Page 24 of Seph

Snap out of it!

“Uh. Sorry, lost my train of thought for a moment. She won’t want to take off to Idaho to search for the missus if she thinks the town will turn into a feeding frenzy. The people here are all right, it’s the visitors who bring the bad juju.”

“I can place a few calls.” Hades nodded.

“And if we’re successful, you... you could... I dunno. Give her a little present? Grant her a wish? Maybe heal her? She was in a bad accident, and I know she’s not the way she used to be. Something’s different about her. Every time I see her, it’s like she’s muffled, under some dark cloud of pain that won’t let in the sun.”

“She lost her lover?”

“Maybe. I dunno. We’re not that close. I know she lost her parents.”

“I can talk to my extended family. It’spossiblethat we could direct her to her true love, or perhaps...perhapsI might arrange a visit with her deceased loved ones.” Hades nodded slowly. “Yes, I’m sure we can arrange something, for both you and Miss Van Helsing. If you bring my wife home, you can have anything you’d like, vampire, and so can your assistant.”

“And the town will be safe while we search? No unnatural causes?”

“Accidents happen, vampire.”

“I mean, no one will be monster chow? All the baddies who like to live it up on the Ley Lines will be kept out?”

“That, I can handle.” Hades whipped out his phone and hit two digits.

Simeon could hear the conversation clearly, a young male voice echoing in the car. “Hey, Dad. Charon’s getting antsy.”

“I’m on my way home in two minutes, Zag. I need you to put some paperwork through the demonic department.”

“Right. I’ll head over there. What do you want me to do?”

“Ensure no deaths occur by violent supernatural means in the New York area until November 2nd, particularly near any of the Pine Ridge Ley Lines.”

“What?Allof New York!? Dad, it’s the week before mortal Halloween. You know how—”

“I know, I know. Do it for your mother. It’s so a... a specialist can find her.”

“A specialist? Dad, if you’ve been talking to those televangelists or that lady who appeared on Oprah again, Milly and I are going to have an intervention.”

“It’s the last of Lilith’s spawn line and that Van Helsing girl, the one we thought was coming in twice in the past decade? They’re teaming up. I have a good feeling about them.”

Simeon swelled with pride.

“That’s what you said about professional bowling becoming the leading American sport. There are still no bowling stadiums, Dad.”

The good feeling evaporated.

“Just do it. Be home for dinner in a minute. Love you, Zag.”

“Love you, Dad.”

“Bloody hell.” Simeon groaned and sank back against the admittedly very plush seats. Why did he have to like this maniac?

Well, why did he love Emily Van Helsing with all of his unbeating heart?

I must have a thing for people who want to kill me.

Chapter Nine

Simeon leaned his elbow across the doorway, his body seeming to fill all the space, and his smirk seeming to fill her head. “Hi, Emily.”

Ugh. That wasn’t good. The way he said her name, all hopeful and breathy... She instantly remembered their last “practice.”

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