Page 80 of Rogue Witch

I reread the line.

The most important thing is that I’ve found a way into Hell.

Grams found a way into Hell? How is that even possible? The Hell Gates have been sealed for thousands of years. Maybe she’d been right, she was crazy. Even if she could find a way into Hell, why go? Did she want to break the seal on the Hell Gates? Was Grams a follower of the Zidruhin? The Zidruhin worship Damien and swear that one day they’ll help him open the Hell Gates so that he can combine his Shadow magic with the powers of his father, Hades. I realize my hands are shaking and set the phone on my desk. I consider not reading more, but my eyes move to the next line almost of their own volition.

We can’t go on living in fear. Death is better than fear. He must be freed.

Who is “he”? Whoever the fuck “he” is, isn’t worth risking Damien being able to team up with Hades. Margidda wouldn’t survive. What the hell was wrong with Grams?

Fear constricts around my heart like a vice. Am I in over my head? Maybe I should show the book to The Three.

Raith’s face flashes in memory as he was when Nova left him in that alcove, a knife protruding from his chest. Forget Raith. I could give the book to Ethan or Blade—then disappear. Will they let me disappear?

I can’t stop myself from reading the last line on the page.

Who would have thought Shadow Hell was the key?

Chapter Thirty-Two

CALEB

Vampire.

A demon and a vampire lurking around Leilah’s house?

I scan the shadows to the left and right of the house. Raith is the only vampire I’ve ever been able to tolerate for any length of time. Based on what I saw in his office earlier today, Leilah only tolerates him. I’m betting she’s not a lover of vampires, either. So why is a vampire hanging around her house? Whatever the reason, my blood sings with the need to rip his throat out.

Leilah lives at The Academy and just returned from the Reaping. No one could know she would decide to come here tonight. Unless they followed her from the Academy—which the demon had.

This demon isn’t the Thol’guk that attacked Leilah. The green demon has a distinct smell. This demon is an upper demon with the power to take other forms. But he could be a dozen different types of demons with powers that varied from shape shifting to spell casting almost as sophisticated as a witch’s magic.

If word got out that Miriam was looking for a way into Hell, demons would want that knowledge. Demons on the earthly plane have been stuck here since the Hell Gates were locked. A ticket home is a damned good reason for a demon to be hanging around Miriam Crowe’s home. Would a vampire have an interest in finding a way into Hell? Or maybe communicating with someone in Hell?

Why didn’t Raith post Watchmen around the house? He, Blade or Ethan should have realized that demons—and maybe vampires—would be prowling the vicinity.

I might be able to kill the demon and vampire, but maybe not before one of them breaks into the house. Leilah isn’t helpless and her familiar is fearsome, but how can I risk a demon or vampire getting near her? Hell, I have yet to catch sight of either of them. I could sniff them out, but they might spot me before I spot them. Should I get Leilah out of the house? She might be angry I followed her, but she would be safe. She, the pig, and I would make a damn good team.

Why hasn’t the demon or vampire made a move? If they’d entered the house, the pig would have raised a ruckus. Then I understand. There must be wards around the house. Pride fills me.

That’s my girl.

I’ve got to draw them away. Then kill them. How do I get a demon to chase me? Hell, how do I get a vampire to chase me? I’ve chased demons and run from demons. But never purposely tried to get one to chase me. Maybe that’s the wrong tack. Since Leilah has wards around the house—

Shadows shift in the side yard between Leilah’s house and the neighbor’s. A human form. Probably the vampire. That’s all I need. I jet across the street to the yard in front of the porch, out of sight of whatever moved to the right of the house. The wards around the house pulse. Good. Hunkered low, I creep along the porch to the side of the house, then peer into the darkness.

I discern a slight shift in the darkness at the rear of the house where a tall wooden fence separates the back yard. The tiny bit of light from the back yard makes him even easier to see. Hugging the wall, I slip around the side and creep forward. The scent of the vampire is strong. My heart picks up speed. I easily distinguish his form at the fence. Blood pounds through my ears. I creep, inch by inch, head low, the need to clamp my teeth into his flesh gnaws as I draw nearer. Wolves are one of the few creatures that can kill a vampire. Killing them—truly killing them—isn’t easy. I have to get my jaws around his jugular and rip him apart.

He’s got his back to me. I start forward again. I approach within five feet of him and crouch. I lunge. He turns and I recognize the vampire who’d entered Raith’s office earlier today.

Chapter Thirty-Three

ETHAN

I reach Ariel’s dorm room and force thoughts of Leilah and Shadows from my mind. I nod to the two Watchmen standing outside her door, then knock. No answer.

I knock again and call, “Ariel, it’s Ethan.” Still no answer. I look at the Watchman to the left. “Any sounds inside?

“She’s been pretty quiet,” the Watchman, Kane, replies.