Page 136 of The Demon's Pet

I looked up at him, wishing I could explain to someone what I just saw Sam do.

What I just witnessed…

But then I was distracted by observing the place where we’d landed, which was unique compared to any place I’d ever been.

The air all around us was smoggy or foggy, making it difficult to see past the property we were on and the ruined streets around it. The asphalt was cracked and pulled up in lines so that no car could ever go past.

The grass I was standing on was green and lush, and the air was humid around us. I looked up to see an old cathedral, Gothic style, with a huge arch over a large stained-glass rose window with small sections of colorful stained glass arranged like the petals of a massive flower.

Below that stood huge, worn cherry double doors that looked heavy enough to crush a dozen people if they ever fell forward.

I looked around me and saw that old iron gates blocked the entrance to the property, and a tall, old-fashioned iron fence with elaborate metalwork surrounded the entire plot.

With a little shiver, I noted that, to the right of the cathedral, guarded by a giant willow, there was a small cemetery with crumbling headstones and monuments shaded by mist and fog.

On the other side of the cathedral stood more gravestones, giving a haunted feeling to the whole place.

Everything felt gray, from the smoggy sky overhead and the thundering storm clouds approaching to the mist in the yard and the worn gray stone of the Gothic cathedral.

Above the doors, a wooden sign had been mounted, and it looked the worse for wear.

But in old script, carved deep in the wood, I could read the message.

Cayne’s Sanctuary. All peaceful creatures welcome.

I stared up at it blankly. You’d have to be truly desperate to think this place could offer you respite.

And what did it mean, all peaceful creatures? Was I a peaceful creature? And who was Cayne?

All of these questions circled in my mind as I rubbed my arms and tried not to think of how Sam cut Zadis open.

“Come on. This place gives me the creeps,” Griffin said, leading the way up to the stairs. “You good to walk?”

I nodded. Though I was shivering slightly from the shock of everything that had happened, it was nice to stand on my own.

Griffin walked up to the door and knocked with a heavy fist. The door creaked open a crack.

“We are not accepting new applicants until Cayne returns,” the deep, silky voice murmured. “You may wait at the nearby vampire keep. They are accepting—”

“Sam sent us,” Griffin blurted out. “We have nowhere else to go.”

The door opened slowly, and a tall, elegant man with dark skin stood there, gazing at me with almond eyes in a startling shade of blue. Like ice on a frozen lake. He wore a dark cape that hid the rest of his outfit, except for his fitted leather pants that were tucked into polished leather boots.

His hair was white and cropped short, and he had a white mustache to match. He cocked his head at us. “Well, we do hate to turn anyone away. If you were truly sent to us by Samael—”

Griffin nodded, but he looked nervous about this place.

The man dipped his head respectfully. “My name is Orpheus,” he said in that smooth, velvety voice. “I am Cayne’s valet, butler, and assistant. I am also the manager of this sanctuary. How long will you need to stay?”

“I don’t know,” Griffin said quickly.

“Will Samael be following shortly?” Orpheus asked.

“I don’t know,” Griffin said again. “Look, can we find her a place to lie down? She’s been through a lot.”

Orpheus nodded, welcoming us inside. The floor of the cathedral was intricately tiled, though here and there, a few had broken from wear. The cathedral inside was beautiful. The empty pews stood in rows. Light streamed through the stained-glass windows at the front and back. Beautiful Gothic arches curved up into the ceiling, meeting every ten feet or so. At the front was an altar.

Orpheus walked up to it, knelt in front of it, and pressed some kind of button at the side of the crimson velvet cushion.

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