Page 56 of Curses & Cold Brew
“You didn’tlureme here. You were taken from my house and I had to come find you.”
“The witch waited for you to come find us.” Naphula bit back a grin. “We were sitting here for at least twenty minutes before you showed up.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. The last thing I needed was these two in cahoots.
“Fine. Agree to a drop-off point and we’ll ambush Esme there.” I turned back to Iris and pointed at her. “You can be the bait if you put some pants on first.”
She saluted me. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Lucifer, help me. What have I gotten myself into with you, little witch?”
28
IRIS
Iknelt between the graves, hands tied behind my back. I was wearing a pair of leggings that Ramona had pulled from some void realm for me. I was still barefoot though. Apparently, shoes weren’t in her pocket realm’s purview. But I couldn’t even feel the autumnal chill with the rush of adrenaline that pulsed through me with each sound of crunching leaves that hit my ears.
The rogue vampire would arrive any minute now.
Naphula stood over me, working her jaw as she scanned the misty graveyard.
Finally, a voice cut through the eerie silence. “You caught the little bitch,” a lilting feminine voice called. “Good. I was worried for a second there that you couldn’t handle it, demon.”
Naphula glared in the direction of the voice. “After this, we’re done, Esme. I’ve made good on my end of the deal.”
Esme’s sharp cackle echoed through the early dawn. “You still think it’s a deal that binds you to me? You demons are so simple.” She tsked. “No, no. Iownyou now, Naphula.”
Naphula stiffened. “I agreed to let you erase certain . . . things from my mind in exchange for four favors. I’ve broken three sigils for you and collected the witch. Four. The deal has ended.”
“I love the way you demons think in such black and white,” Esme mused. “Your wording is so careful, your deals so precise. But my magic is messy. I didn’t just make a deal with you, simple demon. We aren’t playing on your turf. Icursedyou. You opened the door of your mind to me and I walked through.” A wicked laugh cut through the night air. “Your mind is mine forever.”
With that menacing omission, her figure emerged from the mist. Pale skin, flowing brunette waves, a black turtleneck, and a navy peacoat. Esme was an odd mishmash of styles, as if having collected them over many centuries.
Her eyes landed on me and held. “So you’re the thing that’s keeping her here.” She cocked her head as she considered me. “I thought she’d be more formidable, Ramona,” Esme called louder, turning in a circle. “Oh, come on, I know you’re here somewhere. Don’t be shy. Show your face.”
“Enough of this, Esme.” Ramona darted out from behind a gnarled elm tree. “Let them go. Both of them.”
“Are you going to come with me?”
“No.”
Esme pursed her lips. “I’m disappointed in you, Ramona. You used to be fearsome.”
Ramona balled her fists. “Let me show you how fearsome I am still.”
“We could rule this town and a dozen others like it, old friend. Why can’t you see how powerful we could be?” She shook her head. “I don’t want to do this without you.” Her eyes darkened. “But I will if I have to.”
“I know you will never understand this, Esme,” Ramona said. “But this constant quest for more will always leave you hungry.” Her eyes flitted to me for the barest second, as if shecouldn’t help herself. “I’ve found true happiness here. I’ve found meaning. And I won’t sacrifice it for any quest for power or hollow bloodlust.”
“Your happiness is fleeting, Ramona.” Esme let out an incredulous laugh. “You’ve tied your meaning to a mortal.”
“And I do it gladly,” Ramona shouted as my breath became frantic at her declaration. “Every second her heart beats is beautiful, and I want to be a part of all she is willing to give to me.”
“Every second her heart beats. . . Fine then. Have it your way.” Esme flashed her teeth as she looked at me and snapped her fingers. “Naphula, kill her.”
My heart lurched into my throat as I ducked just in time to miss the blow from the demon. I didn’t even have a moment to process Ramona’s words as I somersaulted forward. The command seemed to take Naphula and I both by surprise. What a terrible moment to assume Esme’s grasp on the demon’s mind had ended along with their deal.
I brought my bound hands to the front and leaped to my feet. Bringing all my magic to the fore, I blocked each of Naphula’s attacks, but she wasn’t dissuaded. The proximity to her puppet master must’ve made the commands that much harder to disobey. Each of my surges of magic ricocheted off Naphula and she still kept charging.
