Chapter 11

11

Ever had a dream bedroom?Because I sure as fuck did, and I found it in a hidden castle for witches. I walked into a massive space, which I didn’t expect. Hearing that the castle acted as a dorm had me imagining cubicle-type rooms with single beds barely better than cots, scratchy wool blankets, and battered desks.

The reality? A king-sized four-poster bed with a canopy, the material creamy in color and texture. The comforter? A plush thing in various shades of blue with cream-colored pillows in different shapes. A blue carpet looked thick enough to lose my toes in. The nightstand, made of pale wood, matched that of the bed and the dresser, as well as the wardrobe. Quality pieces the likes I’d never been able to afford. A massive window drew me, and I looked out to see the garden I’d heard about. It wasn’t some tiny little plot but a vast field of tidy rows with trellises for the plants to climb.

“Do you like it?” Mizuki asked, having followed me in.

“This is incredible. Are all the rooms like this?”

She nodded. “Different styles of furniture and color schemes, but living here isn’t a hardship by any means. If you don’t like something, let us know. There are storage rooms beneath the castle with different furniture pieces, and we can order new bedding if this isn’t to your liking.”

“No, this is amazing. Thank you.”

“We also get our own bathrooms and a walk-in closet. Part of the renovation effort in the eighties to modernize this place. Given we had many empty bedrooms, it proved only a matter of blocking off every third one to split into two for the rooms to share. Come see.” She led me to a door that opened onto a tiled space. Big soaker tub in front of the window. Shower stall to the side. Toilet, sink, and shelves with fluffy towels. Even toiletries, still in their wrappings, waited to be used.

She pointed to a sliding pocket door. “Walk-in closet. No window but there’s a light switch to your left when you enter.”

“I don’t have enough clothes to fill the dressers in the bedroom let alone a closet,” I admitted somewhat ruefully.

“That will change. We have some accounts with various clothing boutiques. We just need to place an order online, and when it comes in, a reaper hits our package locker to retrieve it.”

“You have internet?” I ogled her.

“Well, yeah. How else would we keep in touch with the outside world?”

“It’s just, you’re so remote.”

“Remote, yes, but we have our ways of staying modern. We were one of the first to get satellite internet courtesy of Mr. Musk.”

“The Elon Musk?” Yeah, I said it in a tone of incredulity.

“Yes. He’s a reaper, but he serves the guild better on the outside.”

“Damn.”

“You’ll soon discover we have people in all kinds of positions to help us in our fight. Now why don’t you shower while I rustle up some clothes from our storage room.”

The very welcoming woman left, and I took a second to breathe. This place seemed like a dream. Too good to be true. There had to be a catch.

Yeah, you’re expected to fight demons.

Actually, that was men’s work. The women simply figured out where they were. Seemed like an easy gig. Live in the lap of luxury with my whims catered to. I wondered if they had a library to make this dream complete. I’d ask Mizuki when she returned. In the meantime, I shed my filthy stuff and luxuriated in the hot shower. By the time I emerged wrapped in a fluffy towel, a pile of garments still with tags on them—including a package of underwear—waited on the bed.

I dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, along with the slip-on loafers I found by the door with other shoes in my size. Mine had disappeared. Good, given they’d been spattered in blood.

Once dressed, I had to wonder, what next? Nova said we’d meet up at dinner, but I had no idea when that would be. The Rockies were in a different time zone than the one I’d left.

I poked my head out the door and noticed the room next to mine appeared to have its entrance ajar. I uttered a sound of startlement when Mizuki popped out. “There you are. Ready for that tour?”

My smile was wide as I said, “Hell yeah.”

I couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Mizuki offered a commentary on everything as she showed me around. I saw the many classrooms for the witches, one with a simple chalkboard and a few tables with chairs for history lessons. Another set up like a science lab because, apparently, they brewed potions using many ingredients found in the garden and the forest. Although some jars did show more exotic stuff that couldn’t be grown and had to be imported.

The conservatory was a glassed space behind the castle that opened onto the garden. But the most intriguing place? The training rooms, of which there were several.

The one lined with metal and no windows? For practicing combat magic.

I’d arched my brow. “I thought the witches didn’t fight demons because they couldn’t see them.”

“We don’t, but those aren’t the only threats we used to face. There’s ghouls, vampires, and werewolves—”

“Seriously?”

