Hunter

by Kym Grosso

  “What happened with the demon?” Hunter asked, his eyes transfixed on hers. Although his tone carried a lilt of understanding, his face remained deadpan.

  “Magick is drawn from the Goddess yet the dark forces call to us when we need assistance. It’s our job as witches to only give the demon enough, a favor, a wish, that causes no direct harm to the soul. In the end, the demons use those favors to lure souls, torture them in some cases. The favor may lie in wait for years, but it is always owed.”

  “Did you stop to think why it’s not okay to torture or lure another soul?” Hunter asked.

  “It’s not my place to ask when I’m seeking dark magick. All things have balance. Light to dark. Sweet to sour. Good to evil. Demons punish the innocent as well, not just the guilty. I’m not saying they are benevolent because clearly that is not the case nor is it their purpose.”

  “Purpose? Evil has no purpose,” Willa challenged.

  “It’s not as clear cut as everyone would like to make it seem. Even within the wolves, beast and humanity war with each other. Ironically neither is all good or bad. Wolves. They hunt. They kill. They establish dominance. Humans do far worse. Through free will they choose good or evil. For witches, it’s in our nature to use the magick we are given. It’s as natural as breathing. While I could argue what I did was for good, that perhaps he’d been meant for me, I admit I was lost in a fantasy.”

  “What happened?” Viktor asked, running his fingers through his now tousled hair.

  “I needed strong magick. It was a simple favor. I chose a lesser level demon. He said he had the power, could give me the kind of magick I needed. You see, not all can leave the underworld. Many can’t. But this demon…he misrepresented himself. It draws its power from its master. It does what it wants.”

  “The time Jake found you in the woods in New York…” Hunter began but she interrupted.

  “I’d fulfilled my debt. I’d escaped with a mere loss of my magick, but my sense of self, my soul had been damaged. Zella was merely a shell, an alternative reality in itself. But its master found me in the coven and took me back. The screams of an ancient witch was the debt to be paid. And as you know…” her focus drifted to Viktor, “scream I did.”

  “It’s one thing we have in common,” the vampire told her. “I tried not to hurt you, but I wasn’t the only one.”

  “You didn’t hurt me. And because of that,” Ilsbeth turned to Willa, “I was able to save the wolf.”

  “You don’t even know me,” Willa said in disbelief.

  “I certainly know of the royal family.”

  “But…”

  “Princess Aline Ermenjarta Lobo. Brother Julian. Or should I say Prince Joao Pedro Lobo.”

  “How do you…” Willa sucked a deep breath as though she’d been punched in the stomach. “Who told you? The demons?”

  “I’m nearly as old as time itself. I know many things. I won’t allow Hell to destroy a legacy. I may be many things, but I will not stand by while they deliberately try to erase the history of a species.”

  “You foretold your escape from Hell?” Hunter raised a suspicious eyebrow at her.

  “If I did, it’s neither here nor there.”

  “You knew I was coming for her?” The Alpha inquired.

  “I suspected someone would come for the vampire. Quintus would never stand by and let him rot forever.” Ilsbeth shrugged in indifference. “It doesn’t matter where the truth lies. Either way, I chose to save her.”

  Hunter leaned back onto the sofa. Willa sensed his frustration but grew increasingly intrigued by the witch.

  “Wolves took me,” Willa stated, her voice steady. “I think there were six of them.”

  “Six born on the sixth day in the sixth month in a year of the sixth. They are the other.”

  “What?” Willa asked, an impending sense of doom settling in her stomach.

  “Six. Six. Six. The number of the beast. For not all wolves were created to roam in the sun, to do good, to run and celebrate the full moon. They sought to bring you, a legacy of the royal family, as a prize. And they were paid for their deeds. Perhaps money. Possibly drugs. And so, you see,” Ilsbeth paused, looking to Hunter then back to Willa, “a due is owed. Something must be given, or the wolves will die and be dragged back to Hell. And even if it kills the wolves who took you, the debt is not fully paid.”

  “So what? I just wait for them to come get me? Or this demon…whatever it is, comes for me?”

