She doesnt need to be touched by you. I leaned back with my arms crossed over my middle. My gaze went to my mother, who was flirting in an old-lady way with the counter kid, and I paused. She hadnt remarried when Dad died, hadnt even dated. I knew she intentionally dressed herself to look older than she was to keep men at a distance. With the right haircut and dress, we could pass as big sister, little sister. As a witch, her life span was a good hundred and sixty years, and while most witches waited until they were sixty before starting a family, she had had Robbie and me very early in her life, giving up a promising career to raise us first. Maybe we were accidents. Passion babies.
That brought a smile to my face, and I forced it away when I noticed Minias watching me. I straightened as my mom approached with a canister of cinnamon and her plate of cheesecake; the kid behind the counter was following with the rest. Thank you, Mark, she said as he placed everything on the table and backed up a step. Youre a sweet boy.
I smiled at Marks sigh. Clearly he wasnt happy with the title. He glanced at me, then Jenks, his eyes brightening. Hey, he said as he tucked the tray under his arm. I think Ive seen you somewhere.
I cringed. Most times people recognized me, it was from the news clip of me being dragged on my ass down the street by a demon. The local news had incorporated it into their front credits. Sort of like that guy on skis pinwheeling over the finish line in the agony of defeat.
No, I said, unable to look at him as I pulled the lid off my cup of coffee. Ah, coffee.
Yes, he insisted, weight on one foot. Youve got that escort service. In the Hollows?
I didnt know if that was better or not, and I looked tiredly up at him. Id done escort service before, not that kind of escort service, but real stuff, dangerous stuff. I had a boat blow up around me once. Yeah, thats me.
Minias looked up from shaking cinnamon on his coffee. Jenks snickered, and I bumped my knee on the underside of the table to make his espresso slop over. Hey! he shouted, rising up a few inches, then settled back down, still laughing.
The front door jingled, and the kid shot off his glad-to-have-you-here spiel and left. Minias was the only one listening.
My coffee was steaming, and I hunched over it while I watched the demon. His long fingers were interlaced about the white soup-bowl mug as if relishing its warmth, and though I couldnt tell for sure because of the sunglasses, I think his eyes closed as he took the first sip. A look of bliss so deep it couldnt have been faked slipped over him, easing his features and turning him into a vision of relaxed pleasure.
Im listening, I said, and a mask of nothing fell between us.
My mother quietly ate her cheesecake, her eyes flicking uneasily between us. I had the distinct impression she thought I was being rude.
And Im not happy, I added, making her lips press tightly. You told me Al was contained. I lifted my coffee and blew across the top. What are you going to do about him breaking his word and coming after me? What do you think will happen when this gets out? I took a sip, forgetting for a moment where I was when it slipped down, easing my slight headache and relaxing my muscles. Jenks cleared his throat, bringing me back.
You wont have a chance of luring anyone into any agreements again, I said as my focus cleared. No more familiars. Wont that be nice? I finished with a simpering smile.
His eyes on the delights of that fruit-baby picture, Minias sipped his drink with his elbows on the table and his mug propped up at mouth height. This is much better this side of the lines, he said softly.
Yeah, Jenks said. His espresso cup came up to his waist. That burnt amber really sticks in your throat, doesnt it?
A flicker of annoyance flashed across Minias, and a thread of tension entered his stance of relaxed idleness. I took a deep breath, smelling only coffee, cheesecake, and the characteristic redwood scent of a witch. I was sure my mom had slipped him a charm, and I wasnt looking forward to finding the cost of such an expensive amulet tacked on to the losses from the store. But if it kept him from smelling like a demon and causing a panic, I couldnt complain.
Well, what do you want? I said, setting my cup down. I dont have all night.
My mom frowned, but Minias took it in his stride, easing back in his stiff chair and setting his giant mug aside. Al is being summoned out of confinement
We figured that part out, Jenks said snottily.
Jenks , I murmured, and the pixy walked across the table with his makeshift sword to the cheesecake.
