VEE

I've met Ripley twice. The first time wasn't a long meeting, thanks to Seth dragging me through a rift he created to the middle of a forest.

The second time was overshadowed by Portia, and the situation diverted my focus from the desire to kill him. The burning need to rip into anything that threatens the world—demon or otherwise—builds. Wisely, Ripley hasn't asked to speak to me one on one. His suspicion is clear and the distrust mutual.

Distrust that leads to meetings arranged in public to ensure everybody’s safety.

I’m not surprised when the guys suggest a local bar.

I'm already out of my depth, thrust into another country in the middle of what feels like a surreal dream, and have no idea what to expect. The borrowed Jeep must be fifteen years newer than Syv’s, and smells of sickly floral air freshener. Heath drives and I spend the journey half-squashed between Xander and Joss, which helps my desire to stay connected to them.

I’ve been nauseous since we arrived, which I’ve put down to jet lag and creepy video clips, and the others have commented how pale I am. I push away the idea the power attacks my body. This has to be my imagining symptoms now I know who I am.

We pull into the car park outside a low brick building a few streets from the main road. A green neon sign in the window informs us this is the Corner Bar, and another that they sell Miller Lite. A few motorbikes are parked to the left, beneath the curtained windows. I smile to myself when Ewan pauses to inspect them as we head to the door.

I blink and adjust my eyes to my first American bar, strangely relieved to see it matches ones I've seen in the movies. The smell matches pubs back home—stale beer and stale people. I nudge Heath and point at the pool tables, whispering we can have a rematch.

A few people turn to look away from the football game on TV to size us up from their seats where they sit at the bar. But Xander's only interested in one person: Ripley.

I don't need to look. I sense the demon straightaway. He sits facing the door at a round table close to the bar's rear, between the bathroom sign and an old-style jukebox.

Another person sits with him, the tall woman’s back to us, and she looks over her shoulder when Ripley waves.

Breanna.

I've wanted to see her again—badly—but I'm scared. Will she reveal worse news when we show her the book, or will her interpretation give us hope?

We gather around the small table, Heath dragging an extra stool to sit on.

"Occupying the same body?" Xander asks Ripley. "You surprise me.”

The guy fusses with his spiked hair and straightens to puff his chest out. He’s chosen a tight black tee and left his brown, muscular arms bare. I don’t think we’re the only people he’s hoping to meet tonight. He might look delicious to the girls around, but sitting with a demon leaves a nasty taste in my mouth and an itching desire to hurt him.

Ripley gestures at himself. "I like this body, because other people do too."

"Girls, you mean?" asks Joss.

He waves a hand at Joss. "This gives me the same advantage as you, if I want to persuade someone to do what I ask. Shame you guys aren't adventurous anymore and decided to share the same girl."

"Watch your mouth, demon.” Ripley looks from Xander to me in surprise at my growled words. A surprise matched by the others.

"Excuse me?" asks Ripley in his smooth voice.

"I said watch how you talk about, and to, me."

His lip curls in amusement. "Why? What will you do?"

"Vee," whispers Joss.

I take a deep breath and look away. I want to tell Ripley, I'd prefer he was dead and I’m imagining killing him, but I'd jeopardise our alliance.

Breanna breaks her silence. "Let's keep this civil, children.”

I take a better look at her. Her distinctive red hair reaches halfway down her back and she’s dressed in a blue jersey dress. A small jacket is folded on a seat beside her, a handbag on top.

“Are Logan and Portia around?” Ewan looks around the bar.

“No. Fuck knows what the fae are up to. Distracted by Portia’s plans, I suspect.” Xander raps his fingertips on the table. “Or planning how to kill each other.”

Ripley shrugs. “They’re no real use anyway. Even their troops guarding the portal failed.”

“Did you Seth’s handiwork online?”

Ripley’s mouth thins. “Yes. I suggest you do your job and find and kill these things, if you can still manage that.”

Ewan’s face sours. “We would, if we knew where to find them. Have you any reports?”

Ripley shakes his head. “Nothing. This could end up very inconvenient for me. I’ve worked a long time to get established in smaller towns, and unwanted supernatural appearances aren’t helpful.”

“Inconvenient?” Heath blinks at him incredulously. “The creature came from a portal, we’re sure.”

“I thought you said the portal he opened with the dog inside was closed again? Or are you suggesting he’s opened others?”

Seth told us in the past that Ewan and Joss were attacked with their own powers. Was he telling us they were from portals he’d opened? We’re not sure, but we’re positive Seth intended to work through all four guys to see what would happen if they died.

Ripley sighs and pushes his beer away. “I have people watching portals, but keeping them close—that’s your job.”

“Which is difficult when a god is attacking them! We can’t exactly stand guard outside them all,” replies Ewan.

I chew a nail and continue to study Breanna. I don’t know what to make of her or understand her relationship with Ripley. She taps her fingers on the side of her glass, quietly processing the conversation between Ripley and the guys.

“Did you bring the book?” she asks them.

“To a public place where you could pull a fast one on us and leave with it?” Xander snorts. “No. We have it at the house.”

“I hear you already had help with the translation,” continues Breanna. “The Collector? Is he in the States too? I’m surprised he’s involved himself in this."

"No. He has no reason to be. Syv helped too and also stayed behind."

"Syv. Is that the demon girl?"

Ripley chuckles. "She helped? And the girl’s hardly a demon. There’s no use for her. She's not a big player in all this."

My dislike for this man grows. "How do you know?"

"Because she's weak. Too human. I've no idea where her half-demon heritage comes from, but low-level scum if mummy or daddy didn’t pass any powers on."

"Syv’s parentage means shit right now." I sense Ewan’s growing irritation and curl a hand around his leg.

"I'm pissed off you didn't bring the book,” says Breanna. “You were the ones who insisted we meet somewhere neutral."

"We had no clue you’d be here. We thought we were meeting him alone. " Xander jerks a thumb at Ripley. "I'm prepared to trust you because you can help."

"I know. Because you need to know how to beat this childish god. I'd like to help, which is why I’m here."

"Why?" asks Ewan. "What's your motivation?"

She shakes her head at him. "I live in this world too, what a stupid question."

"Do you mind telling me what you know so far, boys?" asks Ripley. "You were cagey on the phone."

I knew this conversation was coming. I worry what will happen when Ripley is told the story, if he makes any sarcastic comments. Perhaps this is another reason the guys pushed to have the meeting in public. Xander raging against Ripley wouldn’t be pretty.

Ripley tips his head. "Look at your faces. Not good? Shit. Do I need another drink for this news?"

I tighten my hand on Ewan's leg and he pulls my fingers away, wrapping his around mine. I squeeze and look to him. "Maybe we'll get some drinks, Ewan."

Ewan nods and the conversation is delayed by me and him taking a drinks order, another strange ordinariness in the midst of a personal hell.