No, but I saw into your soul when you were looking into mine. He bowed his head toward her. I am sorry for the things you have suffered because of what we are.
Yeah, so witches had been a favorite cats-paw over the centuries. Shed survived, and she would continue to so do thanks to her hardened heart.
Suddenly, Tuesdays body jerked forward. Certainly stepped aside and they both looked down the alley. Ethan stood about fifty yards off. He gave them a thumbs-up.
And when he started walking again, Tuesday was pulled after him.
Shit list! she called back to Certainly, who had the decency to place his palms together and bow to her in reverence.
* * *
Ethan chuckled to himself as the witch reluctantly followed him down the street to his place in the eleventh arrondissement. He lived in a third-floor loft close to Père Lachaise cemetery, which boasted an excellent view of Sacré Coeur up on the hill.
He left the front door open behind him, not feeling the need to wait on the witch. Shed stand back just to piss him off, surely. He tossed his keys onto the gray granite kitchen counter and kicked off his shoes, then wandered through the living area. With a few words to the electronic house butlerStuart, modify for sunthe electrochromic shades fixed between the double windowpanes that looked out over the city adjusted to a soft white that would allow in light but not the UV rays that gave him the most caution.
The layout of the loft was openno walls, save the ones enclosing the bathroom. Strolling through the living room, around a corner and through the bedroom, he went into the bathroom but left the door open behind him. Stuart, warm water. Ethan splashed water on his face, then manually twisted off the faucet and took a few deep breaths.
He opened his palm. The cut CJ had given him had already healed. Sharing blood with the witch hadnt been as horrible as hed expected. Remnants of fear over the once-poisonous witch blood remained. Hed have to get over it. And fast. If the demon was a blood demon, surely much blood would be spilled in the coming days. The witchs. And the demons. Ethan wasnt willing to give any more than the few drops hed provided today.
He liked blood. As sustenance. But he never drank witchs blood, even since the Great Protection Spell had been broken. It couldnt harm him now. And there were even some vampires who liked drinking from witches. If you added in sex and a specific spell for bloodsexmagic, the vampire could steal some of that witchs magic for himself.
He had no desire to own magic. But to taste the witchs blood? He couldnt shake the scent of her blood as it had trickled into the air in the alley outside headquarters. It had roused him so much in that moment that hed used violence and had shoved her roughly to hide his burgeoning desires. He hoped she wouldnt bleed near him again.
That would prove a challenge.
Honey, Im home!
He shook his head, but no reflection in the mirror showed his exasperation. CJ had warned she would be a struggle. But that was a challenge he welcomed. Now, to work with the witch.
Tuesday had shucked off her coat and now reclined on the leather sofa that sat against a rough brick wall. Shed kicked off her shoes and waggled her bare toesthe nails were painted bright blueas she stretched out her arms and yawned. The black shirt had a button below her breasts and was open from there down, revealing abs. And much more skin than he wanted to notice right now.
Tired? he asked.
Unlike vampires, we witches do need a little shut-eye now and then. And after all the torments Ive endured?
Why dont you take twenty minutes to rest? Stuart, close the shades completely.
As the windows darkened, Tuesday sat up and glanced over a shoulder. Who the hell is Stuart? A house brownie?
Ethan chuckled. A bit similar. Thats the name of the electronic house butler. This place is high-tech. If you need something, Stuart can usually get it.
Stuart, book me a flight back to Boston, STAT, Tuesday said.
As the butler began to confirm, Ethan canceled that request. And ignore all requests from any voice but my own, he ordered.
Of course, Stuart replied.
Thats creepy. Tuesday lay back down and crossed her arms over her chest. And so not fair.
While you rest Im going to make a few calls. Plan our first move.
You dont have a plan?
Of course I do, he lied. Sitting before the kitchen counter with his back to her, he pushed aside her spangled coat. A pad of paper and a pen waited near the phone. He was all about the high-tech, but hed never give up the landline. You want a blanket or something?
Fuck you, Richard. And she turned over on the sofa and snuggled up in a ball.
Again with the Richard? He thought about it a few seconds. Ah. Richard shortened was... All righty then. He shouldnt expect her to think very highly of him after having one of his retrievers kidnap her and fly her across the ocean. And then forcibly bind her to him.
