Page 67 of Beauty At Stake
“No.” Kill made a frustrated sound. “No. There's no sense in more than one person taking that shit on.”
“All right. Let's just take a breath,” Star said. He looked over at Sal, who stood with the rest of his guards off to the side. “Set a hakhil around the room at the end of the hallway. You'll know which one.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Sal strode off.
“Your investigation of the remains can wait,” Star said to Kill. “Our priority is that sorceress. We need to make a plan now that we know what she is. This is actually good. We'll be able to prepare for what she might use against us.”
“A sorceress,” Sullivan muttered. “It explains that shitshow in the garden.”
“Yes.” Star glanced at him. “And the illusion.”
“What was that spell?” Apitron asked. “The one that hit us as soon as we arrived.”
“My guess is it was a revealing spell,” I said. “Probably something she set in a statue or maybe even the property walls to be triggered by any visitor, so she'd know exactly who was approaching her house.”
“A revealing spell?” Star leaned back in his seat. “Huh.”
Kill, who always bounced back quickly from negativity, said, “It's nice to know what you really look like under that pretty face.”
Star lifted a brow. “Is that giant snake your true form, Killian?”
Kill blinked. “Well. Uh.”
“No, it's not. Just as our Demon forms are not our true selves, simply what humans expect us to look like. Their our work clothes, if you will. A costume we wear when we torture humans on Hell.”
“I'm not so sure about that,” I said.
Everyone looked at me—the Demons gaped.
“Explain that, if you please,” Star's tone went crisp.
I looked at Killian. “Did you see it? Between his horns?”
“Oh, yeah. I saw it.” Kill smirked.
Star didn't shoot out of his seat, but he stood with aggression. “Saw what?”
“It's like yours.” Kill waved at my head. “I mean, not exactly like yours, but it's an aura like yours.”
“Yup.” I peered at Star with my other sight. “It's still there. Maybe it goes with him, no matter what form he takes.”
“It's not as strong in this one.”
“Huh.” I peered closer. “You're right. It's just a tad fainter.”
“If you two don't stop that right now and tell me what the fuck you're talking about, I will leave.” Star crossed his arms.
Killian burst out laughing.
Star narrowed his eyes at him.
“That was a little childish,” I said to Star. “Tell me or I'm going home? Really, Cartman?”
“Cartman!” Killian hooted. “Oldie but a goodie.”
“Just tell me!” Star shouted.
“All right, calm down, Mr. Impatient.” Killian held up his hands and waved Star back.
