Page 17 of Place of Torment

“And it starts.” I grinned like a fend at Rowen.

12

Brooklyn

Iwondered if anyone noticed that there was a spiderweb stretching from one corner of the room to the dangling light in the center of it. Tucking my knees closer to my chest and wrapping my arms around them, I continued to observe it, picturing Samir’s face if he ever saw it. I had no doubt he would be horrified. I always thought there was some magic placed in and around the structure that kept the mansion always clean.

I guess I was wrong.

The spider was nowhere to be seen I noticed, nor were there any flies or bugs wrapped up in the web. Just a beautiful interwoven string crossing and twisting from one end to the other. It shimmered in places where the light hit it at the right angle, as well. Quite fascinating really, and much better to occupy my thoughts than stressing about…well everything.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Chester glanced at me through his lashes from across the room where he was watching something through the window. “You know, whatever made you look all sad and…well that.” Turning to face me he, waved a hand in my direction encompassing my pitiful state where I was hugging my knees on the floor.

“Better yet,” Echo squat-walked a few feet around the circle where Alice was still sleeping, tilting her head this way and that as if she’ll get a different view from the one, we were all staring at the last few hours. “Want to share why the human is acting like she is a demon? Because she’s not a demon, right?”

“I don’t know how to do magic.” Going for nonchalant and ignoring her last question, I shrugged an unconcerned shoulder, although my heart was drumming in my throat. “How would I know what the witch did? I would make a deal with the devil himself if it would help save my friend. You said she’s healing. That’s all I needed to hear.” My finger twitched toward Alice like Echo had no idea who I was referring to. “I asked Dominic to keep everyone out of here so we can give her enough time.”

“The witch can do demon magic?” Echo dramatically rolled her neck to spear me with a well-practiced dubious expression. If there was one thing I noticed about these two demons, they had the penchant for dramatics and hullabaloo.

“How would I know what the witch can do, Echo? You said it’ll take time.” I reminded her, using her comments to cover my own butt. “Didn’t she say that, Chester?”

“Oh, hells, no.” The demon flopped his hands around as if he was attacked by a cloud of bees. “Don’t drag me into your…whatever this is. I dislike those two that tried to kill us as soon as we entered this house, so I placed a seal on the door so they can’t come in.” Sucking in a loud, long breath he smoothed a hand over his chest with a smirk. “To piss them off. On purpose. I’m not on your side.”

“The two of you attacked them first.” I reminded him.

“I don’t know when it was the last time you checked with the Syndicate, Girl.” He cocked his hip and slapped a hand on it. “That shmuck out there that just stopped shrieking like a banshee.” Pausing for a dramatic effect and so that he could stare me down until I was the first one to blink, he nodded as if I confirmed his superior status. “That’s the Syndicate. A wolf can dress in sheep’s clothing, he is still a god’s damn wolf.”

“I mean, I see your point.” I couldn’t argue with his logic, and I took responsibility for my actions. I should’ve warned them. “He is not Syndicate though. He betrayed the Council to protect me. I owe him a benefit of a doubt at least.”

“You do not trust him fully?” Echo dropped her pretenses, her tone earnest and her eyes unguarded.

“No.” I answered her honestly. “He has proven time and again that I should, yet I can’t bring myself to fully remove my doubt. There is just something…” my words cut off when I realized I said too much.

Not fully trusting Samir had more to do with protecting Alice than whether, or not, he harbors feelings for his buddies on the Council. But I couldn’t tell the demons that because I learned a lesson. As my human friend loved reminding me, we show our dirty laundry only to those we trust.

“I like her.” Chester announced, like that was the most important thing in the situation we found ourselves in.

“Shut it, Chip. Nobody asked you.” The female hissed at him playfully. “I like her too, though. She has no deceit about her. I’m glad we decided to approach her.”

“Your brothers would disagree.” I mumbled under my breath still feeling awkward about the whole you killed my brothers, but we can still be friends thing.

“Sorry, what?” Echo frowned leaning forward to hear me better the second time.

So not happening.

“Nothing. I said I’m glad you agreed to approach me.” How’s that for no deceit about me? Alice would’ve been very proud of me for keeping a straight face. “I know that we are somewhat of an unorthodox group, but we make it work. And just to make it clear, you can count on any of us to have your back as long as you don’t betray us. Because if you do and I’m not killed,” Locking gazes with Echo and then Chester for long enough that they understood the weight of my words. I spoke clear and concise so they can’t say later we had a misunderstanding. “There is no place you can hide where I will not find you. And killing you will be last on the list of things I will do to you before I end your life.”

Chester swallowed loudly and shivered, while Echo, still squatting near the circle, watched me with an interest I couldn’t decipher. It may not be a good way of starting an alliance, yet I did not regret a word I said.

“Brooklyn is never one to waste words.” The slurring came from the center of the circle, and my head snapped toward Alice who was grinning sleepily at me. “The girl has no dexterity to save her life. She just slaps it out there.” She told the demons on a yawn. I watched her dumbly as she slowly pushed herself up to sit and adjusted the glasses upon her nose with her forefinger. “Kinda like what she did now when she threatened you.”

“How do you feel?” I crawled on hands and knees to get closer to where she was in the room from my perch in front of the sealed door. Samir’s threats and shouting might’ve ended after all the crashing noises we heard a couple of hours ago, but I didn’t trust the male not to try something when we least expected it.

My hand started lifting so I could reach for Alice, but I remembered the protection of the circle, so I froze half way. “Is this thing going to zap me if I try and touch it?” My question was directed at the demons, but it was Alice who answered.

“No. The protection is gone.” She frowned first at the salt used to draw the said circle, then at me. “Why do I know that?” confusion twisted her features. “Better yet, how do I know that?”

“Rowen has a lot of explaining to do.” I rushed to cut off whatever else she was going to say.

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