“Yes, but there’s not many of them, mostly because they were hunted to almost extinction given the danger they posed. We also used to use our magic to defend ourselves against humans who didn’t appreciate witches. Mind you, that’s not been much of an issue since the castle relocation. Hard to persecute us if they can’t find us.” She giggled.

“When you say you use magic to fight, are we talking fireballs?”

Mizuki nodded. “Flinging of elements is the most common, but few practice it these days. I do, though. I’ve been working on my aim.” She’d indicated a scorched dummy. “Our Regina uses this room regularly. So do Cecily and Helen.”

“Do they fight demons?”

“They would if they could see them. Only sunlight and reapers can pierce their veil.”

I didn’t mention the fact I could see them. Not yet. I didn’t want to deal with the questions that might arise from my difference. “What of the other witches? Don’t they practice here, too?”

“No.” Mizuki shrugged. “They’ve opted out of combat exercises since they lack a natural talent or predilection.”

The other training rooms had occupants. Men, I should specify. One appeared to be for blade work given the rack on the wall only held daggers and swords. Another was for poles and spears. The last one had no weapons, just shirtless guys wrestling.

Mizuki nudged me and whispered, “The guy with the tattoo on his back is Barron.” A large Viking-like fellow with blond hair pulled back from his face and a beard.

Having seen several guys and no gals during our tour, I asked, “You said there are thirteen women. How many men?”

“I’m not sure. They come and go a lot. We have quite a few that live outside the castle, but there’s usually close to a hundred in residence, which is all they can house on their side.” She leaned close to whisper, “They don’t have enough room for private bedrooms, so their wing is set up barracks-style with a large, shared bathroom per floor.”

“I heard mention the middle of the castle housed married couples. How many of them are there?”

“Right now? Only two.”

“That seems low given I was told the witches don’t leave often, making their dating options slim.”

“Oh, there’s plenty of fooling around happening, but given our longevity, many choose to simply have fun rather than get serious.”

“What about kids? You said you were raised here.”

“I was born here, but only returned after my parents died. You see, many married witches and reapers choose to reenter the world to give their progeny a chance at a normal childhood.”

“Isn’t that dangerous, given the demons?”

“Only if a witch loses control of her magic. There are also wards that can be placed to warn and repel them.”

“Nova said people who leave are on their own.”

“If they leave the guild. My parents, for example, still worked for them. My dad worked in the sanitation department and kept an eye on the sewers. Mom handled the scrying for the city.”

“Do you ever wish you lived elsewhere?” A personal question, and yet, in the time we’d spent together, I felt comfortable asking.

“Every so often I venture out and live in the real world.” She did finger quotes. “But honestly, having to take care of myself, cooking, cleaning, and all that…” She wrinkled her nose. “I’m not cut out to be domestic.”

“Who does the chores here?” Was there some kind of roster so everyone took a turn?

Mizuki’s lips curved. “I saved the best for last. Ever heard of brownies?”

“Who hasn’t heard of those delicious chocolate treats.”

Her laughter rang out. “Not that kind. Brownie as in an urisk, a friendly goblin-type creature who actually enjoys doing chores in exchange for trinkets and necessities.”

“Seriously? How did you hire them? What do they look like?” Would this be like that weird little character in Harry Potter who was freed if given a sock to wear?

“They asked to come with the castle when it moved. They were hunted to almost extinction in Europe. We protect, feed, clothe, protect, and house them, and in return, they keep the castle running. It’s turned out to be a mutually beneficial exchange. As to what they look like, come on. There should be a few in the kitchen prepping dinner with Rani.”

I followed Mizuki into a new part of the castle from which banging and whirring emerged as pots clanged and machines mixed. I entered to see one woman directing what looked to me like gnome people. Big noses, big ears, none of them taller than my knee. They clambered up rope ladders to the countertops where they cut vegetables, mixed ingredients, rolled dough, and prepped platters of food.

So much food. “Damn,” I huffed. “That’s a lot of stuff they’re making.”

“Reapers tend to eat a lot.”

“Bottomless pits,” announced the woman with florid cheeks. As she neared, she wiped her hands on her apron. “I’m Rani. You must be the new girl.”

I almost snickered at “girl” until I remembered how old Mizuki was. “Hi, I’m Sadie.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Mizuki nudged me. “Rani is a wicked chef. She claims it’s because she knows food, but I think she uses her magic to make it delicious.”

