Zari!
The harsh command of Alexandru's voice thundered in her mind, and instead of terrifying her, the sound was exactly what she needed, the familiar note of authority in her Master's voice snapping Zari back to her senses.
M-Master?
Focus on my voice now.
His words wrapped itself around her like a cloak of protection, and she found herself clinging to them as the fiery images from her vision raged around her.
You're safe.
She knew what he was saying was true. She knew, just by hearing his voice, that she was no longer in danger. But with the grotesquely vivid world around her refusing to go away, she couldn't stop herself from reacting, and she felt herself start to burn—-
No, her Master growled. Stop that! Come back to me!
Her Master's furious growl ripped into the veil that separated reality from her visions—-
NOW, ZARI.
The words turned into a steely rope that locked around her wrist, and just as everything around her roared into flames that starved for her flesh, Alexandru's love became Zari's harbor, the chains of her Master's possession yanking her out—-
Everything disappeared in a blink of an eye, and the first thing she saw was Alexandru's beloved face gradually coming into focus.
Oh God.
Alexandru was stunned when his pet suddenly threw herself in his arms, and he was barely able to keep him from toppling back at the shock of it.
You're safe now, pet.
But Zari didn't even answer, only winding her arms more tightly around his neck like she was afraid of drowning the moment he let go.
What did you see?
His pet didn't answer, her body still shuddering against him in the aftermath of her vision, and her heart pounded so hard and fast that he might as well be listening to heavy metal.
It was only when over an hour had passed, and he had her body relaxed under the foamy waters of the Jacuzzi in the master's en-suite, that he felt Zari finally stir in his arms. Large, gray eyes lifted up to his, and his chest tightened at the fear that still haunted her gaze.
"That bad?" he asked quietly.
She nodded.
"Is it like what you saw with Katerina?"
Zari could only manage another nod, and she didn't even think of resisting as her Master pulled her close, and she pressed her cheek back against the hard naked wall of his chest.
Katerina had been her Master's first love. Zari had a vision of the other woman's death, and it had gutted her, how all of her desperate attempts to change the hunter's destiny had met with failure.
That was the day she had grown up, the day she had made her decision to break her heart and part with Alexandru.
That day was when she had made a promise to become strong for her Master—-
And it was a promise she intended to keep, even if her visions showed...
Visions show only one possibility of the future, she reminded herself forcefully. And so what if her Master apparently didn't think her capable of keeping her promise? With all the times she had doubted herself, Alexandru was also entitled to have his own doubts here and there. And besides—-
The sound of her iPhone ringing cut through her thoughts, and Zari was secretly relieved to have a reason to set aside the past, even just for a while. She reached for her cellphone and tried not to feel self-conscious at the way Alexandru regarded her with green eyes that were a little too indolent to be true. "Hel—-"
Her boss cut her off, asking, "Are you with the vampire?" Micah's voice lacked its usual honeyed sinfulness, and this was enough for Zari to sit up and frown.
"He is. Is anything—-"
"I need you two here at Station 4," Micah ordered. "ASAP."
The Bodies That Disappeared
Chapter Seventeen
THIS IS A FUCKING JOKE, her Master snarled in her mind sometime later.
Just bear with it, Master, Zari managed to say soothingly while struggling to keep her face straight. It was so unlike Alexandru to rant - he was usually cool and charming 24/7 - but then again, he was also used to living and working in less crowded towns and cities.
Such places, she thought humorously, didn't require her Master to pretend he was without powers that allowed him to move faster than, say, the New York subway.
Alexandru's mood visibly improved when they were finally aboveground, but then she saw how his lip curled every so often, and when she realized why that was...
Alexandru was puzzled at the way his pet had suddenly burst into laughter. "What's so funny?"
"You," Zari managed to say between giggles.
"I beg your pardon?"
A fresh peal of laughter escaped Zari. I just can't believe how everyone thinks you're this great and mighty hunter...
"I am that," Alexandru pointed out reasonably.
"Indeed, Master," Zari agreed obediently, "but I wonder if your most ardent admirers also know what a spoiled little boy you are?"
"I beg your pardon?"
Her Master's voice practically dripped with ice this time, but it only made Zari laugh anew since his attitude completely proved her point.
"Your lip keeps curling up every time you smell pee—-"
"That's what normal people do," he retorted.
"And when you accidentally touched that wad of gum stuck by the train doors—-"
Alexandru couldn't help wincing at the rather gross memory of his fingers encountering a substance whose origins he never wished to know.
Zari, seeing her Master's expression, was tempted to laugh again, but since they had already reached their destination...
She pointed to the pawn shop across the road. "That's Station 4."
Trick or Trade was the registered trademark AGNEX used to run their service-and-supply stations, and Zari couldn't help feeling uneasy at seeing the place practically crawling with trappers.
Not normal procedure?
No, Master.
Mm. Alexandru observed the way the trappers watched their approach. They appear more hostile than usual, pet.
I'm hoping it's because they found out I'm living with you in Sky Tower while they're doing daily commutes from Brooklyn.
Maybe. Alexandru's skeptical tone, however, echoed her own private thoughts as well, and Zari's unease only grew when they were finally inside, and an unsmiling Micah right away ordered all trappers to clear the room.
"Follow me," her boss said curtly.
Every AGNEX station was built to equip trappers with a particular service or supply, and since Zari had never been to Station 4, she hadn't known what to expect until they were at the back of the shop, and a cold blast of air struck her face.
A morgue, Zari realized. Why on earth would her boss have an urgent need for them to come—-
Micah started unlocking the doors to several cold lockers, and the answer came to her when she saw that all twelve of them were empty.
Alexandru's lips tightened. It seems our traitorous adversary is one step ahead of us.
"This is our first problem," Micah told them curtly, "and as for the second..." He stalked towards the row of trolleys at the opposite end of the room and whipped one of the sheets down.
The angel gestured to the corpse. "This," he bit out, "is Station 4's caretaker."