtless right now. Gods, I was shameless. /Couldn't sleep until I knew you were okay./
Even I couldn't stop my smile. /That's sweet of you. Hopefully you can rest easy now./
/For now. Will be better once I visit next month, see how the Bonewhites do things./
Wait, what? I stared at the message for a few long moments. Visit? Next month? Why did this have my mother written all over it? Before I could even response, a second message popped up.
/Goodnight, Diannah x/
/Goodnight, Mason x/
I set my phone aside and climbed out of bed, snatching the dressing gown off my bedroom door before I marched out the room. I found both my parents in the kitchen, Dad putting the finishing touches to the fry up he was making. Mum was sat at the table, fingers flying across the keyboard of her laptop. She barely looked up as I came in.
"You'll have to make your own breakfast today. My emails have backed up and I have about a thousand things to do, I-"
"When were you going to tell me you'd invited Mason over next month?" I asked pointedly, folding my arms. Dad looked up with a wince, then quickly grabbed his bacon butty and took a big bite, conveniently filling his mouth before any questions needed to be answered. "I told you to stay out of it."
“I really have to leave," said Dad, as Pim grunted by the doorway. Mum waved him off, but I didn't pull my gaze away from her.
"Well? Were you even going to tell me?"
"Of course I was going to tell you," Marcia replied tersely, looking flustered. Fleur hovered beside her, brows knotted as she patted my mum's shoulder. "I didn't mean to overstep the mark. But, we can't rely on yearly Gatherings-"
"Mum, I like Mason, okay, but I want to take things at /my/ pace." I sighed, shaking my head as I glanced away. "I do like him, but I don't want you to get your hopes up. You've always told me not to settle for the first thing that came along."
"And look what's happened!" She threw up her arms, nearly knocking the laptop aside. "You're letting everything pass you by. You've never had a boyfriend, you've got no friends-"
"I've got Oli. And I'm happy here, with the family, doing Spirit work. I'm happy, Mum."
Mum sighed, shoulders sagging a little. "I just want you to experience life before you settle down here... But, you still need more friends."
"I have Oli," I repeated. Mum chuckled.
"Oli is practically family at this point. And Remi doesn't count," she added, before I could use him in my defense. I scowled. Growing up with Remi had been like growing up with an invisible brother nobody else could see. I'd learnt early to keep him a secret, and to only talk to him when the other children weren't around. But, he stayed beside me, every day from that first day of school, changing his form with each passing year to grow with me. It had been kind of him to do that. Seeing as most children couldn't see their Guardians, they tended to remain as adults, but seeing as I could see Remi's world as clearly as my own, it felt nice to have a special friend that was all mine.
I truly loved him as such, too.
"I have Oli," I repeated again, lamely at this point. Mum just grinned at me and dragged the laptop back in front of her.
"You'll thank me in a few years, Diannah Bonewhite. Believe me."
"I'll be sure too." I turned away, stomped all the way back up the stairs. In my bedroom, I picked my phone up again to find a message from Oli. I swore she was telepathetic at times. I read the two words and smiled.
/Milkshake shop?/

---

I sat opposite Oli in our usual booth in milkshake shop name, beside the window. We were both avid people watchers, mostly due to our game of Oli pointing out various people and me informing her of what their Guide and Guardian looked like, if present. I was sipping steadily on my chocolate milkshake, watching an elderly couple shuffle past the window, literally an arm's reach away, if the glass hadn't been in the way. The man, hunched over and clutching a cane, had the helping hand of his Guardian at his shoulder; a rather stunning angel, whose liquid black tresses spilled in waves down her back. His wife, equally as hunched and piled with layers despite the early summer heat, had a sleek black Panther lurking at her other side.
Oli was sat opposite me, clutching her strawberry milkshake between her hands, and Remi idled a few seats away, reading over a sheaf of parchment he'd brought with him from the Astral. (Notes: Astral is in between, things can be stored there, etc, Remi has an apartment there in his own created area - anyone and anything can create there and people go there in dreams to help maintain their connection and give them something to do while body rests.) He usually kept himself out the way if social events came up, though always close enough to keep a close eye. His brow was furrowed in concentration, though I didn't doubt he had an ear on the conversation.
Oli was looking at me sympathetically. "Your mum really should have spoken to you first. Inviting him to spend the summer? That's a big step."
I nodded, dragging my eyes from the window when the couple shuffled out of sight. "It's not that I don't /like/ Mason, but it really is just that. I like him as a friend. And as good-looking as he might be, I don't /know/ him." I took another sip of my milkshake. "Mum expects it to be a whole love story, 'love at first sight', like her and Dad, but truthfully, I like things how they are."
Oli reached out and grabbed my hand across the table, entwining our fingers. "Me too. And just know, I'm not going to be giving you up for just /anyone/." She grinned at me, then reached for my milkshake and took a sip. "Ooh, that's good."
I took hers and sipped. "I love this place."
"Me too. How's Liana today?"
I smiled, glancing at Oli's bag nestled at her feet. "She's curled up in your bag, sleeping." Oli smiled.
"Told you. She's not my Guide. She's my Spirit Animal. There's a difference."
"A hyperactive over sleeper?" I teased and Oli shoved me playfully across the table. "How's Dreamy Remi?" Oli purred, eyes shifting around, even though we both knew there was no chance she'd be able to see him. Oli would happily admit to Remi being her first crush. When we were fourteen, we'd visited a Clair at a local fairground and as a test, I'd asked her to draw my Guardian. She'd drawn him down to the most minute detail that even Remi had been stunned to silence. I'd smiled at her and tipped her extra, while Oli had clutched the drawing in utter disbelief.
"/That's/ your Guardian? Holy fuck, Di, he's /hot!/ Are you /sure/ he can't turn physical? God, you're so /lucky/. All I get is a squirrel!" Liana had been offended for entire day after that. And I knew the drawing was /still/ tacked up beside her bed on the wall, now adorned with many red and pink hearts.
"Tell Olivia that Dreamy Remi is good," he returned, his eyes lifting off the parchment to shoot Oli a sultry look. "Even better now she's wearing her hair loose."
"Dreamy Remi says he's good." I shifted, clearing my throat lightly. "Even better now you're wearing your hair loose."
"Damn, Remi." Oli grabbed the menu, wafting herself.
Remi's arrogant smirk only grew wider as he set the parchment on the counter and spun on his stool to face them. "Tell Oli she puts the Goddess of Eros to shame with her sensuality, and if I had a body, well, I'd-"
"I'm not saying that," I snapped, glaring at him even as my face flushed. I didn't doubt his words either. Remi had always made it well known how much he missed the more intimate experiences that came with physicality. I pushed those mental images away. Him and Oli? That was too weird to think. Oli grinned at me.
"Say what? Where is he?"
"At the end of the counter there," I muttered, going back to my milkshake. "Making me look insane, talking to thin air."
"Remi," Oli said, about ten inches to the left of where he was standing. "You can hit on me any time you want. Don't let her put you off." She grinned wickedly as she took in my red face. "Tell me what he said."
"Tell her, Diannah," Remi smirked. Gods, he was insufferable.
"He said you put the Goddess of Eros to shame with your sensuality and if he had a body..."
Oli and Remi's laughter exploded through the shop and I grimaced at the stares shot straight to Oli. "I absolutely hate you guys," I scowled.

---

I couldn't help my mind wandering as I pulled away down the road and headed in the direction that led out of town. I’d split with Oli ten minutes earlier, but my thoughts still to be stuck on the topic of death; a topic I’d definitely avoided thinking about before.
“Remi?" He appeared in the seat beside me; his wings were much too big for my small car and they rested through the seat and into the back.
"Sup, Bonewhite."
"Do you know when I die?" I pulled to a stop at a red light and glanced across at him. Remi looked back at me, before giving a hesitant nod. "You never told me."
"You've never asked."
"If I wanted to know, would you have to tell me?" In front of me, the lights went from amber and green and I pulled off again.
"I wouldn't do anything because I /have/ to, Diannah," he replied. "I'd do it because I'd want to. Unfortunately in this case..." He gave me a smile. "Limitations."
I let out a breath, nodding. A good limitation, I thought so myself.
"If I'd have been able to tell you, would you want to know?" His own question made me pause, brow knotted. After a moment, I shook my head.
"No. I don't think so. I'd spend the rest of my life worrying about it."
"Hence the limitation," Remi laughed, relaxing back in the seat, his gaze wandering the fields flitting by. Soon, we'd hit the woodland which signalled our return into the estate. "Don't worry about Ron," he said after a moment, as if he'd known the source of my concern all along. "He has a few things to do yet, before that journey. But... his time was decided between himself and Anju long before he was born. And when it does happen, there isn’t anything we can do about it.”
I nodded and did my best to be reassured.

[MrsCarterRivera]

Chapter Seven

Dad was making coffee in the kitchen when I got home, dropping my jacket over the back of one of the chairs. Remi had left by the time I'd pulled up, some business in the Astral I wasn't privvy too and Oli just messaged me a link to the latest Doug Appleby video. I'd grab a snack to watch it before my shift with the Spring.
"Hey, Dee." Dad flashed me a warm smile as he tossed the teaspoon into the sink and I winced at the loud clatter. Moving close, I hugged him tight.
"How's Grandad?"
"Nearly back to his normal self," he said, the corner of his mouth lifting in a smile. "He and Anju were still bickering when I left."
I laughed, but the thought, the small scene of normality it planted into my head... It was the comfort and true reassurance I'd been searching for for days. Dad yawned, glancing at his watch. "I best go and take my shift."
"You need to rest," I said, pointing to the direction of the front room. "Put your feet up and drink your coffee. I'll take your shift. I have nothing better to do."
"Cheers, DeeDee." He yawned again, ruffling my hair as he passed. "Owe you." I watched him slouch from the room, slippers almost-silent on the stone, before turning and heading for the basement door.
"I thought you'd have the music on by now," I said as I hopped down the last stone step and made my way into the cavern. Mum and Fleur were at the table, filling in ledgers. "You told me last time..." Turning my head, I spotted a figure knelt by the Soul Spring and fell instantly silent. /Kyrie/. He looked up at me and as soon as his grey eyes met mine, my stomach began to squirm, heat prickling my cheeks and the back of my neck. The corner of his mouth slowly curved into a slow grin and I was sure the cavern started to contract a little.
I glanced away, unable to look him in the face, catching sight of the plain white tee he was wearing, the dark jeans. "You're not wearing robes," I blurted out, then blushed. I didn't know why it surprised me so much, but... "I've never seen Kerslake out of robes," I shrugged sheepishly. Amusement warmed his features.
"You haven't?" He chuckled. "Sheesh. I knew he took his job seriously, but..." I couldn't have stopped my smile if I'd tried. Kyrie's gaze lingered on mine. "I don't need to wear them when I'm not escorting."
"Oh." Obviously, that was a conversation I'd never had with Kerslake, but I'd never imagined... Blushing, I looked back at Mum and Fleur to find them both grinning at me. I tried to ignore the heat flaming in my own cheeks. "Have you just started?" I said, making my way over to Mum and Fleur. Fleur was grinning widely and I resisted the urge to kick her.
"We were just waiting for your father," Mum replied, leaning over the ledger as she wrote down the temperate on the gage to her left.
"He was tired, so I told him I'd take his shift. I didn't realise..." I trailed off.
"Don't let me put you off," Kyrie said from behind me and Fleur giggled. I stuck my tongue out at her before leaning over the table to adjust a few of the monitors, more to busy myself than anything else. I was slightly regretting my offer now and wished I'd opted for a nap instead. I noticed my Mum's smirk as she straightened from the ledger. "Stop smiling like that," I hissed.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she murmured back in perfected innocence. "Go and help Kyrie move the stone."
I didn't want to go over there. I didn't want to be anywhere near the intimidating stranger with his half-smiles and watchful looks. As if he could read my very Soul. I shivered, even as I approached, forcing a brave expression into place. Fleur glided behind me, still giggling. Kyrie indeed watched my every step as I approached and I tried not to notice the way his eyes swept my figure. Tried not to notice the shiver of fear that crept down my spine as he did so. I reached the well and leaned down to grab the edge in my hands. Kyrie did the same and together, we hauled it across. Glowing blue light shimmered in an eruption of light that filled the cavern and made the orange torches look like flames of purple. I glanced up, the flames highlighting Kyrie's features, glinting from his brow, his cheekbones, his straight nose. He looked up and met my eye above the Stream and his smile was so genuine and pure that it made my breath hitch. And with the Light came the sound. A beautiful symphony of interwoven voices, laughter, sobs, shouts, cheers, the sounds of friendship and love and desire and envy, every human experience encase in a single stream that weaved itself around the world.
Fleur, hovering over Kyrie's shoulder, giggled in excitement and clapped her hands. "This is always my favourite part."
"It's amazing," Kyrie murmured, his entire focus on the Stream flowing beneath the well.
“It is a true honour,” Fleur nodded. “Springs such as this have been protected by Soul Shepherds since Gaia stabilised the Physical Realm. Soul Shepherds, like the Bonewhites,” she said, gesturing to me, “are Souls born with a specific level of spiritual awareness.”
“Are they contracted?” Kyrie asked and Fleur nodded.
“It is agreed upon before existence, yes.” She glanced at me with a wry smile. “I cannot say any more on the ins and outs of that right now, but yes. Diannah, Marcia, Willis, Ron... their Souls agreed to this experience.”
Kyrie’s eyes lifted to mine and it felt a little as if he were seeing my very Soul. I looked away.
“Soul Shepherds are here to ensure the safety of Souls during passage and to prevent anything from interfering with the Time Web.” I looked back, the term unfamiliar even to me.
“Time Web?” Kyrie asked the question for me.
“Every Soul that has ever taken a life in the Physical leaves an essence or an imprint. This is stored in the Stream. The Stream, in its own way, contains Time itself. Let me show you.” Fleur reached into the Spring and scooped a small handful of the luminescent blue liquid. She and Kyrie peered over it. She let the excess run over her fingers until she was left with a tiny puddle in her palm. “Look closely now.” He leaned closer, nose nearly touching the puddle in her palm. His eyes widened and he drew back. I edged closer, also peering in. I knew what I’d find, but it was always so interesting to catch a glimpse of existence.
A small scene played in the puddle of liquid. I saw trees, huge trees with trunks the width of several men. A young man with dark shaggy hair crept through the forest, a spear clenched in a fist as he scanned the area. Birds erupted from the undergrowth beside him and he flinched... Fleur let the liquid trickle back into the well.
“Prehistory is always interesting to look at,” she said cheerfully.
“Can you choose what you see?” He asked and she nodded.
“You have to listen. And intend. Let me see...” She paused for a moment. “Dee, give me something.”
“What about Mrs Tabitha?” I suggested. Fleur looked at me steadily for a moment, then nodded and leaned into the well. She began to listen, lips moving soundlessly.
“Every essence is unique. If I think about it, it will draw up scenes from her existence.” She reached in and scooped some more water, lifting her palm to her ear. “Yes. Here.” She held out her palm to show them and we both leaned close.
I saw Mrs Tabitha, on her hands and knees with a scrubbing brush. She looked so vibrant in the image, so human, that it made me blink in surprise. Her cheeks flushed, hair flyaway beneath her little cloth hat. I recognised the kitchen, my kitchen, yet it looked older and the table was covered in an assortment of cooking ingredients, bowls, sprigs of herbs... Fleur let the water trickle away. I glanced over at Kyrie to see the thoughtful look on his face.
I guess it had never dawned on me that Kyrie really was here to learn. That he was more like me than I'd realised. Even after spending my entire life as a Shepherd, there were still things I had to face, things I had to learn, and the same could be said for him. I kept quiet, simply watching the Guardian and the Grim Reaper interact. She'd always accepted her life for how it was, but never questioning the whys and hows of the Spirit, and while a few of Kyrie's questions were interestingly probing, Fleur did her best to answer it all.
She was hanging off his back now, leaning over his shoulder as she pointed at something in the well. "Did you see that spark? That's new life. When you see that spark, a baby has been born somewhere in the world."
"Really?"
She nodded, then glided from his back to settle on the edge of the well beside him. "Every piece of every Soul that has ever existed resides in that Stream. Every memory, every moment in time where a Soul has existed is woven into the Stream for eternity. It's both dead and alive, the past and the present." Fleur swung her short legs. "As well as being some kind of time capusule, it's also used for passage. When you leave the Physical, your Soul passes through this Stream. This is what makes it especially important to have the Springs protected. To stop demons snatching Wandering or Lost Souls."
Kyrie nodded his understanding.
“Give it a try,” Fleur said, gesturing to the Spring. “Tell me what you hear, then tell me what you see.”
Kyrie nodded. He leaned down and scooped a palmful of the Stream, lifting it to his ear. His eyes closed as he concentrated and I watched the peaceful look cross his face. “I hear... laughter. Children.” He withdrew his hand to peer into his palm. We all leaned in. Two children were running through long golden grass, hand in hand. The sun burned bright from a clear blue sky, the sound of a river rushing nearby. Their delighted laughter filled the air.
Fleur blinked, looking at Kyrie in surprise. He shrugged, then let the liquid trickle away. I glanced between them. “What?”
Fleur blushed. Actually /blushed/, which was something I had never seen. Her silver cheeks grew darker. “That was my first life,” she murmured, looking to Kyrie again.
“I intended to see one of your happiest times,” Kyrie replied, a half-smile lifting his mouth. Fleur smiled in return.
“I was very happy then. I’d never experienced Physicality before. It was so exciting.” She looked at me, still smiling softly. “That was your mother, running with me.”
Even I couldn’t help but smile at that.
After a while, I moved away, leaving them listening quietly over the well, and went to stand with my Mum at the great oak table. She was carefully monitoring the readings on the screens, while adding figures onto a spreadsheet on her laptop. (more on equipment dad creates, he trained as an engineer(?))
I leaned with my back against the table, gripping the table edge as I watched Fleur point out something else to Kyrie; his face lit up. "Why does he look like that?" I didn't know quite else how to word it. Mum glanced at me in surprise, then over her shoulder at Kyrie. "Remi isn't physical, but he still has /some/ substance when I touch him. The... Reaper looks like us." It was difficult to describe what it felt like to touch the guides. As if they were made from nothing but layers and layers of the softest silk, your hand kind of passing through the silver mist, but still feeling solid in a way that kind of defied the senses...
Kyrie, on the other hand, looked very, very solid. Very real. Mum smiled, leaning her hip against the table and I felt her eyes wandering my face. "Like the Archangels, Grim Reapers can switch between their Physical and Spiritual forms. Reapers need to be able to do this when dealing with Demons, especially if they've been involved in Soul deaths (demons can havoc as they cut contracts short by killing Soul without consent work this out) "Perhaps he chose this particular form to make you feel more at ease?" Mum suggested, raising her brow as she turned away to scan the monitors.
“Can demons change form?” I asked uncertainly. Mum pulled a undecided face.
“Yes and no. The Makorach can to an extent. The Serodon have only one.”
I nodded and tried not to shiver. A change of subject was definitely in order. “How are the monitors looking?” My Dad had designed everything, and often made devices that aided Clairs in their field of work, from Spirit communication devices to special cameras that allowed you to catch figures unseen to the naked eye. He’d left university with a degree in engineering and had put it to good use ever since. Mum straightened, grabbing a sheaf of paperwork from beside her.
“Everything looks as it should,” she replied, blowing a strand of dark hair from her face. “I’m just going to type these up. Can you finish up here for me?” I nodded, moving aside. Her phone rang and she slid it out of her pocket, answering with a bright, “/Rita!/ I was just thinking about you...” She disappeared up the stairs.
I dampened my bottom lip, trying not to look nervous as the door upstairs shut, blocking out the sound of my Mum's laughter. I quickly began to turn off all the monitors. I could hear Kyrie shifting the slab back into place behind me and when I glanced over my shoulder, I saw the sleeves of his shirt had been rolled up and I felt myself warm a little at the sight.
I hadn’t even noticed that Fleur had disappeared. Casting around, I realised we were well and truly alone. Kyrie stood.
“That was interesting,” he said. “It’s a very unique existence that you’re living.”
I nodded, nervously twisting my fingers in front of me. The corner of Kyrie’s mouth lifted. “You’re blushing.”
“I’m not.” Stupid reply, really, as I blushed even harder. The force of his full smile took my breath away and I dropped my gaze, turning to flick off the monitors. When I turned back, Kyrie was even closer; my heart began to race. “I... I’m not feeling too good. I...” I backed towards the stairs. Kyrie didn’t say a word, but the smile faded from his lips and the bite of guilt was almost overwhelming. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
And, shamefully, I fled. (Completely rework this wtf)

