by Zoe Parker
What kind of person has that kind of patience?
He’s also specifically targeted her. There was a bug in her room, which shows they can get to her here. They knew she had a security detail, meaning they’re watching her. She has no idea how much they’ve heard Devil and her talking about this case or others. The only reason she didn’t mention it to Voss is that she’s aware that smelling like sin eater or not, Voss could’ve planted it.
She’s not dumb enough to completely trust him on any front. He’s often nice, even sweet at times, but he’s still the Alpha Supreme and didn’t get that position by playing fair. He fought and killed his way to the top, and a man like that has no issues lying to a woman. What’s that sin compared to everything else?
Especially a woman who he considers gullible. Whether she likes admitting it or not, she still is. Perhaps not as much as she was, even a scant month ago, but she won’t always be suspicious and will end up misjudging someone or their actions because of it. This total honesty with herself is harsh but necessary. A concession and something she accepts because she wants to be a different person in some ways. Stronger, more independent, less gullible. She doesn’t want to lose everything about herself, but some things definitely need changing.
Being honest with one’s self is the only way to grow as a person, and Sora wants to grow.
“We definitely need Voss’s connections to dig through all of this. I’m guessing you’re going to talk to Hank tomorrow?” She looks at the time and debates on calling him now. The sooner he knows, the sooner things can get rolling. After debating a second, she calls him. It goes straight to voicemail. She leaves him a message that she has some information and it’s important they talk about it. Automatically she calls Voss next.
His goes to voicemail too. She leaves him a quick message and hangs up and tosses her phone on the bed. “Neither one of them picked up. We’ll have to go over it in the morning.”
“You don’t sound thrilled about it.” Devil thumps down in her lap. “All those cop shows I watch, and they get in the same position all the time. Usually, they run off and do something stupid, but you’re not going to do that, are you?”
She holds his gaze and smiles. She considered it for a millisecond but trashed the idea.
“No, Devil. I’m not going to go get myself killed,” she reassures him.
“Good that your common sense is doing its job. Sometimes I have to wonder.” She rolls her eyes at him.
“I think you’re the last person who should lecture me on common sense.” He smiles and raises his eyebrow in his version of a shrug. “I’m going to get some sleep. Otherwise, I’ll be doing this all night, and I don’t think I’ll find any more answers alone.”
“It’s pretty amazing, you know.”
“What’s that?” She puts him on the pillow next to her and burritos herself in the blankets.
“That you’ve figured all this shit out when others couldn’t. You should be proud of yourself.” She smiles sleepily, taking the compliment for what it is.
“Love you, Devil,” she whispers as her eyes close. She didn’t realize how sleepy she was until she laid down.
“Love you too, brat,” filters in through her ears as sleep takes her.
Chapter Eleven
Hank is in the office when she gets there the next morning. She bypasses her desk and goes straight to his office to dump the file and her notes in front of him. Stabbing her finger down on the paper, she says, “This is a list of payments made by several companies–one of which is Dirt Eaters, which I’ll explain later, that I think are the sin eaters we’re looking for.”
“Where did you get this?” Hank demands, grabbing a paper off a stack and quickly scanning it.
“An acquaintance provided it who deals with shady stuff.” Hank looks up at her, frowning.
“You have a criminal informant?” he demands.
She shrugs. “Technically, I guess?” He gives her a look that says this conversation isn’t finished and goes back to the file. “I don’t have any way to look these people up other than cursory web search and social media. I figured you and Voss could handle that part of it.”
“Why didn’t you call me?” he asks, setting the papers down and picking up his phone.
“I did, actually, but it went to voicemail. Tried Voss too, but he didn’t answer either,” she explains.
He shifts in his chair, pulling at the knot of his tie with a finger. “I’m sorry I was otherwise engaged.”
“Hank was on a booty call!” Devil announces proudly. When Hank’s cheeks redden, Sora bites her lip to keep a smile off her face.
“This is good work. We can start hunting these names down today. I’ll try Voss again and see if we can get his help on it. He has resources that can find out things I can’t, no matter how good I am.” He texts someone while talking, and Sora assumes it’s Voss.
“Here are my notes. I was able to match a few together and determine that everything started around the same time on the same day.” He takes her notes and reads them.
“I had no idea this was so big. Up until recently I thought it was one killer, let alone two… and then potentially a dozen or more. The scale of this is way out of our league… good job.” Taking the cue to leave when he goes back to the files, she finally starts her day the normal way. Coffee and tea, checking emails, voice messages. Sending off appointments or results. All the boring things that make up her job and are easy to do while distracted. Her phone beeps, and she looks down to see a message from Voss.
Be there soon. Bringing lunch.
She smiles despite herself. He has good taste in food, and this means they can make some true headway on the file. Voss has connections everywhere, with everyone. It’ll probably be a long evening too. It satisfies that stupid little piece of her that wants to be around Voss. She gets his company, supervised, and completely platonic. Stress-free.
When Voss arrives less than an hour later with seafood from one of the high-end restaurants in town, she and Devil follow him and the tantalizing bags of food into Hank's office, which also now sports a small conference table.
