Page 154 of Dark Souls

“That’s enough for now. As long as Lukas complies, you can release her. No more torture,” The Devil said to the live feed. I watched as there was a movement in the background and noticed a broad shadow cast along the wall of the room she was in. A male figure. Just before the feed cut out, a blurred hand swept across the camera to turn it off. It was quick and unclear, but I still caught it. The flash of a silver dagger ring. One that I would recognise anywhere.

My hateful eyes flicked back up to The Devil as he pocketed his phone.

“So, Dealer, let’s hear this plan of yours?”

Trust Your Instincts

Leifwhistledlowaswe all stared up at the back of the desolate English manor from our hidden positions in the tree line. It looked even more sinister in the middle of the night, with the moon casting an eerie glow over its forgotten presence like a spotlight. In the distance, the sea violently clashed against the rocks and the perilous drop into darkness behind the manor gave the impression it was about to crumble off the face of the Earth with one powerful gust of wind. I focused on the grimy windows and the lack of candlelight inside. Every muscle in my body was itching to see Luka or Heathen, whichever was currently in control of their form, but I knew I had to be cautious. The Devil could still be in there with him. I really hoped he was. I’d love nothing more than to tear this asshole a new one. But I always had Hana in the back of my mind. I couldn’t do anything to jeopardise her life either.

“Nice place. The hole in the roof really gives it cultivated charm,” Leif said, reeking of sarcasm, which warranted an unamused look from me. He was by no means my first choice to bring along to check on my soulmate’s well-being, especially with Luka’s justified disdain for Anderson magic and Leif’s obvious inability to make rational decisions right now (AKA snogging Lia’s face off), but I was outnumbered on the family vote. He was eager to meet my soulmate because, knowing pretty much everyone else in the family had, he felt left out.

Once the initial shock and disbelief had worn off, my family agreed to help come up with a plan to free Heathen, Luka and Hana from The Devil’s clutches and I reluctantly agreed that there would be a trial unless I was to kill him in an act of self-defence. They were not thrilled with all the secrets and lies I’d been keeping the last few months, but I think deep down, when I asked if they would’ve betrayed their soulmate’s trust if they were in my position, it forced them to realise that I had no other choice. And when I dropped my guard and revealed a rare moment of vulnerability in front of them all by allowing them to see the tears in my eyes and the smile on my face when I said, ‘I’m sorry I’ve disappointed you all by hiding this, but I’m not sorry for doing it. As much as I love you all to death, this family is a lot for anyone. And Luka and Heathen, they have been through so much already. They needed time. We needed time to learn to trust each other. I accept him for who he is, and I know it is a shock to you all, but I really need you to get onboard pretty darn fast because I love him. I love him in all his forms and with all his darkness. I’ll do anything to save him and his sister. So you’ll either wish me luck and get out of my way or help me figure this out. Because they are the only options,’ that was the moment they finally understood. My mum broke down in tears and hugged me. My dad squeezed my hand and my grandpapi told me I was wrong. There was only ever one choice. They would stand by me no matter what.

Leif sobered up miraculously fast after being caught up on everything. We shared a silent hug, which felt like an apology on both our sides. “No more secrets,” he’d whispered in my ear before releasing me, and I’d nodded in agreement.

We all sat for a few hours at the dinner table trying to come up with a plan that wouldn’t put Luka or Hana in any more danger than necessary but also trying to find a way to expose The Devil and his mate. It was bloody hard to do, especially knowing that we couldn’t give away the fact that we knew anything about the existence of two Demonski Upirs and had no clue who The Devil could be. We couldn’t get Luka to ask to meet The Devil and ambush him because that would put Hana’s life at risk. We needed to find her first. All we knew was that The Devil must have been a previous member ofThe Underground. So we needed to start there. We needed to get intoThe Undergroundmembership archives, and we also needed to speak to Luka. Now he could talk about himself, I knew there would be details he’d be able to provide about The Devil that would be helpful in uncovering his identity.

