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𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 : 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒

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Crow didn't take long to ponder the theory I'd told him before getting up and going down the hall. He opened a door I had never realized was there towards the end of the short corridor and I followed him out of curiosity.

Inside was a small office and I leaned against the doorframe as he rummaged through the papers on his desk before pulling free a small book. He flipped through its pages and stopped on one near the front as I asked, "What are you looking for?"

"My contacts."

"Long list?"

He shrugged. "Somewhat."

"Good thing most of them are already dead," I muttered as I entered. I sat down in a leather chair near the window as he sat back at his desk and ran his fingers through his hair. "But we don't need to be freaking out, right?" Right? "It's only like...a hypothesis."

"Better to be safe than sorry," he sighed, picking up a pen. "Michael, Jeb, Andrew, and Aiden are all dead. Along with Cage. We know that the devil was very much still an influence when Aiden was still alive so we know it wasn't any of these men."

"Who does that leave?" I asked, running through the list in my head of the remaining Morticianers.

"Victor, Conner, John..." He scratched some names out as he went down his list before saying, "And Jonathan Blood." He tapped the pen against his lips and met my eyes briefly as he said, "We can cross out Victor."

"Are you so sure?"

He nodded. "I trust him, we've been friends for so long I would've noticed if there was a shift in him."

"Okay, and you can probably cross out John too," I said with a wave of my hand as I continued, "He protected me from Conner and he seems genuine."

Crow gave me a mocking smirk. "Are you so sure?"

Was I? How well did I know John Walker? I knew only the basics it seemed. Captain of both the football and lacrosse teams. Popular. Handsome. A definite womanizer. Demon. What else did I know?

"We don't even know where he is," I murmured, rubbing my forehead. "He's been off the grid since Pandora died."

"He's been off with the Dolion kid and Conner," added Crow. "It'd be a good idea if we found him, kill two birds with one stone."

John and Conner, lost somewhere in hiding. "John hasn't even bothered to communicate with us, how the hell are we going to find him if he doesn't have a phone?"

Crow sat back in his chair, grinning. The chair creaked as it leaned back and the beautiful dark wood of the cabinets behind him reflected in the little lights, creating a glow around him. Shelves of books and papers and yet not a single photo except for one on his desk that I could not see. As his grin deepened, he said, "How do you find a demon, Blaire?"

I crossed my arms. "Am I supposed to know?"

"Well, you do have your mother's journals after all," he said with a shrug. "Surprised you haven't read them that closely, the answers are there."

"Just tell me."

He let out a small chuckle and gathered his little book as he stood. "We summon him, of course."

I followed him out of the office, speaking quickly, "How the hell do we summon him?"

"There are a few ways," explained Crow as we went back into the kitchen. The sun was rising and casting a pink hue through the windows. "I'll take care of the majority of it but I'd suggest you bring Cassandra, she could be a good possible tether to bring him in."

"You really think John could be at the center of all this?" I asked as I searched through my bag for my phone. "I mean, he's John! How could he be anything worse than an asshole?"

"It'd be better safe than sorry to check," he said, writing down a small list in the book. "Besides, having him closer to us would be a good thing if it all turns out well. Wouldn't you like to have him back? To have Ace?"

Ace, stuck with a demon inside of him and probably rotting like he was in my dream. If he returned to me, bloody and ruined, I'd have to add prophet to my list of known abilities. But did I even know him as well as I thought? Both of these boys were hiding things from me down to the very end. Their secretive conversations, sneaking off together, the way they were close friends without many people even noticing.

Did they both have a bigger role in everything?

"Did you trust John?" I asked, avoiding him question about Ace entirely. I didn't know how to feel, not now at least. "He worked for you for a while so I'm just assuming he..."

"He was loyal, if that's what you're asking."

I nodded.

"He's been under my care for six years, he's strong and resilient and a lot smarter than he looks," he explained. "And if we're thinking about the summoning when Cage used that drop of your blood for, John was there. Hell, we all were."

"How do we know you're not the devil, hmm?"

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Come on, you were there just like they all were," I taunted with a small grin. "It'd make sense."

He rolled his eyes. "If I were the devil, I would've gutted you a long time ago."

