A Demon Does It Better Read Free Page B

pixie-cut hair was feathered around her face, and her blue eyes sparkled as she mocked a high-fashion model’s pose.
    Lili’s eyes glistened with tears as she thought of the day the picture was taken. They had attended a Medieval Faire. Lili joked that her memories of the time period were very different than what they experienced that day.
    They drank mead, munched on turkey legs, and visited the many booths offering a variety of crafts. Lili still had a beautiful glass ball, filled with a rainbow of colors, that sat in her bedroom.
    Sera hadn’t been one of the witches who attended the Witches Academy with her, but she had become a close friend when they both worked in Chicago.
    The nurse’s magick empathy with her patients, understanding their pain and fear, and being able to ease it for them, was a valuable skill.
    After Sera’s bad breakup with Chad, the stockbroker—may he suffer in Hades for a thousand years—she decided she needed to leave Chicago. When she told Lili she was considering a nurse’s job at Crying Souls, Lili offered her the use of her cottage. Except Sera decided she wanted something all her own.
    At first, there were almost daily wallmails and phone calls. Sera loved her work and urged Lili to come out also.
    The silence was abrupt. After three days of hearing nothing from her, Lili tried contacting Sera. The news that she no longer worked at the hospital was unsettling. Her cell phone voice mail box was full as was her text in-box, and wallmails to her were ignored. It was as if the witch had disappeared into thin air. Except Lili knew better. It wasn’t in Sera’s responsible nature to just go away without a word to anyone.
    Lili picked up her cup and sipped her tea as she carefully placed the photograph onto the coffee table in front of her. “I’ll find out what happened to you, Sera. I swear it.”
    ***
     
    “Wow, who did you piss off that you’re now banished to the dungeon of horrors?”
    Lili turned around to find Deisphe catching up to her with a ground-eating stride. “The dungeon of horrors?” There was no question what the nurse was talking about. She was curious about Deisphe’s take on the underground ward set aside for the insane.
    The Wereleopard’s expression was serious, her golden eyes dark with concern. “Sorry, I know I shouldn’t call it that. If Dragon Lady caught me saying it I’d be washing out bedpans for six months. Word all over the place is that Dr. M. wants you working below a few days a week,” she said softly, touching her arm. “It’s not a nice place, Lili.”
    Lili felt a hint of unease in the pit of her stomach. “Dr. Mortimer mentioned at my initial interview that he wanted someone who was able to work with the insane patients, but he didn’t say anything definite.” Or to me.
    Deisphe nodded. “He gets absentminded at times. He always thinks he’s told you something when he hasn’t.”
    The two walked side by side down the wide hallway. Lili thought she detected a tall, dark-haired figure when she glanced in one of the office reception areas. She frowned as she realized all she could see were shadows.
    A demon does it better.
    Lili stopped so fast her heels skidded on the floor.
    “Careful.” The nurse grabbed her arm before she ended up on her ass. “Are you okay?” She looked closer at the doctor.
    “Yes, thanks.” She turned around and headed for the empty office. Just as she thought, nothing was there except a few tendrils of shadows that looked pretty suspicious to her eyes. “Who has this office?” Someone like the cute guy I saw at Inderman, who popped into my house last night? But remember the last guy you dated, Lili? Not a good memory at all.
    “No one.” Deisphe looked at her curiously. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
    “Just curious.” She moved off with a faster gait as they headed for the locker room. “So the rumors are I’ll be working in the dungeon, as you call it?”
    The nurse nodded. “Good