Page 40 of A Hail From Hell: Vol 1
Evan’s head whipped up, eyes widening. “No…”
Rhea tilted her head with a smile. “Oh, yes.”
6. Blood Contract
Acloud of white wafted from Evan’s nostrils as he took a long drag from his cigarette. He kicked a tiny stone out of his way, strolling down the busy streets of Emberlyn. A few familiar faces passed by him, some offering a tight nod, others turning away and avoiding him like the plague.
Evan kept his eyes downcast, not enjoying either of those reactions. His mind was preoccupied with the thoughts of…well, nothing. The weight of the book in his left hand and the warmth of the ring on his right clashed intensely, fighting for his attention, which was scattered all over the place.
What specifically would he focus on anyway? That he was dealing with ademon? A damned, inhuman monster from the depths of hell? Or the fact that he’d let him loose on the town?
Even though Evan had a feelingthatdemon wouldn't harm people senselessly, it was a whole other matter. A topic he wasn't ready to address anytime soon.
But—if not anything else—Rhea was clear about one thing before she sent Evan away. Demons couldn’t be exorcised like human spirits. They weren’t going to theother sidebecause their other side was basically hell, and it was difficult to believe anyone—even a demon—would willingly want to go there.
Then how would he get rid of the demon?
Apparently, those answers were in the book.
Stomping on the cigarette butt outside, Evan entered the bakery he frequented every week, and the old lady at the counterperked up upon noticing him. Her hunched shoulders slightly straightened, wrinkles pulling at her cheeks as she beamed at him.
“Morning, dear. The regular, yeah?”
Evan nodded politely. “Thanks, Cassie.”
As she shouted Evan’s order over her shoulder, he scooted to the end of the counter, towards the open window, and away from the people lining up to order.
From the corner of his eye, some heads turned his way, whispering amongst themselves. Whispering about the fire at Greene Mansion and Evan’s involvement in it.
As usual, Evan ignored them. Aimlessly, his eyes wandered outside the window and caught a glimpse of a shadow disappearing into the garden at the back of the shop. It was small and quick to move.
A child spirit?
Evan fidgeted with his fake ring, contemplating for a moment before looking away from the garden.
No one had contacted him to report a spirit in this area, so it was probably harmless. And Evan didn’t have his ring to generously go around helping ghosts to pass over to the afterlife. The last time he’d tried that years ago, a young man’s spirit had possessed his body and tried to kill his wife, who’d poisoned him.
Rhea had quite literallywhippedit out of him.
If not for Crimson Eye, Evan would have been working six jobs to make a living or buried six feet under the ground.
And now he’d lost it.
Evan glanced at the red crystal gleaming on his finger, and his thoughts drifted away to raven hair and scarlet eyes.
His fingers curled into a fist. He could forgive him for sucking his blood, but not for destroying Crimson Eye. He’d make that damned demon pay for that.
A group of old men stopped at the counter, their loud chatter unwittingly falling on Evan’s ears.
“They’ve been goin’ round cuttin’ trees all around the woods,” said a grumpy old man.
“Are they really buildin’ a road? I don’t see what sorta road goes zigzag through the forest,” one of his friends replied.
“I bet it’s illegal. Bastards just wanna chop and take all the good wood.”
“I hear they're cuttin’ down the Old Oak too.”
As the group shuffled away, Cassie passed Evan his order, and he paid for it. But even after he had his cream buns and chocolate milk in his grasp, Evan didn’t immediately leave like usual.
