The Demon Trapper's Daughter - Jana Oliver

8/13/2019 The Demon Trapper's Daughter - Jana Oliver

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To

Gwen Gades,

who opened the door

Hell is empty and all the devils are here. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Acknowledgments

All the hard work omes down to this moment. !r"st me# this is the $"n part%

&irst a 'i( h"( and a heart$elt thank)yo" to my dear $riend P. *. *ast# who kept m"rm"rin( +yo"n(ad"lt, in my ear when I was $irst thinkin( a'o"t this 'ook. Her da"(hter# Kristin# o$$ered sa(eadvi e and made my teens so"nd their a(e# rather than like# well# old. All o$ this e$$ort wo"ld have

'een $or na"(ht i$ my savvy literary a(ent# Meredith -ernstein# hadn t 'elieved in my stories and$o"nd them a home. /enni$er Weis# my editor# and her assistant# Anne -ensson# alon( with editorHilary !eeman and prod" tion editor La"ren Ho"(en# de$tly herded this a"thor thro"(h her 0ew1ork de'"t e2perien e and made this the 'est story possi'le.!hanks also (o to Ilona Andrews# who shared writin( tips# and 3ordon Andrews# who helped meesta'lish 4enver -e k s military 'a k(ro"nd. William M Leod made Master An("s Stewart so"ndlike a S otsman and 5akland *emetery provided the per$e t 'a kdrop $or my series. A ro"nd o$appla"se 6and a sti$$ drink7 is needed $or my lon()s"$$erin( 'eta readers and riti8"e partners

0anette Littlestone# Aarti 0ayar# 4wain Herndon# and /eri Smith)Ready# alon( with /ean MarieWard and Mi helle Roper# who s"pplied me with man"s ript advi e and all those +no# yo"r 'ookdoesn t s" k, pep talks. And $inally a moment o$ sin ere (ratit"de that the (reat ity o$ Atlantahasn t s"((ested I move to another state. At least not yet.

Sin e the 'e(innin( I ve had one man in my orner and that s my h"s'and# Harold. Iwo"ldn t 'e here witho"t him. 4reams are always ri her when they re shared.

50E

2018 Atlanta, Georgia

Riley -la kthorne rolled her eyes.+Li'raries and demons#, she m"ttered. +What is the attra tion9,At the so"nd o$ her voi e the $iend hissed $rom its per h on top o$ the 'ook sta k. !hen it $lippedRiley o$$.!he li'rarian h" kled at its anti s. +It s 'een doin( that ever sin e we $o"nd it.,!hey were on the se ond $loor o$ the "niversity law li'rary# s"rro"nded 'y wei(hty 'ooks andind"strio"s st"dents. Well# they d 'een ind"strio"s "ntil Riley showed "p# and now most o$ themwere wat hin( her every move. Trapping with an audience is what her dad alled it. It made her

pain$"lly aware that her work lothesdenim :a ket# :eans# and pale 'l"e !)shirtlooked totally!hird World ompared to the li'rarian s som'er navy pants"it.!he woman 'randished a laminated sheet; li'rarians were into atalo(in( thin(s# even Hellspawn.


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She s r"tini


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teeth. And at the top end was a 3rade &ivea 3eo)&iend# whi h o"ld reate $reak windstorms inthe middle o$ shoppin( malls and a"se earth8"akes with a $li k o$ a wrist. And that didn t in l"dethe Ar hdemons# whi h made yo"r worst ni(htmares look tame.Riley t"rned her mind to the :o' at hand. !he 'est way to render a -i'lio)&iend in apa'le o$ harmwas to read to it. !he older and more dense the prose# the 'etter. Roman e novels :"st stirred them"p# so it was 'est to pi k somethin( really 'orin(. She d"( in her messen(er 'a( and e2tra ted her

"ltimate weapon> "o#y$%ick . !he 'ook $ell open to a (reen)stained pa(e.!he li'rarian peered at the te2t. +Melville9,+1eah. 4ad pre$ers 4i kens or *ha" er. &or me it s Herman Melville. He 'ored the ? rap o"t o$me in lit lass. P"t me to sleep every time., She pointed "pward at the demon. +It ll do the same tothis one.,+3rant thee 'oon# -la kthorne s da"(hter%, the demon wheedled as it ast its eyes aro"nd# lookin($or a pla e to hide.Riley knew how this worked> I$ she a epted a $avor she d 'e o'li(ated to set the demon $ree.A eptin( $avors $rom $iends was so a(ainst the r"les. Like potato hips# yo" o"ldn t stop at :"stone# then yo" d $ind yo"rsel$ at Hell s $ront door tryin( to e2plain why yo"r so"l had a 'i( 'rand onit that said +Property o$ L" i$er.,+0o way#, Riley m"ttered. A$ter learin( her throat# she 'e(an readin(. + @*all me Ishmael. , Ana"di'le (roan ame $rom the sta k a'ove her. + @Some years a(onever mind how lon( pre isely havin( little or no money in my p"rse# and nothin( parti "lar to interest me on shore# I tho"(ht Iwo"ld sail a'o"t a little and see the watery part o$ the world. ,She ontin"ed the tort"re# tryin( hard not to sni ker. !here was another moan# then a ry o$ an("ish.-y now the demon wo"ld 'e p"llin( o"t its hair# i$ it had any. + @It is a way I have o$ drivin( o$$ thespleen# o$ re("latin( the ir "lation. Whenever I $ind mysel$ (rowin( (rim a'o"t the mo"th;whenever it is a damp# dri


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!he 'ree


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Riley took the lid in a shakin( hand and sealed the demon inside the "p.It sho"ted o's enities and "sed 'oth hands to $lip her o$$.&ame to you, 'erk.!he li'rarian s"rveyed the haos and si(hed. +And to think we "sed to worry a'o"t silver$ish.,

C C C

(iley grimly watched the paramedi s ha"l two st"dents o"t on stret hers> 5ne had a ne k 'ra e andthe other 'a''led in oherently a'o"t the end o$ the world. *ell phones periodi ally er"pted in a

on$"sed hor"s o$ rin(tones as parents (ot wind o$ the disaster. Some kids were :a !he o$$i er m"rm"red an apolo(y and handed her the phone.+4ad9 I m so sorry.?, !ears 'e(an to '"ild. 0o way she d ry in $ront o$ the op# so Riley t"rnedher 'a k to him. +I don t know what happened.,!here was total silen e on the other end o$ the phone. +hy isn t he saying anything* God, he must #e

!urious. - m so dead.+Riley?, Her $ather took in a lon( 'reath. +1o" s"re yo" re not h"rt9,+1eah., 0o point in tellin( him a'o"t the 'ite; he d see that soon eno"(h.+As lon( as yo" re okay# that s all that matters.,Somehow Riley didn t think the "niversity wo"ld 'e so $or(ivin(.+I an t (et $ree here so I ll send someone $or yo". I don t want yo" takin( the '"s# not a$ter this.,+5kay.,More silen e as the moments ti ked 'y. She $elt her heart ti(hten.+Riley# no matter what happens# I love yo". Remem'er that.,-linkin( her eyes to keep the tears in he k# Riley stowed the phone in her messen(er 'a(. Sheknew what her $ather was thinkin(> Her apprenti e li ense was history.

ut - didn t do anything wrong.!he li'rarian knelt ne2t to her hair. Her hair was 'r"shed 'a k in pla e and her lothes tidied. Riley


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envied her. !he world o"ld end and she d always look neat. May'e it was a li'rarian thin(#somethin( they ta"(ht them in s hool.+Si(n this# will yo"9, the woman said.Riley e2pe ted a len(thy list o$ dama(es and how she d 'e responsi'le $or payin( $or them. Instead#it was the re8"isition $or payment o$ demon removal. !he one a trapper si(ned when the :o' wasdone.

+-"t, Riley 'e(an.+1o" a"(ht him#, the li'rarian said# pointin( toward the "p restin( on the ta'le. +-esides# I lookedat the demon hart. !his wasn t :"st one o$ the little ("ys# was it9,Riley shook her head and si(ned the $orm# tho"(h her $in(ers were n"m'.+3ood., !he li'rarian p"shed 'a k a strand o$ Riley s tan(led hair and (ave her a tentative smile.+4on t worry; it ll 'e okay., !hen she was (one.Riley s mom had said that ri(ht 'e$ore she died. So had her dad a$ter their ondo '"rned to the(ro"nd. Ad"lts always a ted like they o"ld $i2 everythin(.

ut they can t. And they know it.

!W5

&or ed to wait o"tside the li'rary# 4enver -e k (ave a len(thy si(h as he ran a hand thro"(h hisshort 'lond hair. His mentor s kid had :"st topped the list $or -i((est Apprenti e S rew"p. !hat"pset him not only $or the ten kinds o$ (rie$ she d (et $rom the !rappers 3"ild '"t the $a t that thathad always 'een his honor. Who d have tho"(ht she o"ld o"tdo his ni(htmare apt"re o$ a Pyro)&iend in a r"sh ho"r MAR!A station9 A disaster that had re8"ired not only the $ire department '"t aha


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+1eah# yeah. 1o"r r"les# not o"rs#, the man replied. +0othin( we are a'o"t.,+0ot "ntil ya (et a demon "p yer ass# then yer all over "s.,!he op snorted# hands on his hips. +I :"st don t "nderstand why yo" don t ap their asses# like thosedemon h"nters do. 1o" ("ys :"st look like a '"n h o$ sissies with all yo"r little spheres and plasti

"ps.,-e k 'ridled at the ins"lt. How many times had he tried to e2plain the di$$eren e 'etween a trapper

and a h"nter9 !rappin( a demon took skill. !he Dati an s 'oys didn t 'other; they went $or$irepower. !o the h"nters# the only (ood demon was a dead demon. 0o talent needed. !here wereother di$$eren es# '"t pretty m" h that was the dividin( line. !he avera(e /oe :"st didn t (et it.-e k s"mmed it "p. +We (ot skills. !hey (ot weapons. We need talent. !hey don t.,+I don t know. !hey look pretty damned (ood on that television show.,-e k knew whi h one the op was talkin( a'o"t. It was alled %emonland and was s"pposedly alla'o"t the h"nters.+!he show s (ot it all wron(. H"nters don t have any (irls on their team. !hey live like monks andhave a'o"t as m" h sense o$ h"mor as a :"nkyard do(.,+/ealo"s9, the op hided.+as he* +0o way. When I (et done with my day s work# I an (o have a 'eer and pi k "p a 'a'e.!hose ("ys an t.,+1o" kiddin( me9,-e k shook his head. +0othin like that !D show.,+4amn#, the op m"ttered. +Here I tho"(ht it was all hi ks and $lashy ars.,+0ope. 0ow ya know why I m a trapper.,-e k s :a ket po ket er"pted into son(> +3eor(ia on My Mind, $loated a ross the parkin( lot. !hatearned him a $ew stares.+Pa"l#, -e k said# not 'otherin( to look at the display. It had to 'e the (irl s dad.+What happened9, the man asked# his voi e on ed(e.-e k (ave him a r"ndown o$ the sit"ation.+Let me know the moment s she o"t#, Pa"l insisted.+Will do. 4id ya trap the Pyro9,+1eah. I wish I o"ld (et away# '"t I have to $inish "p here.,+0o sweat. I ll keep an eye on thin(s $or ya.,+!hanks# 4en.,-e k $lipped the phone sh"t and :ammed it in his :a ket po ket. He d heard the worry in his $riend svoi e. Pa"l was $anati a'o"t keepin( his apprenti es sa$e# and even more so when it ame to hisda"(hter. It s why he d slowed her trainin( to a snail s pa e# hopin( she d han(e her mind and pi ka sa$er pro$ession. Like walkin( the hi(h wire $or a livin(.

ot gonna work . He d told Pa"l that o"ntless times# '"t he wo"ldn t listen. Riley wo"ld 'e atrapper whether her $ather approved or not. She had that same st"''orn streak as her mother.-e k s attention moved to the news rew positioned near the '"ildin( s entran e. He knew the leadreporter# 3eor(e somethin( or other. He d overed -e k s atastrophe. !he media loved anythin( todo with demon trappin( as lon( as it went wron(. A 8"iet at h in an alley wo"ld never land on tape.A Hell$iend (oin( 'erserk in a train station or a law li'rary and they were all over it.A lone $i("re appeared o"t o$ the millin( rowd. It took -e k a moment to re o(ni


