can look you up and find out whether you’re telling the truth.”
“Good. Go do that. And hope that Sean doesn’t find you while you’re reading. Because I won’t hurt you, but Sean definitely will.”
The demon’s intensity makes me feel like he’s telling the truth. And then I think of something. I’ve run into hellhounds twice in connection to this demon, and once somewhere else. “This Sean. Does he work in Dublin? Nice suit? Ponytail?”
All the open disdain in the demon’s face shifts to wariness. “I thought you didn’t know him.”
“I don’t. But I crashed one of his parties last night.”
He pushes back like he’d burrow into the wall of the shed if he could. “You should let me go. And you should run too. You seem like a nice kid.”
I tap the shock stick on the table. “I can handle myself.” It’s too many coincidences, though. The demon showing up here. My dream leading me to Cosmina, who was connected to the man the demon is connected to. “Why did you run here?”
“I made for the forest first. Hellhound was on my heels, so I kept going. Something about the shed seemed safe. It called to me, I suppose. I was trying to make it inside. Didn’t get past collapsing over the fence, though.”
“No, I mean Shancoom. This area specifically.”
The demon looks away, shrugging. He rubs his shoulder, which must be sore, but it’s working. I did a good job there too. “I like the seaside. Lovely little town.”
“Were you looking for someone?” It can’t be a coincidence that he ended up by our castle.
“You don’t want to get mixed up with this. You might think you already are, but it goes so much deeper. Release me. I’ll meet my contact and disappear and you’ll never hear from me again. You fixed me up when you didn’t have to. That was kind. I don’t want to see you dead. Stay away from Dublin.”
I shouldn’t care, but I like that he thinks I’m kind. It heals some of my fears after what I did in the pit. I can make the right choices while fighting and while choosing not to fight. “Who is your contact?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “I’m not involving you, kid.” Then he grimaces. “Can you at least try to feel happy? I’m starving, and you reek. Seriously, how do you smell so bad?”
“I do not smell bad!” I showered as soon as we got back to the castle, spending as long as possible scrubbing hellhound blood and zompire dust and guilt and adrenaline from my body.
“No, really. It’s like . . .” He cocks his head. “There’s this scent clinging to you like smoke. It’s anger and despair and violent rage. So much more than one girl would ever have access to.” He leans forward, suddenly interested. “Who are you?”
“Nobody,” I squeak. Could he smell the Slayer in me? Maybe I should tell him. Maybe it would scare him into giving me more information. But I don’t want to use it like a cudgel or a threat. And I don’t want to go giving my identity to demons left and right, even if he does seem like he isn’t much of a threat.
I can’t let him see he’s rattled me. I fold my arms and continue my best Artemis impression. Firm. Capable. In charge. “Until you tell me who your contact is and what’s going on, you’re not going anywhere.”
The demon stretches his legs out as far as the chains allow. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you if Sean comes looking.”
“I think I can handle him.”
“Right. You’ll slipper-kick him to death.” He closes his eyes. “Bring me someone happy soon, though, or I’ll starve. Or you can do us both a favor and lick my skin. Best day of your life, I promise.”
“Yuck.” I recoil from him, wanting to rinse my mouth with Listerine at the very thought of it.
“Yeah, you can totally handle Sean. He’s not going to slit your throat.” The demon yawns. His teeth aren’t teeth at all. They look more like sponges.
“Maybe I’ll call him right now.”
At this, genuine terror flashes across his face. “Please,” he says, his voice soft. “Please don’t. Keep me in here. Forever, if you have to. But please don’t give me back to him.”
My heart responds to his fear. I can’t make promises to a demon, though. So I don’t say anything. But his expression haunts me as I go to turn the light back off. I