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  “That’s probably the range of the orb. And there are six major neighborhoods in Magic’s Bend. Factory Row, Government Lane, the Business District, Darklane, the Historic District, and the Museum & Academic Area.”

  “So he’s probably planning to freeze the whole city. And the gap in time it takes to deploy the orbs may be him regaining his magic after he uses it to deploy the orbs.”

  The theories were sound. “Let’s get out of here. My sister is nearly back from her trip, and I want to meet her on the outskirts.”

  “Good. We could use more help.”

  I pressed my fingertips to my comms charm and called Mari again. I wanted Declan to see me make these plans so he didn’t realize I’d already made them. “Mari?”

  “Yeah?”

  “We’ll meet you in fifteen at the beach north of town. Can you make it by then?”

  “Sure.” Her voice indicated that she thought the second call was a bit weird, but she’d never mention it unless she could see and confirm that I was alone. I cut the contact and looked at Declan. “Let’s go.”

  The drive to the beach was quick, with minimal traffic. Considering that about thirty percent of the population had turned to stone, I wasn’t surprised. I parked in my usual spot under the big tree and climbed out, sucking in the fresh ocean breeze. I loved it here. Always had. When we’d first escaped Grimrealm, I’d spent a lot of time swimming here, not caring how cold it was.

  Declan climbed out, and we hurried to the shore, spotting two figures sitting on a big log and looking out to sea. Claire spotted me and stood. I hurried up to her and flung my arms around her.

  I pulled back, suddenly feeling awkward, and met her surprised gaze. I’d never had a hugging relationship with anyone except Mari, but I’d been so worried about her.

  I cleared my throat. “Thank fates you’re safe.”

  “I missed it by only a few minutes, I think.” She pulled back from me. “Nothing was strange when I left. But you saw Connor.”

  “Yes. But don’t worry. We’ll save him. And the FireSouls.”

  She nodded, worry clouding her eyes.

  “What’s the status?” Mari asked, careful not to mention that she already knew Government Lane was down.

  I explained what we’d seen.

  Claire and Mari’s faces paled as I explained our theory about six-hour gaps between orb deployments, and how little we knew about Oraxia demons.

  “We need to evacuate the city,” Mari said.

  “It’s going to be hard without the government backing us up,” Claire said.

  “At least there is physical proof that the threat is real and spreading,” Declan said.

  It was dark, but true.

  “A lot of people will leave,” I said. “Darklaners won’t, and a scattering of others.”

  “We’ll get on it,” Mari said. “Claire and I can go door to door. We’ll make sure people evacuate.”

  It wasn't a permanent solution, but we needed whatever Band-Aids we could manage right now.

  “Be sure you stay out of Magic’s Bend while you hunt the Oraxia demon,” Claire said. “If you need to come back in, tell us so we can leave.”

  We were all highly conscious of the fact that at least one of us needed to stay outside of Magic’s Bend at all times. Just in case.

  “I think we need to go to the Undercover Protectorate,” I said. “Someone else needs to know about this.”

  Mari nodded. “I’d trust them more than the Order of the Magica.”

  We could go to the main branch of the Order and seek help there—they were probably already aware of the problem—but as we’d seen back on Factory Row, they were slow and cowardly about addressing it. The lives of their investigators were more important than those of the innocent citizens of Magic’s Bend.

  Whereas the Undercover Protectorate was a private organization dedicated to protecting those who needed it.

  Right now, Magic’s Bend qualified.

  And we had friends there. And they had a miraculous library that might contain info about the Oraxia demon. Multiple birds with one stone and all that.

  “Okay. Good plan.” I looked at Mari. “Can you give us a ride to Scotland?”

  “Be happy to.”

  I gave Claire another quick hug. “Be careful.”

  She nodded. “You too.”

  Mari held out her hands, and we took them. A moment later, the ether sucked us in and spun us through space, making my stomach pitch. Finally, it spit us out in the dusky light of a Highland morning.

