The Quo

  The team and I do as we’re told. As we head out the door Nipoe calls calmly after us:

  “Killing Angels is not the Sage’s end game.”

  “And I suppose you know what is?” Marcus says, turning to the old lady.

  “We’ve studied him just like we’ve studied your kind. The fact is he is getting rid of Angels because Angels know the truth.”

  “What truth?”

  “As it stands now, humans don’t get into the light because of their religion or their beliefs. They get into the light based on their heart, character, and actions. But if the Sage was in control, that would change. The only way to get into the light would be to believe in him. And all the humans who don’t would suffer in darkness.”

  “Omnis would never let that happen,” Marcus replies.

  “Angels are his representatives. Your race is Omnis’s voice. If there are no Angels left, who will speak for him?”

  “Sage wants to get rid of us so we can’t come between him and the humans,” Miku says, shocked.

  “What does he want from us?” I ask.

  Marcus has a revelation.

  “Worship,” he says simply.

  His mind is racing. We look around at each other hoping one of us understands what Marcus is trying to say.

  “All this time, it was believed that the Sage wanted to replace the Council,” Nipoe says.

  “But that’s not it,” Marcus adds pensively.

  “No. That’s not his end game,” she confirms sadly.

  “Then who does the Sage want to replace?” I ask Marcus.

  “Omnis.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN:

  IN REAL LIFE

  In light of the new information, Marcus has no choice but to return the team to the table. I can tell by the pause he takes before sitting down, he’s still not happy having to work with the Foundation. Once everyone is seated, they agree to focus on game day first.

  After the rescue, they would discuss how to stop the Sage permanently. Once that happens, the team will then head out to find the three Alphas and put the Shoma back together. The task that lies ahead of the Guardians worries me. No sooner do they tackle one problem than another one appears.

  The one bright spot is that the plan to rescue the Angels from the Yard is nearly perfect. The Foundation had mapped out weak points in the Sage’s security. And also the points where security would be very tight and thus should be avoided. Together the team and the Foundation work out an exit strategy that would allow for the least amount of casualties.

  The plan is for the Foundation members to go as Sage supporters and blend in. Once inside, they would set off various bombs so as to distract the games, and while security is running around trying to find the culprit, other members and the Guardians would then secretly be let in. Then they will head to the prison cell below ground to rescue the Angels.

  “How can a cell hold an Angel?” I ask.

  “They have Quo who are human Soul Chasers as Guards. So the Guards suck out enough of the prisoner’s soul to keep them weak but not enough that they die,” Nipoe explains.

  “That’s because they want to see us die live and in person as some kind of sick game,” Jay says bitterly.

  “Well, you guys used to play Runner Ball, you don’t think that was cruel?” one of the members reminds them.

  “Runners killed people every chance they got. And the ones who we don’t kill usually end up being demons,” Marcus points out.

  “I’m just saying you guys have a history of being cruel to demons.”

  “What are we supposed to do, hug them?” Rio asks.

  “Let’s stay focused,” Nipoe suggest. Marcus agrees.

  “The Sage knows any Angel who comes down to the cell won’t last long. The same goes for a Quo. So basically in order for this plan to work, we need a human. Humans won’t be killed as quickly with a Soul Chaser like an Angel can be,” a Foundation member offers.

  “No,” Marcus says without even turning to look at me.

  “Emmy has proven to be a very strong human. Although she has no actual powers, she is quite brave,” Nipoe offers.

  “No,” Marcus counters firmly.

  “I’m here, you might as well use me, Marcus.”

  “No.”

  I sigh, roll my eyes, and tell Nipoe that I’m here if she needs me.

  “Did you really just say that?” Marcus scolds me.

  “Yeah, so?”

  “So are you, or are you not, a part of this team?” he asks.

  “I try to be, but your ex is always quick to remind me that I’m not.”

  “Well Ameana doesn’t decide who is and isn’t on this team - I do. And if you are a part of us then stop trying to undermine me and disobey orders.”

  “What? I wasn’t—”

  “—you are not going down into a cell full of Soul Chasers and demons. That’s not up for debate.”

  “I can’t believe it. It’s been over a year and you still think you can tell me what to do!”

  “It’s been over a year and you still think it’s okay to put yourself in danger. You’re so selfish.”

  “I want to help. How is that selfish?”

  “What happens if you die? What will I—the team do then?”

  “I thought you were okay with me helping.”

  “Not on this.”

  “Then why did I come?”

  “I told you not to. But you hate safety.”

  “It’s not safety that I hate right now,” I say pointedly.

  “Whatever, you’re not going.”

  “Try and stop me, Marcus!”

  I can’t remember him ever being so pissed. I don’t care. I didn’t come all this way to sit out the rescue mission. The tension is so thick; the Foundation members can’t bring themselves to look us in the eye. The team is barely making eye contact with us.

  “Well, there’s another solution: A being that has no soul for the Guards to attack,” Nipoe suggests.

  “So do you guys know a demon who’d like to help out?” A Foundation member jokes.

  Ameana raises her hand.

  “Actually, I do.”