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When the newsho"nd headed $or her -e k went on alert# wonderin( i$ he wo"ld need to r"ninter$eren e. Riley shook her head at the reporter# p"shed the mi rophone o"t o$ her $a e# and keptwalkin(.&mart girl.He o"ld tell the moment she spied him> Her e2pression went stony. 0o s"rprise there. When shewas $i$teen she d (otten a h"(e r"sh on him even tho"(h he was $ive years older than her. He d :"st

'e("n his apprenti eship with her dad# so he d done the smart thin(> He d avoided the kid# hopin(she d lat h on to someone else. She had# '"t that story didn t have a happy endin(. Riley (ot overher p"ppy love '"t not the h"rt $eelin(s. It didn t help that he spent more time with her $ather thanshe did.He $lipped open his phone and alled Pa"l. +She s okay.,+!hank 3od. !hey ve alled an emer(en y 3"ild meetin(. Warn her what she s in $or.,+Will do., -e k stashed the phone in his :a ket po ket.Riley halted a $ew $eet away# her eyes narrowin( when she saw him. !here was a rip in the le( o$her :eans# a 'ri(ht red mark on a heek# and streaks o$ (reen on her $a e# lothes# and hands wherethe demon had marked her. 5ne earrin( was missin(.-e k o"ld play this two wayssympathy or sar asm. She wo"ldn t 'elieve the $irst# not $rom him#so that le$t the other.He ra ked a mo k (rin. +I m in awe# kid. I$ ya an do that kind o$ dama(e (oin a$ter a 5ne# I an twait to see what ya (ot in mind $or a &ive.,Her deep 'rown eyes $lared. +I m not a kid.,+1a are 'y my alendar#, he said# (est"rin( toward his old &ord pi k"p. +3et in.,+I don t han( with (ee


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repla e every missin( li(ht. !oo many other thin(s to worry a'o"t in this 'ankr"pt apital o$ $ivemillion so"ls.-e k nearly lipped some idiot on a moped and then made it thro"(h the interse tion; his hands

l"t hed the wheel ti(hter than was needed.Talk to me, kid. Ya can t do this alone.Riley $lipped down the visor and stared into the ra ked mirror.

+5mi(od#, she said. He wat hed o"t o$ the orner o$ his eye as she (in(erly to" hed the (reen areaswhere the demon pee had dyed her skin.+It ll 'e (one in a o"ple days#, -e k said# tryin( to so"nd help$"l.+It has to 'e (one 'y tomorrow ni(ht. I ve (ot s hool.,+/"st tell em yer a trapper. !hat sho"ld impress em.,+Wron(% !he tri k is to 'lend in# -e k# not (low like a radioa tive $ro(.,He shr"((ed. He d never 'lended in and didn t see why it mattered that m" h. -"t may'e to a (irl itdid.!"rnin( to the mirror# Riley 'e(an to dislod(e the tan(les. !ears $ormed as she p"lled a om'thro"(h her lon( hair. It took time to (et presenta'le. She p"t on some lip (loss '"t apparentlyde ided it didn t work with the splot hy (reen and wiped it o$$ with a tiss"e.It was only then she looked over at him and took a deep 'reath.+I sho"ld have ? treated the doorway into the Rare -ook Room with Holy Water. !hat way i$ thedemon (ot loose# he wo"ldn t have 'een a'le to (et in there.,+4ead ri(ht. 0ot prote tin that room was the only mistake I see. -ein a (ood trapper is :"st amatter o$ learnin $rom yer mistakes.,+-"t you never learn#, she snapped.+May'e so# '"t I m not the one who s (onna (et reamed 'y the 3"ild toni(ht.,+!hanks# I d so $or(otten that#, she said. +Why were the 'ooks $lyin( all over the pla e9,+I d say the -i'lio had 'a k"p.,She shook her head. +4ad says demons don t work to(ether# that the hi(her)level $iends think thelittle ones are n"isan es# like o kroa hes.,+!hey do# '"t I ll 'et there was another demon in that li'rary somewheres. 4id ya smell s"l$"r9,Riley shr"((ed. +See anyone wat hin ya9,She (ave a 'ark o$ 'itter la"(hter. +All o$ them# -e k. Every sin(le one o$ them. I looked like a totalmoron.,He d 'een there o$ten eno"(h to know how that $elt# '"t ri(ht now that wasn t the iss"e. Why wo"lda senior demon play (ames with an apprenti e trapper9 What was the point9 She wasn t a threat toHell in any real sense.

At least not yet.Riley sh"t down a$ter that# starin( o"t the passen(er)side window and $id(etin( with the strap on her

'a(. -e k had a lot o$ thin(s he wanted to saylike how he was pro"d o$ her $or holdin( "p as wellas she did. Pa"l always said the mark o$ a (ood trapper is how he handled the 'ad st"$$# '"t tellin(Riley that wo"ldn t work. She d only 'elieve it i$ she heard it $rom her $ather# not someone she

onsidered the enemy.!hey passed a lon( line o$ ra((ed $olks waitin( their t"rn to (et a meal at the so"p kit hen on the(ro"nds o$ the /immy *arter Li'rary. !he line s len(th hadn t shortened $rom last month# whi hmeant the e onomy wasn t any 'etter. Some 'lamed the demons and their devio"s master $or the

ity s $inan ial pro'lems. -e k 'lamed the politi ians $or 'ein( too '"sy takin( ki k'a ks and not payin( attention to their :o'. In most ways# Atlanta was slowly (oin( to Hell. Somehow he didn t$i("re L" i$er wo"ld o':e t.A $ew min"tes later he parked in a :"nk)strewn lot a ross $rom the !a'erna le and t"rned o$$ theen(ine. He was "sed to ass hewin(# '"t the (irl wasn t. I$ there were any way he o"ld take her


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pla e toni(ht# he d do it witho"t thinkin( twi e. -"t that wasn t the way thin(s worked when yo"were a trapper.+Leave the demon here#, he advised. +P"t him "nder the seat.,+Why9 I don t want to lose him#, she said# $rownin(.+!hey ll have the meetin warded with Holy Water. He ll tear himsel$ apart i$ ya try to ross that linewith him in yer 'a(.,

+5h., -e$ore every 3"ild meetin( an apprenti e wo"ld reate a lar(e ir le o$ Holy Water# the wardas it was alled# whi h wo"ld serve as a sa red 'arrier a(ainst all thin(s demoni . !he trappers heldtheir meetin( inside that ir le. -e k was ri(ht# the -i'lio wo"ldn t ross the ward. She p"lled o"tthe "p# ti(htened the lid# and did as he asked.+5ne pie e o$ advi e> 4on t piss em o$$.,Riley (lared at him. +1o" always do.,+!he r"les are di$$erent $or me.,+-e a"se I m a (irl# is that it9, When he didn t answer# she demanded# +Is. !hat. It9,+1eah#, he admitted. +As lon( ya know that (oin in.,She hopped o"t o$ the ar# hammered down the lo k with her "nin:"red $ist# then slammed the doorhard eno"(h to make his teeth rattle.A (reen $in(er :a''ed in his dire tion the moment he stepped o"t.+I m not 'a kin( down. I m Pa"l -la kthorne s da"(hter. Even the demons know who I am.Someday I m (oin( to 'e as (ood as my dad# and the trappers will :"st have to deal. !hat in l"desyo"# '"ddy.,+!he $iends know yer name9, -e k asked# taken a'a k.+Hello% !hat s what I said., She s8"ared her sho"lders. +0ow let s (et this over with. I ve (othomework to do.,

!HREE

Riley pa"sed on the sidewalk# shakin( inside. Her o"t'"rst had ost her what little ener(y she hadle$t. She needed $ood and a lon( nap# '"t $irst there was the 3"ild to deal with. She o"ld alreadyima(ine their smirks# hear the (ood ol 'oy la"(hter. !hen there d 'e the r"de :okes. !hey werereally (ood at those.

- don t deserve this. !he other apprenti es made mistakes '"t they d never rated an emer(en y 3"ildmeetin(.!he s"n was settin(# and $or a moment she o"ld 'elieve there was no disappointed $ather waitin($or her inside that old '"ildin(. Her nose a"(ht the tantali


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'lond hair and desi(ner :eans with the words +Smart -it h, in se8"ins on the '"tt. Everythin( a'o"ther sho"ted money# in l"din( the ar. 0o solar panel on the top# so she wasn t on erned how m" ha (allon o$ (as mi(ht ost. 0o dents# no r"st# :"st lean and new.

ro#a#ly has the dead guy wash it.&rom what Riley had heard# a 4eader wasn t like a


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She s anned the ir le o$ men aro"nd her. !here were a'o"t thirty o$ them. Most were middle)a(ed#like her dad. !hey d 'e ome trappers when their other areers had ended# destroyed 'y an e onomythat had never $o"nd anythin( '"t the 'ottom. -itterness h"n( on them like a heavy winter oat.Riley leared her throat# preparin( hersel$. Harper snapped his $in(ers impatiently. +*ome on# spillit. We don t have all damned ni(ht.,+4on t let him (oad yo"#, her $ather m"rm"red.

Hopin( her voi e wo"ldn t 8"aver# she (ave her report. Her words so"nded so insi(ni$i ant insidethe averno"s '"ildin(# a mo"se s8"eakin( to a pa k o$ lions.When she $inished Harper h"$$ed and rossed his arms over his hest# revealin( a 'lood)red tattooon his $orearm. It was a sk"ll with a writhin( $iend in its mo"th.+4emons don t work to(ether#, he said. +Every apprenti e knows that. *ept may'e yo".,He made it so"nd like she was lyin(.+How else wo"ld yo" e2plain all the dama(e9, Morton asked.+4on t know# don t are#, Harper said. +All that matters is that we re the la"(hin(sto k o$ the ity#and we know who s to 'lame.,M"rm"rin( 'roke o"t amon( the men.+It s not as easy as that#, her dad 'e(an. +I$ the demons are 'andin( to(ether# we need to know whythey ve han(ed ta ti s.,+1o" re :"st tryin( to save yo"r 'rat s ass# -la kthorne. She wo"ld never have 'een (iven a li ensein the $irst pla e i$ she wasn t yo"r da"(hter.,-e k stirred and set his 'eer 'ottle down on the ta'le with a l"nk. +Why not9 She met all there8"irements.,Harper sw"n( his dark (a


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them a$ter that. It was a omple2 arran(ement# '"t it had held to(ether $or ent"ries. !he 3"ildalways went o"t o$ its way not to piss o$$ the *h"r h.Simon tapped away on the key'oard as men rowded aro"nd. !here were too many trappers# so itlooked like they d have to take t"rns wat hin( the s reen. A r"nnin( ommentary 'e(an at the sametime as the video.+4amn# look at that $lyin( ta kle#, Morton said. +!hat had to h"rt.,

-t had.+She (ot him%, one o$ them alled o"t.+5h# my 3od# look at the,

ookshelves. A tremendo"s rash ame $rom the omp"ter speakers. E2ha"sted and shakin(# Rileysank into the losest hair. Her dad p"shed a 'ottle o$ water her way. She twisted o$$ the plasti apand s" ked the ool li8"id down# ("lp a$ter ("lp. Her stoma h r"m'led# a reminder she d not eatensin e 'reak$ast.Her dad hadn t h"rried over to wat h the video. !here was only one reason $or that. e thinks -

screwed up.!hat h"rt more than the '"rnin( demon 'ite.&inally# Simon set the omp"ter in $ront o$ her $ather. +/"st press this key and it ll play#, he said. He(ave Riley a 8"i k smile and retreated.!rappers moved in 'ehind her# talkin( amon( themselves. 5ne o$ them was -e k. She (ritted herteeth at what was to ome.+1o" ready9, her dad asked.She nodded.It was worse the se ond time aro"nd. Like wat hin( one o$ the %emonland episodes on television#only this time she was the star and there was no st"nt do"'le. Whoever apt"red the video did a

pretty (ood :o'# tho"(h the pi t"re wo"ld swin( wildly every now then.This is all over the -nternet. People in $orei(n o"ntries wo"ld wat h it and la"(h at her. Mo k her.!here wo"ld 'e no hidin( $rom this.+Look at all that st"$$ 'lowin( aro"nd#, someone e2 laimed.-e k s" ked in a sharp 'reath as the 'ookshelves ommitted s"i ide. !he $inal portion o$ the videoshowed Riley limpin( o"t o$ the li'rary# 'loody and 'attered.+My 3od#, her $ather whispered# p"llin( her into an em'ra e so ti(ht she o"ldn t 'reathe. Hewasn t mad at her or disappointed. He only h"((ed that hard when he was s ared. When they 'rokeapart# she saw it on his $a e# tho"(h he tried to over it. !hen he smiled# so$t rinkles appearin( atthe orners o$ his 'rown eyes. +1o" did very well# Riley. I m so pro"d o$ yo".,Her mo"th $ell open as the threat o$ tears ret"rned.+4itto#, -e k said as he ret"rned to his 'eer.When she looked "p# all eyes were on her. A o"ple o$ trappers (ave her a nod o$ respe t. /a ksonlooked over at Harper# then 'a k at her.+!hat s"re as hell wasn t :"st a 3rade 5ne#, he said.+I a(ree. !hat s a 3eo)&iend $or s"re#, another said.Harper strai(htened "p. +4oesn t matter. We an t (ive this one a pass. Makes "s look 'ad.,+5h# (o s rew yo"rsel$# Harper#, /a kson (rowled. +1o" ve hated every apprenti e we ve had.!hose yo" train yo" treat like dirt. I sho"ld know.,+I$ yo" weren t s" h a :erk)o$$# /a kson#, the master 'e(an.Her dad t"((ed on her sleeve. +Why don t yo" (o o"tside9 It s (oin( to (et nasty# and I d rather nothave yo" hear it.,+-"t what a'o"t my li ense9, she asked.+!hat s why it s (oin( to (et nasty.,/h.


