I shift in bed. “Ezra made it sound like that can only be done through supernatural means.”
“Father Odo confirmed as much.”
“We don’t have supernatural means. Unless Father Odo gave you some sort of weapon I don’t know about.”
His gaze dips to my clavicle, where the mark hides beneath my oversized flannel. “I re-listened to some podcast episodes on my way home.”
It takes me a second to realize he meansmypodcast. And he used the wordre-listened. Which means he’s already listened once before. I picture him in class with his AirPods in. Was it my voice in his ear all along?
The idea makes me flush.
The warmth of it feels nice.
“Which ones?” I ask, picking at a loose thread on my comforter.
“Your mini-series on religion.”
Through the ages.
Episodes three and four of season two. We covered everything from Greek Mythology to Scientology and their unique beliefs in the supernatural.
“I ended up watchingClash of the Titans,” he says.
My jaw drops with delighted surprise.
“It was a long flight,” he adds ruefully.
“Did you watch the 1981 version or the pathetic attempt at a remake in 2010?”
“You made it very clear the 1981 version was the only version worth watching.”
I smile.Clash of the Titansis one of my all-time favorites, which is probably why I spent so much of episode three raving about it. “What did you think?”
“The eyeless witches were terrifying.”
“And Medusa?”
“Equally terrifying.”
“Here’s a fun fact. In the movie, her blood is only good for destroying things, but in actualGreek Mythology, it has the power to poison or heal. Depending on which side of the body it comes from.”
“Selah.”
I look at him.
“I didn’t come here to analyzeClash of the Titans. Or discuss Greek Mythology.” He’s fighting a grin though, his dimple coming out to play, his hand sliding closer to my knee. “I want to talk about episode four, and the Watchers.”
I nod, eager to hear what he has to say. Episode four focused on Christianity and Judaism, particularly their beliefs surrounding angels, demons, and spiritual warfare. The Watchers were angels tasked with protecting humanity. They broke their vows by loving mortal women and fathered the Nephilim—powerful, unnatural hybrids.
“Father Odo has studied them extensively,” Jude says. “He’s spent years digging through theBook of Enoch, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the sixth chapter of Genesis. He believes descendants of Nephilim carry traces of supernatural power.”
I think about Ezekiel Cotton and his first claim—descendants of angels have a strong connection to the supernatural realm. Father Odo has taken that concept and upped the ante.
I look at Jude, whose eyes are aglow with hope, like he thinkshecan destroy Seraphina. And the cold in my bones seeps into my heart.
“Jude,” I say with caution, “if Ezra couldn’tdestroy Seraphina back then, how are you supposed to do it now?”
To this, he has no answer.