"God, don't I know it," I mumbled, reaching for his bowl of fruit again and he swatted at my hands.

He continued to scribble down a list in his book as he spoke, looking up only once with a cautious gleam in his eyes. "How much do you know about Ace?"

"Ace? Why?"

He shrugged. "Curious, that's all."

"His parents came to Clandestine asking for a loan," I explained, trying to remember all he had told me that first day we'd met. "When they couldn't pay it back, they were killed. I think it was a house fire or a random burglary?" I shook my head in thought. "He lived with his uncle, I'm pretty sure."

"Blaire." His voice was soft and this time, he set down his pen and looked at me closely.

"What?"

"We've never done business with the Dolion family."

"Huh?" I frowned. He must be mistaken, obviously. Ace was serious about it, scared even. Why would he make that up? Why lie about anything?

"I would've remembered if I sent my men to burn some kid's house down," said Crow, his features relaxed. "I would've remembered putting the hit out on the parents."

"What are you saying then? That he was lying?" I scoffed, shaking my head. "Why would he lie about something like that?"

"To get you to trust him?" he offered. "To make sure you'd be invested? That you cared?"

"Ace wouldn't lie to me–" I cut myself off, my breath feeling caught in my throat. He wouldn't lie, he wouldn't lie–

"Have you ever met his uncle? Been to his home?"

I shook my head, my hands falling into my lap.

"Had Pandora?"

I looked up at him, lips parting. I didn't know the answer to that but I would assume no. She hadn't been the fondest of him, not really at least.

"Him and John were close, correct?" He picked up his pen and waited for my response to which I nodded and he scribbled it down. "Do you think Ace could be a part of all this, too?"

"No," I gasped. "He wouldn't want me dead."

"Are you sure?"

"Crow!"

"I'm trying to be realistic," he sighed. "He lied about his family, he lied about them being killed–"

"Are you even sure he lied? They could be dead–"

"Fine," he snapped, reaching for his laptop on the counter. "If it wasn't real, there wouldn't be any news articles about it."

I stood, going over to his side and watched as he searched for the Dolion family. I felt a horrible sense of glee as the articles began to load, titles ranging from Family Suffers Tragedy to Teen Boy Subject in Arson Case?

Crow obviously clicked the second.

Watching the article load and the title image come into view was like watching the climax of a psychological thriller. Watching the face of a boy I once thought I knew come into frame with a grim smile made my stomach convulse and I had wished I had never eaten a thing. I wish I had never consumed a single thing in my entire life.

I reached out and took the laptop, moving it closer to me as I read and read until it felt like my eyes would begin to bleed and my organs would melt away into this wretched growing feeling.

Two were killed in a deadly house fire on the evening of November 3rd. In the Dunphy Parks subdivision of Charlon Grove, neighbors woke to flames over taking the residence of 156. Kathleen (39) and David Dolion (41) were victims of the tragic fire and were survived by their son (14). Police have come out with a statement declaring the accidental fire caused by the potential burglary could've been arson but there is currently no evidence to support such theory.

Neighbors have speculated that the fire was caused by none other than the son who miraculously wasn't home when emergency vehicles arrived. Local teachers have spoken about Dolion and have even gone as far to say "the boy is clearly troubled." Lorraine Richards, Charlon High School teacher, says, "He's had a rough couple years. He's very different, unusual at times. He's a hard worker but there's something missing in there. Something just didn't click."

Police at this time have refused to elaborate on such claims but are considering looking into the possibility that Dolion (14) started the fire. If you know more about the situation, please contact us at–

"You can't believe this garbage," I muttered, shaking my head. "It's all just speculation, none of it was even looked into!"

"His teachers spoke out about him," murmured Crow, "so it's not just me saying something is wrong. People who were around him everyday knew there was something wrong about him."

"But I didn't!" I shook my head, correcting myself, "I don't."

"How can you be so sure?" asked Crow. "You only knew him for a few weeks, a couple months at the most. How well can you really know a person after that long?"

"I've known you for that long–"

"I've known you longer." He shook his head, scowling. "But that's not the point. Blaire, what I'm trying to say is that this article could hold some factual weight here. He's obviously not the boy you thought you knew if there were people within his community who felt that he could've killed him own parents."

