Graveyard Watchman (Book 2) The Demon Wars

Chapter 23

"I'll have to start with Emily Mansfield, first," I take a breath, "she's the one who concerns me the most."

Dominic tilts his head, "Why?"

"Well, for starters, neither you nor I even knew of her existence--or that she is now engaged to Zack."

"Engaged?" Dominic's brows push together, "You must be mistaken."

"Tell that to Victoria," I get out and his eyes instantly close when I mention her name, "You know she's in love with him, right?"

He nods slightly and his eyes return to me, "She had to know--why did she keep it from me?" his voice so low I can barely hear him.

"I'm not sure," I whisper, "but I assume it's like everything else with Victoria. You basically have to force her to talk--or at least I do."

He squeezes my hands, "since your arrival, I have not been able to spend much time with her," he looks away as if he's disappointed in himself, "that must be the reason."

Guilt instantly washes over me and I'm not sure if it's actually from me or from him. I know how close they are, they've known each other for longer than I've been alive and I have no doubt that this news is hitting him harder than he'll ever admit to me.

He glances back with a new intensity in his eyes, "I do not understand how this doctor has anything to do with Zull."

"Okay, yeah, I was getting to that," I shift a little closer to him, "So, after I met her..."

"Wait, you met her?" Dominic interrupts, looking past me for a second and I nod my head.

"Yes, apparently, my brother thought accepting a shrink into the Realm would be a good idea. Especially for me," I roll my eyes, "But from the moment I saw her, I knew something was off and I couldn't put my finger on it," I shake my head, "Zack was being really weird, too--totally showing off that Emily went to Stanford and what an amazing psychiatrist she is, blah, blah, blah..."

Dominic squints his eyes, "That is not like him."

"Exactly," I lower my voice even more, "so I stalked her on the internet."

"Good call," he nods and I can practically feel his anticipation.

I take in a quick breath, "Yeah, but here's where it gets really strange. The second I typed in Stanford and then Emily's full name, a picture pops up of her and," I lean in a little closer, " her husband and son."

Dominic's expression changes. He's surprised but doesn't say a word so I keep going, "the college did a write up on her and said that she took a sabbatical about a year ago to research a group called, "The Celestial Order," I swallow and tilt my head, "they're a doomsday religious cult and now..." I quickly scan the hallway, "she's all involved with them. She's even joined their group."

Dominic stays quiet but I can tell by the solemn look on his face he's not liking the sound of this.

"I scrolled down and saw several images of her in a white robe, wearing what everyone else does in the cult, but when I zoomed in on one, I thought I recognized someone in the background," I swallow again, "I needed to be sure and when I made the image larger, I knew it was him," I pause for a second because I know this'll strike a nerve, "the same guy who brought Skylar to the cemetery. The one who Zull possessed to lure him to me."

"Dammit," he says, leaping to his feet, "well that explains why Zack is unaware."

"I agree. I'm thinking she's got him under some kind of spell. I mean, that's the only explanation."

"I need to meet her," he says, rubbing his hands together as red fury begins to build in his eyes.

"You will," I get up, reaching for his hands, "I'm supposed to have dinner with them in a few hours," I smile, "they won't be expecting you."