Page 59 of Dead Serious Case 5 Madame Vivienne

“I’m less concerned with how it got down there and more worried about whether it’s getting out.” I can hear my voice, which is now laced with something akin to panic, has risen to a much higher pitch. My brain feels like it’s going to implode. “A demon, really?”

“Well, that’s the question now, isn’t it?” Lucien replies. “What do you know about demons?”

My eyes widen further and I let out a rather embarrassing squeak. “Oh no, not me. I’m the ghost whisperer. Please direct all occult-based questions to my colleague.” I point to Harrison, whose lips are pursed thoughtfully as he stares at the circle… or demon trap thingy… or whatever.

Holy fuck, this has got to be at least an eight on the Everett Scale.

“I’m aware of some of the darker magics,” Harrison says. “There is some vague mention of demons, but it was my understanding they are all trapped in Hell.”

“You’d think, wouldn’t you.” Lucien shrugs. “But no, some are unaccounted for. Caught in traps like these, some have lain undiscovered for centuries until–”

“Until what?” I ask, not sure I’m going to like the answer.

“Until they are awakened,” Lucien says quietly. “Mostly, these types of demon traps are very effective.” He seems to be studying the markings, which aren’t the same as the ones on Viv or Dusty. “A trap like this should have held the demon in a dormant state, like a kind of stasis”—he shakes his head—“but this one is very much conscious.”

“Great,” I mutter sourly.

Suddenly the front door bursts open and Danny and Sam rush through. They skid almost comically to a halt, looking first at the giant, flamey demon trap glowing like the dance floor fromSaturday Night Feverand then to the giant, hulking, sexy wolf of a man towering over me and Harrison.

Danny grabs an umbrella from the nearby stand and Sam grabs a plant pot and they brandish both like weapons.

“It’s okay!” I hold up my hands to prevent any spontaneous bloodshed. As much as I love how protective and fearless Danny is, I’m pretty certain Lucien could toss both Sam and Danny across the room like a pair of puppets without knocking a single strand of his eighties rockstar hair out of place.

I glance at Danny and Sam’s makeshift weapons. Gotta love them for trying. “This is Lucien. Um…” I edge carefully around the demon trap, not wanting to stand on it, although I must have walked directly over it I don’t know how many times before. “He, uh… well, I’m pretty sure he’s not the psycho killer who hurt Viv,but then again, what the hell do I know? I just cut up dead bodies for a living and talk to ghosts.”

Danny grabs me as soon as I get close, running his hands over me as if checking for injuries and then holding on tightly.

“Can’t you stay out of trouble for two minutes?” He sighs.

I frown. “In my defence, none of this is my fault.”

“Sorry to point out the obvious,” Sam interrupts, “but what the hell is that?” He points his plant pot at the floor.

“A demon trap,” Harrison answers.

Sam blinks. “A demon… what?”

I turn to look at Danny who is staring at the glowy circle with wide eyes, his mouth open. “Wow,” I mutter. “Is that what I looked like?” I peer over my shoulder at Lucien, Harrison, and Bruce—I always forget he’s there, he’s so quiet and unassuming—and find all three of them nodding in synchronisation.

Disentangling myself from Danny, I shove him and Sam further into the shop and lock the door behind them before Detective Byrnes decides to join us for a surprise stalking and really get this party started.

“We need a better lock on this place,” I say.

“What the fuck is going on?” Danny glowers.

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out.” I take his hand and lead him back to where the others are standing. “Lucien, this is Danny, my fiancé, and our friend, Sam.”

Lucien nods in greeting.

“Danny, Lucien was sent here by Mr Hadley,” I explain.

“Did Hadley know about all that?” Danny’s eyes track back to the trap.

Lucien shakes his head. “I think he suspected, which is why he called in a favour. So here I am.”

“So you don’t actually work for Hadley and Mason?”

Lucien shakes his head. “Let’s just say I’m on temporary loan.”