Page 87 of Cold Curses

You hear anything?I asked monster. If part of an Egregore could metaphysically shrug, it did that.

I cleared my throat. “So, you can go back to your evening now. And thanks for your service. And for not eating me.”

And then its deep and rumbling voice was in my head.

I don’t eat vampires.

I was thrilled by the response, even though there’d been way too many creatures in my head this week.

“Thank you,” I said aloud, as it had clearly heard me before.

There are demons in Chicago.

“There are. Not here, though.”

They are without regard.

I thought that summed the species up pretty well.

“The Guardians’ wards are currently broken. Someone smashed one of the cornerstones, and we’re trying to fix them. Would you like an update if we’re able to do that?”

Agreeable,it said, its voice echoing in my head even as it slipped beneath the water, leaving barely a ripple on the surface.

I glanced at Bjorn. “I don’t suppose you have any advice about the wards?”

“They are not built for the city that stands today.”

“Truer words,” I murmured. “Have you seen any demons?”

“No. They haven’t been fighting here.”

“Are you the river troll who reported feeling the magical pulse?”

“No, but it was a brother of mine. The ley lines have no regulation. The city is rewilding.”

I nodded. “I saw that. Chicago is a kind of supernatural.”

“Of course it is. The magic makes it so.”

* * *

I climbed up to street level, using the handholds Bjorn pointed out, all cleverly hidden so they were visible only from eye level. And not from above or below, so curious humans on the street or in boats on the water couldn’t use them or disturb him.

Mom was waiting. She pulled off my dripping jacket and threw her own around my shoulders.

“So, I met George’s son Bjorn,” I said, and told them what I’d learned.

“Why did the Guardians think demons were going to be in the water?” Theo asked. “Are there mer-demons?”

That was when I finally realized the “where” of the wards. We thought they were geographical, with each ward protecting a certain chunk of the city. But that wasn’t the full story.

“Not in the water,” I said, glancing at him. “Onit. The ward was built to protect against demons coming into Chicago by water.”

“By water,” Theo murmured, and his face changed the second he got it. “The wards are transportation oriented.”

“Transportation?” Aunt Mallory asked. “What about the quarry?”

“Trying to stop demons from tunneling in, maybe,” I said. “The quarry was still operating when the wards were established.”