“Vampires, and werewolves, and demons, oh my,” I muttered and shook my head, attempting to curb my horrid attempt at humor and focus.
“You’re fortunate they took you out of their boundaries.” Paine’s hand moved from my thigh and wrapped around my fingers. “Normally they keep everyone they find in the compound.”
They meaning werewolves. Jesus.
It was hard to believe that just months ago I was stupid enough to believe that vampires were the biggest, baddest creepy crawlies that existed.
“They didn’t really have a choice.” Rather than moving away from Paine, I accepted the comfort of his touch. Lord knows that I needed it. “They couldn’t exactly keep me around, not with me owing a debt to a demon.”
The entire room went quiet, and Paine went still.
“That’s right, boys and girls,” I continued, peering around at their baffled faces. “I’m indebted to Zagan now, which means I have four days to deliver a message to Disco before my ass is grass.”
“What do you mean, indebted?” Goose took a step forward. “Zagan said he’d sent you forward in time. He said nothing about a debt.”
“It was a trick,” I admitted, furious with myself once again. I’d been so stupid striking the bargain. “Zagan said that he’d sever the debt between him and Disco if I gave him Marigold Vesta’s amulet and delivered a message.”
“A message?” Paine asked softly, stroking my knuckles with his thumb.
“To Disco.”
“You can’t deliver a message to Gabriel.” Goose sounded horrified, and when I turned my attention on him, his face was chalky white. My stomach knotted, my palms going clammy. The look from Goose was an indicator of bad things to come, like a red stain covering the moon, or a black cat crossing your path as you walked down the sidewalk.
“Why not?”
“He crossed over after he passed,” Goose actually croaked, and his hands were visibly twitching. “He’s not in this realm any longer.”
I was a selfish bitch, because even as a part of me was grateful that Disco had passed to the pearly gates of Heaven and not Hell, another part of me realized what was bound to occur. Disco’s debt had officially become mine. Before, when there was a chance I could somehow deliver my message—even to his spirit—I had hope.
That sliver of light was snuffed, taken away until only darkness remained.
“We’ll figure something out,” Paine said, appearing calm although his body language and jerky mannerisms screamed distress.
I knew that he was wrong.
There wasn’t anything to figure out.
Disco was gone, and no amount of necromancy or magic would bring him back. I’d read Goose’s journals and was aware that once a spirit crossed to that blissful haven in the sky, that was it. God didn’t allow dalliances with the mortal realm, not unless you were one of the angels sent to maintain an all-important balance. Besides, Heaven wasn’t like Hell, so why would anyone ever want to leave it?
The answer is they wouldn’t. Not for anyone or anything.
Dread settled in my gut, followed by finality, and eventually, acceptance.
I glanced at the people around me, noting the concern etched all over their faces. They knew what was coming as well as I did.
I owed Zagan a debt, and in four days, he would claim his due.
Chapter Ten
“Goddamn it.” I tossed the heavy tome onto the floor and raked my fingers through my hair. Trying to calm down, I took a deep, fortifying breath.
The enormous grandfather clock chimed from across the room, informing me that the afternoon was officially over. The evening was now in full swing. Twenty-four hours had passed since I’d found Goose, been rescued by Paine, and had learned that demon spawn now controlled a solid portion of the general population. Putting the number of days I had left to find a way to sever my debt to Zagan to three.
AKA seventy-two hours.
AKA four thousand, three hundred and twenty minutes.