Haze

by Paula Weston

  ‘How is that possible?’ Zak moves next to Mya.

  ‘There are ways to ward against demons.’

  A storm builds under my ribs. ‘You knew about the iron, didn’t you?’

  Nathaniel doesn’t respond and I look to Daniel. For a second his mask slips and I see his confusion. This is news to him too.

  ‘Nathaniel.’ Sound moves strangely in here; it’s stretched thin, echoey.

  ‘It is true, Gabriella.’ Nathaniel looks only at me, avoiding the others. Even Daniel. ‘The Garrison has always known how to bless ancient metals to prevent demon manifestation. Until today, I was not aware a similar ward could be used to inhibit Rephaite movement. We have barely started questioning Virginia of Iowa, but we must assume her trap uses such powers and bindings. I do not yet understand how she and her family could know of these things.’

  ‘But Daniel knew to look for the amulet on Virginia.’

  Outside, a bell tolls once, twice. I lose count after nine.

  Mya waits for the reverberation to fade. ‘You’ve kept this to yourself all these years, and now you want us to trust you?’

  ‘This division has gone on long enough, Mya. It has made us weak. Call the others here.’

  ‘As guests or hostiles?’

  Nathaniel frowns, as though the question offends him. ‘As Rephaim. This place exists for all of you. Nothing that has happened in the past decade changes that.’

  Mya turns to Jude. ‘Are you hearing this? Damn it, I wish you remembered. I could really do with you being you right now.’ There’s more than frustration in her voice; there’s a longing too.

  Jude thinks for a moment. ‘Nathaniel.’

  ‘Yes, Judah.’

  ‘It’s Jude.’

  ‘I prefer the name I gave you.’

  Jude stiffens. Recovers. ‘I prefer Jude.’ A steadying breath. ‘We need time to discuss this.’

  ‘No.’ It’s Daniel who says it. ‘These three will convince you and Gabriella to leave with them.’

  ‘Daniel,’ Ez says, exasperated. ‘This isn’t a game. Jude’s right—we need to talk about this without you breathing down our necks.’

  Nathaniel studies her and then nods. ‘It is not an unreasonable request, Esther. We will return shortly.’

  Daniel looks as though he wants to argue, but doesn’t. He and Nathaniel leave the room without speaking to each other. The door scrapes over the stones, the latch clicks shut.

  ‘He can’t honestly think we’re going to stay here,’ Mya says to Ez.

  Ez rubs her eyes. ‘Do you have a plan?’

  ‘I’ll have one quicker than anyone here.’

  ‘Mya,’ Zak says. ‘Answer the question.’

  She avoids his gaze. ‘Not yet.’

  Jude walks to the centre of the room, skirting the remnants of blood and vomit on the stones. He cranes his neck to look up at the ornate timber arches overhead.

  ‘What do you think we should do, Gaby?’

  I lean back against the hard pew. I can’t settle my mind enough to know. Images of Rafa tumble over each other: of him fighting demons at the Retreat…racing ahead of me on the beach…walking through the crowd at Rick’s carrying beers…undressing me on his bed…his lips on my skin. And then that last, horrible moment, before the Gatekeepers took him. The sword. Blood. The look in his eyes.

  Then Jude’s arms are around me, pulling me to him. I breathe in the sea and wood smoke, bury my face in the blanket he tightens around me.

  ‘Tell me what you want to do,’ he whispers.

  ‘We stay here.’ I mumble it into the blanket. Then I raise my head, say it again, stronger. ‘We stay here for now.’

  ‘What a surprise.’ Mya’s voice is bitter. ‘You want to obey Nathaniel.’

  I pull away from Jude, find the strength to sit up on my own. ‘I want Rafa and Taya back.’

  ‘We all want that.’

  ‘Then use your head. The more swords we have with us, the more chance we’ll have of succeeding, especially if Nathaniel fights with us.’

  ‘Gabe’s right,’ Zak says. ‘Let’s bring everyone here first. Then work up a plan.’

  Mya closes her eyes, seems to wrestle with something. Finally she lets out a frustrated breath, takes out her phone and goes to the other side of the room. Her ponytail swings across her neck and I catch another glimpse of the Celtic cross over her Rephaite mark.

  ‘Jones—’ I hear.

  Jude leans closer. ‘We’ll get Rafa back.’

  How can he sound so certain? I’m not even certain I could cross the room right now. Darkness drags at me.

  I stare up at the painting on the wall. A tangle of limbs and swords, darkness and light, blood and halos. Now, though, I see more detail. Not all the angels are victorious: some lie bleeding among broken Corinthian columns, wings torn, limbs missing—butchered demons scattered around them. Why would Nathaniel want that in here? A reminder that victory comes only with suffering?

  I tear my eyes away from the image, find Ez and Zak standing together in the middle of the room.

  ‘You two still with us?’ Ez asks.

  Jude and I look at each other, nod.

  ‘Well, then,’ she says. ‘I guess there’s only one thing left to say…’ She holds out her arms, eyes sad, exhausted. ‘Welcome home.’

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Writing a second book in a series—especially one featuring Gaby and Rafa—is definitely fun, but it’s not without its challenges. Fortunately, I’ve had my editor, Alison Arnold, along again for the ride. I know you’ve heard it before, Ali, but I love working on these books with you. Thank you. For everything.

  Huge thanks again to the rest of the amazing team at Text Publishing for the ongoing support and enthusiasm for the Rephaim series. Special mentions go to publicist Stephanie Stepan (miss you already) and rights manager Anne Beilby (love your work).

  Thanks to my agent Lyn Tranter, who’s always there when I need her, and Jane Finigan at Lutyens & Rubinstein Literary Agency for her amazing support.

  Thanks to the team at Orion/Indigo Books in the United Kingdom, especially my editor, Jenny Glenross, and senior publicity manager, Nina Douglas. Thanks, too, to the Tundra Books team in Canada, who will soon be officially introducing the Rephaim to North America.

  A chunk of Haze was written during the inaugural three-day writing frenzy that is the Queensland Writers’ Centre Rabbit Hole. It’s a fantastic initiative—up there with National Novel Writing Month for first draft motivation. Speaking of first drafts, thanks to my test readers, especially Rebecca Cram (Place) and Michelle Reid. And to my writer friends, old and new: thanks for the friendship, advice and inspiration.

  Thanks to my niece, Kelly Minerds, who actually did that insane bungee jump in the second chapter, and whose Facebook clip I used as research. (I certainly wasn’t diving out of a cable car.)

  To my wonderful friends and family: thanks for your support and understanding when I seem a little vague. I’m probably thinking about sword fights or kissing scenes. Or food.

  And Murray…what can I say? This is some adventure we’re on. Love you.

  Finally, to all the readers, bloggers, reviewers, librarians and booksellers who so kindly embraced Shadows…I hope you enjoy this next instalment.