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.”

Newt’s voice sounded worried, making me wonder. Too much ever-after in the brainpan perhaps? I didn’t have time to deal with a crazy demon, no matter how powerful it was. “Read the papers. I’m busy,” I said, pulling myself forward.

I jerked when a boulder the size of a car fell two feet in front of me. The ground shook and bits of rock chips stung my face. I stared at it, then Newt, who was smiling as it adjusted its grip on its staff to look pleasant and innocuous. My head hurt. Okay, maybe I had a little time. “Ah, Lee can kindle demon magic,” I said, not seeing any reason to tell it I could too.

Newt’s black eyes widened. “Already?” it said, then its face clouded, not angry with me, but at itself. I waited for it to move the rock. It didn’t. Taking a deep breath, I started to go around Newt, as it seemed the demon had forgotten I was there. The sense of danger flowing from the slight figure was growing, building on itself to tighten my gut and make my skin crawl. I was getting the distinct impression that I was still alive because a very powerful demon was curious, nothing more.

Hoping Newt would forget about me, I inched myself forward, trying to ignore the pain in my ankle. I slipped, sucking in my breath as the flat of my arm hit a rock, sending a shiver of pain up it. The boulder was right in front of me, and gathering myself, I wedged my knees under me. My ankle was burning agony as I gained my feet and held the rock for balance.

There was a brush of air, and Newt was beside me. “Do you want to live forever?”

The question sent a shiver through me. Damn it, Newt was becoming more interested, not less. “No,” I whispered. Hand outstretched, I limped from the rock.

“I didn’t either, until I tried it.” The redwood staff clunked to the ground as Newt moved to keep even with me, black eyes eerily more alive than anyone else’s I’d ever seen. My skin crawled. Something was wrong with Newt—really wrong. I couldn’t put my finger on it until I realized that the minute I took my attention from Newt, I forgot what the demon looked like. Apart from those eyes.

“I know something Algaliarept doesn’t,” Newt said. “I remember now. You like secrets. You’re good at keeping them, too. I know all about you; you’re afraid of yourself.”