“Don’t presume to speak for other people,” said Betty. She looked at her husband. “She’s right, though. We’d have his eternal gratitude. A Demon on our side.”

“And another one wanting us dead,” Bill replied. “Astaroth has just given us a second chance – if we do this, he’ll pour his every resource into finding and punishing us.”

“He will,” Betty said. “But isn’t this just the kind of thing we’d do?”

Bill looked at her, and surprised Amber by bursting out laughing.

“Indeed it is, my love,” he said. “Indeed it is.”

Chapter 27

HER PARENTS REVERTED WHILE they waited for the Van der Valks to join them on Maple Street. Unlike Amber, their transformation did not rob them of their confidence or cruelty, and it only made them marginally less beautiful. They chatted to each other like they were the only people in the world. Amber was used to it.

Grant and Kirsty pulled up beside them, across the road from the impound lot. Amber, with Kelly’s dead weight dragging on the arm slung round her neck, watched them get out of the car, but they barely glanced at her.

“Why are you standing around?” Grant asked Bill. “Do you really like the cold weather that much? We’ve got a life of freedom ahead of us. Dump her in the trunk and let’s get to it.”

“We’re not handing her over,” said Bill.

“What are you talking about?” Kirsty asked. “Why not?”

“There’s another Shining Demon, Naberius, trapped underground. Amber here is about to get us the key to release him.”

“And then what?”

“Then … anything. Everything. The possibilities are endless.”

“You want to make a deal with this new Shining Demon? While the old Shining Demon is looking on? Astaroth will kill us all.”

“One of our demands will be that Naberius protect us from Astaroth’s anger.”

“His anger?” Grant said. “His anger? Is that what you’re calling it? You face someone’s anger if you cut them off in traffic. This is something more. This is biblical. We’re talking fury. We’re talking wrath. You want to betray Astaroth for, what, a better deal with a Demon we don’t even know? We don’t need a better deal. Astaroth will wipe the slate clean the moment we give Amber to the Hounds. No more debt. Do you understand what that means? One day, once we’re satisfied with the power we’ve accumulated, we could have children that we didn’t have to kill.”

Bill looked at his friend like he was something he’d stepped in. “Satisfied? When we’re satisfied? We’re never going to be satisfied, Grant. We’re always going to want more.”

“Grant and I want to start a real family,” Kirsty said.

Betty stared at them. “When did you decide this?” she asked, stepping forward. “In the last few days?”

“Last few weeks, actually.”