Jenks made a tiny huff, and hearing it, Pierce turned, his expression sour. “If you would give me a hooter of a moment, I could explain.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet,” I said, then, more charitable, I added, “Later, okay? I want to talk to Al.” I focused on the demon. “That’s the only reason I snatched him. The only reason,” I affirmed when Jenks buzzed his disagreement. Seeing Al listening, I eased my posture. “Al, you can’t snatch people when you’re checking up on me. It’s not fair.”
“Wahh, wahh, wahh,” he mocked. Snapping his fingers in an unusual showmanship, he vanished.
Jenks’s wings clattered a warning. “Ah, Rache, he’s not gone.”
“Really? You think?” I whispered, then spun when Pierce made a choking sound.
“Damn it, Al!” I shouted, falling back in frustration upon seeing that the demon had Pierce by the neck, his feet dangling three inches above the floor.
“This one is already mine,” he snarled, bringing Pierce close to his face. “Let me jump you to a line, worm. A year in my oubliette will teach you not to stray.”
“It wasn’t me,” he gasped, his face going purple in the dim light. “She spelled me here. That’s how we met,” Pierce forced out. “When…she…was…eight…teen.”
His last words warbled as he shook, and I was seriously wondering how much damage even a solid ghost could take. “Al! Stop it!” I said, putting my gun down and tugging on Al’s velveteen-hidden arm. “I wouldn’t have even taken him if you hadn’t ignored me and picked up your damned line. I just want to talk to you. Will you listen to me!”
“This is for your own good,” the demon said, eyeing me from over his glasses, Pierce still hanging in his grip. “He’ll kill you, Rachel.”
“I don’t freaking care! Knock it off and pay attention to me!”
Pierce gurgled, and Al’s focus became distant. Nervous, I let go of his arm and backed up into Jenks’s dust. “You didn’t rescue him to be your boyfriend?” Al asked, shifting his blood-smeared, white-gloved fingers around Pierce’s throat.
“No!” I exclaimed, glancing at Jenks. “Why does everyone think he’s my boyfriend?”
Pierce collapsed as Al dropped him. The demon stepped elegantly over the crumpled man, and I backed to the window as elegant swearwords in an old-world accent spilled out from the downed witch. Jenks’s eyes widened, the pixy clearly impressed.
Al was looking at me in disbelief. “Not your lover?”
“No.”
“But he is Rachel candy,” Al said, his confusion too honest to be faked.
Behind him, on his hands and knees, Pierce pulled his head up. His blue eyes were vivid, and his hair was mussed. “Go to hell. You can’t kill me until I’m alive.”
“Looks like I can make you hurt, though,” Al said, and Pierce clenched into a ball.
My neck started to sweat. Okay. Al was here, he was listening. “Al,” I said loudly, trying to get the demon’s attention back on me as he leaned over Pierce and poked him. “We need to talk about you snagging people. You need to stop it. Not only is it going to get me worse than shunned, but do you really want to be known as the demon who snatches instead of the demon who cleverly outwits stupid humans and Inderlanders? Come on. This is your reputation we’re talking about.”
On the floor, Pierce took a heaving breath of air and relaxed as Al quit whatever he was doing to him and straightened. “You can’t have this one here,” he said.
“Neither can you. Let him go.”
Pierce’s eyes met mine. “Mistress witch…There are things you don’t understand. If you could only allow it in yourself to let me explain.”
Al put a foot on his neck, and Pierce choked. Jenks flew down from the unseen rafters, his dust lighting the small space. “It doesn’t make a difference,” I said, my thoughts going to Nick and his belief that you can outsmart demons and wondering how he was doing. “We all do what we have to in order to survive. It’s up to me to become involved or not, and I’m not.”
“I’m sorry, Rache,” Jenks whispered.
A thick smirk was on Al’s lips. “Dali wouldn’t help you, eh?”
“I didn’t ask him.”
“No?” Al questioned, and he pulled his foot from Pierce’s neck.
I shrugged, though it was hard to see in the dark. “Why bother him when I can talk to you, demon to student.” Cocking my hip, I made sure he could see my silhouette before the lighter darkness of the window. “The only student. In five thousand years. Yours. Not Dali’s.”
