Page 11 of Hellish Witch (Playing with Demons #3)
Chapter 10
“ W hat in the holy fires are you doing?” Dayla frowned, a bemused expression on her matronly features.
I’d left Rex’s house only an hour ago, with the urge to run straight for the portal, an itch beneath my skin. Killian had stalked me all the way to work, though, as if he could sense something was off. He’d seen me safely over the clinic’s threshold before finally flying away, and I’d rewarded him with a sarcastic little wave.
A nervous titter spilled out. “Oh, um, just trying a new technique. I learned it from the human realm. Very effective.” I nodded sagely, pretending I was gluing a cut closed with the medicinal paste I’d created out of choice, not horrifying necessity.
Dayla’s triple set of horns and spiked shoulder might give her an intimidating look, but she was a sweet, caring pain demon. She was also one of the few purebloods in our kingdom.
She’d been exiled from her village years ago, after refusing to heal their corrupt leader, and had set up the healing clinic when she’d found us. Thankfully, she did all the boring admin needed to run it, giving me a space to work on patients and supporting my magic with her more traditional medical techniques.
I’d been too young to have magic when my mother died, but if I’d known the things Dayla had taught me since, maybe I could have saved her.
“Hmmm, well, as long as your patient is okay with that?” Dayla trailed off in question, eyeing Hubert with a frown. “You must stop going after the most dangerous prey.”
The elderly blood demon seated before me blushed a bright gold against his peachy skin tone. He ducked his horns, chipped and gouged from countless battles. “Aye, you’re right on that one, matron. Sometimes, I just can’t resist a good challenge.”
Dayla shook her horns, spiked tail ball jabbing over her shoulder to point at my patient. “And that’s why we see you in here almost weekly.”
With a good-natured huff, she strode down the corridor, leaving me and my regular patient to share a conspiratory smile.
“Don’t worry, Hughey, I think what you’re doing is brave. Though, maybe take someone with you to watch your wings next time.”
He smiled, almost sheepishly. “I will, Healer Eve.”
“That’s all done now. Try not to get it wet today, and by the morning, it should be fully sealed,” I said, eyeing my work.
It would have been quicker to heal him with magic, but for weeks now, I’d been coming up with excuses for why I’d not been using it.
Hopefully, Hubert would be the last patient I had to treat the old way.
“Thank you.” He patted me on the hand. “Your healing abilities keep this kingdom from falling apart.”
He’d meant it as a compliment, but the words raked claws through my middle.
“I’m going away for a few days, so try not to take on any more shadow boars alone. You’re lucky you got away with a mild maiming,” I replied, curter than I’d intended.
He grinned, showing off a chipped fang.
A sigh escaped me. There was no way he was staying out of trouble.
I saw him out and grabbed my healer kit, complete with all the new pastes and potions I’d created. Between treating a handful of minor injuries from dawn hunts, I’d packed anything I could get my claws on that might help me get to the Sage Coven, and shakily written a note I’d carefully folded and placed into my pocket.
Shanlir had even come to find me, making sure I was okay after I’d disappeared on her last night. Guilt bit me at how frantic she’d seemed, even with the hangover. I’d given her a tonic and broken the news that I’d be gone for a few days on a trip topside for witchy things. The poor demon had been too groggy to ask questions, and I’d promised to bring her back something incredibly human, like cheesy puffs or an adorable devil plushie.
Taking a shaky breath, I eased out of the clinic’s side door, picking my way carefully through the thriving herb garden and hopping the low fence that was more decorative than anything.
The healing clinic was near the middle of the settlement, in an area with most of the other services, right beside the small market. I gave it a wide berth, creeping past the quiet leather tannery instead.
Traders from other kingdoms had only started visiting us a few months ago, and it was still a novelty to get goods we hadn’t made or brought back from dangerous trips to other kingdoms and the human realm.
Hopefully, news of the merchant I’d disappeared didn’t spread.
I stuck to the side paths and offshoots between cabins, sneaking the ten minutes back to my home. The single-storey cabin with neat red log siding sat at the end of a worn stone path, a healthy distance from my neighbours. Unlike me, they preferred not to get too close to the Bloodwood.
Bright sunshine highlighted the bloodbore flowers overflowing two great planters on either side of my carved front door. The dark forest loomed behind. Some people might think it was creepy living next to the most dangerous woods in Hell, but it soothed my witchy side.
