Double Down on Demons (Pandora's Pride Book 1)

by Annabel Chase

  “She’s in her office. I’ll take you there.” Evadne hit the button for the elevator.

  “She can go without help, Evadne. Find another game to play.”

  Evadne linked her arm through mine. “We girls will go together, just like the restroom at a nightclub.”

  The elevator doors opened and she nudged me inside. Saxon joined us and hit the button for another floor.

  “Stay out of her business,” Saxon warned. The doors opened again and he stepped into the corridor. Evadne gave him a childlike wave with her fingers slightly curled. When the doors closed again, she gave an exasperated groan.

  “He’s the absolute worst, isn’t he?”

  I didn’t answer. I wasn’t interested in whatever game she wanted me to play.

  “We should go out on the town one night, you and me. I bet we could turn quite a few heads. I’m partial to craps. What do you like?”

  “I don’t gamble.”

  The doors opened and I exited the elevator. Before Evadne could follow me, I turned around and did a quick spell that sealed the doors behind me. I heard Evadne’s muffled laughter as I continued to Abra’s office. The older witch sat on a worn leather sofa flicking through a book. She glanced up when I crossed the threshold.

  “I suppose Evadne told you.”

  “You wanted her to overhear, I take it.”

  “Her nosiness has its uses.” She motioned for me to sit on the upholstered wingback chair across from her.

  “I consider myself more curious than nosy,” I said. Abra set the book on the coffee table between us and I noticed the title consisted only of symbols.

  “It’s a Book of Shadows. Have you ever seen one?”

  I shook my head. “It’s a witch thing, isn’t it?”

  “It’s a resource, like any other book,” Abra said. “This one includes rituals that might help us figure out what Supai intends.” I told her about the map. “Excellent work. I was hoping for real progress. I’ll follow up with Nita as soon as we’re finished here.” She clasped her hands in her lap. “So have you reached a decision, Miss Wendell?”

  “I’m sorry about Baltimore,” I said. “I know there are important things happening here and I should have stayed put for now. I gave you my word and I intend to uphold my end of the bargain.”

  “Apology accepted.”

  “I’m not moving in here though. I’m going to continue to stay at Salt.”

  Abra’s expression remained neutral. “May I ask why?”

  “Because I like it there.” As much as I could like living inside four walls. I was accustomed to the great outdoors and still missed the open sky as my ceiling.

  “You don’t trust us.”

  “It isn’t that…” Okay, maybe that was part of it. “I’ve never been part of a big group and the idea of actually living in such close quarters makes me uncomfortable.” I didn’t want to use the word ‘prison,’ but that was how it felt to me.

  “Very well then. Stay at Salt, but should you change your mind, there’s a room here waiting for you.”

  “Thank you.” I rose to my feet and, before I could even clear the room, I heard her on the phone with Nita. Whatever was going to happen with Supai, I had the sinking feeling it was happening soon.

  I’d almost made it through the lobby when I heard someone call my name and quickened footsteps behind me. I turned to see Harmony hurrying after me.

  “Thank the gods,” I said. “For a second, I thought you were Evadne.” The healer didn’t smile. In fact, she seemed unusually tense. “Is everything okay?”

  “It’s about the potion you gave me.”

  “The Green-Eyed Monster?”

  She sucked in a breath. “I don’t quite know how to tell you this, so I’m just going to come out with it. That potion wasn’t to treat your disease. It isn’t designed to treat any disease.”

  I frowned. “Then what’s it supposed to do?”

  Her blue eyes softened. “It’s an inhibitor, Callie. That potion is designed to suppress a supernatural’s traits.”

  I started to laugh but quickly realized she was completely serious. “That doesn’t make sense. I have magic. I’ve always had magic. If it were an inhibitor, I wouldn’t be able to…” I trailed off, remembering what had happened in Bones Crossing. The sheer power that had burst from me.

  “I’m sorry, Callie,” she said.

