I took down two human skulls that I had painted a lovely shade of cerulean blue to use as flower pots. I quickly made my new orchids at home, setting them near the tree stump portal, where a good amount of light filtered in through a window.
“They’re very pretty,” Therese observed.
“Thank you,” I said, watching with bated breath as Narcissa approached the flowers. Her eyes flicked to them momentarily. She slunk right past them, however. I sighed. “I thought for sure she would appreciate them.”
Of course the last few flowers I’d brought home, Narcissa had merely shoved off the countertop. But orchids were different. Regal-looking. Narcissa must appreciate them, even if she didn’t show it.
“Maybe she will appreciate them more after they’ve grown a bit.”
“Perhaps,” I said, unconvinced.
Therese made her way to the basin at the back of the shop and filled a watering can. It was my favorite, with yellow daisies painted across it. It put a smile on my face on gloomy days. I’d shown Therese my ritual for watering the plants around the shop in an attempt to distract her from the more fragile items around the space. I’d also hoped doing chores would bore her. But no, the clingy little human took a shine to it and began to sing as she climbed down to water the nightshade growing in the corner.
I brightened at the song she was singing, a folktale about mermaids pulling sailors into the water to drown them. So fanciful and lovely. I began to hum it under my breath as well. My favorite part was when the sailors’ limbs were entangled in the seaweed and salt water filled their lungs. The circle of life was so inspiring. To think of all the marine life those sailors would be feeding.
“Ew. What are these?”
I looked up to find that Therese had set down the watering can to inspect an apothecary jar. She held up a bone with dried green flesh clinging to it. “Frog legs. Now, what did I say about handling the merchandise?”
Therese wrinkled her nose. “Father says that’s what people eat in Paris.”
“And do you know what witches eat?”
As I said “human children,” she mouthed the answer along with me with a mocking, wrinkled nose. I supposed I may have tried to scare her off multiple times with that line, but it wasn’t a lie either. She was lucky I had poor digestion.
An odd smell filled the air, all at once, like rotten eggs. Sulfur.
My blood froze in my veins, and I stared at Therese with wide eyes. “Therese. Get down and don’t make a sound.”
Therese must have noted the fear in my voice, for she complied at once, ducking behind the counter, in the corner where the shadows offered at least a little cover. It would have to do, for a moment later, a fire burned the floor in the shape of a pentagram.
I stepped back, my fear abating slightly. I wasn’t afraid for myself, after all. And the theatrics of demons were ridiculously over-the-top.
A figure materialized in the center of the fiery pentagram, and with a rather unnecessary shriek, the fire winked out. The man left behind was … well, he didn’t have any skin. He was all muscle and sinew, glistening wetly with dribbling blood. Without a face, his eyes appeared to bulge, his mouth offering an unintentionally wide smile that showcased an uncomfortable number of his teeth as they disappeared into his jaw. His teeth didn’t look particularly appetizing, however.
“Callum,” the man greeted, taking a step in my direction.
I sent him a lazy grin, trying very hard not to look back in the direction of Therese, for fear of giving her away. I could only hope she remained sensibly hidden and didn’t try to make friends with every dangerous creature she stumbled across. “Samuel. To what do I owe the pleasure? Needed a short respite from Hell?”
I watched as he left bloody footprints behind. Every single time. Did he not realize what a challenge it was to clean blood? My eyes flicked back up to him. He looked like he’d been flayed, and that was likely precisely what had happened once his soul had settled into this form in Hell. Demons often had to change bodies. The Devil himself saw to their souls, and once their old bodies no longer functioned, it would have been counterproductive not to allow them new bodies. They collected human souls for him to feed upon, after all.
Samuel sneered. “Hardly. You know why I’m here. The only reason I ever come to this ruddy dump.”
I clenched my jaw. “Dump? I’ll have you know that thisdumpis the only shop to offer over twenty-five rare ingredients. I am renowned for my service.”
“And yet, it’s still a dump.” Samuel declared as he casually walked to the tree stump in the center of the room and tilted his head, admiring the orchids. “These add a nice touch, however.”
I perked up. “You think so? Narcissa was indifferent, but I think they really do bring much-needed color to that part of the room.”
Samuel frowned, then sniffed the air. He turned to me, his brow knitted. “Do you smell that?”
“The sulfur you reek of? Hard to miss, frankly.”
“No, no,” Samuel grunted, taking another loud sniff as he turned up his nose, or rather, the holes that served such purpose. “It smells like …humansin here.”
I stilled. “Humans, you say?” I chuckled nervously. “How odd.”
“Yes, humanchildren.” Samuel licked what remained of his lips. “How delicious.”