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-e k tossed his keys on the ta'le in $ront o$ her. +Keep the demon ompany# will ya9 He s pro'a'lymissin ya 'y now.,She (lowered at him.Her $ather intervened. +Wait in the tr" k and lo k the doors. I ll 'e o"t soon. 3o on. It ll 'e okay.,

-t ll #e okay.It so"nded like a "rse.

&5=R

!he moment Riley rea hed the tr" k she ki ked the losest tire# ima(inin( it to 'e -e k s head. Itwas a st"pid thin( to do 'e a"se now her $oot a hed like the rest o$ her. Her an(er wo"ldn t make a

'it o$ di$$eren e. I$ Harper '"llied the others lon( eno"(h they d revoke her apprenti e li ense.5n e they voted her o"t# she was done. !here was no (oin( 'a k.Then what* She d have to (et a :o' waitin( ta'les or somethin(. That s so not me.A hitterin( so"nd 'ro"(ht her eyes "pward as a whirl o$ 'ats e2ploded $rom "nder one o$ the!a'erna le s eaves. She wat hed them skitter away into the d"sk# envyin( their $reedom. In thedistan e a thin hor"s o$ howls e hoed in the streets. *oyotes. !hey h"nted every ni(ht# slinkin(aro"nd in pa ks lookin( $or a stray meal to wander their way. !he ity slowly reverted to nat"re slaws.She eyed -e k s ride. It was so him. Who else wo"ld drive aro"nd in a 'attered r"st)red &ord &) FBwith a 3eor(ia state $la( de al in the rear window9 0e2t to that was the o$$i ial !rappers 3"ildem'lem and "nderneath# the "no$$i ial slo(an+Ki kin( Hell s Ass 5ne 4emon at a !ime., A masso$ 'eer 'ottles in the tr" k 'ed rolled aro"nd like 'owlin( pins every time -e k took a orner. He d

'e addin( more to the pile soon eno"(h.She "nlo ked the door and lim'ed in# ea(er to (et o"t o$ the old. !he interior smelled like theowner s leather :a ket. 4i((in( "nder the seat# she retrieved her demon and st" k it in her 'a(. Shei(nored its o$$er o$ a $avor to $ree it and then the "pt"rned middle $in(er. Sometimes the sippy "p stransparent sides weren t a 'lessin(.

ow long will this take* +/"st vote me o$$ the island and move on#, she (ro"sed. I$ it took too lon(she d have to start the tr" k to (et some heat# '"t that wo"ld 'e wastin( (as.!o try to keep her mind o$$ all the drama# Riley raided the (love ompartment. It was a lot likesnoopin( in someone s medi ine a'inets> 1o" learned a lot a'o"t a person that way. !he $irst thin(she $o"nd was the ("n. !hat didn t s"rprise her. !rappers went into ro"(h nei(h'orhoods. She

a"tio"sly p"shed it o"t o$ the way. 0e2t "p was a $lashli(ht. She $li ked it on and spied theondoms. !here were three o$ them and they were marked +e2tra lar(e.,

Riley snorted. +In yo"r dreams., !hen she hit pay dirtthe horndo( s !rappers Man"al.Apprenti es re eived their man"als in se tions as they pro(ressed thro"(h their trainin( to preventthem $rom (oin( a$ter 'i((er demons 'e$ore they were ready. All she had was the se tion a'o"t3rade 5nes# like the -i'lio)&iends. 4enver -e k was a :o"rneyman trapper# one step 'elow amaster. !his man"al had almost all o$ the (ood st"$$# e2 ept the parts on the hi(her)rankin( $iendsand Ar hdemons.Riley hesitated. !hey were (oin( to ki k her o"t# so why 'other9

ut i! they don t 3 She d never (et an opport"nity like this a(ain.She did a mental oin $lip and "riosity won. It always did with her.Riley made s"re the doors were lo ked# then she an(led her 'ody so the $lashli(ht hit the pa(es and

'e(an to read# l"red like the time she d $o"nd her mom s stash o$ sm"tty roman e novels.+3rade !hree demons are territorial and are 'est known $or their a'ility to ompletely ("t and eat ah"man in as little as $i$teen min"tes.,

"ay#e this isn t such a good idea.


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She d :"st started on the se tion on how to trap !hrees when a kno k ame at the window. Riley :"mped. A$ter $ranti ally :ammin( the 'ook and the $lashli(ht into the (love ompartment# shelooked "p. It was Simon# Harper s apprenti e. Em'arrassed at 'ein( a"(ht# she sheepishly lim'edo"t o$ the tr" k.+Sorry I s ared yo"#, he said# steppin( 'a k a $ew pa es# seemin( to "nderstand she needed herspa e. 0ot all ("ys did that. +I tho"(ht I d he k and see how yo" re doin(.,

ere - am with a seriously hunky guy and - m covered in demon pee. +hy does the universe hateme*She tried to r"n a hand thro"(h her hair# '"t the 'anda(e pretty m" h ended that e$$ort. &eelin( shesho"ld say somethin(# Riley stammered# +I was ? was readin(?,A slow (rin rawled onto Simon s $a e as he ad:"sted the omp"ter 'a( on his sho"lder. +? !heman"al. I saw that. -"t it wasn t yo"rs. !oo thi k.,

usted. She sl"mped a(ainst the tr" k. +It s -e k s. 1o" won t say anythin(# will yo"9,Simon shook his head. +I p"lled the same st"nt with Harper s man"al# e2 ept he was the one that

a"(ht me., His $a e darkened at the memory.+4ad doesn t tell me anythin(. I hate it., A moment a$ter she vented# she wondered i$ that was a(ood thin(. *o"ld she tr"st Simon9+Harper s the same way# and then he yells at me when I don t know somethin( he thinks I sho"ld.,Simon $rowned. +I ll make :o"rneyman yet# :"st to prove him wron(.,+I won t. !hey re (oin( to throw me o"t.,+1o" never know#, he said. +Some o$ them were pretty impressed., He pa"sed and then added# +Ithink yo" were awesome.,!hat a"(ht her o$$ ("ard. e thinks - m awesome* +Ah ? thanks%,Simon smiled# and s"ddenly she didn t $eel so old anymore.!hey heard voi es> -e k and her dad were headed in their dire tion# talkin( animatedly. 0either o$them looked happy. -e k was (est"rin(# and she tho"(ht she heard a "rse word or two.Simon 'e(an to ed(e away. +-etter (o. 0i e to meet yo"# Riley#, he said.+1o" too# Simon., Ri(ht 'e$ore he rossed the street# he looked 'a k at her. She waved. !hat madehis smile widen.

e s really cute.Riley hopped into the tr" k to (et the -i'lio that had a"sed all the pro'lems. !he $lashli(ht wasstill on inside the (love ompartment# iss"in( a (low aro"nd the ed(es o$ the door. She h"rriedly$i2ed that pro'lem# then (ra''ed her messen(er 'a(.+I see Simon was keepin( yo" ompany#, her $ather said as he walked "p. +I m (lad he he ked onyo".,!hat made her $eel even 'etter. I$ her dad liked the apprenti e# then he was pro'a'ly okay.+So9 What s the verdi t9, she asked# len hin( her hands into $ists to prepare $or the 'ad news. !heone with the demon 'ite promptly thro''ed in response. +!hey tossed me o"t# didn t they9,+1o" re still an apprenti e# $or the time 'ein(#, her dad anno"n ed. +!he video onvin ed themthere was another demon present# one that yo" weren t 8"ali$ied to trap. !he ne2t time there s a

pro'lem# yo" re o"t.,!hey weren t tellin( her everythin(. +And9, she pressed.Her dad and -e k traded looks.+!here re also san tions a(ainst me#, her dad replied. +I$ yo" lose yo"r li ense I won t 'e a'le totake on another apprenti e $or another year.,+!hat was Harper s little roadside 'om'#, -e k (r"m'led. +Misera'le 'astard.,Riley was st"nned. Her dad was a 'orn tea her# whether it was history lasses in hi(h s hool or

'rin(in( a new trapper "p thro"(h the ranks. 0ot only wo"ld he lose his one :oy in li$e '"t thestipend they paid to train new mem'ers. !hat money 'o"(ht their (ro eries. 0o apprenti e# no $ood.


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It was that simple.+-ottom line# yo" re still in the 3"ild. We ll worry a'o"t the rest later., Her dad p"t his arm aro"ndher. +*ome on# let s (et yo" home.,+1eah# I hear she s (ot homework to do#, -e k hided.She threw him a (lare '"t didn t 'other to reply. He was the least o$ her hassles.

C C C As they pulled o"t o$ the 3ro"nds Gero drive)thr"# Riley s hot ho olate steamed "p the side windowand made her $eel (ood $or the $irst time all day. She had to admit it wasn t only the hot 'evera(e.She was with her dad# and that always made her $eel 'etter. !he $eelin( wasn t (oin( to last. 5n ethey (ot home he d take o$$ with -e k $or another ni(ht o$ trappin(. !hey d 'een tryin( to apt"re a3rade !hree demon down in &ive Points and it kept (ettin( away. 0ow it was a matter o$ pride $or

'oth o$ them.Riley knew it was sel$ish to 'e "pset that he was (one all the time. She knew they needed themoney# '"t sometimes she raved spendin( more time to(ether# even i$ it was trappin( demons. -"tthat wasn t (oin( to happen "ntil she learned to trap a !hree. !hen she and her dad o"ld work as ateam and -e k wo"ld have to $ind someone else to trap with. She wondered i$ -a kwoods -oy had$i("red that o"t yet.Riley poked a'sentmindedly at the rip in her :eans. She wo"ldn t 'other to mend it; ripped :eanswere okay# '"t the (reen demon pee was another matter. It 'lea hed o"t the denim. !here was noway she o"ld a$$ord a new pair.When she set her hot ho olate in the enter onsole# she spied a omp"ter disk ne2t to a pile o$

r"mpled ("m wrappers. Pro'a'ly some o$ her dad s *ivil War resear h. When he had $ree time#whi h wasn t very o$ten# he d (o to the li'rary and "se one o$ their omp"ters. &aster than the onethey had at home# that was $or s"re.+So what is it this time9, she asked# pointin( at the disk. +Antietam or -attle o$ Kennesaw9,He seemed startled at the 8"estion and 8"i kly t" ked the disk into his po ket. +How s this $or adeal9 A$ter I make the rent money I ll take a ni(ht o$$. We ll (et some pi


