Half-demon. Drakul. Tainted. Impure.

He felt like an intruder here in her comfortable, cluttered apartment. And when she came back, Paul might… what? Send him back to the Order in disgrace?

I'm not going. I don't care what they do to me. I'm not leaving her. I can't.

He hoped like hell she came back soon. Even if she was furious at them for taking over her couch and using her soap. He should make something to eat, too. They would both need a protein load with all the energy they'd expended.

It was past nine p.m. by the time they reached Chess's apartment building. She felt a little more sanguine, having napped on the couch in Charlie's office while her sister finished up some paperwork. All in all, she actually felt pretty good. Relieved.

Of course, the fact that she'd performed a spell or two to prove this was real and she was sane might have something to do with it. It felt good to show someone else, good not to look at her sister with the profoundly empty feeling of keeping a secret.

"Only you would live in an apartment building without an elevator,” her sister complained, her heels clicking on the stairs. “Is it a secret demon-hunting lair?"

"Shut up.” I thought she'd have more of a problem with this. But I guess the fiat lux trick convinced her. Hard to argue with a woman who can throw light like a flashlight. And that trick with the glass of water—boiling, then ice, then boiling, then ice—helped too, although the cleanup's a bitch. All in all it had been easier to convince Charlie than she'd hoped.

Then again, Charlie read science fiction when she wasn't reading law; it was a family quirk. She didn't have to be hit on the head to be convinced. Besides, she trusted Chess implicitly. I've never been so glad to have an older sister.

But Charlie hadn't seen a demon yet. That was kind of the point at which all this stuff became well-nigh unbearable. And Chess hadn't mentioned the murder on Harkness Street. There were some things even family couldn't handle.

How about that? I just saw Ryan kill a man with his bare hands, and I'm still protecting him. Keeping a secret. But to be fair, the man he killed was stretching out like that kid in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. And growing big bony claws. Not to mention coming for me, and I don't think he was going to ask me to dance. She shivered, a shudder rilling up her back.

"I'm just asking.” Her sister sounded delighted. “Ooh, is there a secret handshake? For demon hunting?"

"No. But I get tossed into Dumpsters. Oh, and held up against walls and sniffed. Not to mention taken underground by trolls.” And kissed. Did we forget kissed?

She hadn't forgotten the kiss. She was glad the stairwell was only dimly lit; the hot feeling in her cheeks had to be blushing. Ryan. I hope he got away okay.

"No wonder you haven't been answering your phone.” Charlie apparently couldn't resist one little goose. But all in all, she was taking this calmly.

They reached Chess's floor, and she pushed the fire door open. A slice of yellow light pierced the gloom of the stairwell, and her own familiar hall stretched away toward the other door, the one she'd banged out to go down the utility stairwell and out into the alley. Her bag weighed against her shoulder, and she felt greasy and cruddy. “I'll pack, and then we can stop at that Thai place on the way to your house. I really appreciate this, Charlie Lou.” She held the door for her sister, who still looked immaculate despite finishing a day of work and dealing with a crazy younger sister and the news that there were, after all, demons in the world.

"Don't call me that, Chessie Ray. I wish I could have seen this guy get rid of Robert. Didn't I tell you he was bad news?"

Chess winced. Trust Charlie to pick the most embarrassing instead of the craziest thing about this. “You were right."

"He really tried to barge into your apartment? Creepy.” Charlie made her “men-are-idiots” noise, a slight, sharp puff of air past clenched teeth.

"Way.” Chess glanced over the hall. Uneasiness crept under skin, and she reached into her bag, pushing the flap aside and curling her hand around the hilt of her knife.

Immediately, the prickling buzzing sensation washed up her arm. Oh, no. “Crap,” she breathed, and pulled the knife free, leaving the sheath in the bag.

Blue light sprang loose as soon as the blade left the bag, and Charlie actually gasped. “What the… oh. Oh, man. Wow."

"Shhh!” Chess hissed fiercely. “Let's get you inside the apartment. If there's a demon I'll have to deal with it."

"Chess, what if the demon's inside your apartment?” It was a good question. Charlie's green eyes were wide, and the color had drained from her face. She stared at the knife as if it was a snake; the blue glow struck the walls and cast their shadows behind them.

"I warded my window, and if a demon came in through the door it would be all smashed. They're not the type to pick locks.” She transferred the knife to her left hand and dug for her keys, approached her door cautiously. “Watch that end of the hall. If the door opens, yell."

"I feel like I'm in a bad movie. This is exactly the point where I'd be screaming ‘don't go in there!' at the screen.” Charlie lifted her chin, her eyes glittering.

They approached Chess's door. She stuck her key in the top deadbolt. It was undone, and she frowned. She always left both deadbolts locked.

Oh, shit. She tried to second deadbolt. Unlocked too.

Double shit.

The doorknob was locked, though. Time seemed to slow down, and she motioned Charlie back. “If anything happens,” she whispered, “run."

"Shit all over that,” Charlie whispered back. “I'm not leaving you in the lurch."

"Don't argue with me.” Chess pulled the key back out. Dropped her keys in her bag, transferred her knife to her right hand. Here goes nothing. She turned the knob slowly, slowly, the knife's prickling buzz in her hand reaching a crescendo. The door ghosted open, Chess hanging back and staring into darkness.

She lifted the knife, the blue glow penetrating the gloom. Saw nothing but her front hall, the back of her couch, the window beyond orange with citylight. Come out come out wherever you are. Or did I leave the deadbolts unlocked? I was nervous, I might have… but I don't think I did. I don't leave my deadbolts unlocked. Ever. That's like begging to be robbed.

"Chess?” Charlie whispered.

She motioned for quiet and took a step forward, pushing the door open wide. Nothing hiding behind there. Probably in the kitchen, that's where I'd hide if I wanted to surprise someone—

She barely had time to choke out a cry when the hand closed around her wrist and jerked her off her feet. The knife went flying, another hand clapped over her mouth, and Charlie zoomed around the corner, yelling Chess's name. Chaos descended, the door kicked shut and Chess suddenly struggled with frantic fear, “Charlie! Charlie!” Screaming through the hand on her mouth, striking out with fist and knee and fingernails. She finally regained enough presence of mind to sink her teeth into the hand and heard a faint hissing in-breath. He was strong, locking her wrist with his free hand and actually picking her up off her feet. He had to work to subdue her. She kept biting, kept kicking, and heard Charlie yell again, sounding more surprised than hurt.

"Calm down!” a familiar voice sliced through the hubbub. She heard a thump and a male cry of pain, sounded like Charlie had scored one. “Calm down, Chess, it's me! You're safe, it's okay, just calm the fuck down!"

Ryan? She went limp, breathing heavily, and he slid his hand away from her mouth. Chess found herself caught in a bear-hug. He squeezed just short of pain and buried his face in her hair again, her cheek was smashed against something that felt like his chest. He was warm, very warm, and it even smelled like Ryan, the peculiar scent of male and demon-tang that followed him around. Oh, my God. “Ryan?” I sound dazed. I feel dazed. How did he get in?