VEE

I stand at the bar next to Ewan, glancing back at the table where the other guys explain what we found. We'd already discussed how much to tell Ripley, and there was a lot of debate whether he should know who I am. But what's the point in hiding anything?

"Are you okay, Ewan?" I ask. "You don't look too good."

"Gee, thanks." He attempts a weak smile.

"I'm glad to see you detached from the internet for a few hours."

"I’m not. I need to keep watching."

I take his phone as he removes it from his pocket. "Yes, but you also need to focus on other things."

"Like what? A prophecy I don't want to believe?"

I run my finger across his phone screen, the familiar knot beginning in my stomach. "Breanna can help."

"Yeah. Everybody says, but aren’t you suspicious?"

Always. The suspicion follows me everywhere. I can only trust four people in my life—and for now, that’s enough. “Yes.”

Ripley watches me from across the bar too, and through new eyes as they tell him the truth about Truth. I saw this with the Collector, and even with the guys when the book revealed who I am. I'm different. Not Vee.

I'm a shell surrounding something else.

To blot the thought away, I drink my neat whiskey, remembering Syv as I do. That evening was a damn sight happier than this one. I hope she’s okay. I’d call her, but Syv doesn’t seem the phone chatting type.

A couple sit at a table between us and the others, watching everybody’s movements in the bar. There’s nothing memorable about them: average-looking couple in their twenties dressed to match their environment. But I don't know why they catch my eye. Am I sensing something from them? Or is Ripley's aura stretching this far?

No. There's something odd. As I study them, light shimmers around them, faint, the way I've seen on myself when using my power. I rub my eyes and the light fades. Has the stress started to affect my eyesight?

“Do you see that?" I ask Ewan.

He turns, two beer bottles in each hand. "Where? What?"

"Them." I tiptoe to whisper, my cheek catching his as I do, an aching reminder we haven't touched for days. "At the table. They're glowing."

"No. Well, not to me anyway."

I look back over my shoulder, unsubtly, and the woman meets my eyes. The room is too dim to see her clearly, but there's an intensity in her gaze unlike a normal appraisal of someone in a bar. The man switches focus to his phone.

"Something doesn't feel right."

Ewan grips the bottles. "I hate it when you say that. Is one of them Seth? Maybe he has a new disguise and decided to stalk us."

"No. I'd know if one of them was him."

"I'll keep an eye on them."

"I think they're keeping an eye on me." I pick up the remaining drinks Ewan can’t carry.

One the way back to the table, I deliberately walk close to their table and focus on picking up the vibe I sensed. But there's a block now, as if I'm walking past a closed window between us.

Hair lifts on my neck and I choose a different seat so my back isn’t to the couple anymore. I stare at the back of their heads. They talk, faces together.

"Sorry to hear the bad news." Ripley takes his glass from me. I frown at his dumb platitude, as if I just had a bad health diagnosis.

Which I guess I have.

Ewan places his face near Xander's ear and speaks. Xander looks over his shoulder and nods.

"I take it from the silence you've told Breanna and Ripley everything you know?" I ask. The silence and Xander's expression.

"Roughly," says Heath.

"I can help." Breanna's words surprise me, almost as much as when she places a hand on mine. I'm primed to attack demons, but now I'm unsure she’s fully demon. Perhaps Breanna isn’t as powerful as she makes out.

"Can you?" I ask. "How?"

"There will be more in the book. Perhaps clues about what can be done to make things..." She pauses and chews her lip. "Easier on you."

"Breanna thinks there could be a time and place too." Xander's distant again, the closed-off guy I met at Portia's.

"We know the specific s aremissing," I say. "Prophecies always have a time and place. Look at all the 'end of the world' predictions that people make regularly. I haven't heard anybody announcing one for this month, so that's good, right?" I swallow down my ramble. "I did some research of my own."

"I looked for the same thing," says Ewan. “Humans are obsessed with the end of the world. But Vee’s right.”

"Their dumb predictions means fuck all," says Xander. "Breanna can help, like I said originally. Like the Collector said."

