by Linsey Hall
I spun to see the other demon dragging a long dagger from his hip sheath.
His gaze darted to the blade in my hand. “You can’t hold that.”
“That’s what you think.” I threw myself at him, barely dodging the swipe of his blade as I plunged my dagger into his gut.
He grunted. I pushed him back, yanking my blade free and swiping it across his neck. Blood gurgled forth, and his eyes rolled. When you killed a demon on Earth, it went straight back to its hell. I didn’t know what happened to demons when you killed them in their hell, but I didn’t care.
I scrambled off him, calling on my dragon sense to help guide me to the portal. As I focused, I caught sight of the demon I’d stabbed in the chest. He was gasping his last breaths as his gaze met mine.
“He’ll come for you,” he rasped.
I shivered at the promise in his words, but sneered at him. “Whatever.”
I left them lying on the cobblestones and ran, following the pull of my dragon sense. My deirfiúr and I used this gift to find treasure for our shop, Ancient Magic. Now, I used it to find what I valued most.
Escape.
It pulled me toward the castle, of course. Into the lion’s den.
The building loomed ahead, a massive, hulking structure that threatened with its very presence. I sprinted up the expansive stone stairs and pulled on the heavy wooden door.
To my relief, it opened easily. I darted inside, careful to keep myself against the wall. The foyer was grand, a massive space done in rich woods and silk wall hangings.
I reached for my dragon sense, letting it direct me toward my goal. I followed it, skirting around the edge of the foyer to the other side of the massive room, careful to keep my ears alert for the sound of approaching footsteps.
Where was the Warden now? Had the demon found him already?
Windows glinted on the other side of the hall, beckoning me.
Outside, an oasis of a garden spread as far as I could see. Roses and other flowers bloomed in riotous color amongst the lush green, so different than the hellscape at the front of the house.
My dragon sense beckoned me toward the garden. The portal lay within.
A single wooden door caught my eye, and I raced to it, darting out into the garden. The air was cooler here, a delightful contrast to the fiery nightmare that I’d just left on the other side of the castle. The scent of flowers and recent rain permeated the place.
Did this Underworld have two sides—good and bad?—or was the Warden also a gardener? If it had two sides, why did I end up on the hell side? I wasn’t a bad person.
Right?
I dragged my mind from the stupid questions and sprinted across the grass, losing myself in the hedges as I sought the portal. My time had to be running short. The Warden would see the fallen bodies of the demons any moment and know that I was gone.
Rose thorns scratched my arms as I raced by. I winced and kept going, my heart thundering in my ears. I came across a small blue pond. Black swans floated across the surface, their beady gaze clinging to me.
“Nice birdies,” I cooed, eying them warily.
Swans could be bitches. Mean birds, those.
I skirted around the pond, following my dragon sense. Fortunately, the swans didn’t pay any attention to me.
When I reached the other side, the pale green glow of a portal nearly made me weep with relief. I raced for it, not hesitating at the entrance.
I flung myself inside.
And bounced off, landing hard on my butt, the grass wet beneath me.
Pain sang through my face and chest where I’d slammed into the portal. I clasped my hand to my nose, hoping I hadn’t broken it.
“Dang it,” I muttered as I climbed to my feet.
It was locked. I scowled at the shimmering green air that marked the portal, trying to figure out why the heck I couldn’t get through. Most portals just let you through, unless something was wrong with them. I’d seen a broken portal before, and it had caused some serious problems.
“Oh, you idiot,” I muttered. Of course there was something wrong with this portal.
It led to hell. And out of hell. No way it’d be constantly open like a normal one. Demons would be flooding through to Earth all the time, which was totally not allowed. Most of them looked like such scary freaking monsters that they’d alert humans to the presence of supernaturals. No one wanted that.
Which actually made me feel better. If this portal was locked, it probably went to Earth. That was exactly where I wanted to go. Heading to another Underworld would do me no favors. I didn’t know much about them—no Earth supernatural did—but I knew I didn’t want to be in one of them.
So I just had to figure out how to get through this one.
The portal glowed a shimmering green, dense and impenetrable. But it was the edges that caught my eye. They looked almost like seams, glowing a slightly brighter green.
I reached out and tried to stick my fingers through the seam. They hit a hard surface and stopped dead, glowing slightly green in the light of the portal.
Damn.
I glared at the portal, my mind racing. The green glow was a bit like the blue glow of my Phantom form. I glanced behind me, making sure no one was watching.
Idiot.
No one would be just watching me. Attacking me, maybe. But not just watching.
Still, it felt like there were eyes on me. Probably just paranoia.
I called upon my power, embracing my Phantom form and letting the shivery magic flow through me. It took longer to catch on because of my injuries, but it worked. The magic chilled my skin, turning me blue and transparent.
When I was fully transformed, I reached out again. This time, my fingertips sunk through, tingling where they touched the portal.
Jackpot.
I grinned as I gripped the edge of the portal like a blanket, and tugged. It resisted at first, but I yanked harder, giving it everything I had.
The portal tore away, peeling back to reveal a woodland scene in a place that was definitely not the Underworld.
