Page 47 of Corrupt Shadows

“I mean work.”

She gives me an incredulous glare. “I thought you took the night off?”

Lorcan’s hold on my mind tightens. “Be convincing.”

“I did,” I say, steadying my breaths. “I forgot Brittany texted me telling me there’s no one to cover my shift.” I turn toward the pastor. “My apologies. With everything going on, I forgot. My mind has been scattered with all of this. Can I come back tomorrow?”

He nods and uncrosses his hands. “Of course. These doors are always open.”

“Thanks.”

Rosa grabs my hand before I can run off, then spins me around. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing, I promise,” I say and try to keep my expression devoid of the fear building inside. Lorcan is under my skin and on the fringe of every thought.

The pastor takes a step closer as I slide out of the pew. He closes the distance between us, and the smell of frankincense clings to his clothes. I stare at the white strip on his collar, which takes me back to memories of Edward.

I refocus on the pastor, trying to rid my mind of buried anxieties and memories. He pulls out a small bottle and holds it out for me to take. I eye it and have to stop myself from squirming. I can sense what it is before he tells me.

Holy water.

Both he and Rosa watch me like hawks. I inhale sharply and hold out my hand. He places the bottle in my palm, then uses his hand to close my fingers over it. I look up and he locks his gaze on mine. The blues in his eyes remind me of a clear, pale sky. “Please come by tomorrow,” he pleads, as if he knows I have no plans on coming back.

I shouldn’t have come in the first place. I give him a watery smile and nod.

***

Rosa lets out a breathy sigh the moment I unlock the door to my apartment. “This is a bad idea. I told you we should go back to my place.”

“What about Gomez?”

“We’ll take him. I’ll happily have him with us.” She peeks her head around me to get a view into my living room from the hallway. “Pack a bag and let’s go. I’ll smash every mirror in my place if it means getting him away from you.”

A shiver dances down my spine. He doesn’t like that she’s talking like this. “He’s attached,” I say slowly, taking a few steps inside. I hang my umbrella and purse on the hooks, then reach inside and grab my pack of cigarettes. “Outside.” I tilt my head in the direction of the sliding doors to the balcony.

She shudders, hugging her arms around herself as we pass the mirrors. “Why haven’t you broken these yet?”

My brows draw together. Why haven’t I? “He can get to me anyway,” I say with a shrug, although I’m unsure if that’s true. But mirrors are portals to this world, at least for demons to look through. Very few are actually portal gateways, giving demons the ability to come into this realm.

I eye the door to my office on the way to the balcony. The mirror in there is one. That much, I’m certain. Logically, I know I should get rid of it, but I have a horrible feeling that no matter what I do, I won’t be able to escape him.

Maybe I don’t want to.

I hate the feeling as soon as it fills me up. I despise myself for thinking of it. I’m sick and twisted, and everyone including Jay deserved better.

The demonic attachment is growing stronger, pulling my magic to the surface. It’s as if Lorcan lives within my skin. I slide open the door to the balcony and step out into the icy air. The wind hits my cheeks, cooling me. Rosa hurries out after me, as if the demon may come and grab her if she’s left inside.

“What about Gomez?” she asks.

I gaze up at the inky-black canvas, taking in the pinpricked silver stars. “He’s asleep,” I reply, then breathe in heavily.

“How do you know?”

I point at the windows overlooking the sofa. He’s snuggled against a fluffy pillow, his wings wrapped around his body.

“Oh.”

I spark a cigarette, the flame thawing my fingertips. I hold the smoke for half a second in my mouth, then inhale deeply. Holding it in my lungs eases some of the benzo withdrawals, and for a moment, I wish I could push liquid nicotine through my veins. The buzz lasts mere seconds. I blow out in a long line of smoke, and Rosa coughs as some catches in the breeze.