Inferno of Darkness (Divisa Huntress #2) - J.L. Weil Page 0,34

certainly hoped this wasn’t a recurring theme in our relationship, because that would become a problem.

My mother was all too glad to have me, which made me cringe. I was tempted to follow her during her late-night jobs, but the more I thought about it, the less appealing the idea became. Seeing my mother work her demon mojo on defenseless and often desperate humans would only entice my hero complex. Chase wasn’t the only one who saved people. I just did so in a quieter manner, but no less lethal.

My nails rapped against the TV remote, and I contemplated running out to get a manicure. It had been months since I had a proper one. Perhaps a touch of pink would brighten my mood. There were only so many reruns of Lucifer I could watch on Netflix, and carryout was losing its luster fast. I was craving some home-cooked meals. No one made lasagna like Chloe. I could all but taste the meaty sauce and wide noodles in my mouth. My stomach rumbled.

Screw it.

I had to get out of this apartment and burn off some steam. Strapping on my dagger, I headed out into the French Quarter. The night air was balmy and the sky strewn with stars that brought back an unusual mixture of feelings from the Court of Darkness.

Ugh. I shoved aside those unwanted emotions and set forth to find myself a demon. If Cayden wasn’t going to get me the information I needed, then I would do it my damn self.

Weeding through a group of patrons lingering in front of a jazz club, I spotted him. The demon I would kill… after we had ourselves a little talk.

It had been far easier than I anticipated, tracking one of Hell’s servants. Perhaps New Orleans was littered with demons like my mother, drawn to the tourist city with all its people. I shuddered at the thought of some young couple on vacation being dragged off into the bayou or lured into an alley for a demon treat.

Releasing my hair from its messy bun, I shook it out, smacked my lips, and put on a smile. I made way into the crowd, casually bumping into the demon invading this man’s body. He had to go.

“Sorry,” I giggled. “Damn tequila.”

His eyes, rimmed in that otherworldly red, swept over me with interested approval that made me feel like something out of the swamps, dirty and gross. A strong desire to run my blade into his heart right here with people all around me coursed in my blood. I wanted to end him. Needed to, but first, I told that craving inside me that purred with anticipation, we had to talk.

I smiled back in appreciation, letting him know with my eyes that I was definitely interested in getting to know him better. I sauntered off, away from the crowd, feeling his gaze trailing after me. Come get me, you leech, I sang in my head. I even made sure I stumbled once or twice, and anyone who happened to look upon me would see a girl who’d had too much to drink turn down into a dimly lit alley.

No demon could resist a girl alone. Easy prey. And I couldn’t have made it any easier for the bastard.

I leaned back against the brick building, keeping to the shadowy parts, and waited. He didn’t disappoint. So damn predictable. Will they never learn? Not every pretty girl was dumb, useless, or weak.

He smiled too smoothly at me, showing rows of jagged teeth that gleamed through the darkness as he sauntered toward me. “You lost?” His voice was rough with a touch of eagerness.

Pretending to need the wall to keep me upright, I played with the ends of my hair, twirling them around a finger. “Perhaps? Are you offering to take me home?” Just a little bit closer, I coaxed silently, checking my own impatience.

Soft footsteps bounced between the two buildings until he was a foot in front of me, towering a head over me. His body twitched, a sign that the demon inside was hankering to break free. “A girl like you shouldn’t be walking the streets alone. It isn’t safe.”

I gave him another seductive smile. “Tell me about it.” I licked my lips to keep his focus on my face while my other hand released and secured my weapon. Then I made my move. I found that surprise attacks were the most effective. In seconds, I had him squashed up against the brick wall,