“I’m sorry, what? Die?”
“Meph told me you tried to trap him with your sad little prison wards. So why would you want to talk to him now?”
“I didn’t trap him in the wards. My sister did. And I want to talk to him because…”
She trailed off and winced. If she was actually attempting this insane venture, shouldn’t she at least have a clear response to that question?
“Because I want to give him a chance to explain himself. Because my gut is telling me there’s more to this, and I want to understand.”
As she continued towards home, she kept checking over her shoulder, expecting her sister to leap out at any moment.
“All right, human. So you want to speak to Mishetsu. I know how to make it happen.”
“Well, actually, I was going to try summoning him myself.”
“You… what?”
“I was going to try summoning Mist myself.”
There was long silence, and then the man—demon—barked a laugh. “Here I was thinking I was going to be dragging you here kicking and screaming, and now you’re telling me you were going to try summoning Mishetsumephtai byyourself?”
“Well, yeah…” He laughed again, and Lily glared at the empty sidewalk ahead of her. “Why don’t you think I can do it?”
“I don’t think you can’t do it. I know you can’t do it. No simple witch could.”
She gritted her teeth. “Who says I won’t be the first?”
“You won’t. I’d say you’re welcome to try anyway, but I need you alive for now.”
How reassuring.“Why?”
“I don’t explain myself to humans, and certainly not witches. I’ll make you a deal. I won’t kill you if you do what I say.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “I thought you wanted me alive.”
“Yeah. If you do what I say. Otherwise, I’m not fussed.”
“Wh-what do you want me to do?”
“Come here and summon Mishetsu under my surveillance. I’ll channel power into you so you’re capable of it, since you won’t be otherwise. Afterwards, you’re free to go.”
She swallowed. Sure, she’d been planning on summoning Mist anyway, but she wanted nothing to do with whoever was on the phone right now. It was obvious by the tone of his voice that he wasn’t making idle threats.
“You either come here of your own volition now, or I’ll track you down and bring you here myself. Don’t try to run because I will find you, and it will be ugly.”
She took a breath and gathered her courage. “I’m sorry,” she said in a wavery voice, “but I don’t trust you. Thanks for the offer, but I respectfully decline.”
There was a pause.
“Don’t eventhinkabout hanging up on—”
Lily ended the call.
Heart pounding, she stared at the empty street ahead of her. She couldn’t believe she’d just done that. He’d threatened to kill her, for god’s sake. Was she insane? Stupid?
Possibly. Probably.
A moment later, she started running.
