Bad Moon Rising

“Information about a demon.”

His features hardened. “Don’t piss us off. We don’t like that.”

She gave him a droll stare. “If someone’s possessed by a demon, how do you get the demon out?”

“Call a priest.” He started away from her.

Aimee caught his arm and pulled him to a stop. His entire stance oozed impatience. “I’m serious, Xedrix. And this isn’t a human. It’s Fang. Have you any idea how much damage a demon could do in the body of a Were-Hunter?”

“Oh, a lot.” His tone was as dry as the Sahara. “Would definitely suck to be their victim.”

She didn’t appreciate his humor. “What can I do?”

“I’d leave town.”

“Xedrix!”

He lifted his hands in an exaggerated stance of hopeless i

Aimee turned to see a gorgeous blond woman who was eyeing him irritably with her arms akimbo.

“You were about to say?” the female prompted.

“Uh… possession’s for really great demons who have… lots of powers.”

It was actually entertaining to watch him squirm. Obviously the blond woman meant a lot to him and he didn’t want to make her angry.

The blonde offered Aimee her hand. “I’m Kerryna and you would be?”

“Kyle’s sister,” Xedrix answered so quick Aimee realized that he and Kerryna must have a relationship close enough that he didn’t want Kerryna to mistake why he was talking to her. “Aimee. And she was just leaving.”

Aimee let go of Kerryna’s hand to correct him. “Not yet, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are. Adios. There’s the door. Doorknob twists to the left. The hinges open in. You should use them. Keep them working. Keep you breathing. We’re all happy here.”

Aimee sighed at his sarcastic tirade. Ignoring him, she tried Kerryna. “I have to know how to break a possession. Would you happen to have any kind of suggestions?”

Kerryna frowned. “What kind of demon?”

“I don’t know. Is there a difference?”

“Oh, definitely. There are those you can kill, those you can drive out, and those who become a permanent part of you. The latter, to quote Xedrix’s favorite phrase, really sucks.”

Aimee slid a glance at Xedrix, before she returned her attention to Kerryna. “How do I know what I have?”

“Take me to it.”

Xedrix made an inhuman sound of protest. “Oh, hell no.”

Kerryna gave him a chiding stare. “Xedrix…”

He immediately stepped back. “I know I’m Charonte and we defer to our females, but you have to respect the fact that I’m Charonte and we protect our females to the end. You be my female. I be protecting.”

Kerryna smiled at him. “Then come with us and stop whining.”

“I’m not whining.” He looked at Aimee as if he were contemplating her utter dismemberment. “Why is it every time I see you, you make me go someplace I don’t want to go? I guess I should be grateful that at least it’s not hell again.”

“Stop being a baby, demon. Let’s go see Fang.”

Xedrix screwed his face up in distaste. “What is it with you and that wolf anyway? Can’t we just shoot him and put him out of my misery?”

“I’d shoot you first.”

“At the rate we’re going, I wish you would.”

Kerryna smacked him playfully in the belly. “Be nice, Xed, or I’ll shoot you myself.”

“Yes, akra.”

Shaking her head at his sarcasm, Aimee took them back to where she’d left Fang in his room.

It was empty.

Xedrix crossed his arms over his chest. “Where is he?”

Frustrated and worried, Aimee searched the room with her gaze. The bed was still mussed, but the dresser and chest of drawers were perfect. Everything was as it had been, except for Fang’s presence. “I don’t know. He was curled up on the floor in pain when I left him.”

Kerryna went to the spot as if she somehow knew exactly where he’d been. Touching the floor, she gasped. “Oh, this is bad.”

Aimee’s heart sank to her feet at that dire tone. “What?”

“He’s possessed by a primus. A powerful primus.”

Aimee wasn’t sure what that was, but the tone said it wasn’t good. “Can you get the demon out?”

“I don’t know.” Kerryna stood up again. “If I had my sisters, I could. But alone… I just don’t know.”

“Then what do we do?”

Xedrix was the one who answered. “Kill him.”

“Xedrix!” Aimee snapped.

“What?” He gave her a look of i

Wanting to serve him up at Sanctuary, she looked at Kerryna. “I can track him and find him.” Aimee closed her eyes and thought of Fang.

But for once, nothing was there.

Nothing.

How could this be? Her powers were godlike. She could always track. Yet there was no sign of him anywhere. It was almost like he was dead.

That mere thought was enough to make her want to collapse. You’re stronger than that…

Aimee faced them with a steadiness she didn’t feel. “I can’t find him.”

Kerryna looked back to the floor. “He’s a powerful demon. I’m sure he can mask his essence from anyone except a god.”

“Then what do we do?”

Xedrix shrugged. His ambivalence was getting on her last nerve.

Narrowing her eyes, Kerryna tapped her chin. “Menyara, I think.”

Aimee frowned at a term she’d never heard before. “Is that some kind of funky ceremony?”

Kerryna laughed. “No, it’s a person. She lives here in New Orleans and is the one who helped me when I first arrived. I think if anyone can help you, she’s the one.” She turned a pointed stare at Xedrix. “Since you can’t stand her, surely you’ll let me go there alone?”

He brought his left fist to his right shoulder and bowed mockingly. “Yes, akra. Your pleasure is ever my misery.”

Kerryna snorted. “I’ll remember that tonight when you want to come to bed.”

He looked horrified by her threat. “It was a joke, baby. I didn’t mean a word of it.”

She patted him adoringly on the cheek. “We’ll see.”

Aimee barely had time to focus before Kerryna took her out of Fang’s room to a small shack of a bright blue house. Even in the darkness, the blue stood out. Colorful, but ubiquitous in design, it looked like any of a hundred row houses in New Orleans’ French Quarter. White lace curtains peeked out from under thick white shutters. It hardly looked like the abode of someone who could defeat a powerful demon.

But if Hello Kitty attacked-watch out!

Kerryna knocked on the door.

After a brief pause, a beautiful African American woman opened it to smile at them. Her long curly hair framed a face that was elegant and exotic. Dressed in a bright yellow sweater that matched the headband she used to hold her hair off her forehead, and jeans, she possessed an aura of fierce power that rippled on the air around them.

There was no doubt that this woman could take on a demon and win.

“Kerry-bell? Who you bring to Menyara’s door, child?” She held her hand out to Aimee. “Come in, ma petite bearswan, and make yourself at home.”

Eyes wide, Aimee passed a trepidatious glance at Kerryna. “How do you know who I am?” she asked Menyara.

A slow smile curved her lips and wrinkled her nose. “I know much about this world, child. Both seen and unseen. Now come, there’s a warm pot of Egyptian chamomile tea waiting with lots of honey.”

Aimee followed her into the small house that was decorated like the inside of an Egyptian pyramid. Statues of the gods lined the mantel that reminded her more of an altar. Papyrus paintings lined the walls. Decorated with black, golds, and browns, the house had a homey feel to it. Like walking into a beloved grandmother’s house.