Page 32 of Curses & Cold Brew (Maple Hollow #2)
RAMONA
N aphula and I wandered the edges of the Halloween Festival, liberally poured libations in hand while we surveyed the festivities from a distance like we did every year.
The merriment was the perfect place for scouting future marks.
Even during their happiest moments, it was easy to see the greedy and desperate ones.
I had a feeling the bounty would be plentiful this year.
As we rounded the funnel cake cart, though, Naphula slowed and drew into the shadow of the nearest tree.
She’d been sluggish since the curse had been lifted, but that was to be expected.
The fact that she’d survived it at all was a testament to her incredible strength.
The look on her face said it was more than that, though.
I followed her gaze across the bustling town square to where it landed on a woman with curly blonde hair styled into a short-shaved undercut.
“Why don’t you just go talk to her?” I asked, tipping my head toward Eloise, who laughed uproariously as she shared an orange popcorn ball with Willow. “I’d say she won’t bite, but we both know you’d love that.”
Naphula let out a long breath and shook her head, her silver hair dusting across her shoulders.
“I wanted to tell you . . .” She took a long sip of her gin and tonic.
“I’m heading back to London for a while.
I’ve got a friend out there who could use a helping hand with her damned souls, and I offered to assist.”
I let out a derisive huff. “So you’re running away.”
“Don’t be so sentimental,” Naphula admonished. “I need a break from the watchful eyes of little towns, from places where everyone knows each other’s business. The big city will be good for me.”
“This town has an attention span of two weeks, you know that,” I countered. “No one will remember what happened with Esme by Christmas.”
But we both knew that wasn’t the reason.
“I need to clear my head,” Naphula finally confessed. “My indiscretions almost cost lives.”
Without even turning to look at my friend, I knew she was watching Eloise. “You should at least go say goodbye.”
She shook her head. “Just add it to the list of things I’ve royally fucked up.”
“Come on. Don’t disappear into the night.”
“Don’t worry about it, Mona. She won’t even notice I’m gone.” She sounded so defeated.
“If I can manage to win the heart of a witch, you can shag a werewolf,” I encouraged, my eyes searching the crowd for said witch. “You could at least?—”
“Stop. Please.” Naphula folded one arm across her chest, propping up her elbow to cradle her drink next to her lips. “I’ve made up my mind. I’m leaving tonight. She’s better off with me gone. You all are.”
Stubborn . Foolish .
But all I could do was shake my head and resign myself to enjoying the last bit of time with my friend before she left on a new adventure.
“Do you need me to water your plants?” I asked into my drink.
“It’ll be easier if you take them off my hands until I get back in the spring.”
“Six months?” I balked. “You must be down worse than I thought.”
“Six months is minutes for us,” she said. “Besides, I really don’t want to hang around for the disgusting love fest I know is about to take place between you and that little redhead.”
My eyes found Iris across the crowd, as if just thinking about her had summoned her from the fray.
She was in a circle with Jordyn, Harlow, Willow, and Wyatt, throwing her head back and laughing with her whole body.
I knew the exact sound she was making without even hearing it. My lips curled up despite themselves.
“Point made.” I playfully punched Naphula’s arm. “I’m still going to miss you.”
“Thank you for not hating me,” she replied, and I was struck by the sadness in her voice. “I’m sorry?—”
“I am as petty and vengeful as they come, Naph. But there are no grudges between us,” I assured her. “I’m more upset that you didn’t think you could talk to me than anything else.”
“I know.”
I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in for a rare show of affection. “I forgive you.”
“Thank you.”
Just as quickly as the hug started, we pulled apart. Thirty seconds was the maximum amount of affection time two demons could share.
“Just promise you’ll come home,” I continued with a gentle laugh. “There are good things waiting for you here.”
She shook her head again. “Not all of us are as brave as you, Ramona.” She swigged back the rest of her drink. “I’d rather face the fires of hell than a wolf girl with my heart on a leash. Nothing a six-month romp around London won’t fix. Just as it always does.”
I pursed my lips, knowing my friend was a fool but accepting there was nothing I could do about it.
“I’m going to have my work cut out for me being the only demon in town,” I said with a dramatic sigh while I directed us to a rather sour-looking man who was lurking near the pumpkin-carving station. “Come on. Let’s go make a few more deals before you go.”
We walked through the chilled air and descended on the unsuspecting out-of-towners until our metaphorical pockets were full of new deals.
I found my cash cow in a group of businessmen who were all looking to be promoted over each other.
Like fish in a barrel. Naphula, on the other hand, was feeling most generous and promised fame and riches to several social media influencers who were in town chasing their next viral video.
When she closed her last deal, she gave me a single nod, and I returned it before she disappeared into the night. Naphula and I didn’t do goodbyes.
As the evening wound down, I idled in the shadows, watching Iris and her friends.
The town’s brand-new reenactment of defeating a legendary evil vampire was a hilarious shitshow, but entertaining, nevertheless.
After the show, Iris and her friends continued to hop between the stalls and played games into the wee hours of the night before eventually relenting to their exhaustion and heading back to the apothecary just before dawn.
Once I knew my witch was home safe, I walked back to my house. Even though I’d just seen Iris cross the threshold of the Poison Apple, when I saw a figure standing outside my door, I thought it was her. Instead, it was someone I hadn’t expected at all.
“Agnes,” I said as I approached the gate. “I refuse to be part of that ridiculous play next year. I don’t care that I have the perfect—What’s wrong?”
The deep-set wrinkle on her brow drew tighter than usual. “We found out who taught Esme that dark magic.” She stood as still as death. “It was another demon who taught her the curse.”
“Who?”
“They were exorcised years ago and bound to hell. At least . . . that was until Esme broke them out. We have it on good authority that he’s looking for a new place to move. A paranormal paradise.”
“Fuck,” I grumbled. “Where are they now?”
“They’ve petitioned the town council to take up residence here. Claiming sanctuary.”
“And what does the town council think about that?” I asked tightly.
She held out a sealed letter in response. The dark red, stamped wax seal told me all I needed to know.
Lucifer .
This fucking demon had made an official request not just with the town council, but with hell itself.
I took the letter from Agnes’s outstretched hand. As soon as it touched my skin, it opened on its own, floating just in front of my face for me to read. Each line of the text disappeared the second after I read it:
My most vicious Ramona,
You are hereby requested to attend the hearing of King of Hell, Zagan.
Your expert testimony is required on the petition of residency in regard to your mortal domain.
Upon the rules of the plane, you must appear in situ to contest or approve such a request. Your presence is expected immediately and without convenience.
Wicked regards,
Lucifer, Emperor
Shit .
As the letter disintegrated into embers, I felt the pull from beyond the veil starting to take hold like a lasso around my middle.
With a grumble, I straightened my cufflinks, glad I’d decided on Cartier earlier today as it seemed I would be making an impromptu appearance in hell. “Agnes, tell Iris I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Will do.” Agnes nodded. “Where should I tell her you’ve gone?”
I rolled my eyes. “Demonic jury duty.” And then I was taken into the void, the vampire’s pitying cackle following me.