Deb sat cross-legged on her bed, watching Jessica meticulously sharpen a set of silver knives on a whetstone. The rhythmic scraping was oddly soothing and she found herself inadvertently matching her breathing to the motion. Her mentor had her headphones on, her head bobbing to some tune Deb couldn't hear.
"Jess," Deb said, breaking the silence. "I've been thinking about Ahmed."
Jessica glanced up, pausing her knife work. "What about him?" she asked, pulling off her headphones.
"I know the exorcists were suspicious that he was a vessel but Ahmed's been acting normal since he came back to school," Deb explained. "I know his whole hospital escape was weird, but I can't help but feel it is over now."
"Normal is a relative term when you're dealing with curses," Jessica replied, her voice tinged with concern. "We can never be too careful. But this would make a good first assignment for you, keep an eye on Ahmed for us."
"Spy on him, you mean?" Deb said, raising an eyebrow.
"Call it what you will, but we don't know why Ahmed hasn't changed like he should have," Jessica insisted. "Something about this whole situation is off and even Pablo doesn't seem to understand it."
"Alright," Deb agreed reluctantly, knowing that if she said no Pablo would just have someone else watch over Ahmed. At least this way she could protect him if she needed to. "Anyway I am late for study group so I will catch up with you later," Deb said grabbing her backpack and heading for the door.
"Enjoy the studying," Jessica said with a wave as she continued her work. She had no idea Deb had hidden her swimsuit at the bottom of the bag, with no intention of actually studying.
-----
The calm water glistened under the bright overhead lights, Rob unlocked the doors letting the group into the pool area. Ahmed, Rob, Zack, and Deb stepped onto the pool deck, their beach day in January plan finally happening.
"Alright, so if we get caught no one can say we got the key from Kristian," Rob called out, walking over with a grin. "I'd like to keep my head on my shoulders." He watched as his friends nodded in agreement.
Ahmed gave Rob a bemused smile. "You know I thought you were kind of a badass getting these keys, and then you ruined it with that statement."
"Shut up," Rob blushed, falling back into the water with exaggerated disappointment.
"Come on, Zack," Deb encouraged, taking his hand. As it turned out, Zack's vessel abilities didn't seem to offer any advantage when it came to the water. He hesitated, still haunted by a dream he once had about this very situation, gripping Deb's hand tightly for support.
"Or we can just stay out of the water for now," Deb said sympathetically, her patience evident. "Ahmed brought a pretty awesome picnic, we can sample some of the brownies." Zack shook his head, he needed to face this fear. the pair took a running start and leapt into the warm water.
Zack tried his best to follow Deb's advice and just enjoy the swim, and before long, he found himself letting go and enjoying the water. As he swam without focus, he didn't notice he was heading right for the side of the pool. With a crash and a yelp of surprise, Zack collided with the unforgiving surface.
"Ouch," Deb winced, paddling over to help him up. "You alright?"
"Nothing bruised but my ego," Zack joked, rubbing his shoulder. As they looked over, they noticed Ahmed effortlessly swimming laps, leaving Rob floundering in his wake.
"Show-off," Rob muttered good-naturedly, shaking his head.
"Alright, let's blow up some of the floaties," Deb said, offering Zack a reassuring smile. As she helped him find his footing on the slippery surface, together they climbed out of the pool.
She reached into her bag and her hands came across a familiar hard surface. "Smile!" Deb exclaimed, holding up the Instax mini camera as she and Zack posed against the backdrop of the diving board. The flash went off, and a photo emerged with Zack's glowing pink eyes clearly visible. They laughed at the strange effect, continuing to snap pictures while Ahmed and Rob swam nearby.
"It's so weird, why are your eyes glowing in all of these?" Deb asked, shaking another developing photo. "I have a ton of photos on my phone of us and your eyes don't glow in those."
"Maybe it has something to do with the flash," Zack offered, his eyes searching for a logical explanation. But beneath his lighthearted exterior, he worried that if a flash really could expose his vessel eyes, then anyone could figure out what he was with the press of a button.
Meanwhile, Ahmed noticed something peculiar at the bottom of the pool. A trail of delicate lily petals led him away from the others, drawing his attention to a full flower seemingly growing out of the pool drain. Intrigued, he reached out to examine it closer.
"What's this?" Ahmed thought. As he brushed the dirt away from the flower, he suddenly felt someone entering the water behind him – he turned to find Kyle's face staring back at him.
"NO!" Ahmed screamed, losing the breath he had been holding. Ahmed clawed his way to the surface, coughing and panicking as he broke the surface. The sound echoed through the room, jolting Deb and Zack from their photos. They rushed over, finding a hysterical Ahmed in Rob's arms, his eyes wide with terror.