  “My intuition tells me that if it truly wanted you dead, you would have suffered an eternal death. These wolves. They will come for you. Together. They seek to give you back before they are each killed.”

  “Can’t I just hide out until they are all dead?”

  “I don’t believe it works that way. Hell has already had a taste of torturing you. It will seek an offering no matter what their outcome.”

  “An offering? An offering of what?” Hunter asked.

  “Or who?” Viktor added.

  “I have a suggestion,” she said. “It’s a bit of both.”

  “We can’t sacrifice anyone. I won’t do it,” Willa protested.

  “This isn’t my first, what I’d like to call misunderstanding with a demon.” Ilsbeth stood and walked to the corner of the room. She retrieved a bottle of cognac off a shelf and carefully set four snifters onto the granite bar. She unwrapped the foil off its top, continuing to speak as she poured it. “My nerves. I’m not quite myself yet, I’m afraid. They did unspeakable things. I…” She sighed. “Perhaps it was penance for what happened with Dimitri. And although I now walk the earth, the wolves, others, they judge my actions. They all know I’m too powerful to kill. And this place I’m in now,” Ilsbeth lifted a glass, her hands trembling as she brought the rim to her lips, sipping at the golden-brown liquor, “we’re in Louisiana. I cannot go into New Orleans for quite a long while. I’m safer than I’d be in the city but not truly safe. You had no permission to take me from Hell. I had no permission to leave. So, I, too, would like to make an offering.”

  Hunter pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers. “What kind of offering would possibly suffice?”

  “I’d like to make a proposal.” Ilsbeth crossed the room and handed them each a snifter. “And before you ask, it’s just cognac. No spells. No poison.”

  Willa cupped the snifter, warming the glass with her hands. She kept her eyes on Ilsbeth as she once again sat down to join them.

  “I have an impressive library. Research on creatures. Data collection dating back a couple of thousand years. I believe there is an artifact, that in this particular instance, will sate the demon. The wolves though…they must be killed.”

  “Consider it done,” Hunter assured her.

  “The reason you are no longer with your parents. The battle that led to your exile. There was a King and Queen. At first when they mated, they were in love. The Queen, while a wolf, practiced the craft, exploring the hellfire in her veins.”

  Willa said nothing, recalling her new power she’d used to move the brush with her mind.

  “The King. He enjoyed the temptations of the flesh.”

  “As men should,” Viktor quipped.

  “Outside of the approval of his mate. She was unhappy. Unloved. But the bonds of the mate are strong. Too strong to break with witchcraft alone. She called on the Alpha of the wolves of six to kill the King using demon magick. They killed him. Then they skinned him and with the very skin of the King, the Queen created a book.”

  “A skin book?” Willa’s nose crinkled in disgust.

  “He dipped his pen in the ink of too many wells and got himself turned into a damn book? That seems a bit drastic,” Viktor laughed.

  “While humans date the practice to the sixteenth century, it’s actually much older. Unusual but what better way to capture the essence of a human or creature?” Ilsbeth answered directly.

  “What’s in it for you? Because I know there’s always something in it for you.” The Alpha p
laced his palm on the arm of the sofa, shaking his head.

  “I see this as a way to appease the demons.”

  “What else?” Hunter pressed.

  “Spells. The Queen. Supposedly an ancient. She wrote spells. I’m a collector. If I can touch the book, I can absorb them. But the book must be delivered to the demon.”

  “What’s the catch?” Hunter asked.

  “There is no catch. But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy to get it. It’s hidden. If you can find the book, and that’s if, we will have to summon the demon and then banish it back to Hell.”

  “We can’t just kill it?” Viktor asked.

  “No. It’s a higher-level demon. Destroying it, at least at this point, while I’m weak, it’s simply not an option. I believe if we offer the book ourselves, he’s likely to go back to Hell. If this is to be done, we shall do it together. But we must kill the wolves. We can’t allow them to get it.”

  “I killed one of them on my territory already. Five to go. They’ll either be looking for her in Guatemala, where they found her, or here in New Orleans.”

  “New Orleans?” Ilsbeth asked, a lilt in her voice.