"He couldn't have," I whispered, shaking my head. "He couldn't of–"

"Blaire, Ace Dolion is not who you thought he was."

My eyes blurred and I blinked away to the onset of frustrated tears, the moon flashing behind my eyes like a starlight warning of what I've never wanted to see. What I've never wanted to believe.

I shook my head and spoke the words my heart believed and my mind knew was a lie. "He's not a bad person. He would never hurt me or–or anyone."

"Then let's summon John."

"When?" I breathed, keeping an arm around myself as if that too would protect me from what I couldn't face.

"As soon as possible."

"So, tomorrow?"

"Are you okay with doing this in the middle of the week?" He looked at me thoughtfully and could see right through me like I was transparent, like I was cut open for him and only him to see.

"Friday, then."

He nodded and wrote the date down in his black book. "Friday it is."

Not waiting for him to say anything else, I went to my bedroom and closed the door.

I didn't come out until it was time for me to leave for classes.

~

"You really think he could be right?" asked Blondie as we went through our textbooks. Mr. Parker glanced up at her voice and she lowered her tone and whispered, "I mean, Ace and John being bad? Really?"

"I don't believe it, either," I murmured as Winker leaned over from his desk to listen in and then add in an equally low voice, "I've known John since freshman year, he might be a douche but he's not evil."

"I've dated both of them and I'd definitely mark John as being secretly evil but Ace?" Blondie shook her head. "Ace was always so sweet to me, he would've never done something to intentionally hurt someone else."

"How can you be so sure?" asked Winker, pulling over his chair with a huff. Since his lab partner had been Gretchen, it only seemed right for the three of us to begin to work together since all three of our partners are either dead or missing. "If he was as good friends with John as we now know, he could be just as twisted." Winker narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice to a near hiss as he said, "John was possessive and near abusive, who in their right mind would be that close of friends with him knowing that?"

"Weren't you friends with him?" I asked and Winker scoffed and shook his head.

"Maybe at school but it wasn't like I was seeking him out every weekend. It was all him."

"It was very one sided," whispered Blondie with a small nod. "Luke and John were acquaintances but you can't blame him for what he does when he's drunk. Luke navigates towards assholes."

"That's why I chose you, honey," Winker cooed before instantly saying, "Kidding, kidding!" He shook his head and said, seriously, "Ace was always nice to me so I can't imagine him going rogue, especially against you."

My brows furrowed. "Why me?"

"The guy had a crush on you," said Winker as Blondie said, "Obviously."

My brows furrowed even more and my lips parted as I hissed, "No, he didn't–"

"He totally did," laughed Blondie in a soft tone. "It's definitely one of the reasons why I was a major bitch to you at first. I didn't like the idea of someone else playing in my territory." She glanced at Winker. "That was, of course, before I realized how blind I was to you, my darling."

Winker rolled his eyes but that didn't hide the fact that he was smiling and looking at her with a look only I could wish for from someone in the future.

"Don't look so shocked," Blondie said with a shrug.

I scoffed. "You're telling me he liked, liked me, how can I not be shocked?!"

"How did you never notice?"

"How did you?"

"I'm good at these things," she said with another shrug. She glanced at Winker. "I'm honestly surprised you noticed."

Winker smiled. "It was easy when the guy was looking at you every time you walked by and you were the topic of every conversation that came out of his mouth."

I swallowed, shaking my head with a stubborn laugh as I got to my feet. "You both are crazy."

"Where are you going?" Blondie asked, checking the clock on her phone. "We've still got forty minutes of class left–"

"Water," I choked out, forcing a smile to reassure them.

I got excused from class by Mr. Parker just for a few minutes and I took those minutes to practically fly down the hall and towards the darkened printer room. Once inside, I closed the door behind me and collapsed onto my knees, trying to force the air through my nose and out my mouth.

Ace didn't like me. He didn't like me like that. We were friends. We were only friends.

I repeated those statements in my head but that didn't stop my scattered breath and erratic heart. If he had, I would've noticed.

Would you have noticed behind the blood and the knives and the threats of death? You never did pay attention well, ghost girl. You will never know the truth if you keep hiding from it.

