13 Demons Dead by IDW Publishing

ADAM TIERNEY • SASPY

9798887244464

13 DEMONS DEAD. AUGUST 2026. FIRST PRINTING. © Adam Tierney IDW Publishing, a division of Idea and Design Works, LLC. Editorial offices: 14144 Ventura Blvd, Suite 210, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423. The IDW logo is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Any similarities to persons living or dead are purely coincidental. With the exception of artwork used for review purposes, none of the contents of this publication may be reprinted without the permission of Idea and Design Works, LLC. IDW Publishing does not read or accept unsolicited submissions of ideas, stories, or artwork.

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tHis isN’t one of tHose boOkS.

tHis boOk is aboUt me kilLinG a helLuva lot of demonS. over anD over.

yOu kNow tHose relatabLe cominG-of-age y.a. boOkS?

tHe ones wHere tHe teEnage girL moves to a new sChoOl anD misSes her olD fRiEnDs…unTil sHe meEtS tHe perFecT new besT fRiEnD?

or sHe getS teAsed aboUt how sHe loOkS unTil some turN of evenTs makes her tHe mosT popular kid in sChoOl?

or sHe meEtS a cute boY or girL?

AnD it’s aboUt my besT fRiEnD, JeAnNiE DiAz.

Ev, wHere is it?

RigHt behinD yOu, JeAnNiE! LOoK OuT!

But |’m getTinG aheAd of myselF. We’lL get bacK here evenTuAlLy.

She’s tHe one getTinG vomited on by tHat fRog-loOkinG demon. OnLy ShE can’t seE it. |’M tHe onLy one wHo can seE tHem.

That’s my CURsE. AnD |’m sTucK witH it unLesS | can KILl alL 13 demonS witHin one yEar.

EwWwW, | can TAStE it…

GrosS! What IS tHat?

| jusT wanTed to sTarT tHinGs ofF witH some ACtIoN anD BlOoD to gRab yOur atTenTiOn.

BacK ofF, fRog face!

Demon barF! HanG on!

CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER ONE

(AUGUST)

everLy, ¡apúrate! yOu’re goinG to be late again!

sHe’s alWaYs late, mamá.

ahHh, | can’t beliEve mi niña is foUrTeEn yEarS olD!

mamá, | gotTa go. | gotTa go!

buEnos días, papá.

sLeEpinG beAuty ﬁnalLy woke up, huh?

tHen inVite her!

| wilL, mamá.

isa, be nice to yOur sisTer. wHy?

inVite yOur fRiEnDs to yOur birThDaY dinNer tHis eveninG.

onLy got one fRiEnD, mamá.

tHat bad, huh?

| like yOur family. my parenTs don’t even coOk. | never tHoUgHt it woUlD be posSibLe to get sicK of FASt FOoD.

sPeAkinG of foOd…

| kNow. yOur mom alReAdy tolD me. it’s tonigHt, rigHt?

apParenTly.

yOu’re sucH a gRumP. | misS havinG birThDaY parTiEs. it's not a parTy, jusT dinNer. tHanK god.

tHeY’re jusT…a lot.

anD yOur mom’s coOkinG is inSane! is sHe gonNa make gorDitas?

pRobabLy. it woUlDn’t be an esPada family birThDaY witHoUt ten times as mucH foOd as anyOne can acTuAlLy eAt.

ohohoho, | acCepT yOur cHalLenGe!

uhHhH… damMit. let’s take tHe lonG roUte.

oh. it’s yOur bFfS. betTer inVite tHem tonigHt, toO. don’t even joke.

c’monNn, cHanGe alReAdy!

oh heYyYy, tamara. jazMine.

rigHt. | kNew tHat. it’s jacemyn.

no waY-we’re alReAdy runNinG late. wHy?

| meAn, tHat’s not to saY | calLed yOu “jazMine” on purPose. jacemyn is jusT a uniquE name. in a goOd waY, | meAn! kinD of like everLy. |’m everLy, in case yOu forGot. ev. yOu can calL me ev.

sMoOtH.

uh-huh. cute bacKpacK. can | seE it?

oh, um…

doEsN’t seEm to holD mucH, tHoUgH.

wHat a sHame.

betTer hurRy up or yOu’lL be late.

| tHinK yOu dRopPed sometHinG.

forGet ’em. c’mon, we gotTa hurRy or we’lL be…

tarDy, mS. esPada. again.

sorRy.

anD don’t botHer witH an exCuse. |’ve heArD tHem alL.

| don’t requEsT MUCh, Ms. EsPada. JusT for my sTudenTs to be in tHeir seAtS BEFORE tHe belL rinGs. Is tHat toO mucH to ASk?

So…can | sit dowN now? Or… pRinCipal?

| wisH tHeY were DEaD.

No yOu don’t.

yOu’re rigHt. BecaUse tHen | coUlDn’t WATcH tHem DIe.

| wisH my parenTs toOk me on sumMer tRipS.

Not if yOu had to be sTucK in a van nexT to ISA. YoU kNow sHe FARtS wHenever sHe dRinKs cola?

We’re botH 14 now. IsN’t tHat CrAZY? SoOn we’lL be in COLlEGE. HopefulLy we can go to tHe same sChoOl.

Let’s talK aboUt HAPpY tHinGs. Is yOur family goinG on a tRip again tHis sumMer?

ExacT revenGe on my enemiEs?

WorTh it.

| dunNo. MaYbe. Dad’s pRetTy busy witH worK.

Go to colLege, get a GrEaT job, become RICh anD POWERfUL. ThAT’S tHe besT revenGe. WAy betTer tHan pHysical viOlenCe.

TheY’re not mutuAlLy exClusive.

| dunNo if | wanNa go to colLege.

What elSe woUlD yOu do?

my mom’s got some weigHtS yOu can borRow.

it’s a nice likenesS.

