Chapter 6

6

I racedout of the subway as if I had smirking demons hot on my ass. They weren’t, as it turned out, and said ass complained in spasms about the exertion I forced upon it. Exercise didn’t used to be a part of my vocabulary, but perhaps that should change if I was going to be racing away from danger on a daily basis.

At the top of the subway stairs, huffing and puffing, my heart pounding and protesting, I glanced down to see no ugly bastards followed. Good news. Bad news? No more subway for me. I’d only taken it because I’d missed my bus and didn’t want to wait. However, if the demons had infiltrated the tunnels, then fuck it, I’d be bussing from now on and walking a lot more.

I trudged the few blocks to my work. The street was open again for business, the bus massacre mess cleaned, and yet that didn’t stop the looky-loos from showing up. They clustered on the sidewalk and pointed to the clean spot on the pavement, posing with it, chittering excitedly for their videos. None of them showed any fear, or respect for that matter. People had died, but their only concern appeared to be about increasing their social credit.

Gross. And why I’d ditched the whole online culture years ago. I’d gone from being obsessed with videos and rage-bait articles to losing myself in a book. Much more calming. Turned out all the screams of “ the world is ending” and “the—insert political party—are going to take away all your rights and murder you!” were just hyperbole. I had to wonder how much the pharmaceutical companies would lose if people ditched the internet and reduced their anxiety without the aid of drugs.

My boss eyed me as I walked in. He made a face. “Ew, why are you so sweaty?”

“Didn’t want to be late,” I mumbled, heading for the back room.

“Since when?” he countered.

I didn’t deign to reply. Admitting I’d run from demons was not exactly the kind of thing to keep a girl employed. Enzo might like me, but he ran a business, and an employee he deemed flaky might just get fired.

Given his comment about my glistening skin, I hit the tiny bathroom and splashed water on my flushed face. In the mirror, I noted my bloodshot eyes and the dark moons cradling them. I looked like shit. Felt it too. Probably should have called in sick, but the thought of staying home with my mattress and its ghost blood proved untenable.

When I emerged from the tiny washroom, I heard Enzo talking to a customer, so I took a second to breathe. Literally.

In. Out. Big breaths. With my eyes closed, I didn’t see anyone, so the feminine voice from right in front of me startled.

“You must be Sadie.”

Instant panic. My eyes opened, and I reeled from the stranger as I blustered, “Excuse me, this room is for employees only.”

“Is it now?” The stranger glanced around, her mahogany features smooth, her hair a dark, curly halo around her head. She wore an elegant pantsuit in a vivid yellow and shoes with a three-inch heel that I’d never dare to wear but did admire.

“Can I help you? Do you need me to check for something out of stock in the store?”

Her full lips curved. “I’m here to speak with you, Sadie.”

“About what? I don’t need insurance, nor does my soul need saving,” I babbled, uneasy with this woman’s familiarity. How did she know my name?

“I’m not here for anything so mundane. My colleague, Cain, had some interesting things to say about you.”

I blinked at the name. “Cain? As in big dude in a long duster?”

“So you did indeed meet him, and while he wore his invisatunica. How fascinating.”

“Not really. He’s kind of hard to miss.”

“On the contrary. Even I have difficulty spotting him when he’s wearing his invisibility coat. The fact you—with no training and with no seeming effort—can is quite remarkable.”

“Listen, I don’t know what he told you, or why you’re here, but now is not the time. I’m working.” I glanced past her, wondering what—the most likely eavesdropping—Enzo thought of this conversation.

“Don’t worry about your employer. I’ve ensured us some privacy for our conversation.”

The statement made me frown. Despite it being rude, I pushed past her to head into the store, hoping Enzo hadn’t been hurt, only to see him frozen in place, arm mid-wave, mouth open, eyes staring but not blinking.

“What did you do to Enzo?” I exclaimed as I rushed to him. I waved a hand in front of his face but got no reaction.

“Tempusprohib is a simple and harmless spell. It stopped time for your boss while we have our chat.”

I whirled. “Excuse me? Stopped time? What the ever-loving fuck, lady?”

“The name is Nova.”

“I don’t give a fuck what your name is. Release Enzo from whatever it is you did.” I gestured.

“In a moment. The spell I’ve placed over the shop won’t harm him.” Nova cocked her head. “And it’s not affecting you. How interesting.”

“What do you mean affecting me? Keep your curses away from me, lady.” I did the sign of the cross.

It brought a small chuckle to her lips. “Sorry, darling, but not only does that not work on witches, it’s ineffective on vampires too.”

Witches. Vampires. My world had gone insane. “You’re not making any sense.” Nor did I like any of this.

“Let’s start over. I’m Nova and I’m leader of the Sororis Magicae, or, in English terms, the sisterhood of witches. My friend, Cain, approached me to tell of a woman who not only perceived him, despite him wearing his cloak, but could see demons as well.”

“He told you that?” Fucking snitch.

“You don’t deny it.”

“Deny what? I saw it. I didn’t want to. I’d rather I never had, and would prefer to go back to not knowing.” Ignorance might mean not being scared of the subway and a bed not drenched in ectoplasm blood.

