"Everett Vossane Pepperheart, what in the devil's name is going on here?" Mother halted at the railing, bewildered eyes piercing through his, then swiftly at Kieran, beside him.

"It's not what it looks like." Everett spread his hands. "I promise, mom. We're still investigating Rowena's case together, that's all. He's actually an officer with the Sanguine Council."

Mrs. Pepperheart pursed her lips, eyes squinting at him suspiciously. "Did he find many clues in your neck?"

Heat scorched his face as he gingerly touched the fresh pinpricks in the side of his neck. He swallowed painfully. "Um, there's also an explanation for that."

"Pray tell, let's hear it." She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Kieran helped me unlock old memories that I'd forgotten. We believe Rowena's death could be closely tied with my own kidnapping all those years ago because her husband was also poisoned." Everett straightened his posture, readjusting his collar. "You wouldn't happen to know who would've altered such memories, do you, mother?"

Mrs. Pepperheart's rigid complexion made her resemble a ghost. "Honey, how much do you remember?" She reached for his arm, yanking him away from Kieran. "Have you seen any of them floating around?" Her shaky grip tightened on his arm.

"Seen what?" Everett asked as he wriggled out of her firm grip. "What's going on, mom? Why have you kept from me all these years?"

"You've done laid down with the devil. Not even the Gods can protect you now, Everett. Sealing your memories protected you from those wicked demons. You've unleashed them and there's not a thing anyone can do to keep them away."

"His virtue hasn't been dishonored," Kieran spoke up. "I'm not that despicable of a vampire."

Everett resisted a face-palm. As if speaking of virtue was important. "I remember how I summoned that demon as a child, but you don't need to worry. I've formed a blood bond with Kieran to protect me. It wasn't something I planned to tell you just yet."

"You've sold your soul to another devil. My sweet boy." She reached a hand out, stroking his cheek. "Hurry and leave before your father wakes. I won't tell him of this, but he'll know when word reaches the Supernatural Council. Blood bonds are forbidden in Marusticia. We do not form courtships with the enemy, and nobody in Briarwood will approve of this. I do not approve."

"You silly wench, if not for this bond, he would be stalked by the damned," Kieran snapped. Hatred burned in his crimson eyes. "That's why you asked about shadows, knowing full well the demons would come to collect on his soul. He's already marked for death with that poison and they'll do anything they can to speed up the process."

"Don't act like some savior. I should've known better when you visited him in the hospital, pretending to be his friend. Pretending to care." Mrs. Pepperheart plucked her wand from her robe's pocket, channeling her magic through it. "Have you already manipulated him to your will?"

"Mother, put your wand down." Everett intervened by grabbing her arm, preventing any hexes or worse from hitting the vampire. "I am fully in control of my mind. Being with a vampire is very unorthodox, but he's good to me. Kieran really does want to help."

Worry shrouded her face as she shook her head, pulling Everett in a tight embrace. "I don't want to lose you." She stroked a hand through his honey blond hair before loosening her grasp. "You almost died before, and I swore to the Gods above I wouldn't let it happen again."

"I'm not dying, mom. Please, have faith in me. I wouldn't let some vampire charm me without considering the repercussions." Everett crossed his arms over his chest.

Mrs. Pepperheart's downtrodden smile did little to ease his mind, but she gave him a simple understanding nod before they escaped outside. Everett couldn't remember a time when she'd behaved like that. Not since he was a mere child. Perhaps it was just troubling for her, knowing how he had all his memories intact again. It was quite a lot to process. Everett had sold his soul to the devils at seven years old.

Once they made it outside, Everett guided Kieran down their yard. Worries surmounted in his mind. What if his mother was right? Had he just sold his soul to another devil? Everett trusted Kieran, but had the vampire pulled the wool over his eyes? Everett glanced over at him, scrutinizing his casualness with suspicion. Perhaps he'd followed him too blindly.

Was it possible that allowing Kieran to drink his blood influenced his decision to form a bond with him? Everett shivered. Kieran did mention how he would have to protect him no matter what with their bond, but what if there were hidden intentions in doing so? Why else would he have done it? Out of the kindness of his slow beating heart?

