take me to the demon, but it’s not like the Pricolici is going to be gentle on our way there.
I hold out the dagger, heat collecting around my hand. I square my shoulders and stare down the Pricolici. It lunges for me, leaping over the creek. I thrust the dagger up, cutting deep into its chest. Fire ignites inside the Pricolici, and I scramble back just in time to see it explode into a smoldering pile of fur and guts.
My sense of direction has been thrown off—again. If I close my eyes, Ryan might be able to show me where to go. But if I close my eyes, I’ll be an easy target for another demon dog. I think of Ethan and my brother and Hunter. My eyelids fall shut, and I take off in the direction that feels correct in my heart.
I lean against a tree to catch my breath, peering through the woods. My breath clouds around me, swirling into the cold air. Goosebumps rise over my arms, and my cheeks are flush from fear. Every noise makes me jump, and I feel eyes on me. The ground is slick from yesterday’s rain, and I slip as I hike up another hill. Something feels familiar and muted sunlight reflects off the pond. Yes! I’m almost there!
My nerves prickle as I run to the disturbed ground where I fell through the covered root cellar. I resheathe the dagger, turn the flashlight on my phone, and sit on the ground, feet dangling in the opening. I’m fucking terrified, both of demons and of losing those I care most about in this world. Closing my eyes, I drop down, landing on the wobbly desk that Ethan had moved over.
“Ethan?” I hold up the light, whirling around. “Harrison?”
But no one answers. The basement is empty.
Chapter Thirty-Two
No, this can’t be. This is it. I saw it. Ryan confirmed it. This is the spot. If they’re not here, then…I have no idea where they are. I blink back tears and fight off the dizziness that crashes down on me.
I don’t know what to do.
“No,” I say to myself, refusing to give up. I climb down off the desk and shine the light around the cellar one more. This place is full of broken furniture and pieces of the original barn, which probably fell in while they were burning it down.
Slowly, I shine the light from my phone around the cellar and notice a literal hole in the wall. I move pieces of wood away from what looks like an old, boarded-up-door frame, and step down a couple feet onto a hard dirt path leading to a roughly dug-out tunnel. Following the creepy demon-made tunnel is a surefire way to die, I know, and I’m about turn around when I notice light flickering ahead.
I turn off the flashlight and pocket my phone, not wanting to give myself away. I press up against the dirt wall and slowly edge forward. The tunnel turns sharply into a large cavern. Stained and tattered sheets hang on the dirt walls, dividing the large room into little sections.
I slip behind one of the curtains, shaking, terrified of finding Harrison and Ethan strung up with their throats slit, blood draining into dirty buckets. A large, rusty metal cage holds back a huge dog.
Hunter.
He lets me know the metal of the cage is enchanted and will hurt me if I touch it. I don’t know exactly how the turning into a shadow-spirit works, but I was hoping he’d be able to shift right out of the cage.
Hunter growls, and I whirl around. Three Harvesters, a Pricolici, and a pretty blonde girl stand behind me.
She looks familiar. “Jenny?” I question. The girl Harrison brought home for dinner? If the demon thinks she’s important—oh shit.
“Anora Paige Benson,” she coos. “How nice for you to come see me.”
“You’re the demon.”
“Ding-ding-ding, we have a winner. Took you long enough to figure it out. I guess I can see why. I am trapped in this, this disgusting vessel.”
“Asaroth.” My voice shakes. Rage burns in Jenny’s eyes. She rushes forward and is in front of me in the blink of an eye.
“How dare you say my name, you filthy little witch!”
She slaps me, extending her fingers and dragging her nails across my face, cutting my flesh. She steps back and licks the blood off her fingers. “Mmmm.” She closes her eyes. “I can taste the power.” Her eyes fly open, and they aren’t the pretty blue they had