Page 26 of Seph

Her stomach curled up into a ball of nerves. This wasn’t the first time he’d said something similar. It was always, “Do you need anything?” “I’m here if you need me.” Anyone could say those things. It was neighborly.

No one, not even her father, had ever said he’d do anything for her. In fact, he’d trained her to remember that between her and the task of ridding the world of evil, his duty as a demon hunter came first.

Simeon continued when she didn’t say anything to his sweet sentiment. “Right,” he cleared his throat. “Well, this time, I’m the one with a big life-or-death ‘duty calls,’ and I want your help. Before you say no, let me tell you what you get out of it.”

“This oughta be good,” she muttered, sitting on the edge of the sofa.

“Luxurious travel,” Simeon gestured to the car on the front lawn, “all expenses paid, and I’m talking swanky accommodations and fancy frocks for undercover work, whatever you need, we’ll get. You get a week off from work, and all of New York will be demon-death free. I arranged it—wait, I’ll tell you how in a minute. But here’s the real kicker. If you don’t do it, all vampires and their spawn will be sucked into Tartarus for eternity. Hell, Emily. Mr. Minegold. Jesse and Sophie. Sweet little J.J. And me, but—”

“Simeon? Have you been eating addicts?” Great. The closest thing she had to a friend (how weird wasthat), the guy she couldtell anything to, anything good, bad, or guilt-inducing, had gone nutty.

“Nope, strictly shop-bought, me.”

“Well, maybe you got a bad batch at the butcher’s because it sounded like you said Mr. Minegold and his family were going to be hanging out in tarter sauce for eternal damnation.”

“Tartarus. The old Greek mythological Hell. Apparently, Hades sublets.”

Hades. Tartarus. Words from her virtual high school English assignments poked Emily’s brain until meanings were connected. “Is this some kind of pre-Halloween joke?”

“Nope. Want me to convince you?”

“Can you do it in five minutes or less?”

Simeon grinned. “As a matter of fact, I can.”

I love the girl. But I’m still just a touch evil.

Simeon was looking forward to watching Emily’s reaction to H-Drive. “Tell me a place.”

“A place? Like a noun—place?”

“Yes, tell me a place. Name anylocation.”

“Um. My apartment.”

He stifled an impatient groan. “Not that place. Another place. A place where wearen’t, Huntress, we’re in the bloody car! We wouldn’t be in the car if I wanted to take you to the place we’re already—argh. Why would you— never mind. Tell me a place— wait, buckle up first.”

“Simeon,” Emily groaned and reached for the door handle. “I’m in no mood for cryptic or condescending.”

“Sorry. Please. Trust me. If I’m wrong, you can stake me.”

“I’m not going to do that. But you’re still going to be wrong.” Emily buckled up as she taunted him in a singsong voice.

Simeon gingerly tapped the silver button and tightened his hands on the wheel, teeth locked. “A place, not here, on dry land. Preferably somewhere safe.”

“Uhhh. Okay. Um. Oh, what about—”

“Wait! Wait, wait.” Simeon reached out and seized her hand. “It should also be outside of a building. Don’t say someone’s room. Just don’t.”

“You’re freaking me out.”

“If you weren’t so damned stubborn...”

“If you weren’t so damned sneaky!”

“Name a place!”

“Hawaii!”

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