Chapter 75

There was a long silence after Henry finished filling in Emelia and Jewel on what Loki had said. As Emelia had asked, he held nothing back. He’d even told her what Loki had said about Jonathan and the organization as a whole. Jewel looked like she wanted to interrupt more than a few times, but she held her tongue, following a knowing glare from Emelia. Well, held her tongue best she could. There were a few snide remarks about Loki that slipped through, and Henry definitely picked up on them. At the very least, Jewel’s personality hadn’t taken a hit from the Varkoth battle.

“So, Loki’s weeded out the situation as well.” Emelia nodded, speaking half to herself, and half to the room. “What he says makes sense. And the fact he was sent away, even with everything going on here, definitely supports some of those claims. After all, I’m not one to believe in mere coincidence.”

“Er,” JJ picked up, shifting about as he spoke. “Do I need to be here for brainstorming hour? Or can I like, go?” JJ had taken his mask off but was still wearing the disguise. He glanced at everyone and feigned a yawn. “I’m pretty tired, what with the whole almost dying to my grandfather thing and all. And, considering I’m the only Demon Hunter here…I should probably just-”

“You’ll leave when I say you can leave.” Emelia’s voice was hard. “And don’t even act like you’re innocent in all of this. You know just as well as I do, that you’re just as deep in this shit as we are. Hell, if there were one person who was innocent in this room, it’d be Henry.”

“Thanks?” Henry said questioningly. He glanced at JJ. There was definitely more to his past than he had told Henry. Emelia knew that. JJ knew that. If Henry had to guess, it had to do with how JJ’s father and Emelia knew each other, and what they’d been doing together prior to the assassination of JJ’s dad.

Of course, that still didn’t’ have anything to do with Henry and wasn’t really relevant for the current situation. Right now, there was a clock ticking down the time remaining for humans, before the Old Ones came. And the four of them, needed to figure out a course of action.

“Being innocent is rarely a good thing.” Jewel said, a smirk crossing her face. At that JJ let out a quick laugh. Henry tried to elbow him, but this time, JJ dodged.

“Children.” Emelia said with a heavy sigh. But even she had a slight smile on her face. The mood had definitely shifted. That little exchange, had at the very least, removed the ominous cloud of dread that had been sitting over everyone.

“Also,” Jewel started, her tone shifting as she looked Henry over. “I’m still not certain we can fully trust Loki.”

Emelia held up a hand. “Personal matters aside, I can assure you, Loki is completely trustworthy. At least, in this manner. He’s no love for the exorcists, as you know, and his sole purpose has always been keeping humans safe. No matter what the cost.”

“Like a fool.” Jewel said bitterly.

“With the power at his disposal, and his unique traits courtesy of his D.E.D., Loki likely knows more than any of us. And that,” Emelia paused for emphasis, “is saying quite a bit.”

“Just who is Loki, actually?” Henry asked. Emelia obviously knew Loki’s real identity. And Jewel seemed like she knew, but she never actually said.

“That’s only for Loki to disclose.” Emelia responded matter of fact. “I’m sure, if Loki continues to show such an interest in you, that sooner or later, you will know the truth. For now though, that is not something that pertains to you.”

“Like hell it doesn’t.” Henry sighed heavily, trying to calm himself. This was all too much. Just like JJ had mentioned earlier, what he really needed, right now, was rest. He was exhausted, his emotions frayed, and his mind fried. As such, his temper was flaring.

“You keep asking me to be completely honest with you, and I have been.” Henry continued, “yet, all I keep getting met with, are more and more things to question. More secrets that I’m not ready to know.” Henry growled. “It’s no wonder the world is fucked.”

“Henry,” Emelia said, her voice firm. “I understand your frustrated, but trust me, this isn’t the time, nor place.”

“Then when will it be.” Henry pressed. “When Loki’s dead? When you’re dead? When I’m dead? When will the right time be? All we ever have guaranteed, is the now. So just”

Henry’s words cut short as the entire room went ice cold. Jewel’s eyes glowed dangerously, and she looked at him, those icy, intense eyes saying all Henry needed. His anger instantly calmed.

