Chapter 28
Ishould be dead.
That’s usually what happens when someone’s hit by lightning.
Except I’m perfectly fine. A little energized, perhaps.
My skin tingles and my heart thrums in my chest, but it’s still beating.
It could be from the adrenaline of hitting a demon over the head with a cast-iron skillet.
It’s not as easy to wield as the movies suggest.
I drop the heavy pan and lift my hands in front of my face. “Sparkly. Huh.”
Dimitri screams out my name, anguish and despair wrapping around his words and filling the void between us.
I should tell him I’m okay. I open my mouth to reassure him.
Instead, black clouds swirl around me, then pour down my throat.
Coughs wrack my body, and I double over until I realize I can still breathe.
I straighten and realize Dimitri’s still raging. I can barely make out his shadowy form. Wood splinters as he crashes his way toward me. A chair flies through the air and I duck, though it’s way off to my right.
“Would you knock it the fuck off?” I snap, brushing sparks off my arms. They just reform, creating a web over my entire body.
Dimitri freezes, squinting through the darkness. “Mari?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’re welcome for saving your life. You’ll be a good little demon and take care of the body, right?” I prop my hands on my hips and tilt my head as the smoke clears from the room.
He stumbles toward me, his gaze bouncing around. “You’re…you’re…”
“Electrifying? Why thank you.” I give him my most dazzling smile, but he doesn’t notice.
“You should be dead.”
I pinch my arm and wince. “Nope. Still here. Listen, I would have cast a spell to take him out, but I was afraid of pushing it after using one to open this portal. Is he dead?”
I poke him with my toe, and he groans. My eyes widen and I snatch up the skillet once more. Dimitri rushes forward and grabs my wrist, stopping me from whacking the demon on the head again.
“They’ll need Ludo at least a bit coherent, spitfire. I appreciate you saving me, though.” He grins as he takes the pan and drops it on Ludo’s head anyway.
He cups my cheeks, and he kisses me lightly. It shouldn’t be enough for my body to light up like a freaking Christmas tree, but damn if it doesn’t.
“You look beautiful filled with—”
“If you say cum, I’m going to whack you with that thing,” I grumble, and he chuckles.
“My magic. Filled with my magic, spitfire.”
“Same difference.”
He kisses me again, and my eyes flutter closed. I don’t know why his magic didn’t take me out, but I’d rather not question it. Maybe it’s because we slept together or I’m some rare badass witch. I snort and he pulls back, raising an eyebrow.
Pressing my lips together, I shake my head. I’m definitely not explaining. He’d agree I’m the least badass witch in all the dimensions, and it would hurt my feelings. Then we’d be bickering, and I’d rather not do that right now.
“Fuck,” Dimitri growls and drops his hold on me. He spins to Ludo, still passed out on the floor, then back to me. He grimaces and I grab his shoulders, forcing him to focus on me.
“Explain.”
“Your sister. She’s in the cages. We have to—Ludo…I don’t have time. I can’t do both.”
I nod, glancing down at the magic still skipping its way across my body. “Send me. I’ll get her out. You take care of this, then come get us.”
He’s already shaking his head. “It won’t—”
“It will work. You think I can’t take care of myself?” When he doesn’t answer, I grab the skillet and flames lick along the rim. It takes everything in me not to drop it and pretend this is totally normal.
His mouth flaps as if he’s searching for another argument. I spin around and step toward the portal. Dimitri grabs my wrist, and I glance over my shoulder.
“Can I help you, sir?”
He scowls, though there’s a helplessness in his eyes. “Don’t fuck it up.”
I roll my eyes and tug from his grasp. “See you soon, demon.”
I step through the portal, sending a wish to pop out in the right place to any deities who are listening.
I should have told Dimitri about how I used the book to open this thing.
And the mess his apartment is in when it didn’t work the first six times I tried.
Half the place has burn marks, and his bed looks like I butchered a dozen geese on top of it.