  The Undercover Protectorate was located in the middle of nowhere, their operations run out of an enormous old castle with a huge wall surrounding it. We stood at the front gate, a huge wooden thing that was enforced against most types of magical attacks.

  “Safe hunting.” Mari squeezed me tight, then nodded at Declan.

  He nodded back.

  “Safe hunting.” I smiled at her, then she disappeared.

  I turned to the castle gate. “Hey! Open up!”

  A moment later, a head stuck out over the edge of the ramparts. Long dark hair blew in the breeze, and the woman smiled. “Aerdeca! Long time, no see.”

  “Hey, Bree. Can we come in?”

  “Yeah, of course.”

  Slowly, the gate rose.

  “This place hardly seems like it’s from this century,” Declan said.

  “Never been here before?”

  “Never even heard of it.”

  “Well, you’re in for a treat.”

  As the gate rose higher, Bree appeared, a coffee cup steaming in her hand. She was tall and pale, with long dark hair and a big smile. She was a Dragon God and the only living Valkyrie.

  “It’s your lucky day. I just came out for an early walk.” Her gaze moved over my clothes, and she frowned. “What’s wrong? You’re wearing your fight clothes.”

  She only ever saw me in these when we were about to head into battle. “Magic’s Bend needs help.”

  Bree’s brows rose. “The whole place?”

  “The whole place.” I gestured to Declan. “This is Declan O’Shea, bounty hunter and fallen angel.”

  He stuck out his hand and they shook.

  Bree looked back to me. “I’ll call everyone to the Round Room.”

  “Thank you.” The Round Room was their version of a war room, and damned if we didn't need to plan an attack.

  She pressed her finger to the comms charm that hung around her neck and spoke to someone as we walked up toward the massive castle in the middle of the lawn.

  The massive stone structure rose tall, with turrets and towers added here and there. Dozens of windows glittered with light, making the place look as inviting as I knew it to be. The grounds were enormous, containing stables on one side, a forest, a stone circle, and a cliff that plunged right into the sea.

  We reached the big stairs and climbed up toward the huge wooden doors. They swung open to admit us to the entrance hall, a big space with a soaring ceiling and a sweeping staircase leading to the higher levels. The scent of breakfast from the kitchens wafted up, bacon and coffee.

  People were streaming up from the door that led down to the kitchen that was located on the bottom floor, cups of coffee and sandwiches in their hands as they ran to the Round Room.

  “Come on. Everyone will be there soon.” Bree led us up the stairs and down a wide hallway.

  Three cats sprinted by, headed in the opposite direction. The big white one—Princess Snowflake III, I’d heard her called once—had a jeweled bracelet clutched in her teeth. A skinny black cat with wings followed close behind, with the rear brought up by an orange one.

  A blonde woman joined us as we walked. As usual, we didn’t hug in greeting. In the past, I’d seen that Ana was a hugger, but I wasn’t. Not when I was Aerdeca, at least.

  “Hello, Ana.” I pointed to Declan and made introductions.

  Ana smiled and stuck her hand out. She was Bree’s sister. Also a Dragon God, and a Druid. DragonG
ods were a crazy powerful combo of dragon magic and godly magic, and each one represented a mythical pantheon. Bree was Viking, Ana Druid, and their sister Rowan was Greek.

  “Rowan’s out on a job,” Ana said, as if she could read my mind. Her gaze moved over my clothes, worry creasing her brow, just like it had her sister’s. “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you wearing your nice clothes?”

  Everyone was apparently very attuned to the two sides of my personality. Silk equaled business as usual. Fight clothes equaled trouble.

  “Magic’s Bend needs help, or everyone will die.”

  “Shit.”

  We filtered into the Round Room, which was exactly what it sounded like. A circular room in one of the big towers. A huge round table dominated the space. Tapestries and torches covered the walls. Jude, the leader of the Protectorate, already sat at the table, surrounded by the other department heads. She was a beautiful dark-skinned woman with braids and blue eyes that sparkled with starlight.

  “Aerdeca.” She nodded at me. “It’s been a while.”

