Page 88 of Infernal

Hannah’s…dead?

I blinked through my tears as I tried to understand the words he was telling me. Hannah was dead? How could Hannah be dead? When? Why? “What are you talking about?” I asked, panic infiltrating my voice.

“Some demon just delivered her body to the front door like a pizza,” explained Caleb as he leaned in over Ben. “They left a note, Blackburn…” His voice trailed off as he shook his head.

There was no way to brace myself for what came next.

“Jem, he has Taylor,” said Ben, his voice cracking on her name as he ran a hand down his face to wipe the rain from his eyes. “Lucifer has Taylor.”

I pushed them out of my way and sprang from the car, running up the driveway and then bolting up the front steps, taking two at a time. Panic rode me as I hurled the front door open and immediately found Nikki and Carly. They were huddled together, sitting side by side in the entrance.

Carly was still crying hysterically, while Nikki had her arm around her, trying to comfort her. And judging by Nikki’s bloodshot eyes, I could tell she had been crying too.

“Where is she?” I asked, bouncing my eyes between the two of them.

“The den,” answered Nikki hoarsely, pointing as Carly continued to sob on her shoulder.

Leaving them, I ran for the den, bursting in and then stopping short as the awful smell of brimstone hit my face the moment I entered the room. I knew exactly what that meant: demon.

Ignoring the stench, my eyes landed on Tessa and Gabriel. They were standing together near the entranceway, talking quietly amongst themselves. I shifted my gaze over their shoulders to the sofa—to the golden locks of hair cascading over the edge of the sofa. I followed their trail up to the head it was attached to, and my heart immediately dropped to my feet.

Hannah’s lifeless body lay motionless on the sofa as the orange light from the fire danced over her form.

“Nooo,” I cried out, my head shaking back and forth. “This isn’t happening!”

She was an innocenthumangirl who had nothing to do with any of this. She didn’t deserve to die, not like this.

“I told you not to leave the fucking house,” growled Tessa, picking the absolute worst possible time for a lecture. “What the hell did you do? Why does he think you have his consort?”

All I could do was stare at Hannah in a guilt-ridden stupor.

“Answer me!” she snapped. “He sent a demon here! What do you think would’ve happened to your friends if we weren’t here to vanquish it?” she said, pointing with her thumb to the dark corner of the room.

My eyes darted over to the stinky body huddled over in the shadows. Undoubtedly, the demon and the reason for the putrid smell. “I really don’t need this right now, Tessa.”

“Like hell you don’t!”

“Where’s the note?” I demanded, my gaze whipping back to her as I tried to piece together what had happened here.

“I have it,” she said without producing it.

“Give it to me.”

“I think you need to—”

“Give me the goddamn note, Tessa!” I cut in, taking an aggressive step towards her.

She bounced a glance at Gabriel and then exhaled. “Fine,” she said as she reached into her back pocket and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. “I really need you not to do anything stupid, Jemma. For once in your life, be smart about this,” she warned before handing over the note.

Snatching it from her, I unfolded the paper and read the words:

Dearest Daughter,

Bring my consort or Taylor is next.

All Saints.

Come alone.

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