“How long have you been able to see things others can’t?”

“Since two days ago, meaning it’s probably a viral infection and the hallucinations will go away once I get some antibiotics.”

Once more her lips curved in amusement. “What you have is not a sickness. Now, I do have to ask, you were born female?”

I rolled my eyes. “Why does everyone keep asking that?”

“Because usually female humans can’t see through the cloak that hides, nor can they perceive demons.”

“That’s what he said, minus the cloak part.”

“You said your first demon sighting happened two days ago. Was the only time you’ve seen them?”

I wanted to lie, but being freaked out, I sighed and told her the truth. “Pretty sure I saw more in the subway. Which is why from now on I’m walking, taking a taxi, or a bus.”

“And you’ve not seen them elsewhere? Say, maybe around your home?”

“Hell no. I would have moved my ass if they got near my apartment.”

Her brow lifted. “But they have found you.”

“Excuse me?”

“Cain contacted me last night to further add to our conversation about you. He says your door shows signs of a demon trying to get in. He inscribed a rune of protection on it, but it’s not a permanent solution.”

That explained the scratches and the symbol. “He never said a word about that.”

“Perhaps because you frazzled him. I’ve never known Cain to be so flustered.” Nova grinned. “It was actually quite entertaining.”

“Guess a big dude like him isn’t used to being told to take a hike.”

“Indeed, he isn’t, which is why I’m here in his stead. Firstly, to confirm his findings and. secondly, to have you accompany me to the forumdomus.”

“The what?”

“The forumdomus. The guild house where reapers and witches abide.”

“Um, I don’t think so.”

“I’m afraid there’s no choice. That is, if you want to live.”

“Been living just fine up until now,” I pointed out.

“But something has changed. You see demons.”

“Not by choice.”

“Doesn’t matter. You see them. And they’ve marked your domicile.”

“So I’ll move.” Seemed simple enough for me. Yes, I’d miss the cheap rent, but I could save on my commute and relocate closer to work.

“I don’t think you grasp the gravity of your situation or your uniqueness.”

“No, but I get the impression you’re going to tell me.”

“Women with the gift of magic can heal and scry. The men are the eyes and the arms against threat. They can see past the glamours and fogs that hide monsters. They wield the blessed scythes and swords and daggers that can kill a demon.”

“And?”

“Do you have magic?” she suddenly asked.

“Nope.”

“Are you sure?”

“Pretty sure I’d know if I could toss fireballs or turn people into frogs.”

She shook her head. “Transmogrification isn’t possible. As for fireballs, the amount of power needed is beyond most of the witches in the sisterhood. Back to the magic, have you ever seen someone injured and when you tried to help them found their wound less severe than expected?”

“Uh, no.” Then again, I didn’t go out of my way to Band-aid people.

“Ever lost something and seen its location in your mind?”

“I wish. I’m still looking for my left ear pod.”

She frowned. “Perhaps you just haven’t noticed the power.”

“Or maybe I don’t have any magic.”

“There’s only one way to be sure. You must be tested. The forumdomus has the tools to do that.”

“Nice try, lady. I’m not going anywhere with you.” I shook my head.

“Don’t you want to know the truth?”

“Why do you care?” I countered.

“Because we are entering a time of great danger and turmoil. The demon incursions have suddenly increased. Our reapers are struggling to contain the outbreaks. The last time things were this bad, the universe sent a hero. A messovenata, which is a fancy word for reaper witch.” She stared at me.

I burst out laughing. “Wow, do you have the wrong person. I am not heroic.”

“A lack of arrogance is a hero’s trait.”

“Bravery is as well, and I am more cowardly than the lion in Oz.”

“Only because the unknown is frightening. What if you learned to fight?” Nova kept trying to convince me.

“I don’t want to learn. I’m happy as I am.” Not entirely true, but going from boring store clerk with no social life to demon-fighting witch? Sounded like a way to never make it to retirement.

“You are just as stubborn as he claimed,” Nova mused aloud.

“Sorry to waste your time. Now if you don’t mind, unfreeze my boss and get going.”

Nova shook her head as she stepped past me toward the door. “I’ll leave but only because you’ve yet to realize you won’t be able to return to your old life. Something happened to you. You’ve changed, and while you want to pretend you haven’t, the demons won’t ignore it.”

Sobering words. But the alternative involved me becoming a scythe-wielding person against ugly sewer monsters. That sounded exhausting and terrifying.

“Sorry. Best of luck finding someone to be your reaper witch.” Cool title. It almost made me wish I could be that person. But at forty-two years old, I knew my limits.

“I hope your stubbornness doesn’t get you killed.” Her last comment before she left and my boss suddenly exclaimed, “Where did you come from? And where did the customer go?”

I didn’t know. Didn’t care. Was I being a pig-headed mule? Yes. In my books, heroines jumped at the chance to be great. Me, I just wanted to forget everything that had happened and go back to my dull existence.

Hard to do when you get hauled off to the police station for questioning.