I grinned, then knocked on my head for good luck, hoping that wherever I was going was close to home. As I climbed through, my heart panged to leave my sword behind, but I was getting out of here, and that was all that mattered.
As I stepped into the woods on the other side, I couldn’t help but shudder as the demon’s dying words echoed in my mind.
He’ll come for you.
Chapter Two
The woods on the other side of the portal were definitely on Earth. The smell was so natural and distinct—dirt and trees and the fresh scent of water from the burbling river to my left. The sun was right where it should be—glowing orange and familiar. I didn’t know if Underworlds had suns, but this had to be Earth. The trees were big, and thank magic, they looked like the ones native to Oregon, where I lived.
My muscles relaxed the tiniest bit, and my chest filled with bright, clear joy. I was almost home.
In the silence of the forest, I could hear my heartbeat.
I was grateful that the old ticker was still beating away, but it was also a reminder of how weird I was. I’d escaped hell and I was alive, complete with heartbeat.
That shouldn’t be possible. And that was dangerous.
But I was back. And I was going to take it.
Somehow, I’d escaped the Underworld.
Did that make me immortal?
I shivered as goosebumps prickled my skin.
I didn’t want to be immortal, watching all my friends die of old age. But I also didn’t want to be in hell. And if I didn’t get out of here soon and cover my tracks, I might be dragged back.
I turned to see what the portal looked like and winced.
A glowing green scar sliced across the air in front of me, a segment of the portal hanging loose like a torn curtain. Through it, I could see the beautiful garden.
“Dang it.” There was no way this was how the portal normally looked. A human could walk rig
ht through it.
Still in my Phantom form, I grasped the edge of the portal and tried to tug it up so that it covered the hole in the ether that led to the unknown Underworld. If I could just knit the seam back together and return it to normal, it should be good.
The edges of the portal stuck together, kind of. It didn’t look as neat as it had before, with the glimmering green seam outlining the haze of the portal, but it was better than before. If you didn’t know what you were looking for, it could pass.
I stepped back and resumed my human form, delighting in the feel of the cool breeze against my skin.
As I turned to head toward town, something massive hurtled out of the portal and slammed into me. It plowed me into the ground, swiping out with its claws as it struggled to its feet.
Pain sliced through me where its razor-sharp claws had torn into my upper chest. I struggled up, my skin chilling as I caught sight of the massive demon in front of me. It was the biggest, meanest looking one I’d ever seen—pale gray with massive horns. His magic smelled like a garbage fire.
This was the Warden!?
He roared and surged toward me. Panic thundered in my chest as I called upon my power, desperately reaching for my Phantom form. The icy magic flowed through me, turning my body blue and incorporeal just as his clawed hand swiped out again.
It passed right through me. His eyes widened at the sight, something strange flashing through them.
He shoved his hand into his pocket, then threw something to the ground. Glittery gray smoke poofed up, and he stepped into it, disappearing.
A transport charm.
What the heck? Why would the Warden run from his prey?
Oh shit.
That hadn’t been the Warden. It’d been some random demon, and I’d let him escape.
Some demon hunter I was.
Pain welled at my chest now that some of my adrenaline had faded. I staggered, glancing down at the wound.
Green fluid dripped from it, glowing bright despite my Phantom form.
Oh no.
Poison?
I sucked in a ragged breath, wincing. I had to get out of here.
I spun and hurried away from the portal, calling upon my dragon sense as I went. More than anything, I wanted to find my home in Magic’s Bend.
Magic shivered through me as I ran through the forest. When my dragon sense latched on, I almost jumped. I hadn’t realized how close I was. Not more than twenty miles. I must’ve been in the woods on the outskirts of town.
An expanse of brown caught my eye, and I glanced over. A beautiful house sat nestled amongst the trees, overlooking the wide, glittering river. It was a modern marvel of wood and stone, with massive windows that would provide a gorgeous view. The whole place was beautiful, and totally unexpected so close to a portal.
Not my business. Certainly not now. And no way I’d knock on that door for help. Who knew what lived there.
I raced away from the house and the portal, following my dragon sense toward town. I zipped up my jacket to cover the wound on my chest and resumed my human form. As I ran, I reached up to touch the comms charm at my neck, but it was gone.
Had it been torn off in the fight? Or during one of my many falls?
However I’d lost it, it looked like I’d be getting home the hard way.
When I finally staggered onto the street that held Ancient Magic, the shop I ran with my deirfiúr, tears prickled my eyes. I knew I’d be happy to see this place again, but crying? That was new.
The wound at my chest wasn’t deep enough to cause massive blood loss, but the poison was becoming a problem. I could feel my limbs growing heavier and weaker.
It hadn’t helped that I’d had to run the whole way home. Not a single car had passed me until I’d reached the city limits, where our shop was located. Though Magic’s Bend was the largest city of supernaturals in the country, where fae walked around with their wings out and Shifters stalked around on four legs, it still wasn’t big. We were hidden from humans by a massive spell, so the only traffic through town was supernatural. Hitchhiking wasn’t easy when your town had so few cars going in and out. Most times it was impossible.
