Page 82 of Deck of Scarlets
The victim’s lower jaw was snapped down, teeth were missing, and her tongue hung loose. But what frightened me the most was the weird symbol drawn on her forehead, possibly with her own blood.
Josh must’ve noticed it too, because he risked almost falling in the sludge and walked closer, taking a picture with his phone.
“What does it mean?” I whispered. I never signed up for this. I never wanted any of this. I only went to the stupid induction to save Heather, but instead, she’s lying in an underground infirmary asleep, while I try to navigate being a Scarlet, fighting off demonic forces and trying my best not to get myself killed.
Josh hesitated to stand, and I watched his shoulders tense from where he knelt.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally rose from his position, a look of concern fixing his features when he finally looked at me. “It’s an omen of death.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Asher sobered up real quick when Josh reported the body, emptying the house for the Aces to arrive without questions arising from civilians. He was able to get Nickie a ride home, stating he was feeling under the weather. After she kissed him, leaving a hickey on his neck, she left somewhat coherently in a taxi. I did my best to keep that mental wall up, trying not to let my personal feelings slip through the cracks.
Although we didn’t expect Father Benedict to come sporting a silk pajama set, we did prepare ourselves for Captain Harrison, flagged by Emilia and Cillian.
Captain Harrison called in a clean-up crew to remove the body for examination and sludge from the bathroom, while we all gathered in the living room, watching Saints and Scarlets from the experienced fleet come and go out the front door, monitoring the house or removing buckets of demon residue.
Some Saints carried down the black body bag, while Josh and I exchanged a nervous look. We couldn’t identify the female, but he informed Father of the strange symbol on the deceased’s chest. I wondered if they’d located her heart and shuddered, holding back my vomit, becoming numb to the butchery of innocent humans.
Emilia wore the signature scarlet cape, cleaning her blade with a white cloth. “Dare I ask how this happened when we were told security was put back into place?”
Father Benedict cleared his throat. “Security only extends so far.”
“I find that hard to believe,” she challenged, polishing the pommel of her dagger. The design showed three rubies in the center, with swirls and loops creating an intricate pattern.
Father Benedict didn’t respond. Instead, he whispered something to Dean Poverly.
Captain Harrison returned from upstairs, stroking his white goatee in thought. “A house full of college students, and only one pronounced dead.”
Thatcher wore a casual outfit, crossing her arms. “I think this attack was a message.”
“But to who? The kids? Wouldn’t they make it clear for us, the Aces?” chimed in Levine.
“Why not threaten the next generation? Deter them from continuing their training?” commented Toke. I swear that man always looked like he was on the verge of a mental breakdown.
Josh pulled up the strange symbol from his phone, showing Captain Harrison. “Definitely was a Magidoz. No other demon leaves behind that amount of residue, but this? Only someone with human hands could draw a symbol like this.”
Cillian asked to see the picture, zooming in with his fingers. “An omen of death.” The symbol in question, a circle with a line slashed down the middle, two perfectly formed dots on either side of the line, made no sense to me when I first saw it.
“We’ve been cleaning nests left and right, but I’ve never seen the city so infested in all my years,” said Captain Harrison.
Stoll spoke then, worry lines forming in between his dark brows. “Have the other Orders been informed?”
“Yes. Different fleets have been taking turns patrolling the city, all the way upstate. I got word from Orders across the country that their numbers are down, barely any demonic activity.”
Enjoying the silence from the mental wall I built was necessary, but Josh had knowledge I needed to access. Sighing internally, I smashed the mental wall apart, crumbling it into rubble at my feet. The floodgates opened once again, gaining direct access to his mind.
I tugged on that invisible string, and his eyes darted in my direction.
There’s other Orders across the state? I bit my lip, gauging his reaction, only to receive a cold shoulder, my question returned with silence. I guess I deserved that for blocking him out.
Dean Poverly finished his private conversation with Father Benedict. “There’s a way to strengthen security. After speaking with Benedict, another Priest must participate.”
“Strength in numbers,” muttered Emilia, sheathing her dagger at her waist. “But that should’ve been dealt with prior, especially if you knew that was the case from the beginning.”
Dean Poverly frowned. “With all due respect—”
“I would rethink what you’re about to say,” warned Cillian, stepping closer to Emilia.