8. Evalee

EVALEE

H unter’s fingers circle my upper arms as he prepares to yank me back behind him when Evan sticks out his hand.

“You don’t need to freak out. I promise he can’t hurt you.” He approaches the demon with zero caution and lifts his hand as if to pat the demon. Instead, his hand knocks against an invisible force. The air ripples like water and the demon’s eyes flame as he nips at the air. “It’s locked in an invisible cage,” Evan explains, dropping his hand to his side. “I assure you that it can’t escape.”

Hunter makes no move to release me from his death grip. “Sure, it is. That’s why it attacked us in the park today.”

Evan’s forehead creases. “That impossible. I’ve been here all day, and I can assure you that the demon hasn’t left the cage.”

“He’s not lying,” I tell Hunter while eyeing the demon. “Either it escaped without you knowing, or there’s a demon running around that looks exactly like this one.”

The demon targets his gaze on me and lowers onto all fours, snarling.

Evan stays in Confusion Land for a handful of seconds before realization crosses his face. “Oh, he’s mirroring. Interesting.” He circles the cage, and the demon turns, his red eyes tracking Evan’s every move. “I didn’t know you could do that. Clever.”

“What’s mirroring?” I ask, stepping forward, but Hunter digs his fingers into my arm as he tows me back.

“No way. You’re not going any closer until we figure out what’s going on.”

“Yes, boss,” I mumble, obeying and staying put.

“It’s when a demon can manipulate his appearance to look like the last demon someone saw.” Evan stops circling the cage, keeping his gaze glued to the rabid demon. “To me, he looks like an ugly, little troll. To you, he looks like the last demon you laid eyes on.”

Huh? So, he’s not the demon in the park, but just making himself look like him.

“Well, he definitely doesn’t look like an ugly, little troll to me,” I say automatically, picturing the sexy but extremely annoying demon that cursed me earlier.

Hunter coughs from behind me. “Get a grip over yourself. That guy in the park was a demon .”

“I know that,” I tell him, my cheeks warming. “That doesn’t mean he was ugly.”

Hunter sighs audibly while Evan appears confusedly amused.

“Anyway …” I clear my throat and change the subject. “Why do you even have a demon?”

“To study,” Evan explains, fidgeting with the chain attached to his jeans. “It’s actually not that uncommon for an expert to have a few species to study. I only have the one, though, since demons are a handful.”

As if to prove his point, the demon charges at the invisible cage walls and the entire room ripples in protest.

“Whoa.” I press my hand to my forehead as the red walls and the black and white tile floor spin around like a whirlwind. “Head rush.”

Evan stares the demon down. “Behave, or no dinner.”

The demon’s lip twitches before he takes a seat on the floor.

“Good boy,” Evan says almost tauntingly before facing the demon with his arms tucked behind his back. “Now, we need a bit of information from you. If you do that, then I’ll throw in dessert tonight.”

The demon’s eyes illuminate brightly, which I assume is a good sign until he shakes his head.

“Pay the fee, or my lips are sealed.” His baritone voice reverberates around the room as he crosses his arms and elevates his chin in defiance.

“I thought you might say that.” Evan turns to me with an apologetic look. “Sorry, but this is where you’re going to have to pay him. I mean, I can try to get him to talk without the cash, but I’ve had him for over a year and have yet to ever get any sort of truth out of him without anteing up first.”

“It’s okay.” I fish the wad of cash out of my pocket then look at the demon. “But I’m not paying you in full until I get answers.”

His eyes light up with dollar signs. Honestly, I find his reaction kind of stupid since he’s locked in a cage and has no real purpose for money. Demons can be greedy like that.

The demon kneels up and sticks out his hand. “Half up front and half after I answer your questions.”

I start to step forward to give him the money, figuring Hunter will release me, but instead he moves with me, refusing to let go. I internally sigh. While he’s always been a bit protective of me, he’s being crazy protective right now.

“Hunter, I’ll be okay,” I whisper over my shoulder. “You can let me go for a few minutes.”

His hold only tightens. “No, I can’t.”

This time, I let my sigh escape. However, I let the subject drop as I approach the cage.

“Do I just hand it to him?” I ask Evan.

He walks a perfect line around the cage and steps up beside me. “Yes, but don’t reach through the cage. Just throw the money in. You’re safe out here, but if you breach the perimeter, he can harm you.”

Nodding, I count out half the money then toss the bills into the cage. Grunting like an excited baboon, the demon scoops up the money and clutches it to his chest.

“Now, the first question I have is if you know anything about the bodies being stolen around town.” Because after everything that’s happened today, I have a hunch demons might be behind the stealing. Why, though, I don’t have a damn clue.

The bills crinkle as the demon hugs them tightly against his chest. “They do.”

I motion for him to explain further. “And, why are they?”

He shrugs. “I have no idea.”

I wave the money in the air. “Tell me the truth, or I keep these bad boys.”

If looks could kill, I’d be dead where I stand.

“They’re trafficking them,” he bites out, drool dripping down his chin as he snarls.

“Who’s trafficking them?” I ask. “And why?”