AlThoUgH | don’t recalL Tamara’s anD Jacemyn’s heAdS beinG quite so SEPARATED.

hi, fatHer serRano. did yOu kNow it’s ev’s birThDaY todaY?

| did not, mS. diAz. hapPy birThDaY, everLy. tHanKs.

decapitatiOn woUlD acTuAlLy resulT in a lot more bLoOd sPraY. neArLy 20 literS per minute.

have a nice daY, ladiEs. god guide yOu botH.

he’s so weirD.

oh, he’s ﬁne? yOu tHinK fatHer serRano is “ﬁne” ?

sHut up! yOu kNow wHat | meAnT.

no, he’s ﬁne.

ThanKs for walKinG me home. SorRy to make yOu sKip dRama cLasS.

Not a pRobLem!

YoU’ve had enoUgH DrAMA for tHe botH of us todaY.

She sWore me to SECrECY!

HapPy birThDaY, mija!

…su EsPíritu nos aliEnTa todos los días…

| jusT wanT to COLlAPsE in bed for an hoUr anD lisTen to music before my mom sTarTs tHe never-enDinG birThDaY celebRatiOn.

PleAse, everyOne, EaT UP! TodaY we celebRate my baby’s 14Th BIRtHdAy!

…y Señor, danos hoY nuEsTro pan de cada día. Amén.

| tHoUgHt | was tHe baby!

YoU

Amén.

OH! WelL, uh…

| don’t get SURpRISE parTiEs. | alReAdy KnOW it’s my birThDaY.

yOu loOked surPrised. feElinG betTer now? cake helPs.

| don’t tHinK my parenTs reAlLy beliEve in god, anGelS, demonS, anD alL tHat. | tHinK tHeY’re jusT…used to beliEvinG in it, yOu kNow? it’s wHat tHeY’ve beEn taUgHt tHeir wHole lives.

yOur family’s so religiOus. it’s nice. | don’t tHinK my parenTs beliEve in anytHinG. maYbe pRo wResTlinG. anD political conSpiraciEs.

wHat aboUt yOu? do yOu beliEve in tHat sTufF? | dunNo.

|’d like to beliEve in sometHinG.

jeAnNiE, yOu got so big sinCe lasT time!

mamá! yOu can’t saY tHat! it’s ﬁne! big anD sTronG, rigHt, mRs. esPada? seE? tHis cHica kNowS.

yEs, mamá.

everLy, pLeAse walK jeAnNiE bacK to her hoUse. it’s toO darK for her to go home alone.

tHanKs for tHe cake, mRs. esPada!

tHanKs for cominG by tonigHt. | hate birThDaY parTiEs, but havinG yOu tHere makes me hate tHem lesS, | guEsS.

don’t worRy aboUt jacemyn anD tamara. yOu kNow how tHeY operate. jusT don’t reAcT to tHem anD tHeY’lL get bored anD move on to tHe nexT dorK on tHeir lisT.

yEah, | kNow.

yOu got it. lonG as yOur mom makes tHat cinNamon cake tHinG witH tHe icinG, |’m tHere.

seE yA, jeAnNiE.

hapPy birThDaY, ev.

no senSe goinG home yEt. |’d pRobabLy get birThDaY amBusHed again.

cRap.

hMm.

Hehe…

HnNnGh…

What tHe HELl was ThAT?! What did | jusT KILl? Did | KILl sometHinG?

EverLy… tHanK yOu.

F-FatHer SerRano…

YoU deserVe an exPlanatiOn. |’m sure yOu musT be very conFused rigHt now.

“What yOu jusT KILlED, anD coUlDn’t seE unTil AFtER yOu kilLed it, was a DEMON. But not like tHe demonS we teAcH yOu aboUt in BibLe sTudy. Not like anytHinG in tHe GOoD BOoK.

No, no, it’s… uh…coOl. |’m coOl. TotalLy coOl.

“tHere were tHirTeEn demonS senT to eArTh by satan as a tesT againSt god, to seE if his love for manKinD waned afTer tHe murDer of his son.”

“Oh.”

“tHeY are neArLy imMorTal. deimos wilL come bacK exacTly one yEar fRom tonigHt. sTronGer, sTranGer, anD anGriEr. anD he wilL come for yOu.”

“This demon was named DEIMOS, anD he’s a SpECIaL demon cReAted by tHe GreAt Deceiver sHorTly afTer tHe deAtH of oUr saviOr, Jesus ChRisT, neArLy 2,000 yEarS ago.

“|…| don’t unDerStanD.”

“| was tHe latesT in 2,000 yEarS of HOLY WARrIoRs tasKed to FIGhT tHese demonS. Now, it’s YoU.”

| can no lonGer SEe tHe demonS, but | pResume YoU can. TheY leAve behinD tHeir SkULlS, wHicH acT as MARkERs for tHeir resurRecTiOn one yEar later.

The onLy waY to be RID of tHis resPonSibility is if yOu sucCeEd in defeAtinG alL of tHem witHin a one-yEar sPan, or if someOne ELsE kilLs one of tHe 13, or if yOu DIe yOurSelF.

This is alL some weirD HOaX, rigHt? YoU’re LYINg to me. If tHis was alL tRuE, it’d BE in tHe BibLe. YoU’d be telLinG us aboUt tHese 13 DEMONs every SunDaY!

| won’t ever liE to yOu, EverLy. AlThoUgH, in tHis case, | wisH | was.

What tHe HELl? Is tHat a NUMbER?

There’s one more tHinG…

Yes. It’s tHe numBer of tHese demonS tHat sTilL remain on EarTh.

|’m sorRy to adMit tHat | have not beEn as EXpEDITIoUS as |’d have liked in recenT yEarS in locatinG anD sLaYinG tHese 13 demonS.

MucH eArLiEr in my quEsT, | was abLe to kilL alL but FIVE of tHem witHin one yEar. But |’ve beEn doinG tHis for a lonG time now, anD |’m getTinG olD…

EverLy…

HOW did yOu do tHis? YoU can’t jusT…BURn kidS for some weirD pRanK! This HURt!