"So Breanna can go with you? And you agree to keep me informed on anything new?" Ripley asks.

“If you continue to help us.”

Ripley huffs at Xander’s words. “Fine. I’ll try.”

To do as little as possible, I’ll bet. So far, he’s useless.

“I need to know why the Order are mentioned in the book,” he continues. “From what you say, the book pre-dates the Order’s arrival in this world."

Breanna nods. "I think that’s unusual too, but I'll dig into it. If Order is a word connected with Truth and Chaos, there's definitely significance."

“Correct. So, guys. An update soon? How about finding more about the attacks and dealing with that issue.”

"We’re working on it and we'll keep you updated," Ewan replies, gruffly.

Ripley tips his chin. “Soon, I hope. Especially if Seth is threatening to reveal all.”

“Ewan told you, we’re working on it,” snaps Xander. “Why don’t you keep an eye out too? You have people powerful enough to kill. As we know.”

“I’m kinda busy, but I’ll circulate a description and instruct my guys to take down anything strange.” Ripley waves a hand and sips his drink.

A muscle twitches in Xander’s jaw. “Be careful. Don’t draw attention. And let us know if you do.”

Ripley smiles and claps his hands. "Of course! We’re friends and allies, right?"

Heath scowls at him. "Don't take the piss."

"Uh huh." Ripley looks past Ewan's head and smiles in someone’s direction. I turn my head and see two girls in their late teens at an adjacent table smiling back.

"Okay, well, if that's sorted, I'll move on with the rest of my evening." He stands and picks up his jacket. "Later, guys."

Ripley approaches the girls and the flirtation begins. One with long blonde hair and clothes leaving little to the imagination watches our table instead, flicking a calculating gaze between my four men. If I were a mind reader, I'd guess: two girls, four guys, so who's available? She whispers something to Ripley, who laughs and replies.

Whatever he says, the girl no longer pays attention to us.

Ewan grabs a nearby beermat and pulls a pen from inside his jacket. After scrawling on the mat, he pushes it to Breanna. "This is where we're staying. Follow us home."

“Tonight?” she asks in surprise. “This can wait until tomorrow.”

“Seth could do anything, at any minute."

"He won't,” she replies.

I frown. "How can you be so sure?"

"Seth has made a move. He’s waiting for ours. Does he know the truth about Vee yet?" she asks Heath.

"No. Not as far as we know. But if somebody tells him." He looks over to Ripley.

"I don't think Ripley will." Breanna takes her handbag from the floor. "He's scared. As scared as you all are." She places the mat with the address into her bag and fastens it. "Okay. Tonight. Let's see what I can do to help. I’ll meet you at the house.”

Breanna heads away and my focus returns to the nearby couple. Are we in earshot or is the music enough to hide our conversation? I nudge Joss. "Do the people behind seem strange to you?"

"I can only see their backs. I don't feel anything from them, though."

My shoulders drop. "Must be imagining things then."

"Do you think one might be Seth? I’m sure he can change his appearance if he wants."

"That's what Ewan asked. No."

"I think we should follow them." Xander looks over his glass at us, voice hushed. "If Vee senses something and, coincidentally, Ripley and Breanna are with us, I'm on guard."

"Maybe they'll follow us when we leave," Heath replies. "Let's wait and see what happens."

Xander gives a curt nod. “Okay. We wait and watch.”

"Then I'd like another drink, please," I say and hold my empty glass out to Xander. "Could you buy me one?"

Joss chuckles. "That was quick. Has Syv been teaching you bad drinking habits?"

Xander takes my glass and stands. "Keep an eye on them."

The atmosphere around the table changes, but not for the bad. As if this task draws the guys back to their old way of working. Together. Focused. The Four Horsemen on task.

Ewan takes his phone and I poke him in the ribs when I he switches back to news sites and social media. I’m about to chastise him but Joss interrupts.

“Ewan. Come with me.” He inclines his head to where the man we’re watching heads to the door. "Tell Xander we're following. You two can keep watching the woman."

“Sure.” Heath grins and takes a long drink. “Easy.”

The strangest thing here is I think they're enjoying the hunt.