Page 90 of Demons In My Head: Exposing the Exiled
"Back to brooding already?" Ash's deep voice questioned, dripping with an emotion I couldn't even place. He hadn't forgiven me yet. It stung, but I understood.
"I don't brood," I muttered. "I contemplate deeply."
"Same thing."
"Fine. Maybe I am brooding a little." I flopped back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. "It's just... what I did back there? That wasn't normal spirit witch stuff. That was something else entirely."
The memory of all those trapped spirits rushing through me, using my body as a gateway to freedom, had been euphoric and terrifying all at once. I'd felt their pain, their relief, theirgratitude. But I'd also felt something darker lurking at the edges of that power.
"Asrael knew," I said quietly. "That bastard knew what I was capable of. That's why he kept me close, kept training me himself instead of letting the other mentors work with me." My fist clenched. "He was grooming me to be his perfect little weapon."
"At least that fucker's dead now," I said, but the words felt hollow. Because while Asrael might be gone, Scorpio was still out there. And if Asrael had known about my potential, there was a good chance Scorpio did too.
"You're thinking about him again," Felix said, observant as ever. "Scorpio."
I didn't deny it. "He's going to come for me. You know that, right? He's not the type to just let things go. And now that I know what I can do with the veil..."
"You're afraid he'll try to use that power."
"Wouldn't you be?" I sat up. "You didn't see him last time, Felix. The experiments he was doing on himself, the way he could control multiple people at once, he's obsessed with power. And now I've basically advertised that I'm a fucking spirit realm battery pack."
"We won't let him near you."
I laughed, but it wasn't a happy sound. "Didn't stop him last time." I winced after the words came out because I thought I'd worked through that pain. That abandoned feeling. Guess I hadn't yet, not completely.
"That was different. You were alone then." Jasper's hand passed through mine; he was still working on maintaining solid form. "You're not alone anymore."
He was right, but that almost made it worse. Because now I had people to lose. People who could get hurt trying to protect me. Each one of these demons, members of The Exiled, even myparents' spirits, who had somehow stuck around after the others crossed over.
"I know what you're both trying to say," I sighed. "But you didn't feel what I felt when I opened that veil. That kind of power... it changes things. Changes people." I met Jasper's ethereal gaze. "What if I can't control it? What if Scorpio finds a way to use it? What if—"
"What if you stop what-iffing yourself to death and trust that we've got your back?" Rhodes interrupted.
I threw a pillow at him, which he predictably caught. "You're even more annoying when you're being nice."
But as I settled back against the couch, I couldn't quite shake the feeling that somewhere out there, Scorpio was planning his next move. And whatever it was, it would make controlling minds look like child's play.
"We need to go back to Port Black," I announced. "Like, yesterday."
The words hung in the air as five pairs of demon eyes and one ghostly gaze locked onto me. My skin prickled under their collective stare, but I held my ground. After everything that had happened, Port Black felt like the only safe harbor in this storm.
"The maze would be the safest place," Misha offered, his voice careful and measured. I couldn't help the way my lower belly twisted at the mention of the maze, given what my experience down there had been. But he was right, the underground labyrinth beneath Haunt was a fortress few could penetrate.
Ashland nodded. "Exactly. Plus, we have control over who comes and goes. The wards are strong as fuck down there."
"You're not wrong," Felix added, running a hand through his dark hair. "The maze has saved our asses more than once."
Talon's face split into a wicked grin. "And if anyone does manage to get in..."
"We can make sure they never find their way out," Rhodes finished darkly.
My heart squeezed at their protectiveness. It was still strange having people actually give a shit about my safety. But first, there was something I needed to do, something I'd been waiting years for.
"Before we go anywhere, I need to talk to my parents." My voice cracked slightly on the word 'parents.' "They're still here and I... I can't leave without..."
Jasper materialized beside me, his presence a comforting coolness against my arm. "They're waiting in the garden. Take all the time you need."
I swallowed hard and squared my shoulders. "Right. Okay. This is happening."