The comment had Rani snorting. “You only think that because you love food. Now, I assume you’re here to meet the brownies.” Rani whistled, and a small person—because I could not call them creatures, not with their two arms and legs—came scampering over.

“What’s up, missus?” squeaked a tiny voice.

“New girl. Staying in…” Rani eyed Mizuki.

“Room next to mine.”

Rani eyed the little woman. “Can you ensure someone is assigned to her quarters?”

“Most likely Isadora is already getting it ready,” scoffed the brownie. She eyed me and grinned. “Been a while since there’s been one like you. I’m Polly. If you need anything let me know. It is our pleasure to serve.” Polly bobbed her head before she waddled off, hollering at the other brownies.

Rani arched a brow. “I wonder what Polly meant about it’s been a while. What’s your element?”

I shrugged. “No idea. I only recently found out about the whole magic and demon thing.”

“In that case, good luck on the tests.”

Rani went back to her stove, leaving me to eye Mizuki and ask, “What tests?”

“You’ll see soon enough. Come on. Let’s get our seats before they ring the gong.”

The dining hall was huge and simple. Long tables lined with benches. Nothing fancy. A massive buffet table ran along an entire wall, with stacks of cutlery and plates at one end.

“What time is dinner?” I asked.

“When they ring the—”

Bong.

The vibration took a second to dissipate, and Mizuki grinned. “Dinner!”

People streamed in from all the doorways. Men carried platters and steaming pans from the kitchen to the buffet table. Guess the brownies were a tad small for that task.

I found it wildly interesting that the men let the woman who arrived go first in the food line, a courtly gesture that, while sexist, actually kind of impressed me. Yes, I was an independent woman, but there was something to be said for old-school manners.

Mizuki and I filled our plates, the variety of food incredible and mouthwatering. Blackened ribs with barbecue sauce, mashed potatoes, asparagus spears, crusty rolls—and that was just what I piled on my plate. The variety astonished. I definitely wouldn’t starve here.

We took our seats at the end of a long table with some of the other witches. As I chewed, I couldn’t help looking around, eyeing the many men dressed casually for the most part. None of them in a long duster. None of them with a certain chiseled jaw and somber look.

“Checking out the prospects?” Mizuki teased.

I wanted to deny it but thought, fuck it. “I don’t see Cain.”

It was Nova who replied as she sat down from across me. “He’s left with a team to clean out the subway tunnels.”

“Oh.” I tried to not be deflated at his absence.

Mizuki leaned forward. “Any ideas as to why so many demons ended up in one spot?” She glanced at me to add, “Most incursions are only a handful at most.”

The leader of the witches shook her head. “I can only assume a wild doorway opened for longer than usual, hence why so many crossed.”

“I wonder how they managed that,” Mizuki mused aloud.

“It’s a bit of a mystery at the moment. Just like the number of casualties is unheard of.” Nova’s lips turned down.

“Would they still have attacked if I wasn’t on the train?” I couldn’t help but ask, as a slight nagging guilt rode me.

“Your presence, or should I say the magic within you, might have spurred them, but even had you not been in those tunnels, they would have gone on a murderous rampage. It’s what they do.” Nova‘s response somewhat appeased.

But I still had questions. “These demons are savage. I mean what they did to those people…” My head ducked as I tried to not remember. “How is it we don’t hear more often about their victims? I mean if they come across and just murder people, shouldn’t the media be talking about it?”

Nova’s lips pinched, but before she could reply, Mizuki answered. “The reapers don’t just rid the world of demons. They also try to make it so that the deaths seem like an accident.”

I frowned. “How do you make someone missing their head appear accidental?”

“Fluke accidents happen all the time. Cars crash, signs fall, wild animals attack. Some people go missing. And there’s always fire.”

My mouth rounded. “Jesus. Wouldn’t it just be better to let people know the truth?”

“Who would believe us?” Mizuki asked. “Only those with the right characteristics can see the demons.”

A reminder that most folks, and even cameras, saw a thick fog. “How long have the reapers and witches been fighting demons?”

Nova took back over to say, “Centuries. But during that time, we’ve had decades of quiet where our reapers barely have to work because the demons don’t manage to cross. Then there are periods of extreme encounters like we’re experiencing now where the demons keep coming into our world and we struggle to handle them.”

“It’s so bad we’re actively recruiting,” Mizuki confided. “In the last six months alone we’ve added another twenty reapers, and we’re interviewing another thirty to see if they’re the right fit.”

