Nathaniel glanced at the rat on Val’s shoulder, then back at the eye. “That’s right. My name is
Nathaniel.”
The eye moved so Val was in its sight. “And you are?”
She swallowed. “The name’s Claire,” she said, having decided that it was a good name to use.
Easy to remember and after all, Reggie’s girlfriend was also a witch. “I’m with the demon.
I’m an evil witch.”
The eye immediately closed up.
Nathaniel grimaced and turned to her. “You should know that evil witches don’t typically go around telling everyone that they’re evil witches.”
She shrugged. “Sorry. I’m new at this evil thing.”
“You’re not evil. Don’t even try to act like it. Just be very quiet. Pretend you’re mute.”
The eye reopened and looked at them with disdain. “The mayor is pleased you could make it.
Though, since you didn’t have the courtesy to RSVP, there may not be enough refreshments for you and your . . . guest. Next time, try to follow procedure.”
The gates opened and they walked inside. Val turned around to watch them close up again, locking with a bone-chilling click. Her heart pounded hard against her ribcage.
“Okay,” Nathaniel said. “We go in and find Julian. Approach him when he doesn’t expect it, doesn’t recognize you, and get your key. Then this will all be over. Simple.”
“Not simple.” She looked at him warily. “How do I know you won’t just tell everyone who I am?”
“I won’t.”
“But how do I know that for sure? Only hours ago you didn’t want to help me unless it was in line with tempting me, and now you’re doing me this big favor? What gives?”
He sighed. “Can’t you just accept it without overanalyzing it?”
She shook her head. “What assurance do I have that you won’t just go in there and blurt out to the mayor what I really am? Lloyd told me you’re on real shaky ground with your job. Maybe you want some extra Brownie points?”
He looked exasperated with her. “I’m going to have to have a very serious discussion with
Lloyd and his tendency to run off at the mouth. You know, if you’re that concerned about my intentions, you could just command me not to say anything.”
Val immediately brightened. “Oh. Right. I totally forgot about that for a moment. Okay, Nathaniel, I command you not to tell anyone who I really am.” She let out a long exhale and smiled. “There, I feel much better now.”
His lips twitched and he studied her for a moment. “You like that, don’t you?”
“Like what?”
He turned away. “Forget it.”
“No, tell me what you were going to say.”
Nathaniel turned back around with an amused expression. “Dominating me.”
Val’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”
“You like being the one with all the power. Making me do what you want whether or not I like it. Having your way. Being a bossy little bitch.” The smile disappeared and flames suddenly flared in his eyes. “Do you have any idea what I plan to do once I’m free of your little spell, angel?”
She didn’t like the way he was looking at her. Not at all. She didn’t say anything back to him but an icy chill went through her. She definitely didn’t want to know what he planned to do.
But she was obviously in the minority.
“What?” Reggie asked curiously. “What will you do?”
The demon’s eyes flicked to the rat on her shoulder, then back to Val. “Never mind.”
Reggie moaned. “Oh, brother. You’re all talk, you know that? You’re not going to do anything bad to her, and you know it.”
His eyebrows went up, and he casually ran his hand through his dark hair. “Is that right, O wise rodent? And why would you think that?”
“Because you’re totally in love with her.”
“What did you just say?” he hissed.
“In love. With her. Did I stutter?”
Val could barely hear Reggie with the blood rushing through her ears.
Reggie chuckled, the sound cutting through the absolute silence. “Yeah, Val, I’m serious. It’s kind of cute, actually. The two of you arguing all the time but it doesn’t mean a damn thing.
Just sexual tension. I learned about that from Lloyd’s books. You should see how Nate looks at you when you’re not paying attention. It’s like he’s . . . eeek!”
Nathaniel snatched Reggie off her shoulder and held the rat up at eye level, squeezing harder than necessary. She couldn’t see his eyes for the flames that filled them now.
“I think I’ve had enough of you,” Nathaniel said in a very cold voice. “Nonstop chatter, telling your lies, making snide comments, whatever you can say to fill up the silence. Are you afraid of the silence, my little friend? Are you afraid of what you’ll hear when your mind is still? That you’re a failure in life, in love, and that nobody gives a damn if you live or die?
That you’ve been reduced to the sum total of your parts? A pathetic sewer dwelling life-form that needs to be exterminated? I think I can help you out there. Put you out of your misery.”
“Val!” Reggie squeaked as Nathaniel squeezed him harder.
She stormed at him and punched him in the shoulder as hard as she could. Her hands were clenched so hard that her glamourized long red nails bit painfully into her palms. “I command you to put him down right now. Do it!”
Nathaniel shook with the effort of trying to fight her power over him. He didn’t release
Reggie.
“Put him down!” Val’s voice raised a level and she saw the demon actually flinch as if the words caused him pain.