After some generic greetings and everyone eating with gusto, including Devil noisily sucking oysters down like a vacuum, they get to work.
“There’s a multitude of companies making the payments to these people, but one pops up more than the others. A cleaning company called Dirt Eaters,” she explains, sipping her tea.
“What makes this company stand out to you besides the commonality?” Voss asks, picking up on her focus.
“Dirt eaters is an old school insult for sin eaters. It’s not used much anymore, and most of the people who did use it are the old-timers. I think that this is the original one. If you look at the payments from the first stack of papers, that company was the first one to send them a payment.” She points at the stack to Hank’s left. “This is the extent of what I was able to find out, the rest I leave to the two of you.”
“I’ll make a few calls and see if I can get some more information,” Voss says, leaving the room to have privacy to talk.
“I know a few people who work in the financial sector. With their help, we might be able to trace these back to a source.” He goes to his desk and starts making phone calls.
Sora is left to her own devices and goes to get her own work finished. The phone has been ringing nonstop, and there are several voice messages that need her attention. It’s an easy part of the job, and she manages to effortlessly work through the rest of her to-do list for the day.
When she looks up, finally finished, she discovers Voss sitting in one of the guest chairs, watching her. She was so lost in her work that even her Voss-radar didn’t ping. It’s a strange kind of relief to know that she can function with him around. There was a little worry that his presence was turning her into a walking vagina.
“Yes?” she asks, filing the last of her paperwork and stretching.
“You’re a good worker. You stay focused even w
hen your eyes have a faraway look in them. It was interesting to watch,” he observes.
“Thanks… I guess?” She stands. “You get any information?”
“For Dirt Eaters, I managed to track down three addresses. Given the press for time and the risk that they’re already wrapping up shop, we can split up and see if there’s any activity at any of the addresses.” He leans forward with his eyes steady on her. “That means stay outside, stay hidden, and at the most take pictures with your phone, Sora.”
“I can’t believe I’m about to say this, and you should probably write it down because it won’t happen often–but I agree with him,” Devil says, giving Sora a frown.
“Why does everyone assume I’ll run in guns blazing?” She was considering doing a little more in-depth snooping but not actually going in the place.
“You went to a café alone to meet a murderer,” Voss says deadpan.
“One mom is enough, thanks. I don’t need three,” she says, giving Devil a dirty look. “Besides, I learned my lesson about that.” Scared herself, too.
“What lesson would that be?” Devil says it with such snark she turns a burning look on him.
“Your point is made, Devil. Don’t push it,” she answers, annoyed. Trying to show her displeasure with her eyes and not the grimace of a smile on her face. Devil gets the hint and shrugs at her, not one bit apologetic.
“You were gullible to go alone,” Voss says with a smirk.
She turns her laser beams on Voss. “I said I learned my lesson. So, fuck off.” Voss laughs and holds his hands up in a sign of peace.
“Calm down, little demon.” His attempt at a pet name sucks, and she tells him so.
“Couldn’t you be like every other loser and call me baby or something?” She realizes her mistake the minute the words are out of her mouth.
“You want me to call you baby?” he relaxes against the back of the chair and gives her a smile full of sexy.
“About as much as I like polka music–which isn’t at all,” Devil says, floating in between them like an annoying fly. Or a lifesaver. It could go either way at this point.
“Can you just give me the address?” Voss studies her a moment and then does something on his phone. There’s a beep, and she glances at her phone. Grabbing her jacket, she gives Voss one last dirty look and leaves.
“You should let me drive. We’ll get there faster,” Devil says in the elevator, his attempt to try and un-piss her off.
“You don’t have legs.”
“Since when has that ever stopped me from doing anything?” She gives him a one shoulder shrug, and when they get to the car, Sora gets in the driver’s side, pointedly ignoring his puppy dog look. Grumbling, he gets in his car seat, and they leave.
“This looks like it’s in the old warehouse district. It’s pretty out of the way for a business office,” she muses as they turn into said district.
“Did you know that Voss increased your security detail for this little trip?” he asks. She flicks a look in the rearview mirror at the car full of shifters behind her.
“I’m aware.”
They pull into the address listed and she puts the car into park, leaving it running. There’s not a single car in the large overgrown parking lot or a light on in the building. The large double doors are hanging open, and there’s also no sign of movement or inhabitation at all.
“This one looks like it might be a false lead.” Sora can see the ward around the place, but it’s dim, dying. Someone hasn’t refreshed it in a long time and within days, it’ll fade entirely.
“It does look empty. This reminds me of the beginning of a cheesy horror movie,” Devil says, unbuckling from his car seat and waiting for her to get out of the car.
“I doubt there’s anything scarier than a flaming skull that talks in there.” Her joke is an old one, but Devil still smiles at it. When she was a kid, she used him to scare the asshole kids picking on her. He enjoyed it.
“Those were the good ol' days.”