[MrsCarterRivera]

Chapter Eight

If I'd known what news I would be greeted with that morning, I'd have stayed in bed.
As it was, I was pouring cereal in my pyjamas when my parents came into the kitchen, Dad still staring at his phone. I saw how white his face was as soon as I glanced over my shoulder, setting down the cereal packet and turning to face them. "What's wrong?"
Pim and Remi appeared behind them. Fleur stuck her head up through the kitchen floor. Dad swallowed, voice hoarse as he forced the words. "The Greens ... The entire family were found this morning."
"Found?" My gut clenched, I knew what he meant and yet...
"Slain. Every single one of them." His throat worked as he stared at the kitchen cabinet over my shoulder. “Bernard found out. Let me know straight away. He's contacting the other Shepherds now."
Pim looked at Remi with a nod. Remi disappeared. Moving between us, Pim looked at each of us in turn, before his gaze settled on my father. "It would be wise for you to stay in the estate for now. The wards on the place will prevent anything from trespass."
"How long for?" Marcia whispered, clutching her throat, her own face ghastly pale. Pim gave her a steady look.
"At least until we can astern what exactly happened. What might be involved."
Demon. A chill ran down my spine, my previous hunger completely vanished. An entire Shepherding family slain... "Do you think this was a targeted attack?" Pim looked at him and I saw the answer in his eyes even if he didn't want to say it.
"I can't say," he said simply. Brow creased, I glanced away. Fleur bobbed up through the floor and moved to wrap her arms around my Mum's waist. Dad moved to sink into the dining chair, removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes. Then, he pinched the bridge of his nose and sat there for a moment. Both me and Mum jumped when Remi suddenly reappeared in front of us.
"The Archangels have been notified. Uriel and Raphael have already been dispatched to the scene. I've been sent to collect you." Pim nodded, metallic wings already flaring. Remi looked at Fleur. "You're in charge until we get back. /Anything/ happens, just shout." He and Pim disappeared and I felt my stomach lurch at the thought of what my Guardian might see, what he might report back with. I turned to shove the cereal box into the cupboard, pushing the bowl aside. Maybe later.
I left my parents and Fleur talking in the kitchen and headed back upstairs. I needed to call someone, but when I went to ring Oli, I hesitated... I didn't know the full details yet, and as much as I loved my best friend, I didn't want her to worry. Or start getting herself involved in things that might get her into trouble. The poltergeist's warning had been playing on my mind ever since it happened, and I couldn't help but feel there was danger lurking close. The warning, a disturbance in the Stream, and now an entire Shepherding family had been slain in cold blood? It couldn't just be a coincidence.
And if that Shepherding family hadn't been safe, neither were we. My throat seemed to seize at the thought and I found myself calling the number even as I tried to warn off the beginnings of a panic attack.
"Diannah?" Mason sounded breathless, but alert. I knew he'd already heard the news in that instant. "Are you okay?"
"I'm okay. Are you?"
Het let out a breath. "I'm good. I... I just heard."
"Me too." I climbed back into bed, yanking the duvet around me to ward off the chill. But it wasn't in the air. It was inside of me, crawling through my veins; pure fear. "I'm scared, Mason."
"Don't be scared. It... It might be something else." He didn't sound very confident. I didn't blame him.
"I need to tell you something." I swallowed back the lump in my throat, listened to his steady breathing on the other end of the phone. "The poltergeist. The one who bruised my face before the Gathering."
"Yeah?"
"It... warned me and Remi that the God of Death had created something. Something dark. What... What if that has something to do with all of this?"
"This was before the Gathering?" I could hear the frown in Mason's voice.
"A couple of days before. And Dad said he and Pim found a disturbance in the Stream. Like air bubbles." It felt as if I had nothing but a handful of puzzle pieces but nowhere to even begin.
"This is weird," came his reply after a moment. "Something's definitely going on. Listen, keep your eye out. If you hear anything else, let me know."
"Okay." In the background, I could hear Rita calling for him.
"I have to go. Mom won't stop crying. I'll talk to you soon, okay?"
"Goodnight, Mason."
"Night."
I sighed as the call disconnected, laying back and letting my phone rest on my chest. None of this made any sense, but there was one thing I knew, deep in my very bones. None of us were safe anymore.

---

Pim and Remi returned at lunch. I still couldn't bring myself to eat and even Mum had opted for a liquid lunch, filling a large glass of wine and tapping her fingers anxiously at the kitchen table. Fleur had been hovering in circles for the past hour. Dad sat, making notes in the ledger. And we all looked a little fearful as we waited to hear what they had to say. Remi, grim-faced, come to stand behind my chair and the way he placed his hand on my shoulder told me I wasn't going to like what I was about to hear. I shrank into him a little.
"Archangel Michael was there when we arrive," Pim began gravely, fingers laced in front of him. "It's a confirmed demon attack. [more info on demon type]. They believe it may have used one of the disbanded Springs to paddle the Stream and more or less pop up in their Spring. All four members of the family were surrounding the well... each at compass point." I felt my throat dry. One body pointing North, one East, one South, the other West... It sounded like some kind of ritual. Or sacrifice. White noise began to sound in my head. Pim glanced at me. "The disbanded Springs are being investigated to work out which one could have been used to gain access."
"But, how is this possible?" Mum asked, utter despair in her features. "These Sacred places are some of the most protected on Earth. Protected by /Light/. Vitus' Light."
Pim inclined his head solemnly. "We shall be informed as soon as they know. There's still the possibility it gained access from some other crack in the perimeter... Until then, you limit time outside the house. And /always/ with a Guardian." My parents nodded. I just stared numbly at the kitchen table. Tried to imagine the horror of having a demon crawl up out the Spring, tearing into screaming bodies, into /people/... Into a family that had loved each other and cared for each other and took pride in what they did. Only to be snuffed out in an instant.
If it /had/ been an instant. I didn't dare think otherwise. I'd seen that exact family only a few weeks ago. They'd complimented me...
"What happens with their Spring?" Dad asked, a sudden brittle edge to his tone. His back was straighter, shoulers stiff, a look of sheer determination on his face. Pim looked at him.
"Travis Cathro is heading over there now, but Michael would like for myself to escort you there also." Dad nodded, even as me and Mum looked horrified.
"You want Dad to go over there?" I pushed back my chair, forcing Remi back. "Dad?"
"Duty, Diannah," he returned, also standing. He shut the ledger with another thud. "Always duty. You're in charge of the records."
"Willis." Mum's voice was deathly low as she looked between him and his Guardian. "I swear to Vitus, if something happens to him."
"No matter the cost," Pim told her sincerely. "I will protect him." She nodded, eyes never leaving his face even as Pim turned away. "We leave in an hour."
"Mason is also coming to support," Mum said, catching me off guard.
"Mason?"
She nodded. "With your father away, we could use the extra help. Rita rang me as soon as she heard. Offered to send him over." She looked rather pleased with herself, depsite everything that was going on. "I thought it was quite a good idea." I knew there was no use protesting. To be honest, it was rather nice of Mason to come.
"Okay. I'll get a room ready."
"Thank you, DeeDee." I left the kitchen, Remi following in my wake.
"This is bad, Diannah," he murmured as soon as we were out of earshot. We hit the stairs and made our way towards my bedroom. "I've never known anything like this before."
"A family has been murdered," I murmured, shoving open my door and making my way to my bed. I plonked myself down on the edge. "And the Archangels don't even know how a demon got through? I thought the Springs were protected."
"They are," Remi insisted, leaning against my desk and folding his arms over his chest. He stared out the window, brow furrowed. "Even if the demon gained access via an abandoned Spring... It should be impossible to come up another, especially one that's guarded. It doesn't make sense."
I frowned, looking down at my hands. "It's almost like it was... invisible. As if the Spring didn't detect it at all." We exchanged glances. "The poltergeist. It said something had been created."
"You think it's connected?"
"You think it isn't?" I shook my head. "It's... too strange a coincidence, Remi. Something has been created and now a Shepherd family has been killed?"
Remi nodded slowly. "It reeks of Darkness."
"We need to figure out what's going on. Figure out exactly what the poltergeist meant."
"I wish I hadn't sent it to the Light," he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I should have taken it more seriously."
I fell quiet, mind ticking. "Energy can't be destroyed." My Guardian glanced at me, brows knotted, waiting for me to go on. "Energy can't be destroyed because we use Light to convert it. Energy always goes back to Source, eventually. Why don't we just track down the poltergeist and ask it again?"
"The only problem with that, Diannah," he sighed, wings slumping a little. "Is that we don't know who the poltergeist was. Whose soul it actually was. We'd never find them now."
"But, if we found them, would they be able to help?"
Remi hesitated. "... Perhaps. /If/ we found the right Soul and asked the right questions..." Then, he shook his head. "But, what you're asking is impossible. There are eight billion human Souls in the physical right now. The amount in the other Realms is about ten times that. It would be like looking for a needle in haystack."
I nodded, trying to quash my disappointment. I stood and smoothed down my shirt. "I'm going to see if the library can give us any clues." Remi nodded and straightened from my desk.
"I'll visit the Astral. See if any Soul might be able to point me in any direction." I nodded. "I'll be back before your dad leaves."
"Okay."
Remi gave me a warm smile and reached out to squeeze my shoulder. "We'll figure something out, okay?" I nodded again. He stepped back and disappeared into nothing. Turning, I made my way downstairs and prayed there'd be at least one helpful book.
I had to get out of there. I made my way to the door and fled before either of my parents could stop me. My head was spinning, my fears confirmed. A demon had killed that family, a demon that was still out there.
^
(These two scenes need merging)
v
Dad and Pim left that evening. Mum helped Dad to pack his luggage into the boot, kissing him tenderly and spending a moment gazing into his eyes. Giving him such a look of painful longing that I found myself turning away.
"Look after yourself, DeeDee," he said, pulling me into a tight hug and kissing the top of my head. "I'll miss my girls. But, I'll be home as soon as I can. Don't worry about me."
It would be a little hard not to.
Me and Mum retreated inside. Grandad was stood, making coffee in the kitchen, having already said his goodbyes. He was looking a lot healthier, the colour back in his face, and I couldn't help but thank the Gods that he was still here. Ready to fight another day. He'd always been a tough, almost untouchable man who was respected not only in the Shepherding community, but the local community too. I couldn't help but hug him tightly now.
Grandad chuckled, arm tightening around me. "He'll be back before you know it. Duty first."
"Duty first," I murmured. Because our duty, our vow to the Spring, it really did come first over everything.
"I'm going to take my shift," he said, patting my shoulder as I extracted myself. He noted my worried face and chuckled again. "I'll be fine. Anju's already down there... I want to get back to normal, do what I do best. Stop worrying."
"Okay."
"I mean it." He pointed a finger at me before he picked up his coffee and made his way to the basement door. Sighing, I made my way into the hall, heading towards my bedroom where I found Mum bustling around in the linen store.
"I'm just making up a room for Mason," she said, snatching a sheet from the higher shelf. "He'll be here in the morning."
"That soon?" I don't know why it surprised me, but he must have literally caught the next flight out of his State. Mum nodded.
"I need to keep busy. I cannot bear the thought of your father out there." She licked her lips, the corners of her mouth down turning. "I do not like it at all." She more or less shouldered me out the way and disappeared into the one of the unused bedrooms a few doors down from mine. I still couldn't quite believe he was on his way. Was he that worried about us? (expand thoughts)
With Remi on patrol, I could do little else but twiddle my thumbs. I was in no mood for studying, but not for the first time that week, the poltergeist's words came to me.
I headed for the library to see if I could find anything.

