She nods and walks away.
I grab four of the charms I’m here for, one for me, one for Meggie, one for Matthias, one for my mom (even though I doubt I’ll successfully convince her to wear it), then decide to grab one more. Just in case there’s someone else who comes along that needs one or one of us loses ours. I pick up the card for this charm.
The Pentagram is used to invoke or banish evil forces, as well as a shield against psychic or physical danger. The daemonium pentagram has been known to guard one from possession by evil beings.
I tap the card on my fingers and mutter, “They’re not all evil.”
“I amsoglad you think so.” A man’s voice comes in from behind me, right in my ear.
I jump out of my skin, slamming a hand to my heart as I spin around and say, “What the actual hell, man?”
“I could tell you a few things about actual Hell, baby.”
I ready a retort, but then I see his eyes. Light blue, yet familiar.
“Kit?” I whisper, receiving a cocky grin.
I throw my arms around him, holding him as tightly as I can manage before I pull away, stumbling back. “Sorry,” I sputter, crossing my arms over myself. “I’m sorry.”
He tugs lightly on a strand of my hair, pulling it straight before releasing it and allowing it toboingback to position. “No need to apologize.” He regards me seriously. “I’m so glad you’re still you. I found you as soon as I could. I just managed to get enough strength to leave the nether region today.”
I step back, ignoring the comment confirming that I did indeed send him back to Hell, even though I stillhatethat he calls it thenether region. “I’m not apologizing to you. I’m apologizing to the random man I just hugged.” I look at the body Kit is possessing. He’s in his late twenties or early thirties. Brunette. Attractive. Similar to how Kit looked when he was alive. Not actually Kit. “Is he awake?”
“They usually aren’t. You were an exception, Lace. Because you’re exceptional.”
I roll my eyes, finding it so easy to fall back into this comfort with him. “How long have you been thinking about that line?”
He looks sheepish, rubbing the back of his neck. “Basically since you woke up.”
I smile, because I can’t help it. I almost go to hug him again but keep my arms crossed to restrain myself. Nothing can ever happen with us. His body will never be his alone.
“You’re wearing the shirt I got you,” he says, eyeing the high-necked black tank I paired with jeans and threw under a leather jacket.
“I like it.” I consider the charms in my hand and then him. I grab his wrist, pull it toward me, and touch a charm to warm skin. “Does this do anything to you?”
Kit shakes his head. “You mean, does it hurt? It stings a bit. There’s a similar symbol that can cause true pain to demons, but only if it’s carved into this super rare metal that can only be found in Hell. Not something you or I even have access to.”
He needs to stop adding to the lore. My brain can’t take it.
“I mean, will it keep you out?”
He fingers the charm. “Oh. Yeah. And if you put it on this guy, it will keep me in.”
I pull the charm away. “Good to know.”
“It’s not a permanent solution, though. If it was…don’t you think I would have gotten you one of those charms and called it a day? It can be ripped off, destroyed.”
I pull up the hem of my shirt, revealing the tattoo on my hip, no longer under the clear bandage. “What about this?”
His eyes droop at the sight. “Lace…” His fingers graze the tattoo before he snatches his hand away with a hiss. “Fuck. That burns.” He stares at the tattoo, contemplating. “It hurt when I touched it, but I’m not positive it’ll work, sweetness. Standard ink—” He meets my eye. “Unless you mixed it with holy water?”
“I put holy water on the spot after he cleaned it with alcohol.”
His teeth drag over his lower lip as he focuses back on thetattoo. “Then it could work. Against me, at least. I just…” He rubs his forehead. “Please wear that charm all the time as well. I don’t know if either of those things are strong enough against Balores. If they are, then no demon, or ghost for that matter, will ever possess you again.”
“It’s the only option I have.” I pull my shirt back down.
He looks at me desperately. “Can we please talk?”
