The Vault was buzzing because of the newcomers, more so the Collector's captured Half with the wild eyes and less the young woman leading the Clan of Goliath men, or the expansion of Jordan and James' Clan. Though I personally found Chi much more interesting than Malachi, and less anxiety-inducing, but then with the murder of Grayson - by James, not wild-eyes - and Abby's collars...the Vault had never had a murder before, or any real Darkling population, and certainly never any Halves, or collared Halflings...I didn't even know you could collar a Half, maybe no one but Abby could. That thought alone was mind-boggling.

Regardless, I knew it would make it difficult to focus on my studies and practice. It would also make my time with Ailech much shorter, as I didn't want to be around him when any of the others were around, and he would always be with Jordan, who would always be with James, who would probably always be with the rest of their Clan or watching over wild-eyes. But then when I wasn't with Ailech, I would be alone, and I couldn't imagine what I would do if I came across wild-eyes in one of the hallways...or even James...he was collared too after all, which meant Abby thought he was dangerous too, even if he was supposed to be on our side. And then that made me worry more about Kael, and Nevaeh, and Jordan - she was his Pair after all - and though they acted less threatening and the hair on my arms didn't raise when they were near like it did with the others, I still knew what they were, what they wanted to do and had done and could do and would do again. What they were made to do and training to do. So, I still didn't want to run into one of them alone somewhere either, honestly, I didn't want to run into anyone.

I mean, most of them didn't have collars, but I couldn't decide if that meant they were less of a threat, or if it made them more of a threat because they could do whatever they wanted. Like James had done to Grayson. I trusted Abby's collars, though I didn't want to test them, and I trusted Abby...I just worried about who he trusted.

I knew I wasn't big or strong or tough, my talents were only for healing, no damage or way to protect myself, I couldn't even heal wrong or badly to try to hurt someone...but I didn't want to be scared all the time like I was now. Unfortunately, I didn't know how to stop, and the world - even the Vault - was becoming a scarier and scarier place. The Darklings in their increased numbers had only been here a little over a night and a day and I already felt like I couldn't leave my room or the library. I already tasted metallic fear at the back of my throat every time I saw one of them, and I had a constant headache from holding my breath as I peeked around every corner. That couldn't be healthy or good for me, I was probably killing brain cells.

I was too embarrassed to go to Abby, and Ailech would be no help - I didn't think he even understood fear, let alone empathized with it. But then, as I stared at the light wood grain of my desk, safe in my room trying to let the random patterns calm me...my mind went back to Chi. To another who wasn't the biggest or strongest or toughest, who was probably scared all the time too, being surrounded by Halflings when she and her family were much, much weaker...but she handled it somehow, the fear. She wasn't hiding in her room or gagging on the taste or terror. And I didn't feel afraid when I looked at her, or even her huge brothers...maybe she was my answer. Maybe I could go to her for advice.

I jumped from my desk and was across the room in just a few steps. I opened my door to see the wild one stalking down the hallway away from me, his shoulders tense as he headed the direction of his hallway, of all the Darklings' rooms. I shut my heavy door with a muted click, holding my breath until I was back at my desk, and decided that the morning was a much better time for explorations and introductions.

» ✦ «

Sleep. My least favorite necessity when I was out on a mission or hunt. In the best scenarios, it was where I got my instructions - but, in most cases, it was where my master expressed his displeasure or corrections. And being bested by his weak, only-childhood-trained son, made displeasure seem eminent. Nothing had gone according to plan, besides me being in the Vault. And I hadn't exactly followed the rules my master had set for me.

And though his physical torture was far from enjoyable, it was expected, routine. Plus, my waking mind had logic, armor, years of practice and control over my fear and emotions, over pain. But in sleep, that was his specialty, where he always had the higher ground. He was practically a god in nightmares, holding a Gift similar to his son's, the ability to push and pull a mind. Except he could do it in sleep even more easily, more completely, than in consciousness. The more time he had with someone, the deeper he could dig into their mind, and after all my years with him, my mind was as good as his. Just as he always reminded me, I was his - mind, body, and soul. I relaxed my face when I realized my teeth were bared.

I left the mess hall and felt the weight of each step as I made my way to my quarters. I considered calling on Angel names and their energy, or training, or trying to bait Gabriel and his partner or Clan, or Ailech, or that diluted Clan who's leader made me murderous, but I was nearing the end of my ability to stay awake regardless. And I had always been good at knowing when to fold, especially when it involved my master. So I walked to my room with tunnel vision, so worn out it was all I could do to get to my door without pulling my Shift.

Being Human all the time, or all the time when I wasn't training or alone, was the worst of Abby's punishments, and I knew he knew it. Well, the worst punishment was making me sleep, but even he couldn't save me from that, if he even would. I didn't know him anymore, just like he didn't know me. If only Jordan hadn't stopped me, hadn't been so quick, or if her shield had faltered and my fist had moved clean through the old man's...

