Page 37 of Corrupt Shadows
He hisses a breath through his teeth and grimaces. “Yeah, but it was an accident.” He points at me, then lowers his finger when he spots my snarl. “I didn’t mean to say anything to her, but that’s all I said. I swear.”
“You fear her.” I shake my head. “Pathetic.”
He chews the inside of his lip and slowly leans to grab his phone. I growl, and he rises quickly. “She’s insane. In fact, you two are perfect for each other.”
Anger rips through my chest, and I slam my fist against the glass, needing an outlet. He jumps back a pace, but it’s not enough. If I could, I would reach into his apartment, wrap my hands around his throat, and squeeze until his head is no longer attached to his body.
“Lorcan, look…”
“Enough!” I bark.
He freezes, hearing my voice so loud. “Master,” he says quickly, but his internal monologue betrays him. You would like that, you egomaniac. Pfft. Master. Next he’ll want me on my knees and kissing his ringed fucking finger.
I grip the mirror until parts of the wooden frame splinter and crack under the pressure. “Don’t pretend you wouldn’t like it on your knees, human.” I snarl, then look him up and down, enjoying the fear radiating from him. “You forget, I am as much a witness to your dreams as you.”
He swallows thickly, rubbing his arm. “That’s not…”
“I don’t care!” I yell into his mind, and he squeezes his eyes shut. “Tell me how you are useful to me now. The witch knows who you are she does not fear you. You are useless.”
“No, please!” His eyes bulge, and he presses his hands together, as if in prayer. “I can still be useful. I… I…” I sense him scrambling for ideas in that empty head of his. I’ve had enough. Once I can stay in the Human Realm for longer than an hour, I will find Aiden and tear him limb from limb, so he can make good on our deal sooner than later.
He can join the rest of the souls in Hell.
“Oh.” His eyes light up. “I can get her to use her magic.”
“You have nothing!” I shout and pull away from the mirror.
“Please,” he calls before I can remove myself from his shitty apartment for the last time. “Have some empathy.”
I laugh sardonically. Is this human serious?
He sighs. “Never mind, I forgot who I’m talking to. Look, there must be something else I can do. What about the demon you said is possessing someone? Or the real Order? Don’t dismiss me yet. I can do more.”
I turn back to face him, tilt my head, and curl a finger, beckoning him closer.
Hesitantly, he takes short, slow steps until he’s standing inches from the mirror.
“You have one chance. Fear me before guns and witches. An eternity of anguish is worse than anything anyone can do to you here, especially when I return to Hell.” I morph into my demonic form. Scales cover my tattoos, darkening my entire body. I grow several feet taller, my eyes blacker than a starless night. A few seconds later, I return to my human form and lean closer. His round eyes dull as he watches me like a deer in headlights. “I have plans for you.”
***
I cough the moment I walk into my realm’s version of the witch’s apartment, the light stench of sage filling my lungs. My fists clench at my side, my nails biting into my palms as I storm to each mirror until I finally catch a glimpse of her. At least she’s finally uncovered the rest of the mirrors.
My eyes are drawn to the black shorts hugging her round ass, then up to her white tank top, her nipples visible through the thin fabric. I drink her in, admiring her long black hair hanging to the bottom of her back, perfectly straight. Then she turns, her brown eyes fixed on the mirror above her bed.
I lose all lust when I spot the stick of sage burning from a wooden, coffin-shaped shelf where she usually keeps crystals. Smoke spirals upward, curling into the corners of the room. I place my hand over my nose and mouth, rage pulsing through me.
She pulls Gomez into a tight hug, and he rests his head on her chest. His beady eyes track me in the mirror, and his fangs peek over his black mouth. He can sense me, but it’s not a surprise. Like all animals, and especially familiars, they have a sixth sense. “No one puts my baby in a cage and gets away with it,” she coos into his ear, then shoots a glare at the mirror, despite not being able to see me. “Fucking demon douchebag.”
I spot the handgun she must have used on Aiden. It’s lying on the nightstand. My lip twitches, but I can’t bring myself to smile, not when she’s burning fucking sage and… What’s that? I glare down at the thick line of salt in front of the mirror.
I bring my hand to the glass, pressing my fingertips against the cool mirror, but I can sense her like usual. The rosemary-and-sage necklace dangles from her neck. She leaves the view of mirror but quickly returns without Gomez. Her cheeks redden, and she puts out the sage, seeming satisfied that it’s done its job. I should fucking think so. It looks like the entire apartment is choking with it.
It’ll take more than a smudging to keep me out, but it does something. The distance between us ignites a hatred that has me imagining all the ways I could kill the witch. She’s keeping me away, trying to break our connection. If it weren’t for her family, I wouldn’t be locked in this fucking realm. Now I have to ruin her in order to free myself, if only she’d stop playing games.
I follow her back out of the room, gliding between mirrors toward the living area, where I spot Gomez climbing over the sofa, then to the restroom, where I find her again.
She closes the door and glides past the mirror. My jaw clenches as she slides her hand behind the dark-purple, fabric shower curtain and turns on the hot water. Steam clings to the mirror as the water runs, and Evie strips.