The splash of heat across my face was fifty percent anger and fifty percent embarrassment. Okay, more like eighty-twenty.
“You’re talking about Bathin, right?” I asked. “The demon I just locked in a trap so that I could find you and get information out of you for how tostabhim and throw him out of Ordinary?”
“Is that what this is about? Then I’m not sure why you’re talking about vortexes.”
“I know you made the scissors that will cut a soul away from his possession.”
There was no more smirk, no more smug. Her eyes were bright. Sharp.
“Yes.”
“I have them.”
“I know.”
“Is there a book and a page that must be used with them to release a soul?”
She watched me for a moment. “That is a very specific question.”
“I expect a very specific answer.”
“No.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“No, there is neither a book nor a page needed. Just the scissors. Snip. Snip.” She mimicked the motion with her fingers.
“What happens if a human uses them on a demon?”
“It doesn’t end well for the human.”
So, Bathin had told the truth. Okay, next question.
“Can a demon use the scissors on a demon to free the soul?”
She gave me a look of respect. “Yes.”
“Will you use the scissors to remove Delaney’s soul from Bathin?”
“It depends on what you would give me for that.”
“How about we let you leave Ordinary?”
“I don’t want to leave Ordinary.”
“Let me put it another way,” I said. “The only way you’re staying here is if you’re locked in a box.”
“Or an easily digestible napkin holder,” Delaney said.
The dragon pig oinked. Yep. We were telling the truth.
“You wouldn’t break the rules of Ordinary to imprison me.”
“We’re police officers. We imprison people all the time. Natural, supernatural, deities. All of ‘em,” I said.
She looked off over my shoulder as if she’d heard a sudden sound. Then: “I’ll take my chances.”
“What—”