He may have to find a means to cozy up to her in order to get her to trust him or hed never get anywhere with her. At the very least, he needed her to want to trust him.
Pulling out his cell phone, he scrolled through the contacts. He knew the person he had to speak to first to learn anything about any demon in Paris.
* * *
Edamite Thrash was a sort of demon overlord with a penchant for niceness. But Ethan didnt tell anyone that, or Thrash would scratch you with the poison thorns that grew from his knuckles. The man was a corax demon, which meant he could shift into an unkindness of ravens and take to the skies. He also made it his job to oversee the demons of Paris, knowing who was where, and when and why. He kept a loose rein on his species, and enforced punishment only when one of them threatened to expose their kind with their foolish actions.
Ethan knew most of the major players in the paranormal realm who inhabited Paris. That was his job, to know whom he could trust and with whom he had best watch his back. Ed was trustworthy.
The dark feather tattoo on Eds neck always drew Ethans eye. He wore many sigils tattooed on his skin, and combined with his standard dark business suit and smartly parted and slicked black hair, he looked dangerous yet disturbingly GQ stylish.
He shook the mans hand, noting he always wore black leather half gloves that exposed his fingers. He needed only cover the thorns on his knuckles to prevent an accident.
Good to see you, man. Ed nodded over Ethans shoulder. Who is this pretty?
Tuesday, who had followed Ethan into the building at a distance, was acting petulant, yet she strolled forward and offered her hand to shake. Tuesday Knightsbridge.
Ed clasped her hand. The witch. Ive heard about you.
You have? From who?
My girlfriend, Tamatha Bellerose.
Bellerose? Oh, yes, her mother is Petrina. I know that witch. And the quickness with which Tuesday pulled her hand from the demons clasp clued Ethan she probably didnt have a good relationship with the family. Just in Paris for a visit, she added. Forced, as it is.
Ed looked to Ethan for explanation.
Tuesday is helping me to locate a demon. Thats why I wanted to check in with you. See if youve any information that may lead us to him.
Ed leaned against the desk behind him and crossed his arms over his chest. Which demon?
Ed leaned against the desk behind him and crossed his arms over his chest. Which demon?
The Beautiful One, Tuesday said before Ethan could say the name.
Ah. Gazariel. Ed winced and rubbed his jaw. I do know hes in town. But havent a clue where. He hasnt been making much noise so hes not on my give-a-fuck radar. Why is she helping? You only require a witch when you need to summon a demon from Beneath or Daemonia.
Im bait, Tuesday said, tossing out the words at the same time Ethan said, Shes my lure for the demon.
You two dont get along very well, do you?
Ethan kept an eye on Tuesday as she walked about the demons office, looked over the marble conference table and then wandered to the wall where various artifacts were displayed on small individual shelves.
We had to take her away from her home to get her to work with us, Ethan offered.
Kidnapped me, Tuesday called over her shoulder as she peered into a glass container that likely held faery dust. The contents sparkled in all colors from the afternoon sun beaming in through the windows.
Sounds on par for Acquisitions, Ed said. So, a lure, eh? Why would Gazariel be interested in that witch?
She wears his sigil. Or that is the information we have.
Ed stood and now he gave Tuesday his full attention. She turned from her curious seeking and splayed her hands. Yep, Im the demons bitch. I carry his curse. And Einstein here thinks thatll draw him to me. Idiot.
Hell come to you. We just have to get you close enough he puts up his head and notices, Ethan said. Give him a sniff of the witchs scent.
Hes not going to be attracted to the one who wears his curse, Ed said. Why would he? I know a bit about The Beautiful One. He put an unwanted curse in her many centuries ago when he had the opportunity. And now hes done with it. Im not sure of the nature of the curse, but if the demon wants it gone from him, theres not a thing in this world that would incline him to set one foot near her now. Shes useless.
Hey! I can hear you, Tuesday called. The blue glass sphere she had touched wobbled and rolled off the shelf. She caught it just before it hit the floor. Oops. Good save, though, yeah?
Dont touch the breakables, Ethan said, chastising the overly curious witch. And to Ed he said, Are you serious? But we need her to open that curse and hold Gazariel so he will submit.
Why do you need him to submit?