"Are you alright?" Kieran flanked his side, eyeing him curiously. "If you're too weary to walk, I can carry you or fly you."

"No, I'm fine to walk." Everett stuffed his hands in his robe's pockets.

"Is something troubling you? Still taking in what you learned about your past?"

"What are your intentions with me?" Everett asked. "You've been too kind. I think my mother's right to be suspicious."

Kieran raised a brow. "Well, I do have an ulterior motive." He clasped his hands behind his back as he moseyed down the sidewalk. "The demoness you formed a contract with all those years ago possessed my father, ultimately killing him. I want revenge, of course. But I also don't want to see her feast upon any more innocent souls."

"Seriously? You didn't think to tell me that!"

"Forgive me. It's not something I have fond memories of." Kieran grimaced.

Everett nodded. "Let me grab breakfast and we'll take it to the library with us. There's more I need to figure out about Rowena's case before I try unpacking all your family drama."

Kieran snorted. "You're concerned about mine? You wizards keep all kinds of secrets from each other."

"My mother only did it because she cared. She was worried about me."

Unease nestled deep in his chest, even after he grabbed himself some scrumptious donuts from the little bakery downtown. He sunk his teeth into the creamy orange frosting as they crossed the street, while Kieran held the rest of his boxed donuts and hot chocolate for him.

The sugar revitalized him just the slightest, as he felt his magic pulse through him like his own blood. So when Everett stepped foot on the concrete stairs of his library, he sensed someone had broken through his protective barriers. Dark energy tainted the air. Everett inhaled a sharp breath, withdrawing his wand from his apron's pocket with his sticky fingers as he took a bold step toward the entrance.

Kieran flanked Everett's side as he reached for the door handle, yanking it open as the dreaded scent of black magic burned his nostrils. Embers of gunmetal gray swept the lobby. Everett took a precarious step inside, clenching his wand tightly in his hand as he prepared a defensive spell.

Sunlight slithered in through the windows, illuminating his towering bookshelves. Kieran strode ahead of him without taking much caution of his movements, yet he was swift on his feet. One moment he was right beside him, then he swept around the library for a thorough inspection of the room.

Cold chills raked Everett's body as he crept toward his desk. Kieran already checked behind it, but he couldn't resist stealing a peak himself. Nothing seemed disturbed. Traces of black magic lingered in the air, but the particles faded with each passing second. Rowena was nowhere to be found either, which only worried him more.

"Kieran?" Everett called out toward the bookshelves, frowning when he received no response. "Did you find something?"

Unease blossomed in chest as he moved toward the thick spines, holding his wand high as embers of silver swirled around him. A burst of panic struck him like a bullet to the head. Everett blinked, trying to understand the warnings of danger that flooded his mind when realization dawned on him. Kieran was channeling that to him.

What the hell was in his library? Everett inhaled a sharp breath as he plunged through his familiar shelves. Despite the signal of danger, he couldn't just abandon Kieran. Something was wrong. Why wouldn't the vampire respond to him? If only Everett knew more about how their newfound bond worked, how he could reach out to him. Kieran couldn't be far.

The stench of black magic only strengthened the further Everett made it through the shelves until he stopped in front of a section of fictional novels. Around comfy little chairs, a black Baphomet symbol defaced the carpet. Everett reeled back from the stench and the sight of such an unholy symbol etched into the floor.

Someone summoned a demon.

It was no wonder he felt something sinister upon entering and why his barriers easily shattered. The demon unleashed had to be nearby. Everett kept vigilant, scanning his surroundings with extra caution. Paranoia strangled him with each shadow he swore would morph into some hideous beast to murder him.

A book slipped off the shelf towering before him. Everett jolted back, wand wavering in his trembling hand. He took a step toward the fallen book, examining the well-worn spine of the first year spellbook. Heartbeat hammering in his chest, he reached down and gently placed it back where it belonged. Something was playing tricks with him.

"Reveal yourself." Everett's voice echoed through the library.

