Demon Slayer

by Linsey Hall

  And I couldn’t ask Claire to go for me. Mari couldn’t do it, either, though I could see from the glint in her eyes that she was raring to go.

  “I’m an adult now, and good with disguises.” I nodded, psyching myself up. “And Grimrealm is a big place. I don’t need to go anywhere near the places we don’t like.” Like, near family.

  “This is a bad plan,” Mari said.

  “It’s our only plan.”

  “I’m going, too,” Mari said.

  I turned to her. “No, you need to stay out so you can rescue me if I get caught.”

  She gestured to Claire and Cass who stood at the register. “They can handle that.”

  “No. You know they can do worse if they catch both of us.”

  She paled slightly, but she got the point.

  We were each other’s weaknesses. We’d do anything to save the other.

  “Fine.” Mari scowled. “But next time, I’m going.”

  “Fine.”

  “I can lead you there, at least,” Claire said. “Get you through the most dangerous protections.”

  I scowled at her.

  “Seriously, that is fine,” she said. “I won’t even enter Grimrealm. I’ll just help you get in. And trust me, you’ll need my help.”

  She was right. I had no idea how to enter Grimrealm. When we’d been smuggled out in barrels, I hadn’t seen exactly how we’d gotten out. And I’d made a point never to go back.

  “Declan might know how to get there,” I said. “I think he has some affiliation.”

  “Well, let’s find out.” Claire crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair.

  Cass shot us a glance from the counter, and I nodded.

  She and Declan returned. He held a cup of coffee and wore a slightly bemused expression.

  “Looks like we’re going to Grimrealm,” I said. “You know how to get in?”

  “No.” He sat and sipped his coffee. “I track demons from Grimrealm often, but only once they leave. I’ve never needed to go in. So I haven’t.”

  “Don’t blame you.” Claire grimaced. “It’s the worst.”

  “You’ve been?”

  “Yeah. And I’ll lead you two in.”

  “Thanks.” He nodded at her.

  I looked at Cass. “Where exactly in Grimrealm are we going?”

  “I’m not sure. I couldn’t see that much.”

  “I have some contacts who can help you,” Claire said. “But you’re going to need to change your signatures so you seem like dark magic users.”

  I nodded. “I can handle that.”

  “We’ve got some really nasty magic back in the shop,” Cass said. “I can imbue a cloak with something that’ll make you stink like a fish shop dumpster on collection day.”

  I grinned. “No thanks. I’ve got a bit of dark magic. An amplification charm will do.”

  Cass’s brows rose. “You do?”

  “You had to have realized that,” I said. “We live in Darklane.”

  “But you’re not normal Darklaners,” Cass said.

  “Close enough.” I stood. “But thank you for your help. Truly.”

  Mari looked at Declan. “How are you getting into Grimrealm?”

  “Same as Aerdeca.”

  So he had a bit of dark magic in him as well? Interesting. I couldn’t sense it. But then, no one could sense mine, either. I’d repressed it enough that it was hard to get a read on.

  “Come on. Let’s go.” I gestured toward the door. “We have hell to sneak into.”

  11

  An hour later, after Mari and I had whipped up a couple of amplification charms, we met Claire and Declan on our front stoop. I’d made Declan wait outside and hadn’t felt even a little bit guilty.

  It helped that not much seemed to bother the angel. As long as we were working together to catch the demon, he seemed happy.

  Mari gave me a worried look as we walked toward the foyer. She still wore her dress and bouffant. “I hate that you’re doing this.”

  “It’s in and out.” I raised my arm, which had a black cloak draped over it. “Besides, I’ll have a disguise.”

  She shot the cloak a skeptical glance, but didn’t mention anything else. I’d changed my glamour so it looked like I wore my fight suit, except I’d made it black this time. I could still use it as a ghost suit, but it’d be unforgivably dumb to wear my white disguise into Grimrealm. I’d add the cloak on for good measure, to hide my face.

  I opened the door to find Declan leaning on the stair railing. Claire strode up the sidewalk toward our place, a tense smile on her face.

