Instead of the triumphant, I tricked the humans voiceI had expected, the demon just sounded exhausted and grateful to be out.
"Are you okay?" I snapped the book shut andput it on the bench by the door before walking over to the edge of the circle.
"Not really," the demon replied.
"You ready for me to send you back?" Thatmight be the easiest way to fix any other problems the demon might have.
"No. Need to answer your priest's questions. Letme rest first." The demon's voice was smooth, like liquid silk, and theway it caressed my skin sent shivers down my spine. As good as it sounded rightnow, I couldn't imagine what he might sound like when he wasn't starving andfreshly released from being bound.
"How do you have a body?"
"Not all demons have to possess someone to bepresent on the material plane. Just the ones you commonly deal with." Hedidn't roll over, so I couldn't get a look at his face, but his back was nicelymuscled, deeply tanned, and his ass was very firm. I tucked my hands under myarms before I did something I'd regret in my quest to touch the alluring demon.That desire really should have been my first clue as to what kind of demon layon the ground in front of me.
"Okay, I'll let Darius know you want to talk tohim then, and, uh, let you rest."
"Thank you." The effort the demon had to putinto saying those words made me worry that he might not actually last longenough for Darius to get here. I suspected the priest would be busy until theevening. Why was I even worried about a demon? That probably should have beenmy next clue.
Shaking my head, I grabbed the book and forced myselfout of the basement and into my kitchen. Some of the demon's hunger must haveworn off on me because I was also starving. I settled for a protein drink andsent a quick text off to Darius.
He didn't reply, and I settled in with my new readingmaterial and some coffee to wait.
Chapter 3
Malak
I couldn't get my mind off of the intriguing creaturethat had walked into the shop not long ago. I could tell she often wore herbleached hair up in some sort of mohawk, though it was currently unstyled. Thesides of her head were shaved close and I had the strongest desire to track herdown just so I could run my fingers over the short hair.
The scent of rain, an intense warning of an impendingstorm, lingered on the air even after she left. It was as if the memory of herwas so strong, that it was all I could smell, even over the incense thatpermeated the air.
She wasn't tall, but I wouldn't have called herpetite. She looked like she could probably handle herself in a fight and therewas something extra about her that I couldn't put my finger on. There was nodoubt in my mind she was an exorcist as she claimed and that she probablywouldn't have any issues dealing with this demon problem she had. Still,something drove me to want to help her. Though, I doubted she'd welcome anintrusion.
It was fortunate we only had one other customer in theremaining hour I had agreed to take care of the counter before Olivia returned,and they hadn't needed much attention. I simply could not tear my thoughts awayfrom the woman. I hadn't even gotten her name. Of course, she had my book,which I'd hastily thrown a blood mark on when I'd decided to lend it to her.
We had quite a few occult volumes in the back thatwere for sale, but I also had a handful of my personal collection here, aswell. Many that we sold were from my collection over the years. Either theywere uninteresting to me, or I knew them so well I no longer needed them. Occasionallysomeone turned up who wanted something more than the new age stuff we typicallysold. Even more occasionally, I sold them one of the books from the back. Mostof the lucky few who turned up in search of something different were from thesmall local supernatural community and had been sent to me by someone else.
The bell chimed and Olivia, the co-owner, walked in.She was far more into the new age aspects of the occult and managed most of thecontent of the store. We had met years ago, when I'd saved her from dying afterbeing attacked by a werecat. She hadn't avoided the transformation, but at leastshe hadn't died in the process.
I couldn't help but contrast her to the exorcist I'djust met. Tall where the other was short, dark where the other was pale, curvywhere the exorcist was slender.
"Malak, what's up?"
"What makes you think anything is up?" Ileaned back in the chair I was perched on and crossed my arms.
"You've got some sort of weird ass dreamy look inyour eyes. Whoever it is, you should call them. Haven't seen you thatinterested in anyone else, well, since we met."
I frowned, trying to think of a way to deny heraccusation and completely failing.
She laughed, the hearty sound bringing a sheepishsmile to my lips. "Guess I'm learning how to read you after all theseyears."
I sighed and shook my head. "A woman came inlooking for one of the special books today. She does seem to have caught myinterest."
Olivia came around the counter, beginning the processof taking over for me. "Do tell."
"I'm not sure there is much to tell. She wasn'there long. I even forgot to get her name. Apparently, she's an exorcist."
"Oh, another occultist. I can see why she gotyour attention, Mal."
I shrugged.
"You know anything about her?"
I ran my hand through my hair and scuffed my foot onthe floor, a little embarrassed. "I blood marked the book I lent her. Ican find her if I need to."
My friend chuckled. "Don't wait too long, Mal. I'vegot a feeling. Why don't you just track her down, see if she needs your help."
I had been thinking that same thing, so the
