It was very late at night, or, rather, early in the morning. Heidi was having trouble sleeping. How could she, after the embarrassment of the night’s events? She paced in the kitchen, waiting for her tea to cool, fists clenched in mild frustration with... with herself.

“You okay?” said Nep. The scientist descended the stairs and walked to her friend’s side.

“Sorry. Did I wake you?” asked Heidi.

“I was up already.” Nep helped herself to the tea, taking a mug and filling it to the brim. She sat on the couch and pulled out her e-reader. It was just pleasure reading, tonight. Something easy on the mind while she sipped her tea and reflected. “Ooh. It’s hot.”

“Why did you come here?” said Heidi.

“I’m just checking on you,” Nep replied. “I’m responsible for everyone staying at Sanctuary 73, after all.”

“I’m fine,” said Heidi. “Thanks for asking. I just—”

“You’re upset about what happened when Ecto arrived.”

The tea had cooled enough for Heidi. She held the cup up by her lips, inhaling the aroma before taking a sip. It calmed her nerves. “Nep, I don’t want to talk about it. I knew what I was getting into. I thought I’d figured this out. I thought I was past this. It’s been years. And before you start lecturing me, Hylobius already did. He’s a bit upset at me, too.

Nep exhaled. “I wasn’t going to lecture you, Heidi. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Yours is not the position to exact revenge. At least not yet. Your Imago is not fit for it.”

“I know.” The teacup shook in Heidi’s hand. “I feel awful that Quinn was in danger because of me.”

“No.” Nep’s voice cut Heidi to the bone. She knew. Of course she did. What didn’t that nosy girl know?

Heidi bit her lip. “Don’t... don’t say it.”

“You’re upset because you can’t get your revenge on him. Because it’s Vespa’s host who will do that.”

“Fine. Yes. Whatever. It’s unfair. These stupid bodies, making us slaves to some vague and ominous destiny beyond our control. I hate it. And it’s disgusting that we’re taking Quinn in like this, not even telling her about it. Not telling her that she sold her soul to be a weapon in this war. And all the while, not even telling Mali. Not even accepting oversight. You just want to use her.”

“Don’t misunderstand.” Nep sipped her tea. “She will be used, no matter what. But Vespa says that this is the time. A Calamity is coming once again. And so Vespa’s host will be refined to perfection, sharpened against steel blades and forged in fire. All we can do is try to help her adjust. And the last thing we need is for Mali to hear about this.”

“Is this why you haven’t told her about her parents?”

Nep hesitated. “What do you mean?”

“We’ll do our best to find what happened to your parents,” Heidi mocked. “Can’t you at least tell her the truth? That they’re never getting back? That we don’t even know what happens to the people that they spirit away?”

“She’ll find out when the time comes. Do you have a problem with that? Do you have an alternative? She has enough on her mind as it is. There’s no need to flood her with additional worries beyond her control.”

“She’ll find out sooner or later.”

“When she finds out, she’ll be ready. She’ll be able to accept the facts and deal with them.” Nep sighed. “Like you were able to.” Finishing her cup, she walked over to the kitchen, rinsing it thoroughly in the sink and leaving it on the rack to dry. “Please don’t tell her, Heidi.” She started up the stairs toward her room. “It’s for her best interest. You’d understand.”

“Yeah, I’d understand,” muttered Heidi. “Hylobius, what do you think?”

The little weevil crawled out from under her sweatshirt, club-like antennae catching the scent of tea in the air. “Nep’s logic is sound, as always.”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“You think it’s a good idea to keep so much stuff from Quinn?”

“What is going on is right. It is essential for her to be prepared. And preparation requires clarity and peace of mind. Even if that means withholding what is important to her. Remember our duty is salvation in the face of the coming Calamity. Vespa may have been acting rogue, and she was reprimanded for it, but Vespa has always been in tune with the old things. The Echoes stir. The Demons grow bolder, their plans clicking into place as we speak. She knew the warning signs and chose someone. You cannot fault her for that.”

“She was pretty.... pretty nice. Her Imago is very strong at fighting Demons. Whereas mine...”

Despite his tiny size, Hylobius’s voice was deep and measured. “Do not forget your place, Heidi. You are only vanguard. Quinn is the hero. She must be strong. Much stronger. I know you fear Ecto, especially for what he did to you, but there are far greater powers than he. He is Archdemon of Eyes. But that makes him merely a lookout for the others.”

“I can’t even imagine. What was.. what was the last one like?”

“The sixth?”

Heidi nodded, taking another sip of her tea before setting the cup back down on the kitchen counter. “You were there, right?”

“Of course. The sixth was... it was bad.”

“Shocker.”

“We had thought them vanquished. They had been quiet for so long. Then they arrived in droves. War blazed to life once more, swift and bitter. It was the twilight of the age. Stars fell from the sky. But we emerged victorious. Or so we thought. It seems this past age of quiet was but another ruse. A rude awakening for the Angels in yet another age.”

“When they come, we rise to oppose them bearing Gaia’s might,” Heidi recited. “This is unfair, too. They’re so far beyond us. Vastly old creatures from a distant, distant place. And we are so young and frail, still. So few years upon the earth.”

“Just over two centuries,” said Hylobius. “Scarcely enough time to prepare our hosts for the coming battle. And for Vespa’s host, even less time than that.”

“I know, right? Seriously? Someone still in high school? We must be in a very tight rush if that’s what’s needed. Otherwise, one of you symbiotes would have to be crazy to choose someone so young. Someone so prone to mistakes.

“I thought you were older. It was my mistake.”

“Shut up.” She smiled. That mistake had been years ago. So much had changed since then. “I feel like I’m the only one who gets it. Quinn is just a kid. She clearly doesn’t want to fight. She doesn’t have enough hate for them, yet. I’m afraid.”

“They all see that she is a child. But only you see yourself in her.”

“Of course. I can’t help it. It’s scarily like what happened. But it’s also like a second chance. If Nep’s going to be vague about everything, I need to be up-front. I need to treat her like she’s an adult. Otherwise she’ll lose trust in the other Angels. She’ll fall into the same trap that I did.”

“So you’re just going to tell her everything that’s going on?”

“I’ll respect Nep’s wishes. But I’ll keep an eye on her. Enough to make sure that she doesn’t...”

“That she doesn’t turn out like you.”

“Shut up!” The words fell out of her mouth before she could catch herself. “But... yes.”