The Demon's Bargain (A Deal With a Demon #4)(7)

The human stops short. “Jesus, lady, if you’re not going to play, why are you here?”

Because this is the closest portal into the Shadow Market. I ignore them and keep moving through the door and down another hall. It takes three more rooms and three more aborted attempts to startle me before we reach the stairs to the second floor.

Ramanu chuckles. “The poor humans are right. They put so much work into this. The least you could do is give a cute little scream.”

“I don’t give cute little screams.” I check my pace to avoid going up the stairs two at a time. Gods forbid the demon think I’m running from them. “These kinds of places hold nothing for me.”

“I’m beginning to see that.”

No telling what that tone means, so I ignore it. The stairs lead to a hallway with a dozen doors. “Now we’re getting somewhere.” In the distance, screams sound. I pause. Those don’t sound like fun screams. They sound like someone’s being murdered…or maybe stumbled onto a real body. I shrug. Not my problem.

Though usually the fun with humans doesn’t start until they’re through the various portals to their final destinations.

Near the end of the hall, a number shimmers on a door, drawing my attention. Sixty-nine. I roll my eyes. “This way.”

We stop in front of it, and Ramanu lifts their head, inhaling deeply. “I smell blood.”

“Seems like someone got a bit overeager. They’ll figure it out.” I reach for the door. “Or maybe another hellcat will rampage through this place like happened a few decades ago. That was quite the mess, to hear my fathers tell it.”

“You don’t care about the poor, defenseless humans.”

I stop short and glare. Their tone isn’t exactly judgmental, but it’s not neutral, either. “I’m sorry, but you don’t get to take that high and mighty tone with me. Your whole thing is taking advantage of humans by making deals with them.”

“You say we're taking advantage. I say we offer them an escape from a desperate situation.”

“To the tune of seven years.”

Ramanu snorts. “If anything, it’s giving away something they wouldn’t have had to begin with. Seven extra years rather than seven years lost. Beyond that, I’m not a human. You are. You not caring about your people is more eyebrow raising than anything I do.”

I twist the handle on the door. “That’s the thing, Ramanu. If you can sense magic the way you claim, then you’d know most witches aren’t all human. We couldn’t wield magic if we were.” I push the door open and step out of the haunted house into the Shadow Market.





Chapter 4





Ramanu





My little witch isn’t very happy with me, but the onslaught of energy that slaps me in the face the moment we walk through the door nearly makes me forget it. I’ve traveled the length of this realm and several others. Every space feels a bit different, the flavors of magic influenced by the people who reside there.

This place feels like all of them combined.

It sets me back on my heels as my brain and inherent magic try to sort and process all the information. I quickly realize it’s impossible. Every time I almost have a handle on it, the energy shifts as some new person or element is introduced.

Meanwhile, Lenora hasn’t paused to wait for me. She’s moving forward, her energy snapping around her in an almost feral way.

I take half a second to intentionally mute the greater swirls of color and information. If something dangerous or noteworthy happens, I’ll sense it, but this allows me to focus only on what’s directly around me.

We’ve stepped out into an open-air market. This section seems designated for food, because delicious smells weave through the air from the nearby stalls. The witch, of course, marches right past them. I ignore the way my mouth waters and follow her.

People get out of our way. It takes ten steps before Lenora realizes it and spins to face me. Irritation is a burnt orange. “Stop glowering at everyone. You’re making a scene.”

“They’re not scared of me, little witch.”

She pauses, her face appearing in a starburst of light-orange shock and deep forest-green pride. “Yes, well, keep up.” She huffs and surges forward again.

As predicted, people get out of her way. I detect a myriad of paranormals in the area, from vampires to a few I have a hard time putting name to. All in Lenora’s path find somewhere else to be, their energies shifting away from us.

Something akin to pride settles in my chest. My witch is quite the fearsome little thing, isn’t she? Not that she’s particularly little, but compared to me, most people in this place are. They breed them small in the human realm. I’m not particularly tall among my people.

I follow her through the market as the scents change from food to leather and magic. Which is where Lenora stops short and her deep forest green disappears, leaving only the light orange. “Jack. You’re early.”

“I’m not early. You’re late. As always.” The person in front of her is a sunny yellow. I get the impression of short curly hair, an ample body, and a bright grin. Human but flavored similar to Lenora. Witch.

Lenora sighs, the sound almost imperceptible in the greater noise of the market. “Ramanu, this is Jack. They’re a friend.”