Darker Days

Subtle. Real subtle.

I’d never met Valefar before, and when I stepped into the room, the guy that stood before me wasn’t what I expected. Wasn’t even close.

Black leather pants—what was it with demons and leather?—black silky button down, and worn black shit kickers. The guy had a generous mop of unruly blond hair and a pair of the brightest blue eyes I’d ever seen. The color belonged on the cover of a Caribbean vacation brochure—not a demon’s face.

Hotness aside—and yeah, he was hot—he looked a little older than me. Early twenties, tops. I knew that wasn’t his true form. Dad had told me once Valefar was among the oldest in the Shadow Realm’s hierarchy. The older demons were, the less human they looked.

His smile widened at my approach. “Now this is a pleasure.”

“Do you know who I am?”

“Little Jessie Darker. You’re Damien’s girl.”

“You’re not surprised to see me? Here?”

His smile widened, and he winked. “Not in the least, Sugar Plum. What can I do for you?”

“I need help.”

He laughed and clapped his hands together. The sound echoed through the room, making me jump. “I like you. No beating around the proverbial bush.”

I stuffed both hands into my pockets. Play it cool, Jessie. “No time.”

“As I’m sure you know, my aid—should I choose to give it—does not come free.”

This was the part I’d been dreading. “I know.”

“What is it you need?”

“You sent my dad to stop the sale of the box containing the Seven Deadly Sins.”

He picked up a small blue container and popped something into his mouth. I tried not to imagine what it was. “I did.”

“And as you’re aware, the box was opened.”

“I am.” He held out the box and I forced myself to look inside. “Hershey’s Kiss?”

Hershey’s Kiss. My favorite. I shook my head. “The Sins found a witch. They’ve taken my parents.”

“What would you like me to do about it?”

“Obviously, I’d like your help getting them back alive,” I snapped.

In the blink of my eye, he was in front of me, lips twisted in an angry snarl. “Watch your tone, child.”

I froze.

He took a step back. “So you’d like my aid in reacquiring them, yes?”

“Yeah.”

“And what are you willing to trade?”

I had to be very careful. Wording was tricky when it came to demons. Making deals with them was even trickier.

“If you want me to consider helping you, I need something in return.” He waited a moment.

“I’m guessing you won’t take a check?”

He shook his head. “What else ya got?”

“Um, I have a fifty dollar gift card to Barnes and Noble, but something tells me you’re not a reader…”

Circling like a vulture, he said, “May I make a suggestion?”

“Sure.”

“Service.” He stopped and leaned back against the edge of his desk.

“Huh?”

“Your parents for fifty years of service.”

“Why not just ask for my soul while you’re at it,” I yelled. Somehow, though, when I’d chosen to go this route, I knew this would be his request. Mom was too eager—too willing—to keep Dad and his element away from me. There was more to this than they’d said. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to find out what. Not with their lives on the block.

“I just did.” He circled again. “I would own your soul for the next fifty years. Think of it as—a loan. In that time, you would work for me—in a similar manner as your father. Should you breech that contract in any way, I keep possession of your soul.”

I didn’t answer right away. He smiled. “Take it or leave it, pumpkin. Going once…”

“Fifteen years.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Fifty five years. Going twice…”

“There has to be something else. What good would I be to you? I’m a useless human.”

He laughed. Not a snicker or giggle, but a full-blown belly laugh. It was seriously creepy. “Simple human? Hardly. You got here, didn’t you?”

“What would I have to do?” I was desperate. The truth was, no matter what he said, I’d agree. I refused to lose my parents. But the least I could do was make it seem like I’d bargain.

“Nothing hard, actually. If rumors of your reputation are true, you might even enjoy it.”

Rumors of my reputation? I had a reputation? Despite my situation, I was kind of proud. A rep. That had reached hell.

“You’d mostly be enforcing deals like ours. Checking up to see that words were being honored, dunking the ones that weren’t.”

“Dunking?”

“You saw the souls in the river on your way in, I trust? All poor bastards that reneged on their deals.”

And with that, a moment of clarity came. I understood now why Mom told Lukas she’d help him even though she was sure she couldn’t. I idolized my mom, but up until that moment, I never truly realized what an amazing woman she was. The choices she had to make. The things she had to sacrifice. All for the greater good. And now it was my turn to step up and make the hard choice. It’s what I’d been begging for, and now that I was standing on the cusp, I wanted nothing more than to go back to arguing with her about it.

“Better hurry. Deals like this don’t last…”

I wanted more time. Time with Lukas. Time to think. Time to have been a kid.

But time was up.

“Lukas. I want Lukas freed from the box.”

“That,” he said with a slight frown. “I cannot do.”

“You can’t.” I knew I should watch my tone, but I couldn’t help it. Demons were a braggy bunch. I’d never heard one admit there was anything they couldn’t do. Wouldn’t? Sure. Couldn’t? Not an ice cube’s chance in hell.

“I can’t free him. But someone else can.”

It was Simon all over. “So I’ve heard. A name might be nice, though.”

Valefar shook his head. “Do we have a deal or not?”

“Tell me what to do to save Lukas,” I growled. He couldn’t dangle that and really expect me to let it go.

“Lukas is not part of our deal. Just your parents. Them for fifty-five years.”

“You said fifty, not fifty-five!”

“And you had the audacity to haggle. That automatically raises the price.”

“What about Lukas?”

Arms folded, his jaw tightened. “I like you, Jessie. I’ve given you a freebie by telling you there’s a chance to save him. Do not push your luck. You’re a smart girl. You’ll figure it out. Now. Our deal. Going, going, gon—”

“Fine,” I said. “My parents and a question for fifty-five years.”

He smiled, stomping his foot triumphantly. “Done.”

I swallowed. “We have a deal.”

“Excellent!” He reached for my hand. The moment our skin touched, a sharp pain exploded in my stomach. Knees giving out, I crumpled to the ground, Valefar’s hand still gripping mine.

Scraping skin. Like someone was dragging the tip of a knife over my stomach and abdomen. Warmth flooded my limbs, spreading from my stomach and out to the tips of my toes and fingers. A wave of vertigo and the strong smell of salt water. Gasping for air, I pulled the edge of my shirt up. My previously too pale skin was now decorated with a scrolling design—like Celtic knot-work dripping with intricate, blood red leaves. It was