Page 37 of Wayward Daughter

Ace was taking care of Caleb. She asked who did his other ink because even I could tell the line work and shading was superb. Caleb wanted to know about the history of the sigils. Ace was a history geek in addition to an artist. She technically majored in anthropology before apprenticing as a tattoo artist and would refuse to tattoo cultural symbols on people who couldn’t claim that culture. She was pretty much vibrating with joy at being asked because usually someone just brought their shit head teenager in to get it tattooed on them and never asked about the history.

“Most of the sigils the Flame uses are from Mesopotamia because that’s where the Flame started. They could have been around before that, but didn’t have a written language that survived. They are a combination of Cuneiform and sacred geometry. The one I’m putting on you right now is the Cuneiform for strength over the Egg of Life shape.

“It has to be done just right. For it to be true sacred geometry and a working sigil, the lines have to intersect just right. If we tattooed this on any of you and missed a line, you wouldn’t be protected from being possessed. It’s the same for any of the sigils I typically do on the Flame.”

“What do the other sigils do?”

I whipped my shirt off because I had all of them. Solomon and Saul averted their eyes, but Caleb and Ace shamelessly stared at my tits.

“My eyes are up here, Father. This one keeps a vampire from using compulsion on you. That one prevents basic hexes, but not if a blood witch gets your blood. There’s not one for that. The one hidden in all the knot work prevents any necromancy if you die on a job. No one can raise you, control you, and have you infiltrate a Flame bar and kill everyone. This one hidden with flowers prevents anyone from stealing your soul or life force, so if you just really want to shag in incubi or succubae, they can’t kill you.”

Caleb’s eyes never left my boobs the entire time I was listing the sigils and what they did. And it didn’t feel gross like it usually would if a man his age was checking out my rack. I kind of liked it, even though it was getting harder to tell myself he was off limits.

“I want all of those,” he said.

Saul and Solomon agreed. Phoenix, Ace, and Kit had opinions.

“These sigils have to be a certain size because of the line work. We can do what we can today, but the minute I think any of you can’t handle being tattooed any longer, we’re stopping and you’re going to have to come back.”

I didn’t know what the future held for these guys. I was pretty sure they weren’t going to be able to do a damned thing to change how the Church handled the supernatural.

But I at least knew they’d be protected when they left here.

Ididn’t like or trust that William dude long before I found out he was willing to kill his coworkers to be a hero exposing my friends to humans. They hadn’t unpacked their clothes where they were staying, so Pan could just grab their bags and bring them back.

Thankfully, they agreed with me that they should just sleep at Rainer’s instead of sleeping under the same roof as William. Rainer pounced as soon as we got back. I’d already called him, given him the basics, and told him I was taking a bunch of priests to get tattooed, but I did that on every job. He’d want the detailed report, and he made dinner.

“You should have given everyone a backup can of spray paint because they clog sometimes.”

“Those were my backup cans. We didn’t have time to stop by the hardware store.”

“I’ll get more spray paint and enough for all of you and a big steak for Pan for being such a good boy.”

Pan smacked me in the face with his tail. Oh, to be a Hellhound. He was invincible, thought this was fun, and usually got a massive treat after. He deserved every steak and large pepperoni pizza with olives and mushrooms he got because he kept me safe.

“Is there anything we can do for Pan?” Solomon asked. “He saved us again by letting Saul know my canister was jammed to come finish the sigil. I will buy him anything or just scratch his butt until my arm falls off.”

Before we could answer, Caleb’s cellphone went off. My mother exposed me to a lot of music and art when I was younger since she knew it would help me with math and science. I happened to know his phone was playing Mozart’s Requiem in d minor when it got really creepy. He probably set it for someone he didn’t like, so I was guessing it was the bishop or Father William. Caleb put it on speaker phone and set it on the table.

“What in the actual devil is going on in New Orleans, Caleb?”

“I’m not sure what you mean, Henry.”

“You sent William on a simple vampire job you should have been able to handle yourselves and you’ve mysteriously moved out of the rectory.”

“Was William snooping?” Caleb gasped.

“He was worried because no one heard you come back last night. What are you doing? William has been tracking down the demons you lost. When you called him from what he was doing, they got away. We have no idea where they are now.”

“In case you’ve forgotten, I’m hexed and New Orleans has a heavy Flame presence. This hex is either going to kill me or make me do something terrible and I doubt you want me under the same roof as priests that don’t know about any of this when that happens. I removed myself from that situation and I’m following a lead on this hex.

“If William knew where the demons were, he should have handled it. It sounds like the Flame took care of it. He should consider himself lucky. There were more demons and a blood witch than there are people on his team. His entire team could have gotten killed.”

“They nearly did!” Henry yelled. “That vampire was on something!”

“I wasn’t aware of that when I called him, but that happens sometimes. Vampires can get drunk or high by feeding off someone who is drunk or high. Street drinking is legal in New Orleans, you just have to have the right cup. He should have observed before he went in.”

Score one for the Padre. Vampires couldn’t get drunk or high anymore unless they fed from someone who was drunk or high. It was always a hot mess when you got a live one. Delilah would have passed that along and Rainer would have mentioned it, but I was guessing he left that off because of who was taking the job.