“Do you now? I’m surprised. I would’ve thought that demons would want to have credit for every single one of their crimes,” I say idly.
“If you think that will get me to confess—”
“I know demons lie, but I didn’t think one would lie to himself,” I remark.
“Why do you even care about this siren?” he growls.
“I don’t. I care about justice.” I cross my arms and purse my lips, just waiting for his mockery and contempt.
“Justice. Bah! Do you know the last time I spoke with a human? How is that justice?”
“Considering that it seems as if you have the ability to almost make a ragtag team of paranormal creatures, a team that would be willing to kill others and even pin the crime on someone else, I think it’s only right and fair for you to be gagged.”
‘You think you know everything,” the demon says with a laugh. “You can try to talk circles around me, but I have lived far longer than you, and you could never convince me to do something I do not wish.”
“Then wish it,” I blurt out.
“Wish what? To tell you I stole his voice?”
“Just tell me one thing.” I inhale deeply. “What were their names?”
Brokon grimaces. “I would rather—”
“What were their names?” I persist.
He appraises me critically before nodding. “I will say this about you. It’s daring to draw another into a trance in your mind.”
“Yes, I’m daring, and I’m daring you right now to tell me their names.”
“Erica and Natalie.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re thanking me? It’s not often you see male sirens, so when I found one, I decided to have a little bit of fun. I knocked him out and took control of his voice. As for Erica and Natalie, well, I had to test out the voice to see if it would work or not, and it did.”
“You’re a monster,” I cry.
“Indeed.” His grin is wicked and vicious, and I can’t stand looking at him another second.
Swiftly, I end the trance and open my eyes in real life. The demon glares at me. As I watch, he contorts his arm and hand unnaturally and soon removes the gag.
“Well, well, well. Mirella Sharpe, aren’t you? I knew your parents.”
I backed away when he ungags himself, but now, I step forward. “You knew my parents?”
“I did. Or did I? I’m a demon, and I don’t always tell the truth, you know.”
“People tend to tell the truth when they’re on their death bed,” I say. “I figure the same will hold true even for demons.”
“Ah, but I am not on my death bed.”
“I can arrange that,” I say calmly.
“You can’t harm me. You can’t touch me,” he hisses. “You want to become a paranormal executioner? You won’t ever. You’re too soft, too weak. Your heart is too big.”
My thoughts turn to the stone dragon gargoyle I spared.
“I might have a heart, but I prefer that to whatever is rotting inside of you,” I spit out.
“Do you now?” Brokon laughs and laughs, the sound deep and sinister.
Just then, Portia and Illumine march our way. I suppress a grin as Portia eyes the demon critically. After silently staring him down for a minute, the angel claps her hands.
Two guards head toward us, and I gasp. They’re escorting Lucas.
At the angel’s nod, the guards unshackle Lucas in front of Brokon. The demon looks so baffled I want to laugh out loud.
“You weren’t the only one I allowed into the trance,” I tell him.
Another steps forward to join the crowded area in front of the demon's cell. The warden of the Magical Prison is a sphinx named Badin. He has the body of a lion, gold and brown wings, and a man's head. His hair is wild, like a mane, and he looks as powerful and strong as anyone else in the entire prison.
“You will be moved to our most secure cell,” Badin says.
“Why?” Brokon demands.
“Only the police, myself, and the killer knows the name of siren’s victims. You knew, Brokon. Admit it.”
The demon gnashes his long teeth. His cruel eyes have turned wholly black, and I don’t think it’s possible for him to look any angrier, but I’m wrong. His body complexion alters, turning entirely read. Horns grow on the top of his head, and spikes protrude from his jawline. I can just see his fingers through the binding, but they aren’t fingers. They’re claws.
“I’m—”
“Don’t lie, Brokon,” I urge. “You should take credit for your crime.”
“Yes, that mouse of a siren didn’t do it. I did. Lock me away if you want, but there are so many more out there, far too many for you to nab them all. We demons do as we wish, and you and yours… Let’s just say that might be targeting next.”
“Considering my parents are dead, go ahead and target them,” I spit out.
“Take him away,” Badin demands.
The guards rush to comply, and Portia leads the way for them to depart for the demon’s new cell.
“Don’t worry. He won’t be able to talk or do any magic or anything at all,” the sphinx assures me.
“That’s good.” My gaze flickers over to Lucas. He looks amazed. “Are you all right?”
“Never better,” he murmurs. “Thank you for believing in me.”
“Of course.”
Lucas glances at the warden. “I never thought a prison could be a source of hope, but you both proved me wrong.”
“Technically, entering one’s mind and trances… they aren’t admissible, but when dealing with the likes of Brokon and his ilk, sometimes, you have to do what is necessary.” Badin nods. “I take it I won’t ever see you again, siren?”
“Never,” Lucas promises.
“You can walk him out, Mirella, but then you had best get back to work.”
“Of course. Right away, sir,” I say, but the sphinx is already walking away, his claws scraping against the hard floor.
Lucas and I walk to the front door.
“Thank you again,” he says.
“Maybe after I finish my week here, we can go out for karaoke.”
Lucas burst out laughing. “I would like that.”
“Good. I have a few friends who might want to come out, too.”
“The more, the merrier. You’re going to make a strong, formidable paranormal executioner, Mirella.”
“What makes you say that?”
“You went up against a demon. You had a demon in your trance, and you didn’t lose your mind. That’s beyond impressive.”
I swallow hard. Ignorance is bliss is the saying, and I had been ignorant concerning the potential consequences of my actions. Honestly, even if I knew, I would've done it anyhow.
Innocent is innocent, and Lucas is free now, and Brokon is never going to leave the prison. What more can I ask for?
“I’ll see you for karaoke,” I tell Lucas.
We hug, and the siren leaves. I grin as I return to work. Yes, being a prison guard isn’t what I want to be for the rest of my life, but I’m so grateful I have to be here for a week. Otherwise, Lucas would still be imprisoned. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a little shaken up for a while at the newfound knowledge of what his voice had caused others to do, but I’m more than willing to help him through it.
Who would've thought that, during my time as a paranormal guard, I would free an inmate, befriend him, and force a dangerous prisoner into the strictest room in the entire place?
Never give up hope is the advice I wanted to give Lucas, and I know I’ll never give up hope that I’ll become a paranormal executioner like my parents before me. For now, I have a job to do, and I rush around to locate Illumine. It’s time to get back to work.
The End
Enjoyed this story? Be sure to leave a review! You can also read more about Mirella in the Magical Hunters Academy series. An entire series about the Magical Prison will be available soon!
About the Author
Nicole Zoltack is a USA Today bestselling author who loves to write romances. Of course. She did marry her first kiss, after all!
When she’s not writing about knights, superheroes, or witches, she enjoys spending time with her loving husband, three energetic young boys, and precious baby girl. She enjoys riding horses (pretending they’re unicorns, of course!) and going to the PA Renaissance Faire dressed in garb. She’ll also read anything she can get her hands on. Her current favorite TV shows are Game of Thrones and Stranger Things.
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Read More of Nicole’s Books
Magical Hunters Academy Series
Age of Dragons Series
Once Upon a Darkened Night Series
Bedlam in Bethlehem Series
The Queenmaker Series
The Winged Beast Chronicles
Magic Incarnate Series
Beyond Boundaries Series
Nicole Zoltack writing as N. M. Zoltack
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In the Eye of the Dragon Series
Nicole Zoltack writing as Nicole Beyer
Magical Awakening Series
Hexes and Handcuffs: A Limited Edition Collection of Supernatural Prison Stories Page 50