Nope. Not thinking of that. No killing thoughts. The only thing that could make sleep worse was getting electrocuted right beforehand. No, I wouldn't think of burning Abby alive or cutting him into teeny tiny pieces. I wouldn't think about doing to him all the things my master had done to me after he abandoned his charges in the Darke house. And I certainly wouldn't think about how I was only here now because he had left and created this place, his Vault. Or how this was the only chance against my master. Not that it would work.

No, I wouldn't think of any of those things because none of them could help me. Not as I laid in an overly-plush bed staring at the wood-paneled ceiling, fighting to keep my eyes open even as I felt my heartbeat race. My skin prickled knowing what was waiting for me on the other side of darkness. I took a deep breath and squeezed my eyes shut, my hands gripping the sheets as I waited for it to begin.

» ✦ «

I was in my room, surrounded by my Clan, my family finally reunited. We discussed training and tutors and schedules, trying to find the best way to use our time at the Vault as we waited to see what would come next, where my father was, and how we would get to him. But then Jordan stiffened, her neck snapping to my closed door, her eyes drilling through it.

Nevaeh noticed right away and followed Jordan's gaze, Kael caught on a moment later, his sentence hanging abandoned. But Jordan only continued to stare at the door, like she was looking beyond it, past it even without her Sight. Then she said five words that made my heart falter and confirmed what I had been dreading ever since Malachi dove into her mind in the woods; they shared some connection I wished they didn't.

"Something is wrong with Malachi."

Her voice was left behind her as she shot for the door, her footsteps light on the floor of my room.

"Get Ailech!" I shouted over my shoulder as I followed my Pair across the hallway.

She didn't check the door, knowing it would be locked, and kicked it in, showing just how serious her feeling about Malachi must be. It yielded despite its thickness, but we didn't even need to make it past the threshold before the smell of blood hit us. Jordan froze, only for a moment, like her confidence faltered, like she was unsure of what to do, but I wasn't. I already knew what this was - because I should have seen it coming all along.

I cursed to myself silently that I hadn't thought of it. Of course, my father would be able to get to Malachi in his sleep. To communicate with him, learn about the Vault and Jordan and me, our side, strengths, and secrets. And of course, he would be able to punish Malachi for his disobedience too. He could get into Jordan and my dreams, even in the Vault, which meant he could easily get into Malachi's mind. And though he couldn't physically hurt us from our unconsciousness, the scene before me proved he had found a way around that for his surrogate son too.

Malachi was laying on the bed, and though his eyes were closed, he didn't appear to be sleeping, not really, more as if he was trapped just beneath waking, like being under ice. A dark red leaked from the corners of his eyes, down into his silvery hair, turning it deep crimson at his temples. His arms were pinned to his sides, his body rigid, until in jolting and jerked motions, one hand rose to his throat. He grabbed the onyx collar starkly contrasting his light, scarred skin and pulled, his shoulders and chest arching off the bed.

At first, I didn't understand what he was doing, or what my father was making him do. But then a new scent filled the room, rancid and heavier than blood - burning flesh.

I was at Malachi's bedside as soon as I realized he was using his Sign, heating the stone-like metal and searing himself in the process. I tried to pull his hand away, drawing from my Shift's strength as I tried to move his arm, but it was no use. Jordan helped a moment later and his fingers finally gave way from the collar, though there was blood on his palms from where the edges had cut in.

Our victory was short-lived as both of Malachi's hands rose now, smoother than before, passing the collar and his still sizzling skin to instead reach for his eyes, rubbing at them like he was waking. Then his fingers curled, stiffening, and his rubbing became scratching, gouging, until he was tearing at his eyes. I began yelling for Ailech as I again tried to pull Malachi's now dripping hands away from his ruined face. But there was so much blood, he was slick with it. And no matter how I tried, I couldn't pull his hands back from his shredded skin, the stripped flesh of his face turning my stomach.

I looked to Jordan and saw her jaw set as she dropped to her knees on the opposite side of the bed, leaning in until her head was close to Malachi's ear. Her hair hung into the river of blood flowing from his pillow, hiding most of her face. She looked like she was praying. But then, she sat back and opened her eyes, staring into mine.

I realized what she was doing a second too late. Always too late. I reached across the bed for her just as she slumped forward, her eyes gently closed, her cheek in a puddle of blood.

Sorry it's been a minute! Life is busy right now and my second to last semester of grad school is about to start so I don't see any slowing in sight ㅠㅠ

But! Here is a chapter - and I feel like I have my inspo back so I'll try to find more time for regular updates. Plus, big things are incoming. So I super want to get to it!

Now for the chapter: of course, wide eyes is Ember, wild is our dear Malachi (who is having a spectacularly rough couple of days). The chapter name came to me as I was driving and I was like - yep, I need an Ember perspective. This was supposed to be more of split between her perspective and Malachi's actually, but I couldn't think of how to elongate hers without it being full filler.

So, I mean - this works too. Maybe I'll expand both of their sections in the future. Who knows. This is only draft 1, of course. And the other two books went through approximately 3,702 drafts 😂

Also, Ember's part (LOL) is just like a handful of massively long run-on sentences. But that was on purpose. I picture that to be how her mind and inner monologue work.

Enjoy!