His hands fumbled around a glass and it slipped from his grip to clatter on the floor. I exchanged looks with Will and Cadan before watching the bartender curiously.

“No story here,” he grumbled, his face reddening. “You should leave. There is nothing here to find for you children.”

“I’m sorry,” I told him. “I didn’t mean to upset you. We’re only interested in—”

“No,” he said, his tone firm and harsh, and he leaned over the counter and got right in my face. “You will find nothing here.”

Will launched himself to his feet and he slammed his hand on the counter, warning the man to back off. “That’s close enough,” he growled.

“Thanks, anyway,” I said to the bartender and dropped off my chair. “Let’s go.”

As we hurried out the door and down the street, Will leaned close to my ear, and said, “We’re being followed.”

I turned to see that one of the men from inside the pub now stood in the narrow street, head bowed and hands stuffed into his pockets. I felt no threat from this man, but he was clearly nervous and that made the reapers nervous in return.

“American girl,” he called in a hushed voice also thick with a Flemish accent. “You look for legends?”

“Yes,” I said. “Do you know of any creatures like the one we’re looking for?”

“I do.” His eyes were huge in the dark. “But you will think I’m crazy. They all think I’m crazy.”

I smiled. “Try me.”

“You know Kasteel van Mesen?” he asked, low and guarded. He glanced over his shoulder once.

It took him mentioning the abandoned castle for me to remember it. “Yes, I’ve heard of it.”

“The devil of Kasteel van Mesen,” the man continued. “Black wings and glowing eyes…. The others think I’m crazy, but I’m not. They think the story is bad for business.”

Will had a knowing gleam in his gaze. What this man described sounded like it could be a reaper. “And you’ve seen this creature with your own eyes?”

He nodded. “I worked as a security guard for years, but I am the only one to see the devil.”

No wonder the poor guy’s friends thought he was nuts. Fortunately for him, I believed in winged beasts. “That’s a pretty good story,” I told him. “Thank you. We will have to pay a visit and see if we can find this devil.”

The man started back down the street, but just before he disappeared into the pub once more, he paused. “Be careful, fire girl. The devil will steal your soul.”

I stared at him until he was gone and tried to shake off his final words. A terrible worry, that the reaper hidden in the crumbling castle might be demonic, crossed my mind.

We continued our trek back to the car and I pulled out my cell to call Ava. “How’s the search going?” I asked when she answered.

“I’ll let you know,” she replied. “Evolet called. You made quite an impression.”

“As did she,” I grumbled. “Did she say anything useful?”

Ava laughed softly on the other line. “Just a lead where we might find the guardian. She was surprised we were in Belgium. Have you found anything yet?”

“We’re checking out Kasteel van Mesen right now,” I said.

“Good idea. In fact, we’re on our way to an abandoned factory.”

“We’ll regroup afterward. I can call you again after we’ve investigated the castle.”

“One step at a time,” she replied. “Luck to you.”

“Right back at you.” I put the phone away, resolved against meeting the others empty-handed. Evolet seemed certain that the guardian of the Pentalpha hid within Aalst, and a villager claimed to have seen a winged devil at the same location. I felt that we were close at last, and I wouldn’t rest until I had the relic in my hand.

Will opened the car door, but Cadan put a hand on my shoulder and stopped me before I could climb in.

“I think I’ll sit this one out,” he said.

I stared at him in confusion. “What?”

“The relic guardians really don’t like me and I don’t want to cause any more trouble,” he said. “I want you to go on. I’ll sit tight until you find the guardian.”

I knew he was right, but I didn’t want to leave him behind, even for a few hours.

He appeared to notice my hesitation and he smiled. “You’ll be fine. I’ll be fine. Go with Will and get this ring. In the meantime, I’ll keep my eyes and ears alert in case anyone follows us. I’ve got your back.”

I nodded and swallowed hard. There was a chance that Sammael had ordered someone to tail us, or that Sammael and Lilith themselves could be hunting us at this very moment. Before he died, Merodach had made it clear that Sammael had regained his strength and was ready to take my soul and take this war to the next level.

Will cleared his throat. “I agree with you. The relic guardians have been defensive and potentially hostile. Hopefully this will be the last we’ll deal with. We’ll rejoin you when we’re ready to summon Azrael.”

“Then I will see you both very soon,” Cadan said. He spread his wings, silver feathers flashing gold in the lamplight, and he leaped into the night.

Kasteel van Mesen was dark, crippled, and yet still imposing. It had been built for a royal family in the early seventeenth century, but a couple hundred years later, it became a factory and was then renovated into a boarding school for the daughters of elite victorian families. A magnificent neo-gothic chapel had been built adjacent to it, but the fortress was eventually abandoned and left to decay. Though it had been overtaken by the elements and by wild vegetation, I’d seen few things that were more beautiful. The roof had collapsed over many wings, but the columns, arches, and inlay of brick and stone still held their shape. The fallen castle had a very forgotten-fairy-tale feel to it.