Page 62 of The Sinner and the Scholar
He gestures at Alice and the vigilantes, who are still warily taking in the scene. “They probably see them too.”
When they nod, Wes shakes his head in disbelief.
“They’re not supposed to be here because they’ve manifested as physical beings… onthisplane.”
“Aren’t they all physical?” Alice asks.
Wesley saves me from answering.
“No. What you saw was a woman possessed by the spirit of a demon. These creatures are inferior demons that have crossed realms. They shouldn’t be here. The gates of hell must have cracks big enough to fit tiny things through.”
“What do you mean, Wes?” I get in front of him.
He nervously licks his lips. “No demon or devil can exist on this plane physically. That’s why they possess, haunt, and influence. But—”
One of the grotesque fish gapes like it’s floundering out of water. One by one, the others start flopping about.
“They’re not dead,” I mumble.
The sound of sliding metal echoes against the walls as Envy unleashes twin katanas. Pride flexes his claws.
“Put them away,” Alice says grimly, her eyes on Wes and me. “If a blessed dagger didn’t kill them, then your weapons are no good.”
“Blessed dagger,” Pride rubs his jaw and glances at the corpse. “It exorcised the spiritual demon, but not these physical ones?”
Wesley rubs his face. “I don’t even know if that’s the case. Vepar could have voluntarily exorcised. Or I could have weakened her with the holy water and fire, and the dagger might have been the final straw.”
Envy’s brows lower. “My power barely tickled them, and my weapons can’t kill them. What the fuck are we supposed to do?”
Wes flicks them an unreadable look and then picks up his charred crucifix from the ground. He pulls another slice of torn fabric from inside his bag, wraps it around the cross, and says to me, “Use the dagger to drag them all together. Don’t touch the scales… and especially don’t touch the warped mark of Lilith.”
He noticed what I didn’t. Lilith’s mark is scored into the underbelly on each of them.
I stab each beast, hating how their flounders become dexterous and know they’re healing. Soon they will attack. But I hope Wes is right, and all we need to do is coordinate our efforts. I shove them into a pile—seven altogether—and Wes barks, “Stand back.”
Then he mutters the same incantation he did before and sparks his lighter in front of the wrapped crucifix. He blows until flames pass through the relic and shoot holy fire at the demonic minions. Screeches and high-pitched screams echo through the alley. Heat blisters our faces.
It’s a strange comfort to my shivering and cold body.
When it’s clear they’re all dead, Alice turns to me with a grim look. “This fight is yours. The jet is ready.” To Wes, she says, “Take care of my sister.”
I nod. “Thank you, Alice. Pride. Envy.”
They go to leave, but Alice turns back with a frown.
“Thea?”
“Yeah?”
She limps to me and envelopes me in a bear hug. Tears sting my eyes at the contact. My body rejoices. The force of her love is evident in the strength of her embrace. She’s seen the worst of me but will always accept me no matter how removed she is from this life. This hug is everything.
It’s not the life raft, but it will keep me afloat a little longer.
“Enjoy the ride, bitch,” she whispers, squeezes me one last time, and then pushes away with a wry smirk.
Envy gives me a compassionate look as I watch Alice and her husband disappear into the night. He knows exactly what I’m envious of, and then he’s gone too.
* * *
