Page 100 of Demon Found

Chano has been added to Ali-G Chat

Naive: We’re in Farrell’s room.

Space Cadet: Get your asses here, we think we found something.

Chano: Wtf is with the names?

Farrell has changed user Chano’s name to Demon Spawn.

Farrell has changed user Hairy Harpy’s name to She-Devil

She-Devil: Back the fuck off Farrell.

It takes a few attempts to get to Farrell’s rooms without Chano being seen but we finally make it. Zephyr yanks open the big oak door and before I can get a word out, he pounces on me, dragging me in, whirling me around. His eyes are bright and shining, and he’s brandishing a knife. Warily I step away, farther into the dorm. I reverse into a solid wall of Farrell and come to a sudden stop. Zephyr is bouncing on his toes, his long hair flowing around him like an unruly waterfall.

What the hell is going on? Did someone feed him SupeZ?

“We worked it out. The demon spell wasn’t your only suppressant!”

“Uh, no. There was the stuff Seth was feeding me too, in those damn pastries.” Shit, I miss the pastries.

I edge slowly to one side, but Naeve appears, arms folded, blocking my path, her talcum powder scent assailing my nostrils.

“And . . .?”

“And I don’t know. No riddles, guys. I’m tired. A lot has happened today.”

“Today? I thought you were sleeping?”

I glance at Farrell, guilt lancing through me. “Yeah, for a bit. Then . . . other stuff.”

I shrug but suddenly I want nothing more than to tell them everything, clear the air.

“Maggo cornered me. He knew my dad. Turns out Dad was an upper-level demon. Maggo thinks he wanted me hidden to protect me. His family was caught up in super antiroyalist stuff.” The words fall out my mouth, tumbling over each other.

Naeve gasps and clutches my hand. It still doesn’t seem real. It’s as if I’m telling someone else’s story. Somehow, I’m further from my dad, not closer. He had this whole other life I knew nothing about. He wasn’t even a Smith.

“His name was Levi Bal.”

Farrell takes a hissing breath, and I blink, confused that the name means anything to him. Zephyr uses my distraction and leaps at me, flailing wildly with his knife. I yank my arm away, and he misses me, but catches my medical alert bracelet. It falls to the floor, cut cleanly in two.

“What the fuck?”

“You meanthank you. We worked it out. Farrell knew you were hiding something the moment you rocked up. Well, I guess it was it was your dad doing the hiding.” Zephyr throws his arms in the air getting flustered. “Anyway, even now your demon has come out to play, Farrell canstillsense a suppression.”

I glance at Farrell, and he gives me a small nod, his mouth pulled into a thin line. Why would he know what the hell a suppression spell looks like. Wait, did heknowmy dad? Is that why he’s being weird?

“Then we realized,” Zephyr continues. “Your bracelet. You've had it since childhood, right? It's spelled. You were wrapped up inthreelevels of suppression. No wonder your powers were all over the place. I bet you’re not even allergic to meat. Weirdest allergy I ever heard. Especially for a demon.”

I rub my wrist. It feels weird, naked.

“I’m surprised you managed to wield any magic at all, under all that.” Farrell looks at me approvingly, and for a moment I let myself bask in it.

“So, your dad was a Bal?” Zephyr drawls. “They were involved in heavy shit. Helped get rid of the Royals, then turned on the Angel King when he refused to set up a democracy. Hiding you makes more sense now. Especially since the Angel King put a bounty on them.”

“Maybe that’s why he was killed.” I pause, my eyes widening. “Maybe it’s why I’m still alive . . .”

“Going to have to explain that one, chica.” Chano’s hand rubs soothing circles on my back.

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