That’s right. When I first saw Cissy, she said she had bad news and really-bad news.
“Oops, I forgot about that part. Spill.”
“You know how Walker had almost found Lucifer’s Orb?”
My stomach sinks to my toes. I don’t like where this is going. “Yeeeeeeeeah. He was digging up a crypt in Lower Purgatory.”
“Well, the Orb wasn’t in the crypt. They finally got it open. There was a coffin inside, but it was empty.”
“Not good.”
“Well, not entirely empty. A riddle was carved inside it.”
“Better. What does it say?”
“No idea. Walker’s trying to figure it out.”
My tail pounds my thigh in frustration. “Does Walker have any idea when he’ll find the Orb?”
Cissy shakes her head. “I’m sorry, Myla.”
“Damn. If we run out of Soul Storage, I don’t have a lot of options. I can’t send these folks to Hell.”
“Hang in there. You’re doing the right thing. Look, I can stall on the announcement of Adair’s investigation. The office of the President is the only group that has to know for now. That’ll keep things quiet from the public, at least for a little while longer.”
“Good idea. With any luck, we keep this under the radar until the Orb is history.”
Cissy wraps her arm around my shoulder. “Besides, Walker’s brilliant. If anyone can find the Orb quickly, he can.” She points towards the door. “Plus, your old station wagon’s already waiting outside.”
“Betsy?”
“None other.”
What a great idea for Cissy to drop off my old wagon. Betsy’s such a piece of crap; no one would suspect the Great Scala would tool around in it. I drive her when I want to go incognito.
“Come on, quasi girl,” says Cissy. “I know you’ve been fixing Ghost Tower emergencies all day. Go kill stuff. You’ll feel better.”
“Thanks.” I grin from ear to ear. “You know what? I definitely will.”
Chapter Three
I pace the dusty floor of an abandoned auto plant in Middle Purgatory. Lincoln’s note was most specific. Any second now, he’ll show up so we can kill us a Durus demon, a metal-loving monster that I’ve never had the fun of skewering before. Nice. After the unpleasantness with Adair at the Ghost Tower, I could sure use the break.
I scan the dimly-lit factory, my senses on high alert for any sign of the Durus. All I find is a huge building whose tiled floor is covered in a maze of winding conveyor belts. Random auto parts are stacked into towering piles. No Durus, though.
Bummer.
A strange noise sounds a few feet behind me: a low half-cough.
Spinning about, I find a familiar outline waiting for me in the shadows. Someone tall with broad shoulders, military bearing, and a mop of loose brown hair. His black body armor has the Rixa eagle crest emblazoned on his chest. Even in the pale light, I can see his mismatched irises: one’s wheat brown, while the other’s slate-gray. Joy bubbles through my chest.
Rushing over, I wrap my arms around Lincoln’s neck, my tail swaying contentedly behind me. He tightens our embrace, his body feeling all warm and firm against mine. I inhale a long breath, catching his yummy scent of forest pine and leather. A deep part of me, some place that always feels lost and empty without him, starts to overflow with his touch and love. I nuzzle my head into his shoulder. “Lincoln.”
“Hello, Myla.” Lincoln leans back and eyes me from head to toe. The intensity of his gaze makes me suddenly self-conscious of how I look in my Scala robes. Curvy figure, full mouth, bright blue eyes and long auburn hair that hangs in waves down my back. He pulls me close once again. “You look lovely.”
“You’re not so bad yourself.” I am a big fan of his black body armor. Yum.
Lincoln rests his left hand against my cheek, his thumb brushing my skin in gentle arcs. “It’s been too long.”
“Another busy week for both of us.”
I rule the quasi-demons of Purgatory while Lincoln does the same with the thrax of Antrum. Our two realms could literally not be father apart, or more complex to manage. We’re lucky if we catch each other for an hour or two each week. And if Walker says he won’t schlep us around anymore with his secret ghoul portals, we won’t even have that. Today’s a rare occurrence, an official visit from Antrum using transfer stations. Normally, it takes days to get all the paperwork and approvals, even for royalty. Demon-related stuff gets special treatment.
“I missed you, too.” I slowly raise my mouth to his. Lincoln’s lips are soft and warm. My body goes tingly all over. I feel like someone who hasn’t breathed easy in ages and then, inhales pure oxygen.
Lincoln presses his forehead to mine. “What’s going on? Cissy’s message said it was urgent.”
There’s a lot to tell, but I’ll hit the most important topic first. “Remember how I thought Walker had almost found Lucifer’s Orb?”
“I remember. Wasn’t he digging up a crypt last week?”