26. THE DEMON SAID: "WIDE IS THE GATE AND BROAD IS THE ROAD."

Oh, Lord, Heavens knows, we belong way down below,

Oh, Lord, tell us so, we belong way down below (...)

The Devil's knocking at your door

Caught in the eye of a dead man's lie

(Heaven Knows, The Pretty Reckless)

In the afternoon Set went to meet Maria as planned. Since the time Sybil had left in the morning, he hadn't shown up in the apartment, not even for lunch. Subtle tension was growing in Set's heart, making him even more restless than usual. As he walked toward Palermo's he tried not to think about it and focus on the matter at hand. Everything was all right—if his plan succeeded things would be fixed up in no time.

Maria was already in the alley, waiting for him. She sat on the curb near Isaac, chattering cheerfully with the old man like it was normal for a pretty girl to get along with an old hobo. Set's eyes caught on the lovely face she was showing to Isaac—her good heart was one of her charms.

When the boy reached their spot, they both lifted their heads and greeted him. Isaac's eyes were filled with concern as much as Maria's were wary despite her smile. Set grinned at his pal, trying to conceal his uneasiness and behave normally. The old man shouldn't be involved in Set's plan. If Isaac got even a glimpse of it he would try to stop him and Maria, maybe even let Sybil know.

"Oi, geezer, get the dark look off your face," Set called as he flipped his head, waving around his fresh-from-the-bath, wavy hair.

Isaac shook his head, but a crooked smile curved his chapped lips.

"See? I'm all good." Set patted his own cheek and bent over the man to show off his clean face.

Isaac snorted, shooing away the boy with his hand. "Is he well too?" he asked, his gruff voice slightly wavering.

Set's chest tightened, but he kept the smile on his face. "Bad people are always fine," he quipped.

Isaac stood, his eyes narrowed as he looked closely at the boy, studying his face like a father trying to spot some lies.

"Bad people—Set, what are you, stupid?" he retorted.

Isaac crossed his arms and a whiff of sweat mixed with his foul breath slapped Set's face. In just a few days it felt already unfamiliar. Set's eyes ran over his friend's wrinkles and bagged eyes—he had gotten worse. As the boy realized how different their condition had become, a pang of guilt hit him.

"Move in with me—the guy's got plenty of cash," he tossed out.

A bewildered expression crossed Isaac's face. He pulled back and lifted his hands, waving them hastily in denial. "No way I can live with a saint. You got no shame, you know? I ain't like you."

Set eyes widened before he broke into a fit of laughter. As much as Sybil Vain was a savior to him, there was no way he could treat him with such devotion.

"Definitely, no shame—this idiot is even trying to seduce him," Maria pressed, standing beside Isaac, her fists on her hips.

Set glared at her, wondering if she was actually believing her own words. At that, she winked and brought her hand up to her cherry lips, barely managing to hide a chuckle.

"What are you talking about?" Isaac asked, going pale.

"Are you nuts? No way I'm—"

Set's growl was interrupted by a voice greeting Maria from the sidewalk at the beginning of the alley. The boy's head flung toward the intruder.

A middle-aged guy in a pinstriped suit and black coat stood there joyously waving his hand. His face was the same Set had seen in his visions about Sybil's past—hard lines, nasty look, large nose and a big grin filled with sharp teeth. His dark hair pulled back in a cow's lick, he held in his left hand a paper bag with the logo of some pastry shop and waited for her reply.

"Zio Raffae' (uncle Raffaele)," Maria called back, sashaying toward the newcomer with an exaggerated smile on her face.

"What a nice surprise, finding you outside, bimba bella (baby girl)," Shark Face said casually as she reached him.

He then gave her a pleased once over before he hugged her tightly—perfectly playing the part of the relative who hadn't seen her in ages. Well, it was probably true. Isaac kept still, putting on hold his banter with Set to stare warily at the man, but he didn't butt in. The boy leaned his back on the wall and brought his eyes up to the sky, hoping that she could manage to pull it off smoothly.

The two started talking about relatives, common acquaintances and some other stuff—most of that in an obscure Sicilian. After a while, Set's patience faltered, but he slid down the wall and rolled a cig, managing to stay put. Puff after puff the nicotine kicked into his system, relaxing his nerves, his eyes eventually glued to the slimy man. When shark-face was finally taking his leave, he swiftly put the paper bag in Maria's hands.

"You're the last person I expected to see today—I don't even have time to take you for a coffee." He sighed and scratched the back of his head, slightly messing up his neatly combed hair. "Please, accept these pastries. I just bought them for Nina, but I'm sure she will be happy if you have them," he explained with a sickeningly sweet smile.

His rough face clashed with his daddy-like manners, but Set had to acknowledge that he was a good actor.

"Grazie Zio, but I can't possibly take your daughter's pastries," Maria replied quickly, pushing the paper bag back toward his chest.

"Mari', teso' (darling), I can buy as many pastries as I want, but who knows when I'll get a chance to meet you again?" the man insisted. He held her hands in his and pushed the bag back, leaning in to give her a kiss on each cheek. "I really must go now, Vito wouldn't be happy to see me here," he added with a wink.

Waving, he walked off to the main road, his dumpy figure hardly matching the elegant outfit. Set stood up and stretched his legs, just in time to meet Maria's gaze as she turned around.

"Coming?" she asked, beaming.

"If I was you, I'd eat them all myself," he spat while his eyes searched the old fortune-teller.

Isaac had walked off to the main road and pretended to look at the people passing by when he was actually checking on the man's direction and listening to their conversation as well. Set frowned, wondering how much the man knew about Sybil and the whole situation. Out of the blue, Maria popped him in the back of his head, her hand giving him the same unpleasant sensation of a taser. He gritted his teeth and glared at her.