I dug around in my back pocket for my phone and brought it out, the little light nearly blinding me in the dark. I searched through my contacts and clicked on the one I needed.

I pressed the phone to my ear as it rang.

Once.

Twice.

"This phone number is no longer in service."

I wanted to throw up, I wanted to pull the hair from my scalp. I pulled my phone away and searched through my contacts for the second number, one belonging not to the troubled friend I had been worried for but for the quarterback.

It rang once.

Twice.

Three times.

"Hey, this is John! I'm probably at practice so leave a message after the beep–"

"Where the hell are you?" I breathed after the beep sounded. "Goddamn it, John, where are you and Ace?"

I hung up and leaned over to feel the cold tile against my forehead. I shuddered out a few horrible breaths before collecting myself and standing. There was no point in wallowing and sobbing over something I couldn't change. John and Ace were hiding, they were in danger, and that was what I chose to believe and nothing would change that unless I was told otherwise by them.

Crow's theory left a sour feeling in my throat and I didn't want to believe it, no matter how many times I closed my eyes and saw the moon staring back at me. Big, white, and cold.

I turned to leave and my phone vibrated in my hand and I frowned. The number wasn't one I recognized and my heart began to pound so hard I could feel it in my throat as I accepted the call and brought the phone back to my ear.

I waited to hear his voice and when he spoke, it was just as it always had been.

"Looking for me, are you?"

"Where the hell are you?" I breathed, my free hand curling into a tight fist. My nails dug into my palm and I had to ease the tension before I broke the skin. "You've been gone for-for months! Things have gone to shit here, have you even heard what's happened?" I couldn't breathe, my throat was so tight. "Ace, Pandora is dead. She's fucking dead!"

"I know," he said in response and it didn't make me feel better.

"They had a funeral. Her parents, they–" I shook my head, unable to speak. Her parents had put on brave faces but even though I knew they weren't okay. Last I'd heard, since the funeral, they'd put their house on the market. Going back to Idaho.

"I'm not coming back, Blaire."

"H-huh?" I wiped at my numb face, brows furrowing deeply. What did he mean? Of course he was coming back! He couldn't just leave me here to deal with what we'd started, what we'd started with Pandora.

"I'm not coming back," he said stronger, each word like a punch to the gut. "Besides, you'd be dead when I did."

I blinked. Did I just hear him correctly?

"The devil will be here and he will kill you." There was a laugh in the background. "It's only going to get worse."

"Ace?"

"Yes, dear?" His tone was patronizing and I swallowed thickly, feeling sick.

"Where are you?"

He laughed. "Where do you think?"

"I–" I brought a shaking hand to my lips because I didn't know. I really didn't. "IS this even you? Or is this still Conner?"

"Oh, it's me, baby," he cooed and black dots danced in front of my eyes. Swirling black, cruel and intentional. "It's always been me."

"What?"

"We could've been everything, baby," he said and my head was spinning. I fell into the door with a horrible bang and pain shot through my elbow. "We could've made it forever, you and me."

"Ace?" My voice was small, like I was already drifting away.

"You and me against the world."

I couldn't swallow. I could barely breathe.

"Red and black, demon and necromancer, love at first sight."

I fell to my knees.

"You'll be dead, Blaire," he whispered and it was like he was right next to me. "You'll be dead by the time I get to you."

My phone dropped from my hand and I fell to the floor. My head hit the tile and pain exploded in the base of my skull. I jerked, my eyes opening and blinking away the sun. There was drool coming from the side of my mouth as I lifted my head to notice I was still in biology and the bell had just rung.

"God, you really didn't get enough sleep, did you?" murmured Blondie as she stood in front of out table. She reached out and fixed a few strands of my hair as I wiped my lips. "I'm guessing demon killing is an all night event, huh?"

I nodded with a little smile as I gathered my books. "Guess I was more tired than I realized."

"Have some sweet dreams?" joked Winker as we left the classroom.

"Oh," I laughed, shaking my head, "you know me, only unicorns and rainbows."

sorry i haven't updated here for a min!! been working on chapter 18 but have gotten 0 ideas so it's been taking me a while lolll so sorry hopefully itll b out sometime next week or the week after!!!!

vote/comment and let me know what u think so far :)))