“I never considered lingering in the flesh. It’s always felt too tight…” he murmured to himself. “But if I’m to be stuck, then why not roam in this?—”
“If you won’t help us with the contract, then you’re going to call the shadows of Elmwood your home indefinitely,” I warned. “Revision or a cage.”
“I told her.” He snatched the hand down, shooting a piercing glare in my direction. “I’m not interested in renegotiating terms with humans who don’t respect the sanctity of my contracts. Do you know how long I’ve been on this earth? How many dreams I’ve fulfilled for you humans? I’m trapped on this plane too?—”
As he spoke, I inched closer, raising a brow at Jonah and December. The rope was still in their hands. Dark with vinegar and rosemary.
“—I follow the laws. I have never tricked one of you pathetic creatures into a deal. Seven years of luck and dreams. It’s a good deal. More than most of you will ever see. But when it’s time to pay up, you all want to reverse it. Take what you need and throw out the rest. So fucking selfish. I?—”
My hand went up, and Jonah tossed me his end of the rope. December wrapped her side around Octavia’s neck while I wrapped mine around her waist. As soon as the rope touched her skin, the demon screamed, smoke piling off her skin.
“Stop!” I yelled. “Hold on.”
“It’s herandhim,” December reminded me as shekept her iron grip on the rope. Octavia sank to her knees, scratching at the rope. “We can’t afford to let go.”
“She’s right,” Octavia said, even though she continued to claw. “Keep them on. I’m losing my…I may need to…Does Wilson know?”
I fell to my knees in front of her and grabbed her face, trying to get her to look me in the eye. But Octavia kept gazing down, unwilling to hold my gaze.
“Do you have even the slightest idea of how to revise the contract?” I asked.
She blinked, quiet and lost in her mind. I couldn’t even imagine what it’d become like in there. What battle she had to face.
“He would still have to agree to it if I did,” she said through labored breath. “But that doesn’t matter because…Nico, the trap, can you…”
Octavia squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, groaning as if someone had hit her.
“It couldn’t reach it.” I grabbed Octavia’s hand, so she knew I was still there. “All this time, it needed you to reach the contract.”
“This ritual is strong,” Nico spoke faster with every word. “If it can keep something like it out?—”
“Then it’ll keep him in,” Octavia finished for him. “If you can figure out how my uncle set it up, you could use it.”
We could create a new prison for one inmate.
“No!” Not-Octavia’s voice yelled. “It won’t hold, not long-term.”
“Our entire job’s dealing with the short-term,” I said; it’s a part lament. But the cyclical nature of the job primed us for mending. All the hotspots and the doubling back. Endings weren’t ever part of this job. We needed to make peace with that. I needed to make peace with that.
For now, it would have to be enough.
“I’ll figure it out,” it promised through gritted teeth. “And once I do, you’ll burn with me. Next time, I don’t care if I get dragged by those hounds; I’ll make damn sure they’ll drag you with me.”
“Deal.” I pushed off the ground, hurrying toward the planks. Nico was hot on my trail.
“Do you think it’ll really work?” As he questioned, he moved along with me, piecing together the last scattered pieces. December and Jonah finished tying Octavia up. It lashed out, using her body to lunge at them with her last bits of energy.
“If it’s tossing out those kinds of threats,” I said. “This’ll work.”
Nico nodded, moving faster to match my speed.
Once we finished, the pieces created a black drawing of horses, trees, lakes, and mountains. Between the lines were words written in Sumerian. The art depicted a map of Elmwood, all wrapped in an enchantment.
“How did Daylan separate himself?” Nico asked, casting a wary gaze in Octavia’s direction.
“She can’t!” it mocked. “Not all the way.”
My throat tightened at the reality that I may lose her forever. But I couldn’t get trapped in the fear. Octavia had zero chance if I panicked this time.
