Page 63 of Beauty At Stake
“We'll help,” Sullivan said.
“We'll do a sweep of the grounds and then we can help search the house,” Melissa, the Quake Vex, offered.
The hunters and extinguishers went into the house while the vexes split up to search the property, but Killian and I waited near the dock. It wasn't long before the Demons returned. I felt them land, then they appeared, still in Demon form. But that lasted only a few seconds before they realized they could shift back. Unlike the hunters, their clothing had mostly survived their shifts. The fabric was torn, but still there. The damage bothered none of them. None but the Demon King.
Astaroth grimaced at his ruined suit, then cracked his neck. “She got away.”
“What?” I asked. “How?”
“It was all an illusion. We were chasing magic that dispersed as soon as we touched it. She must have gone in another direction.”
“Could you tell if she was part Demon?”
“You mean, could I sense if someone who was part Demon created the illusion?”
I grimaced. “Right. I see the problem.”
“Light-Bringer,” someone said.
I turned to see the six Demons I had freed walk up to us. They bowed to their king, then focused on me.
“Thank you for freeing us,” one man said. “No human has ever summoned us before. We couldn't break her enchantment. It was terrifying.”
“You're welcome,” I said.
“Your Majesty.” The sole female Demon inclined her head at Star. “Please, forgive our disobedience.”
“Someone enchanted you. No forgiveness is necessary. I just need you to answer a few questions for us.”
“Of course. Anything.”
“Do you remember anything about the woman who summoned you—something that might help us identify her?”
The Demons looked at each other.
“What is it?” Star asked.
“She summoned us, and we were immediately under her spell, Sire,” one of them said.
“Yes, but maybe you saw something at the place where they summoned you.” Or perhaps she said something?”
“She only gave us orders.”
The woman said, “Someone summoned me to a storage room, I think. There were metal shelves with boxes on them.”
“Sounds like the place Losuc got summoned to,” Kill said.
Star squinted at Killian's pants, then nodded. “Anything else?”
“No. She ordered me to come here and defend her.”
“Wait.” I stepped closer. “When were you summoned?”
“A few hours ago,” the woman said.
“Is that the same for all of you?” Star asked.
They nodded.
