Page 21 of White Charms and Dark Secrets

“Of course, love. No harm will come to you at all.” He grins again. “I wouldn’t want to do any damage you just yet anyway; We have so much time left for that. I like to take these things slow. Killing, sex, manipulation; they can all be so much fun when drawn out tortuously.”

I swallow thickly at his words. Killing, sex, manipulation, and torture all seem to be on the same level of enjoyment for this thing. This Demon.

I can’t believe I’m making yet another deal with this damned demon, but what choice do I really have?

“Fine, we have a deal,” I concede with a sigh. A heavy feeling already pools in my gut, leaving me worried that maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.

“Fantas—

“Solas, you were meant to meet me an hour ago. Where have you been—what is this place?” a male voice bellows from over Solas’ shoulder, cutting off whatever he’d been about to say. I freeze, the undeniable smell of brimstone stronger.

“What are you doing here?” Solas demands as he turns to face the man—demon. He’s turned to face a demon. Suddenly I feel a lot more afraid. Solas might be weird about killing people in my family, but Aunt Silvia said nothing about any others having such concerns. Solas is standing between us though, blocking my view of the other demon.

“I came to see what had you running late. I thought your need of my services was urgent. Apparently not,” he bitches in an irritated tone. “Who is the pretty thing you’re hiding away behind you?” he asks, his tone shifting, a suspicious note sliding into it.

“Nobody interesting. A witch I’m making a deal with. A deal which you are interrupting, by the way,” Solas snaps. He turns around again to look at me, his eyes staring at me with a meaningful glint in them.A warning.“Hannah, say hello to the nice demon.”

Hannah?

I feel my face scrunch up in confusion.Hannah? Really?

Solas inches aside, allowing me to see the man standing across from us. His eyes are as black as Solas’, but his hair is a few shades lighter, a deep, lush brown. Solas clears his throat.Shit.

“Hi, I’m Hannah,” I lie, forcing a smile onto my face.Great. Now I’m exchanging pleasantries with demons. At least this one is fully dressed. I guess it’s just my demon that has a penchant for nudity.

“Your witch is a terrible liar,” the demon chides Solas, before directing his attentionback to me. “I am Caim, it’s a pleasure to meet you,Not-Hannah.” He holds out his hand as if to shake mine, but Solas knocks it away.

“Don’t touch.” He gives Caim a firm look.

“Why not?” Caim questions, sounding positively smug.

“Because, luckily for my bitchy-witch, I need her alive. For now, anyway,” Solas quips.

“Well, if that’s all it is, then you won’t mind when I mention meeting this lovely witch of yours to D?” Caim taunts, raising an eyebrow at Solas.

“It is all this is, but you won’t mention it. After all, you wouldn’t want me to let slip what I know of your indiscretion.”

A look of contempt is shared between the two demons. I can’t help but feel like I’m watching a tennis match as my head flicks between the two of them as they speak.

“If it’s nothing, why hide it?” Caim demands.

“That is none of your business.” The demon closer to me tenses. I’ve never seen Solas so unnerved. Even when stuck as a cat he remained more composed than this.Why is he acting so weird?

“I think, if you want this to remain hidden, you’ll reconsider telling me more about it.”

“I should have shouted from the rooftops when I found out what you’d done, and yet I’ve haven’t spoken of it to a soul,” Solas counters, a smooth façade overtaking his demeanour. It’s apparent he’s switching up his tactics.

“Don’t play hero now in front of the witch. You kept your mouth shut because it suited you, because it gave you something to use against me.”

I snort.

As if I would ever think of Solas as a hero.

“I never claimed to be anything. I simply stated facts,” he snaps back.

“Um, could you two maybe have this conversation somewhere else? You’re being a bit loud, and I’d rather you not attract the attention of the hungry vampires,” I suggest, cutting off Caim’s reply.

“You’re scared of vampires, but not of demons?” the demon asks me.

---