Spellbound (Otherworld 12)

"She hinted at it, though. What they were up to."

Silence.

"What did she say?"

"Not important. What matters is Savannah. She's in danger."

"I'm always in danger," I said. "These people want me to help them carry out some grand scheme. What is it?"

"Don't know. Just . . ."

We waited, but he didn't go on.

"You don't know the whole plan," Adam said. "That's fine. We'll take whatever we can get. Just tell us--"

"Immortality."

Adam paused. "They want immortality?"

"Semi-immortality. Long life. Eternal youth. Invulnerability."

"Seriously?" I said. "Immortality questers freed Leah and want me? Besides being really unoriginal, that doesn't make any sense. I have demon and spellcaster blood. No immortality connection there."

"Bigger. Think bigger."

"Than immortality? It doesn't get bigger than that."

A hiss of frustration. "Immortality only part. Bigger plan. Need--"

The door swung open. An older nurse walked in, trilling, "We aren't supposed to shut that door, people. We would hate to have Mrs. Schmidt's alarms go off and we don't hear them."

Adam started to apologize, but she swept past him, syringe in hand.

"Out, out, out. Our lady needs tending."

"No,

" Schmidt whispered. "Please, no."

I tensed. Adam glanced at me. The nurse had to have heard him, but she just kept humming under her breath.

"Please," Schmidt said. "I'm sorry. Please--"

She hummed louder, drowning him out. When she reached for the intravenous cord and lifted the syringe, Adam lunged and grabbed her arm. The nurse wheeled and grabbed Adam around the neck before he could blink. He tried to throw her off, but she yanked him back against her, forearm jammed under his throat, holding him as if he was a struggling toddler, and no more dangerous. He grabbed her arm with both hands. Skin sizzled and popped. But she didn't let go.

I raced forward.

"Uh-uh," she said, pointing the needle at Adam's throat. "Touch me, and he dies. Cast a spell and he dies." She smiled at me and her eyes flashed orange. "Give me any excuse, child, and he dies."

"Demon," I said.

"You think?" Adam said, wheezing.

"Do you know who he is?" I asked the demon. "Who his father is?"

"I have no love for Asmondai," the demon said. "Nor does my master. In fact, should my hand slip . . ." She moved the needle against Adam's neck. "My master would reward me most handsomely. When mortals interfere with demons, accidents do happen."

"Only it wouldn't be an accident," I said, gaze glued to that syringe. "I'd know it wasn't. I'd make sure Asmondai knew, too."