"Ahmed, what's wrong?" Deb asked, her heart pounding with concern.
"There was someone else in the pool," Ahmed stammered, still trembling from the sight of Kyle. Zack raced to the edge of the pool to try and catch the infiltrator but there were no one there and no flowers either.
"Take deep breaths, Ahmed. It's going to be okay," Rob reassured him, his own fear hidden behind a comforting smile. "It's totally normal after what you have been through to have visions of your attacker."
-----
The next day, Zack approached Olivia, hoping to learn more about what Ethel was up to. "Hey, Olivia," He said in a hushed tone, trying his best not to draw attention to them, "I'm your vessel and I know Ethel is your Supreme now, I need to know what is going on with Ethel. Why has she been ignoring me?"
"Zack," she purred, her eyes gleaming with newfound confidence. "Ethel has told me all about you, I suppose I should be thanking you for getting rid of Gluttony. I mean look at me now. I am free and more powerful than ever. As far as Ethel goes, you know I can't tell you anything about her, she is my Supreme and I am bound by her will."
"But she is planning something, is she going after Pablo?" Zack replied, his voice tinged with anger. As he glanced over, he saw Deb observing their interaction, her expression clouded with concern. "She's playing a dangerous game. We need to work together to get Pablo to leave."
"She doesn't need you anymore," she retorted, defiantly turning away from him. "She has us now, her covenant can handle the supernatural of Waterloo. Why don't you just sit back and enjoy that normal life you want so badly."
As Olivia walked away, Zack turned to Deb, seeing the worry etched on her face. They both knew Ethel was planning something and keeping them in the dark about it.
-----
In the Student Life Center, Zack and Deb sat back to back at different tables, attempting to give off the appearance of disinterest in each other. Their whispered conversation was punctuated by pauses for scanning their surroundings.
"Olivia won't tell us anything," Zack murmured, his eyes flicking towards Deb's reflection in a nearby window. "A vessel has a natural undying loyalty to their Supreme and that is Ethel now."
"Jealous?" Deb asked, trying to sound light-hearted.
"Hardly," Zack replied, shaking his head. "I'm just concerned about the battle lines being drawn between Ethel's covenant and the exorcists, I'm worried someone might get hurt."
"Me too," Deb confessed, her voice barely a whisper. "It is bad enough that Pablo has started talking about his master plan to lure out the remaining vessels. I am beginning to worry that a war is about to begin."
"How are we supposed to stop it," he questioned softly.
Rob suddenly appeared, sliding into the empty seat beside Deb. "You won't believe what I saw when I returned Kristian's keys," he said, his eyes wide with excitement. "Claw marks on the walls. I think Kristian could be the last vessel you've been looking for"
"Kristian's a vessel?" Deb's heart raced as she exchanged glances with Zack.
"Maybe Ethel hasn't gotten to him yet," Zack said, his gaze fixed on Rob. "We need to find him first and convince him that Ethel doesn't want what is best for him."
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"Do you think that will work?" Deb asked, her eyes locked on Rob and Zack's as she gripped the strap of her backpack. "I mean you said it yourself, vessel instincts are to follow a Supreme."
"Yeah, I don't know how convincing of an argument we have here," Rob said skeptically, raising an eyebrow. "Ethel is offering power and the chance to wipe out the only threat to them. It seems like a pretty sweet deal to me."
"Right, but a holy water bullet will mess Kristian up, permanently," Zack argued, his voice tense. "They don't know what an actual fight with the exorcists means. He at least deserves the truth before he makes a choice."
"Ah, the hero complex rears its head again," Rob teased, a grin spreading across his face. "You know, I've always been attracted to your heroism, Zack. Want to make out?"
Zack snorted, shaking his head at Rob's attempt to lighten the situation. "Not now, Romeo. We've got to find Kristian."
"Fine, fine," Rob chuckled, getting up from the table with Zack. "Let's go try to convince a vessel to go against their very nature, then."
As they set off, Zack couldn't help but worry about the situation and its potential consequences. Even if Kristian joined them, it meant that he would have to go against Ethel and that could lead to a fight in the future.
-----
Meanwhile, Boon approached Ethel's house with a determined stride. He clenched his fists, desperate to know why the curse hadn't changed him like it had the others. When no one answered his pounding on the door, frustration bubbled over, and he kicked it in.
"Ethel!" he shouted, stepping into the dimly lit foyer. The sound of guns cocking made him freeze, and he slowly raised his hands in surrender.
"Stand down it's just Boon," Jessica's stern voice filled the silence, her dark eyes fixed on him. The exorcists lowered their weapons as Jessica approached the boy, "I thought we warned you not to pursue supernatural status anymore."
