Page 69 of Living Legend

“A demon, Nicholas,” Markus answered, his gray hair ruffled.

“Another one? But how?” I had prepared myself for many things, but that wasn’t one.

“If we knew the answer, things would be much easier, wouldn’t they?” Ariel sneered. “Natalia was supposed to have maintained the portals until we could figure something out.”

“Someone has reopened it, at least enough for one to come through,” Jonah explained. “I do not blame Natalia. This is much bigger than even her.” The sympathy in his eyes when he said her name made me want to disregard every bad thought I ever conjured up about him.

“Is it locked in the Ethereal Bastille with the other one?” I asked, walking towards them.

They gave each other looks before returning their eyes to me, but it was Markus who spoke. “It’s dead.”

“So, one of the new trainees killed it? That’s impressive.”

Jonah let out a small laugh. “No, Nicholas, it was already dead when they discovered it.”

I opened my mouth to ask another obvious question, which Ariel answered before it left my lips. “Clearly, someone killed it and hid it, which makes things even more difficult.”

“Have a seat, Nicholas, please. You standing there is making me anxious.” Jonah gestured towards the open seat in front of him. I sat down, but on the edge, my mind reeling.

Jonah rubbed his forehead. “We have been trying to keep this under wraps, but I think that plan is wearing thin. Someone has slain a demon and is clearly not making a big show about it. I have sentries monitoring the grounds. I’ve shut down the portals and already collected all the portal keys for the time being, but there is only so much I can do with the information I have.”

I touched my fingertips to my chest, feeling the portal key hanging around my neck.

“I knew those demons had overstayed their welcome,” Ariel stated.

“What do they have to do with any of this?” I thought to myself. By the way they were looking at me, I realized I’d said it out loud. When no one spoke, I continued. “You brought them hereafterthe first demon, so it makes no sense for them to have anything to do with this.”

“So, you’ve spent a few weeks with them and now you, what? Know what they are capable of?” Ariel mocked, rolling his eyes.

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“Nicholas has a point, Ariel. Logically, it wouldn’t make any sense.” Jonah said.

“You of all people should know what demons can do, especially under Lilith’s influence.” Ariel wrapped his hands over the back of Markus’s chair and gave Jonah a knowing look. “You have let them get too comfortable here.”

Markus crossed his legs. “As much as we would love to send them back, we can’t . You are aware of that, Ariel. Besides,youare the one who brought an extra demon along.”

Ariel shook his head. “That’s beside the point. We can just send them back and figure out another way to handle this.”

“Yes, opening a portal to Purgatory is a good idea right now,” I said under my breath, but, yet again, they heard me. Ariel scrunched up his nose but kept quiet. Markus scrubbed a hand down his face and turned to look at Jonah, who was tapping his index finger on his desk.

“We can’t reopen anything to the demonic world right now, but Markus does bring up a good point.” He let out a sigh and looked me in the eyes. “Which brings me to you.”I sat up straighter, waiting. “I think it’s time to introduce our guest to our prisoner.”

“You want me to take Dani to the Ethereal Bastille?”

“It doesn’t have to be you, Nicholas. It can be your troublesome friend with the bow, but we request the Soul Seether be escorted,” Ariel spat.

Jonah got up from his chair and slowly circled his desk. “Our sentries have been working on the demon for a while and have nothing. It won’t speak to them, no matter what they do. Maybe it will answer its own kind.”

“Either way, she will play her part and help us,” Markus chimed in.

I rubbed my chin. “You want her to torture an answer out of it? I don’t think she’ll be thrilled to be doing your bidding, no matter the activity.”

“She doesn’t really have much of a choice,” Ariel huffed. “Besides, she did our bidding when she came here. She went to Oculus with you and that was a mild success.”

I thought this over. “That’s different, though. She was there as a buffer, to take some of the blow if things got too tense. You’re asking her to do so much more right now.” I could see Ariel holding himself back, probably trying not to throttle me.“What makes you think this demon will tell her anything? What if it’s just a waste of time?”

Jonah placed a hand on my chair. “Itwilltell her something. The things she can do, our sentries would never be able to accomplish. There’s a reason she’s so feared, Nicholas.”

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