Page 26 of Vicious Little Vows
His expression sobered as he straightened. “Very well.” He gestured for me to start walking.
And as I did I cursed myself. Now, not only did I have apprehension about the Bogs, and about the double date, but I’d added a nerve-wracking conversation to the list.
I didn’t know for sure who had tried to kidnap me, nor what exactly was messing with the Bogs. And I certainly couldn’t say how the double date would go.
All I knew, was that it was going to be a very long night.
We never madeit to the Bogs. A text from Crispin stated that everything was under control, and that he’d meet me at the apartment to get ready for the date. Gods, there really was no getting out of it. I decided to withhold that I’d been kidnapped until I saw him in person. He could tell me if things in the Bogs were really under control before news of me getting snatched up would prompt Gabriel to leave Mistral alone.
We had almost reached the apartment when Sebastian’s arm whipped out, barring my way. There was something ahead, near the magical doorway that currently matched the rest of the brick wall. I squinted in the waning light, Sebastian’s arm still holding me back.
The creature was small. Not as small as Ringo, but it would maybe only reach my hip in height. It stood hunched over, its pink skin strange and glistening, covered only by a tattered pair of children’s shorts. Long, pointed ears sprouted out of its bony head, the tips shifting as it listened in our direction, then whipped its head toward us, regarding us with small, shining eyes.
Ringo shifted closer to my neck, hiding his face against my skin.
“Don’t get too close,” Sebastian muttered. “It bites.”
“Did you find that out when you questioned it?” I asked.
With a huff, Sebastian lowered his arm and approached the imp. “The contract is inside. You will wait here for me.”
The imp cowered, and as ugly as the thing was, my heartstrings were plucked. “Don’t be so rude to the little guy.”
The imp blinked hopeful, beady eyes at me as I stepped closer.
Sebastian placed his palm against the doorway, glancing back at me. “Did we not establish just this morning that thelittle guybelongs to my sister?”
“All the more reason to feel sorry for it.” I frowned. “Should we be worried that your sister knows where you live?”
“She willneverbe invited inside, so it is not an issue.” He opened the door, then stepped inside.
I knelt in front of the imp. It smelled vaguely of sulfur. “Are you hungry? Maybe I can find you a snack inside.”
“Not my snacks!” Ringo squeaked, then abruptly went silent when the imp looked up at my shoulder.
“Hungry!” the imp squealed.
I laughed. “Okay. Sebastian says you’re not allowed inside, but if you wait here, I’ll bring you something to eat.”
I went past the imp as he bounced from clawed foot to foot, making little excited sounds. I felt bad about closing the door behind me, but wouldn’t do to let any kidnappers see it open. And hopefully if I found a good snack, the imp wouldn’t mind.
I met Sebastian in the kitchen as he looked over the contract one last time, his brow furrowed.
“If you’re that nervous about it, maybe we shouldn’t send it the contract to Penelope just yet.”
Sebastian frowned, surprising me when he answered honestly, “I do not like that she placed the imp to lure me. I do not like playing into her plans in any way at all.”
“This was all your idea though—”
Flicking the contract, he dismissed his moment of weakness and walked toward the stairs, also dismissing me in the process.
“Snack!” I hopped into motion, looking through the cupboards.
“Not the graham crackers!” Ringo screeched as I reached for the box. He ran down my arm and onto the shelf, hugging the brightly colored cardboard.
Hesitating, I went for the granola bars instead. They weren’t Ringo’s favorite, but maybe they would please the imp. Although, I had no idea what imps liked to eat. It wouldn’t surprise me if they were carnivorous.
Not wanting Sebastian to send the imp away before I could keep my promise, I left Ringo hugging his graham crackers so I could hurry back down the stairs and join the devil outside. The imp was still there, but the contract was gone, so he must have put it… somewhere? The only place I could see for the contract to go were the little stained shorts.
