Page 52 of Firefly

She stopped fighting, small whimpering noises escaping her as he reached Alexander and set her down.

He ran the moment her feet hit the floor, as fast and as far as he could, not stopping until he was in town.

He slouched against a wall, dragging in ragged breaths. Images of Rebecca’s limp form raced through his mind, burning the backs of his retinas.

As long as he existed, he would never forget the press of her cold skin against his lips. The silence that surrounded her like a shroud. Where the love of his life had been, only a shell remained, her once vibrant laugh snuffed out by the cruel machinations of her father.

A sob burst from his chest. She was gone. His reason for being had died before he could free her. He had failed her.

He had failed them both.

Chapter 39

Sarah

Sarah dug her heels into the floor and scratched at her grandfather’s arm as he pulled her along. Seemingly unaffected, he continued down a set of stairs she’d never seen to a room wholly new to her.

In the dark, she glanced at shadowy outlines of the same terrifying creatures surrounding the estate. When he released her, she dropped to the floor, crossing her arms over her chest.

Alexander glanced down at her and sighed. “I know we haven’t gotten to know one another well, Sarah, but let me make something clear. I am your only family now. You will listen to me, or life will be very difficult for you.”

Sarah’s bottom lip quivered as her mama’s still form flashed in her mind. She blinked several times and swiped at her eyes.

“There, there, child. I just need to get a few things straight, and I’ll send you right back to your nanny.”

He opened a book and set it on a dark table at the center of the room. Pulling a necklace from around his neck, he waved a hand, and a ball of orange engulfed it, lifting it over the table. As he began reciting words from the book, Sarah’s mind grew fuzzy, her vision blurring.

She yawned loudly.

A noise from across the room startled her, and she and Alexander both turned as Simon strode in.

“Alexander.”

Her grandfather opened his mouth to speak, but Simon interrupted. “No. It’s my turn to talk.”

Alexander closed his book, facing Simon fully. “Very well. Speak.”

“You may have the ability to control me with your spells and tricks, but there will come a day when you’ll need me, and you’ll have to rely on my goodwill.”

Alexander raised a brow.

“I have a deal to make with you.” He glanced down at Sarah, and she blinked away her tears. “You will never harm a hair on Sarah’s head. Never use her for any of your experiments, never put a spell on her. And when that day comes, I will save you without coercion.”

“I have Astaroth for that. Sarah is valuable to me.”

“If you think the day I speak of isn’t your pet demon turning on you, you’re more fool than I thought.”

Alexander glanced at Sarah, then back at Simon. “If you want me to keep a promise like that, I’ll need more from you in return.”

Simon nodded. “Finding two demons a night is unsustainable, as we both know. But I will promise three demons per week for the rest of Sarah’s life—or yours, whichever comes first. But if you break our deal, so will I.”

“You’re already bound to me. Why should I agree to this?”

“You can have a life with my willing participation or one that’s as difficult as I can make it. And if I find a way to end myself, I promise you I will.”

Alexander uncrossed his arms, darting another look at Sarah. “Very well. She doesn’t have much magic, anyway.”

Simon nodded, crossing the room, and the two men clasped hands.

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