  “Ready?” she called.

  “Can’t wait.”

  Mari followed me out onto the step.

  I looked at her. “Don’t worry. I’ll see you later, okay?”

  She nodded, looking distinctly annoyed. “Safe hunting.”

  “I promise.”

  Mari gave me a hard hug, then went back into the house. I could feel her worry on the air.

  “She really doesn’t want you to go in here,” Declan said.

  “We’re close and she worries.” I handed him a tiny vial. “Drink this. It’ll enhance your dark magic signature.”

  He nodded and swigged it back. His signature changed in an instant, going from smelling like a rainstorm to smelling like a raging forest fire.

  “That’s not that bad,” I said. Most dark magic signatures smelled like rot and decay.

  “Still part angel,” he said. “And my fall wasn’t that bad.”

  I definitely wanted to hear about this fall. I swigged my own amplification potion. The dark magic within me didn’t grow, really. It just became more apparent. Remnants of my upbringing in the darkest parts of the world.

  Some people might be bothered by it, but I’d made peace with it long ago. I chose to do good, and therefore I was good. Done and done.

  Declan’s nose twitched. “You smell like a wet dog.”

  I smiled. “Thanks, what a lovely compliment.”

  “A very attractive wet dog.”

  “Really? What’s your preferred breed?”

  He cracked a smile. “Okay, too weird.”

  I nodded. “Yep.” I looked at Claire. “Ready?”

  The cruel twist of my life was that Grimrealm actually wasn’t very far from Darklane. When we’d escaped, we’d wanted to run as far as we possibly could. All the way to New York, or London.

  But that wasn’t the deal we’d cut with the Council of Demon Slayers.

  No, they’d wanted us to protect Magic’s Bend.

  And Magic’s Bend happened to be right on top of Grimrealm. It was the main reason we were so dedicated to our disguises. Our family didn’t leave Grimrealm often that we knew of, but they had minions and friends. We weren’t about to be caught by surprise one day.

  We walked over to Fairlight Alley, the quiet little street that housed unexpected horrors. Claire led the way, striding down the empty alley that smelled suspiciously clean. Almost every alley in this part of town smelled of pee—there were a lot of bars here.

  This one, however, was weirdly clean. And it was only about forty feet deep, with a brick wall on the far end.

  Though there was nothing obviously wrong with the alley, I felt a strong compulsion to back away. A nearly overwhelming desire to get the hell out of there.

  “Ignore the repelling charm.” Claire stopped in front of the wall at the end.

  I swept my cloak over my shoulders and pulled up the hood.

  “Interesting choice of attire,” Declan said.

  “No need to be recognized.” Actually, I had a distinct need not to be recognized. I turned to Claire, killing that conversation. “What next?”

  She pressed a hand against the brick wall and pushed hard. It sank into the stone, and she stepped forward, her foot disappearing into the brick. “Follow me.”

  I mimicked her movements, pushing my way through the charm that made it look like there was a wall. It felt like walking through vi
scous goo, but I made it onto the other side.

  Which was identical.

  “Not what I was expecting.”

  “Not there yet.” Claire strode forward, heading toward the end of the empty alley.

  It was another dead end, just like the one we’d come through, and Declan and I joined her.

  When she reached the end of the alley, she gestured to the side wall. “Stand over there.”

  We did as she asked, while she stood and stared at the brick wall, her head tilted. She was clearly thinking, but about what? She looked like a confused golden retriever staring at itself in a mirror.

  Finally, she nodded as if she’d figured it out and pressed her hand to one of the bricks. Then to another, and another, going in a specific pattern that only she knew. Magic swelled on the air, and stones began to scrape against each other. In front of me, the floor opened up, a gaping square hole that belched dark magic.

  I shuddered. This was way worse than my signature or Declan’s. Hopefully we would blend down there.

  Claire turned back to us, her eyes dark. She dug a tiny vial out of her pocket and popped it open, then chugged it down. She shuddered hard, and I got a whiff of rotten fish and gasoline.

