September Moon (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #8)

“Oh, right,” Falon said, still staring out the window. “That thing has been making noise. I assume your lovers are calling to console you with words of false comfort. How incredibly pointless.”


I fumbled Arys’s phone out of the drawer as it stopped ringing. The missed call was from Kylarai along with at least a dozen texts from both her and Jez. There was just one from Shaz begging me to be careful and reminding me to keep a lid on my temper so I would come home to him safely.

The many messages from my loved ones meant the world to me. But it was the message from Kale that tore my heart in two. It said only: Crazy is easy. Sanity is hard. I have a promise to fulfill. Stay sane.

As much as I hated to do it, I deleted the message. It wouldn’t do to leave it on Arys’s phone for him to find later.

“What does that mean?” Falon asked, having rudely read the message over my shoulder. “That vampire is head over heels for you, huh? He’s either completely mad or unbearably stupid.”

I whirled around, hiding the screen from his view. It unsettled me how he could approach like that. Being unable to sense angels and demons really sucked.

I was fumbling for a witty retort when a noise from outside drew me to the window. It was then that I realized my prison looked out onto the backyard. From the second floor I could see part of the patio with its couches and tables. The pool was also in view. It held my attention, and I stared with mouth agape.

The swimming pool was filled with naked people engaged in a full on orgy. Candles surrounded the pool along with wine bottles and elaborate trays of fine food. From my vantage point it was hard to tell where one body ended and the other began so entwined were the limbs of so many people.

From what I could see almost every one of the seven deadly sins was party activity. A huge table laid out with food and drink catered to the gluttonous needs of creatures who didn’t need to eat to survive.

Wrath was in full swing as several demons engaged in some form of blood sport on the lawn. They were fighting one another, shedding blood and tearing limbs. It was all for the entertainment of the rest. How very demented.

“Demon only? Or human as well?” I asked, hoping unease did not show in my voice.

“Both. Gabriel’s first feed is tonight. He rose at sundown so Shya is going all out.” Falon too seemed to be controlling his tone so I wouldn’t read into it. Somebody wasn’t a fan of Shya’s new little vampire prodigy.

I stared past the pool to the large expanse of yard beyond. A huge pentagram was burning there. The flames were low, a foot high or less, but steady and constant. In the center was a naked, bound, and blindfolded man.

“What if I don’t want to attend this twisted party? I think I’d rather stay in and catch up on some TV.”

Falon chuckled, a sound that filled me with hate. “Get ready. It’s almost midnight. That’s when Gabriel will make his first kill.”

I turned away from the window, unable to wipe the images below from my mind. “Why do you work for him? Really. What do you get out of it?”

“I’ve never openly pledged myself to anybody. You just perceive it that way.” Falon’s expression was a mask of stone. His poker face was impressive.

I considered what he’d just said. He was right. I’d made my own assumptions based on his actions. But I’d learned that nothing ever was as it seemed with demons, and Falon was as dangerous as any demon I’d met so far.

As long as I was in the enemy’s home, I might as well make the most of it. Perhaps I would learn something I could use against Shya later. The demon party below scared the hell out of me. However, despite the dark parts of me, I was a creature of light. I must tread in dark places to make that light shine.

That’s what I told myself as I got ready to walk into the fire. When Falon led me from the room thirty minutes later, I prayed for the strength to face down the demon who dared to use me as a pawn in his vile game.

“I’m sure you’re smart enough not to run,” Falon said, gesturing to the dragon on my forearm. “You won’t get far.”

I followed him down the hall that overlooked the living room and descended the stairs. “Did you just call me smart? Hold on while I file that away. I want to remember it later.”

Falon ignored me. Strutting along with his long trench coat flowing behind him, I could easily forget what he was. His human façade was so convincing at times. No wonder people were so easily misled by these creatures.

The living room was empty. Everyone was outside. As we crossed through to the patio door, my pulse raced. Many of the demons crowded onto the patio couches looked up as we stepped out of the house. They eyed me up with keen intrigue before commenting to one another on my appearance.

“She’s smaller than I expected. Petite.”

“I thought her eyes were blue.”

“Do you think she colors her hair?”

“Only a fool would mess with a Hound of God.”