Page 66 of Hex
The brunie gingerly pokes his head from behind the vase.
“Vampyres are not harmless, so you’ll forgive me for not believing you…whatever you are. You smell funny.” For a kyn no bigger than an average mouse, I didn’t expect all the attitude. Especially after he scurried away so quickly.
“I’m trying to help you, so you could be nicer.” I would usually be more polite about it but I’m aware Desdemon is here for a reason and this brunie is taking up valuable time.
“I’m here to helpyou, so I’ll be as nice as I want to be.” The brunie straightens his brown cloak-like jacket but stays half hidden, despite the bravado.
The vines from inside the vase grow quicker than I can blink, wrapping around the brunie’s waist and lifting him up toward Hack’s now-pumpkin head.
“Sage is the lady of this house, so you’ll hold your fucking tongue or you’ll find yourself being fed to my horses. Why are you here?” His demonic voice is more gravelly than his human one—I still can’t get my head around the word anthros—and I can’t decide whether I like it more or not.
The brunie squeaks and wriggles, but his efforts are useless against the vines.
“Speak, Brunie.” Desdemon commands the room—entrance hall—moving so fast he’s behind me one second, and in front of me the next, holding the wriggling brunie between his fingers.
Hack wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me into him, his heavy breaths at my back.
“One of the homes I clean…it belongs to a nephilim in Faloria. He came home a couple of nights ago, angry that some plan hadn’t gone right. He doesn’t usually come home at that time of night. If he’s out, he’s out. So I thought I had my cleaning time, but he did, and I barely managed to finish. The surfaces didn’t shine at all. It was really a terrible job—”
“Get the fuck on with it, Brunie.” Desdemon shakes him, reminding him to stay on track. None of what he’s saying is making much sense though.
Trying to mask his annoyance, as well as how scared he is, the brunie bows his head. “Apologies, Dei Desdemon. He used to spend most of his time on Earth, with the anthros, but he came back a few months ago. He has a lot of meetings with the djinn and gorgons, which is unusual because they are ruled by different Dei and they do not get along. One is from Ryetoh, one is from Kohrye, it doesn’t make sense.” Hack sighs behind me, but he remains patiently quiet while we listen. “I listened when he came home. I heard him mention Liege Hack’s chosen, that Dei Rafi would be angry with him for failing to take her again. I clean here, too, which is why I have access, but only when Liege Hack isn’t in residence.”
“What do you mean, he failed to take me again? Oh my goddess…” I’m putting two and two together with this limited information and probably coming up with ten, but my optimism is winning right now. “It has to be the professor.”
Hack growls on an exhale and Desdemon turns to me.
“The professor from Staten Island? The one responsible for Danika’s kidnapping?” Without waiting for confirmation, Desdemon whips his head toward the brunie. “Tell me where to find him.”
“I believe he is back in his home in Faloria. I can write down the address?”
“You’ll take me to him.”
“Sorry to interrupt, but not really sorry at all…didn’t you come here for a reason, Desdemon?” I can feel Hack shaking his head behind me, his arms unmoving around my waist.
Chuckling, Desdemon looks at me, his red irises shining bright. At least he looks happier than he did when we arrived…whether that be because murder is now on his mind or not, who knows?
“I have exhausted my sources and you are the only thing left that connects to Danika and the night she was taken. I was going to ask to read your thoughts to see if we overlooked anything.”
“Not a fucking chance.” Hack’s hold on me gets firmer as he speaks and I turn to glance up at him.
My words are directed at Desdemon, though. “I would have said yes, of course. Anything to help find her. Do you still want to?” Moving my gaze from Hack, I look to Desdemon, whose brows are raised in surprise.
“When Danika told me about her best friend, I thought it would be a fad, but you really are loyal. I commend you for that, and my offer of help should you ever need it still stands. I think this new lead is just the thing I have been searching for.”
“As the Dei of Velmore, thevampyrekyn, Dei Rafi is going to see you stepping foot in Faloria as an act of war. I will call Slash—”
“We’ll go!” I jump in, offering myself up as sacrifice because, one, the professor should just hurry up and die already, and two, if I can help to save my best friend and he is the one to tell us how, I’m all for it.
“Satapti.” That’s it, just one word, said with complete exasperation.
“Yes?” I turn in his hold, resting my palms against his firm chest, and grin.
“When do you want to go?” Resigned to my plan, Hack sighs and I see the beginnings of a smile on his lips.
“Now?”
“Good answer.” Desdemon drops the brunie, who yells as he hits the floor. I’m surprised he didn’t just break all of his bones with that fall, but he’s quickly on his feet, shaking his fist at the vampyre.
