“No problem.” Maybe.
Lincoln gives me one of those soul-shattering kisses that sets every nerve ending I have on fire. I soak in the moment and sensation. Most of my life is one unpredictable disaster after another. Times like these are rare, and so I value them all the more. The next few hours stretch out before me, filled with intimacy, touch, and delight. As I slide down into Lincoln’s embrace, I decide to enjoy these moments to their fullest.
It’s nearly one o’clock in the morning when Lincoln and I decide to move on from “lust demon time” and return to the whole “how do we get out of this mess” conversation. At this point, Lincoln and I are lying in my bed. Lincoln reclines on his back, his left arm arched behind his head. I snuggle into his right side. My inner lust demon is happy, especially since neither of us is wearing any clothing.
“So, you mucked up their machine guns?” I ask. “What else have you been up to while we’ve been apart?”
“They give faculty here a lot of leeway, so long as you stay on the south side of the island. I checked out the facilities and inspected what demon patrol systems Acca had put in place.” His mouth thins. “This is supposed to be their patrol territory.”
“I’m guessing they did a crap job.”
“They’ve done nothing. There are no protections for the humans out there. There should be charms and perimeters in place to discourage demonic activity. That’s what a decent demon patrol is all about. But here? It’s as if this land wasn’t ever covered by the thrax.”
“So what have they been doing here?”
“That’s the question. It hasn’t been protecting the human populace, that’s for certain.”
My mind turns over this piece of news. “That must be the rumors, or at least some of them.”
“What do you mean?”
“Prescott warned me not to discuss the rumors about the island.
Even if humans can’t see demons, they can sense danger. Some of the more sensitive ones can even catch a glimpse of something. Both Dad and Prescott said the island was rumored to be haunted. Who knows? What humans think of as ghosts could really be demonic activity.”
Lincoln makes slow arcs on my bare arm with his thumb. “You might be right. Some of the other teachers have been discussing the rumors as well. They say the same thing. The place is supposed to be haunted. That’s why the town is emptied out. In fact, I’m surprised they even have that old boatman to take people back and forth.”
“You know Acca better than anyone. Why do you think they’re slacking off on patrol?”
“Demons frighten humans, and scared mortals stay holed up inside, especially at night. Acca has probably been using the fact that no humans are around in order to make it easier to search for the coin.”
All this talk about the deserted town makes me think of Fish Stick Grandpa. “on the boat ride over, I learned something else that you might find interesting.”
“Hmm?”
“Prescott told me that’s an expert in Archangology, and the person who was asked him come work here? The Lady.”
“The same one Desmond and the dyad demons were talking about?”
“It’s a safe bet. Even worse, it all took place about six months ago.”
“Right when you put Armageddon in prison.”
“Which makes sense, right? That’s when the King of Hell really needed a way out, so he started hunting down Lucifer’s coin and Aldred. My guess? Once Armageddon and Aldred made their deal, the pressure was on to actually deliver a coin. Whatever half-assed searching that Acca had been doing needed to be kicked up a notch. I think that’s why Aldred called this mysterious Lady, and she called in Prescott to become headmaster.”
“What else did Prescott say about her?”
“Not much. She’s some kind of benefactor for the school.”
Lincoln sniffs. “She’s a benefactor, but it’s not for the school. Most likely, the Lady is helping Aldred and Armageddon.”
“Agreed.” I stretch a bit. “Must as I’d hate to say this, there’s only one way we’ll get past all this nastiness. Sneak around.” I kiss his bare shoulder. “Tell me you have a way to get us out of here.”
He winks. “I have a way to get us out of here.”
“That’s why I love you, Mister the Prince.”
“And I you.” He kisses me once, gently. “There’s been a lot of strange activity on the North side of the island. My guess? The Acca patrol is hiding out there. Those paths are guarded during the daytime, but it should be fairly easy to sneak in at night.”
“How very, very awesome then that it is nighttime right now.”
“Precisely.” Lincoln’s gaze turns intense. “Before we leave, I need to tell you about the rest of my day.”
“Sure.”
“I spent a lot of time casting charms that will protect your cabin.”