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with a o"ple o$ his '"ds while talkin( to her on the phone.+It wasn t that m" h $"n in person#, she admitted.+1eah# '"t yo" nailed that little ("y. All that st"$$ $lyin( thro"(h the air looked like somethin( o"t o$Harry Potter%,Peter wo"ld love that kind o$ thin(. He d olle ted all the 'ooks and the movies.+Hold on#, he said. She heard a voi e in the 'a k(ro"nd. !hat wo"ld 'e Peter s mom $indin( o"t

who he was talkin( to. +5kay# I m 'a k#, he said. +It was the warden makin( s"re I hadn t es aped.,Riley looked over at her $ather and then si(hed. She liked talkin( to Peter# '"t her dad wasn t (oin(to 'e aro"nd all evenin(.+Ah# Pete# an I all yo" later9 I m with 4ad ri(ht now# and he s (oin( to have to leave pretty soonand?,+=nderstood. *all me when yo" (et a han e# okay9, her $riend said. +1o" still ro k# 'y the way.,!hen he was (one.Her $ather halted at a stop si(n as an old man p"ttered a ross the interse tion. !ied to his shoppin(

art was a s r"$$y do( totin( somethin( in its mo"th.+1o" see that9, her dad asked.+1o" mean the old ("y9,+1o" don t see the white o"tline aro"nd him9,All she saw was an old ("y with a do(.+He s an an(el#, her $ather e2plained.+0o way%,Riley stared at the man. He looked like any one o$ the other homeless d"des in the ity. +I alwaystho"(ht an(els wo"ld have win(s and wear ro'es or somethin(.,+!hey do. !he ministerin( kind an look like "s# "nless they want to reveal their tr"e $orm.,!he man an(el rea hed the sidewalk# petted the do(# and set o$$ a(ain.+!here are more o$ them in Atlanta now#, her dad o'served.Somethin( in his tone a"(ht Riley s noti e. +Keepin( an eye on the demons. !hat s (ood# ri(ht9,Her $ather shr"((ed. +0ot s"re.,+4o they really do an(el sorta thin(s# like mira les and s" h9,+So it s said., He was silent $or a while# on entratin( on his drivin(. !hen o"t o$ the 'l"e he asked#+1o" and Peter ever (oin( to date9,She 'linked in s"rprise at the 8"estion. +here did that come !rom*+Ah ? no.,+Why not9 He s a ni e kid.,+He s ? Peter. I mean?, She str"((led to ome "p with the 'est e2planation $or what seemedo'vio"s to her. +He s :"st a $riend.,Her dad smiled knowin(ly. +3ot it. I knew a (irl like yo" when I was in hi(h s hool. 0ever on etho"(ht I mi(ht have a thin( $or her.,4ad rarely talked a'o"t his past. She o"ldn t resist. +Who was she9,+1o"r mom., He wa((led his eye'rows at her (roan.+He :"st alls me 'e a"se he s lonely#, she e2plained.+5r 'e a"se he really likes yo".,+1eah# yeah. 0i e try. He d (ot his eye on Simi.,+!he p"nk 'arista at the o$$ee shop9, her dad 8"i


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+How s s hool (oin(9 !hey still have yo" :"niors sit near the dairy ase9, he 8"i


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$oot livin( room and kit henette# a 'athroom# and a tiny 'edroom. A de repit wall "nit o$$eredminimal heat and air) onditionin(. !hey didn t r"n it very o$ten 'e a"se it was too noisy.+hen - m a 'ourneyman, Riley m"sed# we ll move into a nice apartment. She knew what it wo"ldlook likeshe d $o"nd a pi t"re in a ma(a


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An e)mail $rom Peter popped "p. heck this out5 the s"':e t line read.It was a hyperlink to another one o$ her videos. !here were over a h"ndred tho"sand hits on italready.+I m so viral#, she said# (roanin(. 0o way she was (oin( to wat h it. She li ked the pa(e losedand went 'a k to Sherman.More s rat hin(. !hat had to 'e Ma2# Mrs. Litinsky s Maine *oon. He was a (iant o$ a at with a

pat hwork o$ thi k white# 'rown# (ray# and 'la k $"r. His sensitive $eline nose wo"ld 'e tellin( himthere were demons inside the apartment.5penin( the door# she $o"nd the at di((in( at the threshold. Riley knelt# petted him# and she (ot athroaty p"rr in response. Some ni(hts she let him in and he d keep her ompany. -"t not toni(ht.+Sorry. 1o" ll tear the kit hen apart tryin( to (et to o"r stash#, she said. 0ot that the three -i'lios

"rrently ho"sed inside the "p'oard with the anned (reen 'eans a t"ally onstit"ted a stash.!omorrow her dad wo"ld make a r"n to one o$ the lo al demon tra$$i kers# who wo"ld relieve himo$ the $iends in e2 han(e $or old hard ash. !hen Ma2 wo"ld 'e wel ome in the apartment on emore.Riley (ave the at a $ew more "ddles# shooed him o"t# and sh"t the door# makin( s"re to lo k it.Sinkin( into the reaky o$$i e hair# she yawned and a"tio"sly stret hed. Somethin( popped in her

'a k and the a he diminished. *onsiderin( how hard she d landed on the li'rary $loor it wasama


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Riley (ra''ed a sippy "p $rom the "p'oard# one her $ather had spe ially prepared with a layer o$(litter on the 'ottom. When she slowly ed(ed open the door# she $o"nd Ma2 a $ew $eet down thehallway# his $"r on end and his 'a k h"mped. Every whisker 'ristled at attention.!he reason ro" hed near the $loor re(ister. It was one o$ Hell s at '"r(lars. Similar in stat"re to a-i'lio)&iend# the Ma(pie was the same si


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-e k had to admit that &ive Points was one o$ his $avorite trappin( lo ations. +4emon *entral#, asthe trappers alled it# per$e t $or 3rade !hree $iends. !hrees loved the tan(led warren o$ ("tted

'"ildin(s# seemin(ly 'ottomless holes# '"sted on rete# and over$lowin( d"mpsters. !hose $ew '"ildin(s still inta t had metal (ates over every window and door to keep Hell s evil o"tside. It wasthe only part o$ the ity that had m" h metal le$t. It was too dan(ero"s to try to s aven(e down here#tho"(h some $olks tried. All o$ them re(retted it.

Any e2posed on rete sported lon( law marks startin( at $o"r $eet "p# the way !hrees marked theirterritory. !hat and stinkin( piles o$ demon rap a idi eno"(h to melt asphalt. At least the oldweather had "t the sten h a not h.-e k was s"mmonin( their prey on a o"ple o$ levels. !hrees detested *hristmas m"si and

o"ldn t resist ra''it entrails# espe ially i$ they were a 'it ripe. !hey had one)tra k minds> I$somethin( moved# they ate it. I$ it didn t move# they ate it anyway :"st to 'e sa$e. While on the h"nt#whi h was pretty m" h on e it (ot dark# they ripped apart anythin( that (ot in their way. !hey d(rown so $ero io"s that most trappers had a '"ddy alon( as 'a k"p.-e k a"(ht movement near one o$ the o"ntless holes that littered the street. It was a sk"lkin( rat#

pro'a'ly the only one within a s8"are mile. !hat was a side 'ene$it o$ a !hree in$estation> !he ratand pi(eon pop"lation dropped dramati ally.Even tho"(h he was (rowin( impatient# -e k $or ed himsel$ to hold his position. P"llin( o$$ his-raves ap# he smoothed his hair. It was (ettin( sha((y 'y his standards# '"t he didn t have the time$or a hair "t. !he last two (irl$riends had liked the look. 0ot that they h"n( aro"nd lon(# '"t therewas always another one (ivin( him the eye.As -e k waited he swore he o"ld $eel the (ro"nd settlin( all aro"nd him. -"ilt on top o$ what "sedto 'e street)level Atlanta in the nineteenth ent"ry# this part o$ town had 'een sinkin( $or the lastde ade. Holes developed over the old steam va"lts. !hen the holes (ot 'i((er. And 'i((er. !he last

ave)in had 'een near the &ive Points MAR!A Station. With the ity 'ankr"pt# the holes keptenlar(in(. 5nly the demons $o"nd that a 'lessin(.-e k shi$ted his eyes sideways toward the 'attle)s arred d"mpster $i$teen $eet away. Even in the dim(low o$ a sin(le streetli(ht he o"ld see the serene e2pression Pa"l wore when on the h"nt. How hemana(ed that# -e k never "nderstood. It was pro'a'ly why his partner had o"tlived his en o"nterwith an Ar h$iend.

- sure as hell won t.!here was a so"nd near one o$ the holes as a !hree lim'ed o"t o$ whatever lay 'elow.+4emon at one o lo k#, -e k m"rm"red. Pa"l nodded# holdin( his silen e.!he 'east sho"ld have 'een solid 'la k# '"t this one had 'i( white splot hes like a lethal Holstein

ow. Repeated appli ations o$ Holy Water did that to a !hree# like a 'ad 'lea h :o'. !his one hadseen a lot o$ it and was still (oin( stron(.!he slaverin( 'east h"nkered down ne2t to the '"nny 'ait and (o''led the o$$erin( in one ("lp.!hen it looked "p# those laser)red eyes s annin( the terrain $or the real 'ait-e k.+!rappperrr#, it hissed.+4eemonn#, -e k hissed 'a k. He waited $or it to har(e. !hey always har(ed# howlin( andwavin( those s imitar laws. Instead the thin( s paw losed aro"nd a 'eer 'ottle# armin( itsel$. !hatwas a new ta ti . =s"ally they leapt on yo" and kept sli in( "ntil they had yo" on the (ro"nd.+In omin %, -e k ta"nted. He d" ked as the 'ottle $lew 'y him. +Ha% 1a o"ldn t hit yer own $at)assed mama with a throw like that%,+*hew yo"rrr 'ones%, the demon ried# wavin( its $"rry arms a'ove its head like a dementedoran("tan.-e k mirrored the (est"re and then sneered. +1eah# yeah. I$ yer the 'est Hell an do# no wonder yer

'oss (ot ki ked o"tta Heaven.,+0ame not He%, the demon sho"ted# rin(in(.


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!hat was a sore point $or those who were on L" i$er s leash> !hey didn t like to 'e reminded. -e k(ot an idea.+Let s see now# what s his name9, He tapped his $orehead in tho"(ht. +1eah# that s it%, He (rinnedand then started hantin(# +3ive me an L. L% 3ive me a =. =% 3ive me a *?,Enra(ed# the demon sent a volley o$ 'eer 'ottles his way. 5nly one ame lose. -e k e2e "ted ane2a((erated yawn# whi h only in$"riated the $iend $"rther. He o"ld sense Pa"l s disapproval $rom

the dire tion o$ the d"mpster. !he master was never happy when his $ormer st"dent show'oated# ashe alled it. ut damn, this is !un.!he telltale s rape o$ laws a ross the 'roken pavement 'ro"(ht -e k 'a k to reality. He kept hiseyes on the thin( as it s ram'led toward him. !wenty $eet. &i$teen. !en. Sweat 'roke o"t on his$orehead. -e k remem'ered how those laws $elt when they d d"( into him. !he smell o$ ran id

