Linsey Hall [Hall - Trial by Fae

My blade sank into the demons chest like a fork through a perfect piece of cheesecake. Except grosser.

I crouched over his collapsed body and twisted the dagger, grinning into his sneering face. And thats what you get for trying to eat children in my neighborhood.

The dagger tore up his heart as it moved. His mouth slackened and his eyes went dark. The big body beneath mine went totally limp. Dead.

Good.

I climbed off of him and left the blade in his chest. You can keep that.

It was his, after all. The way I saw it, there was poetry in killing demons with their own blades. And Id been a demon slayer for a while now, so I needed a challenge to keep things interesting.

The city street was silent as I made quick work of checking his body for charms or weapons. Demons often carried valuable loot, and I wouldnt leave it behind. I patted down pockets and even flipped him over, wincing at the pain in my shoulder. Hed landed a good blow earlier, but it would heal by morning.

My hand landed on a small lump in his pocket, and I pulled out the little stone.

Bingo. I shoved the transportation charm into my pocket and hopped up.

I put a hard butterscotch candy into my mouth and sucked. My sister called them my old-lady candies, but I didnt care. Id quit smoking, and they kept me sane.

You get him? Aeri, my sister, called from the other side of the street.

I turned, spotting her stepping out from a shadowed alley, her white ghost suit speckled with blood. The ghost suit was just sturdy white tactical trousers and a top, but it had the ability to make her invisible. Totally badass.

Aeris pale hair whipped in the wind, and her blue eyes met mine from across the street. This part of Magics Bend was called Darklanenamed for the dark magic practitioners who lived here. Aeri and I had made it our home ever since wed escaped Grimrealm as kids.

I gestured to the demon at my feet with both hands and said wryly, Ta-da. Dead and dusted. You get yours?

Nabbed the bastard at the end of the alley. She strode across the street to join me. I got what info I could out of him. I think they were the only two stalking the city.

Good. Nothing like a job well done. Id report to the Council of Demon Slayers that wed finished the job theyd given us. I swung an arm around her shoulder. Now I need a drink. The sun is coming up, and its just about my bedtime.

A grin tugged at her mouth. Lets do it. Fates know we earned it.

I gave the demon at my feet one last look. His body was already starting to disappear. If anyone else had killed him, hed return to the underworld from which hed come. Eventually hed probably try to get back to earth.

But not this mean bastard. He was dead and gone forever, because I was a demon slayer, granted special powers by the Council.

Aeri and I walked toward our house, which was only a few blocks down from where wed finally found the demons. The houses were quiet and dark as we passed, the Oliver Twistian street lamps flickering golden in the darkness. Most Darklaners were in bed, tucked behind the grimy facades of the ornate Victorian row houses that this neighborhood was famous for.

We reached our place, a grime-covered, once-purple Victorian structure that looked almost haunted. In our defense, we werent slobs. Dark magic gave off a sooty substance over time, and it coated every building on the historic street, giving it a haunted Olde England feel. The buildings were all squished so close together that most of them shared walls. In the sun, you could see hints of the colors that the houses had once been, but that was rare.

It suited Aeri and me.

I led the way, climbing the short flight of stairs to the front door and disengaging the protection charms. I stepped into the elaborately decorated foyer of the main house. This was where we greeted visitors and did our Blood Sorcery businessa little side gig to the demon slayingand the black velvet floral wallpaper suited the look. In reality, Aeri and I each had secret apartments on either side of the main house. Almost no one knew about them, not even our friends.

To say that we were secretive was an understatement, but we had good reason. We were Dragon Bloodsrare supernaturals who could make new magic. Any kind of new magicstuff so powerful it could destroy the world. So rare that we were myths to most people.

The downside was that the government would happily toss us in the Prison for Magical Miscreants because we could be a threat. That was, if they didnt try to capture us and force us to use our powers for their own benefit. Turning us into weapons that could potentially destroy the world. Just like my aunt and uncle had tried to do before wed escaped. Just like our childhood friend had tried to do when we were teenagers. My first real friend on the outside world, and shed revealed our secrets to those who would hurt us.

Because of that, no one outside of our tiny, trusted circle knew what we were. No one could ever know.

Id lived that life before, and Id die before Id go back.

Ive got time for a quick drink, Aeri said. Then Ive got to meet Declan.

I turned to her and waggled my eyebrows. Big date?

She grinned. Yep. Brunch.

Last month, Aeri had met the love of her life, a fallen angel. I liked him a hell of a lot, and if I missed Aeri when she went on her dates, I sure as hell didnt say so. She deserved to be happy.

Then come on. One quick one and you go get cleaned up for your date. I shuddered dramatically. In the morning.

Just because youre nocturnal doesnt mean we all are.

I laughed and led her toward my apartment, which hid behind a door that no one but she or I could see. Inside, each piece of furniture was a random antique and every bit of fabric a different color. Since I generally wore all black when out in the world, it was a nice change. There was a pile of knitting on the couch, which was one of my closest held secrets. It really didnt fit with my outside image, but everyone needed a hobby, right?

Aeri and I settled in the cluttered little kitchen, and I whipped up our drinks. I grilled her on her plans with Declan, enjoying our time together. For years, itd just been me and her against the world. I was glad Declan was around, but I liked our sister time as much as ever.

By the time wed finished our drinksa Manhattan for me, a martini for herI was ready to get my beauty sleep.

Aeri split for her place, and I headed into my bathroom, then stared into the mirror.

Fates, I look rough.

Though my eyes were tired and my skin pale, my black eye makeup was still impeccable, thanks to a special spell. It streaked around my eyes and over the bridge of my nose, sweeping back toward my temples like a mask.

A bit like Zorro, really.

And that was the point. It was meant to hide me.

Hide me from the past. From the family who had kept me and Aeri captive as children because of what we were. Theyd forced us to use our Dragon Blood powers for their purposes. Theyd try to do it again if they found us. Others would as wellwe knew that from experience. We were the perfect weapons.

I shook away thoughts of the past and climbed into the shower. It was the one part of the apartment that Id cared enough to modernizeall stone and chrome with a waterfall showerhead.

Ten minutes later, I climbed out of the shower, hearing Aeri shout goodbye and slam out of the house. How she had any desire to go places in the morning, I had no idea. I slipped into a robe and headed for the bedroom. I took my time putting away my fight wear and finally settled into bed. I fell asleep almost immediately.