  I continued to stand there in a stupor. My father’s dying words had been to trust no one. And now I knew that included him.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I spent that night tossing and turning. When I finally managed to fall sleep, it wasn’t restful. I relived dozens of memories with my father. The day I caught my first fish in the river. The night I cast my first spell. He’d seemed so proud of me. How could I reconcile that with what I’d learned about the potion? Was it possible that my father didn’t know? After all, he was a mage, not a healer. Then again, he was a mage who knew his way around a potion. If the Green-Eyed Monster had nothing to do with Melchior’s Syndrome, then I was confident my father knew it. But why would he want to temper my abilities?

  Another dreamlike memory began. I was a fourteen-year-old in a dingy motel bathroom in the process of coloring my birthmark. I’d dropped the bowl on the tile floor and the contents had splattered everywhere. The worst part wasn’t the cleaning charge we’d have to pay; it was the fact that my roots were already visible and it would be difficult to get another potion bottle now that we were halfway up the mountain with a winter storm rolling in. My father had taken one look at the mess on the floor and assessed the situation.

  “I can try to replicate the potion,” he’d said. “It might not look as good, but it’ll do the trick.”

  “Can’t I just leave it? Who cares whether it’s blond or pink?”

  “I care.” His tone had left no room for argument. It should’ve seemed strange—a father paying so much attention to his daughter’s hair—but I was accustomed to it by then. I’d followed his orders without question. Trusted him implicitly, as every child should trust her parent.

  Trust no one.

  I bolted upright in bed, my body trembling. I rubbed my arms and tried to calm myself. My father had always been overly concerned with the mage mark on my back too. He’d insisted that I keep both marks hidden at all times. An unsettling thought unfolded in my mind. Was I really a descendant of an ancient mage named Abraham? Was there even an Abraham? There had to be. And that was probably why he made me drink the Green-Eyed Monster. He didn’t want me to carry the burden of overpowering magic. Over the years, he’d told me dozens of tales about supernaturals with too much magic—how they’d eventually break or even kill themselves because their minds and bodies weren’t capable of handling it. He wouldn’t have wanted that for me.

  Yes, an inhibitor potion made more sense now.

  I flopped my head against the pillow, relieved to have reached a sensible conclusion. If my father had lied, it was only to protect me. What would he have done with a teenager more powerful than he was? I wouldn’t have listened to reason. I would’ve wanted to show off or piss him off and he would have been unable to stop me. The only right thing to do was give me a potion that limited my power and not tell me about it.

  I closed my eyes and went back to sleep. This time the memories were replaced by actual dreams that were more relaxing and ethereal. One of the dreams involved riding the Ferris wheel with Saxon and taking in the unobstructed view of the Atlantic Ocean. It was simple and romantic—and would have to remain only a dream. For a brief moment, I dared to entertain the thought of what might happen after I completed the mission. Maybe then we could see each other in a non-professional capacity, except I planned to return to the mountains afterward.

  I must’ve fallen asleep again because the next time I opened my eyes, a sliver of light filtered in through the curtains. I squinted and flipped back the sheet. My body jolted when I noticed a silhouette seated on the chair in the corner of the room.


  “What in the hell, Oren?”

  The vampire sipped from a coffee cup. “A pity. I was hoping you slept in the nude.”

  My hand pulsed with magic. “Bend over so I can test if this magic orb is the right size for your ass.”

  The vampire’s diamond encrusted fangs sparkled in the stream of sunlight. “Ingemar asked me to come and speak with you.”

  “Now? Couldn’t you wait until I was taunting you on the casino floor? You know I’m good for it.”

  “I know you are, Calandra, and I daresay I enjoy it.”

  I dropped back onto the edge of the bed. “So what’s with the extreme privacy?”

  “As you know, there are cameras throughout the casino. My employer didn’t want our conversation to be seen or heard by anyone and we both knew you wouldn’t willingly let me into your room, so this was the best option.”

  I exhaled. “Okay, you’re here in your final creeper form. What’s the stalker emergency?”

  “The chip.”

