Page 23 of Endless Terrors
“It’s Damon, sweetheart.” Her voice was hushed, and I knew Matthew must be nearby. “He just collapsed.”
“It was Lucifer,” I said dully, holding the phone with fingers that didn’t feel like mine. “Don’t bother calling for an ambulance. No hospital will be able to help him.”
“What’s happened?” Emma asked. There was a remarkable amount of composure in her tone, but I could still picture the deep lines that appeared on her forehead whenever she was worried.
I hesitated and glanced toward Lucifer. He’d turned away, offering the illusion of privacy, but I knew he could hear every word. “I’ll explain everything when I can.”
“You’re not alone,” Emma stated, hearing something in my voice. She made a determined sound and the line crackled with her exhale. “Okay. I’ll keep Damon and Matthew safe. Be careful, sweetheart.”
“Call you soon,” I promised numbly, and hung up. I lowered my arm to my side, and Lucifer waited for my answer.
I said nothing; I was putting the pieces together. Going back. So this was why Lucifer had stopped pounding at Oliver’s defenses for one night—he’d been focused on getting Damon. My brother was part of the “preparations” Lucifer had started making once he knew where I was. I should’ve known something was wrong. I should’ve called Damon the second I woke up.
Swallowing, I raised my head and looked at the creature wearing Collith like a flesh suit. “You just sealed your own fate. The second you put my brother under that spell, your life was forfeit.”
My threat floated past Lucifer like a feather. He moved, but it was barely perceptible, as if he’d started to bow and caught himself. Instead, he straightened and stepped back. His silken voice became brisk. “Take some time. Think about it. I’ll return after three days for your answer.”
“What is it with bad guys and the three-day deadline? And if I don’t accept your insane deal?” I demanded, taking a half step forward. “What then?”
Lucifer paused. His gaze met mine, and I tried to read him like he’d read me. Seconds passed, thick with tension and words unsaid. I was painfully aware of Laurie standing nearby, observing every moment, assessing every part of this interaction. The fact that he hadn’t made a single remark spoke volumes. He doesn’t want to get on Lucifer’s radar, I thought. Even Laurelis Dondarte was scared of the devil.
Then Collith’s body jerked, abruptly breaking our stare.
When he lifted his head again, breathing raggedly, it was clear Lucifer had kept his word. The person standing in front of me now had Collith’s serious tilt to his mouth. Collith’s scent and quiet presence. Relief expanded in my chest, but it was short-lived. I glanced at Laurie, who was looking at Collith with a grim expression, and I knew we were thinking the same thing.
We couldn’t trust him anymore.
It was hitting me, finally—the reality of everything. Damon was under some kind of sleeping spell. Collith was Lucifer’s puppet. Lucifer knew exactly where I was, along with the locations of everyone I loved. Not only was I losing this war, I was losing badly.
Needing a moment to myself, I took several steps away and put my back to everyone. There was a slight whooshing sound, and I heard Finn mutter something under his breath. Gil had arrived, no doubt. I felt him along the bond, and my only comfort was he seemed more stable. More grounded. For an instant, I worried if that meant he’d fed from someone’s vein, rather than the blood bags Lyari had been obtaining for him. But I would’ve sensed it, right?
I pinched the bridge of my nose and took a deep breath. One problem at a time, Fortuna.
After a few seconds, I came back. Laurie was on his phone, his voice low and discreet. The other three stood perfectly still, exactly where I’d left them. I raised my head and looked at Collith. “He’s going to kill my brother, isn’t he?”
“We have three days,” he started, then stopped. His jaw worked and his hazel eyes burned. He must’ve come to the same conclusion as me and Laurie, because after a moment he said, “You have three days, and you have our resources now. Everything has a balance. A weakness. Figure out his and use it against him. He may be immortal, but he’s not all-powerful.”
I was silent. I mulled over Collith’s words, then Lucifer’s, too. Think about it, the devil had said. Oh, I would think. Think and figure out how to save Damon and Collith.
Laurie had finished his call and rejoined our small band of misfits. One by one, I looked at the males forming a half-circle around me. Collith. Laurie. Finn. Gil. They were waiting for our next move. At least one good thing had come out of this—they believed me about Lucifer now.
“Change of plans. We’re going home.” I gave them a bleak smile. For months, I had dreamed of saying those words. Just one more thing Lucifer had taken from me … and one more thing he’d pay for.
Laurie’s lip curled into something resembling a snarl, and I caught a glimpse of ferocity in his eyes. The part of his nature he kept so well-hidden that I kept forgetting it existed. “You’re not handing yourself over—” he started.
“I don’t intend to,” I interjected. “But there’s no point staying in more motels, or getting back on the road. He has Damon, Laurie. I might as well sleep in my own bed while I figure out how to beat the devil in seventy-two hours. Any chance there’s a Door nearby?”
Laurie grimaced. “In this hovel? Unlikely.”
I’d hoped to buy us more time at the loft, and the car was such a piece of shit that I wouldn’t have minded ditching it. As it was, we probably had another day of driving ahead. Ignoring the wave of exhaustion that washed over me, I reached for my bag. Gil beat me to it, of course, and Finn opened the trunk. They loaded the bags and we all got in.
Just before I pulled the door shut, I glanced up at Laurie and Collith. “I’ll text you from the road,” I murmured.
Laurie nodded. Collith watched me with an unfathomable expression, a shadow in his eyes, and I fought a sense of déjà vu. Strange how much could change over the course of a few minutes, I thought as Gil started the engine. I’d started the day running away. Now it felt like I was running toward something. But what, exactly? Hell? Death?
I’d have my answer in three days.
The loft welcomed me back with a warm draft and soft lights.
