I hadn't noticed when I ducked from her room to my own, too preoccupied with the precious body in my arms, and our hallway was frequently avoided anyway, but as I stalked along the others it became apparent that they were all empty, deserted, abandoned. So, Abby knew what I had done, or, done a handful of hours ago. She had died as the sun rose, but now it was high in the sky somewhere above my head outside the Vault.

It was hard to leave the room she slumbered in, where her body stitched itself together, morphing into something stronger, better, more. But I had so much to do, so I forced myself away from her, though each step felt heavy like the very air was trying to drag me back to her. The thought crossed my mind that Abby would steal her from me, but surely the wise mage knew the hell I would rain down on his charges, on him, on anyone if they dared to move her, to so much as touch her. It wouldn't matter if they hid or ran, what magics or shields or cloaks they used, I would hunt them, hunt her, forever.

No, Abby was too smart for that, he had seen or felt what had been done and simply picked up his toys and left. This was a Fallen matter, and he clearly knew to stay out of it. That brought a smile to the corners of my lips. At least for now, for the next few days, the Vault was mine. But who had stayed? Who was still here for the game of cat and mouse I had planned?

I closed my eyes and paused, standing tall and raising my face as I stretched my Sight far and wide, looking for who remained. Under twenty in the entirety of the monstrous compound, a dozen mages to keep the wards strong, seven with Darkling blood in their veins and one little second-lifed being. But the few brave mages, Chi and her men, even Kael and Nevaeh weren't of consequence to me yet, too weak or diluted. It was Malachi I wanted, and his phantom by association.

I continued my walk, adjusting my course to the wooded area I felt them in, following Malachi's blood like a beacon. The power in him made my mouth water and jaw ache, my shifted teeth fighting to take shape. Hunger wasn't a strong enough word, no, the power of his blood made me ravenous. There weren't enough potent of my kind here, and with Jordan indisposed, my very skin prickled uncomfortably, my blood straining in my veins to draw from another, feel another, to feel Heaven.

I had never needed for others like I did now, as being in my father's home when I first returned never left me wanting for Darklings, and I felt near nothing under Ambriel's control, or while on her errands. Then I was with Jordan almost constantly since being freed from that icy bitch. Maybe part of the need I felt, the draw, came from the lack of my Pair's existence for the time being. I had never been in a world without my other half, a mirror to my blood. Perhaps that caused some form of discomfort. Her brother would just have to do, at least they shared half of their blood.

The door opened smoothly on silent hinges. I saw them immediately despite the size of the forest. They could have been anywhere but were straight ahead, speaking quietly in their own little world. Maybe they didn't even know the Vault was deserted yet. Maybe they didn't know anything was different, though everything was, a new era waiting to begin as soon as my Pair breathed her second first breath.

Ailech's face snapped my direction when I entered, but Malachi made a show of nonchalance, gazing out at the trees past his mage, his head tilted back too far, stance wide, feet flat, leaning back on his heels slightly. Casual. Every line of his body exuded lazy arrogance to show just how unbothered by my presence he was.

He spoke first, still looking off to my left at the trees.

"You know you went from wearing a shock collar to becoming one. What a come-up story. Congratulations."

I reached up and crushed the collar I still wore in my hand, letting it fall in crumbled pieces.

Ailech spoke next, his face a mix of dread and fear, his voice matching, though his eyes weren't on my freed throat.

"Whose blood is that?"

My shower hadn't been very thorough for myself, and though some had washed away, I still had clear signs of death down my side.

"Mh, guess." I grinned.

He looked very much like he did not want to play my guessing game as he slowly began to shake his head in disbelief and horror, his eyes glued to the fading stains of blood tattooing my skin.

"No, you wouldn't, you couldn't have. She wouldn't have let you."

"Partial points, little Human. I would. I could. But you're right on one point, she didn't let me, but after the night we had, she didn't really have much fight left in her."

Malachi finally looked at me, his unnatural eyes taking in the evidence of what I had done as that quick, conniving mind of his rapidly flipped through his options, his many backup plans, finding the best outcome for himself. I'd expect nothing less from him. Loyalty and honor had never been his strong suits, only self-preservation.

"What do you want? She'll be back soon and I don't think you want to add to her wrath anymore than you already have." His words sounded congenial, like he was merely giving me a helpful suggestion, but his eyes kept locking back onto my side.

"What I want? Only what I deserve - everything. But I'll settle for your allegiance." My teeth sharpened despite holding my Shift back, and I let them show, though not quite a smile.

