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“You could still stay though,” Killian says after a few minutes companionable silence. “We could get to know each other. You like me—admit it.”

I snort. “Not that much. Anyway, I have to go. I have things I need to do.”

“And I’m guessing you don’t want to talk about those either.”

“Not really. But we need to leave today, and we need transport.”

“You can borrow one of the vehicles. Zayne can leave his bike and pick it up when he returns it.”

“Thanks.” That’s one thing sorted.

My gut tightens as the now familiar tension fills me.

I’ve been relaxing, pretending as if the world isn’t crashing around us.

But now I’m heading back into the fray, and things are about to get real.

Chapter 6

Existential Crises with Extra Cheese

An hour later, we’re on the road. And we’re in a big black SUV—the sort that FBI agents always seem to drive in the movies.

Zayne is behind the wheel. I offered, but he declined. I can’t blame him—I’m a crap driver. I’ve already failed my test twice. I just can’t seem to get the hang of it. Zayne—my long-suffering teacher—decided, after last time, that we should leave it for a while. And as I was—at the time—planning to move to London, I didn’t need to drive. It was a relief to give up. Josh is probably better than me.

He’s sitting in the back, quite cheerful. I suppose it’s all an adventure for him. Killian offered to let him stay, and I didconsider it. But I decided that there was no guarantee of safety anywhere. I really hope that Killian and his friends will come though this, but it’s not a given. So, I decided to keep Josh with me. At least up until I go to…that place I’m going to have to go to. Then he can stay with Hecate.

At one point Zayne glances at me, a frown on his face.

“What?” I ask.

“So you can do spells? You can make them up? Do anything? Why not do a spell to kill those beasts last night? Or turn them into harmless toads?”

Hmmm. Time to fess up. “I can’t actually turn things into toads. Well, maybe I can, but right now, I don’t know how. I don’t know how to make spells.”

He frowns. “But you used a spell last night.”

“My mother implanted a few in my brain before she dumped me on Hecate. Just things she thought would be useful. But I don’t know how to make up my own. Actually, the whole witch thing is pretty much a mystery to me right now.”

“That sucks.”

“Yeah. It’s the main reason I need to get back to Hecate. So she can show me how to…wake my magic.”

“Makes sense.” He looks at me again. I can see the thoughts and questions in his eyes. I want to tell him to concentrate on the road, but I suppose he deserves some answers.

“Come on, out with the questions. This is a one-time offer. What else do you want to know?”

He thinks for a moment. “You’re Lucifer’s daughter. But just exactly who is Lucifer? I mean, is he really the devil like in the Bible?”

I consider what I do know. It’s not a lot. “I don’t think so. I mean, he is the devil from the Bible, but he’s not a fallen angel or anything like that.”

“Didn’t Hecate tell you anything?”

“I’m not sure she knows.” Except that’s not true. For some reason, she just doesn’t like to talk about my father. “She once said she knew him a long time ago—like over five thousand years ago. She said I remind her of him and that he was a good man.” I sigh. Frustration at everything I don’t know is shredding my nerves. “I guess something must have happened to change him. But maybe no one is left who knows.” Though Khronus was around back then. I wish I could have a conversation with him, but that’s not going to happen anytime soon.

“But what does Lucifer want?”

I shudder. “Right now, to find me. I’m the only person who knows where Lucifer’s Mirror is. And that’s the only way he’s ever getting out of Hell.”