OkaY, StOP! EnoUgH B.S.

…take tHis cHarM. As tHe newLy ChOSEN ONE, yOu’lL neEd it.

EverLy… WAIT. There’s sTilL more | neEd to telL yOu.

There are several HOLY relicS like tHis to helP yOu locate anD defeAt tHe demonS. | posSesS a few. OtHerS are sCatTered acRosS tHe gLobe, losT to time. But in yOur quEsT, yOu wilL FINd tHem. TheY wilL be DrAWn to yOu…

CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER TWO

(SEPTEMBER)

| was hopinG lasT nigHt was a dReAm. tHat |’d wake up to tHe same borinG morNinG roUtine. but tHe seconD | felT tHe colD metal cHain in my hanD, | kNew tHat wasN’t tHe case.

cRap.

everLy! did yOu not heAr me, mija? yOur bReAkFasT is getTinG colD.

yEs! sorRy. cominG, mamá!

InVisibLe demonS, holy warRiOrS, sacRed relicS…tHis is alL waY weirDer tHan any bibLe sTory | ever heArD.

heY! | was waitinG.

welL, yOu loOk like helL.

gReAt. keEp it up.

| sHoUlDn’t have lefT FatHer SerRano tHere like tHat. | hope he got home okaY. | hope he’s not DEaD. COuLd he be deAd? |’m sucH a wimP.

Oh, ThIS? |’m jusT goinG tHroUgH my rebelLiOus teEnage pHase. CoOl, rigHt? |’m SUPER inTo Roman hisTory rigHt now.

UpSide-dowN, tHere are onLy 9 demonS lefT. ThoUgH tHe mirRor makes it 11 again.

This is so sTupid.

YoU TOoK lonG enoUgH!

There’s a goOd cHanCe tHis is alL some elaborate pRanK. Or FatHer SerRano’s cRazy. Or |’M cRazy. Or any comBinatiOn of tHose.

StilL…

EverLy, wHy were yOu oUt so LATE? IsN’t JeAnNiE’s hoUse jusT aroUnD tHe corNer?

ByE, Mamá!

It…is. But sHe wanTed to sHow me a horRor moviE. For my birThDaY.

CiElos, | can’t sTanD tHose tHinGs! Tan viOlenTas!

YoUr motHer’s rigHt. Those tHinGs wilL rot yOur bRain.

Huh?

MaYbe my bRain’s ALrEaDY rotTen, Papá.

MorNinG, MrS. EsPada! LasT nigHt was fun!

¡BuEnos días, JeAnNiE! NexT time, don’t keEp my EverLy up alL nigHt watChinG sucH bLoOdy nonSenSe.

NotHinG. Come on.

What was tHat aboUt?

| tolD my mom we were up late watChinG horRor moviEs.

CoOl. AnD wHat were yOu REaLlY doinG?

|…don’t wanNa talK aboUt it.

Open up WORlD HIStORY to page 238, ThE RENAISsANcE IN EuROPE.

EverLy, woUlD yOu pLeAse reAd fRom tHe StRETcH YoUR ThINkINg secTiOn?

EverLy?

| kNow yOu were jusT makinG exCuses, but yOu reAlLy ShOuLd come by anD cHecK oUt my latesT horRor picKupS.

It’s cLasSic ItaliAn demon-ocCulT sTufF. None of tHat tRenDy, momMy-isSuEs, moderN mainStReAm horRor.

Oh, here comes yOur boYfRiEnD.

What?

Hi, FatHer SerRano. FeElinG betTer?

| am, Ms. DiAz. ThanK yOu for asKinG. Did tHeY ﬁnD tHe guYs wHo atTacKed yOu yEt?

EverLy?

| tRiEd to avoid FatHer SerRano over tHe nexT few daYs.

He was pRetTy perSisTenT.

She tenDs to do tHat. | woUlDn’t take it perSonalLy.

Ev?

evenTuAlLy, he caUgHt me.

go awaY… jusT go awaY…

wilL everLy esPada pLeAse reporT to fatHer serRano’s ofﬁce?

have fun in detenTiOn!

cHilDren, sHusH! jacob, yOu’re on tHin ice.

it doEs a body goOd.

dRinK up, cow.

YoU caUgHt me. SaY wHat yOu neEd to saY.

The remaininG demonS WILl come for yOu soOn. If yOu’re not reAdy to face tHem, tHeY wilL hapPily KILl YoU anywaY.

This isN’t sometHinG yOu can igNore awaY, Ev. PleAse have a seAt.

It’s a fair quEsTiOn. AnD | wisH | coUlD pRovide some inSigHt inTo wHy yOu, |, or anyOne elSe was cHosen for tHis tasK. But it is tHe LorD’s pLan, not mine.

AnD witHoUt a cHosen warRiOr, tHeY’lL be fReE to roAm tHe EarTh unDetecTed, corRupTinG manKinD anD pulLinG us deEper inTo sin anD misForTune.

SO? ManKinD doEsN’t seEm to minD. What’s tHe poinT of havinG some HIGh ScHOoLER batTle demonS wHen no one CARES how sCrewed up life is anywaY?

It itChes, doEsN't it? The marK on yOur arM? Over time, yOu'lL feEl it lesS. But it wilL remain visibLe to yOu to reminD yOu of yOur obLigatiOn.

| have sometHinG to sHow yOu, EverLy.

This boOk was given to me by my pRedecesSor, Katina, anD now | woUlD like yOu to have it.

This is oUr sTory. Me anD alL tHe demon kilLerS cHosen before me, goinG bacK tHoUsanDs of yEarS.

So…| can wRite wHatever | wanT in it?

YoU’re not alone, Ev. YoU're God’s warRiOr now. YoUr acTiOnS wilL be more conSequEnTiAl tHan any serMon | coUlD deliver.

WelL, | woUlDn’t use it for poEtRy or sHopPinG lisTs.

