said, looking down at her hands.
The Collections Officers were a tough bunch but I appreciated the work ethic. Get in then out as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“Um,” he stammered.
“Joseph Bonds,” I answered, patting him on the head.
Dylan wasn’t used to the Caelestium, the original creatures of the After Realm. Stacia, like Gwendolyn, had the looks that many humans over the years had tried to replicate. Flawless skin, long silky hair, and natural charisma. But their biggest distinction were their golden eyes that sparkled as if beams of sunlight were constantly beating down on them.
“Was the transition successful?” she asked.
“We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t,” I said.
Stacia’s eyes flicked to mine. Dylan’s jaw hit the countertop.
I winked at her.
She laughed, a high and sweet sound.
She moved her hands across the smooth surface of the desk, confirming the transition. “I’ll be sending your next assignment soon. She’s not due for a little while.”
“Thanks.” I turned to Dylan and pushed his jaw closed with my finger. “You’re done for today.”
“What are you going to tell Felix?” Dylan’s eyes widened.
“You did fine. I’ll be sure to inform him.”
Dylan beamed and ran down the corridor toward the Trainee office.
“Souls running away from you… how unusual,” a voice said, sending chills through me.
Aaron. I’d recognize his high-pitched, sniffling voice anywhere. If souls had dreams, he would haunt my nightmares.
He’d been the biggest failure of a trainee. He didn’t listen, or follow directions; he’d nearly damaged a soul so badly that it might not have survived to Gate Seven were it not for my quick reflexes. He’d been through three trainers before being sent to me.
“Aren’t you going to say hello?”
“I thought you were up to be Recycled?” I asked, hoping he’d leave.
When all else had failed, I told Felix that he couldn’t be of any use to us. Recycling would strip him of his memories and he’d be able to return to the Living Realm as a new human. Although I would have felt bad for the life he’d been assigned to.
I turned around, the shivers now ice-cold nails digging into my soul.
“You like my new outfit?” he said, holding his arms out.
It wasn’t a regulation Soul Collector white pants and jacket. It was… no, that wasn’t possible. I examined the regulation Guard gear: black pants, shirt, and vest. I blinked a few times, hoping to make the shining broadsword at his back disappear.
Cooper, another Guard, came up behind Aaron and clapped a hand on his back, turning his gray eyes on me. The Guard and Soul Collectors rarely made any contact in the field, but I had learned as much as I could about each of them since I intended on becoming a part of their group.
“Hey there,” Cooper said, raking a hand through his dirty blond hair. Where Aaron’s outfit tugged at his not so flattering figure, left over by his gluttonous human life, Cooper’s gear fit him as if it had been tailored to every inch of his body.
“Maggie, right?” Cooper extended his hand.
I nodded, tearing my gaze away from Cooper’s body. I absently shook his hand.
“What do you think of Aaron’s promotion to the Guard? He has you to thank for that.”
Excuse me?
“Soul Collecting wasn’t my gig,” Aaron said with a wicked smirk. “Felix promoted me this morning.”
The noise in the office trickled down to a dull roar. I felt others turn their attention to us. It wasn’t a secret that I wanted the job, and now Felix’s decision had been made. The wrong one.
“She doesn’t say much, huh?” Cooper said to Aaron.
“This is rare. I think I surprised all the snark from her; she’s a tough cookie,” Aaron smirked.
Tough cookie? Who says that?
I found my voice. “How is this possible? You’re incapable of handling a True Soul, never mind a human one. And how were you even in the running? That was my position! Not meant for an—an—imbecile like you!”
“Hey—” Aaron said.
“You—” my finger was close to touching his nose, but I didn’t dare soil my soul with his grime “—were the worst to train; who in their right mind would promote you instead of sending your ass to Recycling?”
“I did,” Felix’s booming voice rattled my soul.
Dammit.
Cooper and Aaron clapped their arms at their sides, standing at attention.
I pivoted on my heel to face my boss, the dark, hulking Caeleste looking down at me. His golden eyes sparkled but I felt the heat behind them. His skin appeared darker today against his unblemished white suit.
“Him?” I said. “Seriously?”
I’d been the oldest Soul Collector on Felix’s service. Most of them couldn’t handle the death after so many years and opted to be Recycled. I, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with returning to the Living, hence our familiar tone.
The other Caelestium continued on with their work but the other Collectors and Guard paused whatever they were doing and stared at the confrontation. I scanned the room and, with each soul I claimed in my gaze, they scrambled either out of the room or down to their desks, pretending to do work.
“Let’s speak in my office,” he said.
Aaron’s grin made my hands itch. I stepped closer to him; his body swayed.
“Now,” Felix said.
I glared at Aaron. “This isn’t over.” I followed Felix to his office.
Felix closed the door behind me, tuning out all sounds from the main office. He walked to the opposite end of the office and stood at the open space where in the Living Realm a window might be. In the After, the temperature remained clement and unchanging. And even though we were high off the ground, there wasn’t a need to have a fear of falling, especially for us souls. It’s not like we could die twice.
“Aaron?” I spat. “Out of everyone.” Including me. “You chose him? Dylan or half of the other trainees would have been a better choice. How was he even in the running? I thought you were going to Recycle him.”
“I considered your request but this position fits him well.”
“How?”
