The fifty-dollar bill I plopped into the front seat abruptly changed his attitude. He grasped the money and started the meter. “Where to?”
My heart was racing, my body trembling uncontrollably. “The Brooklyn Navy Yard.” As he put the car in gear, I told him, “I’ll throw in another fifty if you can get me there within the next five minutes,” and was rewarded by the purr of the motor as he punched the gas, and I was pressed back in my seat.
Chapter Seventeen
By the time I arrived to the warehouse, I had a feeling I’d made it to the party too late. There was this horrible wrenching in my chest, as if my heart was being ripped apart. I didn’t bother thanking the driver as I tossed the promised fifty dollar bill into the front seat and hauled ass out of the vehicle.
I couldn’t find an open door to the building, so I climbed atop a box below a window, broke it with my elbow, and cleared aside the glass until I could get inside. As I entered, I heard voices and realized events were taking place on a floor below.
I flew down the first set of stairs, until I came to another set leading to another floor, followed by another. The voices became louder, as if I were entering an underground fighting ring. Then, I saw them. Disco was on the ground with a metal stake driven through his chest, his hands covering the silver, causing them to blister. Blood pooled beneath him, and from the reflection of his blood, I saw a familiar rippling as Zagan started to appear. Goose had already moved forward, but he stopped when he saw the demon with a satiated smile across its face.
As it stepped from the puddle of blood, outrage—unlike any I’d ever known—overcame me. I listened, furious, as Zagan offered to give Disco a second chance at life.
“I offer you a severance of our debt, Gabriel Trevillian. I can save your life, remove the spike, and all will be well. However, you must forget about and never know what happened to your familiar and lover, Rhiannon Murphy. Or, if you’re inclined, you can die and learn where she is and exactly where she has been sent.”
Before he could form the words that would take him from me, I yelled, “Gabriel Trevillian, your debt to Zagan has been paid.”
All eyes were on me then, but it was Disco’s gaze I sought. He lifted his head, his honey-blond hair stained in the back with red. There was so much pain there, but despite that, there was also a love, relief and acceptance so dear I had to hold back the strong urge to cry.
“Rhiannon Murphy!” Zagan seethed.
I continued down the stairs to face the demon, prepared to send it to where it belonged. “The price of the bargain between you and Gabriel Trevillian has been paid. Go back from where you came. You are no longer welcome or wanted here.”
“You cannot command me, bitch!” Yet even as Zagan screeched the words, it began to dissolve back into the mirror. The moment it realized it was beaten, Zagan snarled, “This isn’t over. I’ll come back. When I do, I will own you.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered loudly enough that it could hear. “I’ve heard that one before.”
Joseph stepped forward again, as if he intended to end what he started, and I reached for the amulet over my heart, whispered the incantation to bring it to life, and literally soared down the last few feet.
“Don’t move, any of you!” I shouted, fortified by the amulet. “Stay exactly where you are.”
Everyone froze, with the exception of Goose and Sonja, who peered around, stunned and amazed. I quickly started assessing the room, looking for and finding the only person who shuffled his feet—the half-demon Graham Tavish—Victoria’s damned half-brother and the creator of this entire mess. He looked a lot like his sister, with striking black hair and green eyes.