Page 10 of Galen

“A light just turned on upstairs,” Castor said.

Following his gaze, I saw light coming through the upstairs windows and a shadow pass across. Blue flickered across the glass next, like a TV had been turned on.

“Looks like he lives up there.”

“Thank you for stating the obvious.”

Castor smirked. “You’re welcome.”

When a car pulled up to the curb minutes later, Castor and I concealed ourselves more in the shadows. A woman got out carrying a bag with the name of a nearby Chinese restaurant slapped across it. She walked around to the side entrance. A human wouldn’t have been able to see from this distance, but all of my senses were enhanced. I saw the man from earlier open the door, take the bag, hand her some cash, then disappear back inside.

“Chinese food sounds good,” Castor mumbled. “We missed dinner being out here.”

“Okay, Raiden.”

He chuckled. “Hey, just because we’re immortal doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy food. Some sweet-and-sour chicken sounds so damn good right now.”

“You can get some later.”

The woman got back into her car and put it in reverse. As headlights flashed across the tree we stood under, we crouched down, then stood back up once she was gone. The streetlight beside the building flickered on and off before going dark.

Scurrying sounded from the left as the scent of burning flesh and ash filled the air.

Shades.

I withdrew my daggers as one sprung toward me. I drove the blade into its neck, and as it disintegrated, I killed another. Castor sliced one in half before throwing his golden dagger and hitting another in the chest. Smoke swirled around their bodies, but a thin layer of charred flesh lay beneath it.

“We have to get in that shop,” I said, taking down two more. Shades often traveled in packs of five, but there was more this time. It proved that the item they were after was of great importance.

Someone wanted it badly.

“Go,” Castor said as a shade leapt onto his back. He rolled forward to loosen its hold before body slamming it to the grass and jabbing it in the throat. The smoke blazed bright orange before the creature turned to ash. “I have things covered out here.”

I took off across the street, keeping to the shadows. The side entrance door had an alarm system that I easily disarmed, and then I softly closed the door behind me before creeping forward in the dark hallway.

Murmuring came from the TV upstairs. I glanced up the stairwell to see a closed door. The entrance to his loft. Quietly, I continued down the corridor, looking in each room I passed. One had a minifridge and a small table; another was a bathroom.

I kept going, following the trail of power in the air. Being as old as I was, very few things managed to unsettle me, but the darkness I felt twisted and knotted in my gut.

The room was dark when I entered, but my eyes adjusted. It didn’t take long for me to find it. A container about the size of a small cigar box sat atop a shelf, surrounded by old books and random figurines.

Symbols warding against demons covered the outside of the box, meaning they wouldn’t be able to open it. Whoever owned the box must’ve been powerful themselves. That type of warding took precision and a vast knowledge of spell work. The lock had been removed, and the lid was open.

So much for keeping demons out now.

Right as I peered into the box, a creak sounded from behind me, and the air stirred at my back. I ducked as a metal bat was swung at my head.

“Get out of my shop!” the man yelled. “I’ve already called the police!”

I spun around and caught the bat in my hand as he swung again. “Enough.”

His eyes widened before he thrust out his other arm and punched my chest. I grabbed him by the wrist and held him still as he thrashed around, trying to kick me.

I sighed. “Stop. You look ridiculous.”

“I’m supposed to just stand by and do nothing?” He brought up a knee, intent on kicking me in the crotch.

I deflected the kick and pressed him against the wall, still with both his arms pinned. His heart thrashed wildly as he started to panic.