  “Kellen. The fae. He’s the one who helped them find her in the first place. He came snoopin’ round my territory and I kicked his ass back into the fire. My guess is that he’s not going to be hangin’ out in that bar on Frenchman anytime soon.”

  “Kellen’s a slippery one but I haven’t met a fae I can’t handle. If you get me the book, I’ll capture the fae. He owes me several debts and it’s not in his nature to settle.”

  “You wouldn’t happen to know where we can find this book?” Viktor asked.

  “So, you agree to go get it?” Ilsbeth pressed.

  “I’ll do it,” Willa blurted without hesitation. There was no other choice.

  The High Priestess smiled, pleased with her enthusiasm. “And this is why royal blood is important. An Alpha to match an Alpha.”

  “Please don’t tell me it’s in Hell or someplace shitty.” Hunter plowed his fingers through his hair.

  “It’s in a cave,” Ilsbeth told him. “It’s in another country.”

  “What the hell. I need a vacation. Maybe I’ll hit Hawaii on the way back,” Viktor joked.

  “In Central America,” she clarified.

  “Please don’t say the jungle,” Hunter replied.

  “Hey, I’m with him. We were just there and let’s just say it was a shit show and leave it at that. You see Julian here? Yeah, no. Ya don’t,” Viktor said.

  “We’ll discuss him in a minute,” Ilsbeth replied.

  “Do you know where Julian is?” Willa asked, her pulse racing at the sound of his name.

  “In a minute.” Ilsbeth’s tone was firm, her lips drawn in a tight line. “First, the skin book. And no. Not a jungle. A cave.”

  “Awesome. A cave. Nothing could possibly go wrong in there.” Hunter gave a cold laugh, shaking his head.

  “I didn’t say it would be easy. The Karst caves. They’re made of limestone. It attracts the paranormal, the otherworldly. Channels the energy. It is believed the wolves who killed the King brought the skin from Brazil to Belize, safeguarding it somewhere within the cave system. I understand human researchers may have found it during the 1970s but were mysteriously killed. It’s theorized it’s hidden within the cave system but to date, no one has claimed its discovery.”

  “The wolves that attacked me. Why don’t they know where it’s at?” Willa asked.

  “Because they killed the Alpha, never knowing its location. I’ve heard the folklore for years, but I’ve never needed the artifact for this purpose. Of course, I’d love to gain its magick but as I’ve said, it’s not going to be easy to locate it. It’s my suspicion that your shared hellfire might lead you to it. You must concentrate as you search, sensing it, without seeing.”

  “Cave systems are extensive. We’re going to need at least a target of where to start searching,” Hunter insisted.

  “It could be dangerous. Demons. Wolves. They will sense Willa as soon as she leaves my property. They could follow you. You must get it and then come back as soon as possible. We’ll summon the demon under the light of the full moon. The wolves will have to be dealt with properly.”

  “We’ll get in and out of Belize and back here with the book. Don’t worry about the wolves. They’re as good as dead.” The Alpha pinned her with a hard stare. “What’s going on tonight, Ilsbeth? You wouldn’t happen to be summoning another demon? I can’t help but notice you have several witches on the property.”

  “Hot witches.” Viktor smiled and winked at Willa. “Naked witches. The best kind.”

  “Focus, vampire,” Hunter snapped.

  “I’m not wrong.” Viktor laughed with a shrug. “Just sayin’.”

  “These women are the outliers. The solo practitioners who have no tribe. The ones that add value will stay to help conjure the demon. The others must go. I cannot risk drawing the ire of the coven if one is killed. No. I won’t risk it.”

  “I can’t believe this is happening,” Willa said, her voice trailed with anger. “I want to kill these wolves myself. This is why you don’t get involved with demons.”

  “Sometimes one has no choice,” Ilsbeth told her.

  “My brother. Where is he?” Willa changed the subject back to Julian.

  “You went to Guatemala. Tell me what happened in the jungle.”

  Guilt flooded Willa. “There’s a plant I found in the jungle. It grew inside an ancient building in a hidden Mayan city. The structure was once used for healing. I was destroying the formula I’d created…burning it…I don’t know how the demons knew I was there. My guess is between Julian and I they sensed our energy.”

