a jagged boulder. The mountainside was scattered with them, as though a giant’s teeth had fallen out. She tugged off her coat and left it behind, spread out on one of the rocks, then tied her hair back into a loose ponytail. Despite the receding light, she was getting hotter rather than colder. She checked the contents of her messenger bag and was surprised to see everything remained intact. Being “dead,” at least in her case, obviously didn’t mean you moved on to the next realm without your worldly possessions.
Finally, after what felt like hours, Donna staggered to the summit and walked onto a mercifully flat shelf of land. There were tufts of blackened grass sticking out at intervals, but other than that it was made up mostly of red-tinged earth. Dust gathered around her and made it difficult to see as she walked forward, slowly, taking care so as not to fall off the edge of the world.
She was so busy watching where she placed her feet that she only realized she had company when he was directly in front of her.
Demian smiled benevolently. “You made it.”
Donna pushed her damp fringe out of her eyes. “I did.”
“I am … glad.”
“Was this some kind of a test?”
His silver brows rose. “Test? No. How could it be? I did not know you planned on killing yourself.”
“Got you with that one, did I?”
“It was not something I’d predicted.” He regarded her with his coal-black eyes. “You are a surprising creature, for a human.”
Donna was too busy catching her breath to reply. She tried to look over the demon’s shoulder, but the cloud of red dust was too thick.
Demian held out his hand to her. “Come, let me show you my kingdom.”
Donna almost laughed. “A guided tour of Hell? I don’t think so, Your Majesty. I’m here to find the Grove of Thorns.”
He inclined his head. “And you need to pass through the city to reach it. Why not let me escort you? You will reach your destination unharmed—I give you my word.”
Donna nibbled her lower lip and considered his words. She had to admit that, for a demon, he did seem more honest than she’d been led to believe. Newton was all about games and trickery, but Demian was almost straightforward in his dealings. She tested his words in her mind, looking for the hidden clause that would allow him to harm her.
Demian’s hand was still extended, never once wavering.
She said, “You won’t hurt me, in any way?”
“As I keep telling you, I have no desire to cause you harm.” His eyes turned sly. “You are almost dead, anyway, so I wonder why you would worry so much.”
“I don’t want to end up all the way dead,” she replied. “Not if I can help it.”
He seemed to think about this for a moment. “If you don’t give me a reason to cause you injury, then you really have nothing to worry about.”
Donna shook her head. “And there’s the catch. How do I know what would drive you to change your motivation toward me?”
“I swear, on my kingdom, that while you are in the Otherworld with me on this occasion, I will not harm you in any way—no matter what—nor will I allow harm to come to you by way of any of my subjects. How does that sound?”
“Pretty good,” she admitted. “What about the Gallows Tree? Will you help me reach that?”
“Ah,” he said. “That I cannot do.”
“But you want the Philosopher’s Stone as much as anyone else.”
“That is undoubtedly true, but you must remember that I am forbidden to enter the grove, so I won’t be able to help you beyond escorting you there.”
Donna blew out a breath. “That’s good enough.”
He bowed, a mocking smile on his face. “I am glad the agreement meets with your approval.”
“Any advice for me?” She hadn’t expected a reply, so was surprised when he took her question seriously.
“Enter the grove alone. You’ll never find the Gallows Tree otherwise.”
Donna narrowed her eyes. “Who would I take in with me? I am alone.”
“For now,” he replied.
Nav, she thought. He’s talking about Navin. Hope gripped her heart and she tried not to hold on to it too hard.
“Will I be able to get home, afterwards?”
Demian turned away so that she could no longer see his expression. “We’ll have to see, won’t we?”
She shot him an irritated look. “You talk in riddles just to annoy me.”
His shoulders stiffened. “You are mistaken. Everything I do is not about eliciting a