Blood of the Demon (The Silver Legacy Book 3) (27 page)

“It was our pleasure, but now we must go. Do not tarry long here in New Orleans. There is still much against you here. It is not safe for you in New Orleans, and those you believe to be on your side may very well turn out to be your greatest enemy.”

“I understand. I do, and I’ll take care of those who stand in the shadows.”

“Then we will take our leave. As long as she is your witch, you have a friend in us.”

As the witch started away, she stopped and turned. “You have a good heart, Hunter. You deserve much goodness in this life. There is one answer you seek that is being held in the mist of deception. Do not trust so easily and do not distrust your demon so often. It rears its head wickedly at any perceived threat to you. Heed its caution and the mist will part to reveal that truth.”

Denny watched her walk away knowing further questions would be a waste of time. Witches were like that.

***

“Y
ou can’t take those Dybbuks on alone, Silver.”

It was nine the next morning and Denny sat on the edge of Annalee’s bed. She was pale, had dark circles under her eyes and looked like shit on a cracker.

“If you could see you through my eyes, you’d know that you are truly out of the game, pal.”

“How bad do I look?”

“Umm. You don’t want to know.”

“Shit, Silver. Lie to me next time. For crying out loud, what kinda friend are you, anyway?”

Denny grinned. “The kind who pulled your ass from the hands of many, many demons who would eat your tiny feet and head like a chocolate Easter bunny.”

“Well, booyah for you. I’d give you a medal, but it’s bronze and you’re a Silver.” Annalee laughed so hard, Denny turned to Valeria.

“Drugged?”

Valeria nodded. “Ho yeah. She was in a great deal pain last night, so we gave her something to ease it. That shoulder wound had some sort of poison in it.”

“But she’s okay?”

“She’ll be fine. I was able to extract most of it.”

“Fine? I’m great. I’m top o’ the mornin’ to you, Sliver.”

Valeria moved Denny away from the bed. “I know you need help with the Dybbuks, but she’s out of commission for at least a week, depending on how quickly her Hanta heals, and Peyton isn’t much better. Can’t you wait?”

“That’s no good. They could be long gone by then. I thought for sure they would have been protecting the source. I’m a little surprised not one was nearby.”

“Maybe they were warned.”

Denny looked at her. “You think there’s a ring leader of sorts?”

Valeria tilted her head. “Don’t you?”

“I think I need to get to those five boys tonight, if not sooner. Those Dybbuks aren’t just dangerous...I believe they have a plan in place to finish the job of taking Peyton out. My Hanta seems on high alert, and I’m guessing they’re the reason.”

Valeria nodded. “Tonight then?”

“If I can get some help, yeah. I don’t know that I can pull them out without help.”

“You need a hunter.”

“Annalee is out. Peyton?”

Valeria shook her head. “When you threw her from the rift, she hit her head pretty hard. Well, there’s that and the sheer exhaustion of having her Hanta force fed to her.”

Denny moved closer. “Is she...okay?”

“I don’t really know. I don’t imagine having a Hanta Raya shoved into you is a pleasant experience.”

“Anything I can do?”

“There’s nothing you can do right now except stay healthy and focused. Iris is with her downstairs on the couch. Your witch is doing everything she can to heal her, but Peyton Farquar won’t be an option for you, I’m afraid.”

Denny’s legs felt like wet noodles. “What aren’t you telling me, Valeria?”

Valeria moved further from Annalee’s bed. “Golden, when we got to her outside the rift, she was barely conscious, with bruises on her neck. When I reached her, she opened her eyes, her very red eyes and whispered, ‘It’s not happy...let the games begin.’ Then she passed out.”

Denny was already moving down the stairs. “Games? What is she talking about?”

“What else? The battle for her soul.”

Denny stopped before the bottom stair. “Is that battle going on now?”

“It is.”

Denny continued down the stairs until she was next to Iris.

“It rages on inside her...the fight for her soul begins anew. When Peyton wakes, she will either be the hunter, or completely possessed. We won’t know until she comes to.”

“So now we just wait?”

“There is little else for us to do, hunter.”

“Except fulfill my part of the deal with Hélène and get to those boys before they try to help the Hanta finish Peyton off.”