"Or we'd come after you," another exorcist added, leveling his gun at Boon's chest.
"Wait," Boon stammered, fear and confusion battling within him. "You don't understand. I just want answers."
"Answers, why do you need answers?" Jessica asked, her gaze unyielding. "Is there something we should know about?"
"No, I just wanted to know more about John," Boon's voice trembled as he considered the implications. "I know his bail was set and she paid it, and I wanted to know why." he lied
"You know why," Jessica said, lowering her gun. "Leave now, Boon. And stay away from Ethel. Trust me, it's in your best interest."
Boon nodded and stumbled out of the house, his heart pounding in his chest, his views of not having power had changed for a moment and he was glad the exorcist wasn't after him.
-----
The frost of the evening air clung to Rob's skin as he stood outside Kristian's off-campus house, his dark brown eyes scanning the area for any sign of Ethel or the other vessels. Zack had gone around to the back entrance to find a way in, leaving Rob to wait and worry about a possible vessel confrontation.
"Hey there, handsome," a sultry voice purred in his ear, making him jump. Olivia leaned against the wall beside him, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Waiting for someone?"
"Olivia." Rob tried to keep his voice steady, as his heart returned to its usual rhythm. "What are you doing here?" he tried to seem surprised by her presence.
"Oh, don't play dumb with me, you aren't nearly as cute when you do." She stepped closer, running a finger down his arm, her lips curving into a teasing smile. "I take it Zack is already inside."
"Look, we are just trying to talk to him," Rob said, trying to pull away. But as he attempted to create some distance between them, Olivia's grip on his arm tightened.
"Well unfortunately Ethel needs Kristian," she whispered, her eyes locked onto his. "So I'm afraid I have to remove you from the property." She scooped up the snow and let it melt in her hands, shifting the water to take on the shape of a small frying pan. Before Rob could ask what she was doing, she hit him with the pan. Rob's vision blurred, and then everything went black.
-----
The wail of Night School's alarm pierced through the darkness, jarring Paulina from her thoughts in the back office. The nightclub owner moved swiftly through the dimly lit space, her pulse racing with adrenaline. The last thing she needed was trouble at her club.
A cold shiver ran down her spine as she entered the bar, the sight that awaited her making her stomach churn. A human body lay sprawled across one of the tables, lifeless eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. The gruesome scene looked like something out of a macabre painting.
"Who could have done this?" Paulina muttered to herself, her voice barely audible over the blaring alarm. She her eyes scanned the shadows for the person responsible for the late-night delivery.
"That is exactly what we want to know," Jessica's voice cut through the darkness, her imposing figure emerging from the shadows. "I think it's time we had a little chat."
"Jessica," Paulina said coolly, trying to remain composed despite the fear gnawing at her insides. "You know this is highly unusual behavior for the exorcists."
"Let's cut to the chase," Jessica replied, her eyes flicking to the body on the table. "I want to know what killed Pete. And I know you're more than just a nightclub owner, Paulina."
Paulina sighed knowing the jig was up. Her meddling in the plans of Gluttony had most likely caused the exorcists to look into her as well.
"What makes you think I know anything about—" she began, but Jessica cut her off with an icy glare.
"Save it," the exorcist snapped. "I'm not here to play games. Tell me the truth, there is something out there. Something faster, stronger than anything we've seen before."
Paulina hesitated, her mind racing as she considered her options. She had always lived by the rules of protecting the balance, which could mean helping Jessica shift it too far to one side. With a deep breath, she made her decision.
"Alright," she said quietly, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I'll take a look at the body for you. But you have to promise me one thing: that whatever this creature is, you kill it quickly."
-----
Zack had been able to get in through the back door of Kristian's house but there was no sign that anyone was home. He scanned the room, his blue eyes finally landing on Kristian, who sat alone on the couch near the bay window. With a determined stride, Zack made his way over.
"Kristian," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "We need to talk."
"About what? How did you even get in here?" Kristian asked, looking up at him with guarded brown eyes.
"Oh um, I just wanted to check on you and you didn't answer when I knocked so I went around back," Zack tried to explain, before getting straight to the point. "Look I just need to talk to you so you know what is really going on."
"Ethel told me everything," Kristian replied, worry flickering across his face. He hesitated before adding, "I don't have to be alone anymore."
"Listen, there are better ways to make friends than aligning yourself with Ethel," Zack urged, trying to make Kristian see reason. "She doesn't care about you, she's only interested in getting more power so she can take on the exorcists."
Just then, footsteps echoed nearby, and Zack turned to see Ethel entering the room, followed closely by her minions: Olivia and John. The Supreme's thin frame was wrapped in a dark cloak, her long black hair cascading around her shoulders. She regarded Zack with an icy stare, her brown eyes filled with disdain.