“Do you think we should go inside?” Devil gives her a look. “What? If there’s no one in there, what’s the harm?” His eyes brighten. “I’m armed, and we have an entire pack of shifters with us,” she reassures him. She’s worked hard to be able to defend herself and him doubting her stings a bit. No, she doesn’t have the experience of raw strength like Voss, but she’s not a complete pushover either, and she’s not going into this expecting someone to play nice either.
“This is so stupid,” he mutters. “Fine, but only because you have like twenty bodyguards with you.” She almost hugs him.
They silently make their way towards the building, the guards behind her shadowing her every move. At the door, she pauses and listens for any noises or signs of life. Hearing none, she starts to go in, but Devil pushes past her. She follows and finds a surprise.
The inside of the building is clean, and the presence of metal bunk beds in the corner and a small kitchen demonstrates that people have been living here. There are dirty dishes in the sink, and none of the beds are made. Clothes are hanging on a drying rack nearest the biggest window, and the air is filled with the stale smell of old food.
It hasn’t been empty long.
Bolstered by the presence of her companions outside, she walks further into the large space, pausing near the kitchen to look closer. The pot on the stove lightly clatters, and she turns towards it, a knife already in her hand and her arm lit up like a beacon. It turns out to be boiling water and sends alarm down her spine.
Outside there’s a sound of a wounded animal, and she turns to make her way back out the doors to see what’s going on. She knows a shifter in pain when she hears one. It’s not safe here anymore.
“Trouble, Sora!” Devil yells, growling as his magic ignites.
A glowing yellow net slams into him, taking him to the ground. Instead of going out the door, she runs to Devil. Grabbing the net, she hisses when it burns her fingers and then allows her own magic to coat her arm. It’s made from sorcerer magic and woven in it are spells against magical constructs, which is exactly what a guardian is. Only a sin eater would know, and that means there’s one here.
She looks around as she pulls at the net, disentangling it from Devil, who’s already melting through it. There are two unknown men moving towards her. One is a sorcerer, she can smell his magic, and the other one is a mage. She’s not worried about him. The sorcerer is a different story. He’s strong. Very strong.
She focuses her gaze on him, using the knife to cut through the last of the warped net and frees Devil. The sorcerer is young, no beard–a thing they grow as they age, it’s like their version of status–and he’s wearing a cruel smile on his ugly face. He has muddy brown eyes and hair to match, and if she were standing face to face, she’d be taller.
The mage she takes in with a quick glance. He’s the one who threw the net but not the one who made it. He’s blonde and nondescript looking, reminding her of the hipsters from the bus stop when she first started working with Hank.
Magic slams into her, making her gasp, but she smiles at the sorcerer and watches him pause for the first time. His magic is tainted by the bad things he’s done. Like she is touching his skin, she pulls at the magic accessing the sins swirling inside of him.
He’s a bad boy.
The magic pressing at her dims, and she gets to her feet. Walking towards him, she bends down long enough to grab a board that’s leaning against the wall. Now she has two weapons. Her magic flares, changing color to almost black swirling flames. This is that new color again, but this time she gets what it means.
The mage intercepts her and tries to grab her hand. Twisting, she brings the board around using her body weight’s entire momentum to smack him in the face with it. He drops to the ground like a wet noodle, and Devil flies by her, heading for the sorcerer. As he passes, she can hear his deep voice mumbling words of a spell she’s not familiar with but tastes the intent behind it.
It’s pulling on her magic
hard, and she lets him have all he wants.
The mage is groaning on the ground at her feet, and she grabs a piece of clothing off the drying rack and ties him up with it. It’s only after she’s done that she sees it’s a wet pair of men’s boxers and wipes her hands on her pants legs in disgust.
Devil and the sorcerer are circling each other, and suddenly Devil shoots forward, colliding with the man. The look on the sorcerer’s face changes from one of arrogance to one of shock and then fear. Devil is sticking to him like a piece of Velcro. Her mouth falls open when she realizes what he’s doing.
Devil is eating his magic. It takes her several seconds to realize what this means.
Devil is a construct!
As the man collapses onto the ground, blubbering about his magic being gone, she watches to see if there’s a spark left in him. There isn’t. With a snotty nose and tears streaming down his face, he reaches towards Devil but misses and ends up back on his face. Sora approaches them but stays out of arm’s reach.
“What did you do to me? When will it come back?” he demands on a sob.
Devil leans down, so close the fire on him burns the sorcerer’s eyelashes. “Never,” he whispers gleefully. Sora grabs her phone and calls Hank.
“Sora?” he demands into the phone, worry laced in his words.
“You’re going to want to grab Voss and get over here. I’m pretty sure they took out the shifters that came with me, but we just managed to capture two of them… and Hank, there are at least ten used bunk beds here.”
“Shit.”
“Exactly.”
“Get your ass out of there until we get there. If they took out that many shifters, that means there are more than two of them.” He hangs up before she can say anything else.
“Can you do that to anyone, Devil?” she asks quietly.
“Sora…” She shakes her head, giving him a small smile of reassurance. She’s not upset with this ability or the knowledge seeing it gave her. “Yes, yes, I can–but not every spell can be taken, and like you, I need to touch them.”