Paige nearly jumped out of her skin as she spun toward the open door of her room. “Bal, it’s good to see you, too.”
He sighed and leaned against the door. He looked a lot better than he had the last time she’d seen him. His face was healed. His violet button-up shirt was immaculately tucked into his grey slacks.
“Aren’t you coming in?”
“No.”
“Okay. Well, at least close the door so Fanny isn’t eavesdropping.” She headed toward the door.
Balnore backed away from her, his hands raised.
“What’s going on?” She stopped as her stomach twisted. Something had been off with him ever since he’d helped extract Lucius.
“We have a problem.”
Paige pursed her lips, trying to buy time. Time for what, she didn’t know. She had a feeling, though, that she wasn’t going to like what he had to say. “Tell me something I didn’t already know.”
“You’re an open wound.”
“You’re looking good too, Bal.” She knew something was wrong. She could feel it in her blood, as if it were boiling in her veins the closer he got to her. But she didn’t want to admit what it could be. She had a guess. A scary one. “Is it your hair? I bet it is. You did something different. No, wait. It’s your face. You did something different with your face.”
“Every time you get close, I am—” He stopped.
She raised her eyebrows. “If you’re trying to tell me you’re secretly attracted to me, let me say that I see you more of a father figure and that’s just gross.”
He winced. “No. I—I’m being sucked into you.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Come again?”
“It’s hard to control. I need to possess you.”
“That’s—” She crossed her arms over her chest and took a step back. “No. That’s gross. You have your own body. Keep it.”
“I know,” he said, his arms open. “That’s what I’m trying to say. Whatever they did to you, it’s working with your gift somehow and it’s . . .” His voice trailed off as he looked away. “You need to stay away from demons. Don’t summon. Don’t banish. Just stay away.”
“I don’t understand. You rode back with us. I was right there in the same car with you. It’s been two days. This is the first time you thought to mention that the demon summoner can’t summon demons?”
“I don’t understand it myself. On the ride back, yes, I was drawn to possess you, but you’d just been exorcised. That’s natural. Of course, no demon would want to be in your body after something like that.”
“Seriously?”
He raised his eyebrows. “But it was better then. I don’t know. You’re—you’re more powerful now.”
“This is great. Just great. I have a town full of demons and no way to send them back.”
Balnore shrugged. “They’re not all demons.”
Paige closed her eyes, knowing where he was going. “How many are angels?”
“About half.”
A black hole of ah-shit entered her stomach. “How did they get through? They can’t use the same door you guys can. They don’t have a direct link to the soul.”
“Some of them do.”
“That’s scary.”
Balnore looked up at the ceiling. “I think some got through when the gate was open.”
“When that scary girl-bitch ghost came through?”
The demon nodded.
“That’s awesome.”
The demon licked his lips and shot her a look of expectation. “We’re going to have to figure something out. It’s my job to protect you and I can’t do that if I have to stay away.”
Yeah. Well, neither could she.
PAIGE KNEW SHE should tell Dexx. She’d just gotten her powers back, and now she was broken? How was it even possible to break a demon summoner?
Somehow, Sven had figured out how.
What was his endgame? Why did he need to break her? What did he intend to do? If he needed her to open the gate, to power the key, to bring demons over, she couldn’t do that if they were all desperate to possess her. That was just . . . dumb.
Or maybe she was looking at it all wrong. Perhaps he simply needed her out of the way.
Out of the way for what?
That question terrified her.
Her phone buzzed on the table. She picked it up. “Whiskey.”
“White. We have a new body.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. You want to come down on your own, or should I send Dexx to come get you?”
“Is he with you?”
“Yeah.”
She didn’t need to know why. She stood and searched for her boots. “I’m on my way. Location?”
“Afton Villa Gardens. Plug that into your phone. I’m sure it’ll come up. If not, call me. I’ll guide you in.”
She knew where the gardens were. All the websites for the area promoted them. She’d decided that if she’d had a spare three minutes, she’d go as a tourist. It appeared someone had been listening to her. Why not leave a body at the garden?
Grabbing her keys, she hurried out the door and down the stairs. The gardens were a short drive along the highway past the Metley Plantation. She pulled off the paved road and passed through the metal and stone gate. Old oaks studded either side, Spanish moss dangling from the branches. The driveway continued for another half mile or so, then spilled out into a courtyard of sorts with four statues of what might have been Greek gods or something. Two males. Two females.
Amazing how women of that era were strong and revered enough to have statues made of them.
She parked behind Jackie and two other unmarked cars, and followed the sounds of talking. Past the statues stood the jagged remains of the villa the gardens had been named after. She couldn’t recall more than that.
Dexx looked up and broke away from the group of cops. “Have a hard time finding this place?”
“Nope. What do we have?”
He raised his eyebrows. “A new body.”
“Any clues left around the body?”