  “Yo, ain’t no way this is go’n down!” Jay says the second we are alone in the room. The Foundation allowed us to meet privately and discuss asking for Rage’s help.

  “We don’t really have a choice, Jay,” Rio says.

  “Since when are you on Rage’s side?”

  “I’m not but he’s the only being we know that doesn’t have a soul,” Rio replies.

  “We could send a Runner. We can threaten him and make him do it,” Jay suggests.

  “Yeah but there is no grantee that the Runner won’t alert the Guards once he’s inside,” Marcus says in deep thought.

  “You guys, just let me do it,” I offer.

  “I’m not having this discussion with you, Emerson,” Marcus snaps.

  Did he just call me “Emerson” with the same tone Ameana uses when she calls me “theHuman”?

  ARGH!

  I hate him. I hate him. I hate him.

  Out loud, I force myself not to sound as angry as I feel. I don’t want him to know that he’s gotten to me.

  “Fine then; I guess Ameana better call Rage.”

  “Marcus?” Ameana says turning to him.

  The entire team awaits the First Guardian’s decision.

  “Get Rage on the phone.”

  I can’t stand the sight of Jay fuming while he paces back and forth. I also don’t like watching the Twins work so hard to act like there is no issue between them. It’s clear they need to talk but Miku won’t admit her feelings about Jay to Rio.

  Then there’s Marcus. He’s still in deep thought and I know he’s torturing himself about allowing Rage to help us. I want to be supportive but we’ve just been at odds lately and I really need to get some air.

  When the Foundation asks the team to come back into the meeting room so they can discuss where to hide the Angels once they save them, I see m
y chance. I sneak out to the back of the house. A few yards away, I spot a set of stone steps that used to be connected to something that has since been torn down. I walk over to it and sit facing away from the house.

  The team doesn’t need me. Maybe they never did. Maybe it was just me wanting to spend time with Marcus. That’s “old” Emmy behavior. I have to stay strong. I can’t go back to being the girl I used to be: the girl who pined for him and ached desperately to be near him.

  I close my eyes and a memory flashes before me: Marcus and I are laughing as we walk the streets of Time Square. He leans in and kisses me. My heart pounds loudly in my ears, blood rushes to my face, and my lips hungrily seek him out.

  Emmy, stop it! Stop it! You can’t go through this again. You won’t survive loving Marcus again.

  I scold myself. I have done very well keeping the flashbacks away. I only allow myself to think about the future and not the past. So how do I focus on the future?

  I take out my cell and call Lucas.

  C’mon, please pick up…

  After five rings, it goes to voicemail.

  Great…

  I leave some lame message about being forced to spend a few days with my family upstate and I tell him I miss him.

  Then I hear footsteps behind me. Startled, I jump and turn to see who’s there. I find Eta approaching hesitantly.

  “Um…I’m so sorry to bother you, but I’m a big fan,” she says as if she’s meeting a world famous superstar.

  “Yeah, the Guardians are…amazing,” I reply.

  “No, not them; you and Marcus.”

  “I’m sorry…?”

  She comes closer and sits alongside me. Her excitement can hardly be contained. She speaks as if she has been waiting to say these words her whole life.

  “I have been reading about you and Marcus since he first came to earth and you guys fell in love.”

  “Wait, how is that possible?” I ask.

  “The Foundation studies every aspect of Angel culture. The Guardians are a major part of that. We write down their activities and missions in these massive books they call a Muse. I’m a book junkie so as I was cataloging in, I began to read them. I fell instantly in love with ‘Marcus and Emmy.’”

  “So everything we’ve ever done is written down somewhere?” I ask in complete panic mode.

  “Well, no. Unfortunately some moments in the story I’ve had to guess. You know the moments you and Marcus spend alone.”

  “Oh,” is all I can manage as relief washes over me. Eta continues and is either unaware or doesn’t care how uncomfortable this conversation is making me.

  “It’s so hard because those are like the most romantic moments for me as the reader and I don’t get to see them. But I did get to see you kiss Marcus in the car that night. It was in the Splash. We used to get them in Adam City. Anytime there was a story about you and Marcus, I collected it. Anyway, I’ve been following you and Marcus for over a year now. I’m so glad it finally happened.”

  “What finally happened?”

  “You and Marcus getting together; true love winning in the end. It’s a perfect love story,” she says with a silly smile.

  “Eta, it’s not a story. Marcus and I we’re…” She looks up at me with these puppy dog eyes and somehow telling her the truth seems cruel.

  “You and Marcus are what?”

  “Didn’t you see us in the meeting? Arguing?” I ask.

  “Yeah, but that was nothing.”

  “We’re not--never mind,” I say.

  “I can’t believe I’m sitting here with you!” she squeals.

  This is too weird.

  “Maybe I should go back to the meeting,” I say, trying to find a graceful exit. I stand up and start walking back towards the house.

  “Wait! I’ve got so many questions.”

  “You know honestly…I’m really not up for a Q&A right now.”

  “Oh, okay” she says, sounding like a little girl who just found out she was the only one not invited to a class birthday party.

  Damn…

  “Okay, sure, what do you want to know?” I ask.

