Free Darkness Fair (The Dark Cycle Book 2) by Rachel A. Marks

open the doorway, they’re harmless. The smaller scouts will be drawn here and to other doorway locations by the vibrations, by the calls of their generals, but they won’t find a way to complete their task as long as your sister remains hidden.
    “Jaasi’el, however, is another story. He is powerful, and the Key Keepers of the gates favor him enough to help him get through into Sheol to seek Ava’s soul. This is another reason I’ve come here to check on the protections; I wanted to be sure Jaasi’el hadn’t found her body—the soul and body must be reunited if he wishes to truly have her for himself. But the protections appear to be very solid, despite your mentor’s failings.”
    “Sid’s doing the best he can.” I have no clue why I’m defending the guy, but I suddenly feel annoyed, seeing Eric’s obvious unhappiness with everything.
    “It won’t matter, he has very little time left here.”
    A weight settles in my chest.
    “He broke the rules of nature, Aidan. He will have to pay the price eventually.” His voice is hard, and I wonder why he’s acting so above it all. It’s not like him.
    “You’ve turned into a bit of a dick, Eric.”
    “My name is Azri’el. Eric was a construct for hiding what I truly am.” He kind of sounds like he’s saying that more for his own benefit than mine. “My task was never to be more than a protector and a watcher.”
    “Eric was my friend, but whatever.”
    “That time has passed. Now you’re something else as well. You’re human, but not the same as those you’ll save. And you’ll see, it will separate you from them. They won’t understand the difference; they’ll fear it.”
    I think of the way the cat lady looked at me, the way people always seem to look at me now. But how is that any different than when I was a street kid? “I’m used to being an outcast.”
    He nods, then looks over to the two frozen figures in the room. “You should go back to the women now. I’ll protect them if anything attempts to do harm, but you’ll need to put some barriers in place around the property. I have other things that need my attention. If I can’t find Jaasi’el and hold him back, then you’ll have more to worry about than a lower scout. You’ll have unimaginable things coming through that doorway. Things not seen by human eyes since the time of Noah.”

TEN
    Rebecca
    The cab driver pulls up in front of the LA Paranormal house. I hand him one of the many hundred-dollar bills my dad left me—guilt always pays well. When I tell the driver to keep the change, he jumps right out to help me with my bags, obviously excited about the forty-dollar tip. I thank him and tell him I can manage on my own when he offers to walk me to the door. Then I turn and head up the brick path.
    I stop at the base of the porch steps and straighten my shoulders, trying to convince myself I did the right thing coming here. Aidan didn’t meet me for coffee and didn’t text because he was busy. Everything is fine. It has to be.
    Flowers line the porch and bright-green grass carpets the yard; they’re obviously not concerned about the drought. The house looms over me a little; the three-story Victorian is like an old yellow farmhouse that doesn’t seem to fit in the neighborhood. It should be cheery, but it isn’t. The windows stare back at me like they know I’m intruding.
    My scar tingles at the thought of going back inside there. But I take a deep breath and walk up the steps onto the wrap-around porch and face the red door. There’s a wreath made of an odd mix of plants hanging on it.
    I knock. When no one answers after a few seconds, I reach over and ring the bell.
    The door opens quickly. It’s that Jax guy, a frown of annoyance on his face. “No Watchtower . I’m already actualized, thanks,” he says before looking at me. Then his eyes settle on my chest, trailing up to my face. “Oh, shit, hey! The sexy redhead.” He winks and pushes his black-framed glasses up