[MrsCarterRivera]

Chapter Nine

I didn't realise how dark it had gotten until there was a knock at the door and Oli popped her head in. She was carrying a brown bag with what smelt like fish and chips and two small bottles of soda. "Homie. You hungry?"
"Starving," I groaned, shutting the heavy tome on my lap shut and wincing as I shifted my stiff limbs. I'd been reading about ?? , a particularly interesting part about the history of the Realms, that had been written by a Scandinavian Shepherd in the early nineteenth century. Oli made her way over and squeezed onto the sofa beside me. Dumping the bag on the table, she tore it open and handed me a newspaper cone full of steaming hot chips. "Gods, I love you."
Oli beamed, handing her a bottle of soda. "I know." We ate for a few minutes, content just sitting shoulder to shoulder and staring at the wall of books opposite. I had never even contemplated how long some of them must have been sat here, untouched for years and years. Mum preferred her magazines to books and Dad would much rather spend his time tinkling with devices in his shed. It felt like it was only me who found such solace in the written word.
Finally, Oli looked at me. "Your mum told me what happened. Did... Did you know them well?"
"Kind of." I felt my throat go dry at the thought of that last interaction. I wondered if Yula knew, what she was thinking. "I met them a few times."
"I'm sorry." She reached out and took my hand and I laced my fingers with hers. I gave her a tearful smile in return. "It worries me. I didn't realise... that it could be dangerous."
I wiped my eyes, looking away with a quiet chuckle. "Believe me, neither did I."
"Lucky for you, I'm the world's greatest friend. I've brought my overnight bag, I've brought some snacks and wine. I'm not going to leave you alone tonight, okay?"
I pulled her into a tight hug, burying my face in her dark hair. "You really really are the best."
"I know," she hummed happily in my ear, hugging me back. "Now eat up. I doubt you've eaten anything since you heard the news." She knew me too well, because she was entirely right and I hadn't realised how hungry I actually was until then. My stomach grumbled its agreement. “How’s your new guest?” She said after a moment.
“Kyrie?” My face reddened as I recalled how I’d run out on him. “Okay. I think.”
“I still want to see him,” she edged and I let out a chuckle.
“Why?”
“So I can see if he’s hotter than Doug. Who, by the way, has a new video out. We should go and watch it. Take your mind off things.”
And I knew too well how full my mind was right now. I needed a break. I still didn't quite understand why Remi disliked Kyrie so much. Kerslake had been a demon too, but that didn't stop Remi looking up at him with respect lurking in his eyes. I made a mental note to question him later, as Oli grabbed my hand.
"C'mon, Doug's waiting," she insisted and I laughed, letting her lead the way to my bedroom.

--

The sun was setting above the distant woodland when Mason finally arrived on the estate. I felt stupidly nervous, butterflies making enough of a riot in my stomach. I ran my hands over my front yet again, Oli flashing me a smirk. God, was I that obvious?
The taxi pulled up and both me and Mum went to greet him. Remi stood on the steps with Fleur and Oli, Mrs Tabitha hovering fretfully behind them.
"Hey," I smiled, as soon as he straightened his long frame from the car. Mason grinned at me in a way that made my breath catch, looking me over with one sweeping gaze.
"Hey, Diannah. How are you feeling?"
"Could be better," I said weakly. He nodded, then turned to greet my mum. After, he grabbed his luggage and we headed inside.
"We've already got a bedroom ready for you down the hall," Mum explained, as Mason set his bags down in the hall. Fleur appeared at his side, smiling up at him.
"Thank you, Mrs Bonewhite," Mason replied politely. "I appreciate you accommodating me. I know, with the recent news..." He trailed off, then offered a strained smile. "I'll do whatever I can to help out here. While Willis is away."
Which I absolutely hated; the idea of my father out there, potentially in danger, made my chest hurt. Mum gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you, Mason. Now, why don’t you go and get yourself settled in. I’m sure the girls wouldn’t mind giving you a proper tour of the place.” She managed to wink, despite the worries I knew were churning in her gut. “Wouldn’t want you to get lost after all.”
Mason chuckled. “No. Thank you.” We waited until Mum had disappeared out of the hall before we headed upstairs. I showed him to his bedroom, Oli following behind us.
“I’m just down the hall,” I said, gesturing to my room a few doors down. “If you need anything.” And I didn’t even need to look behind me to know Oli would be grinning about /that/. Mason set his bags down at the foot of the bed, looking around. Then, he moved to the window, tugging back the curtain to look out.
“It’s a beautiful view. Is this the entire estate?”
“As far as the eye can see,” I smiled wanly.
“Marcia wasn’t kidding about you getting lost,” Oli chimed in, leaning against the doorway; Liana was sat on her shoulder, bushy tail curled around the back of Oli’s neck. “When I first came here, Dee and I decided to play hide and seek. I was gone for two hours. Her parents nearly sent out a search party.” Her grin widened. “I won, though.”
I smiled at the memory; my parents had indeed been frantic. Mason laughed.
“I have a feeling you’re quite the trouble maker, Oli.”
She beamed. “I do try.”
We left the bedroom and we spent the next half an hour touring the house. I showed him the main bathroom, the library where I’d spent most of my day, as well as a couple of the unused bedrooms. (Desc) The sun was creeping towards the distant tree line when we got outside, the slight breeze refreshing against the heat of the day.
The front of the estate was beautifully designed with rose bushes, the cherub perched on top of the fountain spurting clear water from the end of the arrow nocked into his bow. I’d tried to trick Fleur as a child, telling her that’s what happened when Guardians were naughty; they turned to stone. Fleur hadn’t been able to breathe for laughing. Not that she needed to breathe. That had been long before I’d realised Guardians would, and always would know, more than me. In this life, anyway.
We traipsed around the back where the garden grew more wild and jungle like. To our left, the woodland stretched the entire length of the garden and beyond the boundaries of our estate. Petals of red, blue, yellow and pink bloomed all around, as well as heavy patches of lilac lavender, their scent mingling with the summer breeze. I watched insects buzz about, birds chirping in the tree tops, and let out a relaxing exhale. I always loved it out here.
Mason was drinking everything in as we walked. Oli had kept up a constant stream of chatter and by the time we’d circuited the garden, the sun had nearly disappeared completely and Mason was fully informed about every Doug Appleby video since he’d created his channel.
We trudged up the stone steps and made our way back inside. It was thankfully cooler in here. Mrs Tabitha was standing in the hall, a feather duster floating a few inches above her head as she dusted the light fixtures. She smiled when she saw us.
“Hey, Mrs T,” I said, as Oli stared at the floating feather duster.
“Hi, Mrs T!” She said to the empty hallway behind the ghost. “You’re doing a great job.”
Mrs Tabitha beamed and I relaid her message of thanks as we passed by. We entered the front room. “This is where we normally spend the evenings,” I said, throwing myself down on the sofa. Mason moved slowly around the room, looking at the picture frames that hung on the wall and the few decorative art pieces from my mother’s art degree days.
Said mother popped her head through the door a moment later. “Oli, can you help me with dinner?" Mum called from the doorway and Oli was quick to make herself scarce. If I wasn't mistaken, there was a little smirk on her face and I had a feeling she and Mum had pre-planned to give us some alone time. I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry, as I looked back at Mason. He was studying the photo frames on the mantle. There were three of them; my parents on their wedding day, my mum holding me as a newborn baby, and a photograph of me when I was about five, sitting on the edge of the well with Grandad. And even though the cameras wouldn't have picked them up, I knew there were Guardian Angels in the background of every one.
"Our lives are pretty incredible, huh?" Mason murmured and the huskiness of his voice sent a shiver through me. I smiled towards the photos.
"We're blessed, really. To be able to experience all of this. Interact with it. To think, most people aren't even willing to believe they have Guardians..."
Mason chuckled, turning to look at me. His brown eyes burned into mine. "And Guardians are only the start of it." My smile widened even as I nodded. "I appreciate you letting me stay, by the way. You, your family. Especially at such short notice."
"It's not a problem." I twisted my fingers, anxiety creeping upwards. "I... Between us, I'm a little scared. I haven't dealt with demons before."
"Not even lower level demons?" He seemed surprised and I felt my cheeks heat.
"A Poltergeist. That's the most I've dealt with. Normally I help Remi guide the Lost, maybe the odd Imp."
Mason blew out a breath. "Well, maybe I can train you? Or at least give you a few pointers." He shot me a loose grin. "I'm not saying I'm an expert, but a few defensive manoeuvres wouldn't hurt you."
I found myself nodding, chest easing a little. Mason teaching me a few moves. There was no harm in that, right? Even if it meant coming into close contact with him... Maybe even physical contact. Gods, my cheeks were burning again.
We made small talk for a little while, and Mason was in the process of telling me about life on his ranch when Remi stepped through the wall, wings tucked neatly behind him. One look at his face told me everything I needed to know, and I sat forward. "Remi? Has something happened?"
"Yeah, something's happened," he growled, irritation lining his features. He ran a hand through his blonde hair, throwing up his free hand. "Your mum has invited Kyrie for dinner!"
"The new Grim Reaper?" Mason asked, interest suddenly gleaming in his eyes. I felt myself go still at the thought.
"D-Dinner?" Like... normal ordinary family dinner? I still couldn't wrap my mind around the image I'd built up of Demon Reapers and the stark contrast that was ... /Kyrie./ "He's here?"
"Sat at the table right now," Remi replied through gritted teeth. I got to my feet, feeling a nervous flicker beneath my ribs. "Complimenting your mum on the delicious aroma."
"She is a good cook," Mason murmured.
"Let's just get this over with." I gave Remi a look and he made an effort to straighten his face as he turned and disappeared back through the wall. "Kyrie comes every now and then to work with the Stream," I said, as way of explanation. I wasn't sure why it was our Spring over any other, but there were things I'd learnt not to question. Most of them led to dead ends anyway. I led Mason through into the kitchen, where Kyrie was indeed already sat.
The table was filled with the family’s silver serving platters, a steaming roast chicken taking centre stage. Kyrie was sat to the right of my mum and he looked right at me as we entered the room. I looked away. Oli was sat beside him, a glass of wine in her hand.
I took my seat opposite her, Remi and Mason settling either side of me. Mum smiled. “I thought it would be nice for us all to get together. With everything going on...” She trailed off, eyes darting to Dad’s empty seat across the table. Then, she forced a bright smile. “Please, tuck in while it’s hot.”
There was a few minutes of clattering cutlery and the shifting of platters as we delved in, passing bowls and dishes around the table. Oli heaped her plate. “Where’s Grandad?” I asked after a moment, turning my fork between my fingers. Mum glanced up.
“Taking a nap. He said he’s going to call your father when he wakes up.”
“I hope he’s okay,” I murmured. Mum nodded her agreement.
“This looks absolutely amazing, Mrs Bonewhite,” Mason told her, as he cut intro his chicken breast. She beamed, reaching to fill up her glass of wine.
“Thank you, Mason. Perhaps I will give you my secret recipe one day.”
“That’s not fair,” Oli protested. “I’ve been here for years and you have never given me any recipes!”
Mum smirked at her. “But, who would eat all my delicious food if you were at home making your own, Olivia?”
“... Fair enough.”
It was quiet for a few moments as we all tucked in. I hadn’t realised how hungry I actually was. Remi’s wing brushed my shoulder as he shifted in his seat. I glanced to him; he was still glaring over the table at Kyrie, his own plate empty. He didn’t typically join us for diner, seeing as Guardians didn’t need to eat to survive. Did he really not trust Kyrie that much? I’d never seen him act this way towards anybody. Ever.
“Kyrie,” Mason said, getting everyone’s attention, though his eyes were fixed to the Reaper across the table. “Diannah told me you were here to work with the Stream. In what way, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Kyrie leaned back a little in his chair, glancing towards me. “I’m being taught how to listen to the Stream. How to... read tiny moments in Time.”
“He’s doing such a good job too,” Mum added and I swore Kyrie flushed a little, a slight smile pulling at his mouth. Mason smiled, staring at Kyrie with something close to admiration.
“How does it work? The whole... Grim Reaper thing?”
Oli met my eye across the table and I bit back my smile. Surely Mason knew all this?
“When a Soul passed into the Astral, it is our job to ensure they reach the Mountains safely.”
“Is it dangerous?”
“It can be.”
Mason leaned forward eagerly, plate all but forgotten. "I apologise if I seem a little starstruck. I've never even met the Reaper who deals in my region. My father has, but in our tradition, you have to be of a certain standing in the family to deal with her. The Reaper, I mean."
"Wyldak," Kyrie murmured and Mason nodded.
"I heard she was the first. To cross over, I mean." He flushed, then ducked his head, as if suddenly realising who he was questioning. But, Kyrie simply nodded his head and speared a piece of pasta with his fork.
"She was."
Mason bit his lip, no doubt biting back a barrage more questions. Mum cleared her throat, holding out the wine bottle. "More wine, anybody?"
I shoved my glass towards her just as Kyrie's gaze slid to my face. "Though, I heard Diannah has been holding out on me," he said and I flushed at the sudden diverted attention, the invitation into a conversation I wasn't sure I wanted to be included in. Remi was absolutely stiff beside me, glaring across the table at Kyrie, but the Grim Reaper didn't seem to notice him. Or pretended he didn't very well. He offered me a smile. "Your mother was telling me about your fight with that Poltergeist before I arrived."
The poltergeist who'd warned us that the God of Death had created something. Something out of the darkness. I could literally feel Remi growling beside me and knew if I looked across at him, his teeth would be bared.
I straightened, returning the smile despite the heat creeping up the back of my neck into my face. I could feel Mason's stare on the side of my face, but I couldn't seem to pull my gaze away from Kyrie. "It's part of the business, right?" The corner of his lip curled into a smile that had my stomach swooping and I almost reached out to grab the edge of the table. I glanced away. "Remi did most of the work, anyway."
"No, I didn't," he protested and Mum smiled.
"Either way, my girl isn't afraid to get down and dirty when she needs to."
Gods, I could have died.
Oli barked a laugh. “Sorry, Mrs. B, but that sounds so dodge.”
Finally, the conversation moved on and I slowly got back to my meal, picking at the chicken, but truly, I had no appetite to eat. Every now and then, I would feel Kyrie's gaze on mine, glance up to find him watching me. The first few times he looked away, but on the fourth or fifth... I swallowed as he held my challenging stare, his own brow lifting in amusement. It was me who looked away that time.
When the meal was over, Mason and Oli helped Mum to clear away. (Change they eat in dining room and leave for kitchen). I stood and began to gather the unused cutlery to stick back in the drawer. Remi stood and stretched, ruffling his wings. “I’m going to take over Fleur’s patrol,” he told me and I nodded, watching as he disappeared. I gathered a couple of unused knives, glancing up when movement caught my eye; Kyrie was still here.
I felt my heart sink when I realised we'd been left alone. It didn't take long for him to speak up, voice clear in the pressing silence. "You're quiet tonight." I shrugged, keeping my gaze fixed to the edge of the tablecloth. I fiddled with the soft material between my fingers. It would be rude to run away, but it was all I wanted to do in that very moment, all my senses screaming /danger/.
"I'm just tired," I forced myself to say, to look up, and the look in his eyes made my stomach writhe and my knees weaken. I'd never seen a look more full of intent, but intent for what, I had no idea.
"Has Remi been whispering in your ear?" he murmured and my stomach clenched. I shook my head, but he merely chuckled, a deep rich noise which crawled along my spine. "Even Guardians don't know everything, Bonewhite. No matter how much they pretend they do."
I flushed, turning away and I was grateful he didn't say anymore as I left the room entirely.

