Saints by Purcell Lynnie

Author:Purcell, Lynnie [Purcell, Lynnie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

The common area was full of people when Daniel and I got there. People had bottles in their hands and were going around the room making toasts before they drank. Reaper was making one as we entered.

“K.J’s sacrifice and bravery will be remembered. Her name will be traced into our memories forever, for the hero she was. For K.J!”

It was simple, but poignant, the mark of a good speech.

“K.J.!” the others intoned sadly, raising their drinks in a salute. As one, they drank from their cups.

The memorial lasted an hour, and included lots of drinking, loud music and sad conversations remembering the one they called ‘K.J.’

After the memorial, people left again, necessity forcing them back to the jobs they had to do in the name of the Saints. When the room had half cleared, and only those without serious jobs were left, Reaper came over to where Daniel, Alex and I had claimed a couch. I saw Spider in the corner talking with some shady-looking characters and the kids hanging out at a table close by. Margaret had left on a mystery mission I wasn’t curious enough to ask about, around my sadness.

“Are you ready?” Reaper asked Daniel.

“Yeah. I’ll be back soon,” Daniel promised me.

“Don’t say that,” I said with a pained expression. “It’s bad luck.”

“What should I say?” he asked.

“Something else that couldn’t potentially be ironic,” I said.

“You make life complicated,” Daniel told me.

“Yep,” I agreed.

He kissed me on my neck and whispered in my ear, “Be safe,” before he stood and walked off with Reaper.

Jackson materialized from the crowd and joined them silently, his bulk moving people out of his way. I watched Daniel walk out of the room with a scowl I couldn’t resist. Though what he was doing was important, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to tolerate watching him leave again. It felt like a knife to the chest. It made me feel as helpless as when I was holding K.J.’s chest together, without the knowledge of how to put her back together again.

I made a decision as I watched him walk away. Despite my injury, I would go with Daniel on his next mission. Watching him walk into danger was too difficult…especially now that I was fully aware of results should something go wrong. There was no reason the both of us couldn’t contribute.

“This group is an interesting little study in psychology,” Alex said lightly from the other end of the sofa. I could tell she sensed my agitation and was only talking to stop me from following Daniel.

“How do you mean?” I asked.

“They’re used to violence, they’ve been raised in it, and yet they can’t seem to come to accept the fact that their group isn’t always successful. They think of themselves as indestructible, but they know they aren’t. It’s a curious lie.”

“Perhaps, it’s a lie they tell themselves, so they can keep on doing what they need to do,” I suggested.

“That’s one reason,” she agreed.

My eyes strayed back to the kids.

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