He shook his head and led the way around the cops, behind one of the crumbling walls. Pulling back several branches of a trailing vine, he revealed the victim.
A bright haze blinded her. She stooped to see under his arm. Symbols or lettering flowed in a burning fire, moving like fast-flowing lava. There wasn’t a single symbol she recognized, but words entered her mind in her own voice.
Somewhere I have never traveled, gladly beyond any experience, your eyes have their silence: in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me, or which I cannot touch because they are too near.
E. E. Cummings? Why would she know that? She’d never been a fan of poetry.
The fiery letters shifted, changed, morphing again, her own voice translating the words flowing along the body.
One day, you will understand. We complete one another. You will be mine and I will be yours.
Until that day, Paige, be well. I will protect you as only I can.
Paige took in a sharp breath. What . . . the fuck?
Dexx turned toward her and in that moment, she realized he’d been talking to her.
He narrowed his eyes at her. “What just happened there?”
She stared at the body, but it was now only a body. No writing. No words. Her internal voice remained quiet. “Nothing?”
“Liar. What happened?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Me. Right.”
She closed her eyes for a brief moment, then reopened them, studying the body. Male. Mid-thirties maybe. Good looking. Clothes in good condition. “There was a message for me.”
Dexx’s eyebrows shot up.
“Did you see anything?”
“Just now?”
She nodded.
“No. I saw nothing.”
“How’d we discover this one?”
“Grounds keeper called it in.”
She blinked and raised her
face to the brilliant blue sky. What was going on here?
“What did you see? What was the message? Wait. What kind of message? Magickal? Demony?”
She nodded again.
“Which question are you answering?”
“The last one. Or two. I don’t remember. I saw letters, the kind I’ve never seen before. Then, something in my head translated them. I don’t know how. Maybe they were in the language of demons? Perhaps that’s something I can read? I don’t know.”
“And the note said?”
She ducked her head and looked at him through her eyelashes. “It was a love letter. He started off with poetry. All I remember is that it was E.E. Cummings, but now I don’t even recall how I remember that. I’m not a fan of poetry anyway, and that one’s not ringing any bells for me.”
Dexx dropped the foliage and crossed his arms over his chest. “Poetry.”
“And then he went on to say that I’d understand one day. That he and I were meant to be together, and that he’d protect me as only he could.”
“Bullshit.”
She shrugged.
He pulled the vines away again. They drooped in place. “Is the note still there?”
She shook her head.
“Maybe we can get some trace evidence off the body.”
“It was magickal, Dexx. There won’t be any trace evidence.”
He dropped his chin to his chest. “What’s going on here?”
Paige knelt, reviewing the scene in more detail.
The victim’s abdomen split open and a swarm of dazzlingly blue swallowtail butterflies shot into the air.
Dexx reeled out of the way, shielding his face.
Paige reached out with one hand, feeling with her gift to see if she could find some clue, some reason as to why this man had been chosen to carry the message.
For you.
The fiery letters disappeared from the man’s chest before she’d had a chance to do more than note their existence.
A branch broke directly behind her.
Paige spun and swung.
Agent Scott parried her attacks and took a step back. “What happened?”
Dexx walked into Paige’s line of sight and studied her. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’ll repeat,” Scott said. “What happened?”
Dexx paced away two steps, turned, his fingers interlaced on his head, and paced back. “Sven, the murdering scum we can’t seem to catch, is leaving her love notes.”
Scott blinked. “Where?”
“On the body.”
“Evidence?”
“Magick.”
Scott licked his lips and glanced at the body behind Paige. “What kind of love note?”
“Poetry.” Dexx threw his arms down. “Pea, come on. We have got to get you out of here.”
She was ready. Good grief, she was ready, but she couldn’t. “Not without the key.”
“Right. What are you going to do with that?”
“Keep it safe. I have to.”
“How?”
Frustration ripped through her. “I don’t know, but I’ll find a way. I always do.”
“No, you don’t!” Dexx spun, rubbing his eyes with one hand. He turned back to her. “No. You don’t. You’re over your head.”
“Do you have enough to summon him?” Scott asked. “Even if you didn’t have his true name, if he’s leaving you love notes, wouldn’t that mean he wants to come?”
“Interesting concept,” Paige said, dread filling her chest. “Except I can’t summon.”
Dexx frowned at her. “What do you mean?”
“I saw you summon yesterday,” Scott said. “You seemed to do it quite well.”
“You’re right. I’m fine.” She placed her fingertips on the scar on her chest. “I’m open to possession. As soon as a demon comes close, he possesses me.”
“But—” Dexx shook his head. “No. You were in the car with Lucius and Balnore. Neither of them possessed me.”
“Apparently, I’m getting stronger and so is the need to take over my body.”
“This doesn’t make sense.”
“No,” Paige agreed. “But it doesn’t matter. Sven needed Lucius. I brought Lucius back. We need to talk to Lucius and see what happened two hundred years ago.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, they disappeared at the same time. We may have figured out where this plan hatched from. Where’s Lucius?”
