Chapter Twenty-Two: Christmas with Demons

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Christmas with Demons

The night following my visit to the Boudoir, I flew to Matilda Swanson’s countryside home. I didn’t know whether she would remember me, but I needed a ritualist’s opinion, and I obviously couldn’t ask Salem or Mr. Pervis for their input.

When I arrived, I found coaches parked outside and a smiling servant boy waiting by the door. As I approached, the gargoyle above the door lowered its stone body down between us like a snake from a tree. “Password?” it crooned.

“Shenanigans,” I said.

“Many are afoot tonight,” the gargoyle said wistfully. He retracted back up, and the boy opened the door for me.

I stepped into the entrance hall to find nude and semi-nude figures sprawled across the floor and furniture. I recognized the incubus twins from the Beard Society, their arms around a short, round succubus. All three were asleep. Several lilitu sat in a circle in a corner, smoking hookah. Further on, Matilda stood at an easel, painting what lay befo