But it worked so he can’t really complain.
At least this time I have some light to show me the way.
A path stretches out before me, the shadowy remnants of an ancient forest rising on each side.
I didn’t hesitate before, letting the purple floating orb guide me.
There’s no orb now, no clear way forward.
Just an empty road with offshoots leading into the dark.
I bite my lip as I walk along, the only indication of my waning confidence.
Mrow.
“Oh thank fuck,” I breathe. “Here, kitty, kitty.”
I click my tongue, though I’m pretty sure that’s for horses.
Either way, the black and white cat with his squished face appears in front of me, and I heave out a heavy sigh.
He licks his paw, then springs around. Should I be trusting a cat to lead me through a barren land in a dimension devoid of almost everything including color?
Maybe not. But this is Hell and nothing makes sense down here.
Actually, nothing made sense at home, either.
Life should have been easier, simpler, better.
Instead, I was thrust into one subtle trauma after another until life dropped a whole host of boring in my lap.
“Whatever you’re doing, karma, I could really use some good vibes sent my way.”
The cat hisses a second before a loud pop rings through the air. A woman with a rainbow dress and bright green hair drops in front of me.
“Hiya there, witch. Ooh, you are a cutie, aren’t you?
So sparkly. That’s a good sign. I can definitely see why he couldn’t let go.
Glad I could help that little problem. Where ya headed?
Whatcha doin’? Can I come with? I need a fucking break.
Seriously, I’m never cursing anyone again.
It’s too much fucking work. Except…if I don’t care about the suffering, I suppose it would be a really good punishment for some asshats who run their mouths. ” She taps her finger on her chin.
“Who—”
She sticks out her hand, then cringes, dropping it to her side. “Karma.”
“Is a bitch?” I blurt out. She scowls, then smirks, and the pieces fall into place. “Oh…oh, you’re…that’s…”
She lets out a short laugh as I point at her. “Glad you could get there. Dimitri’s my brother, and I’m the real Karma. In the flesh. Sort of. Not a bitch.” A contemplative look overtakes her face. “Actually, I am a bitch sometimes, but it’s always deserved. Most of the time. Sometimes not.”
“Wait, what are you doing here?” I ask. “Dimitri could probably use your help.”
“You called. I came. That’s how it works. I ignore the summons half the time, but you’re special.” She boops me on the nose, and the cat hisses again. She hisses right back, then rolls her eyes. She links our arms together and tugs me along. “So, where are we going?”
“Um, to get my sister out of a cage.”
She gives me an impressed look. “Why isn’t Dimitri with you? He’s supposed to…”
“Supposed to what?”
She waves away my question. “Is she in the basement? Or in a realm with a cage?”
“I don’t know,” I mumble.
She waves her hand again, and a swirling vortex opens in front of us. “That’s fine. I can find her. Didn’t realize you two were twins…”
She pulls me into the bright colors, and I squeeze my eyes shut.
A wave of cold washes over me and I shiver.
When it dissipates, I peek out, hoping we’re not in the middle of a volcano or something.
Karma seems a bit flighty, and I doubt she’d realize I wouldn’t survive something like that.
I’m greeted with a large musty room, reminiscent of a warehouse basement.
Most of the cages lining the wall are empty.
When I try to rush toward the darkness, Karma digs her nails into my arm.
“Wouldn’t do that if I were you. Witches go missing in Hell all the time.
It’s why we usually have them escorted or they’re soulbound to someone.
I doubt your sister’s accepted her bond yet.
Probably waiting for you. Sometimes split souls will do that. ”
“Split souls?”
She nods, then grins as she laces our fingers together and skips along. I have no choice but to follow. Even though it’s clear the spaces are empty, I still search them. The farther we travel, the more my heart sinks and the electricity once coursing through my body dims.
We waited too long. Dimitri must have seen Lark last night, thinking it was me.
That’s why he kept asking how I got into his room.