  Please Omnis, don’t let it be too personal.

  “Why haven’t you and Marcus made love yet?”

  Seriously???

  Okay, Omnis hates me.

  “Um…”

  “I mean, you do have his Rah, right?” Eta pushes.

  “Well…”

  “I know you guys have been busy but surely you would make time for that, right?”

  “Um…well…”

  Someone please kill me now.

  “Did you guys already make love?” she asks, bolting straight up and onto her feet.

  “What? No!”

  “I’m confused. See we only have events up to Marcus becoming a Tic.”

  “You know about that?”

  “Yeah, but it works for the story. You came and you saved him by leaping off the building.”

  “You know about the Spring?”

  “Yeah, Marcus is like the first one in history to do that. And it’s all because of his love for you. That’s all the events that’ve been written about so far. But I know exactly what happened after you leaped of the tower: You guys got back together!” She sighs dreamily and looks out into empty space.

  I want to ask her just how many Quo have been writing about our lives and for how long but Eta is lost in her own world.

  “I hope I find a love like that someday,” she says to herself.

  “Eta—”

  “—yeah?”

  “I think I should go back inside.”

  “Can I ask you something else?”

  She probably wants to know at what point I am in my menstrual cycle…

  “Why didn’t you make love to Marcus when Ameana gave him his Rah back?”

  “How do you—?”

  “Sellers reported seeing you guys at the movies kissing so I knew Ameana had to cave in because of your mom’s passing. That broke my heart by the way; I’m really sorry that happened.”

  “Um…thanks.” It’s still hard for me to talk about my mom’s death and it’s even worse with a stranger.

  “So why didn’t you guys have sex then?” she asks again.

  “It’s complicated.”

  “Something got in the way, what was it?”

  Marcus broke my heart…

  “A lot of things,” I reply reflectively.

  “I think I can help you.”

  “Help how?”

  “I think you’re scared to make love to Marcus because you don’t know what to expect. But I’ve read all about it and I can run down everything for you.” This conversation is creepy but what’s creepier still is how curious I am. Does it even matternow that Marcus and I aren’t together? I guess not but I’ve played out what it would be like tobe with him so many times in my head…

  “So you’ve read a lot about Angel sex?” I ask, trying to pull myself together.

  “Yeah, but at one point, there’s only so much you can read about. I had to experience it firsthand.”

  “You did?”

  “Yeah, his name was Chris. Sooner or later even bookworms get laid.” I can’t help but laugh at how unguarded Eta is. She signals for me to sit down again. For the record, curiosity is an awful thing. I sit down beside her. She rubs her hands together like an evil cartoon villain.

  “I can tell you firsthand because the human body and that of a Quo is the same thing minus the powers.”

  “And you guys are made up of more soul than we are right?”

  “Exactly. Aside from that, our bodies are about the same. Now, what do you need to know?” she asks like a teacher standing before her student.

  I’m glad no one else is around because I am actually close to dying of sheer embarrassment.

  “Um…I guess everything. What happens when Angels are having sex, how does it feel, and if it’s with a human, can the human get hurt?”

  “First, it does hurt but it’s a
good pain.”

  “How can it be both painful and good?”

  “Have you ever sucked down your favorite Slurpee so fast you got a massive brain freeze?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well it’s like that, but instead of ice, your brain and body are overloaded with this exquisite bliss that engulfs you. It takes over and fills every inch of you with immeasurable ecstasy and you think you can’t survive the moment. It’s all too much. It’s too much elation, too much passion, too much euphoria."

  “All of that is before he even enters you. Once he’s inside you, he is literally sharing his soul with you. At first your body shakes because it fears it won’t be able to handle the impact. You fear a massive implosion, but then you realize something: his soul isn’t just powerful, it’s gentle. And the massive implosion is made up of pleasure and serenity. There is nothing compared to the peace you will feel in the arms of an Angel. It is the closest you will ever get to Omnis; the closest you will ever get to truly uncovering the depth of how much the Angel loves you.”

  “Wow…” I whisper before I even realize it.

  “Yeah and we were just friends. I can only imagine how strong it will be when it’s with someone you really love, like with you and Marcus.”

  “Were you scared?”

  “When I saw Outer Arc.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Oh, it’s awesome. Angels have two kinds of orgasms at the same time!”

  “Wait, how—”

  “—one happens within the body, that’s called the Inner Arc and the other manifests outside the body, that’s called the Outer Arc. The Inner Arc is pretty much like a human orgasm. It feels amazing, you lose control a little and it’s very nice.”

  “I heard some guys can’t, like, find the spot that makes you have a…ya know.”

  “That’s the great thing about Angels. They are trained to be precise. Thorough. Focused.” I laugh at how much she’s enjoying the flashback I’m certain is playing in her head. I feel kind of bad that I’m here while she’s picturing such an intimate moment but again, I want to find out more.

  “Okay, so what about the Outer Arc?” I ask.

  “The Outer Arc is like a billion times better than the Inner one. It’s silver illuminated plasma that starts out taking the shape of an orb. It forms a few feet away from the couple.”