Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14761 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 74(@200wpm)___ 59(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14761 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 74(@200wpm)___ 59(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
His sigh rattles in his empty chest. “I’m going to be sad to lose you.”
Because I’ll be disappeared. I can’t help looking at the empty space where the portal used to be, wishing I’d had a little more time with Caleb. A lot more time, if I’m honest. I know it’s greedy, but I want to know him, to make him feel just as seen as he made me feel tonight. I’ll miss you. “Just get it over with, please.” Hopefully it won’t hurt. I don’t like pain that much.
Another of those deep sighs and Ralph takes my shoulder with one hand. “This way.”
I try to be brave as he guides me down a hallway I’ve never been in and to a portal that shines with a strange silver light. I mostly fail. I’m shaking so hard, my teeth are chattering. “What is this?”
He squeezes my shoulder. “I’m going to miss you, Gemma. Keep your chin up. It won’t be all bad. Probably. Goodbye.” Ralph shoves me through the portal.
I scream before I can remember I’m trying to be brave and curl into a ball. The pain will come next, fiery or icy or maybe just sharp. Except . . . it doesn’t. Nothing happens at all, except I land on a solid floor.
“If you’re quite done with the theatrics, we can get moving.”
I peer through my claws up at a tall humanlike being. They’re nearly as tall as Ralph, with blue skin and a short crop of golden curls, but otherwise are missing any of the delightful little flourishes demons prefer. Because they . . . aren’t a demon? “What is this?”
They sigh. “Demons never explain things before they toss you lot through the portals. We give a full briefing before we send our misfits over.” They shift, drawing my attention to the clipboard in their hand. “Gemma, is it?” They glance at the board. “You fed off unsanctioned emotions from the human you were assigned.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“They never do. But don’t worry, we’ll get to that. I’m Raven, by the way.” They motion long fingers at me. “Up, up, we have a lot to do and little time.”
Since I don’t seem in danger of immediate death, I rise slowly and follow them down a tiled walkway nearly identical to the one I just left behind. “What is this place?”
“You’re an angel now,” Raven says briskly. They move at such a quick pace, I’m struggling to keep up. “Same dance, slightly different tempo. While your original brethren prefer to feed off the quick and lazy emotions, we angels spend time investing in humans and reaping the mass rewards of true emotions.”
Raven sounds like a bit of a snob, but my head is spinning too much to bristle on behalf of demons. “I didn’t know angels fed off emotions.”
“Of course not.” They push through a door. “It’s bad press if people realize we’re functionally the same as demons. The higher-ups prefer us to be delineated.” They spin and run a critical eye over me. “The hooves, claws, and horns have to go, though the rest of your form is fine. Proper number of eyeballs and limbs.” At my slack-jawed stare, they sneer. “Humans get precious about such things. It’s fine if you’re angling for a jump scare, but if you want to preserve a relationship and mine their emotions, we’ve found it’s best to present a more familiar—if fantastic—form.”
Even in my shocked state, something quickly becomes clear. “This is where demons who are bad at their jobs disappear to.”
“Bad at their jobs.” Raven scoffs. “It never ceases to irritate me that they present it like that, but . . .” They wave their hand. “Essentially, yes. Demons feed off a specific set of emotions. Angels do the same with a different set. Crossing that line results in the experience you just endured. I’m sure I don’t have to spell it out further.”
Angels become demons. Demons become . . . “I’m an angel now?”
“Semantics, but yes.” They pull a packet of paper from their clipboard and shove it into my hands. “Take this to the end of the hallway and speak to whoever’s on staff at the moment. They will get you set up with lodgings and a schedule to revisit”—another brisk glance at their clipboard—“one Caleb Sullivan.”
Just like that, the floor seems to drop out from beneath my feet. “I get to see Caleb again?”
“You did mine his fondness and caring for you to feed, did you not?” Raven raises golden brows. “That’s not a connection to be wasted. If things change and he’s no longer a good fit for you, we’ll place you with someone else. Unlike the demons, our limit is three humans. It’s difficult to maintain meaningful relationships with more, at least for our purposes. That packet will tell you all you need to know.”