Then a farmer found her covered in frost—and missing a heart—in his field.
“How is she related to the others?” I slam my laptop closed and toss my head back in frustration. “She has to be connected.”
“There might not be an obvious connection,” Lucas says patiently, somehow putting up with me. We’re in the kitchen of the little brick house, surrounded by boxes. I spent the day obsessing over Renee, and Lucas spent it packing up more of our stuff. Another moving truck should be here any minute now, and I let out a breath.
“You’re right. The demons are taking hearts, and it could be anything from an exact pattern, like these women’s birthdays, to them just being easy picking.”
Lucas’s brows furrow and he nods. “Unfortunately, yes. Sitting here obsessing isn’t going to help,” he says gently.
“What else am I supposed to do?”
“Live your life.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “Renee can’t live hers.”
“Callie,” he says sternly, getting up and going to the back door. Maybe I’m being dramatic…but then again, maybe I’m not being dramatic enough. Another body was found, bringing our heartless body count up.
We’ve found zero similarities between the victims, other than they have all been women so far. I run my hands over my face, letting out a deep breath. Gravel crunches under the tires of the moving truck, causing Scarlet to bark. Rubbing my eyes, I look up and call her over, slipping my fingers under her collar. The basement is empty now, with only my washer and dryer remaining. They are staying, along with most of the furniture on the first floor.
Today has been rather productive until this point, even though it started with being woken to the news of another murder. Easton told me everything I now know, and I’ve been on pins and needles waiting for an update. Once the crime scene cleared, I knew I wouldn’t get one, but it didn’t stop me from obsessing.
There have been multiple bodies found with missing hearts. One showed signs of being tied up, making us think a specific ritual had been performed before the heart was removed. This last body was left bleeding in a field, with the heart torn out of her chest. It was messy, unlike the last victim, and the police are having a hard time making a connection based on the totally different styles of removing the heart.
Copycat? Perhaps. But I know better. It was the same demon, and I know it’s going to strike again.
“I’m fine,” I tell Lucas, forcing a smile. The contractors finished their inspection of the second story today, giving their stamp of approval on us moving more stuff in. The new bedroom furniture we ordered will be arriving at some point tomorrow, and the closets are done and ready to start filling, which is what we’re doing now.
The foyer and living room of this house are full of things to be loaded into the truck, and the sun is sinking low in the sky. Lucas and I will be able to go over as soon as the truck is loaded, and I’ve tried to keep myself busy with packing all day. It worked for some of the day, but here we are and now I’m obsessing.
Julian’s spell worked, keeping me safe from Bael’s eyes. He and Tabatha cast the spell halfway between this house and the estate, purposely shielding both from the demon’s watch. I know he can’t see me, but I’ve been on edge all day. He can’t see me now, but I know he’s still here, still looking. Waiting. Planning.
He wants to take over Hell, and he needs me to do it.
I’ve stopped and called for my dad multiple times today, and multiple times today, I’ve gotten a big fat nothing. Letting out a breath, I run my hands through my hair and get up, clipping a leash to Scarlet’s collar. She scared the movers not that long ago, when they came into the house to get the furniture from the guest room.
“Let’s go for a run,” I tell her, letting out another sigh. I changed into workout clothes over an hour ago and came into the kitchen with the intention of leaving but ended up obsessing over the latest murder instead. I wave to the movers inside the truck on our way out, and I swear I can hear them let out a huge sigh of relief to see Scarlet going away from the house.
We jog about half a mile down the road. The night is chilly, and I didn’t put on a hat. My ears are cold, and I pull my hair from my ponytail to try and keep my ears warm. Scarlet and I turn around and jog back to the house, finding Lucas on the porch, overseeing everything being put into the moving truck. I let go of Scarlet’s leash and she sprints to him, tail wagging hard in her excitement to see Lucas.