But yEs, it’s meAnT for yOu to cHronicLe yOur joUrNeY, anD detail wHat yOu leArN aboUt tHe demonS as yOu face tHem.

| kNow tHis is a lot to digesT. Take tHe boOk home, loOk tHroUgH it, anD wHen yOu’re reAdy to begin yOur tRaininG, |’lL be here.

LoOk, Ev, yOu kNow | have NO pRobLem dominatinG tHe conVerSatiOn. But tHis is NEXt-LEVEL silenT tReAtMenT fRom yOu. Are yOu worRiEd aboUt Tamara anD Jacemyn? WanT me to run tHem over witH my dad’s S.U.V.? | kNow wHere he keEpS tHe keYs.

Let me kNow wHat yOu’re StRESsINg aboUt. BesT fRiEnDs sHoUlDn’t keEp secRetS.

| am, apParenTly… tHe worLd’s onLy DEMON KILlER.

YoU’re rigHt. YoU’re my besT fRiEnD anD yOu deserVe to kNow. HERE. No secRetS.

That’s a tHinG, | guEsS. As of lasT monTh, | seE anD kilL inVisibLe demonS, jusT like FatHer SerRano before me, anD hunDredS before him.

That’s deﬁnitely FatHer SerRano. YoU tHinK he REaLlY used to be tHis RIPpED? Or jusT in his demon fanﬁcTiOn?

Did yOu heAr wHat | jusT said, JeAnNiE? |’m not jokinG.

Yup, yOu’re tHe demon kilLer. EarTh’s one anD onLy, got it.

Who’s tHis lady?

Oh. | guEsS sHe was tHe warRiOr before SerRano? Catalina sometHinG. She loOkS toUgH as helL. | love bad bitChes.

so yOu reAlLy beliEve me? |’m havinG a harD time beliEvinG any of tHis myselF.

of coUrSe! everLy esPada has never liEd to jeAnNiE diAz. | jusT have one quEsTiOn for yOu…

huh?

can | keEp tHe boOk? pLeEeAse? jusT to reseArCh it, tHen |’lL give it bacK. yOu hate reAdinG anywaY. tHis’lL be like me doinG yOur demon homeworK for yOu.

sure, wHatever.

yEsSs!

What are yOu doinG up so late?

Oh, mija, |’m sorRy. | didN’t meAn to wake yOu. Come sit.

TigHt? How? | tHoUgHt Papá’s job paid alL oUr bilLs.

It doEs. It can. Some monThS more tHan otHerS. We jusT neEd to tRusT DIoS to watCh over us.

he alWaYs has a pLan. even wHen we are sTrugGlinG.

now go to bed, mija. yOu neEd yOur resT for sChoOl.

GoinG tHroUgH oUr bilLs. ThinGs maY be a litTle TIGhT for us tHis monTh. But don’t worRy aboUt sucH tHinGs--yOur papá anD | wilL ﬁgure it oUt.

GoOd nigHt, Mamá.

HeY again. |’m…reAdy to tRain now, | guEsS.

|’m pLeAsed to seE yOu, Ev. | kNow tHis is a harD sPot to be in, esPeciAlLy at sucH a yOunG age.

YeAh, no kidDinG. But | ﬁgure it’s betTer to StANd anD FIGhT tHan RUN anD DIe… That soUnDed betTer in my heAd.

AnD if yOu’re RIGhT aboUt tHese demonS, if | can helP peOpLe by kilLinG tHem, peOpLe wHo are StRUGgLINg…tHen | guEsS it’s worTh it. AsSuminG | don’t imMediAtely get imPaled or eAten. Do demonS eAt peOpLe?

YoU’lL be amazinG, Ev. Let’s get sTarTed.

What, rigHt NOW?

“tHe demonS terRorize us, but tHeY don’t neEd to be terRifyinG if yOu beliEve yOu can beAt tHem.”

“yOu wilL be exHaUsTed. tHere wilL be times wHen yOu jusT ﬁnisHed defeAtinG a demon anD anotHer one apPeArS. so it’s imPorTanT to builD up yOur enDuranCe.”

yOu neEd to be fasT, more tHan anytHinG. fasT wilL beAt sTronG if tHeY can’t catCh yOu. anD mosT demonS aren’t fasT.

everLy, wake up!

leArN to bLocK witH yOur arMs--forM an x. yOu wilL get sCratChed anD cut up, but pRotecTinG yOur heAd anD torSo wilL keEp yOu alive.

even if yOu’re corNered, even if yOu lose yOur weAponS, yOu can sTilL defeAt a demon if yOu move quicKly anD make sMarT cHoices.

did yOu kNow one of tHe popes was a demon kilLer? did yOu kNow he had a ﬂaminG ax?

tHis sHiElD is more powerFul tHan any bLade yOu migHt wiElD. tHere is no time limit to sTrikinG a deAtH bLow on a demon, but yOu neEd to pRevenT tHem fRom ever sTrikinG one on yOu.

sHatTer tHe cRysTal, kilL tHe demon. got it. but wHat if | don’t have a weApon? yOu can’t sHatTer a cRysTal by punChinG it. | asSume.

but tHere’s no waY | can lifT tHat, let alone kilL anytHinG witH it.

“anD alWaYs rememBer, a demon isN’t defeAted unLesS yOu sHatTer tHe cRysTal hidDen somewHere on itS body.

tHen yOu’lL neEd to get cReAtive. tHat ﬁrSt demon yOu saved me fRom, deimos, yOu toOk him dowN witH jusT an olD pipe, rigHt?