  I glanced at the bedside table where I’d placed the necklace before I’d fallen asleep. “What about it?”

  “Mr. Halpain is making good on his promise to you. He finally managed to check Salt records for the K’uei demon’s debt.”

  I stiffened. “I’m listening.”

  “He found one, although it’s dated twenty years ago, which explains the older chip. It doesn’t say the amount of the debt or its origin, only to whom it was owed.”

  “And that would be?”

  “A gentleman by the name of Elliott Rosemont.”

  I leaped off the bed. “Sweet goddess of mercy, Oren. I could almost kiss you.”

  Oren set down the coffee cup with prim fingers. “I’m afraid your celebration will have to wait. Elliott Rosemont died two years ago, so I very much doubt he ordered your father’s death.”

  “No, that’s…” I didn’t feel compelled to share what I’d learned in Baltimore. “That’s still helpful, thanks.”

  Oren stood and ran his hands down his neatly pressed shirt, presumably to smooth any wrinkles. “Mr. Halpain is sorry that he couldn’t be of more assistance.” He headed for the door.

  “Tell him thank you. I really appreciate it.”

  He opened the door with a gentle click. “My employer appreciates that you’ve chosen to remain here at Salt, despite other offers.”

  Ingemar knew about that? Was nothing sacred?

  “Oh, and Oren?” The vampire turned to look at me and I saw the flash of hope in his eyes. “If you ever sneak into my room again, I don’t care whose orders you’re following—I’ll make sure you never use those fangs again.”

  He offered a subtle nod before exiting the room.

  I ducked into the bathroom to get dressed and brush my hair and teeth. By the time I emerged, there was a text from Doran. “Please report to HQ immediately,” I read aloud. I had a feeling that Nita had stayed up all night to decipher the significance of Supai’s Grand Canyon location.

  I left the room in a hurry, but paused to flip the sign on the door handle, encouraging the maids to come in. I needed a clean coffee cup and I shuddered to think what else Oren had touched while I was asleep.

  As I sprinted all the way to HQ, I decided that it would be convenient to have Saxon’s wings. I got the sense he didn’t fully embrace his hybrid identity, but I was beginning to see the perks.

  When I arrived in the lobby, Jonas was there with a coffee and a bag full of pretzel bites.

  “Jonas, you’re my hero.” I accepted the offerings without breaking stride.

  “Conference room here on the main floor,” he called after me and I promptly shifted direction.

  Everyone was present and accounted for when I joined the meeting already in progress. Nita faced the group and a map like the one Tages had given us shimmered in the air beside her.

  “There’s a seat here,” Liam said. He patted the chair next to him with a ridiculous grin.

  I inched my way over and plopped into the seat.

  “Can I have a pretzel bite?” he asked.

  “Reach one finger over here and you’ll be down a digit.”

  “Somebody’s hangry,” he muttered and returned his attention to Nita.

  “According to my calculations, there’s a meteor shower happening that would provide the kind of power Supai is looking for. Between that and the ley lines at the canyon…”

  “Spare us the details,” Evadne interjected. “Just tell us when this event is going to happen so we can portal our asses there.”

  Nita shifted her weight. “You’re not going to like this.”

  “We don’t like anything about this, so please continue.” Evadne made an exaggerated gesture.

  Nita closed her eyes. “The meteor shower starts tonight, but it peaks tomorrow at sunrise. If I were Supai, I’d be waiting for the height of the shower to perform my ritual.”

  Emil nodded gravely. “I can make the portal.”

  “Are you certain?” Abra asked. “I can see about a spell. It might be more reliable.”

  “We have the coordinates and the ley lines there will help. I can manage.”

  “Less than twenty-four hours to come up with a strategy to defeat one of the Plague monsters,” Saxon said with a shake of his head.

  “How do we expect to do this?” Tate asked. “Supai isn’t an ordinary demon and we have to factor in the possibility of facing off with him when he’s chock full of power.”

  “Are you forgetting that I’m back in action?” Evadne asked.

