Yes, he’d defeat evil—as soon as his head stopped pounding and he convinced himself that, no, he hadn’t gone completely insane. Queens? Wicked princes? Talking cats? Magic portals to other realms? The wriggling snakes in his stomach once again invited doubts about his sobriety to the party. Oh, joys.
He crept through the kitchen, taking care to watch for Chynne, though cats generally had excellent night vision. Or so he’d heard. Cat, motorcycle, familiar… whatever.
Piers crawled to his room on his hands and knees. Probably unnecessary, but he hadn’t watched hundreds of late-night thrillers for nothing. A weight landed on his back. “Yaa—” He continued the scream in his mind.
“Silencing spell,” the weight said. “Useful thing.”
When he could talk again, Piers hissed, “What are you doing?”
“I might ask you the same thing.” Must the cat always sound so full of himself?
“I’m going to go getmy mother’sbook.” Yes, Piers was the important one here. Might as well remind the furry little tyrant. He’d deal with this whole“I finally found out more about my mother and wish maybe I hadn’t”thing later.
Chynne tutted. “Something so powerful, and you have to look with your eyes?”
“Got a better idea?” Piers should have asked before now.
“You’ve handled the book, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Then reach out with your mind. Your magic knows your mother’s grimoire.”
Piers closed his eyes, imagining rummaging around in his closet. No backpack! “It’s gone!”
“I don’t feel a magical signature either,” Chynne said. “Nor do I sense a human. I do, however, sense another life form.”
Piers jumped to his feet.
Chynne hit the floor with an angry yowl.
“Sorry! I’m going to check Jess’s room.” Piers scrambled through the living room, trusting the cat to provide backup. Why, he didn’t know. He paused every few seconds, listening. No sounds. Not even the occasional footstep from too-loud neighbors, through too-thin walls.
There! A faint scratching. Inch by inch, he pushed open the door to Jess’s room. The curtains were fully opened, which Jess never did. Too easy to notice the height with them open. Glowing red eyes stared from the fire escape. Spotted. No use hiding now. “Hellhound!” Piers shrieked, launching himself toward the window. The creature clattered down the metal rungs.
“Oh, hell no. You’re not getting away, you sonofabitch!” Chynne would have his back, right? Piers dove through the window. And slipped.
For a moment, time stopped, him hovering suspended in midair above the street. He dropped. “Oof!” said the cushion he fell on.
He looked up into the startled face of the ogre he’d met in the club bathroom. At least the guy appeared similar. Built like three linebackers smushed into one body. Piers clambered to his feet. “I… I…”
“Hellhound first, questions later,” the ogre said, stretching his legs and racing along the pavement.
With no other choice, Piers scrambled after the massive figure who’d broken his fall.
You’re the most powerful being in two realms. Act your part!he heard in his head. But what could he do? He extended his hand as he’d seen Spider-Man do in the movies, imagining a web shooting from his knuckles.
“Ahhh!”
He cautiously crept toward the sound. The scowling ogre lay tangled in a net, drumming his fingers on the pavement.
“Oops, sorry!”
The ogre sighed. “Mind giving me a hand? Oh, wait a minute. No. Best not.” He pulled a knife from his pocket and sawed at the strands.
Chynne caught up. “I cannot interfere with the hellhounds myself. You must get them.”
“Why can’t you? I thought you could do anything. Are there limits to your magic?” Fine time to say so.