'reath in his $a e. !he li k o$ in isors as they went $or his ne k.+0ow%, he sho"ted# 'randishin( the steel pipe.A lear (lo'e ar ed thro"(h the air and impa ted dire tly on top o$ the reat"re s head. 3lassshattered and Holy Water dren hed the $iend s $"r) overed $a e. !he demon 'e(an to dan e aro"ndlike it was on $ire# swipin( at "nseen enemies. !hen it r"mpled.Pa"l stepped o"t $rom 'ehind the d"mpster# st"dyin( the monster $rom a respe t$"l distan e# anothersphere already in hand.+4amn# yer (ood#, -e k said# ed(in( loser. +I an never hit em when they re r"nnin like that.,+!akes pra ti e. 1o" 'e are$"l#, his mentor "r(ed.+0o pro'lem. I learnt my lesson a'o"t these thin(s., -e k (in(erly prodded the steel into the side o$the demon. It wasn t 'reathin(. Whi h meant it was (ettin( ready to strike.+Heads "p%, he sho"ted. !he $iend was on its $eet in an instant# movin( $aster than he d e2pe ted.5ne o$ its paws lamped onto the pipe. -e k knew 'etter than to keep hold o$ it. He d made thatmistake 'e$ore and 'een p"lled into the other set o$ laws. He s"rrendered the pipe# '"t 'y that timethe demon was already l"n(in( $or him# Hell$ire eyes (lowin(. He ki ked with his steel)toed 'ootand a"(ht the thin( on the sho"lder. As it sp"n aro"nd# one o$ the laws ripped the hem o$ his :eans#

p"llin( him o$$ 'alan e. I$ he hit the (ro"nd he was dead.As it t"rned# another sphere smashed into the !hree s 'a k $"ll on# a"sin( it to shriek and 'at wildlyat the soaked $"r. -e$ore either trapper o"ld rea t# it ra ed toward the losest hole# dove into thedarkness# and disappeared.+Ah# shit%, -e k spat.Pa"l :oined him# slippin( the strap o$ the d"$$el 'a( onto his sho"lder# his $a e radiatin( disapproval.+3o on# say it.,+What s the point9 1o" never listened when yo" were an apprenti e; yo" re not (oin( to now.,-e k waited him o"t. !here was always more.Pa"l shook his head. +1o" an t do it strai(ht# an yo"9 Always a hotdo(. It s (oin( to (et yo" dead#4en.,-e k was "sed to this le t"re. He d heard it o$ten eno"(h.+It s :"st ? never mind., Skatin( on the ed(e made him $eel alive# kept thin(s interestin(. -"t heknew 'etter than to try to e2plain. +!he Holy Water hardly to" hed the thin(. It sho"lda 'een o"t $orat least a o"ple min"tes.,+It s happenin( more o$ten now.,-e k ar hed an eye'row. +Any idea why9,His ompanion shook his head. +0o# '"t I m workin( on that., Pa"l st"died the alley. +We need torethink o"r strate(y# at least $or this demon.,-e k re laimed his pipe. It had $o"r new law marks on it. +1eah# 'i()time.,!hey t"rned and 'e(an to walk to the tr" k# 'oth o$ them on ed(e. It reminded -e k o$ when he was


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in the Army# o"t on patrol. Waitin( $or that $irst '"rst o$ ("n$ire or a th"nderin( e2plosion alon( theroadside. Here it was teeth and laws# '"t the e$$e t was the same. I$ a trapper didn t pay attention#he (ot in:"red or he (ot dead.+!hat &ive at the li'rary today#, Pa"l said o"t o$ nowhere.-e k had wondered when that s"':e t wo"ld ome "p.+Why did it ome a$ter my da"(hter9,

+0o l"e. Anyway ya an keep her $rom trappin $or a while9,+Pro'a'ly not# '"t I an restri t her to 'ein( with one o$ "s. !hat ll keep her sa$e "ntil we (et thissorted o"t.,+-etter not send her o"t with me. She ll $eed me to the $irst !hree she sees#, -e k said# tryin( toli(hten the moment.+She s not (ot a r"sh on yo" anymore# 4en# i$ that s what yo" re worried a'o"t.,+5h# I know that. 0ow she :"st hates me. I don t know whi h is worse., A (r"nt o$ a(reement ame$rom his partner. +1a think the &ive made itsel$ look like one o$ the st"dents9,+!hat s my ("ess. !hey don t han(e $orms very o$ten# '"t it s possi'le. As lon( as it kept its $eet$rom to" hin( the (ro"nd# it o"ld work its evil.,A 'ree


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th"nder lap shook the air# makin( their ears pop. -e k yelped and dropped the steel pipe# "rsin( asli(htnin( sparked o$$ it. Slowly they were p"shed toward the slo''erin( demon. It held its position#its meal 'ein( atered.Pa"l d"( in his d"$$el 'a( and handed a 'l"e (ro"ndin( sphere to -e k. !hen he p"lled one o"t $orhimsel$. +1o" (o le$t#, he ordered. +*o"nt it down.,-e k took a deep 'reath# his ("t twistin( in $ear. +!hree ? two ? one%,

He h"rled the sphere to his le$t as Pa"l sl"n( his in the opposite dire tion. 3lass smashed and thespheres ontents er"pted in a 'la


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remem'ered too m" h. 0i(hts alone in a old room# his mom (one. When she did ome home shewas too dr"nk to know who he was. 0o $ood# not even a h"(. 0i(ht a$ter ni(ht he "rled on the $loorin a makeshi$t 'ed o$ dirty lothes# thinkin( he d done somethin( to make her hate him. 5n his $i$th

'irthday# he remem'ered# his mom had 'een passed o"t on the worn plaid o" h in their livin(room# the man who d ome home with her


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landed so"ndly on his heek. -e$ore she o"ld strike him a(ain# -e k sna((ed her arm and p"lledher "p a(ainst him. !ho"(h she str"((led and swore# she o"ldn t 'reak $ree.+3oddammit#, she heard him whisper.He h"((ed her so ti(htly she o"ldn t 'reathe# then 'roke his em'ra e.=na'le to think o$ what this meant# she shoved him away. Her hands ame away sti ky# imprintedwith 'lood.

It was only then she saw the (o"(es on -e k s $a e and hands# the lon( strips o$ leather missin($rom his :a ket that revealed a shredded !)shirt "nderneath. -oth le(s o$ his :eans were ripped andsti$$ with dried 'lood.!he rational part o$ her e2amined those in:"ries# atalo(ed them and told her that i$ -e k was that

'adly h"rt# her dad wasn t omin( home.Her heart re$"sed to a ept it.

o. e s alive. e ll #e here in the morning and 3With ea h passin( se ond the press"re '"ilt inside her. It oiled aro"nd Riley s hest# $or in( itsel$"p into her throat. She wren hed hersel$ away and $led into the apartment# st"m'lin( into the

'edroom. 5nly then did she let the s ream loose into the depths o$ her pillow# let it rend her throat"ntil she had no more 'reath. !hen the tears ame# streamin( hot# salty. She tried not to let themoverwhelm her# '"t it was no "se. She hoked on her so's# hammerin( the 'ed with her $ists.Ima(es o$ her $ather ame to mindtea hin( her how to ride her $irst 'i y le# om$ortin( her a$tershe took a headlon( t"m'le down a $li(ht o$ stairs when she was $ive# holdin( her hand at hermother s $"neral.

ot this. lease, not him.How lon( she ried she o"ldn t tell; her sense o$ time stripped away. When Riley o"ld $inally

at h her 'reath# she wiped her eyes and 'lew her nose with a wad o$ tiss"es $rom the 'o2 on theni(htstand. !here was the so"nd o$ r"nnin( water in the 'athroom. When it sh"t o$$ she heard thi kso's thro"(h the thin wall.

eck.Her $ather was really (one.Later# when she rolled over in the 'ed she $o"nd -e k sittin( on the hair near the door. His eyeswere swollen# dark red# and he stared at nothin(# "naware that the wo"nds on his $a e were stilloo


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Riley sank onto the 'ed. +I have no one le$t now#, she said. +0o one.,+1a have me.,She (lared him. How o"ld he possi'ly think he was inter han(ea'le with her $ather9 +I don t wantyo"%, she snarled. +I$ yo" really ared $or him# he d 'e alive and yo" d 'e the one who,-e k took a sharp intake o$ 'reath like she d 'roken somethin( inside o$ him. She t"rned her 'a kon him and let the tears $all. A door losed# and then there was silen e.

A $ew min"tes later somethin( to" hed Riley s knee and she :"mped. It was Ma2. He settled ne2t toher# leanin( into her 'ody# p"rrin( as lo"d as she d ever heard him. At $irst she resented his presen e# '"t he kept r"''in( "p a(ainst her. &inally she (ave in and h"((ed him ti(ht. His thi k $"rsoaked "p her tears.+Riley9 I have tea $or yo"# hild#, Mrs. Litinsky o$$ered. Riley pried her $a e o"t o$ the at s $"r. Herelderly nei(h'or stood in the doorway# a "p in hand.+0o ? thanks.,+It is hamomile. It will help yo" rest. !hat is what yo" need ri(ht now.,Knowin( Mrs. Litinsky wasn t easily p"t o$$# Riley sat "p and took the "p. !he her's smelled $reshand they helped "nst"$$ her nose.!he old woman settled on the side o$ the 'ed in a ro'e# her p"re white hair in a 'raid that nearlyrea hed her waist. She seemed almost ethereal# like a $airy. +Mr. -e k has le$t. I "r(ed him to (et hiswo"nds treated. !hey look 'ad.,Then what does %ad look like*Riley nearly hoked at the tho"(ht. She $or ed hersel$ to take a sip. It was hot and tasted sweet# likethere was honey in it. She took another lon( drink# a ompanied 'y the old woman s approvin( nod.+Mr. -e k said to tell yo" he took the demons with him. !hey were makin( onsidera'le noise.,+What9,+!he small ones in the "p'oard#, the woman e2plained.+5h., Whi h was why Ma2 was lo"n(in( on the 'ed rather than tryin( to tear the kit hen apart. Sherea hed o"t and stroked his thi k $"r.+He will stay with yo" toni(ht# keep yo" sa$e#, Mrs. Litinsky said.!hat seemed silly. What o"ld a at do9!he yawn a"(ht Riley "nawares. She $inished the drink and handed the empty "p to her nei(h'or#her hands 8"akin(.+I ll 'e o"t on the o" h#, the woman anno"n ed. +*all i$ yo" need me.,-e$ore Riley o"ld protest# there was the so$t sh"$$le o$ slippers and then the door losed. She$"m'led $or a photo on the ni(htstand. It was one o$ her and 4ad $rom last s"mmer mo"nted in a

pi t"re $rame they d 'o"(ht at a dollar store. It had oran(e kittens r"nnin( aro"nd the ed(e. 4orky# '"t heap.!hey d (one on a pi ni that day# :"st the two o$ them. She d made sandwi hes and "p akes andlemonade. She o"ld almost smell the $resh lemons and see the 'l"e sky draped like a anopy a'ovethem. !he pi t"re had 'een taken 'y a yo"n( man who was there with his new wi$e. !hey d 'een allover ea h other. Her dad was em'arrassed# '"t she d tho"(ht it was "te.Her $ather looked yo"n(er in the pi t"re# ontent# like all the 'ills and worries didn t e2ist. Sheh"((ed the $rame lose to her 'ody# wishin( time had stopped that day in the park. !hen she and herdad wo"ld 'e to(ether a(ain.Ma2 moved loser to her# wed(in( himsel$ "p a(ainst her stoma h# his ri h p"rr rever'eratin(thro"(ho"t her 'ody. She "rled aro"nd him# l"t hin( the photo to her hest. !he last thin( she

o"ld remem'er was him li kin( her hand and her $ather s reass"rin( voi e sayin( that everythin(wo"ld 'e okay.

EI3H!


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Riley woke to ho"sehold noises# the so"nd o$ lankin( pans and water r"nnin( in the sink. Her dadwas makin( her 'reak$ast. He o$ten did that# even tho"(h he was e2ha"sted $rom 'ein( "p all ni(ht.She r"''ed the sleep o"t o$ her eyes# p"


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she said was really important.When his eyes 'e(an to droop# he d (iven her a kiss on the $orehead and (one to 'ed. +Sleepin( inshi$ts, as he alled it. He was a so"nd sleeper# so yesterday she d tried to $ind where he d on ealedhis man"al. He always hid it too well. 0ow she wondered i$ she d ever $ind it.!heir last mornin( to(ether. And neither o$ them had known it.When Riley looked down the $ood was old. 3rease on(ealed on the plate. Somethin( 'eeped and

the noise dra((ed her eyes to her $ather s ell phone t" ked "p ne2t to the salt and pepper shakers.-e k m"st have le$t it $or her. !he low 'attery li(ht was 'linkin( alon( with an o asional warnin(so"nd. &lippin( it open she st"died the messa(es. !he te2t she d sent him a'o"t the Ma(pie sat atthe top o$ the list.He d never had a han e to read it.