  “I know.” I gestured to Declan and introduced him. We sat, joining the approximately twenty people at the table. Mostly department heads and anyone who was on staff who wasn’t out on a job, I had to assume. They took all problems seriously.

  “I can assume this isn’t a friendly visit? Since you never actually visit, that is.”

  While I liked everyone at the Protectorate, she was right. I didn’t visit just to shoot the shit. Not my style. I showed up if they needed help, but that was it. And now I was here to get a return on the favors I’d accrued over the years.

  “We have a serious problem in Magic’s Bend.” I explained the orbs, the Oraxia demon, and the fact that our government was now frozen, too.

  Jude frowned. “The Order will move too slowly on this, it sounds like.”

  “Exactly. Mordaca is evacuating the town, but she needs help.”

  “And we need to figure out how to repair the damage done by the orbs,” Declan said.

  “We can send people to help Mordaca evacuate the town. And our resources are yours.”

  “We need to figure out how to compel the demon to undo the spells,” Declan said. “He’s the only one who can do it.”

  “Then it sounds like you need to learn more about an Oraxia demon. Our library may be able to help you there.”

  “I can try to find the demon,” Ana said. “Though no promises that my Druid sense can manage it.”

  Ana had an usual type of seer power gifted to her by the Celtic gods that helped her find answers to her questions.

  I smiled at her. “Thank you. Time is everything.”

  She nodded.

  “That’s settled, then,” Jude said. “We’ll deploy a team to Magic’s Bend to perform evacuations. Ana will try to find the demon. And you, Aerdeca and Declan, are welcome to our library or any resources that we have here.”

  “Thank you.” I stood, ready to get to work.

  Ana darted out of the room without another word, Bree on her heels.

  Jude led us to the library. We walked through hallways that had been built during various periods in the castle’s history. Ancient stone corridors and beautifully wallpapered passages with gleaming wooden floors all competed to be the most beautiful.

  Jude pushed open the door. “Florian will help you. I’m off to rally the troops.”

  “Thank you, Jude.”

  “You’ve helped us many times. We’re happy to return the favor.” She smiled. “Anyway, it’s our job.”

  She turned and left, and I stepped into the library. The ceiling soared high overhead, the tall walls covered with bookshelves that were stuffed full to the brim with colorful leather books. Paintings hung over some of them, giving the room a cozy and cluttered feel. Fireplaces were built into each wall, roaring with warmth. Big chairs and heavy wooden tables filled the space.

  In front of the fire sat a dog bed. Three ghostly forms filled it. The Pugs of Destruction. One had horns, one had wings, and one had fangs. All were trouble.

  Declan craned his head back, inspecting the space with wide eyes. “Where do we even start?”

  A ghostly blue form drifted through the wall at the back. The figure wore clothing from the eighteenth century, if I had to guess, with a ruffled cravat and a curly wig atop his head.

  He floated up to us and dropped into a deep bow. “Florian Bumbledomber, at your service.” He looked up. “Aerdeca. Declan.”

  I’d met the ghost briefly once, but never actually visited him in his library. I pointed to Declan. “How did you know his name?”

  “I spied on the meeting in the Round Room.” He gave a cheeky grin. “Which means I know just what you are looking for. Wait here.”

  “Well, that’s convenient,” Declan said.

  “No kidding.”

  We sat at a table while the pugs continued to snore in their beds. The air shimmered next to me on the table, and Wally appeared.

  Declan jumped slightly, startled.

  “Hey, Wally.” I smiled at the cat.

  I like this place.

  “Me too.”

  “Are you talking to the cat?” Declan asked.

  “Yep.”

  “Can he talk back?”

  “Yep. To me, at least. I think it’s some kind of telepathy.” I looked at Wally. “What are you doing here?”

  Felt you leave the city. Wanted to see where you went.

  “Cool. We’re hunting an Oraxia demon.”

  Wally narrowed his flame-red eyes, smoke flickering around him. Sounds familiar. He shrugged a little shoulder. Don’t remember why.

  A few moments later, Florian drifted out from behind the bookshelves, a small book clutched in his hands.