“tHat’s tHe onLy waY to banisH tHem fRom eArTh. any otHer woUnDs wilL onLy sLow tHem dowN, at besT.”

yEah, but tHat was lucK. | coUlDn’t even seE him.

welL, let’s seE if we can inCreAse yOur lucK, tHen.

tHis is jusT one of several bLades amonG tHe holy relicS. alThoUgH | musT adMit it was alWaYs my favorite.

tHe holy relicS are no heAviEr tHan tHeY neEd to be. | tHinK yOu’lL be surPrised at wHat yOu can wiElD.

wHoA.

wHo made tHe holy relicS?

tHeY were disCovered. senT to eArTh by god to helP us ﬁgHt for him.

god bLade. coOl.

one of yOur mosT useful holy relicS is tHe necKlace anD cRosS | gave yOu. yOu sTilL have it, | hope?

oh geEz! sorRy. yOu weren’t kidDinG-it’s got pRacTicalLy no weigHt to it.

tHis sWorD is jusT one of many relicS yOu’lL come to rely on. | have a sMalL colLecTiOn | can pasS on to yOu.

it gLowS wHenever a demon is cLose by. welL, a bit unReliAbLy…

yUp!

rigHt here. it’s, uh…

of coUrSe, as tHe cHosen warRiOr, yOu’re tHe onLy one wHo can acTuAlLy seE it gLow now. to everyOne elSe, inCludinG me, it’lL jusT loOk like an orDinary cRosS anD cHain.

|…don’t unDerStanD.

cRap.

tHat was… unFair…

ow, yOu dumB birD!

hanG on!

|’lL save yOu!

“rememBer, a demon isN’t defeAted unLesS yOu sHatTer tHe cRysTal hidDen somewHere on itS body. tHat’s tHe onLy waY to banisH tHem fRom eArTh.”

yOu sNeAky birD…

tHat was… gReAt, ev. y-yOu were gRe--

| did it! fatHer serRano, | got him! did yOu seE--

no, pLeAse…

no no no no no!

CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER THREE

(OCTOBER)

so | guEsS tHis is perManenT, huh?

| didN’t reAlLy beliEve yOu were deAd at ﬁrSt. | meAn, witH how cRazy everytHinG is rigHt now, it doEsN’t reAlLy make senSe for a toUgH forMer demon kilLer like yOu to jusT diE anD tHen not come bacK, yOu kNow? it’s toO reAl.

| boUgHt yOu some ﬂowerS. | kNow tHeY're supPosed to be LILIeS or sometHinG, but tHis is alL tHe gRocery sTore had.

| have no ideA wHere to buY funeral ﬂowerS. |’m onLy 14. | don’t kNow anytHinG.

|…| don’t kNow anytHinG, anD yOu lefT me to deAl witH tHis demon cRap on my owN!

anD | kNow it’s mesSed up to saY tHat anD to get mad at yOu now, sinCe yOu’re deAd anD alL. but | am mad. anD sad. | don’t kNow wHat |’m doinG.

anD |’m pRetTy sure |’lL be deAd in a few daYs, toO, in tHe gRoUnD here witH yOu. onLy no one wilL visit my gRave.

tHat’s not tRuE. my mamá anD papá wilL visit me, becaUse tHeY love me. pRobabLy not isa, tHoUgH. becaUse sHe…is a litTle jerK.

|’m pRolLy not supPosed to pLanT tHese here, but sCrew it. | like tHe ideA of sometHinG ALIVE beinG here witH yOu, keEpinG yOu comPany. Even if it’s jusT some cHeAp gRocery sTore ﬂowerS.

| like yOur tomBsTone. | like tHat yOu HAVE a tomBsTone.

Heh. | keEp exPecTinG yOu to ClAW yOur waY to tHe surFace anD burSt oUt of tHe dirT, like some UNdEaD HOLY WARrIoR.

| WISh yOu were unDeAd. |’d take ZOMbIe SerRano over DEaD SerRano. Wait, are zomBiEs reAl? ShoOt, now | wisH |’d asKed yOu tHat before tHis hapPened…

|’m SORrY | wasN’t sTronGer. Or fasTer. Or wHatever | did wRonG tHat let yOu get kilLed by tHat demon anD itS… StUPID birD.

AnD yOu diEd tRyinG to save ME. YoU weren’t even God’s WARrIoR anymore, anD yOu gave YoUR life to save MINE.

What a wasTe.

When my abuEla diEd, tHeY jusT gave her a litTle metal pLate in tHe gRasS. It’s so sMalL. It’s harD to talK to. DoEsN’t feEl like sHe’s reAlLy ThERE. But yOur tomBsTone is nice. It feElS like yOu’re here.

This is FatHer CasTilLo, yOur inTerim heAdMasTer sinCe FatHer SerRano’s… unForTunate pasSinG.

RememBer, UNIT SIX reviEw on TUeSdAy! BrinG yOur boOkS--it’s an OPEN-boOk reviEw.

EverLy, SlOW DOWn!

HelLo, can everyOne heAr me?

QuiEt, cHilDren. We have an anNoUnCemenT.

|'d like to tHanK oUr sTudenTs wHo atTenDed FatHer SerRano’s funeral, anD tHose wHo exPresSed tHeir gRiEf tHroUgH sucH beAutiful poEmS, sonGs, anD arTworK.

If yOu neEd someOne to sPeAk to, my doOr is alWaYs open, as is tHe ofﬁce of MisS Flores, oUr sChoOl coUnSelor.

This is a difﬁculT time for alL of us here at SanTa Teresa Academy.

we alL misS fatHer serRano, but he has returNed home to tHe alMigHty fatHer. pLeAse keEp him in yOur memoriEs anD pRaYerS. tHanK yOu.

HeY, watCh it!

…weirD girL.

This sWorD is jusT one of many relicS yOu’lL come to rely on. | have a sMalL colLecTiOn | can pasS on to yOu.

Where woUlD | sTasH some 2,000-yEar-olD weAponS?

HmMm…

Nope.

Huh?

There’s no keYhole. So how do | get yOu open?

YoU loOk olD anD fanCy. HidinG any weAponS inSide?

Not tHe rigHt sHape. DanG it.