C C C

-t was close to two in the a$ternoon when her other visitor arrived. !he woman was a tall 'r"nette#totin( a 'a kpa k with the 3"ild lo(o. Her hair was p"lled into a ti(ht 'raid# and her 'rown eyeswere rimmed with red. She was wearin( 'la k sla ks and a t"rtlene k and one o$ those thi k redins"lated vests.+Riley# I m *armela Wilson#, the woman said. +I m the 3"ild s do tor. I was a ? $riend o$ yo"rdad.,When Riley didn t respond# she added# +4en asked me to he k in on yo".,It took Riley a moment to reali


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+0o way. 1o" re (oin( to 'e the same. He ll 'it h and moan# '"t he ll respe t yo" $or it.,+Ri(ht. 4on t see that happenin(., ot in this li!etime.*armela 'roke the seal on the pint 'ottle o$ Holy Water and handed it over. +!his ll stin(. !hest"$$ s only a day old.,Riley took hersel$ and the 'ottle to the sink and leaned the wo"nd. !he do was ri(ht# the st"$$ wasstron( and it made her win e. !he tri kle o$ the water down the drain 'ro"(ht 'a k memories. How

many times had she treated her dad s wo"nds9 0one o$ them had 'een that 'ad# e2 ept when he d$irst started trappin( and her mom had taken are o$ those. He d always :oke that no demon wo"ldever 'est him.

ut one did.When the plasti 'ottle was empty# Riley ret"rned to the ta'le. !here was more pokin( "ntil the dowas satis$ied with the ondition o$ the wo"nd. &rom what she o"ld tell# it was already losed# onlya thin red ir le le$t where the demon s teeth had met $lesh.

ut what does %ad look like*+1o" saw him a$ter?, she 'e(an# than $altered.*armela s e2pression $lattened. +4en alled me so I o"ld erti$y Pa"l s death., She let loose a lon(si(h and 'linked her eyes rapidly like she was tryin( to hold 'a k tears. +A (lass shard em'edded inhis heart# that s what killed him. It wo"ld have 'een very 8"i k., !he woman s hands $"m'led withthe 'anda(e. +Pa"l looks asleep# not?,

%ead. +What a'o"t the demons9 4id -e k at h them9, 6ill them**armela tidied "p the ta'le 'e$ore she answered# '"yin( time. +0o. !hey only (ro"nded the &ive.!he !hree ripped the hell o"t o$ 4en# '"t he wo"ldn t let it (et near yo"r dad s 'ody. Whi h meansyo" have a de ision to make.,+What de ision9, Riley asked# p"


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Riley stared# horri$ied. +1o" mean have -e k sli e "p my dad9,+It won t 'e 4en#, *armela replied# her voi e ta"t.+4oesn t matter who it is%, Riley $rowned. +*an t we remate him or somethin(9,+State law doesn t allow trappers that option i$ they ve 'een killed 'y a demon. Some nonsensea'o"t ontamination or somethin(.,!his was a ni(htmare.

+So either I sit vi(il or have my $ather ? dismem'ered9, Riley asked. +!hat s so medieval.,+0o ar("ment there#, *armela said. +It s yo"r all. !here are onse8"en es no matter what yo" do.,!here was only one answer. +He (oes in the (ro"nd like he died. I swear to 3od i$ anyone to" heshim,!here was a low si(h o$ relie$ $rom her visitor. +!hat d 'e my all. /"st reali


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+Riley?, he 'e(an.She shook her head. !here was nothin( he o"ld say that wo"ld make it 'etter. I$ anythin(# he donly make it worse. -e k took the hint and $ell silent. As he drove# the only so"nds were the tires onthe pavement and the o asional click$click$click o$ the t"rn si(nal. 0ot m" h di$$erent than whenthey d driven her to the emetery $or her mom s $"neral. 5n that trip -e k sat in the 'a kseat o$ the

ar# his hair so short it made him look 'ald. Every time he d moved# she d heard the sti$$ $a'ri o$

his "ni$orm.!hey parked o"tside 5akland *emetery s main (ate# :oinin( other ars and tr" ks in the parkin( lot.Most o$ the vehi les sported the 3"ild em'lem in their rear windows. Riley (ot o"t o$ the tr" k andt"((ed her dress into pla e. She knew the area $airly well. Sit"ated east o$ the state apitol '"ildin(#the (raveyard was 'ordered on the so"th 'y Memorial 4rive and on the north 'y the MAR!A tra ks.Every $ew min"tes a train wo"ld roll in or o"t o$ the station with a pe "liar whirrin( so"nd.!hey rossed "nderneath the 'ri k ar hway and onto the asphalt road that led alon( the oldestse tion o$ the (raveyard. It d 'een here sin e the JFBs. Some o$ Atlanta s most $amo"s people were

'"ried here# like the lady who wrote Gone with the +ind . And now my dad.-e k leared his throat. +!here ll 'e a short servi e and then the '"rial#, he e2plained. +A$ter that#ya han(e lothes and we ll set the ir le.,+We9,+Simon and me. He o$$ered to stay with ya toni(ht# keep ya sa$e.,!hat she hadn t e2pe ted. Rather than dwell on that# she asked# +How does this ir le thin( work9,+4on t really know#, he said# shakin( his head. +!he ma(i keeps the ne ros $rom s"mmonin yerdaddy# that s all that matters.,As they walked past the red'ri k Wat h Ho"se# she asked# +Why didn t yo" tell me a'o"t thene ros9,He stopped in the middle o$ the road. +I o"ldn t#, he said. +!hat s why I asked *armela to do it. I$ya d wanted him "t "p,+1o" know I wo"ldn t#, she said# st"nned that he d think she d have her own $ather m"tilated tosave a $ew "n om$orta'le ni(hts in a emetery.+I didn t know#, he admitted. +I$ ya d asked me to do it?, -e k shook his head. +0ot possi'le.,+&or either o$ "s.,!hey started walkin( a(ain# the tension 'etween them drainin( away like they d rossed some"nseen 'arrier. Aro"nd them# 'irds settled into the trees# and dried leaves r"stled as a s8"irrel

'o"n ed its way past a row o$ (raves.+1er daddy had a li$e ins"ran e poli y#, -e k said as they $ollowed the road to the le$t. +It ll take awhile $or the money to ome thro"(h. It s not m" h# '"t it ll '"ry him and (ive ya some to live on.,He pa"sed and then added# +5h# and the others took "p a olle tion# 'o"(ht some $lowers $or the$"neral.,Riley s throat ti(htened. +!hanks. I didn t think o$ that.,He (ave her a sad smile. +Me neither.,!he -ell !ower# a two)story '"ildin( that held the emetery o$$i e# was stark white in its simpli ity.As they approa hed# she saw Simon waitin( $or them. Like -e k# he was in a s"it.A$ter a 8"i k look at the other trapper# almost like he was seekin( permission# Simon stepped$orward. +Riley#, he said 8"ietly. Witho"t hesitation# he em'ra ed her. It $elt (ood.+!hanks $or wat hin( over my dad#, she m"rm"red. She $elt a nod a(ainst her heek.+He s down here#, -e k said# (est"rin( to a set o$ stairs that led to a lower level. A$ter a deep

'reath# Riley $ollowed him# her hands knotted aro"nd a '"n h o$ tiss"es she d p"lled $rom her oat po ket.!he sten h o$ the Easter lilies hit her nose the moment she rea hed the door. !here was a 'i( vase o$


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them :"st inside the room. She hated them. !o some they spoke o$ res"rre tion. !o her they meantnothin( '"t death and loss.At the $ar end o$ the room sat a plain pine o$$in on a raised stand. !he lid was losed.

%ad.Riley remained rooted in pla e. She o"ld lie to hersel$ "ntil she saw him in the asket# then allthose lies '"rned away.

-e k leared his throat. +Riley9,+3ive me a min"te#, she said# tho"(h no amo"nt o$ time was (oin( to make this 'eara'le.+It never (ets any easier.,She looked over at him# a"(ht 'y the emotion in his voi e.+I still remem'er my (randdaddy s $"neral#, he said. +I was ten and my "n le ame down toWay ross to pi k me "p. Ha"led me all the way to 0orth 3eor(ia so I o"ld 'e there. I ried like a

'a'y.,+What was yo"r (randdad like9, she asked# "rio"s. -e k never talked a'o"t his $amily.His $a e t"rned tho"(ht$"l. +Elmore was a antankero"s old "ss. Lived "p in the hills and mademoonshine., He looked over at her. +!a"(ht me how to trap s8"irrels and roll i(arettes.,+Skills every ten)year)old sho"ld know.,He shr"((ed. +Some mi(ht not see it thatta way# '"t he was a (ood man. He d tell me I o"ld 'eanythin I wanted., He looked over at the o$$in. +Like yer daddy.,!he thro''in( a he in her heart (rew. +4ad ? really liked yo".,Her ompanion s eyes misted. He swiped at the tears like they were a weakness. +I never wantedanythin '"t to make him pro"d.,Witho"t thinkin(# she took hold o$ his hand and are$"lly s8"ee


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0o matter what she tho"(ht o$ him# her dad had always ared $or 4enver -e k. It looked like thatlove went 'oth ways.

C C C

(iley headed up the asphalt path toward her $amily s ma"sole"m. It was desi(ned like a miniat"re

athedral with a tall spire at the top# and '"ilt o$ reddish stone. !he two 'ron


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Riley shivered at the tho"(ht. In response# -e k p"t his arm aro"nd her sho"lder# thinkin( she wasold. It was deeper than that.

Harrison t"rned toward her. +5 Lord# $ather o$ "s all# please wat h over Riley# as she takes "p the$i(ht a(ainst all that is evil in this world.,+Amen.,As the priest spoke o$ res"rre tion and heaven# they lowered her $ather into the (ro"nd. 4"rin( the

$inal prayer she didn t look down into the (rave# '"t "p at the sky. 4ad was "p there somewhere#wat hin( over her. 0o demon o"ld ever h"rt him now. 5n e the $"ll moon ame# no ne ro o"ldeither. He d kept her sa$e all these years# she d do the same $or him.

- promise.-e k and Simon stripped o$$ their s"it oats and handed them to another trapper. !hen they 'e(an toshovel the dirt into the (rave.+It s tradition#, *armela e2plained. +!rappers have a lot o$ them. Some o$ them even make sense.,-e k didn t (o $or very lon(# his $a e radiatin( pain. /a kson took over as Simon handed his shovelto Morton. And so it went# trapper a$ter trapper# "ntil the entire o$$in was overed in red 3eor(ia

lay.!hen the (ravedi((ers took over. As they ompleted the :o'# the trappers departed in reverse ordero$ seniority. Another tradition# apparently. Stewart s 'a(pipe stirred to li$e# and the strains o$+Ama


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vi(il. +-est (et han(ed. We need to (et the ir le in pla e 'e$ore s"ndown., And then it #egins.

