Chapter One Hundred Eight

Benedict was right there. His doom was only a few feet away from him. What just happened then? I couldn’t wrap my head around his sudden disappearance. Everything was going exactly the way it needed to be. We were seconds away from capturing Satan’s right hand.

“They have taken them away,” Desmond shouted irately.

“What do you mean?” I confusedly looked around the room and found Jane Astor missing, too. “Who took them?”

“I need to go. Stay here,” said Desmond. He ran past me like wind and vanished.

Mia clasped my hand, startling me. “Where did they all go?” she asked.

“I am not sure.” I placed my hand on Mia’s hand. “Desmond will catch him before he gets away.”

“Cass, what was Jane saying? Why did you spare her? Is it true she is being blackmailed by Benedict? What child was she talking about? I thought she introduced us to her son at the door.” Mia bombarded me with tough questions.

I told my sister about the unexpected interaction I had with Jane five minutes ago as we impatiently awaited Desmond’s return. Mia was just as shocked as me.

“But Mom primarily blamed Jane for Dad’s death. How could she be so wrong about that? Since Aunt Jane had eloped with Mr. Astor before Dad met Mom, he must have told her about it. Why would he accuse her sister of anything if Benedict was the only one who had fought with him?”

Mia had raised a good point that made me question my decision.

“You’re right. Dad was an honest man who would never falsely accuse a foe, let alone his own blood. As a good human, he, however, could be fooled. Benedict wanted to isolate Jane from her family. What would be better than to make her family hate her guts? He must have done something to make it seem as if she had willingly taken the path of evil,” I said. A whoosh of wind caught our attention. It was, fortunately, Desmond, but surprisingly, he had returned empty-handed. “Where are the Astors?” I questioned, afraid to get a negative response.

Desmond lowered his head. For the first time, I saw him unsure of something.

“He is gone. His demons managed to save him,” Desmond replied, and my heart sank.

“I thought your friends had them in a chokehold. What happened there, then? Did Benedict’s demons suddenly grow powerful? I don’t understand!” My tone was brazenly rude. I instantly realized my mistake and looked at Desmond apologetically. It was not his fault that Benedict got away. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude to you. I am having a hard time accepting that he escaped. We were so happy, and then_”

“You don’t need to apologize to me. I was shocked as well until I saw that the demons who took them away were not the ones I had left in the hands of my friends,” Desmond clarified.

“What?!” I exclaimed. “But Jane said they blessed the manor today. Only two demons_”

“I know what she said, Cass. She was either lying or badly misinformed, or the effects of the blessing could be wearing off,” Desmond spoke. “There was more than one demon who returned. One must be carrying Jane and Benedict. I, unluckily, chased the wrong one.”

“Well, did you bring back that one with you, at least?” I demanded a positive answer.

Desmond shook his head. “No. It would have taken too long to catch him_”

“You should have at least tried!” I touched my forehead.

“Sorry to disappoint you, but it was pointless to go after him, and_” Desmond tried to explain himself.

“And what?” I yelled. “What excuse do you have for that?”

“I came back for you and your siblings. The three of you were unguarded in a Satanist’s manor with an unknown number of demons thirsty for trouble and war,” Desmond answered swiftly in one breath before I could cut him off again.

“That’s very generous of you,” Mia thanked him before me.

Why was I acting like an ungrateful idiot? It was so wrong of me to take out someone else’s anger on Desmond just because he loved me and was trying everything to help.

“I am so sorry,” I apologized to him again with helpless tears.

“Cass, don’t.” Desmond touched my cheek. “It’s not safe to remain here. Tell me a place other than your Mom’s home where we can all gather to discuss this further.”

“Becky’s flat,” I said without thinking.

“Okay. I’ll get your brother,” said Desmond, vanishing again.

He returned in a flash with my unconscious brother in his arms. Without giving us time to check on Derrick, Desmond took us to the place I had suggested.

The four of us were standing in Becky’s fancy apartment. The sad part was that she wasn’t there as she was at Mom’s house, keeping her company.

Desmond lowered Derrick onto Becky’s couch. I stood beside him and watched my brother’s poor condition in horror. He looked paler and weaker than usual. I feared the unthinkable.

“Is he_ is he?” I struggled with my words.

“Your brother is very much alive,” Desmond told me, and fresh breath freely moved through my airways again. “His body is just dealing with the side effects of being under the influence of witchcraft for a while. He’ll return to normal once he wakes up in a few hours or more. Let me put him in the bedroom. So your mom can't see him when she arrives.”

“Why would Mom come here? She is not in the city. Did you tell her to come?” Mia stole words from my mouth.

“No, but she and Becky must be relocated to a safer place immediately. We don’t know what Benedict’s next move might be. He’ll attack the weakest when we least expect it. That’s why I need to bring them right here using my special abilities,” said Desmond.

“But Mom doesn’t know what you are. Your sudden appearance will stun her. Also, she detests magic and everyone and everything related to it. I don’t want her to hate you or drop dead from cardiac arrest,” I expressed.

Desmond tightly pressed his lips together. “I am afraid we don’t have a choice here, Cass. I promise to make the air trip quick and as gentle as possible. You have to trust me. It’s this, or we leave her vulnerable to a serious attack by merciless demons.”

Though my heart wasn’t prepared for such a moment, I was forced to agree. “Okay. Could you make Mom unconscious as you bring her here so that we can lie about how she got here?”

“I’ll see what I can do,” said Desmond, smiling softly.

I chewed heavily on my fingernails as I watched Desmond carry my brother to the bedroom and disappear to bring my Mother and friend. Mom wasn’t an easy one when it came to accepting new things. She had reacted so horribly upon finding I was in contact with a white witch. What would she do when she finds out that her daughter is in love with a demon?

Be it that day or any other, Mom would eventually learn the truth.