Bittersweet Magic (The Order #2)

He still held Maria tight against his side. Her eyes were closed now, and she hadn’t reacted in any way to their conversation. Reaching out, Roz touched Maria’s cheek lightly. Her lashes flickered up, her eyes dead.

Roz could do this. After all, she’d helped Jessica; she could help Maria. Closing her eyes, she searched for the door, and this time she found it easily. Her palm rested on Maria’s forehead, and she sent the power down, like liquid light along the connection between them. For a minute, nothing happened; there was no answering spark from Maria.

Roz pressed her fingers harder into the other woman’s forehead.

“Come on, Maria,” she muttered. “Don’t let the bastard get the better of you. He’s an insignificant piece of shit scum, not worth it.”

Soft laughter drifted up from behind her; at least Andarta found her amusing.

She felt a small flicker of response from Maria and flooded her mind with warmth, sending her power into the other woman’s mind. She could sense the fear and pain, but it was more than that—a deep, dark despair, the loss of everything she had believed in. Had Maria prayed to her God? At what point had she accepted that he wouldn’t save her?

Where had Maria’s God been when she needed him against the demons from Hell? Roz understood how she felt—she’d been there, but it was worse for Maria. The sister had devoted her whole life to that God and in a short time, she had lost everyone and everything she held dear. And now she had lost her faith.

“There are other things to believe in,” Roz whispered. “There is evil in the world, but there are also beings who fight that evil, who keep the world safe.” She thought of Piers but didn’t think he would make a good God substitute for Maria. “You can help others, Maria. Don’t let the bad guys win.”

Maria’s eyes opened, and there was someone home. Halleluiah.

“Welcome back,” Roz murmured.

“Are you telling the truth? Are there people out there, fighting for us?”

“Of course. Now, you two have to get out of here. Go as quickly as you can.”

“We can’t leave you,” Ryan answered.

“You have to get Maria away. She’s still weak, and you can’t help me.” She gave him a smile. “Don’t be so worried. I have a plan and you being here won’t help—they’ll just be able to use you against me, and all this will be wasted.”

He gave her a long look before nodding once.

“Good.” She turned to Maria. “You must go to the Order. Tell Piers what happened. Tell him…” She shook her head. Hopefully, she didn’t have to tell him anything else. He would know. Soon both she and the Key would be destroyed.

She hoped he felt guilty for spoiling her last night alive. He should, the bastard.

Lowering her arm, she stepped back. “Go.”

Maria paused as she passed and kissed her on the forehead. “Thank you—you’re a good person, whatever you may think.”

“Yeah, yeah.” But she couldn’t prevent a small smile creeping over her face.

Ryan hugged her. “Keep safe.”

She watched as they hurried away along the embankment, then closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. Turning, she surveyed the small group. On to phase two.

Ryan and Maria needed a few more minutes to get clear of the area. She shoved her hands in her pockets, tried to appear cool, and strolled over to where Andarta stood beside Jack. The lesser demons formed a semi-circle around them, but as she drew closer, they shifted to form a ring, which circled her inside them.

She halted just in front of Andarta and looked up. Why the hell was everyone taller than she was? “I want in,” she said.

“In?”

“To be part of what you’re doing. I want a place in your new world.”

“And why would we want you?”

“You saw a little of what I can do, and I’m also a Seeker. I can be of help to you.”

“Hmm, you have power, that’s true. You healed those two with no effort whatsoever. But the problem is, I don’t trust you. I don’t understand you—why give over something as valuable as the Key for a couple of humans who’ll be dead in a few years anyway?”

She shrugged. “I’m loyal to my friends. I could be a good friend.”

“And you seek to be friends with me? Why?”

“I need your help.”

“In doing what?”

Roz unbuttoned her shirt and slipped it down off her shoulder to reveal the sigil wrapped around her upper arm. “I’m enslaved to a demon, and I’d prefer to be free.”

Andarta pursed her lips. “A powerful demon, but I think we can get rid of that with a little effort. Now show me the Key.”

Roz reached into her pocket. She peered over her shoulder; Maria and Ryan had vanished. They’d be safe by now.

Phase three.

The part she really wasn’t looking forward to.

…

“Well, we can be pretty sure she’s somewhere close by,” Christian said.