My parents and grandparents were going to research and figuring out what kind of spell had been used by Cora and Celeste to possess a demon’s soul so Leif, mum, and Grandpapi could find a way to break it. Raiden and Sienna were going to dig up the previous cases at the SIA committed by Heathen to see if those people had any links toThe Undergroundand any interactions with a specific person before their deaths. Which left my two super nosy brothers to come along with me to speak to Luka. Lorcan’s wolf senses would be invaluable in picking up scents of anyone who had been here recently and Leif, well, he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Not only did he want to see the Knowlton coven’s premises for himself, but he was dying to meet my soulmate. Which only made me all the more anxious right now. Thank god Grandma Maddy was here too. If my brothers were coming, I asked her to join because I knew Luka at least felt comfortable around her, and she was good at keeping my brothers in check with a whack to the back of their heads when they were being idiots.

Ignoring Leif, I peered over at Lorcan, who allowed his wolf to share control, making his eyes glow like torchlights through the dark as they swirled solid gold. “Lorc?”

He dragged in a deep breath, puffing his chest and then shook his head. “I can’t scent or feel anyone’s presence from here. I don’t think anyone’s home.”

I frowned, peering back up at the manor. Gods, I hoped Heathen was alright. I’d never seen him so close to losing it like that before. It honestly scared me. Yes, I’d seen him jealous, angry and watched him kill, but all those times, there had been a level of calm beneath it all. But in that dining room, when he thought my grandpapi had something to do with his past, he could barely hold it together. And I couldn’t blame him. He had to leave. There was no other choice.

“You know, I once slept in a haunted house like this one. There was a broken radio that played 70s music all night,” Leif interrupted, placing his hands on his hips. We all turned to stare at him in confusion, until he broke out into song,“At first I was afraid, I was petrified.”

“Are you still drunk?” I threw my arm out and smacked him across the chest, causing him to groan and bend over before his laughter started.

“Just trying to lighten the mood.”

“Why are you like this? Please try to keep the immaturity and ridiculousness of your brain to a minimum when we are inside. Luka will already feel uncomfortable around you. Don’t make it worse.”

“All the more reason for a little banter! And anyway, hearing about your demon’s grand entrance, I think we will get along just fine.”

“That was Heathen. Luka is more guarded. And I know you will get along once you get to know each other. In fact, that worries me more. But for now, just try to, you know…”

“Tone down my brilliance?” Leif shook his head. “Sorry, no can do, sis. The multitude of demon puns and jokes I have up my sleeve would never allow it. And hey, you were the one who wanted me to‘pull myself together’.”

“Lorc? A little help here?” I looked at my more sensible and mature brother, who was suppressing his laughter. Lord, give me strength.

“Hey, I already had to suffer hisbrilliancefor weeks. It’s your turn. Do you know one of the first things he said to Aurelia on meeting her? He told her to give me a blow job because that would be a sure way to wake me up from the poisoned unconscious state I was in. She was a virgin, I might add.”

“Was I wrong?” Leif said with a knowing smirk and raising his arms out at the side. Lorcan snorted, chuckling as he shook his head.

“Grandma!” I growled and in the next second both of their heads knocked forwards an inch and they both yelled, ‘Ow!’

“Focus, boys! Lorcan’s right. I can’t sense anyone here either. I think it’s safe,” Grandma added. We all trudged through the overgrown grass and weeds to the back entrance of the manor. Lorcan allowed his wolf to remain at the surface as he inspected the perimeter and nodded that it was clear.

I opened the kitchen door, which was never locked, but paused when I noticed Leif was holding up his hand against an invisible barrier and tutting.

“Leif!”

“Nasty one that,” he said while the palm of his hand glowed against the magic he was manipulating for us to see. I took a step back and watched as a silvery, rippling dome became visible around the entire house. “They really hate the poor sod. This is an inlaqueo spell. Pretty powerful but easy enough to break. Traps a soul inside for a certain period and then releases them, but if the soul is not back inside the boundary when the magic returns, that person is cursed to burn alive from the inside out. A painful death. I can sense whose soul it is for as well. A vampire.”

My fists clenched at my sides and I gritted my jaw. “Luka can’t leave the house when the sun rises until it sets.”

Leif nodded. “Want me to destroy it?”

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