What he wants is for us to find Rook. His reasoning is that if Rook could keep his human form the entire time we knew him, he would be able to help me keep mine.
If I’d had my way, it wouldn’t even be an option.
As soon as I’d banished Hades, I’d turned my wrath on Rook. I was in full demon mode. Horns, claws, pits for eyes, veins to match. And an all-consuming rage lit by the fire of a thousand suns.
He’d stared at me from across the turret. “You won’t kill me.”
“You don’t know me,” I spat back.
He gave me a pitying look. “Oh, Elle. I know everything about you.”
It took all of the others to hold me back as Rook snuck out of the mansion. Which was on fire, by the way. Because of the hellfire. My hellfire. That I had no idea how to extinguish. So I ended up accidentally burning his house to the ground, and I’m only partly sad by all the historical artifacts that were lost in the name of BURNING AND SALTING THE EARTH ON WHICH HE—
See? There I go again.
We watched the house burn from the tennis court, and I could sense the flames reflecting in my eyes.
“Why didn’t you let me kill him?” I’d growled to the others. And it wasn’t even my demon voice.
They didn’t answer, but now that I’ve thought about it, I think they did it for me, not him. It was one thing to banish Hades. It would be another thing entirely to make killing a habit. And even though the rest of my life will be a slow descent into evil, I think being a serial killer would bother me.
Everyone is still watching me, so I delicately pick up a piece of veggie burger and put it into my mouth.
“I’m fine, guys,” I say, mouth full. “Look, Ma. No claws.”
CJ clears their throat. “Even when you have claws, we still love you.”
Everyone stops eating. Silence falls as we all turn to look at CJ.
They grit their teeth. “I’m trying to be more affirming to those around me.” Every word sounds like it was dragged out and it was the worst thing to ever happen to them.
“That’s very nice of you, CJ,” Poppy says.
Their eyes meet for a moment before they both look away.
CJ realizes Poppy never really betrayed us, but they’re mad at me for not telling them, mad at Poppy for working for the Phantoms in the first place, and mad at themself for some reason. But I think they’re always a little mad at themself.
They still have a few days before they have to go work for their family. I don’t think it’s forever. And I don’t know how Mafias work, but surely they get vacation time or something.
Besides, that’s our next job: Figuring out how to get CJ out of the deal with their family.
“So do you think you count as a zombie?” Ezra asks suddenly.
Tolliver whacks him in the arm. “Of course she’s not a zombie. She’s alive. Zombies are undead.”
I tilt my head. “I mean, I am kind of undead. I was dead, and then I undeaded myself.”
“That’s different,” Tolliver says. “Your flesh isn’t rotting. I can’t see your organs…”
“Maybe Crowlene is a zombie. And a demon,” I say, bouncing in my seat. “Oh, I forgot to tell you guys. Crowlene isn’t my familiar. She just hangs around because she loves me!”
Crowlene ruffles her feathers, making a clicking noise.
I toss her a bit of hamburger. “She hasn’t even abandoned me in my zombie demon form.”
“You’re not a zombie,” Poppy says. “You’re…whatever the girl version of a gentleman thief is.”
“But she’s not just that,” Ezra argues. “ ’Cause she’s also a demon.”
