Reaper Society

Chapter 22: Part of a Team

My hands ache from three hours of drawing runes. By the end of it, I was able to memorize them by muscle memory at least. Asher had me drawing them as if the marker was the handle of one of my blades and not writing instrument. That's how we're doing this, I guess, with out runed-blades...in mid-air...on site of the Hellgate.

Asher drags me away from the library, when I finally get the runes right, and to the mess hall for food. No one's there with us, not even staff, when we go in but there's several platters of sandwiches on the different tables. Probably made earlier in preparation for the return of the Reapers from their assignments. Wherever they are... No one's explained that to me either, and I know they won't, even if I ask.

I grab one of the sandwiches and start tearing into it before I get the chance to search for a plate. For some odd reason, I'm ravenous. It's not like I've been expending huge amounts of energy - if you don't count the earlier training - so I'm a little surprised to feel the gnawing hunger awaken in the pit of my stomach at the first bite of ham and cheese touches my tongue. The first bite is bliss, the second a necessity.

Asher makes himself busy, ducking behind the counter to get to the kitchen and returning with an armful of junk food and drinks. He sets everything down in front of me, right next to the plates of sandwiches, and takes the empty seat beside me on the bench. I hadn't even payed attention to the spot I'd sat down to stuff my face, but now realize I'd gone to the table where I normally eat with my Reaper friends.

Asher starts shaking one of the bottles, some sort of protein shake?, and pops it open before chugging the contents in one long drink. I don't stop eating as I watch him suspiciously, wondering if demons really need to eat or if he's just doing that to make a point.

I polish off another sandwich before my hunger is quenched and I find myself looking over the bags of junk food. All of them are some variation of salty snack. From pretzels to potato chips to beef jerky... I chew my lip anxiously, wondering if Asher's brought this stuff to spite me or if it's okay if I just-

"That's for you." Asher mutters finally. He's not looking at me when I glance his way, his eyes trained on some spot on the far wall. "Make sure you hydrate if you're going to eat so much salt, though." He adds, his reddish-brown eyes flicking to me briefly. I blink at him, wondering if this behavior of his is what I should be expecting from now on - or if he thinks we're as doomed as I do. I decide to set my mind of the second one and pass him a smirk.

"You are going soft on me." I tease, reaching fr a bag of beef jerky and a bottle of water to counteract the saltiness of the high-sodium snack. Asher narrows his eyes on me as they flash bright red.

"Asher and Nia, please standby for a Shadow portal to Earth," A voice sings through the speakers, almost making me jump out of my seat. I groan, shoving the items I'd just picked up back onto the table as I get to my feet.

"It should still be here when we get back." Asher tells me softly as swirls of darkness begin to pinwheel in the air a few feet from us.

"If we make it back." I mutter back, my heart sinking a little as the portal yawns into existence and warm air spills from it. Asher leans into my side, pressing one arm around my waist and hauling me close to him as he had when Nikki and Viv argued. This time, there's no doubting the hot and cold tingles that wash over me are filled with sexual energy. It floods me, zinging through my clothes and coiling deep inside me.

"You're going to be fine." Asher rasps in my ear, bending so his mouth presses to my skin. "What kind of mentor would I be if I just let you die on your second day of training?" He adds in a louder voice, straightening and pulling me with him towards the portal. I don't point out how he's pretty much wanted me dead from the moment we met...or the idle threats on my life he's made.