Weve never run into this before, Minias said, hesitating as he took in Jenkss whatever attitude. Because of his extraordinary amount of contact with this side of the lines, Al has arranged for someone to summon him every sundown. They get what they want, then release him without the compulsion to return to the ever-after. Its a win-win situation for both of them.
And a lose-lose for me. My thoughts flashed to my old boyfriend, Nick. Jenks eyed me over a chunk of cheesecake as big as his head, clearly thinking the same thing. Nick was a thief who habitually used demons as a source of information. Thanks to Glenn at the FIB, I had a copy of his file in my dressers bottom drawer. It was so thick a monster rubber band barely kept it shut. I didnt like thinking about it.
Someones freeing a demon without compulsion to return to the ever-after? I managed, my eyes lowered. Thats not very responsible.
Its extremely clever. For Al. Miniass one elbow found the table as he took a draught.
I cringed, fully conscious of my mom listening quietly. You think someones doing this to kill me? I finally asked.
Minias shrugged. I dont know. Nor do I care, really. I simply want it to stop.
A reproachful huff came from my mother, and Minias pulled his elbow from the table. We can regain control of him after sunup, the demon said, his eyes hidden behind his glasses. When the lines close to cross-traffic, hes snapped back to our side. Finding him then is just a matter of using his demon marks.
I pulled my hands from atop the table, my fingers pushing aside Kistens bracelet to feel the raised scar. The demon mark had flared into pain just before Al showed up, and a new worry settled in beside the old ones. Thats how Al had found me. Crap. I didnt like feeling like a tagged antelope.
Al doesnt have access to a lab while in custody, Minias said, drawing my attention back. So he only has simple, easily performed curses, but hes exceptionally adept at line jumping.
Well, hes been in someones kitchen. He looks like he always does, and I know thats not his natural form. I dont want to know what he looks like. I really dont.
Miniass head moved up and down once, and he swallowed his coffee. Yes, he said softly as he leaned back. Someone has been helping him. That he tried to take you tonight went a long way toward convincing me it wasnt you.
Me? I blurted. You really think Id work with him? Then my fingers, gripping my coffee, went weak. Appearance charms didnt just happen in one night. That meant that AlMy eyes rose, and I wished Minias would take off his glasses. How long has Al been slipping your containment?
Miniass lips twitched. This is the third night in a row.
Fear jolted me, and Jenks rose from the table, red dust slipping from him.
And you didnt think I might want to know that? I exclaimed.
In a smooth motion, Minias took off his glasses. His arm flat on the table, he leaned in to me. How much effort do you expect me to exert? he said tightly, and I blinked at the irate emotion reflected in his goat-slitted eyes. We dont care if he kills you or not. I have no reason to help you.
But you did, I said belligerently, thinking anger seemed better than fear. Why? Immediately Minias backed down, and seeing there was something here he didnt want to talk about, I decided I did.
I was tracking Al, the demon said. That you were there was merely helpful.
Jenks began laughing, and all eyes turned to him as he rose several inches. You got sacked, didnt you, he said, and Minias stiffened.
My first impulse to protest died at Miniass stoic face. You got fired? The demons reach for his oversize mug almost smacked Jenks in its quickness.
Why else would he be tracking Al instead of watching TV with Newt? Jenks said, flitting to the safety of my shoulder. You got canned. Outsourced. Pink-slipped. Handed your walking papers. Given the go light. Slipped on the banana. Served the dead slug.
Minias put his glasses back on. Ive been reassigned, he said tightly.
Suddenly I was afraid. Really afraid. You arent watching Newt? I whispered, and Minias looked surprised by my fear.
Who is Newt? my mother asked, dabbing a napkin at her lips and sliding the last half of the cheesecake to me.
Shes just the most powerful demon they got over there, Jenks boasted as if he had something to do with it. Minias was her babysitter. Shes more dangerous than a militant fairy on Brimstone, and shes the one who cursed the church last year before I bought it. Didnt twitch a wing. Shes got a major burr up her ass about Rachel.
