When Hayden’s hand found Shane’s phone in the top cubby of his locker, he was surprised when he felt it buzz with a text. He held the screen up and, knowing Shane’s unlock code, opened the phone and checked the notifications. His heart dropped when he saw the 5 unread texts from her. Boston Lily. Lily: please please call me when you are awake Lily: please be ok Lily: you cant leave me like this Lily: i wont sleep until you text Lily: please.

—

“What are these?” he asked, skimming the text on a few of the documents. The words demon and ritual and sacrificejumped out at him easily, until at last his eyes caught a name that pulled fear out from deep in his psyche. It started in his gut and rose to his throat, causing his blood to run cold. Azazel. “What are these?” he demanded again, gripping the pages and holding them closer to his face, as though the act would change what the words said. “Mundanes are trying to raise Azazel?” He read a couple sentences of one of the pages, though some of it seemed like it was gibberish. Red as an apple, a ritual of blood, the city finds you as you find it. Lonely, lonely, as lonely as the tunnels to Neverland. Bring forth your love, to Azazel. Rise, Azazel.

| “may i perchance have the honor of informing you of my prestigious pumpire? as you can see from my very ornate walking stick, it is viewed in high regard.”