Worried, Jenks began dusting even more heavily, lighting a small space. Al made a small noise in thought. “You wouldn’t,” he said confidently, but there was doubt.
My heart pounded, and I gave him a mocking look. I doubt he could see it, but my posture was clear enough. Behind Al, Pierce opened one eye, finding mine immediately. There was defiance in him yet, helpless as he was. Strong beyond belief, but needing my help. Damn it, he was classic Rachel bait. “I only snatched him to get your attention,” I said. “Now that I’ve got it, this is what I want.”
“Damn my dame!” Al shouted, hands raised to the ceiling. “I knew it! Not another list!”
Jenks had let a burst of light go in his surprise, and in the new glow, I held up a finger. “Number one,” I said. “Don’t you ever not pick up when I’m trying to get in touch with you. I don’t call unless it’s important, so answer your line, okay?”
Al brought his attention back down from the ceiling. “You really don’t want to have sex with him? Why? What’s wrong with him?”
I flushed and held up a second finger. “Two, I want a little respect. Stop hurting people with me. And no more snatching.”
“Respect,” Al huffed. “Too bad. So sad. Respect needs to be earned, and you haven’t given me anything to buy it from me.”
Behind him, Pierce edged away, but before he could gain his feet, Al jabbed his foot backward, and the witch went sprawling.
“Respect?” I echoed. “You think I still need to earn your respect? How about me not summoning you even when I wanted to talk to you? How about me knowing all your friends’ names and not summoning them? How about me not working with them so they can get their own bloody familiars? I could walk away from you and go to any of them. At any time. Done.”
Leaving him was an empty threat, but because I had snatched Pierce from him, with no ley line magic and limited resources, he was listening. I didn’t want another teacher. Maybe I should tell him that.
The light from Jenks’s last dusting had faded, and I couldn’t see Al’s face. He wasn’t moving, though. “Three,” I said softly, “I want to stay your student. You probably want to keep it that way, too, huh? Don’t push me on this, Al. I’ll leave, and I don’t want to.”
Pierce looked riven, and Al’s expression became unreadable.
Taking a breath, I focused on Al—who had been listening intently. “So what’s it going to be? Are you going to be nice, or naughty?”
In a smooth motion, Al swooped toward Pierce, grabbing him by the shirtfront and hoisting him up. “Sorry about that, little runt,” he said, zipping up his pants and arranging his collar in motions so fast that it left Pierce shocked, and scrambling. “Terrible misunderstanding.”
He gave Pierce a smack on the back, to send him stumbling. Face red, Pierce caught his balance and pushed Al’s hands off him. Stiff with pride, he turned his back on us as he tugged his clothes back where they should be, ran a hand over his hair, and then turned around. I wouldn’t look at him.
Jenks had moved closer to me in the fast exchange, and he hovered suspiciously. I wasn’t satisfied, though, and I stayed where I was, my back to the window. “So you agree, no snatching, smacking, killing, or scaring people with me. I want to hear it.”
“This one doesn’t count,” Al said. “It’s not retroactive.”
“Good God! This is an addiction!” I exclaimed, but seeing I’d pushed him far enough—and that he and Pierce already seemed to have an agr
eement—I nodded. “Say it,” I insisted.
Pierce was edging away from Al. The motion wasn’t lost on the demon, and he jerked him back. “I won’t snatch, harm, or scare to death people with you or use checking up on you as an excuse to cause trouble. You’re worse than my mother, Rachel.”
“Mine, too,” Jenks muttered.
“Thank you,” I said formally. I was shaking inside. I’d done it. I’d freaking done it. And it hadn’t cost me my soul, or a mark, or anything. Hallelujah, she can be taught!
Al gave Pierce a shove away and strolled closer to me. I tensed, then relaxed, putting my gun away. I could smell the burnt amber flowing from him, and Jenks hovered backward, sword hefted as if ready to throw it. I didn’t move, numb as Al sidled up alongside me and together we eyed Pierce, nervous under our combined scrutiny. “If you give him a body,” he said lightly, “I will kill him.”
I looked at Al. His eyes didn’t look strange anymore, and it scared me. “I don’t know that curse,” I said blandly.
Al’s jaw clenched and released. “He will eventually try to kill you, Rachel. Let me save you the trouble of killing him in turn.”