"So you're trying to do some recruiting of your own, Zack," Ethel sneered. "I thought you were staying out of this, besides they all chose to join my covenant willingly"
"Life has been transformative since I met Ethel," Olivia chimed in, loyalty shining in her eyes. John nodded in agreement, his expression resolute.
"Zack, why don't you go home?" Ethel suggested sweetly, a cruel smile playing on her lips. "I don't need your help with Pablo or the exorcists."
Anger flared within Zack, and he clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. He drove a punch into the wall, shattering it in a cloud of dusty debris. He could feel his control slipping as his emotions took over.
"I won't let you start a fight with the exorcists," he growled. "Not if it means using other vessels."
"You shouldn't underestimate them" Ethel replied "They are stronger than you think." She nodded and John and Olivia began to close in on Zack.
As Kristian and Ethel watched, Zack faced off against John and Olivia. The three vessels tapped into their supernatural abilities, their eyes glowing as their bodies shifted. Zack moved with lightning speed, striking John with a telekinetic blast that sent him crashing into the old crumbling fireplace. With John out cold he then turned to Olivia, who had created a blade out of a sports drink left on the table.
She rushed at Zack, aiming for his stomach, but Zack easily stepped out of the way. She lunged again but Zack created a wall with his barrier, then he focused, manipulating the psychic barrier to wrap around Olivia incapacitating her.
"You can't even beat a lone vessel!" Zack shouted at the defeated minions, his breath heavy from the effort. "You don't stand a chance against Pablo!"
"You haven't fought me yet," Ethel called out, stepping forward. Her eyes locked on Zack as she approached him, her voice cold as steel. "They may not be a threat but I am."
Ethel went after Zack, her supernatural strength bolstered by her anger and her new vessels. She easily scored a hit that shattered his barrier and knocked him onto his back, then she stepped on his chest, pinning him to the floor. As she pressed down, squeezing the air from his lungs, Zack desperately tried to push her foot off of him. "I didn't even have to stop time to stop you." She hissed.
Suddenly, she released him and left without another word. Gasping for breath, Zack looked up at Kristian, who stood by the open door, wide-eyed and horrified.
"Kristian, you shouldn't go with them," he rasped, struggling to sit up. "You can still choose a different path."
"Zack," Kristian whispered, uncertainty etched on his face. "I already agreed to join Ethel. But I don't want to be like her. I want to be like you." Kristian hung his head and followed Ethel and the others out into the snow.
-----
Meanwhile, Rob awoke with a start, the taste of stale garbage lingering in his mouth. His body ached as he realized he was lying in a dumpster, cushioned by several black garbage bags. He groaned as he clambered out, each movement sending a fresh wave of pain through his battered frame.
"Damn you, Olivia," he muttered under his breath, knowing full well how he ended up here. But there was no time to dwell on that – Zack was in trouble, and Rob had to find him before things got worse.
Meanwhile, Zack limped into Night School, his breaths came in ragged gasps as his chest continued to throb, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong with it.
"Paulina," he called out as he entered her office. "I need your help."
"Zack, what happened?" she asked, concern etched on her face as she took in his disheveled appearance.
"Ethel," he replied tersely. "She got the better of me. But I'm not healing like normal. What's going on?"
Paulina studied his chest as he removed his shirt, her brow furrowing. "This is the work of a Supreme," she said, her voice grave. "Their power is different, more potent. It won't heal as easily. If you still feel pain in a few days come back and see me, it looks like she broke a few ribs."
"Thank you," Zack said, as he pulled his shirt back on.
"It is not a problem, just be sure to get plenty of rest ok" Paulina instructed.
"will do," and with that Zack left the club, unaware of the exorcist's body hidden just one room over.
-----
Across town, Boon was alone on a basketball court, the streetlights casting eerie shadows over the cracked pavement. The ball sailed through the air as he practiced shot after shot, but he knew he could never be the best as long as Zack was around.
"Enough," he muttered, tossing the ball aside. His thoughts consumed about how he would always be second best as long as he remained human.
As Boon reached his car, he noticed the tire had sunken into the soft earth, it was clear it wasn't going anywhere. Annoyed, he tried to push it out – only to slip and fall face-first into the slush.
"Damn it!" he shouted, his anger boiling over. The frustration of the night, of everything he'd been through, reached a breaking point. And then, without warning, something within him snapped.
Boon felt a surge of power coursing through his veins, his eyes shifting to blue and red DNA strands, and with a roar, he lifted the entire back end of his car out of the mud. A wild, manic grin spread across his face as he stared at his newfound strength, maybe the curse had worked after all.
"Finally," he whispered, exhilarated by the fact he and Zack were now on equal footing.