  I pinched my nose. “Wow, that reeks. You’ll blend in well.”

  “I don’t miss this, that’s for sure.” She shoved the empty vial back in her pocket. “It’ll only last about thirty minutes on me, so we have to be quick. Come on.”

  Without another word, she jumped into the hole.

  Holy fates. I’m going into Grimrealm.

  My heart pounded once, hard, but I didn’t waste any time. If I hesitated, I might chicken out. And I never chickened out.

  I jumped in after her, gagging as the dark magic enveloped me. I plummeted, my stomach lodging itself in my throat. Right before I hit the bottom, magic slowed my descent. I landed easily on the ground, right next to Claire.

  Oh my gods. Oh my gods. Oh my gods. I’m in Grimrealm.

  I sucked in a deep breath and packed my freak-out away.

  Declan appeared next to me, his dark wings flared. He folded them back into his body. Claire dragged her interested gaze from Declan and studied the tunnel in which we stood.

  It was long and dark, with green-flame torches burning on the walls.

  “Doesn’t look any different,” she said. “Hopefully the protections haven’t changed.”

  “How long since you were here last?” Declan asked.

  “A couple months.” She waved us forward. “Come on.”

  I followed her down the narrow tunnel, keeping right in her footsteps. Claire stopped in front of a mound of earth that ran along the side. She pointed to it. “Walk on this to avoid triggering a fire trap,” Claire said. “It’ll barbecue you if you don’t walk in the exact right place.”

  I nodded as if this were completely normal, but inside, I was screaming. I was in Grimrealm.

  As we neared the end of the tunnel, the sound of people filtered in. Cacophonous voices, hundreds of them. A cold sweat broke out on my skin, and I adjusted my hood so it fully hid my face. I looked way different now—older, no longer gaunt with hunger—but I couldn’t help myself.

  The mound of dirt upon which we walked ended, and Claire stepped off.

  She gestured to the exit of the tunnel. “I really can do this if you need me to.”

  I squeezed her hand. “No, but thank you.”

  “Then you’ll go through there. Look for the library and speak to the librarian. She should know how to get you started.”

  “The librarian?” Declan sounded incredulous.

  “Librarians know a lot. And a Grimrealm librarian is definitely not whatever you’re thinking.”

  I could only imagine.

  “And remember,” Claire said. “This tunnel is a transportation zone. That means, if you want to use a transport charm to get out of here in a hurry, you have to make it back to here.”

  “Is it the only one in the whole place?” Declan asked.

  “No, there are private ones scattered throughout Grimrealm, but you aren’t likely to have access to one of those.”

  “Okay, we’ll come back here.” But we’d have to be really desperate to use a charm if we were this close to the normal exit.

  Claire gave me a quick hug. “Be careful.”

  “I will.” I squeezed her tight. My heart wouldn’t stop thundering.

  Claire hurried away, disappearing quickly through the tunnel.

  “Let’s go.” I turned toward the exit and approached.

  Declan stuck by my side, and though I didn’t like him—at least, that was what I told myself—I did like his presence. An ally in a sea of danger and horrible memories.

  Slowly, I approached the entrance to Grimrealm. The dark magic that rolled out of the place reeked so badly that my eyes watered. Like an old fishing boat full of rotting trout that had baked in the sun for a week and then had a baby with an old gym sock.

  I breathed shallowly through my mouth, trying to avoid drawing too much of the stink through my nose. And the signatures felt awful too. Like bee stings and pinches and slimy green seaweed.

  “I don’t regret staying away from this place,” Declan said.

  “No, I agree.” What would I have become if I had stayed here? If Mari and I hadn’t escaped, we’d be as bad as this place.

  The idea made me shudder. I’d long since come to grips with the little bit of darkness in my soul—how couldn’t I be dark if I’d been born and raised in Grimrealm? But I wasn’t that bad.

  When I reached the true entrance to Grimrealm, I stopped, taking it all in.

  The famous market.

