Sentinal's Tear (Book #1 in Requiem Series) [formally titled Lacrimosa]

Chapter 1

Nesy

I shift in the booth, careful to remain hidden in the shadows. My human form feels foreign, awkward. Nothing about tonight's assignment seems right; not the constant thoughts echoing through my mind nor the everpresent feelings I can't seem to shake.

I tighten the muscles across my back, desperate to escape the confinement that comes with this new body. One I never wanted.

My senses register each scent, each sound, adding to the noise of too much mental chatter already ricocheting in my head. Sweat and too-strong perfume from the tangled mix of bodies on the dance floor burn my nostrils. My heart pounds against my ribs and unfamiliar twinges of fear cloud my vision. Feelings I can't decipher crawl through my skin, sending chills throughout my body.

I may have prepared for this task, but nothing could prepare me for being a seventeen-year-old girl.

Again.

I slip further into the booth, surveying the scene. Lights pulse around me, synchronized to the blaring sounds that pound from the speakers. Clubbers sway to the music in intoxicating rhythms, casting a spell throughout the room.

And somewhere in the crowd lurks the one I came for—the UnHoly.

I narrow my eyes, taking in the irony of the church-turned-nightclub. Tall, gothic arches adorn the ceiling. Old stone sculptures of saints and angels watch the hordes of teens gyrating on the dance floor. The altar, once a sanctuary, now houses a stage where up-and-coming bands woo adoring fans. The remaining spaces are punctuated with small alcoves designed to hide the club's true patrons: dark creatures that feed on the lust and fear of the human crowd.

My task is simple enough: find the UnHoly and vanquish him to the Abyss. Just like the countless other assignments I've had over the past few centuries. But something about this task feels wrong. Something that sends fresh shivers cascading down my very human spine.

Little information was given to me about my target, only his name, location, and human age. I'd have to figure out the rest. No problem, since vanquishing the UnHoly is my specialty; whether I'm stuck in a teenage body or not.

I take one last sip of water and recite my plan:

One: Find the UnHoly.

Two: Lure him away from the crowd. Don't want to ruin my perfect record with collateral damage.

Three: Cast him out.

What could go wrong?

Satisfied, I settle my thoughts and prepare for battle. The sooner this is finished, the sooner I can ditch this body and escape the chaos it brings. My human form may look similar to my angelic being, with its familiar blond hair and blue eyes. But I hate being trapped in this flesh, stifled by the heaviness of this body. I miss feeling the air move through my wings and play across my skin. More than anything else, I miss the quiet solitude of my mind; no emotions to muddle my thinking, no angst to cloud my judgment. Necessary or not, I'm never masquerading as a teenager again.