Damian's Assassin

"Sofi, what can you tell me about this weekend?" he asked.

"I can't see much yet on my own," she admitted. "My crystal ball doesn't work as well as it should. But, what I've seen thus far is that it could be really bad."

"Define bad."

"Talon's a demigod, and he thinks he can take on Czerno. I don't know if he's going to try Saturday or if he's just flexing his muscles. Can you bring in someone for me to check their future?"

Sofi's skill relied mostly on reading the future of a specific soul by touching them, and he'd not let her within miles of a vamp since taking over her guardianship. She was too young of an Oracle to have mastered her ability yet.

His thoughts turned to Jonny, who'd been taken to the Guardians' barracks.

"Maybe," he said. "What else?"

"That's all I can say, except …" A look of pain crossed her face. Her irises swirled again and her frown grew.

"I don't make it, do I?" he asked, even knowing he shouldn't.

"You die, but it's not the end for you," she said, ever the cryptic Oracle. "At least, I hope it's not."

A chill ran through him. She shook away the dark thoughts. Dusty didn't pry; she shouldn't have told him what she did. They gazed at each other for a long moment.

Damian needed to know. Dusty didn't know why Talon would choose Miami to make a stand, unless he wanted to take out as much of the Guardians' infrastructure as possible should he find some way to beat Czerno. Amassing thousands of vamps in the same place wasn't a good sign. Even the Black God didn't normally act so brashly. Dusty had maybe a thousand Guardians assigned to North America remaining after he sent all he could spare to the European front.

"I'm prepping an evac plan for you," he said, rising. "Pack a bag, just in case."

"Darian's probably going to ask you if he can go visit the cat."

"He can go this morning," he said.

"I'll let him know. Am I still grounded?" she asked, pinning him with a cold glare and crossing her arms.

"You're on parole. The next time you leave the compound without telling me, you'll be grounded until Damian returns."

"I hope it's soon," she said, a look of longing crossing her face.

"Don't worry, Sofi," he said. "And if this Miami thing gets as bad as we both think it will, he might have to come back soon anyway. I have to go."

She gave him a hug. As a stranger to human affection, he'd never quite gotten used to her hugs. He squeezed her back and left. Toni awaited him in the foyer.