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Chapter Fifty-Two

CARMINE

From the shadows of the park, I watch the penthouse lights go on and off, room to room, as my Luna, her friend, her mother, and her protectors move through it.

Whaddup, Deadass?

“You’re back,” I sigh.

Killing the rat in the subway wasn’t going to kill the owner of the annoying voice. I knew that, but I’m still surprised by the squirrel rustling in the branches above.

I have intel. News. Tea to spill.

“You have tricks.”

The demon has always had information, but it never had knowledge.

This one knows things but not why, or how.

It cannot lie directly—only by omission or about its own intentions.

It can possess humans and change matter on a molecular level.

It has powers vampires do not, but a vampire can trap the demon inside himself and use those powers.

When the vampire sleeps, the demon escapes.

I could have killed this little furry bastard already, but the demon itself cannot be killed. Ever. He can only be warded off, which I would be wise to do, immediately.

I do want to hear what he has to say, though. I should know better. That’s how they get you.

The Ossidiana Knife?

“Yes?”

It’s in the labyrinth.

“No shit.”

But where? That’s the scoop. The wolves know nothing. The knife is deep underfoot. It’s deeper than a Roman sewer, and there are creatures everywhere.

“Thanks for the tip.”

You should find your witch a nice human man. Let her make little witches.

“So you can live?”

That’s what you think I want?

“To live in a human body. That’s what you’ve always wanted.”

You find it sus.

“I never could figure out why you want pain and sickness so bad.”

The death.

“Yes. And that.”

To ghost this life. The relief of it.

In the shadows of the crisp fall leaves, the squirrel’s eyes close with spiritual desire. It was never life it craved, but death. Real death. Forever. I have misunderstood this demon for a century.

“I could kill you now.”

Based. Short term yes but I would be grateful to feel unalive for a moment.

“Stay away from Luna and I’ll do it.”

Not for a rodent, Rizz up a mid human. Some NPC I can feel it inside. Then we talk about her lifetime without me.

“No deal.” I grab the squirrel from the branch. I could snap it like a twig.

Not for free. Not today.

I drop it and I feel a tiny, almost imperceptible tug from my ring—as if there’s a magnet inside the squirrel that’s not strong enough for gravity. Then it’s gone and I am sure I imagined it.

He’ll be back. He always comes back. The death he’s looking for is permanent. He has to be born into a human to do it.