Death's Finest Hour

Chapter Four

I need a story.

It was decided. Faith was going to break Mr Betley's rules and do her own thing. Maybe that would land her sacked, maybe it wouldn't. Risk and reward.

Finding a story was easier said than done.

She realised, with a heavy stomach, that she had a million stories right at the tip of her fingers.

None that I'll publish.

She wouldn't screw her loved ones over, which meant she had to find something new. Gah!

"Are you even listening to me?" she demanded of her babysitter for the night—General Caspian of the Infernum armies.

He didn't so much as glance back at her, guiding them towards the next dark alley.

"I'm not gonna lie to you," Caspian answered. "No."

"I'm being serious here. I'd appreciate some attention."

"I try not to give you and your mum too much of that. There's no saying what you Wickers will loop me into."

"It's Lupine."

"Not when you're giving me a headache. That's all Wicker."

Faith hung onto that point, gesturing wildly about herself. "See, now we're getting somewhere. It just so happens that there is something you can do for me, making you one lucky demon."

"Oh, I'll bet." At the top of the alley, Caspian stopped, laying his hand atop his sword. "You feel anything with those witchy senses of yours?"

For years now, Caspian and his motley crew of demon mercenaries had been chasing the living dead, trying to understand them enough to get them in order. Which brought them out here this evening, scouring the dark streets of the Common World.

"No." Faith shrugged. "It's just cold."

"Cold?"

"It's a lot colder down there than it is over here."

"But the temperature is the same," Caspian murmured.

Because it wasn't a normal sort of cold. Faith had to connect with the magic bristling inside of her to feel it. To grasp that chilling cold—a warning sign to turn and walk away.

That only makes me want to come closer.

Something dark lurked within this alley. After dozens of empty, boring ones, Faith felt the excitement budding.

"See, things should be like this," she stated. "Transactional. I answered your questions, you should, at the very least, answer mine. You know, an I help you, you help me situation."

"Listen here little Evie." Caspian's arms folded. Uh oh—I'm in for a talking to. Caspian had a way of lecturing her like he was an older brother. "You weren't my first choice for this. I needed a witch. Your mum was busy, my brother-in-law told me to fuck off, so I got you."

"Rude." But it sounded about right. Faith was last picked for every sports team. Not because she was bad at the sports, but because the other players were scared of the people standing guard behind her. "What if I agree to be quiet until you need something from me?"

"Alright bozo." She was wearing him down. Yes! Annoyance for the win. "What do you need?"

She stood her ground and raised her chin.

Caspian was a great deal taller than her, with his horns to boot. It had never intimidated her before, and it wouldn't start to now.

"I want to shadow you for one of your missions."