[MrsCarterRivera]

Chapter Ten

It was a little past midnight, but I couldn't sleep. Oli had been snoozing deeply beside me for the last hour, but instead of joining her, my eyes stayed stubbornly open. I couldn't stop my thoughts drifting back to Kyrie, his words repeating in my head. /Guardians don't know everything/. I knew he might have been saying that to taunt me, but it also made me realise that the very statement was something I'd always assumed. That the Guardians did know all the workings of the Spirit Realm, from the Lair to the Crystal Palaces. I'd never questioned anything, my faith unflappable but in that moment, I wondered how much Remi had brushed over, made me believe he couldn't tell me, when in fact he didn't know himself. Did they really not have all the answers? Anju? Pim?
"Remi?" I whispered into the darkness. There was a ruffle of feathers and then he was there, leaning over, concern lining his face.
"What's wrong?" His voice urgent.
"I'm okay." I noted his glance towards Oli, but his shoulders relaxed when he heard her steady breathing. "Why don't you like Kyrie?"
"Seriously?" Thanks to the glow, I could see Remi clearly, as well as the roll of his eyes. "At this hour?"
"I can't sleep."
"Get him off your mind, Bonewhite." Remi straightened and crossed his arms over his chest. "He's bad news."
I pushed myself up into a sitting position, trying not to disturb the duvet too much. I only just remembered to lower my voice. "But, /why?/"
Remi sighed, knowing he wasn't going to get out of this one so easily. He gave me a steady look. "Grim Reapers like Kerslake and Kyrie... You know that to become one a Soul must endure ten lives of the lowest density, the worst lives a human can undertake?" I nodded, feeling my heart rate notch up. He hesitated, wings tightening to his back. "This isn't something designed for Souls of the Spirit Realm. It was designed entirely for the demons that wanted to repent. To ensure they really wanted to be Light. Kerslake was a demon. Kyrie -"
"A demon," I breathed. "E-Even after the lives?" Remi grimaced.
"No. If they succeed the ten lives, they are given status of Grim Reaper. They aren't demon, but..." His eyes flickered over me. "It's widely believed that their Souls are damaged. Cracked. And no amount of repenting can fix that. Grim Reapers are both revered and feared. For the duty they are given is one of high honour, mainly for the repenting alone, but knowing what they were before... and nobody really knows how long they were demons for... Souls get nervous. They can't be trusted."
"Even Kerslake?" I raised a sceptical eyebrow. Remi's jaw clenched for a moment.
"Like I said, Kerslake has been doing this a long time. If he was going to strike, he would have done it a thousand years ago. The rules were certainly a lot looser then."
Pushing a hand through my hair, I sighed. This wasn't exactly going to help me sleep any easier. "So, he's damaged and because he's new, you don't know if he's going to turn?"
Remi shifted, sitting on the edge of my bed by my knees. "The ten lives are designed to break even the most ruthless demon. But, that's not to say one or two might get through from time to time. Four Reapers in the Spirit Realm is surprising enough. It's taken fifteen thousand years. But, Kyrie?" His wings shifted again. "I just don't trust him, Diannah."
"What if... If he does something bad, what happens then?"
"Reapers can never reincarnate in the Physical at any time after they've completed their ten lives, and if they fail their duty even once, they are sent straight back to the Lair."
"Has there ever been... any sent back?" I knew the answer, but I still felt a sense of relief when Remi shook his head. Four had repented and four were still here. There was no reason Kyrie would be any different. I hoped.
Remi met my eye, the corner of his mouth lifting into that familiar arrogant smile. "And can I remind you that, literally, my only job is to keep you safe. So can you stop making it so damn difficult?"
I smiled, then nodded. I could understand his concern, knew how important my safety was; paramount to anything. "Okay. I'll keep my distance."
"Get some sleep, okay? You're going to look like shit in the morning."
"Thanks, Remi." I kicked at him, but he'd already disappeared with a wink. Settling back against my pillows, I thought about what my Guardian had told me. Demons. In the flesh. But, /not/ demons? If it was true that Kyrie's Soul was damaged regardless of repenting... I couldn't bear to think what that could mean. How long had he been in the Lair before he crawled for Light? And what lows had he sunk to during his time at Lycus' beck and call? My throat dried at the thought.

(merge this scene with chapter three scene and work this differently)

---

I wasn't sure how much sleep I'd actually had when I woke up the next morning, as it had seemed to evade me all night. It was still early, Oli showing no signs of life, so I slipped from the bed and grabbed my dressing gown from the back of my chair. Throwing it on, I went down to get breakfast, and was a little relieved to find the room empty, save for Mrs Tabitha scrubbing the floor. There was a bucket of soapy water beside her, a small stiff brush in hand, using all her might and concentration to move it. She'd managed five tiles so far and I could only assume she'd been at this for hours. "Morning." I fought a yawn as I made my way to the cupboards.
"Good morning, Diannah." She glanced up as I passed, blowing a wisp of silvery hair out of her face.
"The floor's looking great," I said, grabbing a bowl from a cupboard beneath the counter, before reaching up to browse the choice of cereals. "Been at it for long?"
Mrs Tabitha sat back against her legs, leaving the scrubbing brush motionless. She heaved a rather hopeless sigh. "No matter what I do, I cannot seem to increase my power at all. I thought..." She trailed off, giving me an anxious glance. "I just thought it may be easier. As a ghost. I didn't truly understand the limitations, I guess."
I set the cereal box down and nodded my understanding. "Have you ever asked any of the Guardians for help?" I knew all Spirit had limitations when it came to the physical, but it had never really occurred to me until now that there were different levels of limitation, depending on what type of Spirit they were. The Guardians certainly seemed to have more power than your average ghost or poltergeist.
Mrs Tabitha went back to her scrubbing, face pinched with effort. "I have. Anju was kind enough to inform me that the only possible way to free myself of limitation is to take the trip to Lake Tranquilla." I saw her silvery form stiffen at the very idea.
"Why don't you?"
Silence met my words and I almost regretted them. I felt nobody had asked the housekeeper that, at least not in a very long time. The scrubbing brush paused once more. "I can't leave. Until I can do what needs to be done. I..." She hesitated, then turned her body to face me. “I am not ready to leave, Diannah. I lost something in my human life, something very important to me. I...” Her eyes grew distant and she shook her head. Above us, the kitchen lights began to flicker and tremble.
“I understand,” I said quickly, not wanting to risk an emotional outburst from the housekeeper. The last time that had happened, she blew every fuse in the house. “If it’s difficult for you to talk about...”
Mrs Tabitha gave a shivering sigh, looking down at her hands. “I am a coward.”
“No, you are not.” The lights flickered more violently. Moving close, I sank down in front of her and reached to take her hands; mine passed right through and it was as if I’d plunged them into a bucket of ice water. I slowly pulled them away. “You’re not a coward, Mrs Tabitha.”
“I should have taken the journey, but I was too afraid.” I didn’t know what to say. I should never have asked. “I could not bear to review my life.” A bulb popped overhead. “When Kerslake came, I hid. I hid... like a coward.” Two more bulbs popped, bathing the room in semi-darkness.
“Please, Mrs Tabitha.” I was nearly begging now. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“It’s okay,” she wailed, reaching to wipe her eyes with the edge of her apron. “You’re bound to be curious. I’m simply surprised you did not start asking sooner.” She shifted back around to face the scrubbing brush. “Now, I really must get to work. I still have so much to do.”
“Do you want a hand?”
Mrs Tabitha nodded with a sniff. “Would you hoover the carpets for me?”
“Of course.” I gave her what I hoped was a reassuring smile and got to my feet, making a mental note to fetch some more lightbulbs from the store room.
Remi found me not long after my chat with Mrs Tabitha. I was hoovering the front room rug when he appeared, making me jump. "Can't you angels wear bells or something?" I muttered as I leaned down to turn the vacuum cleaner off.
"Ron had a call come through this morning. Teenagers were playing with a Ouija Board at an abandoned railway station down in ??, invited a few interesting characters into the Realm."
"Oh, for goodness sake." Summonings only made up a small proportion of our hauntings, but they were always the worse. You literally didn't know what you were dealing with until you arrived. I'd never forget my first Summoning case, that was for sure. Two years ago, I'd travelled with Remi to a hotel in London, where a Ouiji Board had been brought into a party. They'd allowed no less than six demons into the building and two Lost Souls and they'd proceeded to cause havoc until we managed to get them under control. I'd received my first black eye that day too. "I wish they'd just ban them already. Those boards never do any good." And if people were so desperate to speak to their loved ones, there were plenty of legitimate Clairs around that could easily and safely forge that connection to the Spirit Realm. I began to pack up the hoover.
"Wear your crystals," Remi told me. "Just in case." We wouldn't know exactly what we were dealing with when we arrived and my crystals offered me at least a little protection against the Dark. I nodded and went to get ready.
Ten minutes later, I was driving down the road away from the estate, Remi settled in the seat beside him. He'd cracked open the window, enjoying the air whipping through his blonde curls. His eyes were distant, a slight crease between his brows and after a few moments, I asked, "Everything okay?"
"I'm just thinking. About the slaying." I felt my blood turn to ice and regretted even asking. "Don't you think it's a bit suspicious that all of this started once Kyrie arrived?"
I glanced over at him uncertainly. "You heard what Anju said. He completed his lives. He's as good as one of us."
Remi scoffed, dragging his gaze from the window to look at me. "Don't be so naïve, Diannah. There's a /huge/ difference between us. For a start, I've never been a demon. I was never bred in the Lair. In fact..." I already knew what he was going to say before he launched into it, my fingers tightening around the wheel. I shouldn't have opened my mouth. "I died a heroes death to get to the position I am now. I died /a hero/. Kyrie didn't do any of that. I don't even know how you can compare us."
Luckily, I already knew how Spirit were deemed worthy enough to work as Guardians. In a previous life, they must have died a heroic death, a death which saved other Souls, and it must occur outside of contracts (work this out) Only the most selfless of Souls became Guardians.
"You sound jealous," I pointed out. "That Kyrie has a more revered status than you."
"It's /wrong!/" He spat, glaring out the window again. "He isn't of the Light, he never /will/ be of the Light. All of this started when he arrived and I swear, Diannah, I'm going to get to the bottom of it." He shot me a fierce glance. "I will protect you no matter what. I will not fail."
"Remi, I believe you." I reached over and patted his arm as best I could without taking my eyes off the road. "Put those thoughts aside for a bit. We need to be focused."
When we arrived at the station, there was one other car in the otherwise deserted car park. I pulled up beside it and climbed out, Remi at my side in an instant. An older man got out of other car. I hazarded a guess that he was in his late fifties or early sisters, already balding, his hairline returned to a grey ring around his head. Round glasses enhanced watery blue eyes, perched above a bulbous nose. I noticed his suit and realised he must have been a council worker, or someone who oversaw the station despite its disuse. Remi had briefed me the details Ron had re-laid about the case, so I smiled as I rounded the car towards him and extended my hand. "Derek Irving? I'm Diannah Bonewhite. We received your call about possible spiritual activity-"
He grabbed my hand between both of his much larger ones. Remi watched every movement. "Thank fuck you've arrived, mind my language." He looked towards my car, frowning when he noticed I was alone. "Nobody else with you?"
I gave him an easy smile. "Don't worry. The rest of the team is on the way. I'm here for a preliminary look around, if you don't mind. Just so we have an idea of what we're dealing with, what equipment we will need to bring."
Derek nodded, releasing my hand as he turned to survey the station. He gestured for me to follow and I fell into step alongside him. Remi followed, as silent as a ghost at my shoulder. We crossed to the open door of the ticket office and Derek gestured for me to go first. I could already see his fear in the beading of sweat on his brow, the clenching of his fists at his sides. His eyes were a little too wide. "As you probably know, this line hasn't been used in over a decade. But, I've always loved this place, it's where I learnt the job. I still come here every couple of days to ensure everything's clean and tidy, spend some time on the platform, y'know." No, I didn't know, but I kept the pleasant smile on my face regardless. "Weekend just gone, some little yobs were down here. I found beer bottles, drug paraphernalia, and that." He stepped into the room and jabbed a finger towards the Ouija Board still sat on the ticket counter. The remnants of the party had been cleaned up and I assumed that was when Derek figured out something wasn't quite right.
He cleared his throat, turning a hot red. "I don't believe in shit like this, right. I never have. But, as I was tidying up, someone pushed me from behind! Or so I thought. Turned around and there's nothing there. Then," he pointed back towards the ticket booth. As far as I could sense, the room was empty. For now. "There's a control board in there, deals with the barriers and the tickets. It turns /on/. Electrics ain't been counted since they shut the platform down. And... And something in there threw this board right at me. So I ran out, went home. F-Found your number on the internet. I'm not crazy," he added quickly; they all said that at some point or another and my smile was genuine as I led him back out of the room and into the open air.
"I know you're not crazy," I reassured him, noticing the way his shoulders sagged a little. "I wish Ouija Board didn't exist at all. Admittedly, the portals they can open are only small, but normally that's enough to let through some malevolent entity or another. I'll contact the team immediately and fill them in." We reached his car and I placed my hand on his arm. "The best thing you can do is go home and wait for my call. I'll let you know as soon as we've done what needs to be done."
Derek swallowed, watery eyes darting back towards the station. "It's a beautiful place," he murmured. I nodded.
"It really is." I waited until he'd gotten into his car and left the car park before I dared turned to Remi. He was smirking and I elbowed him as I passed. "Don't."
"What? He was... interesting."
"Let's just get him his damn station back." I rolled my shoulders as I marched back into the station, Remi moving to inspect the ticket booth. A silvery flame licked into his hand, growing until it melded into a short sword of shimmering white. Bringing my hands together, I closed my eyes and imagined the thin, whip-like rapier. The Light flowed from my fingers and formed the weapon. Creating Light weaponry was an area I was still progressing in, albeit slowly. A fully-fledged Shepherd could create a sword, or a dagger, or a bow, in the instant it took for their heart to beat, yet I was still stuck at the imagining stage. (rework this how we doing it?)
A cruel laugh echoed across the platform, Remi and I looking up at the same moment. A chill crawled down my back, my mouth instantly dry. My palms began to sweat around the handle of my rapier. I'd never met this demon before and I risked at glance at Remi. His jaw was clenched, eyes fixed on the demon across from us.
He looked like a man, barely older than thirty. A man from wealth, judging by the finely tailored clothes he wore; a ruffled black silk shirt, the pressed trousers, the gleaming black shoes. His hair was silver, but not with age. No. It gleamed brighter than the dragon hoard that was my family's collection of silver with every movement he made. But his eyes. They were completely and startlingly black. Not a single pinprick of light in them. He was leaning with his arms crossed against one of the pillars, one leg bent at the knee as he surveyed them across the tracks. I’d never seen a figure so terrifying before. Remi’s wings flared as he shifted in front of me in one movement, the growl already rumbling through his chest. I craned to look over his shoulder, eyes wide.
The demon across the tracks chuckled. “Oh, do not threat. If I was going to attack, I would have done it already.” He tilted his head, those black eyes finding me over Remi’s shoulder. “I am merely here to observe.”
“Orius the Tormentor,” Remi announced. “I have named you. You are granted no power in this Realm.”
The demon, Orius, chuckled, but no amused glint lit his eyes. “I am not afraid of being named, Angel. As I said, I am simply observing. You see, I was rather curious as to what would entice a Being like oneself to crawl for the Light.” His eyes flitted towards me once more, a sly smile growing. “It is becoming ever more clear to me.” He pushed from the pillar.
Remi shifted his stance, sword glowing, as I shrank behind him again. “You need to leave. Back to whatever hole you crept from.”
Orius’ smile twisted into something predatory. “Not so much the hole you may believe, Angel. Perhaps you ought to come with me and find out?” I could see how tense Remi was, the muscles in his back taunt; Light began to burn in his palm.
“I decline your offer,” he ground out. Another chuckle.
“And the Time Bearer? Would she like to come?”
It was as if the very air inside me stilled. /Time Bearer/? I looked up as a snarl ripped through Remi, unable to stop him as he launched himself across the tracks. He landed in a crouch only feet from the demon, raising swiftly to face him. “I command you to leave.”
I rushed to the edge of the platform, looking for a way to get down. Remi’s eyes never left Orius as he snarled for me to stay where I was. I froze, my heart jammed firmly in my throat. The rapier thrummed pathetically in my hand, the Light flickering with my fear. Orius hadn’t moved an inch, watching Remi with that feral amusement in his face. “I take my leave,” he purred in a voice like velvet, his eyes sliding to me once more. “I have figured out what I wished to know.” Inclining his head towards me, the demon stepped back and waved a hand; a tear in the very fabric of the world opened up behind him, impenetrable darkness waiting. I’d never seen such a thing in my entire life, my brain entirely emptied of everything but that tear, that awaiting darkness. “Enjoy your existence,” he smirked as he stepped over the threshold. “While you can.”
And then he was gone, swallowed by the dark, the tear sealing behind him, returning the platform to normal. As if he’d never been there at all. My heart, which ha beneath like a rock in my throat, suddenly plummeted as nausea roiled and I took a staggering step back even as Remi appeared on the platform beside me. He grabbed my arm as I felt the world tilt. “Diannah. /Breathe/.”
I tried to suck in a breath but it was like trying to breath through plastic. Remi shook me. “Breathe, for the Life of Gaia, /breathe!/“
I managed to get some air to my lungs, each exhale shaky. My whole body was trembling, my ribs like steel bars across my too-small lungs. At his gentle coaxing, I finally steadied my breathing enough to splutter, “/Time Bearer?/“
Remi swallowed. And for the first time, he looked scared. I’d never seen the kind of fear in his eyes he was displaying now. I tasted bile and swung away. “W-We need to get to the car. You need to get home.”
I nodded, hands on my knees as I fought to steady my breathing. I hadn’t had a panic attack that severe in a while, thought I’d gotten past this... I forced myself to straighten despite every fibre of my body screaming to curl up into a ball.
Somehow, with Remi guiding me, I managed to reach the car. “I’ll meet you at home,” he whispered, that fear still in his eyes, and I knew where he was going, knew he’d be heading for the Angel Realm. I’d stumbled across something I shouldn’t have, I knew that too, in my bones. A gut instinct.
Demons obviously didn’t have the same limitations as Guardians.
/Time Bearer. Time Bearer. Time Bearer/.
Those two words circled my head the entire drive home. I barely registered the crossing and the traffic lights, running on autopilot as I replayed the scene in my head, every word that demon had said.
/Orius./
Everybody had already gathered by the time I reached home, seated in the front room, their faces drawn and anxious. Mum looked completely stunned, her normally bronzed face pale. Dad looked absolutely bewildered. Remi was sat on the edge of the couch, wings sagging against the cushions; Fleur leaned against him, flashing him anxious glances.
Grandad, Anju and Pim looked grave. Mason was the only one who was absent. The unsaid words, the truth, hung in the air like an invisible bomb. A bomb that I didn’t want dropped. Couldn’t face, not yet.
Anju opened her mouth. “Diannah-“
“I don’t want to know.” I backed towards the door. “Don’t tell me. Because I don’t want to know.”
“DeeDee, please,” Mum murmured but I shook my head, turning and fleeing the room.
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t take in enough air and still the words circulated over and over. /Time Bearer/. I knew what that meant even if I didn’t want to accept it.
The Goddess of Time.
/Me/.

