Page 113 of A Study of Blood and Ichor

Ava was quiet as she ate. When she looked up from her plate, she gave the demon a long, hard look. “Vain, we should talk about that book.”

His expression was nearly unreadable. “What is there to discuss?”

“The grimoire doesn’t belong with us. It needs to be locked away.”

“You don’t think it’s safe here?”

“I’m not sure it’s safe anywhere. There’s too much dark magic in that thing. I flipped through it, and I’m not sure if all of it is even real. Soul magic was one thing, but there’s pages about forging seraphim killing blades, methods of spells for creating abominations, and Eldritch beasts—” She shook her head like she was trying to brush the remnants of the dark magic from the book off of her. “I…I don’t want it anywhere near here.”

Vain’s eyes flickered to me for a split second and then back to Ava.

“We could destroy it,” I suggested.

Vain shook his head. “It’s a cursed tome. It cannot be destroyed. Any attempt to do so would only cause harm to us.” Ava’s lips drew into a thin line, but he continued. “I will admit the risks of keeping it here far outweigh our use for it now. Ghen may be banished back to Gehenna for the time being, but he will not stay there for long. Once he finds a rift to come back through, I have no doubts he will return whether it’s for us or that book, and I don’t particularly enjoy the thought of putting you both in danger again.” He paused and looked back at Ava, then covered her hand with his. “Putting either of you into his path again is a risk I’m not willing to take. We’ll get rid of the book however you see fit.”

Ava struggled to dampen her surprise, unable to keep her lips from tipping upward at her small victory. My eyes remained transfixed to where their hands were joined over the table.

“I can find a way to get the book to the Council or maybe D.A.R.C.”

“Not D.A.R.C.,” Vain said sharply.

“Fine, the Council then. They should know what to do with it.”

“Are you so sure they can be trusted with it?” I asked her.

Ava shrugged. “I don’t know. But I just want it gone. It’s not our problem anymore.”

I found myself agreeing with her. Even I had sensed the ancient evil pouring from the book when I had first touched it. Hell, even the thought of being in its presence repulsed me. But the idea of anyone else getting their hands on it made me shudder. It seemed almost too dark to entrust to anyone, even the witch Council.

“How are we supposed to get it to them though?” I asked. “I mean, I doubt they’re going to let a defected witch and an archdemon waltz into their compound and then just let you go free.”

“I’ll take it.”

All three of us whipped our heads to the doorway where Nesera stood. The pair of space buns on top of her head wobbled as she bounced on her heels through the kitchen and snatched an extra pancake off the counter.

“What?” she said, her mouth full after tearing into a piece.

“And who will take you?” Vain asked.

She rolled her eyes, as if the answer were obvious. “Alastair, of course.”

“I can’t let you do that,” he said, but Nesera just crossed her arms over her chest.

“Honestly, Vain,” she said, “can’t you just let someone do something for you for once?”

That caused Vain to smirk a little, his eyes blinking shut in quiet acquiescence.

“It might still be dangerous,” Ava cautioned her. “Even for you. The Council works closely with D.A.R.C., whether they want to or not. Any unregistered cambion they encounter would automatically be an assumed threat.”

Nesera shrugged. “Well, if the witches do try and turn me over to those priest pricks and their damn hounds…” She grinned, a promise of violence dancing behind the gleam in her eyes. “I’ll make them regret it.” Then, snatching up two more pancakes, Nesera swept out of the kitchen, her mind clearly made up on the matter.

Vain shook his head with a soft laugh. He pushed his plate away and stood, the legs of his chair scraping loudly against the hardwood. When I glanced up at him and caught his stare, he quickly looked away and set himself to work cleaning up the kitchen, leaving Ava and I at the table to finish.

It felt as if he were trying to put distance between us, and I couldn’t understand why. But I also couldn’t find the strength within myself to ask.

Ava pulled my hand into hers and gave it a squeeze, and I reciprocated a smile that felt too weak.

“Just give him some time,” she said softly.

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