will kill the hag. I am helping you entirely for my own selfish
purposes, dear.”
Meg turned to Dante, who handed her the duffel bag. She settled it
on her back and hugged him. “Good luck, Dante.”
“You, too, Meggie.” His hands tightened around her waist, and
then he backed away. “I hope everything works out for you. Look me
up if you ever come back this way.”
Meg leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. She would miss
this version of Dante, but it was time to go home. She followed the
demon up the stairs, aware that Dante watched her the entire way. The
stairs creaked and shook under her weight.
“Hurry, dear,” the demon called from the darkness above. “You
don’t want to miss it.”
Meg braced herself and took the final step. The demon looked out
over the railing. He pointed to a spot just below them. “There it is.”
No wonder it was so hard to find. It was in the middle of the air.
She would have to jump. If she missed, she would break her legs at
best and her neck at worst. The demon gracefully leapt onto the
railing. “Just follow me.”
He jumped from the railing, feet first, and disappeared
completely.
“It’ll be all right, Meg,” Dante said from below her. “It’s fate,
right?”
“Yes.” She climbed on the railing. It shook and rattled under her
weight. There was nothing stable about it. Moonlight filtered in from
a window above, illuminating the ragged warehouse. Her hands were
shaking as she made the mistake of looking down.
Bound
287
There was another popping sound, and Meg knew her time was