Sneaking furtive glances up at the skies, I raced to the backdoor of my house and crept inside. Silence greeted me in the dim interior, punctuated by the rapid thud of my heart.
I had to leave before anyone could follow me to their doom. A journey to the human realm was no joke.
It was safer since Rex had brokered a peace deal with our shadow-walker neighbours last month, but countless other dangers lurked between here and the portal that could get Rex and Zoella killed.
Me being one of them.
Panic iced my veins at the thought, and I drew a calming breath to stop myself spiralling.
I hurried through the small mud room and into the main corridor bisecting my cabin. After grabbing a battered pack from the cupboard, I raided my bedroom for all the necessities, including tough leathers and bland clothing. It would take days for me to reach the portal, and as a lone hybrid travelling through the Bloodwood, skirting a neighbouring kingdom or two, I needed to go unnoticed.
Adding a light bedroll, gold coins for Hell and cash for the human realm, I charged into my kitchen next.
And stopped short.
A feast lay across the island counter: an enormous steaming joint of roasted boar resting on a wooden chopping block.
Along with a familiar evil hellcat, dramatically stretched out to get the maximum amount of fur on my stone surfaces. The curious feline lazily sniffed the golden meat and practically unhinged her jaw.
Wicked fangs disappeared into the plump haunch as the fuzzy wretch chomped off a bite. Her throat bobbed with the lump she swallowed lying down before she rolled to a sit and casually licked the grease from her chops.
Even the heavenly scent couldn’t stop me from scowling as I noticed the glass cookie jar beside the meat was empty save a few crumbs.
“Oh, well, if it isn’t the fluffy menace. Have you even left yet, Cookie ?” I mocked, brushing my curls back between my horns.
Her tail flicked in annoyance, the cute tuft hiding a deadly stinger. It was the most emotion she’d shown.
“Cookie,” I drawled again, smirking to myself when her tail puff gave another irate twitch. I jerked a claw at the food. “I’m guessing this isn’t your handiwork?”
She began licking a hefty paw, somehow mocking me without words like she was saying, “Does it look like I roasted you a fucking boar?”
I shifted on my feet, watching the steaming food, now missing a sizeable chunk, like it might turn into a viper and bite me first.
Only a skilled hunter could bring down a shadow boar. I’d literally just patched up poor old Hubert for even looking at one wrong.
The more docile wild pig breeds were eaten regularly, but the type with midnight bristles and sharpened tusks was a deadly delicacy, usually reserved for special occasions like mating ceremonies.
Must have been from Rex. The old worrier was always looking after me, and he knew I’d been craving more ever since I’d tried it for the first time at his mating ceremony last month.
My brother was one of the few people in the kingdom who could hunt the creature without having to visit me afterwards.
He definitely couldn’t cook it though. The poor demon was so culinarily challenged, he’d once burned water.
I snagged a neatly cut amber-hued slice from the chopping block. The scent of honey-apple cider wafted off the prime cut. Its crispy crackling passed the test as I tapped it with a claw, making a hollow noise I knew would crunch deliciously.
“Damn.” I bit into the juicy piece, letting the heavenly food melt in my mouth with a low moan. “I’d literally mate the person who cooked this.”
The hellcat made that weird hacking rasp I just knew was her laughing at me.
“At least you’ve got dinner for a few days, since you already snaffled all the cookies,” I huffed back and wrapped as much of the meat as I could carry in wax paper, throwing it into my pack with a few other essentials.
I had no clue how the hellcat kept getting in, but she’d see herself out when she was good and ready, apparently.
My hands shook slightly as I placed the letter I’d written earlier on the kitchen counter. I had to get far away from the Hybrid Kingdom before Rex found out I was gone. I didn’t want him to think I’d just disappeared on him again though.
He was family. He’d be worried sick if I didn’t reassure him I was coming back as soon as I’d fixed myself.
I needed to do this on my own, without putting anyone else in danger, and I hoped explaining that in my note would be enough to keep him and his mate here, where they’d be safe.
With a deep breath, I snuck out the backdoor, turning to face the Bloodwood.
It loomed quiet and dark, despite the sunshine pouring over the village, pretending nothing was amiss.
Lying bastard.
There’d be dangers the second I stepped within its embrace.
With a final look back at the Hybrid Kingdom and its mismatched wonder, I strode into the Bloodwood.