“I’m not here for you,” she says, voice so deep and raspy, eyes going blacker and blacker until they’re two swirling dark holes and I’m pretty sure I can see my own death in them. “So as long as you stay out of his way.”
Then she leaves and I collapse straight down to the floor, my hands breaking my fall at the last minute.
The restroom door opens, and a middle-aged woman pokes her head in. “Good heavens, are you okay? Do you need help?”
I nod and the woman helps me to my feet. “I slipped,” I say feebly, looking around the restroom until I know we’re alone.
“What happened to your arms?” she asks and I look down to see my sleeves covered in burn marks from the demon’s fingers, the skin raw underneath.
“Cigarette burns,” I tell her. “I gotta go.”
I push past the woman out into the ferry, unsure how to deal with my arms, with anything.
What the fuck just happened?
And why wasn’t Max there?
Twelve
“Your head’s like a haunted house, peepin’ at your mumbo jumbo.”
– Head Like a Haunted House
I make my way through the ferry to the back of the boat where we were sitting, but when I get back to Max, he’s actually asleep, his head back, mouth open.
“I need to borrow your jacket,” I tell him, standing in front of him. When he doesn’t wake up, I kick his shoe lightly.
He wakes up and looks around, looking very disoriented. When he finally focuses on me, he frowns. “Ada?” Then he looks down at my arms, eyes going wide. “What happened to you?”
Other people sitting near us are looking over, so I motion for him to give me his jacket. “Just give me your jacket.”
He nods and quickly shucks it off, handing it to me. “Do we have to take you to the hospital?”
I throw on the jacket, my skin stinging. “No. I’ll explain later.”
Thankfully, as soon as I say that, the boat docks. Max grabs my hand and pulls me through, his large frame cutting a swath through the crowd until we’re on back on the embarcadero, traffic and pedestrians zipping past.
He pulls me to the side, away from prying eyes, and puts his hands on my face, holding me in place. I feel energy surge from his palms to my cheeks and I close my eyes, letting it sink into me.
“Tell me what happened,” he says. His voice is gruff, shaking slightly.
I take a deep breath through my nose, then open my eyes to see his just inches away and for a moment I forget everything.
Then I remember.
His feelings for you might have clouded things.
You’re keeping him alive.
Are you sure that’s what he wants?
He’s made up of nothing, Ada.
Haven’t you looked?
“What?” Max says, voice getting flinty, a line drawn between his brows as he searches my eyes. “What is it?”
I could keep this to myself. The things that demon told me felt too personal. But despite her telling me that he’s hiding things from me, I don’t want to believe it, and I don’t want to do the same to him.
I swallow, my throat painfully dry. “I saw a demon in the restroom on the ferry.”
His lips part in surprise, a subtle shake of his head, his fingers pressing into my skin. “Why…why didn’t you tell me right away? What happened? Did you destroy her?”
“I couldn’t tell you with everyone around us. And no. I didn’t destroy her. She was too powerful. She left.”
“Through a portal?”
“Through the door.”
“What?!” he exclaims. His hands drop away from my face and he’s looking around wildly. “That means she’s here somewhere.”
He could be right. But I somehow doubt it.
So as long as you stay out of his way.
What way?
“I think she’s gone,” I tell him, feeling weak, my knees trembling. “I didn’t know at first what she was. My alarm bells didn’t go off. I’m sure your eyes would have glowed though.”
“I fell asleep,” he says, horror dawning on him. “Deep sleep. I don’t…I don’t think it was natural.”
“She obviously wanted me alone.”
“And she didn’t hurt you?”
“No. Well…yes.” I gesture to my arms. He makes a growling noise in response, running his hand angrily through his hair.
“Then what did she do?”
“She told me she knew you.”
His eyes sharpen. “Me?”
“Apparently. You were buddies in Hell or something. She said you didn’t want to leave. As if me and Perry and Dex pulled you out against your will. She said she’s here for you. Not me. Unless I don’t get out of your way.”
His face falls.
“Do you know what she meant by that?” I ask, watching him closely.
He gives his head a shake. “No.”
“Do you know who she is? She had short dark hair, was pretty…”
“No.” He chews on his lip for a moment. “No, I won’t know until I see her for myself. I can guarantee in Hell she didn’t look like that.” He sighs and gives me a heartbreaking look. “I’m so sorry, Ada. I shouldn’t have brought you on this trip. I’m putting you at risk.”