He stepped close, and once more whisked us through the gray fields. Adeline jumped when we reappeared in her living room.
"Gracious," she said, placing one hand on her heart. "You could at least give some warning before you pop into existence like that."
"I thought you could sense reapers." I stepped free from the warmth of Azriel's arms, but distance did little to ease the fires his presence ignited. I picked up the cup of tea Adeline had poured earlier and gulped it down. I might not be fond of the stuff, but it was better than nothing.
"If they are on this plane, yes, but not before then." She eyed me for a moment, then said, "You didn't succeed in saving her."
"No, but only because he didn't keep his end of the bargain. He killed her too early."
"He is a dark energy, so that can be expected."
Stupid of me to expect otherwise, I suppose. "This isn't his first kill, though. The Directorate is on the case."
"At least you could provide a description—"
"No, I couldn't," I interrupted. Because he didn't have a face on the fields."
"That is unusual." She frowned. "How indistinct were his features?"
"Totally—he had no facial features whatsoever. It was as if someone had completely erased them."
"But that's not possible." She hesitated. "Well, obviously, it is, but it is extremely rare."
"Why?" I asked curiously. "I mean, you can change your outward appearance, can't you? Things like clothes, shoes, even hair color?"
"Yes, but it is almost impossible to change your actual features. Normally your spirit won't allow it."
"Well, this guy's spirit did." I paused, remembering the sensations that had rolled over me. "I actually felt him out there long before the woman screamed. It was as if the astral plane was rejecting his presence. It set up this really weird vibration."