It wasn't true. It had to be. Why now? Why here? Alice could barely think straight as they were peeling from the junkyard. To the PIB. Mages scrambled all around, but she stayed rooted to the spot.
His face. No matter how much she wanted to believe otherwise, she knew his face. She'd seen it in her books. In her dreams. And now, she'd seen him in the flesh. In their world, fighting off the people who'd killed countless demons over the years. Oh my god. She looked up, seeing Felissa standing outside the office with Uncle Brown. She couldn't hear what was being said, but the mage bristled at the words.
"Ms. Alice."
She shrunk.
"Take me home," she said. "Just take me home."
The guards didn't try to argue. One stepped in the front seat while another offered her a drink. She denied it, the image of the demon burning in her head.
***
Before she knew it, she was back in bed. Lying in her covers and staring at the ceiling.
"Ms. Alice."
She ignored the voices, tracing the outlines of the roof she'd seen so many times.
He'll kill me. If I go near him...he'll kill me.
She found her voice again, a wavering laugh coming from somewhere she didn't even know. A sound that felt so foreign to her ears she knew it didn't really come from her. It was the thing inside her. The soul forced on her body. Whose power she couldn't even access, thanks to Dad and his chip.
He'll die too, won't he?
The idea brought sensations back, color returning to her skin.
He'll die. And Mom. And the guards. And Felissa.
She looked around the room, the uniformed officers all staring at her with concern. Dad's lapdogs. And her only line of defense. If the hellspawn killed her, they would all be as good as dead. And they wouldn't revive. Not even Felissa.
For Alice, it would be like getting her memory scrubbed clean. She'd wake up in a new body with a new family to look after her. She'd have a new voice, a new look, and everything she'd ever know would be lost to the cycle. In the grand scheme of things, whatever she could do wouldn't matter much. But if history was any indication, whatever body she'd wake up in would still be subject to Luizitine's influence. She'd still have to beat him eventually. No matter how many lives of his he snuffed out.
She pulled the covers over her face.
I don't wanna die. But I don't wanna live like that either.
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She swallowed bile.
They won't survive. You know that.
She pulled the covers back down, trying to keep her voice calm as she attempted to speak.
"D-did anyone tell Dad, yet?" she asked.
"He has been made aware," one guard said. "But he says your punishment will stay in place."
"Stubborn piece of-" She pulled the covers over her one last time before finally coming out with her loudest groan. "Alright! Somebody grab the bat."
"Ms. Alice?"
She climbed off the bed, her legs a bit shaky, but she quickly recovered.
"Luizitine's finally shown his face," she went on. "Really wish he hadn't, but can't worry about that now. If that big-horned freak thinks he's taking over without a fight, he's got another thing coming. And if Dad's gonna be stupid, I'm improvising."
She kneeled under her bed, fishing around for the hidden compartment they had stashed for emergencies. Her old teacher always told her to keep a kit ready just in case. And if there was a demon from the darkest pits of the underworld on the loose, there was no better time to use it.
She found the handle, pulling off a section of carpet to find the old dusty remains of her monster kit. Three bottles of holy water, purified salt, and a silver stake. Nothing she'd ever had a reason to use, given her holy powers. But Dad just had to make Mr. Westenra right. I swear if this crap doesn't work, that crone's getting punched in the face. She pulled out the holy waters, rolling them under the bed for the guards to catch. Even if their presence was a punishment, she'd make them useful.
"Divide those bottles among the staff," she said. "Everybody has to be ready for the worst-case scenario. Where's the bat?"
"Right here, Ms. Alice."
She held out her hand, but the guard hesitated.
"I don't know if I'm allowed to-"
"Dad said no magic and I'm grounded! Long as I stay inside and only go out with permission, we're fine."
The guard was still reluctant, but she handed over the bat. Alice smiled, quickly getting to work.
Without magic, spells were a no-go, but charms were another story. So long as she had the materials, no incantations were necessary. She dragged the dagger over the bat, slowly carving a cross into the wood. It wouldn't do much, but it was better than nothing. Besides. Half the danger would be psychological given the demon was allied with a ghost and a devildog. God, I wish I had a drink right now. She pushed the thought away.
"I'm gonna need everyone's help here," she said. "From now on, I'm carrying this bat everywhere I go. If Dad has a problem, tell him my life's at stake. And if he still has a problem, get Mom."
The guards shifted at that. The feeling was mutual. Nothing good ever came from getting those two in a room, herself included. But when the world was at stake, certain sacrifices had to be made. Including one she had dreaded for years but knew couldn't be put off. She groaned, tapping the bat against her forehead.
"I'll go see Uncle Brown in the morning," she said. "And...I'll...put in an application for the mages."
Just saying the words made her body contort inward. How did things get so bad so fast?
The image of the frozen mage hung in the back of her mind. Betty. She hadn't known her, but the other PIB members had. And well too considering how they screamed when she died. That kind of loyalty was something she'd need. People who would have her back when the demon inevitably came for her. Who wouldn't be scared, something she herself wanted more than anything. She held the bat tighter.
Luizitine. I hope Death hates you as much as they say.
Her wavered laugh returned.
"Somebody do me a favor. Bring me the biggest, strongest soda you can find."
She gave the bat a test swing. It was heavier than she remembered.
"Looks like I gotta start training, again."