The illusion fades away now that he’s out cold, and as everyone else stands around—having only seen him standing in place just to walk away and vomit before blacking out—they look at me questioningly.
“What… what just happened?” Abraham stutters out. “Is he alright?”
Theodora is already rushing forward, picking Atticus’s body up and laying it in her lap.
“Barfred?” Atlas squeaks.
“I think he was fighting his subconscious,” I lie, smoothing over the event as best as I can. “He must have forced the demon out, but only for now. Have you called for help?”
Abraham steps forward, towering over his wife and son as he nods. “Yes. The priest will be here first thing in the morning.”
“Good,” I reply. “Then get him to bed. Restrain him.”
“How did you… Why did you come?” my boss asks, his eyes wide and wet as he stares at me.
“I figured something bad was happening,” I answer blandly, shrugging.
“Always around to save someone when they need it, aren’t you?” Julian snickers, but it’s only half the normal amount of joking he carries, as he stares fearfully at Atticus’s body.
“I didn’t do anything this time,” I say. “I just… tried to guide him.”
And it’s not a lie. I guided him with what could have happened if he hadn’t fought back—Atticusdid all the heavy lifting.
I bring out a tray of tea for everyone who has gathered outside. Behind me, firefighters are rushing around, putting out the fire in Atticus’s bedroom.
The priest came first thing this morning, and everyone watched as he performed an exorcism on Atticus. Cameron—who I’m assuming is Atticus’s boyfriend and the one who was forced to read from that weird book of spells—stands off to the side with Julian as I give them their cups.
Everyone looks incredibly startled, fussing over Atticus’s limp body as the priest declares him fixed.
I can’t believe Atticus had been possessed, and I had no idea. Sure, I knew something was off, but I wasn’t aware it wasthisbad.
Maybe spending all of my time in California was a bad idea after all. I let Landon distract me from what’s important: my newfound family. Not that I would ever admit this affection to anyone. Not that they feel the same.
Abraham won’t stop trying to pull me aside, thanking me for coming. And yet he doesn’t even know what Itrulydid. How, if I hadn’t shown up, that thing would have achieved whatever it was set out to do. Taking over Atticus’s body permanently is my guess.
I slip back into the kitchen, ready to prepare some snacks, as my personal phone starts to ring. It’s Calum.
“Hey, man. Not a good time,” I tell him, visions of that altar room and the fire blazing around us still spinning in my mind.
I’ve had one fucked up night.
“You’ll want to hear this,” he insists, and I can hear the panic in his voice.
“What?” I ask, impatient.
“Listen, I know you have some kind of connection with Landon—”
“I do not have a connection with him,” I straight-up lie. But I can’t have anyone know I’ve grown some kind of affection for him. I’m still trying to figure out how to get the organization to back off.
“Whatever,” he scoffs. “Point is, they’ve got him.”
My entire body freezes, my blood running cold.
“Who has him?” I demand. And Calum hesitates, most likely at the anger in my voice. “Who, Calum?”
“Ah, fuck, man. The council. They snatched your boy up the other day, and they’re holding him at a warehouse in Cali.”
I move faster than I ever have in my life. One second I’m standing in the kitchen, readying a veggie tray, and the next I’m outside, hopping on my bike.