[MrsCarterRivera]

Chapter Eleven

Dad was flying home today. The relief I felt upon hearing that news felt as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. "They were joined by a few of the Nomads yesterday," Grandad informed me at lunch. "Kiran and ?? are on their way too."
Marcia let out a sigh, murmuring a prayer beneath her breath.
"That's a good thing, right?" Oli had asked later, when we were sat in my bedroom later, the latest Doug Appleby video streaming on my TV. She was sat against my pillows, scrolling idly through her phone. I nodded and slumped down beside her.
"It is. I guess we won't find out much until Dad actually gets back." Like whether they'd figured out the demon that had done it, whether they'd found it. Whether the Archangels had figured out exactly how it had accessed the Spring. I thought back to Orius, wondered if it had been him to inflict such cruelty and malice. My stomach roiled and I forced the idea away. I could barely even think about the words that had left his lips, the expressions of my family when I'd walked into the front room later. I didn't doubt my Dad already knew about the most recent development. Would no doubt want to talk to me about it too.
There was a knock on the bedroom door which had us both looking up. A moment later, Mason stuck his head around the door, a tray of snacks balanced on his arm. "Room for one more?"
"Always room for a handsome one," Oli smirked and we shuffled along to give him room on the bed. He set the tray at the bottom and I gave it an approving glance over; fresh scones with cream and strawberry jam, some mint chocolate biscuits and three cans of soda. Oli was the first to delve in, but not before she'd paused the video on the TV; Doug was in the middle of explaining new footage of three triangular shaped UFOs that had been spotted over Cornwall. Doug had recently dyed his hair, the fringe now streaked a violent purple. Oli noted Mason's glimpse towards the screen. "That's my future husband."
Mason chuckled, settling his long frame on the edge of the bed. He reached for a scone swiping some of the cream from out the middle. "Doug Appleby?"
"You've heard of him?" Oli's eyes widened and Mason laughed again.
"Yeah. I watch his stuff all the time. He has quite a few interesting theories."
"Oh my God." Oli looked at me, blue eyes wide. "/Nobody/ ever knows who Doug is! And even less believe in the ETs. The amount of evidence he's collected literally just blows my mind."
I grabbed a scone and settled back to eat; Oli on the subject of Doug Appleby wasn’t something that passed quickly.

“I heard he’s going to break into some MoD base,” Mason replied, apparently just as enthused. “He’s convinced there are confidential files being held somewhere, eye-witness accounts from military personnel. Would make for some interesting reading.”
Oli’s eyes brightened. “You are /definitely/ invited to my wedding.”
“To Doug?” He smirked, before taking a bite from his scone. Oli rolled her eyes.
“Of course. Dee’s going to be my best woman.” She leaned over to nudge me. “Though, I’ll hope she’ll be more chatty during the speeches than she is now.”
I laughed. “You know I already have it written, right?”
Mason grinned at me. “You gotta let me read.”
“Do not let him read!” Oli settled back. “It’s got to be a surprise. Nobody can hear it before me, no matter how hot you are.” She smirked at me. “Though maybe we’ll be celebrating your wedding first?”
“Oh my Gods, Oli, please stop.” I searched for the nearest thing to hit her with, as she laughed beside me. Face burning, I couldn’t bring myself to look to see what expression Mason was wearing.
“Maybe,” he replied in that lilting accent of his. My stomach did a somersault.
“Definitely,” Oli corrected for him.
They were still chuckling when Mason's alarm went off on his phone. He leaned back to slide it out the pocket of his jeans, swiping the screen. "I told your Mom I'd do the next shift with her." The smile on his face made my heart warm and I could tell that Oli noted. He slid off the bed. "I'll catch you ladies in a little while. Enjoy the scones." My gaze lingered on him as he left the room, shutting my door quietly behind him.
"Okay. He's so damn sweet," Oli said, resting back against the pillows and smirking over at me. "He's hot, he's sweet, he's great with your family... He has /amazing/ dental health."
I laughed, reaching to grab a can of soda from the tray. "... I know."
Oli grabbed my arm in excitement. "Admit it. You like him. You /love/ him."
"I don't love him," I protested, despite the shy smile creeping across my face. I glanced towards the door again, and for the first time... I really could envision it. A future between Mason and I. (finish better)

