Page 10 of Midnight with the Devil

God, she’s going to think I’m crazy.

“Books about what?” The woman’s voice was soft and deep, lovely. Her dark eyes lifted again and held on Diana’s face. Her expression was unreadable.

“Um…” Diana had to stop herself from glancing around. “The devil. Specifically about making deals…like at a crossroads.”

“Crossroads deal,” the woman said slowly, her gaze sharpening.

“Yes, or something like that,” Diana added. She and the devil hadn’t really been at a crossroads. Or had they? The hospital was at an intersection of two streets. Maybe that qualified?

“You making deals with the dark one, child?” the woman asked.

“I’m twenty-one.” She wasn’t a kid.

The woman’s lips twitched. “What’s your name?”

“Diana.”

“The Huntress, a goddess’s name. It’s good to have a strong name of the old gods.” The woman held out her hand over the counter. Diana reached out to shake it, but the woman caught her hand and turned Diana’s palm face up, peering closely at it. Then she ran a fingertip along her skin, tracing lines.

“You…” The woman’s brow furrowed, and she held out her other hand. She examined both of Diana’s palms, frowning.

“What’s wrong?” Diana peered down at her own hand.

“A person’s palm should have heart and lifelines that are similar but not exact. Yours…match.”

Diana had never really thought about her palms, but she did know the lines didn’t match. Yet as she looked at her hands now, they were exactly the same.

“Oh, child, what have you done?” the woman demanded in a soft, breathless voice, her brown eyes heavy with worry.

“What do you mean?”

“Come and sit.” The woman motioned for Diana to follow her back behind a black curtain. She hesitated a second before following. There was a small table covered with a dark-purple cloth and a tea tray. The woman poured two cups of tea and handed Diana one.

“Drink it all.” The woman waited while Diana drained the small cup of tea. The woman took the cup and overturned it on its saucer for a moment, then turned it back over. She peered into the bottom of the teacup and frowned.

“You wanted to save your father?”

“Yes.” Diana stared at the woman.How could she know?

“The dark one came to you and made a deal for your father’s life?”

Again, Diana nodded and whispered, “Yes.”

“You gave him your body, not just your soul.” The woman pursed her lips, turning the cup a little. “He’s going to break you, child. No one ever survives a deal like that.”

“Break me?” Diana wrapped her arms around her chest, a chill slithering down her spine.

“You are not the first woman to catch his eye. He loves pleasure in all forms.”

The woman set the cup down and gently touched Diana’s shoulders.

“Is there anything I can do?” Diana asked. She wouldn’t rescind the contract because her father’s life was at risk, but if there was anything she could do to protect herself, she would.

“Come with me.” The woman escorted her back to the front of the store, and she retrieved a small box behind the counter. She sat down and opened it.

A small wooden cross on a leather cord sat inside the box.

“This is a talisman that has been blessed by a saint. Take it. Though I do not know what good it will do.”

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