Not good. Not good, not good, not good. “Don’t give it to him, Nick.”

He turned in the tight confines, bumping me. “It’s just a book.”

“It’s your book,” I agreed, “and my question. I’ll find out some other way.”

Algaliarept laughed, a gloved finger shifting the curtain so he could see the street. “Before I’m sent again to kill you? You’re quite the topic of conversation, both sides of the ley lines. You’d best ask quick. If I’m called away suddenly, you may want to settle your affairs.”

Nick’s eyes went round. “Rachel! You’re next?”

“No,” I protested, wanting to smack Algaliarept. “It’s just saying that so you’ll give him the book.”

“You used ley lines to find Dan’s body,” Nick said shortly. “And now you’re working for Trent? You’re on the list, Rachel. Take your book, Al. Who sent you to kill Rachel?”

“Al?” The demon brightened. “Oh, I like that. Al. Yes, you can call me Al.”

“Who sent you to kill Rachel?” Nick demanded.

Algaliarept beamed. “Ptah Ammon Fineas Horton Madison Parker Piscary.”

My knees threatened to give way, and I gripped Nick’s arm. “Piscary?” I whispered. Ivy’s uncle was the witch hunter? And the man had seven names? Just how old was he?

“Algaliarept, leave to not bother us again this night,” Nick said suddenly.

The demon’s smile sent shivers through me. “No promises,” it leered, then vanished. The book in its hand hit the carpet, followed by an unseen sliding thump from the bookshelves. I listened to my heart beat, shaken. What was I going to tell Ivy? How could I protect myself from Piscary? I’d hid in a church before. I didn’t like it.

“Wait,” Nick said, pulling me back before I could touch the circle. I followed his gaze to the pile of ash. “He’s not gone yet.”

I heard Algaliarept swear, then the ash vanished.

Nick sighed, then edged his toe past the circle to break it. “Now you can leave.”

Maybe Nick was better at this than I thought.

Hunched and worried looking, he went to blow the candle out and sit on the edge of his couch with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. “Piscary,” he said to the flat carpet. “Why can’t I have a normal girlfriend who only has to hide from her old prom date?”

“You’re the one calling up demons,” I said, my knees shaking. The night was suddenly a lot more threatening. The closet seemed bigger now that Nick wasn’t in it, and I didn’t want to get out. “I should go back to my church,” I said, thinking I was going to set my old cot up in the sanctuary and sleep on the abandoned altar tonight. Right after I called Trent. He said he’d take care of it. Take care of it. I hoped that meant staking Piscary. Piscary didn’t care about the law; why should I? I searched my conscience, not finding even a twinge.

I reached for my jacket and went to the door. I wanted to be in my church. I wanted to wrap myself in the ACG blanket I’d stolen from Edden and sit in the middle of my God-blessed church. “I need to make a call,” I said numbly, stopping short in the middle of his living room.