Page 126 of Cold Curses

My eyes widened. “Is that possible?”

By way of answer, Lulu just gestured to the floor. She took a square piece of paper from her pocket and slid into it some of the ash she had gathered; then she folded the paper up into a little packet. “For Petra to test,” she said. Then she stood up.

“So, you get copper ash when you kill a demon with magic,” I said. “And you get this magically empty ash when the magic is taken out of them.”

“That would be my guess,” Lulu said.

“And why do it?”

“Because he wants to use it for himself,” Connor said. “He wants more or better power than he has.”

Lulu nodded. “It’s a way to make himself stronger.”

More evidence there was something wrong with his magic.

“How do you strip the magic out of a demon?” I wondered, working hard not to think about the possibility Black had tried to do that to me and monster.

“No idea,” Lulu said, “except that it requires death.”

“So, he breaks the cornerstone,” I said, “lets the demons in. Maybe plans to use some as minions, but that doesn’t work like he thought it would, because Dante’s in town. So he engages Dante in a battle for control of the city.”

“Why would they follow Black?” Connor asked. “He isn’t a demon. What’s their incentive?”

“Maybe it’s a carrot-and-stick thing,” Lulu said. “And this is the stick.”

“Or maybe he played the kingpin like Dante and promised them something,” I said. “Part of the city or money or magic. Whatever he offered, the fight with Dante wasn’t going well, and it was attracting a lot of attention. So he decided to use the demons differently. But maybe he had to practice first,” I murmured. And I wondered if the demons we’d found at the empty lot hadbeen his first unsuccessful venture. He’d killed them, but hadn’t managed to strip their magic away.

“He’s been unbuilding an army,” Connor said quietly, “taking it apart so he could have its strength.”

“But for what?” I wondered. “I mean, big picture. What is he going to try to do?”

My screen buzzed, sending a jolt of shock and adrenaline through me. It was Petra calling.

“Talk quickly and quietly,” I told her as Lulu and Connor drew close.

“I found another property.”

“Owned by Black?”

“Owned by Sorcha and Adrien Reed. It’s the only property in Chicago still officially under their names.”

“Where is it?”

“Practically on top of a ley line,” she said.

“Send me the address,” I said. “We’ll check it out.”

“Anything at his house?” Roger asked, and I told him what we’d found.

“What is he trying to do?”

“Be the most powerful,” Connor suggested. “Be in charge. Isn’t that what all this is? He’s digging up some way to get stronger, same as he was doing with Ariel. She was a potential tool. He’s insecure, and he’s been wanting applause for a long time.” He looked at me. “Especially from you.”

I shook my head. “No, he doesn’t.”

“He has a thing for you,” Connor said again. “You don’t see it. And I’m not saying his feelings aren’t complicated, but still…”

“Wait,” Roger said. “I just heard from Gwen. The CPD can’t reach the surveillance unit.”