  I’d never come here as a child—not really. I’d snuck away once or twice on my own, and I couldn’t really count the time we’d been carried through in a barrel. But Aunt had kept a close watch on us, keeping us in our house at the far neighborhood in the back. Just the memory of it made my heart thunder.

  “Your heartbeat is going wild,” Declan murmured.

  “This place is weird.” But damn, he had good senses. I’d have to be more careful.

  “I think there’s a lot more to you than meets the eye.”

  I shot him a look. “Of course there is. I’m mystery and enigma wrapped in a riddle.”

  The corner of his mouth quirked up. “Your tone says you’re joking, but I’d bet that’s mostly true.”

  “Whatever.” I turned to look back at the market, reminding myself that my family rarely went into Grimrealm proper, and that I was in a disguise.

  We’d be quick, in and out and done in an hour.

  The market was the place to be in Grimrealm, as I recalled. Hundreds of people bustled through the stalls, all of which were made of black fabric. Signs floated in the air above each stall, advertising all sorts of black-market goods. And when I said black market, I meant black market.

  There were weapons, grimoires, shrunken heads, and potions for sale—mostly poisons from the look of them. Clothes, too, along with furniture and food. All of it had some element of black magic to it. None of it would be welcome above ground.

  The ceiling was high, probably a hundred feet above us and made of solid rock. My home was right up there, and my family didn’t even realize. I hadn’t really thought of how close they were in ages.

  It was an unwelcome realization.

  The market was at least two football fields in size, hundreds of stalls squished together. Bigger shops and restaurants and even a casino had been built into the walls surrounding the market. Signs were carved into the stone above the premises.

  I ran my gaze over them, finally spotting a small one that said Library. I pointed. “There.”

  “Let’s go.” Declan took my hand, and I jumped slightly, my gaze flashing to his.

  I jerked on my hand, but he didn’t let go.

  “We don’t want to get separated now.”

  I scowled, but just charged forward, dragging him along. He wanted to hold hands?
Fine. But he wasn’t going to like it.

  I was, unfortunately. My heartbeat was still going a mile a minute, but it wasn’t all fear now.

  I did my best to shake away the shiver that ran up my arm. I was totally not interested in him. Nope. I was only interested in finding this demon and getting the hell out of Grimrealm.

  We had to weave our way through the patrons in the market, squishing between the bodies that reeked of rotten cabbage and decaying flesh. There were witches and mages and demons and shifters—all the same kinds of Magica you’d find on the surface.

  Except they were evil as hell, full of dark intentions and hatred.

  As we walked, my gaze roved over the goods spread out over the stall tables. Weapons and torture devices gleamed under yellow light, while potions shined like jewels in their colorful glass bottles.

  I was careful not to make eye contact with anyone, though Declan wasn’t so circumspect. A few angsty demons looked like they might charge him, just for the offense of meeting their gazes. But he gave them a hard look, and they backed off.

  Smart demons.

  Finally, we reached the edge of the market. My mind was buzzing with the few memories I had of this place, of sneaking out to try to find something happy in the world, only to return disappointed because Grimrealm freaking sucked.

  By far, the worst memory was that of escaping. Of Mari and I smooshed into the barrel together, of peering out of the breathing hole while Mari hyperventilated. At the time, the thrill of possible escape had been suffocated by the fear of getting caught. That fear chilled my skin even now, worse than any I’d felt since I was a child.

  Worse than falling off a cliff, facing down a horde of demons, going on a bad blind date.

  Ha. As if I ever did that.

  “You definitely seem nervous,” Declan murmured in my ear. “You’ve never struck me as the nervous type.”

  “I’m not,” I snapped, shooting him an icy glare.

  He grinned. “There’s the ice queen I know and love.”

  “Oh, come on.” I yanked him forward, dragging him toward the little building that said Library over the old wooden door.

  As we neared it, he loosened his grip, and I took the first opportunity to drop his hand, though I hated to admit that I missed the connection. I hurried up to the door and pressed my hand to it, pushing it open.