Iris grabbed Denny’s arm. “You can’t take them on alone.”

Denny nodded. “I won’t. I promise.” Kneeling next to the couch, Denny held Peyton’s hand. She looked even more fragile than before. “Listen to me, Peyton Farquar. You’re tougher than this. Stronger than this. Smarter than this. Don’t you dare give in to your Hanta. I didn’t come all this way and spill so much demon blood to have you fumble the ball on the one yard line. So, pull yourself together, you hear me?” Denny patted Peyton’s hand. “You’re not alone, Farquar. You remember that.”

Rising, Denny looked outside at the early morning sunlight before jamming the Sig Sauer in the back of her pants. As she zipped up her vest, her phone rang.

She answered it, listened, and then said she would be there in fifteen minutes. Then she deposited the phone back in her pocket. “That was Wynn Devereaux. I think he might be willing to help me with the Dybbuks.”

“You have a wonderful heart, Golden,” Valeria said softly. “So much like your mother in so many ways.”

Denny barely smiled. “When this is behind us, V, you and I are gonna have that long overdue chat about my mother’s condition...among other things.”

“Yes, we will, but there are certain...subjects I gave her my word I would not––”

“Well, un-give it. I can either waste precious time trying to find out what I have to fear from my father’s family, or find a way to release my mother from her torment. I have a feeling you’d rather I not attempt the latter.” Denny then looked at Iris. “Stay with Peyton. Heal her as much as you can.”

“What about Annalee?”

Shaking her head, Denny started for the door. “She’s not in any danger. Peyton needs you more. I fear the Dybbuks will return for her.”

“And you, DH? Where are you off to?”

“I’m going to see what Wynn Devereaux wants. Once daylight is gone, there is nothing to prevent the five Vodouisants from opening another rift. With or without help, I must stop them before that happens.”

Iris walked Denny out to her car. “You were amazing last night, DH. You need to know that no matter what jerk offs like Peyton say you are no rookie. You are the real deal.”

“Thanks. Stay safe, little witch.”

“You, too, big ass demon hunter.”

As Denny got the in the car, she pulled the visor down and was only slightly surprised to see a pair of red eyes glowing back at her.

Her Hanta was ready.

***

W
ynn Devereaux peeked through the curtains before answering his front door. “Miss Silver! You did it! There is a hum in the supernatural world about you saving the great Peyton Farquar and getting the rift closed!”

“She’s not out of the woods yet, Wynn. When you called you said you might be willing to help me tonight. I could sure use an extra pair of hunting hands.”

Wynn stepped out onto a porch whose white paint was peeling to reveal a once gray door. “Yes, yes, of course, but first, I have to apologize for my behavior.”

“None necessary. You can make it up to me now.”

“Absolutely. What can I do?”

Denny explained the need to find the five boys today. “All of this will have been for naught if they open another source. Surely you must have otherworldly connections that can track down five possessed Vodouisants youths. I know they are in town. My Hanta has its ears perked up.”

“I believe I can be of some help there, Miss Silver. I’m certain my sources can locate them for you.”

“That would be outstanding. I don’t relish the thought of trying to locate them one by one, but that could very well be the case.”

“Oh heavens, no. Now that they have the incantation down, it will be a snap for them to open another rift. You are correct in making haste over this.”

“I need a bead. You have my number. Call me if you find anything out. If I need more help than that, I’ll be sure to let you know.”

“I definitely will. Where are you off to?”

“A coven. I need to protect two witches and two demon hunters and I am running out of resources.”

When she got into her car, Denny started to wave goodbye to Wynn, when the hackles on the back of her neck tingled.
What are you about, Wynn Devereaux that my Hanta is getting fidgety?

She called Ames. There was no answer, so she left a message and then called Lauren.

“Damn you, Den, what about
check-in to make sure we know you’re safe
don’t you get? I swung by your house and Rush practically tackled me. Are you okay?”

“Sorry. It’s a mess here. A hot, sordid mess.”

“Which translates to this is an ‘information needed’ call.”

“Am I that transparent?”

“To me. What do you need?”

“I need to fill in the back story on one Wynn Devereaux here in NOLA.”

“D-E-V-E-R-E-A-U-X?”

