Chapter 13

13

I freely admitI didn’t take the message on the ceiling well, hence why I whirled and punched Cain in the gut. The fucker didn’t flinch, and so I resorted to yelling.

“Why the fuck would you bring me to see this?”

He frowned at the ceiling with its gruesome note. “Because demons don’t write.”

“Then who wrote it?”

“Demons.”

Confusion had me blinking. “I don’t understand.”

“Demons are usually mindless killing machines. They come, they kill, they die. They don’t usually have a motive, and they most certainly don’t write anything legible. Meaning this is something deeper than just a portal releasing some demons to cause mischief.”

“Deeper how?”

He shrugged. “Fucked if I know.”

“How did you even hear about this mess?” I asked, indicating the shop.

“A local cop by the name of Wendell who also happens to be a reaper. He came to the shop when he heard about a disturbance over the police scanner.”

“Oh god, not the coppers again,” I moaned. “They already have me on their suspect list for the murders.”

“You don’t have to worry about them. They came, took a look, and declared it vandalism.”

“Thank fuck. I’m pretty sure Detective Williams has it out for me.” I could only imagine what he’d think if he saw the damage here.

“You’ll be fine.” Cain glanced around and continued to frown.

“What are you looking for?”

“Wendell. He was the one who sent in the report and stated you should be brought to see the message in person.”

Being suspicious, I asked, “How does this Wendell know about me?”

“Word got around about the new witch I brought back.”

“And why did he think I needed to see this in person?”

“I don’t know. Hence why I brought you.”

“This feels like a setup,” I grumbled.

“Agreed.”

I glanced at him. “Excuse me?”

“As you said earlier, this could have been sent in a picture. Wendell demanding your presence is completely outside of protocol. Only rarely do we bring witches to the scenes of demon attacks. Then add in the fact Wendell isn’t here and—”

“It’s a trap!” I concluded.

“Yes.”

“And you dragged me into it?” I hit him again. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Why would you do that?”

He arched a brow. “How else would I trigger it?”

“No, no triggering it. Fuck that. Pull out your thing-a-ma-bobby teleporter and get me out of here.”

“But we haven’t yet seen who wanted you here and why.”

“Good, because I doubt I’m interested,” I yelled.

“Calm down.”

“I will not calm down. I don’t like demons. I don’t like this. And right now, I really don’t like you.”

“I told you already, no harm will come to you.”

“Says the man who walked me into a possible trap. But here’s the thing, you don’t have the right to make that kind of decision for me. I do not consent,” I reiterated. “So take me to the castle.” A funny thing to say aloud even as I was not amused.

He might have replied, only the front door of the shop opened. Given what he’d just said about this being a trap, I did the smart thing.

I hid behind Cain.

For nothing, it turned out. Enzo strolled in, looking disheveled and sweaty. Couldn’t blame him given he’d seen his business trashed.

He took one look at me and pointed. “Fired. So fucking fired. Fired and I am going to sue your ass!”

“Me? What the fuck did I do?” I came out from behind Cain and planted my hands on my hips.

“You have to ask? Look around. And don’t tell me this isn’t about you. Your name is on the fucking ceiling!”

I’d never seen my boss so upset, but to blame me? Okay, maybe this was my fault but not intentionally.

“I don’t know who did this or why. I swear.” I did the sign of the cross over my heart despite not being religious.

“Don’t care. I’m ruined. Fucking ruined.”

“The insurance—”

“Dropped me after the last break-in.”

I winced. “I’m sorry, Enzo.”

“Get out.” He pointed to the door.

My lips turned down. Fired. A first in my life. How would I pay the rent or buy food? Thoughts that went quickly through my head until I reminded myself of the castle. I had a place to stay.

“Out!” Enzo yelled.

“I’m going. Jeezus.” I went trudging past, trying to not wince as things crackled even further underfoot.

Only as I went to pass Enzo did he move, his hand whipping out to grab my wrist.

I tugged. “What now? I thought you wanted me to go?”

“You are Sadie.” Enzo spoke oddly, and his face contorted.

“Duh.”

“Find. Sadie.” The words whispered from his lips, and I watched in horror as Enzo’s face literally rippled.

“Move away from him!” barked Cain.

I yanked, but Enzo had a firm grip on me. Only whatever I stood in front of wasn’t just my boss. His eyes turned a deep black. His lips peeled back over teeth that showed another layer of razor-sharp ones behind.

“What the fuck?” I exhaled.

Schwing.

The blow from the scythe took off Enzo’s arm just below the elbow, and I screeched as I stumbled back, a hand still gripping my wrist. I waved my arm around until the hand flew off and thumped to the floor.

The severed arm gushed, and Enzo gaped at me, mouth opening and shutting. Cain lifted his scythe.

“You can’t kill him,” I protested.

“He’s possessed,” Cain declared.

“Can’t we like do an exorcism?”

Cain shot me a look that said my movies didn’t know shit. He also didn’t kill my boss but only because the floor suddenly erupted as something big burst from the basement. A monstrous, hulking monster with muscles, accompanied by some of the smaller demons. It led to my protector being busy, too busy to see the thing that used to be my boss changing. Enzo’s face split apart to reveal something hideous underneath. His intact hand lifted, and the fingers burst at the ends and elongated into sharp points.

“What the hell!” I screamed as I barely evaded the clumsy flail of Possessed Enzo’s claws.

“Come. With. Me,” it hissed through blackened lips.

“I don’t think so,” I huffed. I held my hands and willed them to glow. Come on, magic power. Go, go, killer hands? I shook them. Clapped them together to no avail.

Possessed Enzo swiped for me.

And by some miracle, missed!

Yay, me. A short reprieve. Cain remained busy, dealing with the demons that had burst from the basement. Enzo had me blocked from escape and kept trying to grab hold.

I bent and snared stuff from the floor and tossed it at Possessed Enzo.

“Take that!” The remains of a honey dipper bounced off the hideous creature. “And that!” The frying pan clunked satisfyingly to no avail.

Enzo lunged, and this time he managed to snag me, his pointy fingers digging into flesh.

“Ow.”

“Use magic,” Cain yelled.

“I’m trying,” I whimpered as I struggled to escape, only to make the burning pain in my arm worse.

The mouth of my possessed boss opened wide as he leaned in close, his fetid breath washing over me in a way that had me gagging.

Holy fuck. I was going to die. My face eaten. How horrible. My funeral would have to be a closed casket. I’d spend the afterlife faceless.

Bang.

The bullet put a big hole through Enzo’s head, and the body dropped. Since the claws remained dug into my arm, it took me with it.

I hyperventilated as I tried to pry open the fingers to free myself.

A low-timbred and familiar voice said, “Hold still while I free you.”

I looked up to see the shooter was none other than Detective Williams.