I stared at her. The last time I saw her, I’d assumed she was taunting me about my human half. Now I knew my other half likely wasn’t human at all. I didn’t feel any different than I did when I was here six months ago. And yet everything I knew about myself was changing.
“Yeah, he’s my plus one in life at the moment.”
The witch smiled at me. “Because of your bond with Samael. Word gets around.”
I shrugged, and Vas studied Hannah with an inscrutable expression. Witches like Hannah fed on negative emotions. I hoped the demon had some good shields.
From the way Hannah’s smile widened, he was doing just fine. The witch enjoyed a challenge.
“How can I help you?”
“I have a few questions.”
“About the demon murders.” She mock shuddered. “Horrifying.”
She may as well have said ‘delicious,’ in that tone, and I tensed. That’s where her little walk had taken her today. Just a few blocks down to the gas station to suck up all the horror and fear. I forced myself to use a blank, pleasant expression.
“What can you tell me about whoever is doing this?” I didn’t bother asking her if she was the one who was killing the demons. If she was, her arrogance would ensure she dug her own grave. Hannah was many things, but subtle, she was not.
“They’re powerful,” she said, admiration coating her tone. “If it were me, I would’ve drunk down all that delicious power.”
Of course she would’ve.
“What are they?”
She shrugged. “You humans believe only the fae and demons came through those portals. There are creatures already in this world that you cannot imagine.” She pulled her hat off her head and used it to fan her face. “Although, you’re not exactly human, are you halfling?” She winked at me and I gave her a bored stare.
She waited, and when I didn’t react, she rolled her eyes. “Of course, it could be any run-of-the-mill paranormal. I don’t know who would have the stones to go after Samael’s demons, but I hope you find them soon. Anyone dangerous enough to slaughter the high demon in that gas station is dangerous enough to kill one old witch.”
True fear flashed across her face for the first time, and relief made my knees weak. I hadn’t wanted it to be Hannah who was responsible for this.
“If you had to guess, what kind of creature could it be?”
She shrugged. “Who would benefit from killing demons? From distracting Samael?”
I’d asked myself the same question over and over again since I started looking into the murders. But I didn’t know enough about the politics between Samael and all the other players in the Triangle. I glanced at Vas and he shrugged. He wouldn’t be saying anything in front of the witch. Fair enough.
In a power struggle, most witches didn’t have a hope of going up against a high demon. Black witches could often channel more power— although Selina could probably give Hannah a run for her money and I was pretty sure she was gray, if not completely white. Some witches had access to a deep well of their own power, while some only the ability to channel power from elsewhere. Others had both.
But Samaelwaspower.
Who would risk gaining his attention— and his wrath—by killing his demons?
Hannah was studying my face. “White witches hate demons,” she said. “While the dark fae are also a threat, most of the high fae stay firmly in their realm. The light fae’s power stems from nature,” she sneered at that, and the expression was so ugly that she no longer looked like someone’s grandmother. She looked exactly like what she was: a power to be feared.
Her expression cleared but I’d seen the hatred. And I noted it.
“Where do the dark fae get their power?”
Her face paled slightly. “I have no desire to attract the unseelie king’s attention. Let me just say that he is unlikely to draw Samael’s ire. The two have more in common than you could imagine.” That was similar to what Vas had said. I glanced at him but his eyes were on the witch.
Hannah spoke in riddles. Riddles I’d have to decode later. But from the way she glanced at Vas from under her lashes she was clearly enjoying herself, so I let her talk.
“The mages would love to see the demons fall. But they know better than to go up against Samael. If he destroyed the Mage Council, there would be no one left to protect the humans.” She licked her lips and my stomach churned.
I needed to be careful here. God knew I didn’t want to give her any ideas. But the sight of that demon bashing his head into the safe would forever be burned into my memory.
“How much power would it take to make a demon act against its will? Could a witch do it?”
