For a Few Demons More

'Hey!' I said again, then turned to Ceri when she gripped my arm. 'What's the matter?'

Ceri pointed at the TV, now a mishmash of noise and confusion. 'He's out,' she said, white-faced. 'Al is walking this side of the lines. Free and under no one's compulsion—whether the sun is up or not.'

Immediately my shoulders eased. 'God, I'm sorry, Ceri. I meant to tell you. You really need to get a phone. I know. Al was at Trent's rehearsal and dinner.'

The elf's eyes widened. 'It's true?' she exclaimed, and I cringed.

'I was going to tell you as soon as I got home, but I forgot,' I pleaded, wondering how she'd found out already. 'But it's okay. He's not after anyone but me. He can do the sun thing because he made a deal with Lee to possess his body until Lee kills me. And that's not going to happen until he's done with me.' I couldn't tell her that the deal she'd made with Al was why he wanted me this time. It would prey on her.

Ceri hesitated. 'Doesn't Lee killing you come under the 'him or his agents' clause?'

My stomach clenched, and I glanced at Keasley at the top of the hallway, waiting for us with my summer comforter in his arms. 'Al's going to free Lee before he kills me, and since Lee has reason enough to want me dead, the agent clause won't come into effect.'

Keasley dropped my pillow and comforter just inside the sanctuary before shuffling back down the hallway. Ceri took my arm and started to follow him. 'We can discuss the intricacies of demon law later. You have to get to hallowed ground.'

Exasperated, I pulled from Ceri's grip. 'I'm fine!' I protested. 'If Al was going to do anything, he would have done it already. He's not going to kill me. At least not right away.'

I looked at the TV, mystified as to why everyone was freaking out. Then I looked closer. They weren't in front of The Warehouse, they were in front of a grocery store. Terrified people in vans and station wagons were looting the place. The announcer seemed scared as she told people not to panic, that the situation was under control. Uh- huh. It sure looked under control.

There was a boom of sound and a flash of light, and the pretty reporter swore, falling into a crouch. The camera panned to the gas station across the street. Another flash of light and I realized what had happened. A ley line witch had just blasted someone trying to cut in front of him at the gas station. The faint purple haze was still hanging in the air.

'Are you getting this?' the woman announcer cried out, and my stomach felt queasy when the picture dipped. 'The city is going crazy!' she shouted, eyes wide. 'The I.S. has declared a state of martial law, and all residents are told to remain inside. Buses will stop at midnight, and anyone on the street will be incarcerated.'

'Jake!' she shouted, jumping when a loud bang shook her. 'Are you getting this?!'

Jake was indeed getting it, and I stared at people frantically filling their gas tanks. I gasped when a frustrated driver rammed the car ahead of his to shove it forward. A fight started, and my mouth fell open when a ball of green-tinted ever-after blasted into the gas pump. It exploded in a shower of orange and red. The woman screamed, and the camera fell. My windows rattled, and I turned to the dark street. Damn, that had been close. What in hell was going on? So Al was walking around. I was the only one he wanted.

'I don't get it,' I said, gesturing. 'He can only do what Lee can. He's not any more dangerous than your average deranged, masochistic, black ley line witch.' I hesitated, taking in the fear coming through the TV. 'Okay,' I amended. 'Maybe a little screaming is in order, but he can be brought down.'

'Someone tried.' Ceri tugged at me, but I didn't budge, fixated on the chaos. 'He caused trouble at a dance establishment tonight, and when the bouncers tried to get him out, he killed them. Incinerated them right where they stood and set the place to flame. Then he banished the six witches the I.S. sent to catch him into the ever- after. No one can stop him, Rachel, and he's not under anyone's control. People are scared. They want him gone.'

'He incinerated them?' I said, my horror mixing with confusion. All right, maybe he is more powerful than I thought. 'I'm the one he wants. Why is he doing this?'

She turned from the TV, her eyes wide, and tried to get me to move. 'What did he ask of you?' she asked, and I licked my lips.

