Almost.

“Three minutes,” Libby prodded, without even a glance at her watch. “When I have finished with this—” she held up the cigarette again “—I will be finished with you.”

“Right.” Tod glanced at first me, then Nash, but we only stared back at him. This was his show; the reaper had yet to acknowledge either of us existed. “Um…does all Demon’s Breath taste the same, or does it vary from hellion to hellion? You know, like 31 flavors?”

Libby’s eyes narrowed as she watched him, and I was sure she’d ask a question of her own, and our little road trip would end in disaster. But after a moment’s hesitation—just long enough to blow smoke into his face—she answered. “It all tastes the same. Foul. It would probably kill you, so do not consider trying it.”

“I won’t.” But Tod didn’t look anywhere near as put off by the idea as I thought he should be. “So…you can’t tell what hellion this particular breath…came from?”

“No.” She inhaled from her cigarette and crossed her opposite arm over her chest. “Nor do I care.”

Tod exhaled in frustration and glanced at us again, but I could only shrug. I had no idea where to go from there. “When they give you your list, does it say what hellion owns the target’s soul?”

“No.” Libby dropped her half-smoked cigarette and ground it beneath her boot, and I was sure she’d simply disappear without another word. Instead, she turned to face us. All three of us. And I literally squirmed beneath her gaze. “Why are you following me, asking about hellions? Demon’s Breath is nothing for children to play with.”

I wanted to insist that we weren’t children, but I kept my mouth shut because arguing with Libby probably wasn’t the best way to get information out of her. And because compared to her, even poor old Mr. Henry was a child.

“I’m just curious….” Tod began. But his mouth snapped shut at one angry glance from the older reaper, who could clearly smell his lie. “We…We’re trying to help a friend.”

“Who?” Libby pushed off of my car and crossed both arms this time, glaring down at us.

Nash and Tod exchanged glances but remained silent, so I answered. Silence obviously wasn’t getting us anywhere. But the truth might.

“We’re trying to help Addison Page get her soul back.”

“That cannot be done,” Libby said, without missing a beat. Any surprise she may have felt was instantly swallowed by her perpetual scowl. “And you will die trying. But she can reclaim it herself. Her contract has an out-clause. They all do.”

“We know.” I sighed and let my shoulders slump, hoping she couldn’t tell from my posture that I was about to tell a half truth—I was afraid shewouldn’t help us if she knew what we were really planning. “But she doesn’t know the hellion’s name. She can’t enact the out-clause if she can’t find him, and she only knows he’s a hellion of avarice.”

“I do not have direct contact with hellions.” Libby scowled. “Stupid humans.” She closed her eyes briefly before meeting mine again. “She does not have a copy of her contract?”

“No, and we couldn’t come up with a copy, either.”

“Those bastards never play fair,” Libby muttered. “But there is nothing you can do about it. Go home.” She turned then, as if to walk away, but I knew it wasn’t over. If she were truly done with us, she would simply have disappeared.

“Please.” I started after her and she whirled around, long leather coat flaring out behind her. Libby’s surprised, angry gaze found me immediately, and I made myself speak, in spite of the nerves tightening my throat. “Anything you could tell us might help.”

“I do not know who has her soul, and I will not ask for you. That is beyond what is safe, even for me.”

“Fine. I understand. But…” I closed my eyes, thinking quickly. “What else can you tell us about your job? Where do you take the Demon’s Breath after you collect it?”

One corner of her mouth twitched, like she was holding back a smile, and I was suddenly sure she was proud of me. As if I were on the right track, and she secretly wanted me to follow it.

“There are disposal centers in the Nether. The closest is near Dallas. In the large stadium.”

“Texas Stadium? The old one, right?” I asked, still thinking, and she nodded. “Would anyone there help us?”

Libby’s mouth quirked again. “No. Definitely not.”

But then, she hadn’t planned to help us, either. “Thank you.” I exhaled slowly, sure we were headed in the right direction. “Thank you so much.”

“Child,” she called, as I turned toward my car, key already in hand. When I glanced up at her, something unfamiliar passed over her face. Concern? Or maybe amusement? Figures that I’d amuse a reaper. “Demon’s Breath is very powerful, and it attracts both the desperate and the dangerous. Watch out for fiends.”

I nodded, trying not to reveal fear in my posture. But as I started my engine, Nash buckling himself into the seat next to me, I couldn’t stop my hands from shaking.

I had no idea what a fiend was, but something told me I would soon find out.

10

“I CAN’T BELIEVE you did that!” Nash said, and I glanced away from the dark highway long enough to see him grinning from ear to ear in the passenger seat, his irises swirling in the deep shadows. He looked…excited.