Tired, I started tucking things away. The empty bottle, the crucible, the used finger stick. My hands were shaking, and I made a fist. “Pierce isn’t going to kill me.”
“You got that right,” Al and Jenks said simultaneously.
“Tell him what you are, itchy witch,” Al added after a wary look at the pixy. “See what happens.”
Pierce had been in my church for almost a year. I doubted very much he didn’t know what I was. It was only just after midnight, but I was ready to go home. “Why don’t you leave before someone recognizes you,” I said as Jenks landed on my shoulder. My adrenaline was gone, and I was cold in my little black dress. I looked around, but apart from the two bottles of potion still on the sill, there was nothing of mine except Pierce standing stoically by the window, trying not to look naive as he gazed down at the streets of Cincinnati full of people partying. “I’m already shunned, thanks to you,” I finished.
A beautiful smile came over the demon, and looking at me from over his smoked glasses, he said, “Leave? But it is such a spectacular night!” That smile still on his face, he strode to the window and picked up my potion bottles. I held out my hand for them as he lifted them to the faint light and squinted.
“You made more than one potion to give him substance?” Al asked, and when I said nothing, he cracked one of the seals and breathed. “Nice presentation,” he murmured, then slid them into a jacket pocket.
“Hey! Those are mine!” I protested, jolted out of my complacency. Jenks launched himself off my shoulder, but Pierce gave me what was almost a nasty look, as if I should have known better and was being stupid.
Al didn’t even bother to acknowledge me as I stood with my arms crossed over my middle and sulked in a drop-dead gorgeous dress underneath Cincinnati’s premier restaurant. “These are mine,” he finally said. “You’re my student, and I can claim anything you make.”
I jumped when I suddenly became aware that Pierce was behind me. He gave me a heartfelt look, trying to take my hands as he said, “Rachel, might I have a word with you? My heart is breaking to explain.”
“I’ll bet,” I said sourly, pulling my hands away. “Why don’t you vamoose so Al will go with you and leave me the hell alone?”
“I’ll allow that this looks powerful suspicious,” he admitted. “And anyone would be in a fine pucker, but you yourself have a mind to deal with the devil spawn upon occasion. I have until sunrise to convince you that I’m honorable.” He looked at Al. “You agreed to no snatching. I have until sunrise.”
Al gestured grandly. “If you must. But I’m not leaving you alone with her.”
My eyebrows rose, and even Jenks made a tiny squeak of a sound. “Whoa, boys. I have plans tonight, and they don’t include a demon and a ghost.”
“Yeah!” Jenks launched himself from my shoulder and hovered to brighten the area. “We got reservations at the Warehouse.” He flitted to the window and looked down, staying in flight and dusting heavily.
“Sounds like fun,” Al said, rubbing his white-gloved hands together. “Pierce, get the lift.”
“No way!” I shouted. “Pierce, will you just go? I can talk to you next week.”
The man’s jaw was set as he ducked out from under Al’s attempt to shove him to the elevator, and he straightened, saying, “I’ll not be moseyin’ until I have a chance to settle this. And that is all I’m saying about it.”
I sighed, leaning back against the cold window with my butt on that narrow sill. The last thing I needed was to put this circus on rails. “Fine,” I said sourly, crossing my ankles. “I’m listening.”
Al started pouting, unable to leave and cause mischief lest Pierce “kill me,” I suppose. More likely it was to keep the witch from telling me something that Al didn’t want me to know.
Seeing me listening, Pierce took a breath he really didn’t need. His arms fell to his sides as he exhaled, and his expressive face softened into one of persuasion.
“Uh, guys?” Jenks said, hovering at the window. “Fountain Square is on fire.”
“What?” I jumped to my feet and turned in one motion. Al rushed to the window, and we pressed our foreheads to the glass, looking down, Jenks between us. From overheard, the groaning of machinery became loud and obvious. Faint calls were sifting down through the concrete or perhaps vibrating through the glass. I could imagine that the entire party upstairs was now leaning against the glass as we were.
It was hard to see, but Jenks was right. The stage was on fire. People were gathering in the street. From beside me, Pierce said, “I thought that was what it was supposed to look like.”
Shit. Ivy was down there. And Glenn.
