It wasn’t hitting me with that carved black stick, or putting a charm on me, or even making ugly faces, so I ignored it and dragged myself forward another foot. There was a crackle of paper, and wondering, I tucked David’s trifolded paper into my waistband. Yeah, he’d probably want this back.

“I’m Newt,” it said, seemingly disappointed I was ignoring it. There was a rich accent that I couldn’t place, an odd way of saying the vowels. “And no, I’m not taking you home. I already have a demon familiar. Algaliarept is right; you’re almost worthless right now.”

A demon for a familiar? Ooooh, that had to be good. Grunting, I pulled myself forward. My ribs hurt, and I pressed a hand into them. Panting, I looked up. A smooth face, not young, not old—sort of…nothing—met me. “Ceri is afraid of you,” I said.

“I know. She’s very perceptive. Is she well?”

Fear slid through me. “Leave her alone,” I said, jerking back as it pushed my hair out of my eyes. Its touch seemed to sink into me though I felt fingertips firm on my forehead. I stared at its black eyes as it peered at me, unruffled and curious.

“Your hair ought to be red,” it said, smelling of crushed dandelions. “And your eyes are green like my sisters’, not brown.”

“Sisters?” I wheezed, considering I might give it my soul if it would give me a pain amulet. God, I hurt all over, inside and out. I sat back on my heels out of its reach. Newt had an eerie grace, its outfit giving no hint to gender. There was a necklace of black gold about its neck—again, the design neither masculine nor feminine. My gaze dropped to its bare feet, hovering above the rubble. They were narrow and slim, somewhat ugly. Masculine? “Are you a boy or a girl?” I finally asked, not sure.

Newt’s brow furrowed. “It makes a difference?”

Muscles trembling, I pulled my hand to my mouth and sucked at a spot where the rock had pinched me. It did to me. “Don’t get me wrong, but why are you just sitting there?”

The demon smiled, making me think the reason couldn’t be good. “There are a few side bets as to whether you will learn how to use the lines before sunset. I’m here so no one cheats.”

A stab of adrenaline cleared my head. “What happens when the sun goes down?”

“Anyone can have you.”

A rock slid from a nearby pile, and I pushed into motion. “But you don’t want me.”

It shook its head, drifting back. “Maybe if you told me why Al took the other witch instead of you, I might. I…don’t remember.”