  Purvis ignored her. “That’s what the next twenty hours will be for. We finally have a shot. We can’t afford not to take it.”

  Liam elbowed me. “We have super mage over here. She can incinerate him in a single blast.”

  “And risk turning dozens of innocent children into ash?” Abra asked. “Do you really think that’s wise, Liam?”

  “You didn’t see it though,” Liam said, his excitement growing. “One good blast and we can eliminate Supai for good.” He dusted off his hands. “One Plague problem solved.”

  “What Tate and I did…It wasn’t what we intended. Abra is right. I don’t trust myself to use magic like that, not when there are kids between us and Supai.”

  “Even if we stop the ritual in time, what do we do with the children?” Saxon asked. “There could be hundreds.”

  “Keep them safe until we can arrange transport for them,” Doran said. “Separate the orphans though and make a list of their names. We’ll find temporary homes for them until permanent placements can be arranged.”

  “Will we have any brought here?” Evadne asked.

  “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Abra said.

  I hardly thought the headquarters of a monster-fighting organization was the best place for kids, but it didn’t seem worth arguing. We had to defeat Supai first.

  Evadne jumped to her feet. “Somebody polish my blade. I’m ready.”

  “As we said, Evadne, we have about twenty hours to come up with a solid plan and practice our maneuvers,” Doran said.

  “I don’t need practice,” she said. “I was in hibernation for two weeks. I’m ready for an outlet.”

  “This isn’t a training exercise,” Abra said. “This is a serious matter that requires everyone to work as a team.”

  Liam looked at Evadne. “Do you need the definition of that word? Remember, there’s no ‘i’ in it.”

  “As always, Saxon is your team leader,” Abra continued and Evadne let loose a dramatic moan.

  “So sexist.” She slumped back into her seat.

  “It has nothing to do with gender and you know it,” Natasha said. “I’d be the first one to object to that. Saxon is the best equipped…”

  Evadne gave his crotch a pointed look. “Not from where I’m sitting.”

  Natasha leaped across the table and slammed Evadne backward onto the floor. The vampire held the tri-brid’s neck in a viselike grip and showed her fangs. “One more imp
ertinent word from you and you’ll be back in containment indefinitely.”

  Evadne’s eyes bulged. Only when she croaked her acceptance of the terms did Natasha release her. The vampire returned to her chair and sat as though she’d only gotten up to stretch.

  “Saxon, take the team to training room A while we discuss our options,” Abra said. “We’ll let you know when we’re ready for you.”

  Saxon headed for the door and the rest of us followed. The team was quiet as we waited for the elevator to take us to the training room. We rode up in silence and, when the doors opened, Evadne let the others leave before blocking my exit.

  “Listen up, boo. I’ve got news for you. I know you and Saxon have joined this mutual admiration society, but it has to stop. You can’t like Saxon and he can’t like you. Any kind of favoritism disrupts the balance of the team.”

  I took a step closer so that my nose was only inches from hers. “First, we can like each other all we want, we’re just not allowed to act on it. Second, he doesn’t like me so it doesn’t matter. And third, I don’t like him that way anyway, so this whole conversation is moot.” Okay, the third one was a lie, but a necessary one.

  “Moot.” Evadne broke into a smile. “I’m a big fan of that word. I think I’ll try to incorporate into my everyday vocabulary.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re an odd duck.”

  “Call me whatever you want, as long as you don’t get in my way out there. This is the real deal, not some playtime in a tree.”

  “It was a Quercus demon,” I corrected her.

  “You say demon; I say tree.”

  “Or demon tree,” Liam said, poking his head over her shoulder. “Compound word.”

  Evadne palmed his face with her hand and pushed him backward. “Maybe we should offer you as a sacrifice. Supai might be willing to make the exchange.”

  “Aw, you think I’m that powerful that he could trade a hundred kids for me? You say the sweetest things.” Liam made kissing noises before disappearing down the corridor.

  Evadne grabbed my hand. “Come on, newbie. It’s time someone shows you how to defeat a Plague demon.”