"So you really are him, here to steal away my soul, to collect?" He spit the last word. "I'm afraid that ship has already sailed, wrecked, and sunk. What a shame that you're too fucking late."

He had bold words, but I saw his hand tense at his side to stop the tremor. He was afraid of me and what I could do, what I would do now that Jordan wasn't here to stay my hand. My smile grew.

"I'm here to give you a choice - I can kill you outright and we can see if my dearly departed truly still holds your soul - or you can choose me, give me your allegiance willingly and live on.

So the real question is will you gamble your life on my Pair, hoping she can resurrect you once she rises? Hoping she still has her bid on you even when she is outside of our world? Maybe a better question - will you risk Ailech's soul as well as your own on that hope? Or will you surrender both to me? And choose the sure thing?"

He paused for only a moment before answering.

"You're bluffing. You won't kill me."

"Try me."

The volts of electricity that spiked through me turned my smile into a grimace, baring my teeth at the sudden pain. I felt lines of it dance between my fingers and up my arms like my flames used to, but where I hadn't been burned by my fire for decades, the lightning hurt with every moment I held it. The power was too much, too sharp and full, too overwhelming. It was always there, though not always so quivering it rattled my bones and ground my teeth.

Malachi's low voice pulled me back from reveling in the pain.

"Jordan won't take kindly to you stealing us from her like this."

"It's not her kindness I desire." I showed my teeth, my smile widening. "I will make us win, give her the power to, even if I have to force it upon her in the ways she isn't willing to take on her own. You think like her, you must have known she needed to come back as she was meant to be. And as strong as she will be, we both know I'm stronger, I was crafted and honed for this. I'm the one that leads the front against my father, which means I'm the one you should be pledged to. So you can fight it all you want, but I'm taking what I'm due in order to win. I won't lose to him again."

"You aren't planning on an after, on a life after you kill him. Why?" Malachi didn't sound upset, merely curious, his mind unable to comprehend survival not being the primary goal.

"It's not my plan to die, I just don't care what I have to do as long as Baraqiel dies in the end."

"Hm, I'd rather the one without the death wish carry my soul to the finish line actually." He shrugged easy, but his eyes were alight.

"I will not die-"

"Just become unrecognizable by the perverted power you'll twist into yourself. It'll take you apart, dig in and take over - like Ambriel but so much worse. If you keep on this path, you'll be able to kill your father just in time to replace him." Ailech cut me off, sounding oddly calm, even, like Abby.

"I will not borrow tomorrow's troubles." I ground out, the bolts running through my veins begging for release. "As for now, my offer remains."

"Death or you as my master? Not really a fair choice."

"I didn't say it wasn't leaning." I tried to grin, but a particularly sharp wave of power made me nearly flinch, clenching my jaw and flattening the curve at my lips.

"You don't look so good," Malachi smiled. "In fact, Jordan spent most of those first days after your death naked in the fetal position or unconsciously turning the Vault into an inferno. Do I just have to hold out until you swoon?"

"I better be quick then."

I let my eyes darken, finally, gloriously, and felt my power rise with it, but it wasn't lapping at the edge of my control anymore, not overflowing and scalding me. Now I had more space, more control, more strength to rein it in, but I didn't. I wasn't here for temperance or forbearance, I was here for force, to obtain my goal quickly and efficiently so I could move on to further steps.

I raised my arm, palm to the artificial summer sky, and let lightning sizzle between the two, I felt my teeth scrape against each other, the little vibrations from the energy just shy of a visible tremble.

Ailech's body tensed, like he was foolish enough to fight, but his master wasn't. He held out his hand to stop the little mage, and though his eyes were soulless as well, as dark as my Pair's power, he wasn't pulling his fire or dropping into a defensive stance. He stood straight and tall, watching me with directionless eyes as he worked his tongue behind his teeth, clicking as he weighed his options.

"Give in after a fight or without one, you know the ending will be the same regardless. So if you need to fight first, to be able to say you tried to resist, be my guest, but I'll know it's really just your gluttony."

I mocked two fingers into a gun, lazily aimed at Malachi as lightning continued to crackle in my other, my threat obvious. At his continued pause, I shifted my fingers just an inch to the side until they settled on Ailech, and Malachi broke.

"Fine, have my fucking soul. You and my sister can fight over it's bones once she's back. I won't have to suffer you for long."

"We'll see."