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Eden nudges me with an elbow. “She said the same thing to me. Weirdly, about a necklace as well.”
“OK, so, I just wear it and they can’t get in my head anymore?”
Claudia nods and I slip the necklace on. “Thanks.” I guess.
Chapter10
Barbas
I’m never the one to draw attention or take the lead. On any matter, really.
However…
“Can you believe it?” Typhon struts across the dormitory, slapping Rhygel and Malphas on the back in turn like some proud father. “She’s so strong! I told you she was strong. She kicked us right out of her head.”
“I fail to see why you think this is such good news,” Rhygel says from his wooden chair, rubbing the base of his horns as he usually does when one of us irritates him.
“Yeah, Ty, now we’re even more behind than before,” Malphas adds, and in an uncharacteristic show of negativity, he collapses into the bench at the dining table. “We’re too far behind to even have a chance at qualifying well for the second leg of the trial.”
“No, no. You two are looking at this all wrong.” Typhon strides across the living space and hunkers down next to Malphas. “Her dis-ease is ours. Her pain, ours. Just as her strength is ours to wield. She made contact with us. The host broke out of the deepest recess of the human psyche, spoke to us, and then kicked us out! Imagine what this one could do if she were trained.”
I step from the shadows cloaking the farthest corner of the living space. “Stop it.” The quiet command tumbles from me like I’ve spoken that way to stronger demons my whole life. Everyone pauses to stare at me.
Typhon is the first to recover, going right back to his diatribe. “We have to do something to catch up with the rest of the soul-collectors. This host is our best—”
I storm over to the rough-hewn dining bench, grab Typhon by the collar, and drag him up to my eye level. “Stop talking about her like she’s not a sentient being. She has a name. A life and a family. She’s not simply our host.” I spit the word out like it burns. “Her name is Lily, and if any of you think you’re getting back in her head after what she experienced tonight, you’re sorely mistaken.”
I release Typhon, who looks both shocked at my outburst and contemplative of my words. Good. Exactly what I aimed for.
Rhygel rises from his chair, stepping between Typhon and me, and I can’t help the small swell of pride rising in my chest. Rhygel wouldn’t put himself between me and anyone if he didn’t think I was a threat.
Which, to my knowledge, is not a thought anyone has ever had about me.
“Barbas is right. She—Lily—will be on high alert for the foreseeable future. There’s no telling when or if we’ll be able to get back in her mind. I think it’s best we put our efforts into finding a new host and hope we stumble across someone as talented as this one.”
Typhon scoffs behind Rhygel, who turns to meet the dissent head on. “Something on your mind, friend?”
“Yeah. Have you lost your mind?”
I wince in anticipation of the backhand Typhon will undoubtedly receive and put a few feet between myself and the soon-to-occur brawl.
Typhon continues, “We don’t have time to waste on another host who’s undoubtedly less capable than our current—” Typhon’s eyes dart to me for a moment before he checks himself. “Less capable than our Lily.”
Malphas steps forward, joining the debate. “I hate to agree with the big oaf, but he has a point, Rhygel. We agreed that not treating humans like disposable vessels was the only way we could participate in the trials. I say we send Barbas in on his own to suss out the situation. If Lily’s discovery of us caused damage to her mind, then we have an obligation to help fix that. If it didn’t, and she’s aware of us, the least we owe her is an explanation.”
I gawk at Mal. What is this? A rational, well thought out plan of action with absolutely no hint of sarcasm or childishness?
“Fine. Barbas, do what you feel necessary. Malphas and Typhon, you’re on searching for a new host. And I expect you to put as much vigor into finding a new one as you have in convincing me to remain with Lily.”
I aim to keep from wincing at their assignment. Floating around between realms hoping to find a soul and mind strong enough to accommodate four demons isn’t an easy job. I did not envy them.
“Now,” Rhygel amended.
Mal and Ty scramble to the opposite end of the living space and sit in their respective chairs. Rhygel’s watchful glare ensures they both do as they’re told. He only turns to me when their eyes close and bodies slump—at their most vulnerable.
“Go. Report back what you find. I’ll set the wards and figure out just how far behind we are. Only after everyone is back will we make a decision, understand?”
I nod, nervous energy flooding my system, telling my muscles to twitch in preparation for a fight.
