Page 34 of Malice

“Do you want my number?”x

Her lips turn up in a smirk. “I’m not an amateur.”

At first I assume she means she already has my number. It’s not hard to find someone’s personal info with the internet, though being a member of the Order has given me anonymity most people don’t get.

“You’ll receive my message.”

“Oh, uh, okay.”

“Be careful, Florence. I have a bad feeling that something dark has attached itself to you.”

Hah. It has. “Wait, before you go, you said something about the Blackwoods hunting.” I blink and get a vision of the dream I had before we killed the demon at Camp Dogwood. It was about my parents and they were talking about killing a demon.

“Ah, yes. You asked if witches are allowed to hunt. Yes, we can do what we want in that aspect.”

“If there are no rules against it, then why did you say it like it’s a bad thing?”

“Most witches do not hunt demons. It’s dangerous, both physically and, well, emotionally isn’t really the right word. Demons can be tricksters. They go after the things that matter the most and as you know, it’s not a quick and painless death they offer. Some families, like the Blackwoods, felt it was their duty to use their powers for good. I am not that familiar with them, but I’ve heard stories that they’ve taken out and locked up some pretty powerful demons over the last few centuries.” She gives me another sympathetic half-smile. “There is a high priest in Ohio who I believe went to school with the Blackwoods.”

“School?”

Her eyes light up. “There is so much I don't know. There are several academies across the country. I, of course, will say the one in New Orleans is the best.”

“Academies for what?”

“Witchcraft.”

I walk into the house momentarily forgetting that my brothers are here. Unable to stop thinking about Marie, I drove home in total silence. I can’t decide what to think. Is she someone I can trust? Do witches really look out for each other? She went out of her way to find me and people aren’t that nice.

But sometimes they are.

Hell, we traveled all over the place hunting demons and it’s because we believe in the cause. Believed? No, I still believe. Just not in the order.

Kicking off my shoes, I find Leo and Antonio in the kitchen. If I had to take a wild guess, they are hanging out in here because it’s the room least likely to be used by a vampire.

“Hey,” I say, coming into the room and stopping short at the sight of books on the island counter. “What’s all this?”

Antonio looks up from an old leather journal. “Has it been that long you don’t recognize research when you see it?”

I blink once. Twice. Are those Order journals on the table? “H-how?” I stutter. I was only gone for like two and a half hours. Where the hell did these books come from?

Xavier comes into the kitchen carrying an impossibly heavy stack of books with one hand. “These aren’t in English, but they have symbols.”

“Perfect,” Leo says and grabs one as soon as Xavier puts them down.

“What is going on?” I ask, blinking again as Devon follows in, also carrying books.

Xavier speeds over to me, hands landing on my waist. “I asked your brothers how you go about hunting demons and they informed me it starts with research. So we’re researching.”

“But how?” I slide my foot forward, moving closer to Xavier. “The book. They weren’t here this morning.”

“No,” he replies. “It took longer than I would have liked for them to arrive.”

“Again, how?”

His lips turn into a smirk. “I know a guy.”

“Oh, do you now?” I can’t help but smile back at him.