!E0

As Riley peered thro"(h the (rill on one o$ the 'ron


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$rom its nei(h'or.When Riley drew lose# 'oth o$ the trappers looked over at her. -e k s $a e was set in a determinede2pression. Simon s was $"ll o$ ompassion.+1o" really think they ll ome $or him9, she asked.+!hey read the papers :"st like everyone else#, -e k replied.She hadn t even tho"(ht a'o"t that. How 'i( o$ an arti le wo"ld her dad have rated9 &ront pa(e9 o

way. Inside the paper somewhere# pro'a'ly '"ried "nderneath noti es $or lost pets. !rappers onlymade the $ront pa(e i$ they trashed law li'raries.-elatedly# Riley 'e(an to think o$ what this lon( ni(ht mi(ht 'e like. She wasn t that (ood with

'ein( old and sittin( still. 0ever o"ld stand ampin(. !hen there was Simon. She really didn tknow him. What i$ he was reepy or somethin(9 She shoved that tho"(ht aside instantly. Her dadhad tho"(ht he was okay. !hen another worry a"(ht "p with her.+What i$ I?, She si(hed. +What i$ I need to (o to the 'athroom9,-e k didn t smirk like she $i("red he wo"ld. +!here s a toilet in the 'asement o$ the emetery o$$i e.!he door s lo ked. !he ode s in there#, he said# pointin( at a 'ooklet in Simon s hand./h.-e k took a deep 'reath. +Whatever ya do# don t 'reak the ir le. I$ ya ki k over a andle or walkthro"(h the ir le witho"t doin it proper# it s history. 1a "nderstand9,She nodded.+4o ya really "nderstand9, he pressed.She (lowered. +I m not slow.,Simon s (rin 8"i kly vanished when the other trapper noti ed it.+It s not that easy. !he ne ros play all sorts o$ head (ames., -e k looked over at Simon. +1o" re in

har(e.,Riley (ro"nd her teeth.+I ll keep them 'oth sa$e# I promise#, Simon said diplomati ally.+-e s"re ya do., -e k t"rned on his heels and mar hed o$$ toward the tr" k# $"eled 'y someemotion Riley o"ldn t $athom.+/erk#, she m"ttered.+He s okay#, Simon replied. +He s :"st worried a'o"t yo" and yo"r dad.,!he yo"n( trapper lit a kerosene lantern and set it on a $lat pie e o$ (ro"nd. +He says yo" ve neverdone this 'e$ore. Is that ri(ht9,She nodded. +Mom died o$ an er. It wasn t pretty.,His eyes so$tened. +I m sorry., She shr"((ed like it wasn t a 'i( deal# '"t she was lyin(.+Everythin( yo" need is in here#, he said# (est"rin( at the 'ooklet. +!here are sample invo ations#or yo" an "se one that has spe ial meanin( to yo".,+Like9,+Some people all the ir le into e2isten e 'y invokin( the names o$ the Ar han(els# others "se$oot'all teams. It s the intention that o"nts.,

-ntention. +5hhkay.,+A ne ro s power is stron(est at ni(ht# so yo" have to reset the ir le ea h s"ndown. 4oesn t matteri$ it s rainin( or whatever.,+What happens d"rin( the day9, she asked.+!he emetery has vol"nteers who sit vi(il d"rin( the dayli(ht ho"rs.,+Ah# does that ost anythin(9, she asked. Money was more o$ an iss"e than ever 'e$ore.+!he 3"ild pays $or it. !hey don t have eno"(h $"nds to over twenty)$o"r seven. !hey $i("re the$amily will 'e here at ni(ht.,+3ot it., She p"


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spell doesn t work ri(ht.,+5h. So# how does this all work9, she asked# (rowin( more nervo"s 'y the min"te. What i$ shes rewed somethin( "p9Simon looked down at the 'ooklet and then pointed at a (allon plasti :"(. +R"n a line o$ HolyWater :"st inside the andles.,Riley 'roke the seal# twisted o$$ the ap# and dri''led the water as instr" ted. H"n hed over like a

(nome wasn t a om$orta'le position# so 'y the time she d made the entire ir le her 'a k was 'e(innin( to ramp.+0ow yo" do it a(ain in the other dire tion.,Riley (roaned and did as he asked.+!hese aren t ordinary andles#, she said# st"dyin( one. !he wi k looked more like a oiled metalrope than twisted $i'er. !he andle was short# like a votive.+0o# they re spe ial. !he emetery has more o$ them i$ yo" want to e2pand the ir le. !hey don t

har(e $or them# '"t they wo"ld appre iate a donation.,He went 'a k to the instr" tions. +Move the andles onto the ir le o$ Holy Water. Make s"rethey re the same distan e apart.,More 'endin(. When she stopped to rest# Simon "r(ed her on. !he s"n was almost (one.+Per$e t%, he said. +0ow li(ht every other andle# clockwise, while I re ite the invo ation. 5n eyo" re done# li(ht the remainin( andles in the opposite dire tion. 4on t pa"se in 'etween. Andwhatever yo" do# don t say a word "ntil I ve ompleted the invo ation.,Riley sort o$ $reaked# tryin( to remem'er all the instr" tions.He (ave her a reass"rin( smile. +4on t worry# yo" ll do okay.,+What are yo" (oin( to say9,+!he Lord s Prayer.,She took a deep 'reath and 'e(an to li(ht every other andle. Her hand kept shakin(# the demon 'ite

a"sin( her $in(ers to ramp. !he wi ks $lamed in a s"dden '"rst# then settled into a lear whiteli(ht. -ehind her# Simon s stron( voi e $illed the ni(ht air# slowly intonin( !he Lord s Prayer inEn(lish and Latin.

ater noster, =ui es in caelis,5"r &ather# whi h art in heaven#&anti!icetur nomen tuum 3Hallowed 'e !hy name ?

He didn t st"m'le over the Latin# '"t so"nded like he was 'orn to it. A$ter she d lit all the andlesRiley went still# a$raid o$ doin( somethin( st"pid and r"inin( everythin(.Simon raised his arms to the heavens. +-y the 'lessin( o$ 3od# His 5nly Son# and His holy an(els#let all inside this san ti$ied ir le 'e sa$e $rom harm. Amen.,+Amen#, she whispered and then (rima ed. She wasn t s"pposed to talk. Had she messed it "p9!o her relie$# a 'rilliant $lash o$ li(ht leapt $rom andle to andle "ntil the entire ir le was 'la


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Simon rose# walked to the ir le s 'o"ndary# m"rm"red somethin( "nder his 'reath# and steppedover the andles.+5kay. So how do yo" (et 'a k in9,+1o" have to (ive me permission to enter., -e$ore she o"ld ask how# he pointed at the 'ooklet.+Pa(e $ive# last para(raph.,Riley $o"nd the passa(e and read# +I$ yo" mean no harm# then pass within.,

Simon stepped a ross the andles and ret"rned to his pla e on the sleepin( 'a(.+And i$ yo" were a 'ad ("y?,+!he ir le wo"ld not let me in.,+How does it know who s a 'ad ("y9,He shr"((ed. +It s a lot like a Holy Water ward. Evil thin(s stay away.,&ounds really i!!y to me. ut i! &imon and eck #elieve in this circle thing, there must #e somethingto it.+What i$ I a identally 'reak it9,+!hen yo" start all over# ri(ht a$ter yo" set the andles. 5h# and every ni(ht yo" have to move the

andles away $rom the ori(inal ir le o$ Holy Water. Most $olks make it a 'it smaller.,So many thin(s to remem'er. +What i$ it rains9, she 8"i


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+She wo"ldn t (o $or that. She 'lames my dad $or Mom s death# like he personally planted thean er in her or somethin(. 0asty woman. I an t live with her. 0o way.,

+!hen who will yo" stay with9, Simon prodded.+I don t know. !here is no one else.,+Well# I m s"re -e k will help as 'est he an.,!here was the so"nd o$ $ootsteps. !he man approa hin( them was as short as he was wide. His

tren h oat almost rea hed the (ro"nd# and he wore a $edora.+Is he a ne ro9, Riley whispered.+I d say it s a (ood 'et#, Simon replied. +-e on yo"r ("ard. !hey an 'e tri ky.,!he man stopped :"st o"tside the ir le o$ andles and tipped his hat.+3ood evenin( to yo"#, he said.+3ood evenin(#, Simon replied. He was polite to everyone# even someone who sold orpses $or alivin(.+My name is Mortimer Ale2ander and I am a li ensed s"mmoner#, the new omer anno"n ed

pro"dly.+4arn. I d hoped yo" were the pi


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Riley si(hed in relie$. +Well# that s over.,Simon shook his head. +Like he said# he s the $irst o$ many.,+Why9, she asked# s"rprised.+Ri h $olks like to olle t "ni8"e thin(s. In this ase# it d 'e a $amo"s master trapper as theirservant. 0o one else wo"ld have one# so that wo"ld make him very spe ial.,

%amn. +0o wonder people have the orpses "t "p.,

Simon shot her a horri$ied look. +0o% What yo" did was ri(ht. M"tilation is "nholy#, he retorted#then appeared ha(rined at his o"t'"rst. +Sorry# it s a hot '"tton $or me.,+Really9, she :ested.+1eah#, he admitted. +At least yo" ve only (ot twelve more ni(hts o$ this.,Riley rolled her eyes at the tho"(ht. !welve loooon( ni(hts $illed with lyin( ne roman ers# a old

'"tt# and no sleep.Thanks a #unch, %ad.

ELEDE0

+What ha want9, the 'artender asked# his tattooed 'i ep anno"n in( to the world he was +5ne o$!he &ew. !he Pro"d.,

A "arine. -e k had never really liked the &emper 7i rowd# '"t at least he knew how they d a t.+Shiner -o k#, he replied. +Start a ta'.,+0eed to see some I4.,-e k $rowned. +I m le(al.,+4on t do"'t it# '"t it s the law now#, the man replied. +3otta ard everyone# even i$ they ome inhere "sin( a (oddamn walker.,-e k $ished o"t his driver s li ense and tossed it to the 'artender. !he ("y (ave it a 8"i k look andhanded it 'a k. +1o" look older. I d have $i("red yo" $or thirty.,+1a an 'lame the Army $or that.,+Where d yo" serve9,+A$(hanistan.,+Shit#, the man replied# (rinnin( now. +0o har(e $or the $irst 'eer. I was over there# too.,!he 'artender pla ed a 'ottle o$ Shiner -o k on the 'ar. He rea hed $or a (lass# then han(ed hismind.+3ood all#, -e k m"ttered. He raised the 'eer in the air. +!o those who didn t make it home., Hetook a swi( and then raised the 'ottle a(ain. +And to Pa"l -la kthorne. Rest in pea e., !hen hedowned hal$ o$ it in one lon( ("lp to ease the a he.+!hat the ("y who died down in &ive Points9, the 'artender asked.+1eah. He was (ood people., Good people always die sooner than the assholes.+1o" a trapper9, the man asked# eyein( him.

o reason to deny it. +1eah.,+I don t hold m" h with trappers.,+I m not $ond o$ :arheads# so we re even#, -e k replied.!he 'artender snorted. He pi ked "p a (lass o$ S ot h $rom the 'a k 'ar and raised it hi(h. +!othose who made it home.,+Amen#, -e k said# raisin( the 'ottle a(ain# then downed the rest.+0o tro"'le# yo" hear9,+0one planned. /"st wanna (et dr"nk# may'e (et laid. In that order.,+So"nds (ood#, the 'artender replied. +1o" want another9,+Hell# yes.,!his was his se ond 'ar. -e k had started the evenin( at the Si2 &eet =nder P"' &ish Ho"se# the


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trappers $avorite waterin( hole. He d stayed there $or a o"ple o$ drinks to honor Pa"l# as was"stom# then de ided he didn t want 'e there anymore. 4idn t want to 'e aro"nd i$ anyone a "sed

him o$ not doin( ri(ht 'y his $riend. 0ot that any o$ them had. !hey all knew 'etter# '"t that didn tmean they weren t thinkin( it. He was# so why wo"ldn t they 'e doin( the same9!his 'ar wasn t one o$ his "s"al ha"nts '"t they had his $avorite 'eer. -y the time he was on hissi2th 'ottle# there were two voi es ompetin( $or his attention> Pa"l s was na((in( a'o"t how he

sho"ld 'e workin(# not drinkin(. How he had responsi'ilities now# at least when it ame to Riley.Responsi'ility wasn t as stron( a messa(e as the anore2i redhead sittin( ne2t him# talkin( dirty.Real dirty. It was $irin( him "p# and that he didn t mind. It kept him $rom thinkin( a'o"t anythin(that h"rt deep down.+*ome on# let s (et o"t o$ here. !ake me to yo"r pla e#, she "r(ed# movin( her hand a 'it loser towhere it o"nted. Her hair was a mi2 o$ 'rassy olors# and her eyes (lassy $rom too m" h 'oo


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a l" rative '"st# what with that new law. 0ot only did they toss yo" in :ail '"t they took yo"r vehi leand sold it to pay the towin( and o"rt osts. A tho"sand)dollar $ine and a $ive)tho"sand)dollartr" k9 Somehow the 'ankr"pt ity never 'othered to pay yo" the di$$eren e.A $ew years a(o he wo"ld have risked it# wo"ldn t have (iven a damn# '"t now he had Riley toworry a'o"t.-e k (roaned. +4ammit# how d I (et into this mess9,

y not saving aul . It all ame down to that. 0ow Riley was his responsi'ility# at least "ntil she wasei(hteen or one o$ her $amily stepped "p and took har(e o$ her. Like he knew anythin( a'o"t playin( 'i( 'rother to some (irl.-e k p"lled himsel$ o"t o$ the tr" k# lo ked the door# and headed $or the nearest Stop n Ro' on$oot. 5n e there he s o"red the aisles# steerin( lear o$ the old ("ys '"yin( i(arettes. He didn tknow how they a$$orded them# not at a h"ndred a arton. !hat had made it easy $or him to ki k theha'it.He needed to (et 'a k in the (ame toni(ht# '"t trappin( while '" &ind the $" kin( demon who d killed his $riend and waste the thin(. It was an insane plan# '"t-e k didn t are.+I m (onna arve ya "p# ya 'astard. Send a messa(e to Hell.,!o do that he d have to work the lower ranks o$ demons "ntil one o$ them s8"ealed on the &ive#(ave him an idea where to $ind it. He knew Pa"l wo"ldn t want him :onesin( $or reven(e# '"t hedidn t are. -e k wanted pay'a k.