Scott pursed his lips.
Dexx shoved his hands in his pockets. “In a demon trap in jail.”
Paige pressed her thumb to the side of her nose and closed her eyes for a second. “Great. It means he’s protected. Let’s go. I have some questions to ask.”
DEXX HADN’T BEEN kidding. Lucius sat in a jail cell with a demon trap surrounding him on the floor, on the ceiling. Demon traps littered the bars.
Paige released a breath, but didn’t enter. “Do you feel the need to possess me?”
He raised his bald, tattooed head. “No.”
“Why not?”
“It’s likely because I’m a bit different than the rest, love. I take it someone’s had the talk with you, told you what happened?”
Dexx blinked, his chin jutted. “Why not Lucius?”
“Does it matter?”
“If we’re going to figure out how our new world works? Yes. Now, talk. Luce, why not you?”
The demon lifted one shoulder. “Because I’m not like the rest? How would I know?”
“Do you know anything about why my globe’s not working?”
“The summoner’s sphere, you mean?” He leaned against the gray-painted CMU wall, his hand splayed on his legs. “Probably for the same reason you can’t control the demons, why they want to possess you.”
Paige fingered the scar on her chest.
“Yup. That right there, love. It’s all it takes.”
“It’s a scar.”
“That goes straight to the bone. I don’t know what the plan here is, but you seriously need to get out of here.”
“Before what?”
“Before another demon, not nearly as nice as I was, takes over your body and uses that gift of yours.”
“To what?”
“To summon demons? What are you? A freakin’ genius? Come on now. I didn’t scramble your mind that much.”
“No. I mean why? Why summon them? What do they gain? What does Sven gain?”
Lucius pursed his lips, his black gaze unfocused.
“What happened two hundred years ago? How did you both disappear?”
“I don’t remember much.” He winced.
Maybe it was the wince, or maybe it was the pained expression that followed. She didn’t believe him. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing. It’s none of your business.”
“Will it help me keep the gate closed?”
“You don’t have to worry about that. It’s my charge to keep it closed. You can kick up your feet, love. I’m here now.”
“And you’re capable of doing that this time?”
“Now that I have my own body? Sure. Locked and cinched.”
She didn’t believe that either. “How’d they get the drop on you the last time?”
“The witch used earth magick. Won’t be able to hold me this time. Trust me, love. I have this handled.”
“Really? Dexx, who isn’t a witch, isn’t a sorcerer, nothing. He was able to trap you using earth magick. So what’s keeping you from being bound this time?”
Lucius let out a long breath, then stood. Between one blink and the next, he’d left his cell and stood beside her.
Paige frowned at the traps laid in the cell.
Dexx jerked in surprise. “How’d you get out?”
“Like I said, love,” Lucius murmured in her ear, “I won’t be held by your earthen magick again.”
“How?” she asked in a mere whisper.
“
You gave me your magicks, showed me how they worked when you gave me a body. This isn’t a vessel. This is a body you created using the power of the earth, the wind, the water, the bloody fire. You did this, infused me with it. Sven doesn’t stand a chance.”
“And you stayed in the cell of your own volition? Why?”
“To see the look on his face.” The tattooed demon grinned. “Really, it was worth it.”
Paige took a step toward the bars, peering inside. “What happened two hundred years ago?”
“Asking the same question won’t brook a different response. I said it wasn’t your business and I meant that. Sincerely. Now, then, if you don’t mind, I have places to be.”
“Lucius.” She empowered his name with her will. “You will stay.”
He swiped his hand, clearing the air. “No. Actually, I won’t. You see, it’s not only the fact you’re broken. You’d probably be able to control other demons. But me?” He shook his head. “Not me. You created me with your will. I am you.”
With her gifts? What had she done when she’d released him from her body? How had she managed it?
“I don’t know how, and no, I don’t have your gifts.”
“How did you know what I was thinking?”
“Because, love, you were thinking with your face. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I really do have to be off.” He headed down the hall.
“Where are you going?”
“To find my brethren. I need to know where they hide. They were not destroyed, for if they were, they would be reborn.”
“Lucius!”
He disappeared in a cloud of shadow smoke.
Dexx pursed his lips, pointing his finger in the direction the demon had disappeared to. “What just happened?”
“I’m losing my touch.” She spun on her heel and walked into the main room of the precinct. Maneuvering around desks, she entered the conference room. Low book shelves and file cabinets cluttered the space, leaving little room for the long table and hard-backed chairs.
Special Agent Scott stared at the whiteboard, reviewing a few of his notes. He looked up, his thumbnail between his teeth. “What did you find out?”
“Nothing.” Paige perched on the end of the table. “Not a damn thing. Except that he doesn’t follow my command.”
“Why not?”
“He’s a different kind of demon?”
“Are you sure?”
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