---

Oli had already left for home by the time the taxi pulled up outside the house. Mum and myself were already there to greet him as he pulled his tired frame from the back of the cab. He'd only been gone for ?? days, but the stubble on his face was in definite need of a shave, hair mussed and begging for a comb. Pim appeared on the driveway beside him, metal wings folding neatly behind his back.
I let Mum greet him first, throwing her arms around his neck as she planted a solid kiss to his mouth. "I'm so glad you're back," she murmured. Dad waved me over and I squeezed in, throwing my arms around them both.
"Me too."
"What happened?" Marcia drew back to meet his gaze. "Do they know how it happened?"
"We need a family meeting," he sighed, resting his chin on the top of my head as I squeezed him around the waist. "With everyone. Urgently." Pim nodded and disappeared. By the time we'd gotten into the house, all the Guardians were gathered in the front room with Grandad and Mason, my heart jolting as Kerslake and Kyrie formed from the shadows a moment later. And that's when I knew, whatever we were about to be told... It wasn't going to be good.
Kerslake looked absolutely severe. His brows were drawn over his dark eyes, black robes billowing at his feet as he strode for the table. Kyrie took the seat beside him, fingers laced on the table in front of him, and I noticed the purple smudges of exhaustion beneath his eyes. Was he not sleeping? I pulled my gaze away as Pim, stood at the head of the table, began to talk. "As you all know, Willis and I left for the Green's Spring and the news was unfortunately true. There were no survivors. Because of the circumstances of their deaths-" I knew already that demon slayings were non-contractual and could disrupt the entire process of those particular Souls and the Souls they still had contracts yet to fulfil. It was truly one of the most disastrous things that could happen. "- all four Souls and their chosen Guardians are currently taking residence at Lake Tranquilla. The trauma of such a sudden passing..." He looked towards Anju, Grandad and my parents. "It may be some time before we can speak with them and astern what happened. And no doubt the Archangels will want to ask their questions first." He paused and I saw him glance towards my dad, saw the small nod he got in return.
"On the particular night of the slaying, there was a huge disturbance in the Stream. On a level that hasn't been seen before in a very long time." I frowned, glancing to Remi who was sat beside me. He was frowning, apparently the first he'd heard of it too.
"Well, the disturbance was the demon, wasn't it?" Mum piped up from where she sat beside my dad. "It would have caused some sort of ripple through travel alone."
"If the demon /didn't/ come through the Spring, it would have had to bypass all the wards. The Green's Spring has some of the most ancient wards of all. They haven't crumbed in a thousand years."
Anju nodded, leaning forward in her chair. "One would suppose."
"We ran all the tests," Dad protested and Pim nodded his agreement. "There wasn't even a hairline crack, anywhere, around the border. It doesn't make any sense."
"So, what caused the disruption?" Anju asked softly, eyes on Pim. The angel shifted, features turning graver.
"A God has gone missing from the Realm of the Most High. The Archangels believe the slaying may have been a distraction. They are trying to figure out how a demon gained access to the Higher Realms as we speak."
"That's impossible," Remi whispered at my side; goose bumps rose on my arms and I rubbed at them, wrapping my arms around myself. Kyrie tracked the movement.
Pim looked at him, as if wishing he could take back the news. "Raphael confirmed it himself. Celio, God of Love hasn't been seen in the Azure Palaces since the disruption."
Everyone fell into stunned silence, my own lips parted in shock. A /God/ had gone missing? Perhaps dragged to the Lair itself? The slaying a mere /distraction?/ How was any of that even possible? Weren't the Gods and Goddesses invincible? None of this made any sense. A family, a family that had been in this house only weeks ago, killed for a /distraction/. It made me sick to my stomach.
"Any strange occurrences must be reported," Pim continued, my ears beginning to ring. I looked over at Mason; he looked completely gob-smacked, Colsus frozen on his shoulder. The spider-monkey had his tail curled around Mason's throat.
"Only a Serodon could accomplish such a thing," Mum said, voice ringing steady and strong. All eyes shifted to her. "Lycus created them as a mockery of the Archangels. And it wouldn't surprise me if one of them were responsible."
The Serodon. Orius. My eyes darted to the Grim Reapers still sat at the table. Had Kerslake been one of them? Or perhaps one of the feared Makorach. Mason looked grim, fists clenched on the table top and he glanced at me, meeting my eye as Mum continued. Colsus had barely moved and I noticed his little face was taunt in a grimace; no doubt at the horror of what we'd all just heard. It was rare for a demon slaying to occur, but a God to go missing? It wasn't heard of. I flashed the monkey an apologetic glance and pulled my attention back to my mother.
"... The Makorach could be a possibility for the slaying. But, again, there's the matter of how they got into the home in the first place." She blew out a breath, eyes searching the table for the bottle of wine that wasn't there.
"Did Orius say else anything to you?" Anju asked me and I started a little, before heat bloomed into my face. Kerslake glanced between us, the crease in his brow deepening.
"Orius?"
I shrank a little in my chair, eyes darting to Kyrie. His entire body was still, taunt, eyes fixed to my face. He didn't a single word as I looked back at Kerslake. "Yesterday. Remi and I went to deal with a Summoning. Ouija board," I added for clarity that wasn't asked for. "Orius was waiting on the platform. I..." I glanced to Remi, who nodded. "I think he'd been waiting for us. He said he was curious as to what would make a Being like himself 'crawl for the Light'." My eyes found Kyrie's again and they were suddenly much darker than I was accustomed to. I swallowed, unable to say anymore. Kerslake also looked towards the youngling.
"He said he was only there to observe," Remi filled in what I couldn't. "And that he'd gotten his answer." My Guardian grit his teeth. "It all seems a little coincidental." His glare on Kyrie was more than apparent.
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Kerslake growled and I swore the room trembled a little.
"We were just getting to that," Pim replied, voice terse even as his wings stretched. "But, we have our orders. We're going to increase patrols, but we continue on as normal. Keep monitoring, keep protecting."
Wait for the Archangels to sort everything out basically. I let the conversation of the others wash over me.
Later, I sat outside on the porch, a cup of hot tea to hand. My parents were still in the front room with Grandad, talking to Pim and Anju, and Fleur and Remi had left to visit the Angel Realm. Mason had still been in the basement when I'd made the tea, but truthfully, I was glad for the space.
I couldn't help thinking about everything that had happened so far. The poltergeist's warning was becoming clearer by the day, a warning that something bigger than them all was going on. I even felt a slight bite of guilt at the fact that we'd vanquished him anyway, absorbed his hateful essence into Light. Returned him back to Source.
The Greens had been murdered at their own Spring, a place so utterly Sacred no Darkness should be able to pass its borders at all. A God had been taken from the Realm of the Most High on the very same night. I couldn't even fathom what that meant for the world. Whether that meant /anything/ to the world at all. The God of Love. Would this have a rippling effect on the physical? It made me dizzy to think about.
There was a crack of the Realm of the Most High. That’s what the poltergeist had said and you’d have had to be blind not to see the connection. Was Lycus making a strike against the Gods? Were they on the brink of some sort of spiritual war? I rubbed my brow, trying to ease to building headache. There were so many questions and I didn’t even know where to start looking for answers.
The door behind me creaked and Mason slipped out. I smiled at him, setting my cup down as he sat on the bench beside me. “Hey.”
“I just finished shift. Your mom said you’d be out here.”
I smiled wistfully, turning to look out over the darkening garden. Flowers bloomed in every direction, leaves trembling in an early summer breeze. “I like the quiet. It’s peaceful. I sit out here sometimes to think.” I glanced at my cup. “If I have tea, it’s normally because I’m thinking.”
Mason chuckled and I felt his eyes on the side of my face. “So what /are/ you thinking about?”
I groaned softly, looking down at my hands. My thumb ran over the scar I’d gotten on my first ever ghost hunt. “About how messed up everything is. And...” I stole a glance at him. “How little I seem to know compared to everyone else. I barely know a thing about demons. I came across my first real one and ... and I didn’t even know what to do. What to say.”
Mason’s features softened and he looked out over the garden. “I was surprised when you told me at the Gathering. That you’d only dealt with poltergeists. They’re like imps or even Lucifs; pesky and annoying, but not a huge threat.” Lucifs were disgusting bat-like creatures that acted as messengers for the occupants of the Lair. “Demons are in a completely different league, Diannah.”
The way he said my name was like a caress and this time when he looked at me I didn’t look away.
Mason carried on. “You’ve heard of the Necris, yeah?” I nodded, barely able to repress my shudder. I’d seen images of the Lycus’ Hellhounds and it had been enough to give me nightmares for weeks. “I’ve heard their bite can savage the connection between Guardian and Soul. They are sometimes let out into the Astral to cause havoc. Their handlers are called the Makorach.”
“Mum mentioned them earlier. What’s the difference between them and the Serodon?” I hugged myself a little. Mason was quiet for a moment as he tried best to condense it. I knew the Lair was full of dark and ancient history; the Library bookshelves were crammed with books on the matter.
“The Makorach are less humanoid than the Serodon. They are no more than a demonic army, sent to do the bidding of whatever Serodon commands of them. They are shapeshifters, able to assume any form, and are mostly the kind that appear at Ouija Summonings or rituals of the sort.”
“Orius looked human,” I murmured. Mason nodded, brow creasing.
“Orius is a Serodon.”
“And there are others?”
Mason nodded again, shifting on the bench to face me. His knee knocked against mine and I concentrated on the warmth of it. “There were seven in total, a reflection of the Archangels. Orius the Tormentor was the demon you saw at the station. Then, there’s his brother, Astruna the Destructor.”
Was Orius’ brother even more terrifying than he was? I didn’t dare take my gaze off Mason, at the same time afraid of what he’ll say next. What other horrors would fill my mind of the black eyed demons that stalked the lands, ready to terrorise and kill.
“There is one by the name of Leifa, the Convincer.” Mason’s face tightened a little and I wondered if he’d had experience with that one. “And another called Then finally, there is ?? They simply call her the Princess.”
“That’s only five. You said there was seven.”
Mason nodded, features shifting into a look I couldn’t quite pinpoint. “Wyldak the Teeth and Kerslake the Grevious now hold status as Grim Reapers.”
Hearing Wyldak the Teeth turned the blood in my veins to ice, but hearing Kerslake’s formal title was like a blow to the chest and Mason must have seen it in my face as he reached out to touch my hand. “You need to know all this, Diannah. I don’t know why they’ve been shielding you. Especially seeing as you’re the Time Bearer.”
Nobody had mentioned it until now and I looked down at where his hand rested above mine. I lifted my thumb to settle it against his finger. “Maybe that’s why. My family have always tried to keep me safe, and I know that’s normal for most families, but... maybe that is part of the reason.” I wasn’t ready to process that hurt yet either. They’d done such a good job of keeping me safe, coddling me away from the darker aspect of our work, that I was incredibly numb to the reality of it all.
“It isn’t such a strange occurrence, if it’s any reassurance,” Mason murmured, darkness almost entirely blanketing the garden. “Higher Beings incarnating in the physical. Archangels apparently incarnate from time to time. So... If it’s true and you are a goddess, then... you’re obviously here for an important reason, right?” He shrugged. “And your Guardians will know that. They’ll know the plan in place, even if you don’t.” He gave a wry grin. “And even if they can’t say.”
I knew he was right. I looked back at him, the smile lifting the corner of my mouth without me even being aware. I felt a flicker beneath my ribs at the way he held my look, the easy confidence in his face. “Thank you,” I murmured, hand slipping into his. Mason entwined our fingers, then lifted my hand to brush a kiss against my knuckles. “I actually feel better.”
“Glad to be of service,” he chuckled, getting to his feet and helping me stand. He picked up my now cold tea. “Come on. I’ll make you a fresh one.”
I couldn’t have kept the smile off my face if I’d tried.

[MrsCarterRivera]

Chapter Twelve

Oli's last day of college finally arrived. The last of her exams had been wrapped up in the past week, and that evening, her dad treated us to dinner by the sea. We sat together in the beachside restaurant, the orange sun casting a slanting glow across the rippling ocean. Not far from us, on the sand itself, Remi stood with Liana on her shoulder, chatting animatedly away to Daniel Benson's Guardian, Bree. She was a beautiful angel with glorious red hair that fell like a sheet of glass down her back. Her blue eyes were the kind that seemed to pin you to the spot as soon as they fell on you, and I'd witnessed Remi get tongue-tied around her more than once. Whatever he was saying must have amused her as she threw back her head and laughed.
"What are your plans for the summer, Diannah?" Dan asked, spearing a piece of pasta onto his fork and glancing over at me.
"I'm going to keep up my studies over the summer," I replied with a smile, trying to look more confident than I felt. "I might even start working for my dad's company."
"Ah, yes. Willis and his gadgets. How is business going for him?" I rattled off a few non-existent statistics for the company that didn't existence, yet was advertised in all the papers; a glorified ghost hunting squad. Dan looked marginally impressed. "I didn't realise there was a lot of interest in paranormal phenormena."
"It's really blown up recently," I replied, which wasn't exactly a lie. There’d been an influx of new paranormal shows on the TV recently and now everybody wanted to a spirit communication device or a specialised camera. Dan nodded thoughtfully.
“Does he have a website?”
“I’ve got it saved on a tab,” Oli told him. “I’ll show you at home.”
“How do you think you did this week? With your exams?” I asked her and she looked thoughtful for a moment.
“Not bad. Maths nearly did me over, but I think it’ll pass.”
“I’m proud of you, Oli. Your mum would have been too.” Her dad smiled, reaching to cover his daughter’s hand, and I felt warmth in my chest. I knew it hadn’t always been easy for Oli and her father. She’d lost her mum at a young age, before I was even on the scene. I’d seen photos though and Oli looked exactly like her; the same thick dark hair and blazing blue eyes. And Dan had done everything he could to ensure she hadn’t missed out.
“Thanks, dad,” she smiled back, then quickly wiped her eyes. “I said no soppy shit at the table though.”
He laughed. “It wouldn’t be the same without it, Olivia.”
We finished our meal and took a walk on the beach to watch the sun begin to set, casting a streak of reddish-pink across the sky. Dan snapped a photograph of us both on Oli’s phone, and in the car on the way back, she sent it to me. I uploaded it onto my Instagram, captioned with a simple red heart. “Suck on that, Shaylin,” I murmured to myself.
Mr Benson pulled up outside the gates. I leaned over to hug Oli before climbing out the car. "Thanks for the lift, Mr Benson. See you tomorrow, Oli."
"Goodnight," they both called out, before I slammed the door shut and turned to make my way towards the gate. The car pulled away, rounded a corner and disappeared out of sight. I pushed t the gate and slid between the crack, making my way up the curving gravel driveway to my front door. Ahead of me, the fountain sat and to my left, a smattering of trees marked the edge of the woodline. To my right, the gardens wrapped around the entire side of the house and stretched far far out the back. And at the corner of my eye, a flicker of flame above the treeline.
I froze and looked to my left. Another ball a fire, much bigger than the first, erupted out of the dark canopy of the trees. What the --
I glanced towards the house. The lights were on in the front room and the hall. I was approaching before I'd even fully decided what I wanted to do. I should call Remi. I knew I should call Remi, but it still didn't stop me creeping into the trees, wading carefully through the undergrowth, watching the flames grow bigger the closer I got.
A fire. In the clearing ahead of me. Huge fireballs erupting from somewhere and soaring up into the night sky. And then I heard the clash of steel...
I peered through the bushes, eyes widening at the sight that met me. Kyrie and Kerslake both stood in the clearing, a few feet apart from each other, circling. Both had discarded their black robes, left in nothing but black trousers. Kerslake raised his hand, another ball of fire erupting and hurtling straight for Kyrie. The youngling raised his hands and sent the flaming ball ricochetting into the sky. It burned out just as it arced through the darkness. Kerslake didn’t relent, lobbing another two balls of flame his way. Kyrie deflected each one.
Then they circled again.
Kerslake's muscles rippled with his every moment, his speed startling. He was such a bulking man that it looked unnatural for such fluid movements to be coming from him. Dark hair smattered his chest, then trailed south from his belly button to the waistband of his black armoured trousers. His torso and back bore scars, both silver with age and ones that were much fresher. More tattoos adorned his arms; two large ovals on each of his biceps, another smattering of rings across his chest, as if a jeweller had spilled a precious load.
My eyes drifted to Kyrie. Also shirtless. Also scarred. Every muscle in his body was taunt, his abdomen a solid block of muscle as he shifted from foot to foot, adjusting his stance, watching Kerslake, waiting.
The older Reaper moved, a ball of flame bursting from his palm. It hurtled right towards Kyrie, who lashed out and deflected it at the last moment. The flaming ball soared through the air and burnt itself out. "Sword," Kerslake barked and Kyrie waved his hand, the long sword materialising in his hand. Kerslake sent another ball of fire and Kyrie deflected it again.
I should get out of here. The last thing I wanted was to be caught spying, even though that wasn't exactly what I'd been doing. At least it wasn't a demon. I turned and began to make my way from the clearing, only making it a couple of steps before a bird suddenly burst from the tree beside me. I screamed, biting it off mid-way by clamping a hand to my mouth. Shit. Shitting bird! I went to run.
Kyrie was already in front of me. I'd barely even seen him move and I stopped so suddenly I nearly gave myself whiplash. I stared up at him, taking in the sweat-slick hair and the perspiration that sheened in the dappling moonlight. He was panting, a slow smirk pulling at his mouth, even as he pointed the sword at me. What looked like a hand-held scythe encased his other fist. "I didn't take you for nosy, Anna."
/Anna/. My breath hitched, even as my face burned with embarrassment. Normally, I hated being called that shortened version of my name, but coming from his lips... It hit differently. "I-I saw fire." Not a lie.
"And you thought you'd come and investigate?"
"Well, yes," I replied shortly, back straightening. "Because I happen to live here. And I can do what I want in my own garden." I glanced at the sword tip and felt a lick of fear curl up my spine. He seemed to note this and took a slow step forward. I retreated another two.
"Brave words for someone on the wrong end of a blade."
“I’d say you’re the brave one for pointing that thing in my face.” I tilted my chin and forced myself to look him dead in the eye. Willing myself not to be intimidated by him or his sword. Kyrie chuckled, tongue darting to trail his bottom lip and I followed the movement as my gut clenched. I’d never felt more like a deer in the path of a wolf as I did in that moment.
He lowered his sword a little and moved even closer, forcing me backwards into clearing. Kerslake was standing by the fire behind me, water canteen in hand. The fire crackled and licked at the sky and he watched me as impassively as a cat would watch a trapped mouse. Knowing there was nowhere for it to go anyway. For me to go. I swallowed and looked back at at Kyrie. “Move. Out of my way.”
“Why?” Kyrie glanced towards Kerslake, the large man approaching from behind; fear seized my heart and clenched it. “I thought you were here for-“
Remi slammed down in front of me from the darkness above, leaving a cloud of dirt in his wake. His blazing white sword was already in hand as he straightened, looking fiercely from Kerslake to Kyrie to his weapons, all in a single sweep of his gaze. "What the /fuck/ is going on?"
"Calm down." Kerslake strode between the two males, scowling between them before settling his gaze on Remi. "We were training. The girl was curious. No harm done."
"He was pointing a blade at her," Remi hissed, glare intent on Kyrie, who was smirking. The sword was loose at his side now though. I narrowed my eyes at him.
"And I am curious as to why she lingered." Kerslake settled those black eyes on me and I felt the urge to shrink away, to hide behind Remi and his large wings. "Can you fight?"
I glanced at the scythe in his own hand, then shook my head. "Not with weapons. But, I practise with my Light sometimes."
“Show me.” Kerslake’s stare was impenetrable. I glanced at Remi, who was still glowering furiously at the pair of them, then at Kyrie. The youngling was leaning against his sword, a lazy smile in place. Trying to work some moisture into my throat, I shut my eyes and concentrated on my breathing. I was aware of the gazes on me and it took me a minute to summon the Light. I felt its warmth tingling through my crown, into my very Being, felt it run through my veins and alight my very fingertips. I imagined my own sword, one to rival Kyrie’s, felt the Light flicker and form and gain weight in my palm. Opening my eyes, I gripped the blazing white sword tight and looked right towards Kerslake.
“Too slow,” he grunted. “A demon would have done some damage before you’ve even focused enough to form Light.” He shot a look at Remi that even had my Guardian looking away uncomfortably. These were clearly things I should already have been able to do one a whim. I flexed my fingers and looked back to the Grim Reaper.
“What do I do now?” I jerked my head towards Kyrie, who seemed to perk up a little. “If we were to fight, how would I defend myself?”
Kerslake gave me a satisfied smile and it caught me off guard. I think that was the first time I’d ever seen him smile. He turned to Kyrie and gestured for him to approach. Then, he backed up, Remi joining him at the edge of the clearing. He’d sheathed his sword, but still had his hand on the hilt, jaw clenched as he glared hard at Kyrie. I knew Remi was only annoyed because he hadn’t had a reason to fight Kyrie himself.
Kyrie stopped a couple of feet away from me, readjusting the grip on his sword, and I did the same, mimicking his stance. I tried to ignore the way his smirk made heat prickle in my cheeks. “Demons mainly rely on stealth,” Kerslake said. “They will almost always come at you from behind. If you are lucky enough to come face to face with one, and are prepared as you are now, it is better to remember a few things.” I didn’t dare let my stare leave Kyrie’s, his own face settling into one of concentration.
“Mainly, they are the ultimate tricksters. They may try and convince you they mean no harm. Never believe a word. The second your guard drops...” He didn’t finish the sentence but I didn’t need him to. Kyrie began to circle me and I turned on the spot to keep him in view. “Also, they are not afraid to play dirty. Nothing is out of bounds for a demon.”
Kyrie darted forward and I panicked, swinging the air. I caught a flash of His delighted grin as he hopped back. He circled again, kept making false movements and it was clear how sluggish and slow I was compared to him. I swallowed back the uncomfortable embarrassment and readjusted the grip on my sword.
“Can demons be killed?” I grit out, swinging at Kyrie again. He laughed. Actually /laughed/ at my dismal attempt.
“Not ‘killed’ in the way you’re intending,” came Kerslake’s gravelly reply. “Death is simply a coined term for transition. The transition between the Physical and the Spiritual Realms. Energy can be neither created nor destroyed, but it can be transformed. Remoulded into something new. You neutralise Darkness the same way you would an imp or a poltergeist. You simply need a more powerful weapon when it comes to the demonic.”
I nodded, but still didn’t take my eyes from Kyrie.
“But, none of this matters if you cannot form quickly.”
“She performs well enough when we’re chasing ghosts,” Remi said hotly and I’d almost forgotten he was there. Kerslake simply looked back at him.
“You are hindering her.”
“We’re protecting her.” I looked over at Remi and let my sword hang loose. He had his arms folded over his chest, wings tucked tight as he glowered across the ring. Kerslake inclined his head but didn’t answer. Remi dragged his focus to me. “We’re done here.”
“But-“
“We’re done.”
The sword of light fizzled in my hand and disappeared completely. Beside me, Kyrie also released his own, then turned to grab his robes. I watched as he slid them on, sweat-kissed muscles disappearing behind the black fabric. I looked away before he could catch me gawping, but I’d only made it a few steps out of the clearing when he caught up with me. I watched Kerslake stride ahead, his silence like a physical presence, then glanced back at Kyrie. “That was more enjoyable than I was expecting,” I murmured.
Kyrie’s smile slid into some feral and he slipped his hands into the pockets of his robes. “Admit it. You thought I had bad intentions when I first forced you into that clearing.”
“I did not!” I protested despite the smile on my lips. Kyrie bumped me with his side and the sudden warmth of his body had heat flooding my system.
“Bullshit.”
A splayed wing nearly knocked me aside as Remi shoved between us and stalked through the trees after Kerslake.
Mason was waiting on the gravel when we emerged. His eyes darted between all four of us before settling on me, brows raising slightly. I grinned at him and made my way over. Kerslake didn’t even give him a second glance. I looked back just in time to see them disappearing into black mist, but my breath hitched when I saw the splintering look Kyrie was giving - to Mason.
He stiffened beside me, informing me that he’d noticed.
And then they were gone, the grass shifting where they’d stood. “What’s going on?” His voice was tight and I forced a smile, shrugging lightly.
“Kerslake’s going to help train me.”
“I can train you,” Remi said beside me and I turned to look at him. “You don’t need to train with them.”
“By the sounds of it, you haven’t been training me enough,” I replied. Remi shifted, a flush rising up the back of his neck.
“I’d never put you in serious danger, Diannah.”
“That’s the point,” I snapped, as Mason remained silent beside him. “Things /are/ getting serious, whether you like it or not. And I’m /not/ prepared. Whatever you think about the Grim Reapers, keeping me in the dark isn’t going to help me.” Remi actually dropped his gaze. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going for a shower.” I turned and stomped towards the house, leaving Mason and my Guardian behind me.