“I gotta go,” I said, turning to the elevator. My phone rang, and I jerked to a stop. It wouldn’t work in the elevator. The little screen lit up, and Al peered over my shoulder. “It’s Ivy,” I said, my relief obvious. “Ivy?” I called as I flipped the phone open, and the sound of screams and sirens filtered out.
“I need you,” she said loudly, over the chaos. “Your locator amulets just lit up. Mia is here.”
I stood at the window and looked down. “Jenks says there’s a fire,” I said.
She hesitated, and then calmly said, “Oh. Yes. The stage is burning. Rachel, I’m watching Glenn, but if he gets too close to a banshee…”
Crap. “Got it.” I started walking to the elevator, Jenks hovering close so he could hear both ends of the conversation.
“I think The Walker is calling Mia out,” Ivy added, and I punched the button for the lift.
“I’m on my way.” Breathless and fidgety, I closed the phone and jammed it in my bag. Where’s the stupid elevator? I’m not going to run down thirty flights of stairs.
Al cleared his throat, and I spun around, just now remembering them.
“Oh, uh, Pierce,” I said, feeling myself warm. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”
Al jiggled the man’s elbow, beaming from ear to ear. “This is going to be entertaining. I’ve never watched Rachel work. Apart from when she was working on me, of course.”
“Entertaining?” Pierce slid away from him. “You have an almighty odd vision of entertainment, demon.”
“I told you to call me Al,” he said, looking at his blurry reflection and adjusting his lace.
Jenks’s features scrunched up in annoyance, and I rubbed my forehead. I could not take the two of them down into Fountain Square. Pierce didn’t have a coat, and Al…Thanks to a couple of news shots, the entirety of Cincinnati knew his face. “Pierce, can’t we do this another time?” I asked, distracted. Where is the damn elevator! I thought, hitting the call button again, my elbow smacking into it with undue force.
But Pierce inclined his head, dropping back to give me a half bow, his eyes never leaving mine as he almost smiled. His look reminded me of the night we had met, racing off to
save a young girl from a vampire. He had liked my “fiery spirit,” and clearly things hadn’t changed. I had, though.
“You summoned me, mistress witch, whether by intent or secondary purpose. I’m not leaving until I have a chance to explain.”
Swell.
Al straightened as the elevator dinged behind me. “I’m staying with him,” he affirmed.
Peachy keen.
The elevator doors opened, and Jenks whistled, long and slow. “Tink’s contractual hell,” he whispered, and I turned to see who Al was making bunny-eared kiss-kiss gestures to.
Unbelieving, I started shaking my head. “Trent. This isn’t what it looks like.”
The young man had pressed himself to the back of the elevator, his terror showing for an instant before he pulled himself together and decided that if he was going to die, he might as well do it looking good.
“This just keeps getting better and better,” Jenks said, and I pushed the call button again.
“We’ll take the next one,” I said, smiling.
“Plenty of room!” the demon exclaimed, and my heels clattered on the steel frame of the door when Al shoved me. Trent fended me off, pressing into a corner as Pierce and Al followed me in. Jenks rose up high to sit on the top of the controls, his feet tapping the screen that showed what floor we were on.
“I do not believe this,” Trent said, his unbreakable composure shattered. “Rachel, you are unbelievable!”
“Believe it, you little cookie maker,” Jenks chimed out, and then to Pierce, “Hit the ‘close’ button, will you, Pierce? We don’t have all day.”
Pierce didn’t have a clue, and Jenks flew down and hit the button feet first. The doors slid shut, and we started to drop. “Holy shit!” Pierce exclaimed, pressing into the opposite corner and clutching the rail. “We’re falling!”
I slid away from his suddenly green face, bumping Trent. The elevator wasn’t that big, and everyone was giving Al lots of room as he hummed the theme song to…Dr. Zhivago?
“Summoning your demon at the top of Carew Tower?” Trent hissed in my ear.
Peeved, I shifted a little more to stand between him and Al. “I’m trying to make the world a little safer,” I muttered, then beamed as Al looked at us, my smile fading the instant the demon looked away. “He’s not abducting you, is he? Turning you into a toad?” My voice was getting louder. “I’ve got this under control!” I smacked the “lobby” button, praying we didn’t stop anywhere between here and there. There was no way this elevator could go fast enough.