Slayer (Slayer 1)

Sean’s smile gets slicker, sharper. “That’s right. There might not be magic in the world, but I’ve got the best of what’s left. You missed my big pitch, Artemis. You’d be amazed what I can do with a dash of demon and a pinch of medical science. We can change the world.”

A demon outside the office moans in pain, the sound haunting and lonely. “I don’t really like your style,” I say. Sean looks hurt, his fingers drifting to his ponytail. I roll my eyes. “Not really a fan of that, either, but I meant this whole demon-captivity thing you’ve got going on.”

“You kill them. How is what I do worse?”

“I don’t know. It just is.” I rub my face, remembering Cosmina. Remembering how brutal she was, how determined to work alone. And how alone she was at the end. We’re supposed

to kill demons. She was good at it. And now she’s dead.

How has Buffy survived this long?

Sean stands. “All I want is Doug back. We’ll do a trade. You bring me my happy demon, I’ll figure out who killed Cosmina and your Watcher fellow. We’ll all come out ahead.” He sweeps his arm toward the door. “Forgive me if I don’t escort you out. And please, next time you drop by, call. No destruction necessary.”

“You know where to find me,” Honora says. I bristle, thinking it’s a threat. But she’s not looking at me. She’s looking at Artemis, and there’s no threat in her eyes.

There’s only promise.

• • •

Sean’s true to his word. No one stops us as we leave. I try not to look at the pathetic demons as we pass them, but they’re seared onto my brain.

Back in the car, Leo guides us smoothly to the road that will take us to Shancoom. “So,” I say, because no one else is, “I was right.”

“Can you not,” Artemis says.

“Why not?”

“Just let me think!”

“Think out loud. Honora has new employment. No wonder Sean has done so well! He has a Watcher on his side. How could she take the generations of knowledge and training she’s been entrusted with and use them to help someone like him?”

“Nina,” Artemis snaps.

“Too many bodies led us to Sean and whatever he’s running here. We have to tell the Council about Honora.”

“Why?” Artemis asks.

“Umm, because she’s working with the demon underworld? And she’s also got some kind of superstrength that’s not normal.”

“Look, I get it, she’s doing some messed-up stuff. You were right. Fine. But you had no problem keeping secrets before. I want to give her a chance to explain herself.”

I twist in the passenger seat so I’m facing her. “Did you miss the part where she could have done that, but instead she held a knife under my chin?”

“Everyone was being confrontational!” Artemis pauses, taking a deep breath. “She shouldn’t have done that. I know. I really do, Nina. Honora can be impulsive and defensive. You don’t know what she went through growing up. There’s a reason she doesn’t trust the Watchers. Why she would choose to work for someone else.”

“Even after everything you saw tonight—everything Honora did and has done—you’re still taking her side?”

“I’m not taking her side! I’m trying to tell you why you need to stop judging her until you have all the information.”

“Then by all means, give it to me!”

Leo pulls into a petrol station. “I’m, uh, going to fill up.” He gets out and closes his door.

Artemis stares out the window. “She used to show up to training with her wrists covered in welts. When she didn’t perform as well as her mother thought she should, she’d be whipped. Did you know that?”

“I—no.”

“No, you didn’t. You have no idea what Honora went through. What her mother was like. So if Honora wants to use what she learned to try and have some sort of life, I guess I don’t blame her. She deserves some happiness.”