[MrsCarterRivera]

Chapter Thirteen

An entire week passed and I didn't see Kyrie again once. I'd taken to training in the clearing every evening, trying to summon my Light faster and faster, before spending an hour going through the steps Kerslake had taught me, and a part of me had been looking forward to showing them my progress. But, as the days crept by, it soon became clear they weren't going to show up at all.
And nobody seemed to really know where they were. I tried not to question too much, especially as Remi seemed intent on brushing me off whenever I asked. "They're probably just doing Grim Reaper stuff," my Guardian told me, as we made our way to the Spring to start our shift.
I tried not to think too much about what that might include, what kind of things the two of them might be up to. Most likely, they were escorting Souls to the Mountains. And I did everything I could to ignore the slight pang that radiated in my chest whenever I thought about our training session.
On Sunday afternoon, Mason and I were lounging in front of the TV when Grandad entered the room. "Don't you two have anything better to do than melting your brains in front of that box?"
"Not really," I replied, sitting up and reaching for the remote.
"A demon sighting has been reported a few miles away," Grandad informed us. "You can both come along with me." Mason helped me to my feet, already grinning. To be fair, we'd both been restless and bored all morning; we could both do with a little excitement.
Leaving Mason talking to my Grandad, I hurried upstairs to grab my denim jacket. I never knew what I was going to encounter until I got there, but the jacket offered some sort of protection from flying objects, or sudden pushes... It had saved me from many a grazed elbow. Grandad already had his bag hooked on his shoulder, Mason holding a second, when I reappeared. We all trudged outside, heading for Grandad's Land Rover, and after dumping our bags in the back, we all piled into the front and fixed our seatbelts. The Land Rover rumbled to life beneath us and Grandad pulled away from the house and began to trundle off down the driveway, towards the large wrought-iron gates ahead. They swung open on our approach and we glided through.
"Where was the sighting?" I asked Grandad, already reaching for the case file he'd left on the dashboard. I began to flick through, Mason peering over beside me.
"Council offices in town."
"That's a bit of a weird one." Normally it was the abandoned houses and buildings, the places where teenagers liked to sneak in and cause trouble. I wondered if it had been a ritual or a Ouija board this time. Though, sometimes demons popped up on their own accord for their own malevolent reasons, and we truly wouldn't know until we got there. As we drove along, the windows cracked to let in the stream of cool air, I thought back to what Mason had told me a week before. Ever since, between my shifts, studying and training, I'd been slipping into the library and doing as much research as I could. I knew the Seradon were over a millennia old and that two had indeed defected; Wyldak and Kerslake.
I also found out the other Reapers, Makya and Inumez, and presumably Kyrie, had been Makorach. The grunts of the Lair, the ones sent to do the nasty bidding of their Serodon masters. No doubt the one we'd face today would be a Makorach. I don't think I could bear to see another like Orius again.
Within twenty minutes, we were pulling up outside the council offices, the car park empty save for the few cars still dotted around. Grandad cut the engine and we all piled out. Mason and I went to grab the equipment, hoisting the bags on our shoulders before we followed Grandad inside. The lobby was spacious and air conditioned, a small waiting room greeting us. Leading off from that were rows of desks and chairs, each with a computer and a partition wall. "They shut down the office so we could work," Grandad explained. Anju emerged from a door to our left, her hands embalmed with Light. She must have been waiting here for us, because Grandad didn't even look surprised. "Any sign?"
"Nothing on this level and I've scoured every shadow and hiding place. We should try upstairs." Another doorway ahead of us led to a stairwell which took us up to the second level of the council offices. More desks and chairs and partitions, as well as a door to the toilets. Anju, who'd been leading the way, turned suddenly towards the closed door. Her gaze shot to my grandfather, who gestured for Mason to come closer. Taking his bag, Grandad unzipped it and pulled out a ??. He held his device in his hand, then motioned for Mason to open the door.
I watched from behind them, my heartbeat slowing to a dull, dreadful thud. A cold sweat gleamed on my brow as I waited to see what we'd find within.
Mason grabbed the handle and shoved open the door. Inside, the lights above the row of porcelain sinks flickered and I felt the temperature plummet. Our breaths, besides Anju's, released as small clouds of steam, my denim jacket doing nothing against the icy chill. And in the corner... I'd never seen anything so disgusting, even though I'm sure I had that thought at every encounter I had.
The demon wasn't so much a demon at all, but an imp. Its oily tar-like skin seemed to ooze and drip even as it stood there, its black pea-sized eyeballs pinned into the goop of its face and I always felt the strange urge to reach out and press them into place, as you would a chocolate chip onto an iced cupcake. I clasped my hands together as I took the rest of it in. The Imp's round lumpy head was sat on top of an equally round lumpy body, still oozing that disgusting black slime. A pair of spindly legs and arms protruded from its mass of a body and it always amazed me how they even managed to walk.
Mason chuckled and I glanced at the back of his chestnut coloured head and felt my own smile lifting in an answering grin. "May I?" he asked Grandad. Grandad smiled, took a step back and gestured for him to go ahead. I moved to stand beside him and Anju, the three of them watching as summoned his Light. My eyes widened at the vibrant colour blue that erupted from his hands. (make this more dramatic with the Imp in rewrite and d/m getting closer)
The imp squealed, rushing into the corner of the stall in a desperate bid to get away. A second later, the blue Light enveloped it; it made a noise similar to a deflating balloon and was swallowed entirely by the Light. Grandad chuckled.
“Good job, Mason. It will be interesting to see what else you can do.” He turned to Anju. “Can you sense anything else?”
She cast around, then shook her head. “No. Rather peculiar though. A lone imp? You normally find them in numbers.” Nests of the awful creatures. I glanced around.
“It could have gotten lost?” I suggested. Grandad murmured his agreement, then knelt to pick up the bag at his feet.
“We’ll have a word with the council workers. See if they’ve noticed anything strange around here recently.”
I turned to look behind Mason at the now empty bathroom stall. It was kind of strange... I met Mason’s eye.
"I've never seen blue Light before," I said, lingering behind as Anju and Grandad went ahead. Mason came to a stop in the office, summoning it again. His hands glowed. "It's beautiful. Is it rare?"
"I don't think so," Mason smiled as he extinguished it again. "Mom taught us how to change the colour when we were kids. Well, she taught me and I taught Colton." <-- keep about colour thing idk? Different colours for different things?
He reached out, catching my chin between his fingers. "Today was fun. We do something called Imp Baiting in the States. They like to dwell in certain places and they're pretty easy to lure out. I can show you over the summer."
I nodded, breathless in a way that had nothing to do with the Imp. Mason seemed to notice this as a gleam appeared in his hazel eyes. Slowly, he closed the gap between us, my palms growing clammy as he studied my face. "I meant what I said the night of the Gathering. You really are beautiful, Diannah." My cheeks warmed, nerve ending alighting the moment he reached out and touched my face. His fingers glided across my jaw, but I couldn't seem to take my eyes from his, couldn't seem to draw breath. And then he dipped his head, lips pressing against mine in that confident, assured way I'd come to expect. Mason never seemed hesitant about anything and I felt my knees start to tremble. Mason savoured the kiss, his other hand slipping to my hip to bring me closer. I let myself sink into it, shivering as his tongue swept mine. I didn't know what to think. I was kissing Mason Davies. My first real /kiss/ was happening. My hands found his shoulders, fisting the material of his sweater, the kiss deepening. For so long, I'd found it hard to imagine a future with anyone; it was hard to date when your Guardian Angel had incredibly loud and strong opinions on your potential partners, often during those said dates. Yet, at the same time, I owed my mum an apology. Mason understood our way of life, lived it himself after all, plus he was kind and generous and funny... Oli liked him. Remi liked him. My entire family liked him.
A match made in Heaven, one could say.
Mason broke the kiss first, leaving me a little flustered. That had been the best kiss of my life and I'd never been kissed /quite/ like that before. Mason grinned at me, then took my hand and lifted it to his lips. He brushed a kiss against my knuckles, then led me towards the door.

