What's dead should stay dead. When you mess with the natural order, things could go horribly wrong. Having a six-hundred year old rotting soul, for example. Or discovering that your boss is the son of the Devil.
I am Aramis Rayne. Full-time familiar...
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I know it's gotta go like this, I know Hell will always come before you grow Trouble found me, trouble found me
NP: Imagine Dragons, Roots
As I climbed back into the Rubicon, I handed Vincent coffee and sandwiches. He took it and ate in silence.
I stared at my reflection in the side mirror.
"Honestly, I'm hoping against hope Carter's not it. But then, I don't think I would feel any different if it were anybody else."
Vincent put down his sandwich and heaved a sigh. "I'll handle the messy bits. All you have to do is reap."
He said that like it was no big deal, but his eyes betrayed him.
"No," I shook my head.
It bothered me how we both could talk about murdering someone so calmly like this. Even if it was to save the world.
"There must be another way, Vincent. I don't even know what this Blessing does. How can God ask us to kill someone in exchange for help? It just doesn't make any sense."
There was a wistful look in his eyes when he stared at me for five whole seconds. Oddly, he was smiling to himself.
"What?"
"Nothing," he replied, starting the engine. "Just now, you sound exactly like the old Aramis I know."
"I told you," I retorted. "I'm still me. I really hope we don't have to resort to that. But if we do... I'll be with you."
He began to object but I cut him off, making an effort to smile.
"No can do, Master. From now on, it's going to be"—I moved my hand in a horizontal line, across the imaginary signboard in front of me—"Vince and A, all the way."
Carter and Vincent weren't exactly friends. But knowing Vincent's astounding tendency for self-blame, I wasn't going to let him suffer alone. Not anymore.
Suddenly, a soft laughter broke out from him. "Did you come up with that tagline?"
"I was going to apply for a patent, actually," I muttered snidely.
He was about to poke fun at me when I heard Alex's voice through the Diviner's link.
"It sounds like you two are having fun."
Vincent composed himself, cleared his throat and said, "Alex, what's your status?"
"Amyr and I are still in Centralia. No joy. Perhaps, we will be in luck tonight. We did find indications that separate group of sentries were ambushed in two adjacent areas. My theory is that Legion is hiding within a half mile perimeter of the old church."
Vincent threw me a look. "I think we have a prospect for the offering. Do me a solid and look up someone in the Archives for me. See if a Carter Applegate's due anytime soon."