Using one arm to hug the money, he lifts his free hand to his mouth and places a finger to his lips. “I’m not sure on the why part, but the who I might be able to answer.” A grin twists at his lips as his greedy eyes zero in on the cash in my hand. “For a small fee, of course.”

“Fine.” I chuck a few more bills into the cage. “Now tell me who’s behind the trafficking.”

He scrambles to get the money, dropping some bills in the process. Growling, he does a belly flop and sprawls his body over the pile of cash. “The hybrids,” he spits out as he reaches for a few dollars in front of his face.

“Faerie hybrids?” I ask.

He zealously nods as he snatches up the bills with his grubby fingers. “That and all the other kinds. So many kinds. Vampire kinds. Werewolf kinds. Pixie kinds. An army of kinds.”

“An army ?” Hunter and I say at the same time.

A sinister smile carves across the demon’s face as he glances from Hunter to me. “Yes, an army.”

I swallow hard. “An army for what?”

The demon pushes to his feet and stuffs the money into his pocket. “Who knows? But you should probably be worried, considering you might be one of them.”

My muscles constrict as Hunter’s fingers tense on my arm.

The demon grins, taking a step toward me. “You didn’t know?”

My heart slams against my chest as I worry he might be right. Then I remember how powerless of a witch I am, definitely not half-demon material, and laughter sputters from my lips.

“Boy, oh boy, that was a good try,” I tell the demon. “But next time you try to worry someone into thinking they’re some special sort of creature, you should probably make sure the person is super talented and unique, instead of mediocre.”

His lips curve downward. “You think I’m kidding?”

“No,” I stress. “I know you’re kidding.”

A low growl rumbles from his chest. “Stupid girl. But that’s okay. One day, you’ll realize it. Then you’ll come crawling back to me.”

I roll my eyes. “Nice try, tricky demon. If you want the rest of your money, you better start telling me the truth.”

Now he rolls his eyes. “Fine, tell me what else you think you need to know.”

“Well, for starters, I want to know who this sample of magic belongs to.” I nod my head at the container Evan is still holding.

The demon’s contorted grin sends a shiver down my spine. “You mean, you want to know who the hybrid is who stole your sister’s body.”

Evan nearly drops the container as he realizes what my lost “object” is. “That’s what the demon took from you?”

“Sorry I wasn’t straight forward,” I tell him. “I just didn’t want to seem like a total nutjob.”

His expression softens. “I’d never think you were a nutjob, Eva. In fact, you’re probably the most levelheaded person I know.”

I offer him a smile. “Thanks for trying, but I know there’s no way that can be true.”

He reaches out to either pat my arm or take my hand, but when his gaze strays over my shoulder, he pulls back. “I’m telling the truth. You’re one of the smartest, bravest girls I’ve ever known.”

My lips part in protest, but the demon’s creepy-ass cackling cuts me off.

“Oh, my God. Drama, drama, drama,” he says then laughs, hunching over and cradling his sides.

“Yeah, keep laughing, you little twerp.” I wave the money in the air. “Maybe I’ll just hang on to these.”

His laugh promptly dies. “You can’t. We have a deal.”

I fan the money in front of the wall. “Then tell me who the hybrid is who broke into my house and stole my sister’s body, and how I can get her back.”

“The last answer seems pretty self-explanatory. But since you’re obviously stupid, I’ll give you the answer,” the demon says in a bored tone as he examines his chipped fingernails. “You go to the underground tunnels.”

I take a subtle breath, trying to remain calm, but my patience is wearing thin. “And how exactly do I get there?”

He looks up from his fingernails. “You really don’t know?” When I shake my head, he dramatically sighs and inches even closer to the barrier. “To the place on the card in your pocket. You know, the one your sister left behind for you.”

My hand instinctively travels to my pocket. “The Illuminating Horror House of Truth?” I ask, and he nods. “How did you know about the card?”

He taps his ear. “Curse of the demon hearing. I can hear everything that’s going on amongst my kind.”

Hope glimmers in my chest. “So, you’ve heard things about my sister?”

“Hearing things right now,” he clarifies with a smirk. “But to hear what she’s saying will cost you a lot more than what you have in your hand.”

“You can hear her?” I whisper, my voice shaking.

“Don’t trust everything he says,” Hunter warns, holding on to me securely. “Remember what he is.”

The demon glowers at him. Then a devious grin illuminates his face as he focuses on me. “Or maybe you shouldn’t trust anyone. I mean, for all you know, any one of your little friends could have been the one to tell the hybrids where your sister was hidden.”

I freeze. “What do you mean, tell ?”

His laughter is all mocking. “What? Did you think they just accidentally stumbled across her body?”

“I don’t know …” Confusion clouds my mind, making me dizzy. “I hadn’t really thought about it. A ton of other bodies have been stolen.”

“From the morgue, where bodies are supposed to be. Very rarely do people keep bodies in their basement.” The demon looks at me like I’m an idiot, and he might be right. “How do you think the newspaper found out about the theft only minutes afterward, other than maybe the little rat running around in your house momentarily getting a guilty conscience.” He hums a foreign tune under his breath. “Sucks to be Mr. Trickleten. He got into a lot of trouble for printing that piece.”

