LITMIR.BIZ

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laugh, an uncharacteristic response for someone in his predicament. “If we didn’t bring you back we would have been destroyed anyway. At least in the After I can be Recycled.”

      “We’ll see about that,” Jackson grunted.

      “The Caeleste over there are more generous than the ones running with the Shadowed,” Aaron sneered back.

      I went over to Ally who was leaning against the wall, rubbing her head. “Are you okay?”

      “Fine,” she said, shoving off the wall and stalking toward the guys.

      “What are you—” I barely finished my question when Ally’s fist connected with Aaron’s face. His head shot back then rolled forward, falling limp on his shoulders.

      Ally gave me a sidelong glance. “I’m better now.”

      I shook my head, amused. “What’s the plan now?”

      Jackson adjusted his grip on Aaron. “We’re all going back to the After. I’m sure the Caeleste will have some questions for the traitor.”

      I picked up my sword and sheathed it. “I should check on Jamie, make sure she got home okay.”

      “We can do that later,” Jackson said.

      Ally opened her locker and pulled out the book. “Okay, let’s go.”

      ***

      The After as a whole tended to be a calm place which is why I wasn’t prepared for the cacophony that rattled my soul when we arrived with Aaron. The Collections Officers, Caeleste that handled the opening and closing of Soul Collectors cases, were the first out of their seats. Then the barrage of questions began.

      “What is he doing here?”

      “What happened?”

      “Are you insane?”

      “Do you remember what he did to us?”

      “He deserves what he gets from the Shadowed.”

      “What if he escapes?”

      Jackson and Cooper tried to speak over them but their words were drowned by yet more inquiries.

      Something tugged at my shirt and I followed the arm attached to my last Collector trainee, Dylan. His bright blue eyes peered up at me. “Why’s he back?”

      “He’s going to help us find the Shadowed,” I said.

      “Is he on our side again? Like Jackson?”

      “No. Not like Jackson. But he is going to help us.”

      Then he’s off to Recycling. I hadn’t made my point firmly enough before but Felix was certainly going to get an earful this time.

      A young girl came up to Dylan, leaning close to him, and he patted her on the arm. “It’s okay, Fiona. Maggie says he’s going to help us.”

      “Really?” She smoothed the shirt of her white Collecting uniform, risking a glance up at me.

      Dylan looked up at me and I gave him a quick nod.

      “Yeah” he confirmed smiling.

      I stifled a grin. It was nice to see Dylan doing well. I’d like to think I had a hand in that, even though he had fit into the community better than I ever had.

      The Guard parted as two Caeleste guided Aaron’s subdued soul out of the office.

      “Where are they taking him?” I asked Jackson as he came up to me.

      “They’re going to the interrogation room. Hopefully we’ll get a lead soon.”

      The door to Felix’s office opened and his hulking form breezed out followed by Calliope. His bright golden eyes pinned each of us as Calliope continued on her way, ignoring us.

      “You captured Aaron?” Felix directed his question to me.

      “We—”

      “Yes,” Jackson interrupted. “And she eliminated one of the others.”

      “But—”

      “Good work. I’ll need to see you in my office once we get location information from Aaron.”

      “Sir,” we said in unison.

      Felix started to walk away, but then turned back to fix me with his eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you about him.” He nodded once and continued toward where the others had taken Aaron.

      I blinked, staring at his back.

      Jackson looked as stunned as I felt. “I’ve been around Felix for a long time and I’ve never heard him apologize. To anyone.”

      I shrugged. “I guess there is a first for everything.”

      Jackson smiled. “Let’s get out of here.”

      I scanned the room that was still buzzing with excitement. “Great idea.”

      When Jackson’s hand touched my lower back guiding me to the exit, his fingers sparked a fluttering sensation in my soul.

      Brushing the feeling away I nudged him. “So, you weren’t kidding about being able to handle it, huh?”

      He smirked and opened the door to the stairwell, signaling me to go first.

      Unease churned within me. I could barely hold my own against three Shadowed, what would happen if Jackson hadn’t been there? “I need to learn to fight like that.”

      “That type of fighting comes from many years of practice. Felix won’t allow trainees to go on any case alone for a while. You’ll learn in time.”

      “But he took me, Jackson.” The sensation of Rat Face’s touch still lingered on my arm.

      He shook his head. “That’s my fault. I shouldn’t have allowed that.”

      As I pushed through the door to the outside, the sweet scent of the After enveloped my soul. “No it’s not. Stop blaming yourself for everything that happens to me.” I looked over at him, his light blue eyes staring at the ground.

      Jackson smiled sadly. “You’ll understand someday.”

      “Understand what?”

      His lips pressed together and his eyes searched mine. “Being a Guard is one thing. But being a Guard to a Prognatum is akin to watching a part of you live a life that you don’t have control of.”

      “But I thought…”

      “Yes we can influence a Prognatum to keep on the right path, whatever that may be.” His voice held a hint of disdain. “But ultimately they live their own life. A mere blip in what is to be a very special life. And in all my years in service to your line, I’ve loved each and every one of them equally as if they were my family. That is until you came along.”

      My chest tightened. “What—”

      “Wait.” He pressed a finger against my arm, stopping me mid-step. He cupped the back of my neck with both hands, gently tilting my head upwards. A small smile appeared on his lips. “From the moment your eyes opened I knew you were special. It was as if the Caeleste had broken off a piece of my soul and molded it with yours. And it still feels that way. I’m always going to blame myself for anything that happens to you because I don’t want to lose you ever again. I’m not sure I’d be able to survive if…”

      He couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence, but I knew what he meant. He wanted me to feel the same way he did. As much as my soul responded to him, probably a residual from our shared memories, I didn’t want to change the dynamic of our training. I wanted to get my after-life back to where it was supposed to be, with a position on the Guard. I found it amazing that any soul could feel anything other than hate for me after knowing what I did. But Jackson wanted to be with me, even after seeing the hate I possessed. Perhaps I’d be

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