A Crown Of Shadows And Secrets - Sloane Murphy Page 0,43
kit, four glasses, and a bottle of whiskey. She hands me the kit and pours the glasses, sitting at the table next to Levi and Creek joins her.
Got him out, weird twist. We're back at the tavern. I reach out to Kain, hoping he can hear me again.
We're near the cages, we'll double back to you guys. Everything okay?
I think so. I tell him, and then focus on cleaning Levi up. He hisses as I clean the wounds on his face.
“He'll heal quick enough,” Callie says, swigging back her drink. “Now, why don't you guys finally tell me why you're here, and maybe I'll see if I can't help you.”
“Who are you?” I ask her.
“I already told you, I'm Callie.”
“Fine, what are you?” I ask and she grins.
“Better question. I am a higher Demon, a Siren, people also tend to call me Envy.” She grins. Of course the higher fucking Demon of this level was helping us hide... from her. Fuck my life.
“We're trying to get my friend back, she was taken by a Demon,” I tell her openly. She's had more than enough opportunity to kill us if she wanted to. I might not trust Demons as a whole, but she's done enough to earn a modicum of trust. “So we're heading to find the queen.”
“Well, well, well. What a pickle you've found yourself in. Which Demon did you piss off for them to take your friend?”
“I don't know, he's working with an asshat Hunter. I pissed off the Hunter, so he took my friend to try and get me to help him.” I shrug, and gulp down the shot she poured me before disposing of the bloody wipes from cleaning up Levi. I go to sit down, but he pulls me onto his lap, remaining silent alongside Creek, probably trying to assess Callie. I can't blame either of them.
“Are we late to the party?” Roman says as he and Kain enter the tavern, and I breathe a little easier now that they're both back. The last thing we need is someone else getting into trouble right now. “What did we miss?”
They join us at the table, but Callie ignores them, keeping her eyes on me.
“A Hunter working with a Demon. Seems like Earth has some issues on its hands. And you're at the center of it. I've heard whisperings of a Demon working with a Hunter, but I thought it was nonsense. People talk shit in here. I don't have any names though, sorry.”
“Can you get us to the queen?” I ask, doubtful, but I figure it’s worth a shot.
“Not if I want to keep my head.” She shakes her head and almost looks sorry. “I can open the door to level three though. You might have more luck there, they're fucking nuts there though. Wrath is not a level to fuck about on. Get in and out as soon as you can. Level four is easier, Sloth doesn't really care, he might even let you go straight to the queen if he can be bothered to help you at all. But Luna isn't someone to fuck with in Wrath. Avoid her if you can,” she tells us. “Spend the night recuperating, you're safe here, and I'll open a door for you in the morning.”
“Why would you do that?” Levi asks skeptically, his arms tightening around me.
“Because having you five here is trouble, as you saw. Plus, I like your girl, she reminds me of someone I used to know,” Callie tells him, before looking me over again. “She was a Shadow Walker too, and she saved my life more than once. So, for her, I'll help you guys.”
“Tha—” I start and stop, and Callie laughs.
“You're welcome. Don't worry, I'm not about to steal your soul.” She winks at me. “What’s the point in helping you if I was. Now go back upstairs, I need to reopen, I'll have some food sent up for you all in a bit.”
“Well, if you're not going to steal my soul... then thank you. For everything,” I say to her, and stand, Levi rising with me, still not letting me go. Apparently my trust for her isn't extended to him, the others are quiet too, but they rise waiting for me to move.
“Don't think anything of it. I'll see you in a bit,” she says, and heads back behind the bar as I lead the guys back upstairs.