Kelly Gay - The Better Part of Darkness

I ignored that last comment. “How would you know?”

“Abaddon bitches are brutal. If she didn’t rip your kid’s head off for biting her, that means she was ordered not to. Simple deduction.”

A tiny kernel of hope sprouted in my heart. I nodded without looking at Rex, and we drove for several minutes in silence.

Will had sold his soul because he thought he didn’t have a chance with me. I wanted to scream. Same old Will. There might have been a chance for us in the future, but it had been too soon. He was always so impatient, always so ready to turn to otherworldly means. The betrayal and guilt nestled deep in my gut like burning sulfur.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Rex said suddenly. “You can’t bring him back.”

“Oh, Rex.” I shot him a candid look. “There are always loopholes. You more than anyone should know that.”

I’d dealt with a few spirits from the demon family tree before: Revenants, and their evil cousins, Wraiths. But I was far from an expert. The one thing I did know: nothing was permanent except death, and even that could be overcome. I was a perfect example of that.

“Yeah,” he said, sounding unconvinced. “Good luck with that.”

I shot him a cynical smile and then focused on the road.

“Where are we going?”

“You know how to use a gun?”

“No.”

I tossed him my Nitro-gun. I had a backup in the waistband of the jeans. “Well, you better figure it out because we’re going to Abaddon headquarters.”

I dialed Hank’s number repeatedly and still got no answer while Rex studied every inch of Will’s face in the visor mirror, making muttered comments here and there, but overall pleased with his new appearance. When he lifted the waistbands of Will’s khakis and boxers and took a look at the equipment, I’d had enough and swatted him hard on the arm.

“Ow!” He rubbed the spot. “You didn’t have to hit me.”

“Just shut up and sit still.”

My thumbs tapped on the steering wheel, my whole body revved and ready to blow. CPP headquarters was housed in a mid-sized glass office building in Five Points, not far from the deli where Hank had picked me up earlier.

When this was all over I was going to sleep for at least a week. In the last two days I’d been beaten, shot at, possibly seen enough naked men to last a lifetime, been beaten again, and torn two of Bryn’s outfits. And now my worst fears had come to pass. My family was in jeopardy. My insane ex-husband had sold his body and soul. And my little girl was gone.

As I drove the car into the underground parking deck below the office building, my heart rate kicked into overdrive. The guard at the gate stopped us, but flashing my badge was all it took to get us in.

Once parked, Rex and I headed to the elevator. Our steps echoed loudly in the vast concrete emptiness. The extra ammo rubbed against my ankle bone, but it only fueled my focus and rage, which I considered good things at the moment.

In the elevator, we were treated to an orchestral version of Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long.” Yeah, I thought, it’s going to be another long-ass night, indeed.

“She’s going to be fine, you know,” Rex assured me, his shoulder brushing against mine.

“Shut up and don’t talk about her.” I stepped forward as the elevator dinged and the doors slid open.

Gun drawn, I marched straight down the hallway, passing large glass-fronted rooms on either side where day workers folded flyers and answered phones. Farther down, the glass ended and a few office doors lined the hallway. At the end, a light spilled underneath one of the doors. Someone was working after hours.

Who needed to use the knob when kicking the damn door felt so much better?

Releasing my frustration, and without halting my stride, I kicked out. The door flew back on its hinges and knocked a hole in the drywall behind it. My gun pointed chest level, straight ahead, I continued into the room without missing a beat.

Otorius jumped up from his leather chair, pants down and penis bouncing. The horror on his face deepened to a scarlet red as he fumbled to cover himself. A human female’s head appeared, turning to look curiously over the top of the polished desk as Otorius cursed in Charbydon and grabbed the waistband of his boxers and pants.

“Put your hands up,” I commanded. God, I was going to be evil, but I couldn’t help myself. Much like the jinn, when I saw an opportunity, I took it.

His hands stilled.

“Put your hands up … now .”

My innuendo was clear. Promising revenge in his coal-black eyes, he dropped his boxers and pants and then lifted his arms. I slid my gaze to the package dangling semi-limp and pink between his legs, and let out a disappointed sigh. “Not very impressive.” I’d always wondered about the sex of off-worlders. But his was pretty much the same as an average human male’s, except Otorius wasn’t circumcised, which made sense.

The female, an intern by the look and age of her, slowly slid her purse off the desk and held it to her chest like a shield. She wore a preppy pink button-down shirt, tight jeans, and her brown hair pulled back with a barrette. “Um, I guess I should be going now.” She edged around the desk; face pale, eyes wide, and so freaking young it made me wince.

“Sorry, sweetheart, you’re not going anywhere. Rex?”

“Yeah,” he said from just beyond my right shoulder.

“Find something to tie her with and then put her in a closet in one of the main rooms. Don’t worry,” I told her, “someone will find you in the morning.”

Her lips trembled, and she started to cry as Rex took her arm. I didn’t feel bad at all. In fact, I was helping her to figure out the important things in life, and sucking Abaddon dick wasn’t one of them. She could thank me later.

Once we were alone, Otorius spat out, “I can’t wait to watch you die, brougá. ”

“Oh, enough with the brougá already. Move around the desk.”

I stepped back. Had I not been pissed beyond belief, seeing him shuffling around the desk with his pants around his ankles, his hairy white legs a stark contrast to his black slacks and shiny dress shoes, would’ve been laughable. But as it was, I was ready to kill him.

Leaning my hip on a nearby accent table, I held his fuming stare for a moment. “I’m going to be very clear on what I’m about to say.” I spoke slowly and with enough conviction that he nodded. “Tell me where my daughter is, and your penis stays intact.”

Simple and effective.

Pale dots appeared on his face, slowly replacing the red until he was covered in an ashen pallor. “I don’t know where she is.”

“Do you know what this is, Otorius?” I asked, motioning toward the gun. “It’s a Nitro-gun. It freezes things. Freezes them so badly, they can shatter into a million … little … pieces.”

Rex groaned behind me, and I glanced over to see him moving his hand protectively in front of his—Will’s—crotch. “Damn, that’s brutal. God,” he groaned again, “it hurts just thinking about it. And I thought Abaddon bitches were cruel.”

I gave him a droll look and then turned my attention back to Otorius. “Well?”

“Goddammit, Madigan, I don’t know where your fucking daughter is!” he barked, panic making his voice tremble. His hands dropped a fraction. He wanted nothing more than to cover himself, to protect himself. In an act of defiance and desperate instinct, he did it anyway.

And I fired.

Rex and Otorius screamed at the same time. The beam shot out and froze both of Otorius’s hands. He leapt around the room, screaming in pain, unable to separate one hand from the other and nearly tripping over his trapped ankles.