  Damn. That thing was little.

  He nodded at Wally. “Greetings, friend.” He tilted his head toward the Pugs of Destruction, who continued to snore at the fire. “Don’t terrorize the dogs.”

  Wally’s head moved back, an offended-looking motion. I would never.

  “Well, the other cats would.”

  “You can hear him?” I asked Florian.

  “Ghosts can usually communicate with animals. He held up the little book, and a frown creased his ghostly face. “I’m afraid there isn't very much about the Oraxia demons.”

  I wasn’t surprised, but I couldn’t help the disappointment. “We’ll take whatever you’ve got.”

  He set the book on the table. It was tiny and gray, clearly not a book from this room. There had to be more to the library that I didn’t know about. Another section, maybe. But I trusted Florian to give me all the info he had.

  “You’ll want to flip to page twenty-four,” he said.

  I did as he instructed, peering at the tiny print. “Whoa. Oraxia demons were created. Like, built by a mad scientist. It says that a figure named the Devyver created them. He lives in the Shade City of Dark World.”

  Wally blinked red eyes. That’s why I remember. That place is terrible. Oraxia demons do come from there.

  “It’s definitely a start,” Declan said.

  “Thank you, Florian.” I held out the book to him.

  The ghost smiled and took the book back.

  I turned to Declan. “We need a plan.”

  “We need to find the demon’s weakness. Or find a way to compel it. The only way to succeed is by breaking its loyalty to its masters and forcing it to say the counterspell.”

  I swallowed hard. “So we need to go to the Dark World.”

  6

  I can take you to Dark World.

  I looked up at Wally, surprised. “You can?”

  Hellcat, remember? Going to hell is kind of my thing.

  “But this is a little different than the underworld.” Which was full of demons, but also the souls of humans. The Dark World was just demon territory, the darkest and most horrible place in existence, as far as I’d ever heard. Besides maybe the DMV.

  Doesn’t matter. I can go. Went once. Not a fan. His w
hiskers quivered, as if in distaste.

  “Thanks.” I turned to Declan. “Looks like we have a ride.”

  “A ride where?” A feminine voice drifted over from the door.

  I turned to see Hedy, the pretty, lavender-haired witch who was the head of research and development at the Protectorate. She wore a loose dress with colorful skirts and looked a bit like a hippie. I hadn’t spoken to her much in the past, but I knew who she was. She’d been at the meeting, so Declan had briefly met her as well.

  “Hi, Hedy,” I said.

  “I brought you some Power-Up Potion.” She held out two vials. “When I heard what you’re up against, I realized you’d probably be working around the clock. I’d save these until you really need them, but they’ll give you another day’s worth of energy when you do.”

  “Oh, thanks.” I smiled. That really would come in handy. I took the potions.

  Who’s she?

  I looked at Wally. “That’s Hedy, one of the strongest witches here.” I looked at Hedy. “Meet Wally, my…friend.”

  ‘My cat’ suggested ownership, and frankly, Wally did whatever the hell he wanted. He couldn’t be owned.

  Ask her for a potion to make you look like a demon. You’ll need to blend in down there.

  “Thanks.” I turned to Hedy and made the request, explaining our circumstances.

  She rubbed her chin and thought, her eyes going distant. “Yes. I think I can get you something that will work.” She eyed my white ghost suit. “And you’re going to need new clothes.”

  Fortunately, it didn’t take her long to get us two potions from her laboratory, which was located in a small building away from the main castle.

  “So I don’t blow the whole place up,” she’d said. “Just a little security measure.”

  We’d also needed potions that would amplify the little bit of dark magic that each of us possessed. Even if we looked like demons, our signatures could give us away if we weren’t careful. So could my white clothes, which would look strange if the rest of me looked like a demon. Maybe there was a demon out there who dressed all in pristine white, but it was unlikely and it’d make me stand out like an elephant at the symphony. Bree had loaned me some black fight wear, and I’d stashed my ghost suit in the ether, a handy—if expensive—spell.