[MrsCarterRivera]

Chapter Fourteen

We arrived home to chaos. Everybody was in the front room. Pim was shouting orders to Remi, Mum was tossing a first aid kit out on the coffee table, Dad and Fleur watching anxiously as Anju and Kerslake knelt over a prone figure.
Kerslake was here? I gasped even as I pushed myself forward, leaving Mason at the door. I leaned over Anju’s knelt form, eyes widening at the sight of Kyrie. He was a complete mess. His face was bruised and bleeding, his black robes torn and wet with blood. Chunks had been taken out his arms as I stared down at the teeth marks... so many teeth marks.
Remi pulled me away, wings flaring. “Give them space.”
“What happened to him?” I asked desperately.
“Hounds,” Kerslake responded savagely, his face grin beneath the splatters of blood. No doubt Kyrie’s blood. “Sent from the Lair.” He looked up at Pim. “This is a targeted attack. They found him in the Astral.”
“Close to the Mountains?”
“Close enough. It’s too dangerous for him there. We need to make new arrangements.”
Pim nodded, understanding passing over his features. He looked towards my dad. “We shall keep him with us. He’d be protected on the estate.”
“Diannah, Mason, go and prepare a room,” Mum barked, carrying bandages and gauze over to the unconscious Grim Reaper; Mrs Tabitha floated over a bowl of saline water. I dragged my eyes from the blood, forced my legs to follow Mason from the room.
“I didn’t even realise that you could get attacked in the Astral,” I said to Mason as we left the room. A shiver ran through me and I rubbed my arms as we made our way for the stairs. Mason glanced at me.
“Some nightmares are forms of attack. If you stray too far from your Guardian during sleep, you can attract... more malevolent characters.”
“But, Kyrie wasn’t sleeping, he was actually there.” In that weird way he could be both physical and not, flitting between the two Realms. Mason shrugged with a grimace as we reached the landing. I made a beeline for the airing cupboard and began to pull out fresh bedding; I opted for darker colours. It seemed more fitting.
“I’m not really sure. From what I’ve learnt, the Astral is kind of a mixing spot. The density in that Realm is only a little above our own, which allows both Lighter and Darker energies through.” He grabbed a couple of blankets and followed me into the spare room opposite my own. “Obviously, nothing Dark can pass through the Mountains to Tranquilla, so... I guess he was just unlucky?”
I looked a little unconvinced as I started to strip the plain beige covers that were already on the bed.
“They said it was a targeted attack. Someone’s out to get Kyrie.” I paused, a bundled duvet cover in my hand. “Do you think it has something to do with him leaving the Lair? Because he was a demon before?”
Mason grabbed my shoulders, a slight chuckle leaving him as he searched my face. “Diannah. You’re stressing yourself out. Please don’t worry. Leave it for the Guardians to figure out.”
I bit my bottom lip, even as I frowned. “I know I worry too much,” I admitted softly.
“It’s fine to worry. Just... Please don’t stress.” He offered me a warm smile, dipping his head to meet my eye. I managed a smile back at him and his face relaxed. “Good. Come on. Let’s make this bed.”
I nodded, brow creased, but I didn’t move, smile fading. “Why would he have been attacked though?”
“I... I honestly don’t know,” Mason replied. “It’ll be far safer for him here though, behind the boundaries. At least until the Guardians figure out what is going on.” I nodded again and tried to be reassured. Mason lifted my chin and pressed a gentle kiss to my mouth. “He’ll be okay.”
I sighed against his lips.
Then, the door opened and Mum stepped in, arms full of towels and toiletries. She stopped in her tracks, eyes widening briefly before the smile tugged at her mouth. I quickly stepped away from him. “Don’t let me interrupt you,” Mum sang as she moved past towards the en-suite bathroom. I flushed hard, even as Mason grinned.
“It’s like you get a kick out of me being uncomfortable,” I muttered and they both laughed.
“Then, my job as a parent is successful,” came my mum’s reply from the bathroom. I rolled my eyes.
“I’ll be back in a minute.” I needed air. Or just to be a completely different room to Mum and Mason. And I really wanted to see how Kyrie was. (Rework this sucks)
I entered the front room to find Kyrie conscious, slumped on the sofa with Mrs Tabitha fussing over him. She was plumping the cushions behind him when she looked up and spotted me, giving me a strained smile before she turned and floated through the wall. I slowed to a stop by the coffee table, looking him over. His right arm was almost entirely bandaged, blood already staining the fabric. Mum had cleaned his face of blood, but the mess of cuts and bruises, his cut bottom lip... Somehow, he found the strength to smile at me, lip curling in that slightly mocking way.
“Where’s Kerslake?” I asked. The room seemed suddenly empty. Or strangely full, when it was just the two of us.
“He left with Pim and Remi for the Angel Realm. To speak with the bosses.” I’d never heard anyone refer to them like that, but I supposed they were.
“What... happened?” I couldn’t resist asking, the details still unclear. Kyrie looked away, gaze falling to his bandaged arm.
“We were taking a Soul to the Mountains. Kerslake had gone ahead with the Soul and I was waiting at the outcrop when the Necris attacked.” What I could see of his features shadowed. “It was entire pack. I... Kerslake saved me. If he hadn’t arrived when he did...”
I couldn’t bear to think of it.
“Kerslake thinks it was a targeted attack.” He didn’t answer my statement. “Why? Who would have sent them?”
“I don’t know.” But, he wouldn’t meet my eye and I sensed his evasiveness. I glanced away.
“Is someone after you, Kyrie?”
I didn’t know whether he would answer, but I didn’t get the chance to find out as Mum and Mason returned to the room. “Your bedroom is ready now,” Mum smiled at him, Mason at her shoulder. Kyrie stood, inclining his head.
“Thank you. Excuse me, but I’m going to go and freshen up.” He edged past him and I felt myself shiver against his warmth. I watched him leave, rubbing my arms.
“Grandad’s making dinner,” Mum said as she headed for the kitchen door. “Fleur and I are going to take our shift. I’ll see you both in an hour.”
“Sure thing,” Mason smiled, moving to wrap his arm around my shoulders as Mum disappeared through the door.

—

Kyrie didn’t join us for dinner. By the time I’d finished stacking the dishwasher, Dad had dragged Mason off to show him the blueprints of his latest project and Mum had excused herself for a shower.
Remi and Pim still hadn’t returned. I wondered what could have been taking them so long.
I moved to the stove and plated up some food for Kyrie. I grabbed a can of soda from the fridge, then made my way upstairs to his room. His bedroom door was open ajar.
I knocked lightly on the door, balancing the plate in my hand as I pushed the handle with the other. Nudging the door open with my hip, I poked my head into the room. Kyrie was sat on the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, head bowed. He was shirtless and I couldn’t stop my eyes roaming the taunt muscles of his forearms, his chest. His dark hair fell into his eyes, but he lifted his head when I entered. Studied me silently. My stomach did a backflip. “I uh... brought you something to eat.”
“Thank you.” Soft words like seemed to caress my skin. I felt my face warm as I moved to set the plate on the dresser. Dampening my bottom lip, I looked over at him again, twiddling my fingers, a nervous habit I couldn’t seem to break. After a moment, I turned away; he needed to rest.
I’d just reached the door when he spoke again. “What’s the nicest thing somebody has ever done for you?”
I looked back at him, brow creased. "Um..." I thought about it. I could think of a lot of people who had done kind things for me through-out my life, my parents, Grandad and Oli included. But, I had a feeling Kyrie wanted to hear something special. /Needed/ to... One memory did come back. "Many people have done nice things for me in the past, but if I had to choose one... When I was a child, we travelled to London to catch a flight for a Gathering. I can't remember exactly where we were going, but I had my favourite teddy in my arms. I used to carry it everywhere." I felt myself blush a little, Kyrie's gaze fixed to my face. "I dropped it between the tracks as we were boarding the train. Dad tried to get it, but he couldn't. I was crying my eyes out, refusing to board without it." A faint smile lit my face. "A couple passed by and I remember the woman was on crutches, her leg in a cast. Her partner used her crutches to hook my teddy free and saved the day." I didn't know if that was a good enough memory, if that was quite the thing he was wishing to hear, but the story warmed me none the less. "It's something I've never forgotten."
Kyrie nodded. He'd dropped his gaze back to his hands, hunched and bruised and looking nothing like the youngling I'd come to know in the past couple of weeks. I lingered for a moment longer before it came clear that he wasn't going to say anything more. Then, I quietly slipped from the room.

[MrsCarterRivera]

Chapter Fifteen

I didn't know why, but I got a sinking suspicion that Kyrie was avoiding me over the next couple of days. He'd remained in his room for some time, only leaving when he had to eat, use the bathroom, or work the Spring. He was certainly avoiding eye contact with me, that much I was sure about, as I tried twice now to catch his attention and both times, he'd turned away completely. Today, he'd left rooms I'd entered no les than three times and in the end, red-faced and a little hurt, I'd messaged Oli to see if she wanted to meet up.
Mason had left that morning to work a haunting with my grandad. Dad was busy tinkering in the garage and Mum had been holed up on her laptop since before lunch. I'd been half-tempted to sneak down to the Spring and see if Kyrie wanted my help, but I wasn't sure I could handle such blatant rejection anymore. It wasn't as if I even knew where I stood, wasn't even sure what to label our ... friendship? If that was even what it was.
"I just don't understand. He asked me to tell him about a random act of kindness, so I did, but ever since then..." I shook my head, fiddling with my straw. "Something's changed. I can feel it. And I don't know why. I didn't even say anything bad." I'd already relaid the story to her. Oli contemplated this over her milkshake.
"So, you're telling me you're stuck between choosing the All American Shepherd stud or the incredibly sexy, but broody Grim Reaper? Tough choice."
I nearly choked on my vanilla milkshake. "Um, no? That's not what I'm saying at all. I really like Mason, but... I kind of thought Kyrie and I were friends. Or at least becoming friends." I sighed and stirred my milkshake a little viciously. "I obviously looked too deeply into it."
"Maybe he doesn't know how to be friends?" Oli suggested with a shrug, and I blinked. I hadn't thought about that. "He was a demon, right? Who knows what that's really like. I doubt they're all buddy-buddy down there."
She was right. I'd never seen Kerslake with /anybody/ and I definitely couldn't imagine him hanging out down the pub or at the cinema, or whatever it was Grim Reaper's did in their free time. Did they even get free time? It was definitely something to think about at the very least. "I think you might be right," I said after a moment, dragging myself back to the present. "I'll give him some space. And if he does want to be friends... He knows where I am."
"That's the spirit, Dee." Oli's grin was feline. "Geddit?"

---

Mason and Grandad had already returned by the time Oli dropped me back home mid-afternoon. There was hardly a breeze today, my shirt sticking to my back as I made the walk up the driveway to the house. They were standing in the kitchen when I finally got inside, dropping my purse down on the counter, an array of equipment spread out on the table in front of them. "How did it go?" I asked, coming to hug Grandad tight. Then, I slipped between them, giving Mason a warm smile. He grinned back.
"It went better than it should have," Grandad replied, squeezing my shoulder before he went to put on the kettle. "I got caught unawares, but Mason here had my back."
"It was nothing," Mason smiled, though I saw his chest swell a little with pride. Grandad turned back to his, digging through his pocket and retrieving his wallet. Slipping out a couple of notes, he folded them and slid them into Mason's hand.
"Take her somewhere special tonight, why don't you? My treat." Grandad winked at me as he turned back to fetch a cup. "You both deserve it."
"Thank you, Mr Bonewhite," Mason said solemnly, as if he knew the weight of what was being asked. What he was accepting. Meanwhile, my face burned hotter than it ever had.
“Thanks, Grandad,” I murmured, before grabbing Mason by the hand and more or less dragging him from the room. “Honestly, I can’t believe my family sometimes.”
Mason chuckled, slipping the notes into his back pocket. “It’s sweet. I can’t blame them.” I led Mason into the front room, my cheeks still flaming. I risked a glance at Mason to find him grinning. “So... Is there anywhere around here I can take you?” He chuckled, taking a seat on the couch. I sat down beside him, letting my head fall back against the cushions. I blew out a breath.
“Um, there’s a few places.” Once I’d finished dying of embarrassment, my brain might start actually working properly. “There’s a chippy in town-“
“A chippy?” His bemused expression made me grin.
“Fish and chip shop. We can eat there, maybe go bowling after?”
“Sounds good to me.” Mason’s gaze still hadn’t left mine. I sat up, shifting to face him.
“I’m sorry if... if Grandad seems a bit pushy. And my mum. I swear, they have the best intentions.”
He smiled, reaching out to tuck a loose strand behind my ear. The contact of his fingers against my throat made me shiver. “Don’t worry. I was building up the courage to ask you anyway. And between you and me...” He smirked. “My mom isn’t much better. She’s been trying to set me up the past couple of years. And not even with Shepherds.”
“No?”
He shrugged. “She says there isn’t enough of us anymore. She’d be happy if I settled with a Clair.” I guessed that was only a step down from a Soul Shepherd, but still surprising.
“Have you met any?” I said hesitantly. I hadn’t considered he might have someone back home, though I’d never gotten that impression off him. Mason smiled.
“A couple. But, I’m not seeing any of them, if that’s what you mean.” I blushed. “The last girl, Rosie, she was a Clairaudient. She kept complaining that Colsus was too noisy. I told her she’s lucky he isn’t a Howler monkey.” I did laugh then. His smile broadened. “Chippy and bowling, then?”
“Sounds like a date.” I pushed myself up off the couch. “I’ll go and change.”
Fleur was already in my room when I got there. My wardrobe door had been flung open and several dresses lay scattered on the floor. She was currently inspecting each of my necklaces, the jewellery case open. “Do you have to make such a mess?”
“I’m helping!” She turned, a thin silver necklace floating in front of her. A small rose quartz pendant sat on the end. “You haven’t worn this one in a while.” It had been my grandmother’s, gifted to me before she’d died. I’d been eight at the time and mum hadn’t let me wear it for years. I reached out and took it, the chain falling limp across my fingers.
“It is pretty.”
Fleur pointed at one of the dresses on the floor. “The pale pink dress. I think that will look better.” As she rummaged in my jewellery case for a pair of earrings, I changed into the pink dress. Another one I’d only worn once, though it still fit beautiful. I fixed the necklace around my neck as Fleur floated to my side, the earrings floating in front of her. Costume jewellery in the shape of a little pink rose.
“How are you so good at this?” I muttered, plucking the earrings one at a time from the air and putting them on. Fleur shrugged.
“My last life was spent as a stylist for a A-list celebrity. I guess a few things stuck with me.”
“What celebrity?” I turned to admire myself in the mirror. Fleur tapped her nose.
“That would be telling. Now get some perfume on. Mason isn’t going to know what hit him.”

—-

We bade goodbye to my family and the Guardians before getting into my car. Mason had asked if he could drive and I’d been more than happy to let him. Both Remi and Colsus would be staying behind so they wouldn’t get in the way, even though that made me more nervous for some reason. I was used to Remi being some kind of buffer and there was no way I could call Oli and bring her along with us. No. This was something I had to do alone. Something Mason and I had to do alone.
It felt like a test. I knew it wasn’t, but I also knew both of our futures relied on this... this thing between us. This potential marriage. And Mum would never forgive me if I married a Clair.
Mason leaned over and fiddled with the radio, filling the background with music as we headed down the road, away from the estate. The windows were cracked, the breeze refreshing and keeping the anxiety at bay. He glanced over at me. “You’re quiet.”
I looked back over at him, my hair whipping around my face. “... I’m nervous.”
“Why?”
I focused out the front window, hedgerows rushing past us. “Because...” I considered my words carefully. “Because I guess this date... it’s going to decide our future.” I felt his eyes on the side of my face but I kept talking. “Everything might be different afterwards.”
“If it’s any consolation,” Mason replied softly, both hands on the steering wheel as he focused ahead. “I don’t think it’s going to change anything. Other than make me fall more in love with you.” My stomach seemed to do a back flip at his words and I didn’t know quite what to say for a moment, heat in my cheeks. I glanced at him.
“Really?”
“Really.” We reached town and joined the queue of traffic meandering into the high street. I directed him towards the nearest car park and he squeezed into one of the empty bays and cut the engine. I wound my window back up, the car instantly turning stuffy. We climbed out, the afternoon sun still burning hot overhead. Mason slid my keys into his back pocket and then cane around the front of the car to join me. He slipped my hand into his. “Lead the way, Diannah.”
We’d decided to eat first and go bowling after, under the agreement the winner would pay for dessert. We shared fish and chips, sitting in the town centre and pointing out the more interesting looking Guardians and Guide that passed by with unaware humans enjoying their Saturday night. The bass from nearby clubs filled the air, as well as laughter and chatter from groups of friends ready to hit the town. Mason had his arm around me and every now and then would press a kiss to my temple.
After we’d eaten, we ditched our rubbed in the nearest bin and made our way hand in hand down the high street, towards the large unit towards the edge of town. The bowling alley was the first unit we came to, and already pretty full when we got inside. The entire room was lit up with neon lights and we secured an alley at the far end. I pulled off my jacket, resting it across the chairs behind the ball dispenser. Our names appeared on the screen above. “I hope you’re ready to get your butt kicked,” I warned him. “Oli and I practically grew up in here.” Mason grinned, eyes gleaming, reflected all the colours in the room.
“The proof is in the pudding, Diannah,” he smirked. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”