“Sorry,” he muttered. “It’s just, it’s been a long day.”

“I know,” Emelia’s tone was soft this time. “Trust me, I know. And if I could, I would tell you everything, and I would do all I could. But, it’s not up to me, and believe me, you have to trust me, and Loki, on this.”

“I do,” Henry said with a sigh. “It’s just, the secrets make it hard sometimes.”

“They always do. Secrets both make, and break, relationships. But believe me, by the time all of this is over, I’m sure you will know more than you ever wanted to. Knowledge can be a gift. But other times, it’s a burden.” He noticed, for the first time, as she spoke, that she had massive dark bags under her eyes. Furthermore, he could see, now that he was so close to her, the various wrinkles she’d tried to cover with makeup. She was worn out. She had worked herself to the bone. That much, was certain.

“Now then.” Emelia clasped her hands together, looking from Henry to JJ. “If the two of you are done wasting my time, it’s about time we lay some plans in motion, so we can all go and get some much-needed sleep.”

“Sounds good to me.” JJ said. “You should have opened with that, by the by. Woulda kept my mouth shut if you had.”

Emelia’s eye twitched, as she pursed her lips together. JJ, shut up.

“As I was saying,” she continued, “first and foremost, Jeremiah.”

JJ stiffened at that.

“Plans have changed, you’re leaving in the morning. I’ve already got your travel companion informed.” Emelia offered JJ the sweetest, snark filled smile Henry had ever seen. “You’re going to have fun dealing with her. She, was not happy about the sudden change to her schedule.”

JJ groaned.

“And, as for you Henry,” Emelia motioned to Jewel. “Jewel’s going to keep a personal eye on you, at all times. Meaning, the two of you are going to get a lot closer.”

“Lucky,” JJ whispered, just loud enough for Henry to hear. However, the look on Jewel’s face said this, was not something she was happy about. And, given she was still recovering, Henry couldn’t help but feel for her.

“I’ll,” he started, looking from Emelia to Jewel. “I’ll try to make sure it doesn’t feel like babysitting.”

Jewel laughed coldly. “Unlikely, given the trouble you’ve caused me up until now.”

Emelia sighed, and shook her head, though she had a small smile on her face as she did. “I swear, dealing with all of you, is going to kill me before the Old Ones ever get the chance.”

The Branch Director looked over all three of them. “That’s all for tonight. Get some rest. Jeremiah, I’ll have special instructions sent to you, along with your flight information. You’ve got my personal number, if anything comes up.”

“Whatever,” JJ said, nodding to her.

“As for the two of you,” Emelia had turned her attention back to Henry and Jewel. “Go ahead and sort out your living arrangements. It’s easier, if the two of you are with each other, to ensure we can power level Henry as quickly as possible, while also trying to keep him safe. While Jewel isn’t in any condition for a massive battle, she is more than capable helping you power level your D.E.D.”

Emelia took a deep breath. “And, starting tomorrow, you two will be on every away team portal that spawns. I’ll work out a few other members, for this special group. Those I feel I can truly trust. But, as Loki said, time is not our friend, and taking down Tiered Demons, is going to level you faster than anything I can think of.”

“Though,” Emelia said as everyone stood to leave. “I’ll warn you in advance. It’s going to be much more dangerous, not just for your D.E.D., but also you Henry. And, if you’re going to insist on leveling all your D.E.D. at the same time, you should know, you’ll be increasing your risks even more.”

Henry looked at the director, knowing full well she was telling him this purely from a mentor standpoint. He knew what Jewel thought about his D.E.D. He knew what the organization thought about his D.E.D., especially the Evil Eye. And yet, he also knew what Loki had said. No matter what, Henry would power level. No matter what, he would get stronger. And all along the way, he would push his D.E.D., and discover what exactly it was, Loki knew about the Evil Eye. Of that, Henry was certain.