BoOkS, boOkS, boOkS…

it’s jacemyn.

| tHoUgHt | saw yOu sNeAk in tHere.

wHy don’t yOu ﬁnD someOne elSe to be jerKs to?

everLy… tHat’s not how it worKs.

sHe doEsN’t get it, doEs sHe?

tHinK sHe misSes her boYfRiEnD?

sad litTle widow.

pRobabLy sNeAkinG in for one lasT sNifF of his fRocK.

wHatever. it’s a sTupid name.

oh, tHis girL wanTs to get beAt bad.

leAve me alone, jazMine.

we picKed yOu, honeY. yOu’re sPeciAl. anD tHat meAnS for tHe nexT foUr yEarS, unTil tHe daY we gRaduAte, we’re goinG to sPenD an unGodLy amoUnT of time makinG yOur life miserabLe. ’kaY?

now, saY my name. anD saY it rigHt tHis--

OMg! OMg! JASsY, are yOu OKAy?

Wow. Plot tWisT.

Don’t CALl me tHat! SorRy! SO fun.

PsycHo girL jusT PUNcHED Jacemyn!

| kNew yOu were a FIGhTER. This yEar’s gonNa be FUN, EverLy EsPada.

HeY, tHe wHole ganG’s here. What’d | misS?

If yOu coUlD even CALl tHat a punCh.

SeE yOu aroUnD, DEaD GIRl.

C’mon, Ev. Let’s get oUt of here.

| can’t deAl witH tHem anymore, jeAnNiE. not witH fatHer serRano deAd, anD witH alL tHe demon sTufF goinG on…

welCome to oUr cHarMinG, halF-vacanT, is-it-even-sTilL-open malL!

| don’t feEl like sHopPinG.

me eitHer. we’re here for one reAson, anD tHat’s foOd coUrT nacHos. tHe gReAsy solutiOn to alL of life’s pRobLemS.

any more demon enCoUnTerS yEt? | meAn, aside fRom tHe a-hole tWinS bacK at sChoOl?

not yEt. but it feElS like sometHinG’s getTinG cLoser, if tHat makes senSe. sometHinG evil.

no worRiEs. |’ve got jusT tHe solutiOn! a toAsT!

have yOu leArNed anytHinG new fRom tHe boOk? yOu sTilL have tHe boOk, rigHt?

soOoOorTa… it’s mosTly jusT ramBlinG fRom forMer demon kilLerS. alThoUgH yOu sTarT to seE tHe same demonS popPinG up over anD over.

| kNow wHat yOu meAn. | get tHat feElinG anytime my gReAt-aUnT rosa comes to visit.

to surVivinG higH sChoOl… anD inVisibLe anCiEnT demonS!

| foUnD a secRet comParTmenT in fatHer serRano’s ofﬁce.

like a safe, but witH some kinDa sTar-sHaped keYhole. anytHinG like tHat menTiOned in tHe boOk? not tHat | rememBer.

so we’re safecRacKerS now? | can be dowN witH tHat.

| dunNo. maYbe it’s jusT olD family pHotos or sometHinG. or diAmonDs! it’s deﬁnitely not diAmonDs.

| tHoUgHt maYbe yOu coUlD make it lesS miserabLe.

sorRy, |’m pasSinG oUt canDy at home. anD pRacTicinG witH my sWorD.

yOu goinG to tHe halLoweEn danCe tonigHt?

| tHinK it’s wHere tHe resT of his holy relicS migHt be hidDen.

Me toO. But my mom’s cHaperoninG, so sHe’s forCinG me. She wanTs me to “come oUt of my sHelL,” wHicH is a horRibLe metapHor, becaUse don’t turTles DIe oUtSide tHeir sHelLs?

yOu kNow |’m not. | hate danCes.

yOu’re alWaYs tRaininG witH tHat tHinG. but yOu have no ideA wHen tHe nexT demon’s cominG?

nope. anD tHat’s wHy |’m alWaYs tRaininG.

come on, let’s get oUtTa here.

everLy!

wow. wHat an adorabLe gRizZly beAr.

|’m a tedDy beAr! rigHt. obViOusLy.

byE, papá! yOu loOk very sCaAary, isa!

| loOk cute, not sCary!

one seconD, papá! don’t come up!

YoU'lL helP yOur motHer hanD oUt canDy wHile we're gone?

pRetTy sure |’lL be doinG alL tHe hanDinG oUt, but okaY.

tHe cutesT, my love.

por favor, diOs, pLeAse enD tHis terRibLe nigHt quicKly…

yOu kNoOow, we’d be done a lot quicKer if yOu anD | jusT ate alL tHe canDy, mamá.

nice tRy, mija. tWo piEces, anD tHat’s it for yOu tonigHt.

awWwW… beinG a teEnager sucKs. yOu sHoUlD tRy beinG una mamá. anD don’t use tHat lanGuAge.

ahHh, sPoOky!

yEs, mamá. |’lL get it!

don’t kilL me, pLeAse! here yOu go.

…anD some for yOu. Have a goOd nigHt!

What’re yOu tWo supPosed to be?

CanDy.

HeY, sorRy, but we’re oUt of canDy. YoU’re getTinG here pRetTy late, acTuAlLy.

HunGry teEnagerS. Got it.

OopS, no more canDy. Get reAdy for disapPoinTmenT, kidS.

If yOu wanT, | can go cHecK oUr kitChen. We migHt have sometHinG elSe | coUlD give yOu. My motHer’s a pRetTy gReAt coOk.

Mamá? No more canDy. AlL done.

¡GraciAs a DiOs! LocK tHe fRonT doOr, mija.

Sure tHinG.

OkaAaAy… WelL, hapPy HalLoweEn. CoOl cosTume.

EverLy! What’s goinG on?

Mija, wHat was tHat?

| hope yOu got MONEy to paY for tHe bRoken--

HeY! Get bacK here!

What tHe HELl is yOur PrOBlEM?

| TOLd yOu, we alReAdy gave oUt alL tHe canDy! YoU don’t even have a BAG to carRy it in, sMarT guY!

Where are yOu GOINg? This is VERY anNoYinG!

My ScHOoL? Jacemyn, is tHat YoU?

