38. Erin
Chapter thirty-eight
Erin
(Earlier that day)
Hey.
Good morning, Miss Snow. To what do I owe the pleasure?
I have a question and potentially a favor to ask you.
Go on, Miss Snow.
I might have a lead, but I need help tracking down a Demon or two. Know anyone who might be able to help?
Miss Snow, I request that if you are asking what I think you are asking, that you do not go wandering after one on your own.
You may have improved your skills in training, but it would be foolish to charge ahead, alone.
I sighed and bit back the snarky remark at the tip of my fingers as I texted Josh that morning.
I wasn’t planning on going alone. I’m not that stupid.
I didn’t say you were, Miss Snow. Simply that it would be foolish. And you don’t strike me as someone foolish. Now, what do you need from me?
Libby is going to be with me but I need you to tag along as well.
And since you seem to have a way about hunting down said Demons, I would greatly appreciate assistance in locating one.
And questioning.
I will assist. However, you must do the questioning. Not me.
Why?
Practice, Miss Snow. You are not the most intimidating individual.
Ugh. Fine. But one more thing.
Yes?
Don’t say anything to Seth. Or Derik.
My lips are sealed, Miss Snow. I am at your service.
Great. Meet us in about twenty or thirty minutes.
If anyone asks, Libby and I are out running errands. Shopping or something. And keep Seth distracted.
He probably fell back asleep and hungover. Just come up with something. See you soon. Thanks.
“Alright, we’ve got coverage. I messaged Josh to help us out.” I dropped my phone back on the table amid our leaning tower of literature.
Libby sipped on her iced coffee as we flipped through history books and an assortment of mythology texts; searching for anything else that might help us on our Demon interrogation, or anything we might be able to pull on Lady Leonora.
Libby tapped her nail on the rim of her cup, her forehead creased. “You sure you don’t want to let Seth in on this, or Derik? They know what they’re doing too, you know. And Seth would do just about anything to help you…” she paused; her eyes bore into me, “to help you out. This involves all of us.”
I sighed. “I know.” I ignored the slip, still not wanting to get my hopes up. In part because why the hell would someone like Seth want someone like me? But also, because of the slim chance of him actually seeing me that way, I wasn’t going to risk that being his downfall, where he throws himself in the way of danger just to protect me. “But that’s part of the problem. I want to keep him out of it. It’s easier. And it’ll keep him from feeling obligated to play hero, be overbearing, and keep me sidelined while he’s risking his ass.” I slouched forward.
“You have a point. Seth does kinda have to be the self-sacrificing guy. He really was cut out for this life, being Nephilim.”
“No kidding.”
I flipped through a few pages in the massive, worn, leather-bound book in front of me. I sent a small prayer to the gods, Angels; anyone who’d listen to give us a hint, a nudge, anything in the right direction.
Libby squeaked. I arched my eyebrow at her in question. “You, uh, you good, there, Lib?”
She pointed at the page in front of her, sucking down the last of her iced coffee. “Here!” I scooted closer, peering over the page. “It says that Lady Leonora had abandoned her family in pursuit of saving her people, saving humanity.” Libby’s eyes twinkled in the dim light of the library, her fingertip tracing the words in front of us.
“Interesting,” I sat back in the hard wooden chair, mulling it over. “You know what I don’t get, why would it be in a history book, versus like mythology or something? Saving humanity and powerful mumbo-jumbo doesn’t really sound like something that Angels or Nephilim would allow to make its way into human textbooks.”
Libby shrugged. “Well, I mean look at all the different legends that have made their way in our historical texts too. Probably under that same scope. What most humans see as myth, in reality is the very truth that reveals our history.”
My phone dinged. I tapped the screen, and a text from Josh popped up.
Seth woke up and is now out the door.
Do you wish for me to pick yourself and Miss Libby up?
“It’s Josh. Sounds like we’re good to go. You ready?”
Libby nodded, snapping a picture of the text before gathering up her pile of books to take to the return cart.
We’re at the library on campus. We’ll be waiting on the curb.
I’ll see you soon, Miss Snow.
I slid my phone into my back pocket and slipped on my padded jacket, having changed into my fighting gear before we left, being sure to hide my dagger within my jacket. My pile of books feeling light as I carried them behind Libby to the return cart.
“Let’s kick this popsicle stand.” Libby giggled as she looped her arm in mine, pulling a snort out of me.
At that moment, I realized just how much she was growing on me. And maybe, just maybe, if we survived this, I might have more than one best friend for the first time in my life.