Radley's Labyrinth for Horny Monsters, Annabelle Hawthorne [smart ebook reader TXT] 📗

“I see.” Beth frowned. She had been secretly hoping that the demon was redeemable, more than just a terrible monster waiting to be unleashed on the world. It broke her heart a little that he wasn’t. “That’s too bad.”

She stood before the pond, gazing at her reflection. She could see the claw marks on her legs, the damp spot on her crotch, even the fiery cum running down her thighs. She was a hot, sexy mess, and the sight was turning her on.

“Do you remember when you asked me what kinds of dreams I had?” Beth asked.

“I do.” Oliver was watching her, anticipation written across his face. The skin around his eyes was crinkled, his face like a little boy about to open a birthday present.

“It meant you don’t know everything. Not unless you’re asked first.”

Oliver’s smile faltered. “Oh?”

“That’s right.” Beth winked at him. “You don’t know something until it’s asked. For example, am I about to leave?”

He froze for a moment, his eyes flashing. His face twisted in anger, and smoke emanated from his nostrils, forming tiny, curling wisps that rose into the air and vanished. Beneath his feet, a shadow formed and stretched into something monstrous, ready to pounce at a moment’s notice.

“How? I saw you lick the wine off your finger like the stupid bitch that you are!”

Relief flooded through her, and she flipped him off, knowing he could no longer hurt her. “I licked this finger, asshole.”

“What manner of woman are you?” demanded the demon, his features shifting.

“I’m the best fucking estate agent you will ever meet. Ixiar tobish anuit,” Beth said, careful to pronounce it correctly. She stepped forward and hopped into the reflecting pool. Passing through its surface, she fell into the reflected sky, moving up past the clouds. She heard a roar of rage from below, Oliver now trapped on the other side as she spiraled toward the tunnel in the sky. Crawling higher and higher, her ascent wasn’t slowing. She fell faster and faster, the air rushing past her ears, her nightgown billowing around her as she tumbled in circles. The mirrored surface of her room appeared at first as a bright light at the end of a long tunnel, growing closer in a hurry. She closed her eyes just before impact, and the mirrored surface caught her like a giant net, stretching to capacity as she passed back into the mortal realm.

Just when she thought the mirror would launch her back into Oliver’s realm, it shattered, filling her bedroom with shards of glass. Beth carefully moved around her room, grabbing blankets off her bed and using them to sweep away the shattered glass. The dim light of dawn was creeping through her window, and she dressed as quickly as she could, throwing on a pair of leggings and a blouse. Moving toward the door, she picked up a pair of sneakers. Her purse, cell phone, and briefcase were all gone, and she had an idea of where they could be.

She needed to get to Mike’s house, to warn him. Maybe he could tell her what was going on.

Opening up the door to her apartment, she was surprised to see Lily, the intern, standing there, one hand ready to knock.

“What are you doing here?” Beth asked.

“Um, I stopped by to…” Lily’s nostrils flared, and Beth heard her sniff the air. “You just fucked a demon, didn’t you?”

Beth’s eyes narrowed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Lily shook her head. “Don’t bother. I know that smell better than anything. When I saw you leave this morning, I could tell it wasn’t you.”

“You could? How? When did you see me leave?”

“A few minutes ago. I came to see if you were dead, and I’m glad to see that you aren’t. C’mon!” Lily grabbed Beth by the hand. “We have to get to Mike before they do!”

“Before who does?”

Lily pulled Beth behind her. “I’ll tell you on the way, c’mon!” Lily bypassed the elevator, taking Beth into the stairwell. They moved quickly, the clacking sound of Lily’s heels thunderously loud in the confined space. They emerged in the parking garage, where Beth’s fears were confirmed.

“They took my car,” she said, staring at the empty spot where it should have been.

“Don’t worry about it,” Lily told her, running over to a sporty sedan. Lily looked around the parking garage, finally locking eyes with Beth. “And yes, I’ll explain this too.”

“Explain what?” Beth’s jaw dropped when a long black scorpion’s tale appeared behind the intern, whipping back and forth briefly before striking the rear driver’s side window. The glass exploded, and the tail vanished as Lily stuck her hand through the gap to unlock the car. She slid into the driver’s seat before grabbing hold of the ignition and tearing it off to reveal the wires underneath.

“I’ll drive,” Lily informed her, touching the wires together and starting the car.

“How?” Beth asked, running to the passenger’s side. How was Lily able to do all this? What was she?

“Let’s just say I have spent far too much time with some very bad people. You learn things.” Without even looking in the rearview mirror, Lily backed up the car, tires squealing as she drove to the exit. Entering the busy road, she looked over at Beth, and a pair of horns sprouted from her forehead as her appearance rippled. She turned into a celebrity first, then Beth, and then back into herself.

“I guess a good place to start would be with a question. Do you believe in monsters?”

A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS 

Kali stood in the front yard, her dark eyes focused on the Radley house. She could see telltale signs of the geas all around her like a giant, magical bubble that shifted away from her when she tried to pop it. She had been fascinated by the spell ever since she had heard about it but had been warned away from trying to mess with it.