Page 130 of Half Dead

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

A malevolent smilefroze on the demon’s face. His eyes rolled back in his head, showing me two blood-streaked marbles. His grip slackened to the point where I was able to extract myself from it. The demon’s body began to vibrate like a jackhammer, a seizure on steroids. Eight arms made staccato motions, dropping the weapons they held.

I took advantage of his temporary weakness and attacked the old-fashioned way. He didn’t seem to notice the scythe as it hooked around to the left. It was a clean slice. His head rolled off his shoulder and tumbled to the ground. That’s when I noticed the face on the other side.

Two faces. That was how he’d been able to fight us both without turning his head. The amber eyes that had been coffee-colored only moments ago gazed at me in wonder before fading to a dull hazel. I’d seen the light fade from plenty of eyes, but I’d never seen the color change. Curious.

The demon’s body pitched forward and crashed on top of the head.

Kane and I exchanged hesitant looks of relief. His handwas drenched in blood as he clutched the gushing wound on his side.

“We need to get you to a healer before you pass out,” I said. Sage didn’t live too far from here. We could make it.

Kane regarded his former colleague. “What just happened?”

“I made a deal with the devil.”

“I’m well aware of that.”

I sighed. “Different deal. Different devil.”

The air snapped and my heart sank at the appearance of a red door. I’d hoped for a bit of a reprieve before they demanded their pound of flesh.

The door swung open. I pictured myself taking Kane’s hand and walking through the door together, straight into the Castle.

Home.

But that was a dream, and this… This new nightmare was only beginning.

“Lorelei?” Kane’s tone was questioning.

I looked back at him. “If there’d been any other way…” I felt a tug, and then a violent yank. I clawed at the air, trying to reach Kane’s hand as I was sucked through the open doorway. The door slammed shut behind me, separating us.

Light blazed, causing temporary blindness. At least I hoped it was temporary. Once the intensity diminished, I recognized my surroundings. There was no red leather sofa or clanging pipes. I wasn’t anywhere near the Castle.

As I feared, ‘home’ was The Corporation’s headquarters.

I stormed through the lobby, past the statue of the Lar and his dog, to find the target of my ire. “Good day to you,” the Lar said.

I swiveled around, unable to resist his kindly greeting even under the egregious circumstances. “Good day to you, kind sir. Maybe you can help me. I need to find Posy Martell.Blonde, favors the color pink. A voice that can cut glass.” Ask me how I know.

“The recruitment offices are located in the building on the western end of campus.” His canine companion barked, confirming the statement.

As furious as I was, I couldn’t ignore the dog’s sweet disposition. “Hey, buddy. Can I pet you?”

His tail wagged, and I felt a smidge calmer as I dug my fingers into his soft fur.

“No one ever asks to pet the dog,” the Lar said.

“Their loss.”

The dog licked my hand.

“Who’s the bestest boy?” I said, rubbing both sides of his head. My wave of emotions flattened, and my heart rate slowed to a normal rhythm. Forget gods, dogs held the real power in this world.

A red-haired woman hurried toward me. She wore a flowing dress, sandals, and a green lanyard around her neck. A faint row of freckles spanned her cheeks. “Excuse me, can I help you?”

As I straightened to respond, the Lar and his companion turned back to stone. “I hope so.”

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