Chapter 3

Zander…

I guided her gently over onto her side so that she was once again unconscious on my couch, this time in a deep sleep that would last five or six hours. I looked at Marcus. “How the hell is she a Valkyrie and a Demon?”

Marcus let out a sigh. “You can’t deny it, when you said sleep, she fell asleep. The sandman doesn’t have power over Demons like that.”

“But how?” I demanded.

“You won’t be happy,” he warned.

“We both know I’m never happy when it comes to Demons,” I said stiffly.

“From what I can tell, her mother was a Valkyrie who was attacked by a Demon, one in this very town,” he tilted his head. “She’s just now setting into her immortality. By the end of this month or next, her transition will be complete.”

I closed my eyes. “So, I have a transitioning half Demon in my basement, one which you say I have to protect.”

“Yes. Her mother escaped the Demon and ran. The Demon wants his half-breed daughter to mold into his personal weapon. Think of what she may be capable of—both Demon and Valkyrie powers.”

“Catching fire uncontrollably and making my place smell like cobbler.” It made my mouth water, but her tears made my Gargoyle long to come out and defend her, no doubt because of the Valkyrie in her.

“This is just the beginning. You need to keep an eye on her and keep her safe. The Boogieman won’t be able to do it on his own,” Marcus said as he looked at her.

“Do you have to call us those names? They are used by humans, not our kind.”

“Do you not have the ability to put someone into a deep slumber, just like the sandman? Does Alatap not have the power to play on one’s worst fears, as the boogieman does? You are what you are, and I like the terms. They are much more interesting than your names,” Marcus said with a smile. “Now, I must be going. I have other things to do. Protect your sleeping Dakyrie.”

“Dakyrie,” I repeated.

“Demon-Valkyrie.”

“I’d like to think she’s more Valkyrie than Demon if I’m to be protecting her.”

“Valmon,” he said with a thoughtful look and shook his head. “It just doesn’t sound right. Dakyrie sounds better, plus she did catch fire.”

“As usual, you’re more work than help, Marcus,” I said as I glanced at the sleeping female.

Marcus winked at me and grinned. “Don’t forget to teach her how to protect herself.” He stood and moved to walk out of the room but paused next to the couch and frowned as he looked down at her, then looked back at me. “You’ve got a brick home, right?”

“Yes,” I said hesitantly.

“Good. Brick is sturdier than wood. Happy training.” With that, he walked out of the door and through his portal that he’d created without me noticing.

It had been about four hours since Marcus had left when Angelica woke up. She sat up on the couch, rubbing her head, then quickly looked down at herself and squeaked, pulling the jacket tighter around her. “The shirt and sweatpants on the edge of the desk should fit well enough for now. I don’t know where you’re staying, or I would have had Ash get you some of your own clothes to change into.”

“What happened?” She eyed the clothes on the desk.

“I cast a spell to put you to sleep. It wore off much quicker than I’d expected. Now get dressed, and we’ll talk,” I said as I stood and walked to the door where I crossed my arms to wait. “Let me know when you’re decent.”

“You’re not going to leave the room?” she asked in a horrified voice.

“I don’t trust Demons, not even half ones. Now get dressed,” I said as I impatiently stared at the door. “What do you know of your mother?” I asked, not wanting to waste time.

  “Demon-Valkyrie.”

“I’d like to think she’s more Valkyrie than Demon if I’m to be protecting her.”

“Valmon,” he said with a thoughtful look and shook his head. “It just doesn’t sound right. Dakyrie sounds better, plus she did catch fire.”

“As usual, you’re more work than help, Marcus,” I said as I glanced at the sleeping female.

Marcus winked at me and grinned. “Don’t forget to teach her how to protect herself.” He stood and moved to walk out of the room but paused next to the couch and frowned as he looked down at her, then looked back at me. “You’ve got a brick home, right?”

“Yes,” I said hesitantly.

“Good. Brick is sturdier than wood. Happy training.” With that, he walked out of the door and through his portal that he’d created without me noticing.

It had been about four hours since Marcus had left when Angelica woke up. She sat up on the couch, rubbing her head, then quickly looked down at herself and squeaked, pulling the jacket tighter around her. “The shirt and sweatpants on the edge of the desk should fit well enough for now. I don’t know where you’re staying, or I would have had Ash get you some of your own clothes to change into.”

“What happened?” She eyed the clothes on the desk.

“I cast a spell to put you to sleep. It wore off much quicker than I’d expected. Now get dressed, and we’ll talk,” I said as I stood and walked to the door where I crossed my arms to wait. “Let me know when you’re decent.”

“You’re not going to leave the room?” she asked in a horrified voice.

“I don’t trust Demons, not even half ones. Now get dressed,” I said as I impatiently stared at the door. “What do you know of your mother?” I asked, not wanting to waste time.

“Assuming you’re talking about my biological mother, she gave birth and died. When do I get to leave?”