Night of the Living Demon Slayer by Angie Fox Page A

growing up in Georgia. The building facade was painted purple for starters. Columns flanked the front entrance, decorated in orange, gold, pink, and black swirling designs. Even the sidewalk displayed chalked skeletons at a party. It shouldn't have surprised me that Osse Pade would own a funeral parlor, even one like this.
    I smiled for the first time since I'd joined their party. Maybe I'd come out of this with something to celebrate as well.

Chapter Ten

    I moved quickly through the crowd outside the funeral parlor. Already, church members had begun to call out their goodbyes and hug one another as they filtered to the cars parked along the street. I'd have to move fast if I wanted to catch the bokor by surprise.
    He stood near the front doors. A simpering older woman clutched both of his hands in hers and kissed his knuckles, thanking him over and over again. Now was my chance. I reached for the bug.
    Osse Pade turned as if he could sense the danger. His eyes widened when he saw me.
    Damn.
    I was too far away to launch the spell, at least without him seeing me. I shoved it back into my utility belt.
    Osse Pade watched me as if I were about to bite. "Go, Esmerelda," he said, dismissing the woman with an absent wave.
    At least I'd caught him off guard. He hadn't anticipated any trouble or he'd have made sure his goon squad stood nearby. I noticed the way he scanned the sidewalk and street, and found no sign of them.
    "Your watchdogs are out by the hearse," I said, pleased to find my boots made me almost as tall as him. "Talking to pretty ladies," I added. Couldn't resist.
    He gave a shallow smile. "I'm talking to one as well." His voice was hard, his Cajun accent strong. He took my hand and leaned down as if to kiss it. He licked it instead.  
    I felt the slide of his wet tongue over my skin for a split second before I yanked it away. Jerk. In the same motion, I reached up and smacked the top hat off his head. "Do that again and you're going to lose more than your hat."
    Nonplussed, he bent to retrieve it. As he rose, he made a show of donning the hat, running his fingers along the brim. "You taste better than I expected," he said low, his eyes glittering with interest. "There's something wonderfully…dark about you."
    "You need to work on your fortune telling." It was exactly the opposite. I considered it my job to stamp out as much evil as I could in this world. And this clown had earned a spot the top of my list. I cocked my head. "I'll tell you one thing: I am a woman to fear."
    He smirked. "It's not you, girl." He licked his lips and prepared to learn closer, before stopping himself. Wise move. "It's him ." He teased the air with his fingers, as if he could see it. "He soaks up the space around you. A master presence."
    He could be lying through his teeth to intimidate me. I'd be overjoyed if that were the case. But there was no mistaking his keen attraction, and worse, his effort to tamp down his excitement.
    This was not going according to plan. He was paying far too much attention to my every move. I needed him distracted.
    I eased toward the building, and felt the pressure of the wards. They pushed at me, like two polar opposites of a magnet. No big surprise he'd have it well protected. I wasn't getting in there without an invite.
    Pade focused his attention on the space near my neck. The priest was besotted. If he were a cat, he'd be purring. "Tell me his name."
    "It doesn't matter," I said quickly. I hadn't asked it. I'd ditched that presence in the tower room.
    Oh, Elizabeth . A chill slammed through me as the spirit spoke. As if you could leave me behind.
    Sweet Jesus. It was in my head now? I locked my shoulders, refusing to give an inch. Hopefully then Pade wouldn't see me shaking. He seemed to grow more enthralled by the second. "I'm here to talk to you ," I said to the bokor.
    He drew back. "Then you misplayed your hand."
    Two guards approached from the sidewalk. I recognized one from the swamp. Each held