“Is everything okay?” I ask, worried about Dax and also selfishly wanting him to be here with me.
“No,” Kas replies, giving me no details and my thoughts begin to spiral. How does someone kill a demon? Are there worse things that could happen to him?
It’s not long before Kas is basically pulling the e-brake on my car and jumping out and taking Stevie in her arms. I open the front door and she begins to follow, but she’s blocked by my wards. I can’t carry Stevie, so now I’m going to have to give yet another demon access to my house.
“I need your blood,” I say, and she holds out her hand. I prick her finger with a conjured needle and allow her within my wards. She gently places Stevie on the couch, kisses her hair, and is immediately gone. I have a sick, deep, horrible feeling about what is happening to Dax, but right now I need to take care of Stevie.
I leave her unattended to gather the supplies from the kitchen. Thank Hecate she labels everything with retentive detail. I pop the cork on the pain reliever, muscle relaxer, and bone growth potion and toss them all into her mouth. She doesn’t swallow, so I have to hold her mouth shut and plug her nose until she thankfully swallows every drop.
I sit next to her body for hours until she finally wakes up.
“Blair?” I pop onto my knees and pet her hair.
“I’m here. You feel okay?”
“Yeah, how did we get home?”
“It’s a long story. Let’s get you up to bed.”
She nods and puts too much of her body weight on me to support. But eventually, with my arm looped around her waist, we’re able to get her into her bedroom. I plop her on her bed and her familiar, Gary, purrs and cuddles next to her chest.
“Watch after her. Come get me if she needs anything,” I tell the cat. He blinks at me three times, which I take as confirmation and understanding. Fez is incredibly intelligent, Gary, not so much. But he’s Stevie’s familiar and will be in touch with her emotions.
I huff at the exertion and can’t help it that as soon as I get to my bedroom I fall on top of my mattress, not even bothering to change my clothes. I know there are a few splashes of blood on my top. Tomorrow’s problems are going to be tomorrow’s problems.
Facing the fact that I killed my mother doesn’t need to come today, nor do the negative thoughts about what could be going on with Dax. He probably can’t afford me distracting him anymore than I already have.
As much as I try to pep talk myself into not spiraling into a panic attack, I can’t sleep. I open my night stand and take a swig of ever sleep potion. It hits me hard and fast. Removing any impending thoughts from my brain and lulling me into a deep slumber.
Chapter 25
I’mfeelingfuckingmurderous;we’ve been at this for hours and the little pig still hasn’t squealed. My eyes stare at Beelzebub tied to a chair in a devil’s trap. Careful to leave him in the center and that my footing doesn’t step over the line. The pentagram is drawn in blood, courtesy of Kas. I think she might have had too much fun opening up Douglas’ gut and having the maid draw the trap on the floor. The poor maid stands in the corner, eyes glazed, blood on her fingers and apron.
Beelzebub was hoping to make a deal with Douglas for the dark item that the maid holds. The blade was created by Archangel Michael after Lucifer figured out how to give demons corporeal bodies. They wanted a way to send us back to Hell and cause real damage. I want to know why he wanted it, if he was giving it to Mara and where the Hell Asmo is. I need a nap, a good fuck, and a bagel sandwich.
He can’t portal, but since he has a corporeal body, there’s no exorcism to be had. He’s stuck here until we release him. The chair he’s strapped to is a wooden and leather desk chair. Blood runs down his face as Kas instructs the maid to slice it up. The knife exhumes dark magic, easily tearing through his flesh.
“Where’s Asmodeus?” Kas growls at Beelzebub.
“I told you already. I don’t know shit.”
“Darling, would you mind slitting his throat just a tad?” Kas instructs the maid. The woman, who just was at the wrong place at the wrong time, nodding her head to Kas’ instructions.
The silver blade is tightly pressed in her hand as she slits his throat, enough to burn and bleed, not enough to kill.
“Why were you getting this blade?” I ask him. He grins, his snaggle teeth covered in blood. It’s clear to me that Lucifer gave him a body as ugly as his personality.
“Like I would tell you two mindless flackies?” he asks Kas, coughing and sputtering. He looks more disheveled than usual.
“Says the guy who is tied up and in a devil’s trap. I think our little maid friend needs to get a little more creative.”
“I’m not telling you shit.”
“Darling, open his pants for me, will you dear?” Kas says, speaking to the maid. Beelzebub’s eyes go wide. The maid’s hands shake as she unbuckles his pants. “Tell me something valuable or our lovely friend here is going to chop your pathetic little dick off. That’s a dark object, Beelzebub, meaning only Lucifer himself could help you. Do you really think he would be so willing to help you regrow a pecker when you had information about Mara and didn’t tell him?”
“Stop, wait!” he shouts.
“You can stop, for now,” Kas says to the maid.