HEy! Careful! SORrY! DeAlinG witH sometHinG here.

GeEz, wHat’s HER pRobLem?

HOLd UP!

ev, yOu came!

|’m so hapPy! come saY hi to my motHer.

alThoUgH tHat’s not mucH of a cosTume. a…sWeAty, sLeEpy girL?

tHere sHe is!

did yOu seE jacemyn come in? sHe’s dResSed like a pumPkin-heAd.

| tHoUgHt | saw her eArLiEr, but sHe was dResSed like a sexy cRiminal.

sHe bRoke oUr winDow witH a rocK.

wHoA! sHe is a cRiminal!

wHere? | don’t seE her! gotTa go, jeAnNiE!

welL, come bacK afTer yOu catCh her, | guEsS! |’m…reAlLy bored.

Oh, COME ON…

WhERE are yOu GOINg?

We coUlD’ve sKipPed tHe carDiO anD foUgHt bacK at sChoOl! Or even on my fRonT porCh.

AnD | regRet ofFerinG yOu Mamá’s coOkinG!

Oh.

| get it it. kilL me in a cemetary. cLever. tHat's some gRade a bulLyinG tacTic.

AlThoUgH |’m a lot TOuGhER now. YoU migHt wanNa kNow tHat. |’ve beEn TrAININg, for…unRelated reAsonS.

YoU kNow, if yOu WANtED anotHer bLoOdy moUtH, yOu coUlDa jusT ASkED. HapPy to pRovide one ANYTIME. 24/7, 365!

That soUnDed lame. | neEd to worK on my tRasH talK.

Get AWAy fRom tHere! That’s NOT funNy! Jacemyn, yOu’re…

…NOT Jacemyn, are yOu?

Crap.

| neEd my SwORd! | can’t beAt yOu here!

Your MENTOR taught you poorly.

Oh wow. YoU’re fasT.

But |’m pRetTy fasT, toO.

It’s time to JOIN him in the ground.

I’ll tear the FLESH from your INSIDES, gnaw your bones CLEAN…

nNgH! PleAse don’t eAt me. |’lL ﬁnD yOu some more canDy.

And through my WRATH, I will teach your GOD that His servants are NOT WELCOME here…

| sHowered eArLiEr. AlReAdy cLeAn enoUgH, tHanKs!

What jusT hapPened?

Let me guEsS, pumPkin-heAd demon? That one is SINOe. She enJoYs gRaveYarDs.

| am Katina Panagos. AnD yOu have mucH to leArN, EverLy.

BacK to HELl witH yOu, BEaSt!

TwelVe

welCome home, bRotHer. | seE serRano’s sPeAr pLucKed oUt yOur eYe agaIn.

A lucKy sHot. Where IS tHe pRiEsT? | ThIRsT for his BlOoD.

deAd. but tHere is a new demon kilLer…

TodaY.

(NOVEMBER)

HOLY CrAP! YoU’re tHe lady fRom my boOk! CATALINA!

YoU are fasT, but cLumSy. YoU have beEn tRaininG witH FatHer SerRano?

| was. But one of tHe demonS kilLed him, aboUt a monTh bacK. YoU’re, uh… sTepPinG on his gRave tHere.

OWwW! Ow ow ow ow ow…

AhHh, | do not misS ThAT. Do not worRy, no one but YoU can seE tHe sCarS.

No, wait…tHe numBer wenT bacK UP. Katina.

RigHt! My fRiEnD JeAnNiE was super cRusHinG on yOu… Uh, forGet | said tHat.

So yOu were tHe demon kilLer before FatHer SerRano?

| was.

But yOu seEm so YoUNg. How lonG were yOu-- Oh.

Did tHat pumPkin demon diE?

It is late. YoU sHoUlD get home. TomorRow is SaturDaY, corRecT?

It meAnS anotHer demon came bacK, 12 monThS afTer SerRano kilLed tHem. ProbabLy LeOnTiUs. | hate tHat guY.

Oh.

Uh-huh.

MeEt me in towN oUtSide tHe olD libRary at ten. We can talK more demon kilLinG tHen.

| meAn, a LITtLE, maYbe. |’m leArNinG, but | neEd alL tHe helP | can get. AnD yOu seEm like sucH a BADASs! AnD yOur fasHiOn senSe is ON POINt, anD…

YoU talK a lot, huh?

Did yOu jusT saY “WE?” YoU did saY “WE,” rigHt? Oh, tHanK God! | have NO IDEa wHat |’m doinG.

| wilL seE yOu tomorRow, EverLy.

It’s afTer midNigHt. |’m gonNa be in SO mucH tRoUbLe…

ByE.

HelLo…

¡GraciAs a DiOs! Where did yOu GO, mija? | tHoUgHt yOu were TAKEN by esos vánDalos!

Taken by vanDalS?

WelL, | am VERY reliEved tHat we are not reduced to jusT ONE daUgHter.

¡EsTaba muY pReOcupada!

SURE tHeY did. YoU jusT wanTed to go to tHat sChoOl danCe anD KISs BOyS, | bet.

Shut up anD eAt yOur canDy, gobLin!

|’m a TEDdY BEaR!

Mija, wait, we neEd to disCusS tHis…

The sTone tHrowerS. TheY made quite a mesS.

Oh, rigHt. |, uh…cHased afTer tHem, but tHeY losT me neAr my sChoOl.

|’m gonNa go to bed. AlL tHat cHasinG anD vanDalisM reAlLy wore me oUt. GoOd nigHt!

Let her sLeEp, cariño. We can inTerRogate her in tHe morNinG.

This isN’t goinG to get any eAsiEr.

It’s like FatHer SerRano said. Even if | tRy to IGnORE tHem, tHe DEMONs wilL come to ME.

AnD | can’t jusT get OuT of tHis like gym cLasS. Can’t have my mom wRite a NOTE exCusinG me fRom HOLY WARfARE. unfair.

NOPE! Not getTinG to sLeEp witH ThAT goinG on.

