to come through for us; otherwise, I was inevitably screwed. Zeriel had gone back to the Calliope base on Mount Zur to catch up with the rest of that division—he was better off out there, hunting cultists or protecting that fae sanctuary, than here. I knew he’d be back in a few hours, which gave me some time to rest before I tried to talk to him again.
“What’s up?” Seeley’s voice snapped me from my thoughts. He’d materialized right in front of me, but I hadn’t noticed him. Fortunately, his sudden appearances no longer startled me.
“Nothing much. Counting the links on my life-chain,” I replied, noticing his sullen expression. It made me frown. “What’s wrong? Also, where did you go? You’ve been gone for an hour. Not that I didn’t enjoy the silence.”
He scoffed. “Sorry about that, I needed some time to just think. As for what’s wrong… Where should I begin?”
“Oh, you are pissed off,” I said, eyes wide and ears ready to listen. “Talk to me.”
Seeley shook his head slowly. “I hate the fact that you’re right. I think that’s what irks me the most.”
“Now you’re talking in riddles. Care to elaborate?”
“Well, none of this is okay. It’s not natural!” he snapped, pinching the smooth bridge of his nose. “Vesta, I’ve been doing this job for a long time, never doubting when someone’s time was up. But a few things have come to light, developments I hadn’t even thought possible, and… dammit, you were right.”
I thought about it for a moment, unable to stop myself from smiling. “I guess I should be more pleased with hearing those words come out of your mouth, but I’m not. Can you tell me about these… developments you mentioned?”
He paused, looking at me as if he’d only now realized he’d said more than he should’ve. “No, not yet,” he replied. “I have to take it up directly with Death, first. She’s the only one who can clarify a few things for me, including what rules are valid, given these unnatural circumstances.”
I blinked rapidly, trying to process my own response. “Do you know they found her?” I asked, and Seeley seemed surprised. “Mm-hm. They found her. She’s on Mortis. Phoenix has the astral map back on Mount Zur. Turns out Taeral was already—”
“Phoenix has the astral map,” he interrupted me, suddenly focused on what I assumed was his most important mission. I doubted he’d even listen to anything else I’d have to say. He’d locked on to Mortis, already. Everything unrelated simply faded from his consciousness. “Vesta, I need to go for a little while.”
“Okay,” I said, shrugging. “It’s not like I can do much while you’re out. I’ll be here.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, no, I’m not leaving you here on your own,” he said. Looking around, he seemed to have set his sights on someone, though I couldn’t see them. He reached out and grabbed an arm. “Come here!”
A figure emerged through ripples of air, now visible and clad in a black-and-white suit, much like his. A Reaper, and he was terribly confused, even outraged. “What the hell, Seeley?!”
“Vesta, this is Rupert. He’s currently watching over Vita, and he’ll be keeping an eye on you, too, while I’m out,” Seeley said, matter-of-factly.
It baffled Rupert, whose copper hair hung in loose curls over his freckled forehead. “I will?” he asked, his voice barely audible. Seely gave him a firm nod.
“Hi, Rupert,” I replied. “Welcome to the madness, I suppose.”
“What madness? What… Seeley, what the crap, man?!”
Seeley gripped Rupert’s shoulders, giving him a most intense look. “You have to do this for me, please. I helped you out once. It’s time to repay the favor. Just for a few hours, and then I’ll be right back.”
“Dude, it wasn’t that big of a favor,” Rupert protested, prompting Seeley to narrow his eyes at him, a cold grin slitting his face.
“Dude. I saved your scrawny ass from a painful demotion after you lost those triplets’ souls. Need I remind you that I’m the only one who knows they became a ghoul’s dinner?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.
Rupert sighed. “I would’ve been fine.”
“No, you wouldn’t have been fine, because your fumble came on the heels of a massive failure of Earthly Reapers, and you know it. Now, stop being such a wuss, and just stay with Vesta and Vita until I get back,” Seeley retorted, moving to leave. He stilled and pointed a finger at him. “And don’t let them see each other until I return. Under no