Shadows slithered like black snakes along the walls, closing in around him. Yet Everett stood his ground. Sinister energy pulsed around him like a suffocating miasma as the demonic male figure emerged from beyond his bookshelves. Hoofed feet tromped along the floor in an ungainly manner as the lanky demon tilted its head in his direction, grinning wide enough to expose a set of razor sharp teeth.

Everett choked back a petrifying scream as he eyed the demon before him. It barely resembled a human. Skin as red as blood caught his attention, followed by the pointy tail swishing behind him. Two tiny horns protruded from the tip of his matted brown hair, where an open wound dribbled blood down his forehead.

The demon ebbed closer as Everett staggered backwards. Tremors raked his body as he pointed his wand at the demon's head, preparing a defensive spell. However, he watched in confusion as the demon dropped down to his knees. That uncanny smirk never left his face as he met Everett's gaze.

The demon's jaw contorted, opening wider to reveal a fork-pointed tongue. "Kill him," it rasped "Kill the bloodsucker."

"Where's Kieran?" Everett mustered all the courage in his question. "What have you done with him? And Rowena? The ghost, where's she?"

"Kill." The demon repeated, tongue drooping from his jaw like a mere dog. Bloody saliva dribbled onto the floor.

Everett had heard countless tales of demons possessing powers and intelligence beyond them. But he'd never read anything like the creature that bowed before him. It reminded him of an overgrown demonic child. Everett tried not to underestimate the creature of the damned, wondering if it were all a ruse. Or perhaps its strengths lie within its murderous abilities.

"What have you done with them?" Everett questioned.

A sharp whistle pierced his ears, followed by the command, "Come here, boy."

Upon hearing such a feminine voice, Everett whipped his head around to face another wicked creature of the damned. Luminous skin resembled snow. Pointed horns protruded from the raven's locks of hair that cascaded down to her shoulders. A tight-fitted black dress emphasized her hourglass figure, exposing legs that almost resembled a human's if not for the hoofed feet and black tail that clung around her waist.

"Who the hell are you?" Everett choked out.

"You don't remember me?" She pouted. "I suppose that's to be expected with your wretched mother having your memories concealed, however, I was made aware of a new deal you struck with a bloodsucker. Your soul belongs to me, Everett. You know that."

"How did you get in here?" Everett shook his head. "I don't understand."

"Isn't it obvious?" She tilted her head with a smirk. "Richard let me in."

"R-Richard?" Everett shook his head. "He's no longer with us."

Laughter cut through him like a serrated blade. "Oh, sweetie. He's right here." She stroked her fingers through the male demon's hair. "Richard needed help, but he came to me too late. The poison killed him."

Bile raised in Everett's throat as he eyed the demon closer, recognizing the human features as Richard, Rowena's husband. "How? Even his spirit?"

"Of course. I had him put on quite the show for you, didn't I? It's a good thing I never cut out his tongue."

Everett gulped painfully. "How did you make him appear like a normal spirit?"

"Illusive magic. It tricked you and your vampire into seeing how he used to appear. Richard can no longer speak for himself, so what you heard was me. I can see all of Richard's memories. It was like speaking through a puppet. You noticed something was wrong though, didn't you?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "When you saw that disturbed grass, you were standing right in front of me. I think a part of you suspected something was wrong, right?"

"Gods. If you took Richard's soul, does that mean you know who originally poisoned him?" Everett asked. "And what about his wife, Rowena? What happened to her?"

"So many questions." She laughed. "It was Rowena's curse that killed him. When she summoned me, we struck a deal. I saved her all those years ago. In return, every man who fell in love with her would die eventually and I'd claim their soul. The curse slowly killed them. That amulet they gave her only kept it contained enough for them to live a few happy years together."

"You took their souls so hers would be free?" Everett asked.

"Precisely. However, this sinful act prevents her from ever reaching into the heavens. That's why she's stuck in your world as a ghost."

Everett gazed around the library, frowning. "But where is she? And Kieran?"

"Why would they be here?" The demoness took a bold step toward him, sweeping her hand around the shelves. "This is your own personal hell, Everett."