Chapter Twenty-Nine

Me spiraling alone in my apartment lasted twelve days. Magnolia and Eliza had come by to drop off meals, but I greeted them at the door and didn’t invite them in. I must have looked as bad as I felt, since Magnolia didn’t even argue with me. She just kissed my cheek and left.

Belphegor—after what Amber had called “a harrowing five days” in SHAP’s detention center—had been cleared of all charges, as Jake promised. The demon came by twice with plates of cookies and the second time I finally invited him in. I had forgotten the sound of my own voice and figured he’d be easier to tolerate than someone who actually cared about my well-being. He wouldn’t make me cry with feelings talk.

“You look like shit,” he said, settling into the orange armchair. “Also, where’d you get this? This would be perfect for our waiting room.”

I frowned as I took a cookie. “Hell has waiting rooms?”

“Hell is made of waiting rooms.”

Maybe it was time to get new furniture.

I finished a second cookie without saying anything. Belphegor looked around and sighed. “Go shower. You smell like the sulfur pit on a windy day.”

I shoved myself to my feet and trudged to the bathroom. Using water so hot it left my skin red, I scrubbed until some of the heartache washed down the drain. When I emerged twenty minutes later, Belphegor was finishing loading my dishwasher.

I stopped and stared at him. “What are you doing?”

He glared at me. “If Amber saw how messy this place was, she’d have a heart attack. I will not be responsible for that.” He started the cycle then lumbered over to my fridge and looked inside. “Anthony’s dropping off groceries for the Andrews later. Since you clearly can’t take care of yourself, I’ll have him get you some.”

“Shit.” I scrubbed my hand over my face. “I forgot. I’ll go today.”

“Good. Stop being a spitals before Amber tries to climb the stairs again to check on you. This pile of rocks needs to fix the elevator.” As he slid past me, he stopped and patted my arm awkwardly. “A broken heart is the purest form of torture.”

“You’ve had a broken heart?”

He pushed past me and moved to the door. “Just because my vocation is torture doesn’t mean I can’t fall in love, kid.” He stood and eyed me. “Get your shit together and fight for your woman.”

With that parting shot, he left without looking back.

Of all the people who might’ve succeeded at breaking through my grief, I hadn’t expected Belphegor to be on that list. I looked around the apartment. The takeout containers were sorted into trash and recycling, the blankets on the couch neatly folded, the curtains pulled back to let in sunlight for the first time in days, and it clicked. I was not completely alone. It was time to get my ass in gear.

I picked up my cell and called my dad.

“Summers.”

“Dad?”

He paused for a long moment. “Status?”

I straightened my shoulders. “I want in on the arraignments.”

An email binged on my phone. “Details sent.”

I pulled the phone away from my ear and opened the email. My eyes widened. “You planned this?” I gasped.

“I’d never make a plan with a demon,” he said, thereby confirming it had been his plan all along. “Carma’s arraignment at 3. Lucinda’s 3:45.”

When I hung up, a text was waiting for me.

Jake: Pick you up in 30.