Cassidy narrowed her eyes. “Who did you see, Darian?”
“The Society of Strangers.”
The room stood still. Scarlett cleared her throat and, suspecting Cassidy recognized the name, asked, “Who are they?”
“A dastardly gang of reapers, that’s what,” he croaked, taking another swig of liquor and wiping his mouth with his arm. “They’re a radical lot, that’s for sure.”
“What do they want?”
The candle light flickered on his face, and his eyes froze, unmoving. “The destruction of mankind, probably.”
“But why?”
“The souls,” interjected Cassidy, lighting a cigarette. She pocketed her lighter and blew out smoke, which rose in the air and spread out. “They’re obsessed with souls. Kind of like sex.”
“Kind of like a drug,” murmured Sebastian from behind Scarlett. He was perched on top of the windowsill, which illuminated with various colors from the party below.
“They can’t get enough of them, until it consumes them fully, and they lose themselves.”
Darian glanced at him, smirking. “What, you have experience with that or something?”
Sebastian nodded. “I joined a garrison once…they misled. A bunch of sickos.”
Silence fell again. Cassidy did the occasional flick of the cigarette, blowing out smoke, staring at the ground through bored eyes.
Scarlett straighted when Darian jerked up, rummaging through his pack which was blurring sound. He recovered an iPad, which screen was flashing, ringing like an ambulance. Typing several times on it, an obscured face came on the screen, huddled over several crates. The man in the picture was holding something that looked like a camera.
“Hello,” said the voice, and coughed several times. Cassidy and Sebastian hurried over, and Scarlett hunched over to get a better look.
“Dr. Grath,” said Darian, sighing. “It’s good to hear your voice.”
“Yours too, Darian.” He coughed again, and raised a hand. “I’m all right. Just in the middle of a civil war, is all.”
“Civil war?”
Dr. Grath nodded. “Don’t worry though, you’ve got things to do. I’m helping patients, but I’m not seeing any reapers for miles now, and I might need you to do your mojo when the time is ready. Oh, and one more thing,” he added, blinking. “Blair is headed your way now. Don’t bother him, Darian. He wants Scarlett.”
