“Moss did not sign your name to the letter,” Darius said, slipping on his backpack. He nodded toward the note lying on the couch. “He kept it vague, telling them that you were sorry and making it clear that you would have written yourself if you’d had the opportunity.”

“He didn’t mention why I was unable, did he?”

“Just that you had to start your journey.” I stopped my search for writing implements, but my relief was short-lived. “You will need to tell them eventually,” he continued. “What we have will never go away, Reagan. You will be my darling for all of eternity, traveling the world by my side. We are one, you and I. They will catch on eventually.”

“Let’s just slow down with the dramatics, shall we? And ‘darling’ is something that can go, that’s for sure.” I pulled my hair up in a ponytail. “I think I liked you better when you thought I was a nuisance.”

“That is fear talking.”

“Pretty soon it will be violence talking, so you have that to look forward to.”

I looked back and forth between my older pouch and the new one. There was really no need to keep the old one, as beat up as it was, but it had been with me through a lot. I was a little sentimental. Besides, if something happened to the new one…

I emptied the older pouch of used casings and the few intact spells and stuffed it into my backpack. The pinch of hunger was starting to be a problem. Already. Though after a week, it probably should’ve been way worse. It was probably a mental issue.

“Are we waiting for something?” I asked, hefting my backpack. “And what does the suit do?”

Darius zipped up his backpack and slung it over his shoulders. “Let’s go. I’ll explain the suits at another time.”

“I assume you know how to get into the underworld? I also assume it is nighttime out right now?”

“There is a gate into the Realm not far from here. We will enter that and head to one of the entrances to the underworld. From there, we will hope the demon’s map is correct.”

“I wonder if Callie and Dizzy called that demon again.” I let him direct me out of the front door. A shape moved off to the right, almost imperceptible. It took me a moment to realize two things. One was that the shape was indistinct because it had one of those camouflaged sheets over it, and I had noticed it anyway. The other was that my vision was crystal clear, better than my sight in daylight. The difference was like that between watching an HD TV versus a TV made twenty years before.

“A great memory, and better night vision. Awesome. And all you got was a key into hell.” I shook my head. “Sucks to be you.”

“I have received boons from you, I have no doubt. They will be revealed in time.”

I grimaced. I sure hoped so, for his sake.

“Shall we?” He started to jog, not worried about the lurkers, which meant he employed them. I kept up easily. When he sped up, so did I. Even faster, and I still kept pace. It wasn’t until he was at his top speed that I flagged. I was faster than before by far, but still not as fast as him.

One thing I hadn’t gotten was enhanced hearing. The words coming from his moving lips were caught by the wind and thrown away.

“Huh?” I yelled.

You do not need to shout. I can hear you just fine.

“Right. Sorry.”

Some of your enhanced traits might be the effect of your greater access to your power. I assume it still rages as it has been?

“Still powerful, yes. Both types, almost equally. You had the right idea in our practice sessions about getting me to the place where I thought I would die. It started when I thought you would kill me during the bonding.”

And your ability to work them? Do you feel just as dexterous?

“Not really, no. When I’m not thinking, and just wanting something, usually it happens. When I try to consciously re-create that, I can’t. None of it is complex, though. Not like that demon did.”

You are an apt pupil. You simply need a worthy teacher.

It was a little late for that. I would have to just try my best and hope I didn’t die. Or worse, get captured.

Chapter Twelve

The white zigzag line cut through the air above a small berm in a field. Darius stopped in front of it before shooting me a sideways glance.

“I will use words until I find it imprudent for me to do so,” he said.

“Sounds good. Do you want to go first?” I gestured at the gate to the Realm, the world solely inhabited by magical people.

“There is an echo of you having just been at the plantation house.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“An echo from you, letting me know where you have just come from. Some level-five demons have that ability—to know where someone has been moments before. The trait has been noted in a few exorcisms. It is not a vampire trait. It must’ve come from you.”

“It clearly didn’t, because I’ve never heard any echoes.”

“Yes. I wonder why.” He tightened his backpack. “This ability might be extremely useful.”

“It sure would’ve been when I was a bounty hunter. I wonder if you can shut it off, though. Most times it’ll be an annoyance. Like, why would you want to know someone just came from the restroom?”

His glance this time showed confusion. Clearly he hadn’t thought of that. Or else he was wondering why it had been my first thought.

“We can go through together.” He held out his hand and I took it. “There should be no danger on the other side.”

Should was the operative word.

The tear in the worlds whipped at us as we passed through it. With the amount of magic we were packing, the crossing was easy. On the other side, Darius checked his satchel. I tapped my various weapons to make sure all was ready.

I glanced up at the burnt-orange sky, then moved my hand through the air, watching the dancing filaments of gold swirl around my fingers. A bench sat off to the side for those who could barely make the crossing and had to sit down and rest afterward. Fragrant flowers of pink and yellow crowded around it, outlining a clean cobblestone walkway.

“We will walk through the Realm. I don’t want to raise suspicion by hurrying. I don’t want to be stopped.” Darius didn’t let go of my hand as he started forward.

“Who is going to stop us, number one, and two, don’t you think a vampire holding a girl’s hand will raise suspicion?”

“The elves would take interest in an elder hurrying.” He dropped my hand. “And yes, you are correct. It seems I have lost my wits in regards to you.”

“I know how you feel.” My power surged and blossomed, opening up and dancing a jig. My skin felt stretched, like it could barely contain it. “The Realm always helps my power.”

“Yes. Magical people are always stronger here. If not for your unique situation, I would advise you to spend as much time in this world as possible to develop your power.”

“We’ll probably realize that’s also true of the underworld,” I said with a little shudder.

“Indeed.” Darius chose the way, clearly knowing where he was going.

“You’ve heard what we’re walking into. Is this a world Lucifer created, or just embellished, do you think?” I figured I should stop calling him Father. All I needed was for one nosy parker to overhear and spread a rumor.

“Embellished. Much like the elves are constantly doing within the Realm.”

“Only the elves? No one else tries to magic up their homes?”

“Their actual residences, sure. But the elves are similar to the Brink government—they fix the streets, the travel ways, and public places like the gates. For their trouble, they’re paid taxes. Even if a being wanted to do large improvements, magical or otherwise, they would need to petition the elves to do so. When I arranged for the addition on your house, I had to get permits from the city. It is the same within the Realm.”

“Huh. But the elves weren’t elected to that post. Or do I have that wrong?”

“They are the ruling party, yes. Like monarchs, their power is passed down through birth. Originally, they fought for their authority; every so often there is a bloody war to usurp them. The last was about five hundred years ago. So far, no one has succeeded. They have the allegiance of the fae, and the elementals, not to mention other such magical creatures to aid their cause.”