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“Where is she?” I croak, eyes darting in panic around the room, searching every shadow.
“She demanded to know where Mom went. She wants Mom’s book so she can get to other Slayers in case she needs more power.” Artemis grimaces, holding her knee. “Eve said she’d kill Imogen and the Littles, so I told her about Naked Grains. I’m sorry.”
“Did it work? Did she get my power?” I know the answer. I feel it in every inch of my body, but still I ask.
Artemis’s hand trembles as she smooths back my hair. “It worked. She mentioned something about her husband again. He was trapped in a hell dimension when the portals closed. Nina, I think—I think she’s going to use your power to open up a hellmouth.”
I stand, swaying woozily. Everything feels trembly and disconnected, like I haven’t eaten in three days. I fight back nausea, and I fight back a deep sorrow, a piercing sense of loss for something I was only beginning to truly accept. But Slayer or no Slayer, people are in danger. “If she gets to Naked Grains—”
“Mom,” Artemis says.
“And Honora,” I add, my voice soft. Because as much as I hate her, I don’t want her to die. And I really don’t want Artemis to go through that. Plus, once Eve gets what she wants there, there’s no telling who else she might hurt or kill. And we for sure do not want a hellmouth under her control.
“What do we do?” Artemis is looking to me for help. For guidance. And for the first time in years, I’m going to be the strong one for her.
I grab two stakes and use them to splint her knee. She hisses in pain, but then she stands, able to put a little weight on it. “Meet me at the garage,” I say. I take a small notebook from my collection and shove it into my pocket, then run into the hall—which makes my head spin. I slump against the wall until I can move again. And then I speed walk instead of run to Imogen’s door.
“What is it?” She’s still in pajamas, a bag of Cheetos in her hands, the three Littles lounging on their stomachs around a television.
“Do you trust me?” I ask. Imogen nods, her eyes narrowing as she sees how serious I am. “Okay, so Eve is a demon, she stole my Slayer power, she’s gonna open a hellmouth if we don’t stop her, and if she comes back here, no one is safe.”
Imogen blinks once. Twice. Then she drops the Cheetos and claps her hands. “Hey, kiddos! It’s a field trip day!”
The Littles jump up, squealing.
“We’ll go to Cillian’s,” I say. “Rhys is there. Cillian can take you all somewhere safe. Somewhere we don’t know about.” In case Eve gets to us. Better that no one can betray where the Littles are.
“Can you drive?” Imogen grabs a duffel bag from a trunk by the door.
“Stake me.” I slap my forehead. I never learned, and neither did Rhys. Artemis can, but with her knee injured, I don’t know if she’ll be able to.
“Jade!” Imogen shouts as the Littles scramble to put on their shoes. George Smythe, my favorite with his mop top of curls and enormous eyes, is pulling on rain boots over footie pajamas.
Jade stumbles out of her room. “I just got back to sleep. I’d like to note that no one bothered telling me Cillian was fine! I burst into his house ready to fight, but you and Artemis had already left. Then Rhys cussed me out for waking Cillian up!”
“Demons!” I shout. “Immediate threat!”
“Fine.” Jade glares sullenly at me.
“I’m driving,” Imogen says. “Jade, you’ll be in charge of the Littles. If we aren’t back by the end of the day, we aren’t coming back. Nina will text Cillian if we survive. There’s fifty thousand American dollars in this bag. If we die, take them far away and live a happy life.”
Jade looks briefly alarmed, then she takes the duffel Imogen hands her. “Cool. All right.”
I smile falsely at little Thea Zabuto throwing herself against my legs. “Jade, please go tell Ruth and Wanda that Eve’s a demon and we’re going to fight her. They can do whatever they want. Then meet us at the cars.” I allow Jade a second for that to wash over her, then I push her down the hall and help Imogen usher the three Littles into the back of the Range Rover.
The last Little has been lifted into the backseat when Artemis and Jade both make it over to us.
“Old Crone Zabuto said she’ll die protecting the library. Wanda demanded the money so she could ‘safeguard’ it.” Jade smiles wickedly. “I gave her a swift kick in the arse instead. And then an extra one for good measure. So I kind of hope you guys lose, because I think I won’t be welcome here anymore.” She climbs in the back. The Littles crawl over the seats, thrilled to be leaving the castle. I know we should have car seats or something for them, but that’s the least of our worries right now.
George beams at me. “This is the best day ever!”
“Right,” I say. “The best.” Also maybe the last.
Imogen drives as fast as is safe. Probably a little faster. We squeal to a stop in front of Cillian’s. Jade herds the Littles into Cillian’s car, shouting to Rhys and Cillian what the situation is. I watch as Cillian and Rhys embrace fiercely. Rhys whispers something in his boyfriend’s ear. Then Rhys climbs into our car as Cillian climbs into his, and after one final look between us, we drive in opposite directions.
I have to focus on what we’re going to do, because even the idea of facing off against Eve is less horrible than thinking about what I’ve lost. What I let her take away from me. So I take stock of our arsenal.
Imogen—untrained, a glorified nanny.
