A Darker Past (The Darker Agency #2)(10)

And boom. I blinked and found myself transported outside, standing across the river in front of Valefar’s building. I thought about barging back in to try to get more information but decided the best course of action at this point was to leave it be. Maybe Dad knew about this alleged rule breaking so I didn’t have to actually touch that book.

I started walking. It was funny. You had to be able to shadow to get to the Shadow Realm, but you couldn’t use the ability while you were here. I’d never seen a vehicle of any kind, so unless I was missing something, everyone had to hoof it from place to place.

Dad’s building was about a mile away from Valefar’s. A small, unlabeled place. Each demon Master in the Shadow Realm had a cover business located somewhere in the mortal realm. Valefar’s—Value Far Insurance—was just outside the Ledges, the ritzy part of Penance, and dealt in desperation. I only knew this because he’d told me. In excruciating detail. The guy loved the sound of his own voice.

Each demon had a specialty. I didn’t know what Dad’s job was because he didn’t like talking about it with Mom and me. Though, I could totally see him rocking the lock pick gig. As a Shadow demon, it would have been ironic.

“Would you like to cross the river, little demon?” a voice drawled to my right. Accented with the slightest hint of southern twang, it sent icy chills skittering up and down my spine.

“Yes,” I said, without turning to look at him. Kheron was the Shadow Realm version of the ferryman—AKA the real version. The first time I’d come here, I’d paid to cross the river with a strand of my hair. Hair that Valefar later used to bind me to him. Just like everyone else, I had my stupid moments.

Thankfully, since I worked for Valefar, I didn’t need to pay the creepy piper to cross, but that didn’t mean Kheron didn’t freak me out. He looked normal. Cute, even—if you were into the deranged-looking type—but there was just something about him that sent the goose bumps jumping up across my skin. Maybe it was the way he stared, without ever blinking, or the way he stood so completely still.

The black river began to bubble and spit, and after a moment, a narrow concrete pathway rose to the surface. “A pleasure as always,” Kheron called as I started across.

I didn’t look back. Moments of clarity had revealed that Kheron was really a skinless, eyeless skeleton in tattered robes made of what looked like human skin. The less I saw of that freak show, the better.

I didn’t know how long it actually took to cross the river, but I lost count at four thousand steps.

Everything in the Shadow Realm was an illusion. The path across the river that looked to be about eight feet long was really more like a mile. Breathtaking foliage could literally take your breath—and pulse—away. Even the buildings were a sham. At first glance, they were normal brick and mortar. Every once in a while, though, the true nature of the place would shine through. I hadn’t made many trips here, but each time I did, there were more and more moments of clarity. I wondered how long it’d be before the illusion was gone altogether. A chill rippled through me. All I’d be left with was an entire realm of nightmare creepies.

By the time I got to the other side, I was sure I’d worn through the soles of my sneakers. I pushed through the door and stepped into the lobby of Dad’s building, surprised to see how empty the place still was. It’d been three months since Valefar had granted him freedom, and there was only a small, single desk at the far end of the room and three ordinary-looking blue folding chairs along the wall to the right. I made a mental note to get him a plant. Maybe a Venus flytrap. He’d appreciate the humor.

“Jessie,” Dad barked in surprise. He emerged from the door across from me with an armload of papers. “What are you doing here?”

“I was summoned.”

“By Valefar?”

I grinned. “Actually, it was Bert and Ernie, but I did stop to see good ole Val on the way over. He says hey.”

Dad’s face remained impassive. He didn’t appreciate my particular brand of humor as much as Mom did—especially where the Shadow Realm was concerned. And by the look in his eyes, he was trying to figure out the fastest way to get me out of here.

Until recently, he’d played only a minor part in my life. It was agreed—by him and Mom, I hadn’t gotten a say—that he would keep a safe distance and let me grow up far away from all the danger and drama that came with being a Shadow demon’s daughter. Because the agency was such a cushy gig, right?

Now, though? He was free to be the dad he’d always wanted, and wouldn’t you know, he was the seriously overprotective type.

“You shouldn’t be here, Jessie.”

Even though he was finally able to take an active part in my life, Dad still didn’t want me involved in this particular aspect of his. Funny, considering I was working for his old boss. Sometimes I was convinced he and Mom chose to block things out.

I rolled my eyes and leaned against the door frame. “I know you don’t want me here, but I was wondering if we could talk for a second?”

I could tell he was torn, and for a minute I was sure he’d send me on my way. Bouncing back and forth between wanting to be the there for you dad and the protective one. He sighed. “What’s going on?”

“So, I just went on my first collection for Valefar. I followed the directions he gave me—which were annoyingly vague. Now he’s saying I broke some kind of rule? Well, a few of them, actually.” I grabbed the edge of my jacket and gave the side with the book a wiggle. The material flopped down and a corner of the grotesque thing poked out just in time for a moment of clarity. A clump of thick red gel oozed from the top, and I choked back the bagel I’d eaten earlier. “I’d rather not have to go through this creepy thing to figure out what it is I did wrong.”