Minor Magics: The Demon Code Read online

  Dorrie knelt by my side. “But don’t only bad demons make contracts with mortals?”

  “Pretty much.” I felt numb. Full-blooded demons would often make contracts with mortals who summoned them. Most often the mortals were witches, and things never turned out well for them. Demons would use the mortals to gather power, wealth, or even for a toehold in the aboveground world. I’d always viewed demon contracts as purely evil.

  Dorrie picked up one of the sheets of paper. “Is this what that vampire wanted you to find?” She started sifting through the remaining contracts.

  “I don’t know. Maybe.” I really didn’t want to look at the contracts. My dad had been mostly demon, but he did have enough human blood to venture to the mortal world. He shouldn’t have needed to make contracts.

  “Look,” Dorrie said, holding up one of the contracts.

  I took it from her, then scanned the lines of ancient text. The bottom line was signed, Stanos Adamache. Seeing the name, I read the contract more thoroughly with Dorrie reading along over my shoulder.

  I read the whole thing over twice, before lowering it to my lap.

  Dorrie pursed her sparkly lips. “Did I read that wrong, or did your dad turn that man into a vampire?”

  “Demons don’t make vampires.” My voice sounded hollow and far away.

  “Well I think your father did, Pumpkin. But I still don’t understand why.”

  I took my cup of coffee and stood, leaving the contract on the floor. “We’re not going to find the answer here. Stanos wanted me to read that so I would seek him out again.”

  The front doorbell rang. Grateful for the distraction, I left the study and went down the hall to the front door and answered it. Chase stood outside, looking freshly showered beneath his green coat and jeans, but not at all well-rested.

  I stepped back, making room for him to come inside. “I must admit, I’m surprised to see you so soon.”

  He stepped over the threshold and shut the door behind him. “You think I’d just get you involved with the Demon Council and leave it at that?”

  I took a sip of my cooling coffee, feeling overwhelmingly tired. “It’s done. Forget about it.”

  He placed his hand on my shoulder. “I know what it cost you to save Sam, and I know you did it for me, even though I didn’t deserve it. I want you to know, that as long as you’re in this, I’m in this. I want to help you with anything the Demon Council asks of you, and if there are risks, I want to take them. I know I can’t make up for you having to sign that contract, but I’ll do whatever I can to ease that burden.”

  “Well,” I said, thinking over his offer, “I’m not going to turn you down.”

  “Really?”

  “You act as if I’m usually terribly unagreeable.”

  He gave me a very knowing look.

  “Come on,” I gestured toward the kitchen. “Dorrie made breakfast. We’ll go over your first assignment.”

  He followed after me as I led the way to the kitchen. Alexius wagged his tail and ran up to Chase as we entered.

  “Care to give me a hint?”

  I sat down with my cup of coffee. “I’ll do you one better. I need you to find out if demons can make vampires, and if so, I need you to find out why my dad would turn Stanos.”

  Chase slumped into the seat across from me. “Nothing is ever simple with you, is it?”

  Dorrie came into the kitchen. Judging by her glowing smile, she’d been eavesdropping. “Does this mean the old gang is back together?”

  I knew she didn’t just mean Chase. She already knew I’d be working close with Jason and the wolves too. I set down my coffee with a laugh. “Yes, Dorrie, your dreams have finally come true.”

  To be continued…

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