I stumbled down the main street of Factory Row, which was wide and nearly empty. Factory Row was usually pretty dead since we were at the edge of town. One side held a park, and the other a row of old factory buildings from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They’d been converted into shops and apartments in the nineties. The shops were mostly antiques places, so our own shop, Ancient Magic, fit right in.
The rent was low and the company odd, which made it ideal for me and my deirfiúr. We rented the entire building above our shop, each of us taking a floor for our apartment.
The windows of Ancient Magic glinted in the light of the setting sun, welcoming me.
I was home. And not a moment too soon. My legs were starting to feel numb. I shoved aside the panic. It did no good in situations like this.
I shivered in the chill autumn air as I hurried toward Ancient Magic. When I stopped outside the window, my gaze immediately zeroed in on Cass and Nix, who stood behind the counter. Shelves stocked with all kinds of artifacts and replicas covered every wall. The treasures filling the space might draw most people’s gazes, but I had eyes only for my friends.
They were here. Safe.
Cass, with her red hair and usual brown leather jacket, stood next to Nix, who was her opposite in many ways. Nix’s brown hair was pulled into a messy ponytail, and she wore a T-shirt with a cartoon cat on it. She hovered her hand, which glowed blue, over an ancient Greek amphora. An identical vase stood by its side on the counter. In addition to being a FireSoul, Nix was a Conjurer who could also transfer magic.
Looked like they were transferring a spell from an artifact to a replica, which we would then sell. Selling only the decayed magic in artifacts was how we stayed on the right side of the law.
Cass glanced up, her gaze widening at the sight of me. Confusion was replaced by pure joy, a light so bright that I grinned.
Nix let out a shriek of delight. I stumbled into the shop, colliding with my best friends, getting lost in a tangle of arms.
“Del!” Cass cried. “You’re alive!”
They squeezed me so hard that I almost saw stars.
“I’m so happy to see you!” Tears prickled my eyes.
Ten years ago, we’d woken in a field with no memories and only the ratty dresses on our backs. We hadn’t even known our own names. Since then, we’d made our way in the magical world, three FireSouls lying low from the government that hunted them.
I pulled back, my gaze devouring them. They were alive. Really, truly alive, having survived the battle that had killed me. The magical world, which existed secretly alongside the human one, was a dangerous place. There were fights all the time. The one that had killed me had been a doozy, but only unusual in the fact that I had died.
“Where have you been?” Cass demanded as she shook me by the shoulders.
Pain streaked through my chest, and my knees weakened. I stumbled.
“I have a problem.” In my joy, I’d temporarily forgotten my wound. I winced as I unzipped my jacket. The wound was still bleeding slightly, with the green poison oozing from the cuts.
“Shit!” Cass cried.
“Oh no.” Concern clouded Nix’s eyes. “That looks bad.”
“Yeah.” I gasped as my heart started to race. “It’s poison.”
Cass and Nix caught me under the arms and turned me to the door, helping me stumble along.
“Come on,” Cass said. “We’re getting you to Connor. He’ll know what it is.”
They all but dragged me down the dark street toward Potions & Pastilles, the coffee shop owned by our friends Connor and Claire. They were a brother and sister pair who had immigrated from England about six years ago. Claire was a mercenary, while Connor was a hearth witch with an extraordinary knack for potions.
Please know what to do about this poison, Connor
.
Nix and Del helped me stagger up to the glass door. Massive windows on either side revealed the warmly lit interior of our favorite hangout spot. Mason-jar lamps and artwork of questionable quality completed the very hipster-Oregon picture, and it was perfect. I just hadn’t thought I’d be in this condition when I saw it next.
By the time we stepped through the door, my head was spinning slightly.
“Del!” Claire hurried toward me, weaving through the small tables that cluttered the coffee shop. “Oh my gosh! You’re back. How?”
“She’s injured.” Nix turned to the back of the shop. “Connor, get out here!”
“I’ll shut the shop.” Claire hurried behind us and locked the door, then turned the closed sign.
At night, P & P switched from being a coffee stop to serving craft beers and fancy whiskey. Fortunately, no one had yet stopped in for their evening drink besides our new friend Emile, who sat in the corner. I smiled wanly at him, or tried to, at least.
“Come, come.” Claire’s British accent had grown thick with worry. She guided us over toward my favorite corner of P & P, where the comfiest chairs were clustered.
Emile sat in one of them, gazing at us with concerned eyes. He was an Animus mage who had the power to communicate with animals. Two black and white rats—Ralph and Rufus—sat on his shoulders. I grinned at the sight of his furry little companions.
“Hey, guys.” My voice sounded hoarse. The poison was really kicking in now.
“What’s wrong?” Connor’s concerned voice drifted from the other side of the shop.
He hurried closer, and I squinted at him through my blurring vision. His dark hair was flopped over his brow, and he wore a band T-shirt dusted lightly with flour. Today it was Jump, Little Children, a band I’d never heard of. As usual.
I clung to that inane detail, as if the normal would push aside the fact that I was succumbing to some mysterious poison.
Connor was about five years younger than my twenty-five, but he was a potions mastermind. I wouldn’t trust anyone more when I was in a pickle like this.
He knelt by my side, inspecting my wound. “Looks like death didn’t treat you so well.”
