Beyond the Veil by Pippa DaCosta

after him, landing awkwardly on the other side. Then we were off, sprinting across the small open space of a children ’ s playground. A howl resonated around the empty space. I managed to find an extra burst of speed, and bowing my head low, I sprinted with every drop of physical strength I had left.
    Reaching the other side of the park, Stefan dropped down a set of steps alongside a building and kicked in the door to someone ’ s basement apartment. Once inside, he slammed the door closed and plucked an aerosol can from his coat pocket. Giving it a token shake, he flicked on the lights and sprayed red paint over the door and wall, creating a large circle with swirling symbols inside. Done with one wall, he proceeded to spray the same mark on the opposite wall.
    I heard another howl. The sound sent a shiver crawling across my flesh. “ It ’ s close. ”
    He didn ’ t reply, just continued to spray the paint on the wall. Then he shoved the couch into the center of the open-plan lounge/kitchen and stepped onto the cushions, resting one boot on the back of the couch while reaching up to spray paint the ceiling.
    I hugged my arms against me and watched the door. If the hound came through, we were dead. I still panted hard, lungs burning in my chest. A full-body ache asserted itself. I hadn ’ t even noticed I was injured. The adrenalin had worked so efficiently to keep me moving, but now I ’ d stopped my limbs didn ’ t quite feel like my own and a throbbing pain tried to punch out of my skull.
    Stefan also breathed hard, sucking in air through his teeth. He shook the can and reached up to finish the mark, then hissed and winced, clearly in pain. Blood bloomed across his shirt.
    Jumping off the couch, he crossed to the kitchen area and proceeded to spray the kitchen units with the same mark.
    “ Will these marks stop it? ” I brushed my hands up my arms, trying to rub off the goose bumps.
    “ Yes, ” he replied gruffly. “ This symbol, it restricts elemental magic. More precisely, demon magic. By placing it around us like this, I ’ ve created a cocoon, cutting us off from the elements. Once the Hellhounds lose our scent, they ’ ll return to their master. ”
    I nodded. That sounded good enough for me.
    “ It also means you can ’ t go nuclear on me. So don ’ t bust a blood vessel trying. ”
    So, I was trapped in there, with him, unable to call my power, until the Hellhounds got bored. Great.
    Only when Stefan had finished marking all four walls, ceiling and floor, of the small basement apartment did he finally stop. He tossed the spray can on the small kitchen countertop and slumped against the cupboards. “ We ’ re safe. For now. ”
    I couldn ’ t help glancing back at the door, expecting the horrid things to come crashing in at any moment, but as the seconds ticked on and nothing happened, I breathed a little easier.

Chapter Nine
    The beige patterns and cream overtones of the small basement apartment were comfortable enough, and thankfully the owner wasn ’ t home. Perhaps it was a weekend bolt hole. Either way, I was glad I didn ’ t have to explain any of this to people not accustomed to demons barging into their lives. I roamed the lounge area, admiring the photos of a man with two young girls who I assumed to be his kids, and felt a pang of guilt for vandalizing his apartment.
    Stefan had shaken off his coat and slung it over the couch. The red bloom of blood on his shirt hinted at a wound beneath. “ Are you alright? ” His expression was almost one of concern.
    I didn ’ t reply immediately. I was trying to work out what was happening. My thoughts ran amok. He had saved me, again. There was no doubt in my mind; Stefan wasn ’ t sent to kill me, but I was a long way from trusting him. “ I think so. ”
    He crossed the room and reached out, as though about to touch my face. I flinched away, moving around the couch, shivering in my torn and bloody dress.
    “ You ’ re hurt … You have