Shuns anything that creates a false sense of euphoria.
There’s only one path to heaven, he claims. And it’s clear that the tremor in his hands, the quake in his knees, is a direct result of his delusional beliefs of self-grandeur. His absolute certainty of his exalted place in the world.
He’s a psychopath, pure and simple.
He’s the very thing he preaches against.
I watch as he exits the trailer, this time carrying a bag I recognize from our meeting in the Middleworld. He drops it on the bottommost step, before taking a seat on the one just above it. Then he dips a hand inside, removes his blood-crusted stake, and holds it before him. Staring at it with the kind of unhinged, crazed admiration that’s easy to see from all the way over here.
Returning the stake to its place, he retrieves a glass bottle filled with some kind of clear liquid he anoints himself with—daubing it onto his forehead, his chin.
Holy water.
I’m surprised he doesn’t burst into flames.
When he’s finished with the ritual, he closes the bag, leaves it on the step, and heads into the shed where he proceeds to make such a racket of creaking hinges, dull dragging sounds, and unearthly, odd shrieks, my curiosity gets the best of me and I creep toward the filthy, square window at the back, clear a space with my fingers, and look in.
At first, it’s hard to make out what he’s doing. Aided only by the single bare bulb swinging overhead, it takes a while for my vision to adjust. Though it’s not long before I’m able to discern Suriel’s form, busily putting together a pile of red sticks with digital displays wound tightly around them, which, despite the tricky lighting, can’t be mistaken for anything other than the explosives they are.
What the hell is he up to?
I press closer. Clear a wider space to better see.
The squeak of my fingers moving over the glass, alerting Suriel to my presence.
He lifts his head. Centers his gaze right on mine.
And though I know I should bolt, for a few, terrifying moments, I’m frozen in place with legs turned to lead.
He pulls his lips wide, grinning as though my presence on the other side of the window has rendered him indescribably happy. Then he drops the bundle of explosives onto the pile, wipes his palms down the sides of his suit, and reaches for an old, rusted crowbar he uses to pry the lid off a rather large crate. Releasing a wild-eyed beast he’s been keeping for some unfathomable reason.
The sight of its snapping snout, its rows of sharklike teeth dripping with bloodlust as it turns its attention to me, reminds me of Axel’s warning.
“You have to be vigilant with your thoughts, your actions, yourself.”
I turned to him with a questioning gaze.
“Without the soul, you’re like an empty vessel. Leaving you vulnerable to demon possession.”
I shot him an incredulous look. Sure he was exaggerating.
“Demons are everywhere. They come in all different forms. Able to appear in spirit form as well as their own hideous demon forms—depending on which dimension they’re in. But the one thing they all have in common is their desire to materialize and live under the guise of humans. Though in order to do so, they need either a willing body, or a vacant, soulless body. Soulless bodies are always preferred, though obviously harder to come by. They’ll be after you, Dace. They’ll scent you from miles away, and will stop at nothing to get to you.”
“So you’re saying I’m walking, talking demon bait?”
Axel’s lavender eyes went grim.
“If that’s true, then why didn’t they want me before? Back when I was in their lair?”
“You were weak and wounded. Ironically, it’s the only thing that saved you. But now that you’re healed…” He heaved a deep sigh as his eyes met mine. “Vigilance, Dace. Until you get your soul back, you can’t afford to relax.” He was vanishing before me as he said it, his form beginning to dim.
“Where you going?” I asked, not sure what to make of it.
“I have to find my way back. I’ve already interfered in your life more than I should.”
“But what if I need another energy infusion?” I asked, watching as his eyes narrowed with regret.
“Just make sure you locate your soul well before