  “You spilled your blood for this formula you speak of?” Ilsbeth gave a closed knowing smile.

  “Yes. And before you say it, I know it wasn’t a good idea. My blood alone doesn’t heal humans or anyone else. But combined with this plant I found, I cured a girl. A human.”

  “We aren’t meant to intervene,” Ilsbeth said.

  Viktor rubbed his forehead. “It’s true we turn humans but it’s rare. Like really rare.”

  “I know but…” Willa had grown far too attached to the humans to let one die. Yet it was the very action of saving one that had put them all in danger.

  “The Goddess gifts all supernaturals. You run with the animals. Witches possess magick. Vampires? Their blood can heal humans should they choose. If the demons got into the structure, my intuition tells me the plant holds a tie to Hell. And while I’d normally ask to have a leaf for my collection, now is not the time. They’re still after me.”

  Although Willa knew a plant grew outside the ruins, still living within the rainforest, she deliberately kept silent. The specimen she’d attempted to take with her was destroyed as she’d left the tunnel. Her hands trembled, her heart heavy with guilt. “Julian. I can’t feel him but something…I don’t know why…I have to believe he’s alive.”

  “There may be a good reason why he hasn’t contacted you. Perhaps they’re on his tail and he doesn’t want to lead them back to you. Or the wolves are involved. Either way, now is not the time to look for your brother,” Ilsbeth told her.

  “We need to go get the book,” Hunter began.

  “Once you bring it to me, we can safely summon the demon. Make the exchange,” she suggested.

  Viktor stood and walked toward the windows, gazing toward the dancing witches. “You think you can help with narrowing down the exact cave?”

  “I can do more than that. I have the knife that is supposedly tied to the skin book. Before you ask, it was given to me years ago by a wolf in exchange for a favor. She’d supposedly inherited it but who am I to ask? None of my business really, but I’m certain she was truthful. I had always intended to use the blade for a spell. It should lead you to the skin book, from the soul from whence it came. I will direct it and you, dear Viktor, can use it to guide them.”

&
nbsp; “I’m not sure I can handle another flash thing. The last time…” Willa blew out a breath.

  “We can take a private jet. Four hours, tops. We can be back by tomorrow night.” Hunter pulled out his cell phone and tapped at the glass.

  “Are you sure this is going to work? This skin book?” Willa stared at the witch, doubting her intentions.

  “I sense your hesitation.” Ilsbeth brought the rim of the glass to her lips and took a small sip, her gaze settling on Willa. “There are no rules when it comes to demons.”

  “The plane will be ready to roll this afternoon. We can get down there before sunset. We’ll be back tomorrow night, but it could be late,” Hunter warned.

  “The witching hour. It’s almost daybreak as we speak. May I suggest you stay here until you leave? The demons…they search for you. My home is protected.”

  “No offense, Priestess, but that would be a hard no from me. I’m good.” Viktor turned to face her, a smirk turning upward on his lips.

  “Yeah. No. We’ll go back to my place and take our chances with my wards,” Hunter agreed.

  Panic curled inside of Willa’s chest. “We have to be realistic. They could come after us anywhere. And Julian’s still missing.”

  “Willa, look at me,” the witch demanded.

  As she gazed into Ilsbeth’s violet eyes, everything around her faded, a silver glow surrounding the otherworldly witch.

  “The skin book is the only way I can think of to sate the demon. I cannot guarantee it will work. I can’t even say that finding the book will be easy. Or safe. I swear to you on the Goddess that I will help you, but a wolf, a royal wolf in particular, is the only one who can take the book from the caves. It will not release itself to any others. I suspect the researchers who claimed to have found it were killed by a curse, although I can’t be certain.” Ilsbeth drew a deep breath and released it, her eyes transfixed on Willa’s. “I know the Alpha does not trust me. Nor the vampire. And perhaps with good reason. I want the spells. But I assure you that I have no other motivation at this point beyond my own salvation and redemption. I will not go back to Hell. And neither will you.”

  Tears welled in Willa’s eyes, her thoughts drifting back to Julian.