Chapter 13

What the hell had she gotten herself into? Why the hell did she think this was a good idea? Angie had gone alone to the docks to see James that night. After dinner, she suddenly had more inspiration to paint and Jasper had allowed her to work in her shed by herself. Jasper had trusted her to go to the shed and be back in the house before midnight, but that trust was now shattered. She had even said that she would probably be back in earlier then midnight. She waited until it was completely dark before booking it towards the docks.

Now she found herself tied up to a chair in metal shackles, a gag in her mouth while Cordelia thrashed within a metal suitcase with a combination lock that she had no idea the code to. The shackles around her ankles and wrists were tight almost to the point where if she shifted wrong, she would lose an appendage. Her chest throbbed whenever Cordelia screamed and cried for her master. Apparently, when another dragged out a demon's weapon, it felt like losing a loved one. If the bond is so great, a demon could become crippled this way.

"You know Angie... I never thought you were this stupid," James said, rummaging through stuff behind her. "Now, to make sure you don't use your powers to get out of this...."

Angie felt a sharp pinch on her neck and started to thrash about. She shut her eyes tight and thought about home; trying to teleport away, but she could feel her powers drifting away from her. Suddenly, her arms went limp and her head bobbed to the side. Drool ran down from the gag in her mouth and she let out a little groan in protest. James hummed happily. He made his way in front of her and took a seat himself, crossing his legs and clasping his hands in his lap.

"There we go," He smiled. "It's just a little... relaxer, but it still allows you to be coherent enough to listen to me."

Angie's head bobbed to the other side with another groan as though she was responding to him. James nodded with a hum and continued.

"You don't know what you've gotten yourself into. Do you, Angie?"

Angie slowly blinked at him and again, her head bobbed to the other side.

James shook his head with a frown. "I didn't think so." He shifted in his seat and switched what leg was over the other. "Angie, you're being played. Do you really think that you're helping people by not letting nature take its course?"

She was able to raise an eyebrow for a short moment in response.

"Snatchers or edax animae, which is what they're actually called, eat the souls that shouldn't be in this world anymore. Souls that they attach themselves to are old and shouldn't be around anymore. Demons shouldn't even be devouring these souls. The universe usually has a way to keep these old souls out of the cycle, but this cycle hasn't been active for a long time. So, the edax animae have swooped in to claim what the cycle has not."

That's not what Jasper has told her. Hell, Jasper hasn't really told her anything. Is this why Jasper has been avoiding explaining things from her? Or is he just as brainwashed as she is? How could she even believe James though? He had a snatcher attached to him too! So, wasn't he an old soul? But he was also a demon. She huffed through her nose to show her frustration. She was thoroughly confused.

"The edax animae isn't attached to me if that's what you're wondering," James said practically reading her mind. "I just provide... housing for it. It's a special type of edax animae that I house. If the demons ever succeed of getting rid of every last one, the one in me can birth more into existence. That's why I need to be as strong as I am. In order to protect it."

Angie's head bobs to the other side and turned her attention elsewhere. She was clearly done with this conversation. She needed time to think about this. James said something else, but she wasn't listening. Instead, she focused her attention on the suitcase that contained Cordelia. Although, she should have listened because she felt another prick in her neck. It felt like the same drug as before, but now, she couldn't even keep her eyes open. It was too much effort to clench her lips around the gag in her mouth, so it hung open and she started to drool over herself. James patted her on the shoulder and she could hear his footsteps walking away from her.

"Miss Angie."

She could hear Cordelia speak, but she couldn't do anything to show that she heard her.

"Miss Angie. It really doesn't look good for us."

She knew that. She wished she knew that before though.

"Everything that man said was a lie, Miss Angie," Cordelia said. "Except for the name. Edax animae. That's the only truth that came out of his mouth. Do not believe him for one second."

Angie really didn't know who to believe at this point. She could feel herself falling asleep either from the drug or just from the mental exhaustion of the day.

"Don't fall asleep!" Cordelia shrieked at her. "Don't fall asleep! I won't be able to keep you safe!"

Angie gargled in response. The pitter patter of her drool hitting the floor was the only sound heard for a while before Cordelia continued speaking.

"You're light is fading."

Yeah, she knew.

"If you fall asleep, you probably won't wake up."

Probably not, but she was so tired.

"How much of that bloody drug did he give you?"

A little too much she guessed.

"I can't let this happen," Cordelia's case started to thrash again in a hopeless effort to escape. "Not again."

Angie mentally sighed and regretted everything that Jasper had wanted to teach her. She should have taken her training more seriously. She should have learned her powers thoroughly. She should have learned what powers she actually had to begin with. She never took any of this seriously. Jasper had talked about demons being selfish and wanting nothing more than to devour the souls that they save. She had been just as selfish. She had used this opportunity for her own artistic gain. She didn't want to help people. She wanted to help herself.

A wailing cry escaped her throat at the realization she had. She was no better than Jasper. She was no better than any of the demons within this cult. She was truly a demon at heart.

Another realization occurred to her then. One that could save her. One that could save Cordelia. One that could end James in the end.

'Cordelia,' She thought, hoping that their bond was still strong enough for her weapon to hear. 'I'm sorry... but you need to trust me one last time.'

"What are you doing?!" Cordelia screeched and thrashed furiously in her case. "What are you thinking?!"

Angie let herself go. Her eyes fully shut and her body went limp. Cordelia cried and shrieked, trying ever so desperately to get out of her enclosure before it was too late. The light she felt from her master had fully depleted though and Cordelia gave one last shrieking cry before she too fell silent.