I explored that back area as the girls stayed in the main room practicing their forms and kicks. When I returned, Allie had executed a perfect spinning back-kick, and Mindy had dodged it like a pro.
“Bravo,” I cheered, impressed with how far they’d come in their training. I made a mental note to ask Laura when Cutter would be back. Not only did I want him to start working with the girls again, but I needed to schedule a time for the self-defense class I’d started for the neighborhood women.
“Allie!” I called, realizing that she’d switched from practicing kicks and was about to send the knife she now habitually carried toward the far wall.
She looked at me, her eyes wide. “What? The wall’s a mess.”
I walked over to the wall and pressed my hand against it. “The plaster’s in perfect condition. All it needs is a new coat of paint, and you arenotleaving dents and holes in it. Stuart would ground us both.”
“Fine.” She exhaled in a huff. “Whatever.”
I forced myself not to smile, but I couldn’t help but wonder how many other mothers had this conversation with their teenage daughters.
“What about one of those mattresses?” Mindy asked.
“Yeah,” Allie said. “We could line them up on the wall, and make a whole area for practice.”
We hadn’t brought Mindy a stiletto back from Italy, but Laura had bought one for her daughter while we were over there. She’d ordered it off the internet. Laura was all about ordering things off the internet.
“Fine.” Honestly, I was happy to keep them occupied while I went down to deal with the delivery. I glanced at my watch. “Hurry and I’ll help you set up. And don’t miss the mattresses when you throw.”
“God, Mom. We’re not lame. We’ve been practicing, remember?”
I remembered Eliza being blown away by Allie recently landing a knife throw right in a demon’s eye. So, yeah. I supposed she could hit a mattress. I hoped Mindy’s skills were at least half as good.
I started to help, but my phone chimed with a text as the girls rushed to the mattresses. I paused to pull out my phone as they each grabbed an end of the top mattress and pulled it aside.
The moment I glanced at the screen, an ear-piercing scream shook the room. Immediately I looked up, only to see that the scream had come from Mindy, who was backing away from the stick-thin, bearded man who had risen from the middle of the pile of mattresses.
“I’ve got him,” Allie said, hauling back and readying her knife to throw.
“Stop!” I called. “Are you sure he’s a demon?”
“Mom!” But her shoulders dropped, and I knew that she wasn’t yet certain. “What do I do? What do I do?”
“Who are you?” the possible demon asked.
“You’re trespassing,” I said. “We need you to leave this property. This isn’t a homeless center. I’m sorry.”
The possible demon frowned at me, then shrugged a shoulder. He looked to be in his mid-thirties with filthy hair and yellow fingernails.
“Not fair. Finally find a place to stay out of the weather, and I get kicked out.”
“It’s summer,” I said. “The weather’s fine. And there are shelters on the south side of town.
“Whatever.” He reached into his back pocket, unwrapped a mint, and popped it in his mouth. Then he shot me a scowl, then another one towards Allie, who was still holding her knife at the ready while she mouthedmintat me.
That, however, wasn’t enough to go on.
“Don’t got to get angry about it,” the possible demon said. “I’m going.”
As he walked by, Allie slipped the hand not holding the knife into her back pocket. I smiled, realizing I couldn’t be prouder when she pulled out a spray bottle and got him right in the face.
My kid came prepared.
The demon—because he was definitely a demon—let out plaintive howl as welts appeared on his face. He lunged to the side, then dove toward Mindy, yanking her in front of him like a shield.
“Do you not understand?” he asked, his eyes on Allie. “I would never hurt you. But this little bitch? I’ll break her neck and not even blink.” He pointed a finger at me as I started to take a step toward him. “You too, Hunter. Don’t move or this one dies. Then you.”