Hes got something that Acquisitions wants.
Ed lifted an eyebrow.
Its a book of angel names and sigils. A muse wrote it. It holds the code for the Final Days.
Is that thing back in circulation? I thought the angel Raphael had taken it underwing, so to speak?
It made a series of exchanges before Raphael secured it from a vampire intent on populating the world with nephilim. Lets just say its been in so many hands, even the Archives records are confused as to where it was last seen before landing in the demons hands. But I have good intel that The Beautiful One currently has it.
Doesnt sound like a party.
Its not. The list of angel names, when ordered correctly, holds an ancient coded word, or words, that when spoken, will send all angels plummeting to earth to smother mankind with their multitudes. Their wings will burn human flesh, young and old. Paranormals are not exempt, either. The earth will become an ashy cemetery of the mortal, the paranormal and the divine.
Whew! Ed ran a gloved hand through his slick hair. Thats something you want to stop. But your challenge will be getting the demon to come to you, without knowing youve got the witch, and then surprising him with her at just the right moment.
Ethans temples had begun to pulse. He hadnt expected this particular complication. If he would have known before the demon didnt want anything to do with the witch, he wouldnt have bound himself to her until after theyd secured Gazariel. Of course, he needed Tuesday to bring the demon to him. This was a mess. Had she known as much?
Her self-satisfied grin answered that one for him.
Keep her out of sight until you need her, Ed suggested.
Too late. I bound myself to her to keep her close and protect myself from any retaliatory magic.
Then youve got a problem, Pierce.
No need to state that one out loud. Tuesdays soft tsking sounds riled him and Ethan fisted his hands. Yet when he saw her smile beam at sight of his anger, he relented the knuckle-whitening clutch. The witch would not get under his skin. He was smarter than this. And he didnt need to snap a rubber band to remind him of that.
He turned to Ed. Can you help by telling me where Gazariel might be?
I havent a clue.
But you keep tabs on all the demonshow can you know hes in the city and not have a location on him?
Its a feeling, Pierce, not an exact science or even a map. Believe me, I would help you if I could. The Beautiful One is from Beneath, so you might start at lEnfer.
The Devil Himselfs nightclub. It was frequented by demons, vamps, werewolves and most any sort looking for dark and devious indulgences. Just the place Ethan wanted to visit. Not.
Hey, how much you want for this? Tuesday waggled a pearlescent alicorn shed found on a shelf.
Ed shrugged. You can take it.
What? Are you serious? The witch actually tittered with glee. You do know how valuable this is?
Its... Ed winced. I should have never obtained that thing. It was taken from innocence. Its not something I have a right to own. Ive been meaning to get rid of it for a while now. Youd be doing me a favor by taking it.
Nice! Tuesday stabbed the air with the thing. I can so use this.
Ethan could but shake his head and wish the day would get better.
I guess youll be clubbing then? Ed offered as he extended his hand to shake.
Sounds like it. Ethan thanked the man and started out of the room, knowing Tuesday would have to follow. Sooner or later.
As he got on the elevator, the witch entered, twirling the alicorn gaily. I got a prize, she teased.
What the hell can you do with that thing?
Youll find out soon enough. By the way, Im going to need some magical supplies. You whisked me away from home and cauldron. I need certain items to work magic, put up wards and generally survive.
Like what?
She shrugged and tapped the alicorn against her jaw. This is a start. Theres got to be magic shops in the city. And youll have to pay, sweetie, since my kidnapper decided against bringing along my purse. And Ill be needing some clothes as well. Cant go clubbing looking like this, can I?
You like fine. All black and perfectly witchy? Youll fit right in at lEnfer. Ethan checked his watch. It was around six in the evening. A few more hours before the club opened.
Can a chick get pizza in this town?
Rolling his eyes, he strolled out as the elevator doors opened. The witch had no taste whatsoever.
Chapter 4
At the plain black metal doors to the club lEnfer, they stopped before the bouncer with red eyes. A sign over his high left shoulder stated, in Latin, what basically translated as no funny stuff and you take your own chances entering. Tuesday boldly met the bouncers gaze and focused her intent toward him. The demon looked down, chastised by her audacity. Served him right. He was young and needed to learn to show respect for his elders.