And not 'ust !or the kid.

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-n a !ew short ho"rs Riley knew one thin( $or s"reshe needed earpl"(s. &rom what she o"ld tellea h ne ro had a di$$erent sales pit h# like in$omer ials. As predi ted# Mortimer was the ni est. !hene2t $o"r had (rown in reasin(ly mali io"s. All '"t Mortimer tried to 'rea h the ir le and went


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away with s or hed shoes and a 'ad attit"de.-y the $inal visitor she was so 'it hy# so sleep deprived# she d told him o$$ even 'e$ore he d openedhis mo"th. !hat had earned her a pro$anity)la ed rant that wo"ld have impressed a rapper. Simons"r(ed to his $eet and told the ("y to 'low o$$# witho"t "sin( "rse words. !o her s"rprise# the ne rohad done :"st that.A$ter his rare $lash o$ an(er# her ompanion went to sleep# "rled "p in a sleepin( 'a(# his hand

thrown over his $a e like a at. Every now and then he m"rm"red to himsel$# tho"(h she o"ldn tmake o"t the words.M" h to Riley s annoyan e# she had to wake him a $ew ho"rs later. It was either that or she d wethersel$.+I ll stay awake "ntil yo" ret"rn#, he said# still hal$ asleep. +-e are$"l.,She took a deep 'reath and did e2a tly as he d said# win in( as she stepped over the (lowin( line.

0othin( happened '"t a 'rie$ $li ker and that stran(e poppin( so"nd in her ears# like she d rossedsome "nseen 'arrier. Riley tr"d(ed o$$ to the emetery o$$i e. It was spooky. !he Di torians were

'i( into sym'ols# like weepin( an(els and o'elisks to represent res"rre tion and eternal li$e. !hatonly added to the reep $a tor. It was really dark with no moon. !he $aint r"stle o$ leaves made hert"rn aro"nd more than on e. All that was needed was a thi k $o( and a 'ayin( wol$ and it d 'e thest"$$ o$ slasher $ilms.A$ter she ret"rned and Simon allowed her entran e# he slipped aro"nd the rear o$ the ma"sole"m $ora 8"i k pee.Guys have it so easy.When he ret"rned he 'e(an to talk a(ain. +-e are$"l when yo" re here on yo"r own. 0e roman ers

an pretend to 'e emetery employees# ops# yo" name it. !hey try to on yo" into 'reakin( their le or invitin( them inside. 0ot everyone in the emetery is a$ter yo"r dad s 'ody. -"t I ve heard

tales# yo" know9,She sti$led the shiver. His warnin(s delivered# Simon "rled "p and $ell asleep. She wished she

o"ld. Instead# Riley sn"((led in the sleepin( 'a( and stared "p at the ni(ht sky. A h"ntin( owlwin(ed 'y a $ew times# then per hed in a near'y tree to anno"n e his territory. She wat hed him $ora lon( time. He seemed to 'e doin( the same o$ her.When a mo"se skittered a ross the path# he was all '"siness. With an e2pert (lide and lethal talons#he olle ted his startled meal.Her 'a k 'e(an to ramp# so she rose and walked to her mom s (rave. !he $lowers they d le$t a

o"ple o$ weeks a(o were withered now# vi tims o$ the ni(ht $rosts. Riley knelt and 'r"shed awaythe dried leaves that overed the plain (ranite headstone. It was nearly three years sin e MiriamHenley -la kthorne had le$t them. !here wasn t a day she d not 'een missed. Riley moved to herdad s (rave# the smell o$ $resh earth $illin( the air aro"nd her. !he $lowers on top o$ the mo"ndedearth were tipped with a thin layer o$ $rost.Mom was pro'a'ly waitin( $or him on the other side. Riley rinkled "p her $a e. !hat won t 'e a(ood meetin(. As her mother lay dyin(# she d made her dad promise to keep Riley sa$e. 0ow theirda"(hter was on her own.Yeah, "om is going to #e severely pissed.She to" hed the old dirt# thinkin( o$ her $ather lyin( "nderneath it.They re together now. It didn t help. !hey were to(ether and she was all alone. 0o one le$t to la"(hat her :okes# hold her. Love her.A 'ottomless pit opened in $ront o$ her# and a hoked so' es aped her throat# then another as warmtears o"rsed down her heeks. She 'ent almost do"'le# ryin( $or hersel$ more than her parents.Someone to" hed her and she :"mped. It was Simon. He didn t say a word# '"t opened his arms toher. She $ell into them and ontin"ed to weep. He m"rm"red om$ortin( words# '"t she didn t"nderstand them. What mattered most was that he was holdin( her. When she o"ld no lon(er o$$er


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"p any tears# she p"lled away $rom him and 'lew her nose# em'arrassed she d lost it in $ront o$ him.+Sorry ? I?,+!hey know yo" love them and that yo" miss them. !hat s what s important.,+I don t know what I m (oin( to do#, she admitted.+1o" ll $ind yo"r way. I know yo" will.,Simon took her hand and led her to the sleepin( 'a(s. He t" ked her in. He lim'ed into his own

'a( and wi((le)wormed over "ntil their sides to" hed. P"llin( his arm o"t# he had her rest her headon his sho"lder. She sn"((led in# (rate$"l $or his kindness.+1o"r arm is (oin( to $ree


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was.A man walked "p to the line o$ andles and (ave a toothy smile.+3ood mornin(. My name s Rod. I m here $or the day shi$t. 1o" Miss -la kthorne9,+=h)h"h.,+3lad to meet yo". 4on t worry# I ve 'een doin( this $or years. 0o 'ody s 'een stolen on mywat h.,

+!hat s (ood to hear., (eally good to hear.!he vol"nteer waited "ntil Simon iss"ed the invitation# then he stepped over the andles. !hey$li kered and ret"rned to normal.Riley let o"t a si(h o$ relie$.!he new omer h" ked o$$ his oat# revealin( a heavy sweatshirt. He set "p a amp hair anddropped a 'a( marked +Di(il S"pplies, ne2t to it.+!hose are $or toni(ht when yo" reset the ir le.,+!hanks#, she said. She hadn t even tho"(ht that $ar.5"t o$ his 'a kpa k ame a newspaper opened to the s"dok" pa(e# $ollowed 'y a pen il and a 'i((reen thermos.Thermos e=uals hot chocolate. She made a note to 'rin( one.While he was settlin( in# Riley rolled "p the sleepin( 'a(s as her ompanion $olded the 'lanket. -ythe time she was ready to leave the vol"nteer was already in his hair# paper on his lap.+So who showed "p last ni(ht9, he asked heer$"lly.+5ne ("y named Mortimer and some others who didn t say who they were. !hey swore at me a lot.,!he vol"nteer 'roke o"t in a smile. +&i("red Mort wo"ld stop 'y. -est o$ a 'ad lot.,+So I noti ed.,+/"st make s"re yo" re here 'e$ore s"ndown. I$ there s an emer(en y# all the o$$i e and let themknow.,+3ot it.,Riley (in(erly rossed the ir le# ears poppin( on e a(ain. She do"'ted she d ever (et "sed to that.A$ter she d stashed the sleepin( 'a(s and 'lanket in the ma"sole"m# she lo ked the door. 5"t o$ha'it she (ave them a $irm rattle to make s"re they were se "re.Simon $ell in step with her as she headed $or the parkin( lot.+*on(rat"lations. 1o" ve s"rvived yo"r $irst ni(ht., He so"nded (en"inely pro"d o$ her.+1eah# I did., !hen it dawned on her. +4o yo" have wheels9,A nod. +-e k asked me to drop yo" at home. Said he d 'e too tired this mornin( to do it.,Tired* o way. e ll #e hung over. You can #et on that.In a $ew short min"tes she was headed toward her apartment in a ar with a St. *hristopher s medalhan(in( $rom the rearview mirror and a stat"e o$ St. /"de on the dash. A$ter she (ave him dire tions#he went 8"iet. She was (ettin( a "stomed to her es ort s len(thy silen es# so it didn t tro"'le her.It was only when he p"lled into a parkin( lot near the $ront o$ the apartment '"ildin( that he spoke"p. +Looks like an old hotel.,+It was. !hey onverted it to apartments a $ew years 'a k. It s nothin( $an y.,+At least it s a home#, he said. +I$ yo" need help toni(ht# all -e k.,!hat so"nded like he was happy to 'e rid o$ her. +!ired o$ me already9, she asked# h"rt.+5h# no# I m sorry#, he said# em'arrassed. +!hat ame o"t wron(. I have to trap with Master Harpertoni(ht# so -e k said he d 'e a'le to help yo".,

ackwoods oy* o way. +I ll 'e okay on my own. !hanks $or showin( me what to do.,She p"lled hersel$ o"t o$ the ar. It took a lot o$ e$$ort. Sleepin( on the (ro"nd was $or little kids.Simon rolled down the window. +/"st don t listen to the ne ros. !hey re as 'ad as the demons.,She p"t her hand on his arm. +!hanks $or everythin(. I mean it.,+0o pro'lem.,


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Ri(ht 'e$ore he t"rned onto the street# he (ave a wave. She ret"rned it.+hat a cool guy.Riley $or ed hersel$ a ross the parkin( lot and "p the stairs. She o"ld still remem'er when they dmoved into the apartment. It d 'een a 'la


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+Simon. She s home sa$e.,He si(hed in relie$. +!hanks# man# I owe ya.,+I didn t mind it a 'it.,-e k $lipped the phone losed and $rowned. +-et ya didn t.,He wasn t 8"ite s"re what he tho"(ht o$ Simon Adler. /"st 'e a"se he was reli(io"s didn t mean hemi(ht not hit on Riley. Any ("y wo"ld. She was real pretty. 0o i(norin( that $a t.

+I$ thin(s were di$$erent# I mi(ht have asked her o"t mysel$., ut not now.-e k settled 'a k a(ainst the seat and losed his eyes# i$ nothin( more than to keep the in reasin(s"nli(ht o"t o$ them. In the distan e he heard a (ar'a(e tr" k pi k "p one o$ those 'i( d"mpstersand 'an( the hell o"t it. A$ter a lon( yawn# he did the perimeter s an a(ain. !his time the lot wasn tempty.+4"des at ten o lo k#, he said# shi$tin( his position. He moved his steel pipe loser to him on theseat and then did the same with his SI3 Qmm. !he pipe was the $irst resort# the ("n the very last.He was in a part o$ town where people ame in two kindspredator and prey. He knew where hestood# '"t some o$ the lo als mi(ht not have (otten the memo. Like the three (an('an(ers who weresa"nterin( toward the tr" k. +=r'an yo"th#, as Pa"l alled them. !hey o"ld 'e poster kids $orm"ltiethni Atlantaone white# one 'la k# and one 'rown.

All stupid. He o"ld ("ess that m" h $rom their swa((ers. !hey were wearin( the latest $ashion#their :eans p"lled down over their hi(h)tops with lon( red la es woven "p the le( and tied 'elow theknee. !he olor o$ the la es was s"pposed to tell yo" what (an( they 'elon(ed to. -e k didn t are.!hey were all losers to him.!hey started la"(hin( amon( themselves and pointin( in his dire tion. Pro'a'ly $i("red he was adr"nk# snoo


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-e k strolled "p to where the swit h'lade rested on the on rete. He pi ked it "p.+Sweeeet#, he said# (rinnin(. +And it s all mine.,

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lose to nine in the mornin( -e k wearily lim'ed the stairs to &ireman /a k s o$$i e in the old $ire

station. !he demon tra$$i ker was 'ehind his desk# a steamin( m"( o$ o$$ee in $ront o$ him. His 'ar'er)pole s"spenders made a ni e ontrast to the 'la k hamois shirt and 'l"e :eans. A thi k sta ko

The Demon Trapper's Daughter - Jana Oliver

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