Never Forgive

''Stay in the car,'' Jason said and ignored Daniel protesting. Nobody but officers and temple guardians were around, despite being in the middle of the day. If you are from a community that prefers night rather than the day, 3 p.m. was equal to other people's 3 a.m. for you.

People of Goddess Nyx was exactly such a community. With so many cops around, Jason could not see anyone not wearing uniform or armor, as there was no one using this road except Nyx's people and drug dealers.

There was a light armored vehicle that had turned upside down in the middle of the road. Another vehicle, which has police's eagle emblem, was in front of the crashed one. Jason had left his car about a hundred meters back; drove off the road, and parked among the trees so as not to block the road completely.

The first to notice him was the guardian he met in the temple quarter, the one who has healing gift from Nyx. The old guardian greeted him with a slight nod when they caught eye to eye.

At the old man's feet, there was a human figure covered in a yellow veil and his hands were covered with blood. When Jason saw the sorrow on the man's face, he understood that Gary wasn't the only one they lost.

When Jason got close enough to talk without the need to shout, ''Over the years, many people have given their last breath while my hands on them. Youngs always the worsts,'' The healer said.

Jason tried to remember how Nyx's people offered their condolences but before he did, ''Do you remember the young man who was with me?'' Nyx's healer asked.

Jason nodded slowly, ''Is he...?'' He thought about the young guardian who had just completed his training and eager to prove himself.

''Yeah, he is... May the goddess judge his soul mercifully,'' The healer said. Jason repeated the same wish. The healer looked into Jason's eyes, ''We won't let them live with what they have done. Panwa's followers may not care if their priestess is attacked, but no one can hurt one of us and move on.''

''Indeed,'' Jason said. Looking at the man's face that bears no trace of a healer's kindness, he didn't dare say anything else. He wanted to know what they had learned from Gary, now that it was impossible for the police to interrogate the man, but it didn't look like it was the right time to ask so.

'Farah would get a copy of the query from the guardians,' Jason thought and he didn't bother himself about this anymore. He looked around to find the woman. He could not see the woman and did not know any of the guardians he saw.

Leaving the grieving old man alone, he approached the crime scene team. ''I heard that you are the reason we have to purify the scene with salt and fire,'' Jason heard a female voice. When the woman took off the mask that covered her entire face, he realized that the woman was Marguerite.

''I said something like that, but there is no way that new rules will be implemented in such a short time,'' Jason said.

''Farah informed her superiors that her department would not accept cases unless everything to protect the health of officers was done to the letter,'' Marguerite answered.

''I can understand why they exiled her to the seashore. What are you doing here?'' Jason asked.

''They said the Nyx guardian,'' She pointed where the old guardians stand with the lying body at his feet, ''injured and needs help when we got the call. Since we did not know who was going to arrive first, we also took out with the guardians.''

''Who called the police?'' Jason asked.

''The guardians and they were called by the dead guardian's partner. He had used a portable-disposable talisman,'' Marguerite said. ''Farah's eyes sparkled when she heard this. She wants every vehicle to have one of those talismans, for emergencies.''

''No way. Those things are so damn expensive. There is no way they can allocate that much budget for you,'' Jason said.

Marguerite didn't say anything but rolled her eyes. Jason thought that this was her way to say 'Not my business.' ''You didn't reply to the message I left,'' Marguerite said. It was not a question literally, it was more of an accusation. Jason nonetheless heard the concern in her voice of being rejected.

''Ah. I didn't have the chance to reply. You gonna let me take you out dinner on the weekend, right?'' Jason said.

Marguerite's expression softened. ''I have a shift on Saturday night. Can you pick me up after work on Sunday?

''Sure. So you work on the weekends?''

''Yes. Happily I am free on Mondays,'' Marguerite said.

''Ah?'' Jason paused. In order not to mess up when everything is going well he focused on work, ''Perfect. Where can I find the dead guardian's partner?''

Marguerite pointed the vehicle which has an eagle emblem, ''His wounds will heal, but he had a bad shock. Be kind.''

Jason nodded.