Page 45 of Mayhem and Ember

She held up her hands. “Let’s take a breath and think before we storm through the entire town and make testicular jewelry. Did he get the amulet?”

My hands balled into fists. “Of course not.”

“Okay, that’s good.” She lowered her arms. “Did he mention something he wanted to do? Somewhere he wanted to go?”

“No. No, we just talked. He’s jealous of his brothers and wants to gain more power so they can be equal.” Or so he said. He probably made it up so I’d feel sorry for him, the bastard.

Chaos closed his eyes, going utterly still for a second, two, three, four. “He’s close. This way.” He turned and strode onto the sidewalk.

“Do we need to drive?” I asked as we followed after him.

He stopped, closing his eyes again and taking a deep breath. “Approximately two miles to the north, I sense his energy.”

“You can feel him that far away?” Ash asked.

“We are connected, no matter how unruly he may be.”

“We’re driving. Load up.” I put my sword in the floorboard compartment and started the engine while my sister and her demon climbed in.

Trying my best not to peel out of the alley, I hung a left and followed Chaos’s directions to a sheep farm north of town. “Can you cloak us, Ash?” I slid out of my seat and opened the hidey hole to retrieve my sword.

She rummaged through her satchel and shook her head. “We’re out.”

“Oh well.” I slammed the door.

“If anyone sees something they shouldn’t, I can make them forget.” Chaos walked on my right side, and Ash took up my left.

I wanted to tell him absolutely not, but at this point, we might need his mind-melting power. “No one but Mayhem gets hurt.”

He chuckled. “I will do my best.”

We crept past the farmer’s house, clinging close to the wall before darting across to the barn. Two men worked inside, cleaning out stalls and refilling water troughs, so we tiptoed around to the side, my heart hammering in my chest as I devised my plan to vanquish a demon prince.

I would take his head, though after our first imp attack, I knew that wouldn’t kill him. He’d run his mouth while I held him by his lush, dark hair. But then, I’d silence him with a dagger to his heart, and his corporeal form would disintegrate before getting sucked through the veil.

I know, I know. I said I’d wear his balls as earrings but come on. That’s just gross.

“Is he in the barn?” I whispered.

“No. He’s this way.” Chaos strode toward the pasture like he owned the place, and there was nothing we could do but follow.

We found Mayhem crouching next to a blob of white and red. More splotches of the same shape and color dotted the field, and I shielded my eyes against the sun rising on the horizon.

“What the actual eff?” I marched toward the demon but stopped short when my gaze landed on the ball of fur. No, not fur…wool. Every sheep in the pasture had been gutted.

A spark of anger tinged with disgust lit in my belly, the flames rising to my chest. I grabbed Mayhem’s shoulder and shoved, but he could have been a boulder sitting amongst the death and destruction.

“You slaughtered a herd of sheep?” I side-kicked him in the back, and he rose, his hands covered in blood. “You disgusting, lying snake.”

“I did not kill these animals,” he said.

“Bullshit.” I unsheathed my sword. “Ash, freeze him.”

Her shoulders crept toward her ears. “Yeah, that spell won’t work on him. We’d have to use a containment circle.”

“Oh, for Hecate’s sake.” I reared back, gripping my sword like a baseball bat.

“Mayhem speaks the truth.” Chaos wiped his hands on a rag Ash handed him. “Their livers are gone. This was the work of the fae.”

---