“Sounds like your problem. I don’t give a damn about your school. The only thing I care about is Eva being safe and available. If anything happens to jeopardize that, we’ll leave. Vanish into the night or something similarly poetic.”
Wayne frowned as he glanced over Devon. “You’re not her father. What is she to you?”
“A research subject.”
“That’s it?” Wayne asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Entirely.”
His frown deepened. Not a single protective emotion? The man’s face didn’t betray anything. “What is the nature of the research?”
“You’re not stealing my notes that easily.”
“It involves demons?”
“Possibly.”
Of course it does, Wayne thought. The self-proclaimed demonologist would have proclaimed himself something else if he was researching anything that didn’t involve demons.
“What’s the nature of her relationship with Arachne.”
Devon merely shrugged. “Lovers. Best friends. Bitter enemies bound together by a contract. Who knows? It is unrelated.”
Wayne hadn’t seen too much interaction, but didn’t get the impression that they were enemies. Just while they were arguing whether or not to take Arachne back to Brakket, Wayne noticed a certain closeness to them. Arachne stood over Eva–almost fawned over her–in a very protective manner.
But unrelated to his research?
Unless he was lying.
Perhaps some demon-human relationship experiment if that was the case.
“You mentioned before–”
A hurried knock at the door interrupted Wayne. Tom entered while still knocking.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, but several more of those nuns arrived. I didn’t get the impression that they came for relaxation and amazing drinks.”
“That’s my cue to leave,” Devon said as he stood up. “Ylva–well, whatever. I think I’d sleep better if you didn’t survive.” He started towards the door before pausing. “You got a back way outta here?”
“Yeah, straight down the hall. Last door leads to the alley.”
“Mr. Lurching was it? Perhaps next time a meeting place in a more discrete locale? Or not at all. I’d be happier with the latter.”
Before Wayne could respond, he stepped into the hallway and disappeared. Actually vanished. The sound of a door opening and slamming shut echoed down the hall a moment later.
Throughout the commotion, Ylva did not move a muscle save to casually sip at her drink.
“You’re not concerned?”
“Extensive knowledge on the magics used by the Elysium Order is within Our expertise. They will find themselves unable to harm Us.” She lifted her glass slightly. “We will finish Our drink prior to retiring. If you wish to depart, We will not take offense.”
“Right.” Wayne wasn’t too keen on being caught in the presence of a demon. Not when he could be hurt by them, as his mildly aching legs reminded him. “Tom, always a pleasure. I hope I haven’t caused you too much trouble.”
“Not at all. Everything on your tab then?” He asked with a nod towards Ylva.
“That will be fine.” Wayne pulled out his wand and, with a flick of his wrist, vanished from the room.
The walls fell away into a white void before rebuilding in the form of his bedroom.
He entertained the thought of visiting Zoe. She needed to know about the bloodstones at some point.
The glowing face of the clock stopped him. It was already an hour past midnight. He doubted she would be awake at this hour. Not when she had class in the morning.
No. It could wait. There was more to investigate as well. Perhaps Wayne would even question Spencer on the matter.
He cursed to himself as he realized that he forgot to ask about the pillar.
— — —
Arachne clung to the ceiling as that nurse walked into the room to poke and prod and ensure Eva was still in bed.
Foolish nurse. As if she had any power over Eva.
The nurse pulled out a potion. With no small amount of arguing, she finally got Eva to drink it.
Arachne’s fangs quivered when the nurse walked beneath her. All it would take was one scrape and a little venom would have her never touching her Eva again. She would never see it coming–humans never looked up.
No. Eva would be angry with me again. Arachne only just got her punishment revoked. She had to restrain herself. Not to mention that they’d almost assuredly be found out. Fleeing Brakket would not make Eva happy.
Even if that would be the best course of action.
Her anxiety had Arachne even more on edge than normal.
The moment the nurse shut the door behind her, Arachne dropped off the ceiling. She reverted to her humanoid form before her feet clicked against the ground.
“We can’t stay here,” Arachne said. She paced back and forth in front of the bed. “I can sense that pillar. Almost smell him. He is too close to relax.”
“I’m being released tomorrow morning unless she finds some reason to keep me here. We can go back to the prison, if you want.”
“Yes. And we’ll stay there. You don’t need school. You got along just fine without it.”
“No. We’ll be coming back. Maybe we could spend evenings and weekends away.” She did not look excited about the prospect. Before Arachne could protest, Eva said, “everything I learn is a new weapon for me. Thaumaturgy is great. Or will be one day. I can cast it without any focus or bloodstone. Or anything at all except my own body. It is a weapon that cannot be taken from me.”
“By that logic, we should be training up your body. That can’t be taken either.”
Eva’s face took on a look of horror before she vehemently shook her head. “I think I’m getting enough of that in Franklin Kines’ combat club.”
Arachne frowned. “You don’t need that club. I’ll train you. You don’t need school either. I promise not to complain when I read you books.”
“Is this pillar really that bad?”
“He’s strong. Very strong. Maybe one of the top twenty of the seventy-two. I don’t want to do anything that might lead to fighting him.” Arachne sat down on Eva’s bed and looked the girl right where her eyes should be. “That includes staying here. He may take offense at my presence.”
“He can sense you?”
“Undoubtedly.” Arachne paused and tilted her head to one side. “Though, there is another demon wandering around town that wasn’t here in November.”
“Another pillar?”
Arachne laughed. “Oh no. No, no, no. This one is weak enough that I could decimate it with my limbs blown off.”
Eva let out a small huff. “You were possessed,” she mumbled under her breath.
Waving her master off, Arachne continued. “If I had to guess, this demon is of the succubi family. It smells of lust. Very low on the succubi totem pole, though.”
“Working together with the pillar?”
“Can’t tell. If so, likely beaten into submission. Also not a fate I desire for either of us.”
“No,” Eva said with a shake of her head. “I don’t envy that.”
“See? We should leave. I’ll grab your things so we can go without delay.” Arachne jumped to her feet and started towards the door.
A claw gripped tight around Arachne’s wrist. It tugged hard enough that Arachne almost lost her balance and fell into bed with Eva.
Curse my amazing reflexes.
“We’re not running away. Even if we were going to, I can’t just leave Juliana and Zoe.”
“Oh, I’d be happy to tie up loose ends for you. While we’re at it, why don’t we add the rest of those humans you associate with to the list?”
“Arachne,” Eva said in that tone.
It sent all the right shivers up her exoskeleton.
“I know,” Arachne said with all the obvious reluctance she could muster. “You are getting too attached to all these humans who are going to be dead in a century or so. They’re not worth concerning yourself over.”