Page 59 of Demons Treasure Warlocks

“I’m real tired of them, the dreams. But I can’t get them to stop.” Darius sipped his coffee. “Telling you helped.”

“Whatever I can do.” Bale began clearing the table, allowing Darius the space to consider things.

Knowing how to defeat Elijah and Hastur was the key to everything. He needed to find that one piece of kryptonite in Hastur’s life and soon.

In the afternoon, Darius ventured into town. He wasn’t happy about it, but he wanted to look at the old town maps. Bale wasn’t thrilled with Darius’s idea, especially after the nightmares, but once Darius explained why, Bale conceded grudgingly.

Snow was piled along the curbs, making it dangerous to walk on the sidewalks. People eyed him suspiciously as they tried to hurry past. The old Darius would have made some sort of comment, but right now, he was tired of it all.

Ducking off the main street at the library, Darius paused at the doors to his former sanctuary before continuing on to the locked portal. This was a dumb idea, and Darius knew Bale would be very angry at him when he found out.

He strode to the cordoned off portal and gazed at it with despair. The portal was unhealthy. The shackles Isaac and Adam had placed on it were rotting away and turning into rags. He’d assumed that what they had done were Band-Aid fixes, but to see it with his own eyes sealed it for him.

Anything they did to block the portals from fully opening would rot away in a short timeframe. They had to do something to seal the portals completely.

A small niggle of an idea formed in Darius’s head as he inspected it. He stepped over the iron gates and approached the throbbing ball, bracing himself for the next step.

“There you are.”

“Fuck.” Darius swore under his breath and faced Elijah. Bale hadn’t exaggerated anything when he said that Elijah was falling apart. His skin hung on him like a cheap suit, and he smelled wrong. “Elijah. Nice to see you looking well.”

“This is only temporary. Once everything is aligned, I’ll be fit as a fiddle,” Elijah proclaimed. His mannerisms and words were already changing to match Jenkins’ patterns. He peered into the poisoned airspace and shuddered dramatically. “Nice digs, Darius. Miss your old stomping grounds that much?”

Darius resisted the urge to bare his teeth. Elijah wasn’t worth the fight or the drama. He was a peon, a dead peon. He only didn’t know it yet. “I’m getting the lay of the land. I heard your meeting last night went off like a lead balloon.”

“People need time to process the news and the chance to understand the good of it all. It was to be expected.” Elijah waved a hand carelessly. “Once spring comes and I begin showing my presence, they’ll come around. They always do. And you’ll be doing my dirty work for me. You do it so well.”

“Right, like I’m going to jump on that bandwagon. What makes you think that’s happening?” Darius asked, feeling a spark of magic trickle down his hand. He did not need a burst of electric power at the moment. It would only prove Elijah right. He had to keep it together. Elijah could not win. This wasn’t the time nor place.

“Your insatiable urge to meddle in matters that don’t concern you. Why else would I be here?” Elijah laughed loudly, and it echoed in the empty park. “Your pet demon runs to tell you about my nefarious plans, you get all twitchy and come to check out the dangerous spots. And…here you are!”

“He is rather predictable, isn’t he?” Bale’s voice was welcome as he and Trey stood on the path with their arms crossed. They both wore thunderous scowls as they approached.

“Balor and the wraith. How nice.” Elijah smiled briefly before speaking to Darius once more. “Darius, as much as you think you know me or even His Majesty, remember that it’s the same for me. This isn’t a fight you can win. You’ve already lost. You just won’t accept it.” Elijah leapt to the top of a light standard and then to a rooftop, his overcoat turning into the muddy yellow cape Hastur wore before he disappeared into the grey cloudy sky.

Darius braced himself for the incoming rant from both Trey and Bale. He’d accept the scolding. He had done something utterly stupid, even though he honestly hadn't expected Elijah’s appearance.

ChapterTwenty-Six

Bale wasn’t sure how to react when he found Darius on the wrong side of the fence and Elijah casually talking to him. He and Trey had been attempting to mend some wounds while seeking out the hotspots Darius mentioned. The River Walk was their last stop before going home.

“Darius, why were you talking to the asshole?” Trey asked, his foot tapping as he waited for Darius’s answer. Bale was still trying to find the right thing to say that wouldn’t start a fight in public.

“He approached me. I was minding my own business,” Darius said nonchalantly. He was staring at Bale when he answered. “I was doing some investigating.”

“Alone?”

“I was in full sight of all the buildings. People—”

“You were fucking by yourself, Darius. No one else could rescue you when they’re inside and you’re stuck here between Yellow Dick and a fucking portal!” he snarled.

Darius rubbed the back of his neck, suitably chastened.

“Honestly, I didn’t think he’d show up. I was only going to peek, write down my thoughts and then I’d go home. Easy-peasy.” Darius’s excuses were weak, and even Trey guffawed at them.

“Right, okay there. You gotta work on your poker face, man. You suck at lying about shit.” Trey snorted. He kept glancing upward as though Elijah would reappear. Bale counted to ten before ignoring Trey.

“Dammit, Darius. You’re the target. You are who he wants. Focus on your own safety, please. I just can’t deal with these solo adventures.” Bale rubbed the stubs of his horns anxiously as he berated Darius.

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