I think about everything he said, and a cold chill slithers up my back.

I don’t want to believe a demon, but at the same time, with all the charms me and Hunter put all over the basement, there’s no way anything or anyone should’ve been able to find my sister. Yet someone definitely went through a buttload of trouble to get past those charms to get to her. Why? Why go through all the trouble?

“Why would they even want my sister’s body?” I ask quietly. “I mean, why go through all that trouble when the morgues and graveyards are filled with bodies?”

He casually shrugs. “Maybe they weren’t really trying to get her body so much as get ahold of the person who cared about her body. I think it was only an added bonus that they got to add her to the collection of bodies they’re going to sell. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t the whole point. Then again, it never is. Demons always have multiple purposes in everything they do.”

I think about the demon in the park and how he warned me not to go near The Illuminating Horror House of Truth. But that wouldn’t make any sense. If hybrid demons were trying to get ahold of me, then why would he warn me to stay away from the entrance to the underground tunnel? Why not just take me then?

“What you’re saying doesn’t make any sense,” I say. “If hybrids wanted me, then they could just take me.”

“Could they?” His tone and look insinuates something, but I have no idea what.

Before I can delve into the subject, he darts his hand out toward me. His knuckles crash into the invisible wall, sending a powerful wave of ripples throughout the room.

The ground quivers as the walls and floor bow back and forth, causing me to lose my balance and stumble forward. Hunter starts to haul me back, but my shoulder connects with the cage wall.

Cold fingers grab me, and I’m yanked forward. I try to throw my weight back, but the demon holds on tightly, dragging me all the way into the cage.

Oh, witches. Oh, witches. Oh, witches!

Panicking, I stab my fingers into his hand while kicking him in the shin. When he stumbles back, I move for my wand. But he lunges forward and snatches it out of my hand. Then he snaps my wand in half, laughing at me.

“Not so cocky now, huh?”

“Shit.” I spin around and run toward Hunter, but my body slams into the invisible wall and I bounce back, landing on my ass.

Hunter’s face pales as he starts to run for me. But Evan grabs him by the arm and yanks him back.

“You won’t be any help getting yourself stuck in there, too,” he tells Hunter firmly. “We need to coax him into letting her go.”

Hunter shoves him off with a furious growl. “This is all your fault.”

Evan gapes at him. “How do you figure?”

“Because …” Hunter reaches up to rake his fingers through his hair, but the strands are too short now and he ends up clawing at his head. “You should’ve put up a better cage!”

While the two of them continue to bicker like old ladies, I guardedly twist toward the demon. “What’re you going to do to me?”

“Turn you over to the hybrids who are trying to get to you,” he answers simply. “They’re going to pay a lot for you.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re weirdly different.”

The muscle in my jaw ticks. Weirdly. There’s that word again.

He smirks. “You hate that word, don’t you?”

I bite down on my tongue, refusing to talk to him.

He shrugs, unbothered. “That’s okay. We’re going to be in here for a while, and you’ll eventually get bored enough to talk to me.”

I elevate my chin. “No, I won’t. Hunter will get me out of here.”

A dark laugh echoes from his lips. “Tell me, Evalee, who is the one person who knew where your sister’s body was kept?”

“Evan didn’t do this,” I reply without missing a beat. “Besides, his magic doesn’t leave silvery residue.”

His brow meticulously rises to his hairline. “So, he hasn’t been hanging out at The Illuminating Horror House of Truth?”

“I …” My arms hang limply at my side as I realize that both my sister and Hunter have been to The Illuminating Horror House of Truth, and Hunter never told me why.

“Trust no one,” the demon singsongs as he plops down on the floor.

I try not to listen to him, but my gaze roams over my shoulder to where Hunter stands, watching me.

“We’re going to get you out of there,” he promises, his intense gaze boring into mine.

I nod, wanting to believe him, yet a speck of doubt weighs on the back of my mind.

No, Evalee, don’t go there! You know Hunter better than anyone.

Don’t you?

I start to nod to answer my own thoughts when every single one of my muscles lock up, and I fall to the floor like a bag of bricks.

The demon bursts into a fit of laughter, clutching his side. “Oh, this is classic. Not only are you stuck in here with me, but it looks like you may have gotten hit with a petrifying curse.”

Fear pulsates through me as the demon from the park’s words echo through my head. Although, the delayed effects can be petrifyingly intense.

Petrified to death, just like my sister.

The demon collects himself, resting back on his hands. “Don’t worry; a hybrid can’t die from a demon curse.”

I want to argue with him that I can’t be a hybrid—that I’m too powerless to have demon blood inside me—but the longer I lie on the floor, motionless yet alive, the more I’m forced to face the truth.

I could quite possibly have demon blood in me.

No wonder I’m such a freak.

If that’s true, if I am a hybrid, then my parents lied to me since neither of them are demons. Or maybe they lied to me and they aren’t even my parents! They’ve never seemed like liars, though. Yet, this does make me wonder.

I swallow hard as the brutal truth throat punches me.

My entire life may be a lie.

And I’m even more different than I ever could have imagined.