“That’s got to be an interesting interview. Hey, do you want to fight demons?” I was only half joking, but Mizuki nodded.

“The good news is usually these men have already seen a demon. It’s how we find them. They do internet searches, which then leads them to our website.”

“You have a website?”

“We do. Kevin runs it. It’s called iseedemons dot com. It promises the men who find it a chance to become a demon hunter.”

“And does it get a lot of hits?” I couldn’t help but be curious.

“Yes, but most of them never get any further than the first few questions in our screening process. We ask them if they’ve seen a demon. Then we ask them to check off the color of the demon’s skin. Number of horns. We show them a few images and ask them to choose the one that looks closest to it.” Mizuki ticked off fingers as she went through how they weeded out applicants.

“What happens if someone answers right but doesn’t see them?”

“The next phase of the test is to bring them to a hunt. This accomplishes a few things such as whether or not they do see them. How they react.”

“Fight or flee,” I murmured.

“Exactly.” Mizuki nodded.

“What if they fail? They still know about it.”

Nova answered. “We have spells to wipe their memories.”

“But that doesn’t stop them from seeing them in the future.”

“No, it doesn’t, but we don’t need cowards in the ranks.”

“Harsh,” I replied. I then wet my lips to say, “Given I’m not very brave, maybe I shouldn’t be here.”

Mizuki giggled. “We don’t need to be brave. We can’t see the demons, and we’re quite safe in the castle.”

I glanced at Nova and murmured, “Should I tell her?”

“That’s up to you,” Nova replied.

“Tell me what?” Mizuki asked.

“I can see demons.” I spoke softly, but Mizuki heard.

“Seriously? Wow.” Her eyes widened. “That’s kind of cool.”

“More like scary,” I muttered.

“If you can see them, you could fight,” Mizuki exclaimed. “Wait, does this mean you’re not a witch?”

“She has the magic as well,” Nova stated. “We are going to find out what skills Sadie has starting tomorrow. So be sure to get some rest.”

With that, Nova left.

Mizuki had all kinds of questions, which led to me telling her about my experiences over the past few days. She was way more excited about my supposed abilities than me. I seriously lacked a heroic gene. I’d agreed to stay here mostly out of fear the demons might attack me again. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to explore the magic I might have. Being able to fry demons with the touch of my hands wouldn’t be a bad thing to learn.

Even when the plates were cleared, the dining hall remained raucous and too much for me after the day I’d had. I slid off the bench and murmured, “I’m going to bed.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“You don’t have to,” I hastened to say.

“Bah. Barron’s gone demon hunting with Cain, so no point in sticking around. Besides I’ve got a book to read.”

Book? We parted company on our floor, me with a novel in hand that Mizuki snagged from her room so I wouldn’t be bored.

As if that would happen. I worried more about my mind being too awake, whirring with everything that had happened. I readied myself for bed. I found pajamas in the drawers, the clothes Mizuki had dumped having been put away in my absence. I tried reading but couldn’t focus. Just like sleep eluded me.

Here I was in a castle of witches and demon hunters, heroic people trying to do good in the world, and then there was me. Someone with supposedly both sides of the coin but seriously not interested in saving the world.

Selfish? More like terrified. Those demons fucking scared the shit out of me. Their alien nature, their viciousness, the fact the majority of people couldn’t see them to defend themselves.

I could, though. My hands had reacted and saved me, even though I had no idea how. Why hadn’t they activated the moment the demon attacked? What triggered them? Was it me almost dying? How could I ensure it happened quicker next time, assuming there was a next time? I really hoped there wasn’t a next time.

Thinking of fighting demons led to me thinking of Cain. Was he okay? Had he returned?

Why did I care?

I rolled out of bed to hit the bathroom one last time, I hoped. As I returned to bed, wondering if Cain would get any sleep tonight, my attention was caught by the mirror, which didn’t reflect me or the room. On the contrary, the fuzzy surface showed Cain. Cain stripping off his clothes in a room with other guys.

Oh, my. His muscled body parted my lips. I’d have sworn he turned to look at me.

Right at me, as if catching me spying.

The mirage vanished, and I had to wonder if I’d imagined it.

Didn’t matter. That muscled chest followed me into my dreams, and I woke stretching and purring like a happy kitty.

It lasted until breakfast.