He didn’t think I came from my house—he thought I was in a cage.
And because I was more concerned with myself, I didn’t ask.
I didn’t demand he help me look for her. Sleeping with him was more important.
Guilt crashes into me, and my knees buckle.
My chest tightens, but the tears won’t come.
I cried them all weeks ago, leaving me an empty, selfish shell of a witch.
I cared more about hooking up with a demon than figuring out what happened to Lark.
I don’t even deserve to be here. She deserves someone competent and committed and loyal. Instead, she got me.
Karma’s face swims into view as my vision tunnels.
Her voice calls my name as if she’s miles away.
I should tell her to go, to find Lark, yet the words won’t come.
I shudder and curl into a ball as electricity sparks from me.
If it burns me up from the inside out, I won’t even fight it. It’s an apt punishment.
Strong hands haul me against a hard chest, and I try to shove Dimitri away. I don’t deserve his warmth, his comfort. I fucked up. Over and over again, I fucked up. I let my jealousy override my love for her.
“Marigold, stop. It’s okay. I’ve got you.” He shushes me, holding me tight. Still, I thrash in his grasp. “There’s a note. She left a note.”
My skin turns clammy while I burn and nausea bubbles in my gut. Maybe I’ll puke on him and he’ll leave me be. A note means nothing. A note only says she was here, not where she is. A note does nothing to alleviate the guilt.
“Read it to her, for fuck’s sake,” Karma hisses.
“I’m not invading her privacy, Karma. Why the fuck are you here, anyways? You’re not needed.”
“Well, you weren’t here and someone needed to show her the way. Besides, I wanted to meet the one who fused to your dumbass soul. Why she chose you, I’ll never understand. Maybe I actually like her. You ever think of that?”
“You met her two minutes ago. You can’t figure out if you like someone in that amount of time.”
“How about two months? Hasn’t it been that long since you’ve known her? You should know whether you’re just fucking around or if you’re actually going to keep her.”
“She’s not a fucking pet, Karma. Go bother someone else. Or better yet, make yourself useful and find her fucking sister. It should be easy since they look fucking identical.”
Karma scoffs and her footsteps fade away.
I have no idea whether or not she’s left.
It doesn’t really matter. Neither of them is particularly helpful in this situation.
If they don’t know where Lark went, they’re of no use to me.
The thought sends a pang through my chest, and I curl into myself.
Dimitri cradles me in his lap, whispering words I can’t decipher.
He tucks the note between my hands and urges me over and over to read it.
It’s then I realize how badly I’m shaking.
The paper crumples in my hand as my heartbeat pounds in my head.
I pull in deep, even breaths, willing my body to calm down.
I can’t help Lark if I’m freaking out. Besides, it’s just one more selfish move on my part. Par for the course, I suppose.
“Put me down,” I croak, forcing the words from my raw throat.
He shuffles me onto the cold floor and leans me against the bars of an empty cage. I clutch the note in my hand, Lark’s familiar script on the front spelling out my full name.
Dimitri paces away, then starts arguing with someone—probably Karma.
His harsh words float back to me garbled and indistinct.
When I unfold the paper, the edges curl and ash eats at the corners.
I sit up straighter and scan the words as quickly as I can, then once more.
I barely get to the end when the entire thing crumbles, turning my hands a sooty black.
Dimitri crouches in front of me, though I don’t know how long I’ve sat here, committing her words to memory.
“Where to, spitfire?” he murmurs, his hand reaching out, then flopping to his side before he touches me.
“Nowhere,” I whisper. I thump my head back against the hard metal, relishing the dull pain it causes.
“Is she…Ludo didn’t…”
“She says she’s as safe as she can be, but she doesn’t want me to follow.” My gaze meets his, and my heart cracks. “Take me home, please.”
He nods, then snaps his fingers. His sad smile is the last thing I see before my world goes dark. I carry that image with me all the way home.