“Do what she says,” said Raya.
“Outnumbered,” said Phoenix. He followed it with a deep sigh and sat up. “Conjured, kidnapped, and outnumbered, and they won’t even let me have a little bubbly to take the edge off.”
“Also, shut up,” said Raya.
Phoenix lapsed into a silence that projected maximum self-pity.
“What’s the best way to do this?” asked Erin. “How do we find Andromalius?”
Phoenix laced his fingers behind his head and leaned back. “What your trigger-happy witch friend accomplished was the equivalent of knocking someone out. He’s not in Hell, or somewhere else on planet Earth. He’s gone right out of conscious existence.”
“How do I wake him up, then?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea. He’ll show up. Or he won’t. Can I have the bottle back, now?”
“No,” said Erin. “So this was a waste of time?”
“You got to meet me, didn’t you? How many mortals can say they’ve met Phoenix, a Great Marquis of Hell?”
Raya stood up and joined Phoenix on the couch. “You’re right.” She snaked an arm around the demon, who looked distinctly uncomfortable. “We are so lucky to have met you.”
“Quite right,” said Phoenix, fidgeting under her touch.
“In fact, now that I know you can’t help with finding her demon, I’m beginning to think of all the ways you could make up for your unfulfilled promise to help,” said Raya, squeezing his shoulder.
“Steady on,” said Phoenix.
“My lawn could use some work,” said Raya. “And, come to think of it, the gutters haven’t been cleaned in ages.”
“Lawn work?” said Phoenix, nearly choking on the words. “You can’t be serious. You don’t summon a Marquis of Hell to do your lawn work.”
“If he’s not useful for anything else … ” Raya examined her nails.
“Hang on a second,” said Phoenix. “Let’s not be hasty. I’m sure I can help you call Andy up.”
“You can?” said Erin. “I thought you said there wasn’t anything you could do.”
“He just needed some motivation. Isn’t that right, pet?” Raya gave Phoenix a little shake.
Phoenix swallowed. “Right,” he croaked.
Erin looked back and forth between the witch and the demon.
Surely they could help.
At least, they couldn’t possibly make anything worse.
15
Erin sat in her car in the church parking lot and wondered why she’d bothered to come. It might keep her mother off her back temporarily, but was it worth it?
Why was she here?
Going to church just to annoy Mark didn’t feel as satisfying as it had before.
She watched the parishioners trickle in from the parking lot. It was almost time for the service to begin. Her mother was most likely already inside the church. Erin hadn’t even spotted Mark and Genevieve, and in the place of morbid curiosity, she found a tentative but growing feeling of indifference.
Erin dragged her purse out of the front passenger seat and into her lap. She removed the keys from the ignition, and put them in her purse. She put her hand on the door handle.
