Page 47 of Monster Inside (Shadow Pact 1)

Chapter 15

The walls were closing in. That was exactly how things felt even as I crossed the city, outside and not visibly trapped. But the Lunar League’s demon hunters would come for me—and apparently, that was on the table regardless of what I did or didn’t do to Leif. They’d attacked me, aiming to get Leif’s sword design, before he’d even reported me to them. Now, with Leif injured outside their headquarters, it was only a matter of time before they put two and two together.

Then there was the human authorities. They’d be after me, too, for the previous murders and now a burnt-down shop. Even if I’d be cleared for self-defense, being trapped in a police station seemed like a shitty idea when demon hunters and vampires both were after me. And I was confident Cassius would send more enforcers. At this rate, Cassius would probably forcibly turn me into a vampire and keep me captive until I begged for the relief of fresh blood.

I was no captive. I never would be again.

Mrak’s presence returned to me as soon as I was a few blocks away from where I’d left Leif. His ethereal form wrapped around me swift and firm, clinging to me.

“Aisling, what happened?”

“Leif,” I muttered before lifting my chin and keeping up my pace. “He’s out of the picture for now.”

It felt suddenly like all of Mrak’s shadowy tendrils were trailing all over my body. Not seductively, but as though they were building a protective cocoon.

“You’re tense,”Mrak pointed out.

“Very.” I stopped as I passed by a cluster of shops and caught my reflection in their windows. Mrak, as always, was invisible, but it made me feel better to talk at something. “Leif was on his way to report me—us—to the Lunar League when we ran into each other. He begged me to let him help me, but I don’t need him. Even if what he said after that was true.”

“And what was that?”

“That more shadow demons are coming. More monsters from Kithonia. That some had been here for many years.”

Mrak’s churning presence paused over my skin.“Others have come?”

“And gone, apparently.” I turned from the store’s window and kept walking again. “I figured if you didn’t know about that, then it was both good and bad news.”

“You’d be correct. I did not know.”

I shoved my hands into the back pockets of my pants. “I’m not going to pretend to have any understanding of what the political situation of a plane full of demons and monsters might be, but I’d say you’re walking into a not-great situation if you’re the only one of them unable to crossover right now. Which is exactly why I’m going to attempt solving the problem.”

Mrak’s tendrils gathered at my ankles, as if he were trying to slow me down.“Aisling, wait. Just a moment.”

I stopped and spun as though he were behind me. My tone bit hard. “No, I’m fucking done waiting. If I wait, the cops will find and arrest me. Or the Lunar League will. Or Cassius and his new coven will kidnap me. I’m not going to let that happen. I can’t even try clearing my name with the cops without making me a sitting duck for the demon hunters and vampires. So I’m going to kill the one group I actually have a shot at defeating, and you’re not going to stop me.”

“Aisling,”Mrak tried again, a tendril caressing my cheek and chin, holding me like a hand might.“I will follow you anywhere. But are you sure killing is the solution to this?”

“I really don’t see another option. I’m surprised you do.” I started walking again, looking up into the cloudless sky. I hadn’t yet passed too many people, and all of them probably assumed I was talking on some earbud or something because none stopped to investigate the crazy woman talking to herself. “Cassius won’t stop coming for me.”

“And the human authorities?”Mrak asked.

“Will lock me away until they find a lawyer who can argue my self-defense plea,” I replied. “And while I’m forced to wait, Leif will work with the Lunar League to have me transferred quietly to them. They want you gone, Mrak. And now that I’ve made it clear I’m on your side, I’m sure they’ll want me gone, too.”

Mrak’s tendrils retreated from my cheek and chin to settle around my waist as I walked.“What will killing Cassius’s coven achieve?”

“Vengeance,” I spat. “And death, maybe enough to grant you more power. We have to open that portal.”

“There’s no rush,”Mrak said, his voice a calming balm to my frustration and restlessness.“We have time. It’s already been so long.”

“Idon’t have time, Mrak,” I said, my tone sharp. “I feel like everything is caving in around me, like I don’t belong anywhere in this city anymore except with you and Willa. But that’s not going to matter if I’m hunted down or jailed or forced back into a feeder community. We’re going to get you a portal, Mrak. And we’re going to do it soon.”

I had no idea how many deaths were needed to give Mrak power. To be honest, I wasn’t sure even Mrak knew. Maybe it wasn’t quantifiable, but rather an ambiguous amount of death and suffering until, finally, Mrak had had his fill.

I didn’t care.

I needed to act. To push back against the walls rapidly shoving me into a trap and desperately grab at a future in which I had a say—even if that future involved me living on an entirely different plane of existence surrounded by monsters.

“Don’t make me sit this out,” I said. “Just lend me a little more magic, let me act on this pact, and seek out more vengeance against those who wronged me. You’ll get power, I’ll get safety. And with any luck, sometime soon we’ll have a portal.”

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