The distance between the two huts seemed a lot shorter when I wasn’t about to keel over in a dead faint, or toss my cookies in a messy splatter on the packed-dirt road. I knocked on the closed door, calling out to let Sharalynn know it was me. Moments later, I heard a latch slide free. The door swung open, revealing Sharalynn. Her eyes ran over me and settled on Edward with a look of relief.
“Oh, thank goodness,” she said. “Come in. Sorry—I’m afraid it’s getting a bit crowded inside.”
She gave Nigellus a curious look as he swept past, no doubt taking in his less-than-put-together appearance. It lent him a feral air, and I could totally understand any misgivings she might have about inviting a demon who looked like he wanted to tear someone apart into her home. Inside, Fatima and Li Wei were in the main room along with Finn and my dad, who was still seated on a chair—still looking completely lost.
Edward wasted no time in crossing to him, and I joined him. My father stared right through us, his face pale and his lips an ashy gray.
“Dad,” I urged, “look who’s here.”
“Darryl, old chap,” Edward said, leaning down. “I’m sorry you had to see that, but I’m all right now.”
Dad blinked, his brows drawing together in confusion. I could see the moment his eyes focused, taking in the man in front of him. He blinked several more times in rapid succession, his lips parting.
“How?” he asked. “That’s not...”
“Possible?” Edward finished. “I assure you—it is when you’re demon-bound. Though to be fair, I don’t really recommend it as a matter of course. Now, tell me truthfully... you weren’t hurt at all, were you? I’m afraid I lost track of things rather abruptly, after—” He cut himself off. “Well... after.”
Dad’s jaw worked, his mouth opening and closing a couple of times before he said. “You’re really here? Could be a dream...?”
“It’s no dream,” Edward assured him, surprising me by reaching out and pinching my dad’s upper arm through the loose linen shirt he was wearing.
Dad flinched, and appeared to come back to himself more fully, his expression clearing. I held my breath as his gaze settled on Edward again, seeming to drink him in.
“You’re really all right?” he asked slowly. “I thought I saw...was any of that real?”
Edward shared a brief, troubled look with Nigellus before returning his attention to my father. I kept to the side, aware that Edward had apparently been able to make more progress with my father’s recovery in a few days than I’d managed in a month-plus. The realization stung, but I told myself firmly that it didn’t matter. It only mattered that he was getting better.
The old butler sighed. “As much as I’d love to be able to tell you it was merely a vivid nightmare caused by too much cheese before bedtime, I’m afraid we were, in fact, attacked. Now, don’t make me keep asking if you’re all right. Are you?”
Dad nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving Edward’s face. “I’m... all right. Just feel a bit shaky.”
“Understandable,” Edward said, relief loosening his stooped shoulders. “In fact, I’m right there with you, old chap.”
“Did you see your attacker, Mr. Bright?” Nigellus asked sharply.
Anger darkened my father’s gaze. “William Hawkins,” he snarled.
I cleared my throat. “That’s the name Myrial used when he married my grandmother on Earth,” I explained.
Nigellus gave a single, tight nod. “With luck, that identification should suffice for the council, given that Edward is also able to identify the attacker as Myrial.”
Li Wei had been watching the exchange closely, but upon hearing Nigellus’ words, he spoke. “Just to be clear, a demon physically attacked someone in the village?” he asked. “I’m not misunderstanding that part?”
“So it would appear,” Nigellus said brusquely. “I will take the complaint to the Council and see what is to be done. In the meantime, do not leave Mr. Bright unattended. Edward, if anything appears suspicious—”
“I’ll call for you right away, sir,” Edward said. “Don’t worry, we’re fine here.”
Part of me wanted to cling to my father’s side, but a larger part understood that I was surplus to requirements. The connections my father had forged with Li Wei, Sharalynn, and Edward would be more helpful to him than our strained and tattered familial bond.
I squared up to Nigellus. “I’m coming with you.”
Sharalynn cleared her throat delicately. “I don’t suppose you’d like to borrow a pair of sandals first, hon?”
I glanced down at my scraped and dusty feet as though I’d somehow forgotten they were attached to my legs. “Uh... thanks. Sandals would be good, yeah.”
Maybe I should have had misgivings about showing up in front of the demons’ ruling council wearing shorts, borrowed footwear, and a faded concert tee with no bra. But it was fairly obvious that they already didn’t give a shit about me, or about the people I cared most about. Begging a set of Hell-appropriate titheling clothes from someone before I went to speak with them seemed unlikely to change their opinion of me to any great degree.
Nigellus raked his eyes over me, but he must have come to the same conclusion, because he gave a tight nod. His eyes moved to encompass Edward and my father as I accepted a pair of sandals and slipped them on.
“It is likely the two of you will be called to testify,” said the demon, “but not right away. I will arrange for additional guards to watch over you as soon as possible.”
“They can stay here with me in the meantime,” Sharalynn said without hesitation. “Safety in numbers, and all that.”
“I will stay as well,” Li Wei added. “One would hope that any attacker might think twice before assaulting a village elder.”
My heart warmed at the show of support. “Thank you,” I said. “All of you. It means a lot to me... really.”
“Come,” Nigellus said, and took
