AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I didn’t even need to stop. “What’s your day job, Rianne? When you’re not torturing demons, I mean? What is that you do for a living? I’m just curious, because a lot of jobs are kind of out of range if you’ve got a criminal record. Hope that’s not problematic for you since you’ll have one now.”
“I am on a mission to save humanity.” She kept repeating the words, like they’d protect her somehow. So far as protective mantras went, she’d picked a shitty one.
“Well, I hope that pays the bills, sweetheart. It sure as hell wouldn’t pay mine.” Not that I had any bills, which caused part of the problem. I officially went off the grid when I became possessed, but it didn’t feel germane to the topic. “Did you know, I’m sort of important, according to others? So it seems to me the shit that you just did to Assistant District Attorney Winters is going to blow up in your face, hence me mentioning your misstep.”
They told you that, did they? That you’re so special? You’re never getting away from me, Addalee. You’re not special, you dumb fucking bitch.
Yep, gotcha. She was cursing me a lot. I tried not to let myself become too satisfied with irritating her enough to cause it, and I wondered what Ryker would think about it.
The lights flashed, and Rianne strode away from me, dropping the knife with a clatter onto a tray. “We’re not done here, demon.”
I sighed. Actually, it was more me than the demon, for what it was worth. It was fine, though. She didn’t have to like me, either. I glanced at the flickering light. “I hope you’ve paid the electric bill. You won’t have money coming in for a while, I bet.”
Danvers laughed, and I turned my head to try to see him.
“Believe it or not, I’m not trying to be funny,” I told him.
“Well, my demon finds you fucking hilarious.” He coughed. “So do I, truthfully. What happened at his house? Why did I conk out like that?”
I shook my head. “We can talk about it later.”
“I’m not going to have a later. Truthfully, this isn’t the worst outcome for me. At least it’ll be over. If there’s something next, I’ll have to face that consequence, but it won’t be this anymore.”
A girl cried out, a wail somewhere in the room. Her voice came high and panicked. “Do you think that we’re forgiven? For the things we do when they’re in charge? Or are we blamed for their actions? Does it go on our record?”
I blinked and then realized what she meant.Oh, she means in some afterlife.I snorted, amused despite myself. “Wrong person to ask.”
I looked at Danvers. “This may be inevitable, but I’m not ready to give up just yet.”
He stared at me, his eyes dark and somehow fathomless. “If you go, take me with you. My demon likes your demon. He’sless cruel to me when he’s with her, and I like you. It’s nice to have you nearby. But if they take me, and they end this—one way or another—don’t feel sad for me. Don’t even give me another thought. I’ve done terrible things, and not all of them are his fault.”
I was afraid that was true for all of us, or at least me.
The lights officially gave up, blinking off and blanketing us in nothingness. Demons should be comfortable in the dark, and thereby make it cozy for their hosts, but since I was possessed, sudden changes in light or dark made her touchy. Anxious. She didn’t mind either scenario, dark or light, but she liked to be prepared and adjusted.
The sudden darkness threw her off. She squirmed inside of me. Did sudden changes indicate problems in hell? I wouldn’t bother asking her since she would never honestly answer anyway. She might torture me for even asking the question.
Everyone in the room moaned or screamed, so it wasn’t just my demon struggling.
“Addalee,” Danvers said, his voice rough. “You still okay?”
I blinked. Nice of him to ask, considering. “As okay as I can be, I suppose. How did you find me earlier, anyway?” It wasn’t much of a distraction, but thinking about anything but the dark seemed like a good idea.
“Sorry that I brought them to you. I don’t know how I found you. My demon can find yours, and he likes being with her. For now, anyway. When he headed out to find her, I didn’t get in his way. It’s nice to have company when we’re together. Someone who gets it.”
I thought so, too, or something similar.
“I won’t leave you,” I promised him abruptly.Of course, if they kill me, I’ll break that promise. I thought of the other girl’s question. For how much of the demon’s actions would I be held accountable when my time came around?
Screams and other general noise echoed around us suddenly. I closed my eyes then I sensed someone standing over me. My eyes scanned up, able to see past the darkness to realize he wore all black, his face was covered, and he managed to be almost a phantom. He reached down and ripped my restraints away with a single motion, and I could hear similar noises from the nearby tables. What was happening? None of it made any sense.
“Don’t fight. We’re rescuing you.” I knew the voice.Cruise?He threw me over his shoulder, and a pinch pricked my arm. “Can’t have the demon fighting me right now.”
I snickered. “I knew you were a superhero.”
“Not funny, Addie.”
“No nicknames. I told you. That’s for a person with a future.” My eyes started to close.