“You’re the smartest one.”

“You could be, too, if you learned how to operate a computer. What is it you want to know, exactly?”

Denny could hear Lauren’s fingers flying across the keyboard. “Family history, local gossip, anything about him or his family.”

“And you want this yesterday, I suppose.”

“Of course.”

“You okay?”

“Yeah. He just seemed to know more than I’d told him. Ames doesn’t know much about him. My demon gets all twitchy whenever he’s near us.”

“Twitchy?”

“Hard to explain. It’s like the Hanta knows something I don’t.”

“You’ll get it. I’ll get right back as soon as I have something. You sure you’re all right?”

“Positive. Would you mind swinging by the house to let Rush know I’ll be home soon?”

“You betcha. Be careful, Den. You sound exhausted.”

“I am. It’s been grueling and gruesome. I’ll spare you the details. You’d only worry more. Thanks for this.”

“Oh no you don’t, Hunter. You can’t keep––”

“Easy, Jo. I am not here to bust your chops. I need a little info and then I’ll be on my way and you’ll never see me again.”

Jocasta leaned forward. “Info, for you never to return? I like. What can I do for you?”

“I have words to an incantation I heard and I need to know just what they mean.” 

Denny recited the incantation Hélène had used to close the rift.

“That’s as close as I can come to what I heard. Can you give me any idea at all what the spell said?”

Jocasta appeared surprised. “Your accent is all wrong, but I get your meaning.”

“Which is what?”

“It is a transportation spell to move one object elsewhere.”

The Hanta growled within Denny. Her blood ran cold. “Are you certain?”

“Yes. I know my own language. This spell moves or transports something to someplace else. Only a very powerful priestess can do such a spell. Why? What was moved?”

Denny closed her eyes. It wasn’t Wynn Devereaux who had played her after all. It was Hélène. The last person she expected to get in her way.

“Hunter?”

Opening her eyes, Denny inhaled deeply. “How far could she move it?”

“That would depend on its size. If it were large, not far at all.”

“How far is not far?”

Jocasta drummed her fingertips on her chin. “A hundred yards, perhaps. Maybe a little more.”

Denny pinched the bridge of her nose. What was Hélène’s play in all this? Why would she have marked Denny’s face and then turned right around to betray her? What was she after? What in the hell was going on here?

“May I ask why you have been marked? Where were you going that you would need such protection?”

“Enobaria’s.”

Jocasta smiled a tight grin. “And you were told you could not be harmed while wearing the mark?”

“Yeah. Why?”

Jocasta shook her head. “You have been duped. Enobaria’s magic is strongest of all. Her power is so great, she could crush any other Mambo Priestess until her bones turned to dust. That mark might protect you from regular Vodouisants, but will do nothing against the likes of Enobaria. If she had wanted to, she could have easily killed you and dumped your body into the swamp.” Jocasta studied the mark. “Ah yes. This mark...it is not what you think it is. It has its own magical properties.”

Denny felt sick to her stomach, the pieces falling into place. “Which is why she could drug me.”

“Drug you, poison you, feed you to the ’gators...once you got out there, you were at her mercy. Why you are still alive is probably the greater question.”

Denny felt the Hanta become agitated. She’d realized how lucky she was not to have been fed to the ’gators.

“If Enobaria drugged you and did not kill you, then she did not wish you dead, or believe me, you would be. Many have travelled out to see her. Not all have returned.”

“She actually let me see visions to answer some of my questions.”

This seemed to surprise Jocasta the most. “Really? Wow. That is a little stunning. Then she truly does want you alive. Very interesting.”

Denny paced back and forth. “Can you venture a guess as to why Hélène would lead me to believe Enobaria could not hurt me as long as I bore the mark?”

Jocasta sighed. “You do not need
my
answer, hunter. You have it within you. Actually, you have everything you need to move forward. You just need to listen to yourself. You keep looking outward when the answers are within. Trust your instincts. They haven’t failed you yet.”

“I’m not so sure about that now.”

“You know so little about the Vodouisants. You don’t know who to trust or what our ways truly are. It is difficult when you do not know who is telling the truth and who plays you for a pawn. That mark carried with it magic of its own.”

“Magic? What kind?”