Page 62 of Dead Serious Case 5 Madame Vivienne
“That leaves one other option,” Harrison adds.
“The other sister, Constance, the one the property was left to,” Danny replies. “It fits. It explains why she was left the property and why she went to Hadley and Mason to tie it into very specific legal clauses so it was passed down her line, all the way to Viv.”
“If Constance did know about the demon trap,” Harrison says slowly, “there’s a very good chance her daughter knew about it too.”
“Evangeline.” I nod, having come to the same conclusion myself. I may not know much about witchcraft or demons or a whole bunch of other stuff that sounds entirely too bonkers tobe true, but ghosts are my turf. I turn to Bruce. “Bruce, you said Evangeline hasn’t been around much. Have you seen her at all? Do you have any idea where she might be?”
Bruce frowns. “I saw her just after we found Viv’s body. She seemed really shaken. After that, I saw her maybe once more. I know she’s around, but she’s hiding. Viv’s death shook up all the ghosts in the shop, especially as it happened right under our noses. I figured she just needed some space to process, considering Viv was her great-great-granddaughter.”
“We need to find her.” I look at Harrison. “You should concentrate on figuring out what the crack is with this blood magic, which, by the way, sounds really gross and unhygienic. Ghosts are my responsibility, so Dusty, Bruce, and I will look for Evangeline and find out what she knows.”
“Sam and I will continue trying to track down Viv’s son,” Danny turns to Sam, who nods in agreement. “We’ve got some leads to chase down.”
“Maybe he just doesn’t want to be found,” Harrison says. “Have you ever thought of that?”
“And maybe he’s the one who killed his mother,” Sam answers back. “Have you thought of that?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m not. If this whole demon trap is tied up in blood magic, then it’s his bloodline too,” Sam points out.
“Don’t start arguing, you two.” I sigh. “We’ve got enough problems on our plate right now with this demon.”
“Did you say demon?” A mildly curious voice asks.
“Oh my god, it’s like bloody Piccadilly Circus in here today.” I turn towards Death, who has appeared close by, looking his usual immaculate self.
“We’ve been told the markings on Viv’s arms are an old demon language that’s been lost or something,” I explain.
“Daemoniic?” Death hums contemplatively. “Why, yes, I suppose they could be.” He looks down at the dull demon trap. Now that Lucien is no longer here, it seems to be fading, once again disappearing into the floor. “I’ve never really had much to do with the Hell dimensions since they are not under my purview.”
“Chan’s not here, by the way,” I tell him.
“I know,” he answers simply.
“Then why are you here?” I frown, but Danny seems to have grasped something I haven’t because he moves closer to me and places his hand on my shoulder.
Death watches me with those pale ice-blue eyes, his expression unreadable.
“Answer your phone, Tristan,” he says quietly.
“But my phone’s not ringi—” I jolt as my phone starts buzzing in my pocket. My stomach drops and my heart begins to pound. I fumble it out and as I turn it over to look at the screen, I feel Danny’s hand squeeze my shoulder.
The call is from Sunrise Care Home.
14
Ihesitate outside the door, my hand hovering over the handle and then dropping to my side as I stare at the plain, light-coloured, generic wood.
Danny steps in closer and I close my eyes as the familiar scent of him surrounds me. The heat of his body warms me but I still feel a coldness seep into my bones, or maybe it’s numbness, I can’t tell.
He wraps his arms around me, and I lift my hand, stroking his forearm as it rests across my chest, then I lean back into him and rest my head against his shoulder, allowing myself this one moment of weakness. A kiss, featherlight and comforting, brushes against my temple.
“I’ve got you, love.” His voice is low, the words spoken against my skin.
My eyes sting, but I blink rapidly and nod.
“We’ll do this together,” Danny tells me. “You’re not alone.”