Sarah took a deep breath and put her arm around my shoulder. I brushed it away. “Tell me.”

She nodded. “Right. So... you’re Vespa’s host. That’s a big thing.”

“Just tell me why, already.”

She sighed. “How can I say this... it’s been a very long time since Vespa took a host. A very, very long time. She’s... special.”

“I’m aware.”

Sarah chuckled. “Not in that way. Vespa has her pulse on the earth’s. She loathes to make a host for herself. Absolutely hates it. And so she only does it when it’s absolutely necessary. You remember what Angelina said about angels having... purposes, right?”

“Yes.”

“Well, the purpose of Vespa’s host is really important.”

“It’s to save the world,” I muttered.

“Yeah. Exactly.”

“That’s...”

“I know it’s a lot to think about, but—”

“That’s really cool!”

Sarah raised her eyebrow. “I’m... glad you think so. I thought that you’d be completely disillusioned by now.”

“I mean... it’s almost comforting, right? That there’s like... a prophecy or something? I have a destiny to complete.”

“Yes, there’s something approaching a prophecy. What was it again? Nep would remember right away. ‘the daughter of earth, ready to stand against demonic powers. Awash in blood and ichor, she leads the charge to protect her home. The saviour of this world, despised by all who gaze upon her, but pressing ever-onward. Her body and soul eternally forfeit to the cause, year after year, until the Calamity is averted and she can finally attain the cold release of death.’”

Of course. I should’ve expected as much. “Really? Body and soul eternally forfeit?”

“You’ve already seen what that looks like,” said Sarah, motioning to the chrysalis on the coffee table. “There is no death until our task is finished, however long that takes. And for you... it’s until the world has been saved from mortal danger. Ever since the angels re-awoke those centuries ago, we’ve been waiting for you. For Vespa’s chosen.”

“Why me?” What made me special?

“Vespa said that she liked you, or something. That you had a nice spirit. I’m sorry. She doesn’t really understand humans.”

“Yeah, no kidding. I didn’t sign up for this. Well... I guess I did, but I didn’t understand. I don’t want... I’d rather just...”

“There’s no going back, though. Especially not after your life was erased by Ecto.”

“On purpose.” Heidi?

“Oh, you’re back.” Sarah barely turned her head to acknowledge her presence.

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“I forgot something.” Heidi walked right up behind the couch, arms crossed as she leaned forward. “But it seems you’re finally telling her.”

“Heidi, leave this to me.”

“You’re going to leave things out again. Might as well tell her everything.”

“This is sensitive, Heidi.” Sarah held her mug to her lips and took a long swig. “You won’t handle it with enough delicacy.”

Heidi rolled her eyes. “Fine. Go ahead.”

“On purpose?” I asked.

“Right. Um... Vespa may have... wanted to accelerate your introduction to being an angel. It’s pretty unordinary to take a child as a host, after all. But that’s okay. Don’t worry.” She tried to put her arm around my shoulders again.

“Stop that. What do you mean, accelerate?”

“She gave your information to the demons,” Heidi quipped.

“What?”

“See? She’s not correcting me,” said Heidi. “Vespa weighed the value of tossing to us to train over you having a family and school and a normal, well-adjusted life, and decided that nope, it’d be worth sending your family to literal Demons to speed things up a bit.”

“W-what?”

“What? What are you going to do about it? Get mad at her? Get mad at Nep, for making this deal with her? All while Ecto’s going about, throwing us into an eternal winter, when we’ve lost Angelina and need you to step it up and fight and kill echoes and demons. But no, it’s important how you feel.”

Hold on, this was intentional? “So Thea was right, then? You’re just using me for your own goals?” I stood up, backing away from them.

“Heidi, stop. You’re not helping.” Sarah turned to me. “Sweetie, it wasn’t—”

“Think, Quinn! Yes. Of course. And they’re using you for their goals. It just happens to be that their goals are for everyone in this city to freeze to death, followed by the rest of the world. And we’re just trying to stop it. Oh no! Imagine wanting to help you do what you’re supposed to do. What you have to do. What only you can do. That’s so evil and manipulative!”

“I...”

“You see now? You understand? You need to find them. You need to kill them. That’s your purpose. Not just Ecto and Thea, but every last one of them. All around the world. Hundreds of demons. That’s what Vespa cursed you with. And we can help. We want to help. But you need to accept that.”

“Why are you telling me all this now?” My head was spinning. This was so much. Why couldn’t I just choose? Why did I have to do this? I didn’t want to. I didn’t have to, right? I felt membrane reforming over my skin, muscles aching as acid teased them into their base components, my shell hardening as if to protect me... but from what?

Sarah stood up as well. “Look, we wanted to ease you into this. Hoped to get you accustomed to everything. Vespa made the decision on her own. We wanted to make the best of a bad situation. Without alarming you too much. What’s done was done. None of us can revert it. Only killing Ecto can.”

“Just... just stop!” They didn’t even listen, didn’t register my voice, pushed me away as they continued their yelling. This was my fault too. Angelina was gone, Nep was nowhere, these two were fighting, and all the while the storm still raged outside. My metamorphosis was rapid. My arms and legs were plated once again in bright orange and black and burnt yellow. My wings hummed, the muscles in my torso warmed up and ready to go. And go I did.

Their voices vanished in the howling wind and I soared out into the blizzard.