I hesitated, then said, 'To testify that you promised to not teach anyone how to spindle line energy. I told him no, and if he goes back without me, they're going to put him in jail.'

Ceri's eyes closed, her jaw clenching as she struggled to keep her fear and despair from showing. 'I'm sorry,' she whispered, her voice shaking. 'He's trying to change your mind. I've seen him do this before. You and Piscary are the only two people who have demonstrated the ability to control him, and because you didn't circle him tonight, everyone will think he's doing this with your blessing. If you don't do what Al wants, he's going to turn the city against you.'

'What!' I yelped as Keasley appeared in the hallway with three bottles of water and the dusty radio I had under the cupboards for when the power went out.

'Bring your phone,' he said shortly. 'Do you have extra batteries?'

I couldn't think. Seeing my confusion, he held up a twisted brown hand and went to look for himself. Ceri was tugging on me, and I let her drag me to the top of the hallway.

'This is not my problem,' I said, starting to panic. 'If I testify to get Al out of Cincy, then I'm a demon practitioner and he kills me that much sooner. And if I don't help him, then I'm responsible for everyone he hurts or sends to the ever-after?'

She picked up my comforter and, meeting my eyes, nodded.

'Swell.' I couldn't win. I could not win for losing. Damn it, it wasn't fair!

'But that's not the worst of it,' Ceri said, fear showing on her heart-shaped face. 'It's all over the news that you had dinner with Al. You didn't take control of him, so they let Piscary out of jail to do it. He's the only other person in Cincy who can.'

I stood for three seconds, taking that in. Piscary is out? Oh… shit.

'Jenks!' I shouted, heading into the hall. 'Jenks! Is the backyard clear?' I had to get out of here. It was dark. The church was unsanctified. My security had become a trap.

Ceri followed me into the kitchen. She looked miserable at my fear, but I didn't care.

'Jenks!' I shouted again, and he buzzed in, his green robe furling.

'What the hell do you want?' he snarled. 'Can't you spend one freaking night alone? '

I blinked, taken aback. 'Cincinnati is panicking because Al is walking the streets with no one holding his leash,' I said. 'Six witches tried to circle him, and he sent them into the ever-after. Everyone's afraid he's here to harvest familiars, and because I didn't catch him, tonight, they let Piscary out to get control of him. Is the backyard clear? I'm going to be sleeping in the graveyard tonight.' And tomorrow, and the day after. Hell, maybe I ought to put up a little cottage.

Jenks gaped at me, face pale. His mouth moved, and he said softly, 'I'll check.'

And he was gone.

'Good evening, Jenks,' Ceri said to no one.

The back screen door slammed shut, and Keasley shuffled in. 'Let's go.'

I put a hand to my stomach. 'I have to call my mother.'

'Do it from the graveyard.' Ceri took my elbow and led me to the backdoor. Keasley's bent shadow went before us, and I let them drag me out onto the wooden landing and into the night.

The back-porch light was on, and in its uncertain flicker I fumbled for my phone. Piscary's number glowed as the last line called, and in a wash of fear I realized where Ivy was. She hadn't heard about Kisten and me. Piscary had called her to him. This was a setup. Al and Piscary were working together as they had before. Piscary had called, and she had gone to prepare for him—like the scion she was.

'Oh, God,' I whispered, my knees going weak as my bare feet found the cold grass. Ivy was with Piscary. Right now.

'Ivy!' I shouted, spinning to head back to the kitchen and my car keys.

'Rachel, no!' Keasley called. He reached for me, falling into a fit of coughing. I leapt to the stairs, jerking back when Ceri took my shoulder.

'She's a vampire,' the elf said, eyes snapping in the dim light. 'It's a trap. A lure. Al and Piscary are working together. You know it's a trap!'

'She's my friend!' I protested.

'Get into the graveyard,' she demanded, pointing as if I were a dog. 'We'll deal with this in an orderly