“Hell,” she whispered into the phone. Far too many demons to take on by herself.
“Just walk straight. As far as I can tell, the Rex is a conflict-free zone. No one should trouble you,” Cailin said in her ear.
“Right.” Darcy strode forward, ignoring the demons around her. Though she felt every eye in the place on her, no one approached. She was nearly at the doors when the hair on the back of her neck stood up.
Glancing to her right, she saw a man walk into the lobby. He was tall, imposing, and beautiful with wavy dark hair, but what struck her most was his resemblance to Jaral.
“You had better be outside,” she whispered into the phone as she picked up her pace.
The new demon zeroed in on her. He frowned.
Darcy ran the last few steps to the revolving door and threw herself into it. She burst into the cold night air as the demon started after her.
A car pulled up with a screech and Cailin poked her head out the window. “Come on,” she called.
Darcy snapped her cell shut and jogged to the car. She slid into the passenger seat just as the demon stepped from the revolving doors.
Cailin looked back and narrowed her eyes. Lifting a hand, she waved to the demon before stomping on the gas.
“Who the hell was that?” Darcy asked as they sped away from the hotel.
“Liam Greyal. He has abilities similar to mine, though ramped up to eleven. If he is mixed into this, Darcy, we’re in trouble. That demon knows everything that happens in this city.”
“Then it’s a good thing I need to get out of town,” she commented darkly.
“What?”
“Take me to Blake’s. I’ll explain on the way.” Blake would know where to find Sarah Cohen, and when she had the location, she’d be racing against a demon to get there in time.
Chapter Eight
The heater was on full blast and still nothing seemed to warm her. Darcy glanced into the rearview mirror to make sure there was no one else on the road before gunning it. She needed to cross a lot of ground if she was going to make it to Sarah and back to the city in time.
Behind her in the backseat sat her bag of weapons, and beside it a backpack of clothes and necessities. It had taken one hell of an argument to talk Blake and Cailin out of coming along with her. Blake had even refused to give her Sarah’s address if she didn’t let him accompany her.
She smiled at the memory. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her, yet he found it strange that she felt the same about him. No way was she bringing along anyone she cared for on this trip. Unless she was the luckiest woman alive, Jaral would catch up with her at some point. When he did, she didn’t want anyone else bearing the brunt of his rage.
Blake had told her the potion should last a day on a normal demon. As Jaral was far from the standard, she figured she had twelve hours or so to get a head start. She’d been driving all day, barely taking any breaks. There was as much distance between them as she could possibly put. He’d have to start from scratch in his hunt for Sarah. Besides herself, the only person to know the location of Kerilyn’s last blood relative was Blake, but he and his database of hunter information were well hidden right now and would be until her return. Jaral wouldn’t find him. Which meant he couldn’t find her.
Her eyes felt heavy and she cranked the radio to help keep her awake. She’d watched the sun set hours ago. Soon she’d have to stop to sleep. Too much longer and she’d risk wrapping her car around a tree.
Sarah’s mother had apparently moved her across the country after Kerilyn’s disappearance. While Darcy could applaud a mother’s devotion to keeping her kid safe, she wished the woman hadn’t run quite so far. She was trying to condense a three-day drive into two. Far too long given the state of the spirit rift. Of course, with her bag of weapons there was no other option. Getting a sack of guns and knives through airport security was easier said than done.
A flashing motel sign up ahead caught her attention. She glanced at the GPS, wondering if she could make it to the next stop, then decided against it. Sleep had never sounded so attractive.
Darcy parked and went through the check-in process like a sleepwalker, barely hearing the friendly chatter of the elderly proprietor. She grabbed her keys and headed for her door.
The old, musty room had obviously seen a lot of use and not much care. She dropped her weapons bag on the floor and nudged the door shut with her foot. The room was small, boasting only a tiny bathroom with a leaky sink, and a creaky bed facing what appeared to be the world’s oldest TV. If it received more than three channels she’d be surprised.
Kicking off her shoes, she flopped onto the bed with a grateful sigh. It felt so good to stop moving. Darcy closed her eyes, expecting sleep to come instantly, but all she could think of was Jaral. How had he reacted when he woke? Demon on not, she’d used an underhanded trick on him. If their positions were reversed, she’d want his heart carved out with a dull knife.