Page 21 of Spit

My vision cleared just in time to catch a glimpse of a massive demon with a ram’s horns and a tail lumbering past. It glanced over its shoulders at us and winked at me. Its pupils were infinity shaped, set in red glowing eyes. It nodded once in greeting to Mr. Legion before continuing on its way, revealing the rest of the room.

The floor was made of some type of milky quartz, with a glowing dome of frosted glass that made up the ceiling. It was dark outside, but the room was bright enough that it could have been midday. It had to be magic, my shadow licked its lips, and I clenched my fists and tightened the leash on my hunger.

Several benches formed a ring around a fire pit in the center of the room.

Shelves of various jars with dried ingredients and bunches of herbs growing from pots on the walls.

The coven in Beaux Bridge had a communal room just like this one. I had stayed away. My presence around spell ingredients tended to render them inert. Based on the cost and energy it took to procure those kinds of ingredients, I would have a host of pissed-off witches.

“I don’t think I should stay here,” I murmured, primarily to myself.

Mr. Legion glanced at me; his expression was inscrutable. “You are a nullwitch, aren’t you?”

“Yes.” I grimaced. “You said that there were other witches here?”

“As far as I’m aware, my contractors are performing a service celebrating the new moon in the forest surrounding the property. You’re more than welcome to join them.” Mr. Legion crossed his arms over his chest.

I laughed. “No, thank you. Is there an armory? I want to be armed in the Red City, and I couldn’t bring weapons across the border.”

“I don’t allow mortal weapons in these walls.” He waved away my question. “I’ll show you to your room first.”

There were several doors off-shooting the circular dome of a room. The walls were made of rough-hewn stone. The opposite of the opulence and luxury that had greeted me when I had walked through the foyer of the mansion.

Mr. Legion selected one of the doors randomly and opened it, not waiting for me, before he strode down the hall. We passed several doors before reaching the end of the corridor; he reached the pad on the door and waved his hand over the peephole. I felt his magic, a snap of sweetness on my tongue, and the door clicked open without a word.

Mr. Legion did not strike me as a lackey by any definition. The driver had spoken his name with deference and hadn’t bothered to stick around to greet him, a reaction most likely stemmed from fear.

Whatever he wanted me to do must have been very important if he was taking the time to situate me when he could have just sent someone else. A mansion of such size definitely had a few maids, housekeepers, or even a butler knocking about.

“Mr. Bub said that you have two missing demons?” I said, trying to coax some kind of response from the stoic man. “Because I’m not so good at the witch stuff. I’m great if you need a bounty hunter. I’m good at disarming people, and I’m good at staying alive, but if you need a spell, I don’t think I can help.”

“I know what a null witch is.” He cocked his head to the side, a cocky smile lifting the corner of his mouth.

My eyes narrowed. “Mr. Legion—”

“Call me Ichi.”

“Ichi. I’d like to know why I’m in the Red City. Surely your entire stable of witches could have helped with your missing demons?”

“You’d think.” He said, amused.

“Yet, you asked Beelzebub for a favor, and here I am.” I pointed my thumb to my chest.

“I was under the impression that humans, even witches, needed sleep.” Ichi knitted his fingers together. “Demons don’t like to sleep. It’s not needed.”

“Very interesting, but I don’t see what that has to do with the job.” I bristled.

“It was my way of politely stating that we will discuss this in the morning.” Ichi was firm but not unkind.

I inhaled deeply, reigning myself in. My shadow had leaked out, and it took a moment to get it under control. Thankfully the hallway wasn’t as bright as the atrium, and it had plenty of hiding places.

“Sure.” I forced a smile on my face and walked through the door. By the time I looked back, Mr. Legion had disappeared.

Chapter Four

Ididn’t bother exploring the room. Instead, I took two steps in and slumped onto the bed, falling into a deep sleep when my fully clothed ass touched the covers.

I wasn’t sure how long I slept, but I was woken by the sunlight streaming through the gap in the curtain.

---