Minias bit back a snort, and I wished Jenks would shut up. My mother hadnt known about the blasphemy incident.
There are no female demons, my mother said, fumbling in her purse to bring out a compact and her lipstick. Your father was very clear on that.
Apparently he was mistaken. I picked up a fork but immediately set it down. Id lost my desire for cheesecake about five surprises ago. Gut clenching, I turned to Minias. So whos watching Newt?
The demons face lost all its amusement. Some young punk, he said sullenly, surprising me with the modern phrase.
Jenks, though, was delighted. You lost Newt one too many times, and they replaced you with a younger demon. Oh, thats beautiful!
Miniass hand quivered, his fingers abruptly loosening on his mug when a soft crack rang out from the porcelain.
Stop it, Jenks, I said, wondering how much of Minias losing his job was due to Newt slipping away on his watch, and how much was from the demons inability to make impartial decisions regarding her security. Id seen them together, and Minias clearly cared for her. Too much to lock her up when she needed it, probably.
How do they expect me to seduce her and maintain her adherence to the law simultaneously? he snarled. It cant be done. Damned fool bureaucrats dont know the first thing about love and dominance.
Seduce her? I arched my eyebrows, but an icy sensation rippled through me at the glimpse of his anger and frustration. Silence, thick and uncomfortable, took over, making the surrounding conversation seem louder. Seeing us staring, Minias forced his tension from him. His sigh was so soft, I wasnt sure I hadnt imagined it.
Al cant be allowed to flaunt the rules, he said, as if he hadnt just shown us the pain in his soul. If I can contain him, I can return to supervising Newt.
Rachel! my mother exclaimed, and I turned to see a familiar mask of lighthearted ignorance on her. Hes a runner, just like you! You should go out to a movie or something.
Mom, hes a I hesitated. Hes not a runner, I said, stopping just short of saying he was a demon. And he certainly isnt date material. Guilt hit me. Id pushed her, and she was slipping into old patterns. Cursing myself, I pulled my attention to Minias, just wanting to wrap this up and get out of here. Sorry, I said to apologize for my mother.
Miniass face was still empty. I dont do witches.
I had a hard time not finding offense in that, but Jenks saved me from making a total ass out of myself by buzzing his wings to gain everyones attention.
So let me get this straight, he said, hovering a breath above the sticky table with one hand on his hip, the other pointing that plastic-coated paper clip at Minias. You lost your cushy babysitting job and are now trying to gain control of a demon who has limited power and resources. And you cant do it?
Its not a matter of gaining control over him, Minias protested indignantly. We can catch him. We simply cant contain him after sunset. As I told you, someone is summoning him out of confinement.
And you cant stop them? I questioned, thinking of the charmed zip-strips that the I.S. used to keep ley line practitioners from jumping out of custody via a ley line.
Minias shook his head and his glasses caught the light. No. We catch him, confine him, and when the sun goes down, he pops out, rested and fed. Hes laughing at us. Me.
I disguised my shiver by taking a sip of my coffee. Any idea whos doing it? My thoughts went to Nick, and the coffee turned to acid in my stomach.
Not anymore. His boots scraped against the gritty floor. Soon as I find out, they die.
Nice. Fumbling for my moms hand under the table, I gave it a squeeze.
Do you have any idea as to who might be helping him? Minias asked next, and I forced myself to keep breathing.
Nick, I thought, but I wouldnt say it aloud. Not even if he was sending Al to hurt mebecause if it was Nick, Id take care of him myself. I could feel Jenkss eyes on me, wanting me to say it, but I wouldnt. Why dont you just get rid of his summoning name? I said, looking for other options. You do that, and he cant be summoned out.
The skin visible past Miniass sunglasses tightened. He knew I wasnt saying something. You cant throw away a password. Once you have one, its yours. He hesitated, and I felt the gathering of trouble. You can exchange it with someone elses, though.