“Who the hell are you?” Selina asked sharply.
Eden turned to see that Malcolm was watching the proceedings, leaning his shoulder against a tree.
“Sorry. Am I interrupting something?” he asked.
Cold fear shot through her at the sight of him.
“Interrupting something?” Eden asked, forcing herself to laugh lightly at that. “Just three good friends hanging out in a children’s playground. Nothing strange about that, is there?”
Malcolm approached slowly and Eden’s gaze flicked to his hand where he held a palm-sized piece of rock salt. “I consulted with my mentor about what we discussed last night and I’m now ready to finish this.”
“You know where I live?”
“I’m here, aren’t I? Haven’t you been expecting me?” Malcolm looked confused. Of course, he would be. The last time he’d seen Eden she’d agree to have Darrak exorcised without further argument.
She tentatively approached the college-kid-turned-secret-society-demon-hunter. “Malcolm, no. I’ve changed my mind. Please go.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Eden,” Darrak said with warning. “Be careful.”
“That’s him, isn’t it?” Malcolm said, the tremor in his voice impossible to hide. “The
She swallowed nervously. “You need to go home. I spoke to your mother a little while ago. She says you have a scholarship. You need to go back to school. Have a real life.”
“I don’t care what my mother says. This is my life.” His gaze shifted over to Selina and he inhaled sharply. “She’s a witch. I can sense her power.”
Selina glared back at him. “Come any closer, kid, and I’ll give you something else to sense.”
His eyes returned to meet Eden’s and they widened a fraction. “You’re a witch now, too?”
She cringed. “I’ve been called many things in my life. That’s now on the list.”
Disappointment flooded his expression. “I wanted to help you. I failed. The darkness has claimed you.”
She took a step toward him but he staggered back a little, clutching his solid crystal of salt. He looked very young, uncertain, and suddenly in over his head. “There are exceptions to what you’ve been taught by the Malleus. There are demons and witches who don’t want to hurt anyone. And you can’t kill them.”
He shook his head, confused. “But my training, everything I’ve learned…”
“You’re smart enough to see what I’m saying is true. I know you’re afraid right now, but you don’t have to be. And I think you’re so brave for coming here and trying to do this on your own, but it’s not necessary. We’re here trying to fix this by ourselves and you need to go now so we can finish. Will you do that for me?”
The calm, soothing tone of her voice was not exactly what she was feeling inside, but she knew she had to keep her emotions in check. He could be made to see reason. It wasn’t too late.
“I can kill him,” Selina suggested.
“You’re not helping,” Eden said, shooting the witch a sharp look. “I thought you were a nice witch.”
“Why does everyone think I’m nice? I do what I must to survive. And I’m not risking my
“He won’t tell anyone,” Eden said, even though she wasn’t positive that was true. She exchanged a concerned glance with Darrak, who otherwise kept very quiet, still bound to the spot where he stood by Selina’s use of his true name. His expression, however, was no longer pain-filled or even emotionless. His brow was furrowed with concern. Was it for himself or for Eden?
Malcolm’s hand curled around the piece of salt. “I can save you.”
She couldn’t help but smile at that. “I thought you’d want to kill me now, as well.”
“You’re not lost yet. We can help you. The Malleus—”
“They’re the same bastards who killed my innocent human sister,” Selina snapped. “Don’t let them anywhere near you.”
“Eden, be careful,” Darrak warned.
Malcolm swallowed, his expression registering shock from what Selina said. “I need to think.”
That was a very good sign. Eden felt she’d gotten through to him, even if it was just a little. The kid wanted to do the right thing, after all. Despite everything, that was his goal.
She heard a car pull into the parking lot only a few dozen feet away.
Selina sighed with annoyance. “I think we would have had more privacy at the coffee shop. I should have taken that fan-girl up on the blueberry scone offer when I had the chance.”
“Release me, Selina,” Darrak said.
“Fine,” she replied absently and flicked her wrist in his direction. “I release you.”
The demon moved from the spot he had been frozen in and came immediately to Eden’s side. “We’ll do this another time. It’s too dangerous right now.”
The thought was a surprising relief. He was right. This wasn’t a good time. Even if they had to wait a day, it would be worth it.
Malcolm’s gaze snapped to the demon and his grip increased on the salt. “It’s my duty to destroy you, demon.”
Darrak looked directly at him. “I respect your dedication to a job, but you’re a bit of a pain in the ass, you know that, kid?”
“Don’t call me kid.”
“Then stop acting like a spoiled child who thinks he knows what’s right in the world. You have no idea what’s really out there, do you? You’ve stamped out some nasties and consider yourself an expert. Your mind has been corrupted by this group you’re in. You need to learn to think for yourself.”
“I am thinking for myself. And it’s my duty to destroy evil things that enter this world.”
“Is that right?” Darrak’s eyes narrowed and flickered with an inner fire. “If I was truly as bad as you think I am, the only thing left of you right now would be your shoes.”
“Darrak, please,” Eden hissed. He wasn’t helping matters by baiting the kid. She’d seen Malcolm easily destroy the drifter the previous day. She didn’t know if he’d also be able to trap an archdemon in that piece of salt, but she didn’t want to find out.
“Please what?” he said.
“Don’t set yourself up to get hurt.”
He looked at her. “I didn’t think you cared one way or the other what happens to me.”
“I don’t,” she lied.
“You shouldn’t.”
“Then that’s why I don’t. But that doesn’t mean I want you exorcised.”
His jaw was tense. “I just want this over with.”
“Me, too.”
“Then let me help you,” Malcolm said. “I can end this.”
“Say another word”—Selina’s fingertips sparked with visible magic—“and it will be your last.”
Her amulet darkened another shade.
Eden grabbed Malcolm’s hand that held the salt. She looked into his eyes. “Please don’t do anything. I don’t want you hurt, either.”
He frowned at her. “Really?”
She nodded. “Really.”
“Malcolm! There you are!” Rosa entered the clearing, hobbling along on her walking cane. Eden’s heart sank. It must have been her car she heard pull up.
She should have considered selling tickets to Darrak’s curse breaking. Maybe gotten some balloons and fruit punch. It was turning into a big party full of unwelcome guests.
Malcolm tensed. “Mother, please. I can handle this.”
“Sweetie, you shouldn’t be here right now, bothering these people. I told you to leave them alone.”
But maybe this was a good thing. Having his mommy here might help to rein Malcolm in a bit. And Rosa had been very helpful earlier, both with the apology and the refund of the exorcism money.
Rosa moved closer, shaking her head. “I apologize for my son. He’s very… overzealous. He has much to learn