"You jerk, be thankful that I asked you and help me with the inventory," she spat before she picked a pastry from the paper bag and tossed it to Isaac, who had turned around to her loud voice. "Amunì, Set (let's go, Set)!" That said, she walked in the café from the back entrance.

As he followed her, she went straight up the stairs, ignoring all the boxes piled up in the storeroom. He stalked her silently and kept glancing back over his shoulder, knowing that they should avoid Vito at all costs. When they got into the small kitchen of her flat, she thrust the bag in his hands and quickly moved to the stove to heat up some coffee. As his fingers wrapped around the deadly gift, Set's breathing accelerated. Maria huffed, pouring the coffee in two cups, and placing them on the small table before she dropped into the chair facing him. Set stood still, his mouth dry, while she rolled a cigarette and lit it. White smoke filled the room, twisting his stomach as it never did.

"How we do it?" she fired.

Set's hands peeled open the paper, and he peeked inside, finding ten cream puffs. His fingers hesitantly grabbed the carton tray and slid it up. He got a glimpse of the black metal wrapped in plastic that sat on the bottom tray, garnished by croissants. Set let go of the upper tray and quickly closed the bag before he placed it on the table.

He took a deep breath and swallowed hard, trying to cool his head. He wasn't an expert shooter—actually he'd never handled a real gun before. So, the only thing he could be sure about was that he needed to do it at close range. He wasn't scared though. The frightening part was that, at the idea of killing somebody, deep inside of him there was excitement. He ignored it and sat in front of Maria, snatching her tobacco to make a cigarette for himself.

"Sure thing, we have to move fast ... That man might get suspicious and start stalking me," she mumbled, massaging her forehead before blowing another puff of smoke.

"You can do anything for Sybil, right?" Set confirmed, lighting his cigarette.

She nodded straight away.

"Ask the cop out and go to his place." Set's voice sank while he stared into her big eyes. He swallowed back again and took a puff of smoke. "You get him drunk and fuck him nicely. When he sleeps, you let me in and I shoot." He slowly took another puff, the smoke dispersing in a white cloud that for a moment hid Maria from sight. "The end."

Set was oddly at peace, like an office worker planning his daily schedule. He seemed to have found a way to channel his destructive impulses—his personal vocation. Maria bit her thumb's nail, thinking about it before she nodded again.

"Ok, I'll write you the address." She stood and picked a post-it to scribble on it. "When?" she asked, handing him the paper and dropping again on the chair.

"As soon as you can."

"Tomorrow. I think I can do it tomorrow," she replied slowly.

She tapped her fingers on the glass table, ignoring the ash that fell from her cig dusting it.

"I'll give you my old phone, and text you when it's time ... It should be a normal conversation..." she whispered.

"Sounds like a plan." He gave her a wicked smile. "Bring it now and let's start flirting already. We make it like we have a date tomorrow, and when it's time, you text me that you are waiting for me at the park." He nicely wrapped it up in a far too low voice.

Maria thrust her cigarette butt in the ashtray and stood again to clean up the table. She had the serious, devoted look of a holy martyr that in some bizarre way added to her charm. Set picked the bag back up and followed her when she moved to her bedroom. Her favorite perfume filled the air, the sweetness of peaches enveloping him. He stopped just behind her and stared as she took her old cellphone out of the bedside table's drawer. When she turned around and gave him a puzzled glance, he snatched the thing from her hands and thrust into his pocket. Looking at her parted lips, the urge to touch her warmed his palms, but he pushed them behind his back. A crooked grin twisted his mouth as he bent over her.

"Aren't you afraid you'll go to Hell?" he whispered in her ear.

"You, being the same idiot as usual—it's almost reassuring," she replied, taking a step back but gifting him half a smile. "Now get out of here before I start getting any ideas." She shooed him away with her hand.

Unfortunately, her words had the opposite effect, awakening in him a sickening desire to take her—strip her to the core, uncovering the deepest, most obscene crook of her soul, and drag her into his chaos and madness. The fire of his dark energy burned his eyes and he stretched his hand to grab her. Before it could even brush her skin, Set bit his bottom lip to the point it bled. He swirled his tongue around his mouth and teeth, focusing on the metallic taste of his blood, somehow managing to keep it together.

Maria took the chance to slip away, dash out of the room and quickly walk back to the stairs. Set clenched his fists and forcing his steps to a slow, controlled pace, he followed her. She stopped at the first step down and this time he kept his distance.

"There's something that draws me toward you ... but I feel like it's crazy and dangerous ... If Sybil hadn't stopped us last time..." she whispered, not looking back at him. "I have no intention to make the same mistake again."

Set slipped his hands into his pockets. His fingers brushed the golden ring, shimmering power poured into his veins, the call of his demon silenced by the overwhelming quietness of the abyss.

"You're right," he replied dryly.

Maria turned her head, showing her pained expression and opening her mouth to say more, but Set walked past her to go downstairs. He needed to move quickly and let go of the jewel before its power could hurt him. There was nothing else to add. He had a plan to follow and he was well trained in giving up on his own dreams and desires.

He could offer his useless life for her sake, for Sybil's, for Vito's, for Isaac's.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hi my beloved readers,

this chapter was a bit short, but for structure's sake I had to split it in two parts and the other half will be after chapter 27 and will come very soon since I'm already done translating it!

As always I want to thank my wonderful betas @Jagermeanshunter, @Sarah_MacLean (I hope everything is ok with you, love) and @Birdpaw!

A special thank to @IAMALLALONENOW and @PianoJiva for their lovely comments--it means a lot to have you guys waiting for my updates!

So, until next time, lots of love to all of you!