Demon by My Side(10)
“Any leads on what he is?”
Chills ran up her nape, freezing her in place. Darcy turned on her heel to examine the empty storeroom behind her. Nothing.
“That’s the thing. He’s not a specific type, at least not according to these texts.”
“So what is he?”
“Royal.”
She choked. “Royal? As in crowns and thrones?”
“Mythology says the royal house was gifted with all the demon strengths carried through blood. Conceivably this demon controls far more than fire and air.”
“But we’ve come up against royal brats before. They certainly haven’t been able to suck the air from our lungs.”
“True, but Abaddon has too many children to keep track of them all. Those we’ve faced have never shown such abilities, but there’s much more to the demon realm than we’ve been able to piece together with handed-down tales and ancient accounts. At the very least we have records showing evidence of a caste system in the royal house. Perhaps it is based on strands of power carried through the blood. Makes sense when you think about demon succession. The strongest take the throne, not necessarily the firstborn.”
“So who did I fight?”
Silence greeted her question.
Darcy knew the way her stepfather’s mind worked. She rolled her eyes. “I’ve heard your theory of the über princes. Let’s see if I remember my history lessons. There was the mysterious Lawe, the ruthless Teivel, the enigmatic Jaral—”
“I know you don’t think much of the theory, but they’ve been referenced throughout history.”
“In arcane, crumbling tomes. Don’t you think if these demons existed we would have faced them before this?”
“Not if they’re in charge of running the demon realm. Why would Abaddon waste their talents sending them to our world?”
She sighed. “Look, I don’t have time to debate ancient history with you. I need help now. Let’s say Abaddon really has broken out the big guns and sent some powerful demon to our world. That just means there is something real to find here and we need to figure it out first. Do your myths give us any info on killing this kind of demon?”
“No. They call them the undying ones.”
“Oh, bullshit,” she declared. “Everything dies.”
“I’m inclined to agree. The stories, however, suggest that the few hunters to come up against these multigifted demons have met bloody ends.”
“I didn’t.”
“An oddity in itself. Let’s not press your luck, Darcy. If you see this demon again, run.”
She exhaled. Everything in her protested running away but Blake was right. It was the only smart move. “Promise. I won’t even try to stab him.”
“That’s my girl.”
“If you dig up anything else, call me. I’ve got to go—Cailin is waiting.”
“Go. Good luck.”
She snapped the phone shut. Great. Mythical demon prince, spirit rift and the end of hunting as they knew it. Just a normal Saturday.
“Dammit.” She tossed the phone back into her bag.
She’d taken two steps toward the exit when her instincts kicked into high gear. This time she didn’t turn. With small, subtle movements she gripped the knife at her hip and drew it.
“Didn’t peg you for a coward,” she called, rotating on her heel. “Show yourself.”
Silence met her demand.
She scanned the room. Unless he was invisible, there was nowhere for the demon to hide. Maybe she was overreacting.
“I kill people who call me such things,” a voice whispered in her ear.
She spun around, her knife swinging in a tight arc to skewer him. But the demon danced backward with ease.
Darcy assumed a fighting position. She waited for him to attack but he merely watched her with amusement. Seeing him now, Darcy had to admit Blake’s theory didn’t seem quite so laughable. Never in her life had she come across a demon like this. Though she wished she could claim she was truly a threat to him, she knew the idea was ridiculous. He had powers she’d never dreamed a demon could possess. Yet all he did was stand there, studying her, when he should be going for her throat.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“You’ve got the wrong building,” he replied.
“I know.”
“Do you want the right one?”
She blinked. What was he playing at?
“Or would you prefer to keep running around blind, Darcy Snow?”
“You know my name.”
He grinned. Her heart would have skipped a beat if the beautiful face hadn’t come attached to a nightmare.
She lifted her chin, refusing to cower. “I don’t like being toyed with.”