TheY’lL ALwAyS ﬁnD me.

WhY am | runNinG late? On a SATURdAy! | am SO BAD at time managemenT, ugH.

…aAanD sHe’s gone. Nice one, Ev. YoU ﬁnalLy meEt anotHer, more exPeriEnCed demon kilLer, anD yOu sTanD her up.

HeY tHere, warRiOr girL.

So, yOu have kilLed some demonS alReAdy?

Not a pRobLem. Come witH me.

Uh, yEah, sure! Where are we goinG? AroUnD.

Here we go. The foOd here is cRap, but it reminDs me of home. YoU are paYinG, by tHe waY. Get it to go.

Oh, yOu’re sTilL here! SorRy |’m late. | had tRoUbLe sLeEpinG, anD tHen my mom made me eAt bReAkFasT, even tHoUgH | wasN’t reAlLy hunGry…

YeAh. Uh, tWo, | guEsS? UnLesS yOu coUnT tHe birD.

| woUlD not. That tHinG deserVes to be PlUCkED anD StUFfED.

Oh, uh… sure.

C’mon, aroUnD tHe corNer. | do not like eAtinG in pubLic.

AlL 13 demonS have names, perSonalitiEs, hobBiEs. YoU wilL get to kNow tHem as yOu tRy to kilL eAcH otHer. It is like a big dysFunCtiOnal family.

AnD tHeY can alL

YoU calLed tHat pumPkin demon by a name…

SinoE.

RigHt. | didN’t kNow tHeY HAD names.

Of coUrSe. Why woUlD tHeY NOT?

Of coUrSe.

MmMm, | LOVE tHis sTufF. | take bacK my inSulT fRom eArLiEr.

DemonS are MOoDY?

BecaUse Theron is an IMbECILE. Or maYbe he was jusT in a BAD MOoD wHen yOu met him.

| tHoUgHt tHeY jusT gRowLed like monSterS. The one witH tHe birD tHat kilLed FatHer SerRano didN’t saY anytHinG.

Oh, yEs. In tHe WORsT waY.

TALk?

NevRiázo kápoiOn, géronTas!

What’s tHat meAn?

It is GreEk. | tolD him to go awaY, basicalLy. Come on.

AnD yOu pasSed it on to FatHer SerRano?

It is more like he TOoK it fRom me, but yEs.

So, yOu jusT… StOPpED beinG tHe demon kilLer?

| did. It did not suit me.

HeY, wHat yOu doinG in my alLeY? Go eAt somewHere elSe!

Life is sHorT. If yOu do not wanT to kilL demonS, pasS it ofF to someOne elSe.

Get ThEM to kilL a demon anD it is not yOur pRobLem anymore.

| don’t tHinK | coUlD do tHat. | meAn, at leAsT not witHoUt someOne elSe AGrEeINg to take over ﬁrSt.

That woUlDn’t be fair.

ThReE cReAmS, eigHt sugarS. Big as tHeY can make it. | wilL wait here.

Sure.

Come. | neEd cofFeE now.

Oh, okaY.

Did YoU agReE to it ﬁrSt? | am guEsSinG not.

SorT of. | saved FatHer SerRano’s life.

Here. | tHinK | got it rigHt? | don’t dRinK cofFeE.

Ha! Brave girL. MaYbe yOu ARE tHe rigHt perSon for tHis job afTer alL.

YoU migHt wanT to sTarT. DemonS picK tHe WORsT hoUrS to atTacK sometimes.

Have yOu tolD anyOne elSe aboUt yOur new job? EugH, tHis cofFeE is AWfUL. ThanK yOu, tHoUgH.

JusT my fRiEnD JeAnNiE.

The one witH a cRusH on me?

Hehe, uh…yEah, her. She’s helPinG me reseArCh tHe boOk, tHat olD one tHat getS pasSed dowN?

HmMmMm…

Wait, is tHis a holy relic?

No. Those are sunGlasSes. But tHeY can sTilL helP yOu.

WelL, be careful wHo yOu tRusT. What do yOu meAn?

DemonS are not tHe ONlY ones afTer yOu now.

AnD reAd tHat boOk. It is a lot of GOSsIP anD WhININg fRom olD holy men, but tHere is some goOd inForMatiOn in tHere, toO. On tHe demonS, anD esPeciAlLy tHe holy relicS.

Some peOpLe oUt tHere wanT to seE tHe demonS kilLed, some wanT to seE tHem sucCeEd. KeEp an eYe oUt for tHe seconD type.

How?

TheY keEp tHe sun oUt yOur eYes. Come.

BetTer.

| migHt neEd to get bacK pRetTy soOn. AlSo, |’m oUt of moneY.

No pRobLem, | am sTufFed. AnD we are alMosT tHere.

AlMosT wHere?

Wh-wHat are yOu doinG?

YoU said yOu wanTed my HELp, rigHt? Yes, pLeAse.

| canNot SEe or HEaR tHe demonS anymore, but | can sTilL helP yOu FIGhT tHem. At leAsT unTil yOu are goOd enoUgH not to get KILlED on yOur owN.

ThanKs. It woUlD be nice to surVive my teEnS.

Come on oUt, yOu pumPkin-heAded tRoUbLemaker! This pLace loOkS goOd.

YoU got to face yOur demonS, EverLy. LesSon one: It is alWaYs betTer to picK tHe TIME anD PlACE ratHer tHan let ThEM. Gives yOu tHe adVanTage.

Wait, no, |’m not reAdy!

Can yOu seE her? SinoE?

Y-yEs…

|’m not reAdy. She’s gonNa kilL me!

But |--| don’t even have my sWorD.

She has beEn folLowinG us alL afTerNoOn. Even tHoUgH | canNot SEe tHem anymore, | can sTilL FEeL tHem.

ToOk yOu lonG enoUgH, vegetabLe-face! Are yOu so afRaid of a teEnage girL?

She migHt witH ThAT atTitude. YoU neEd to BELIeVE yOu can beAt her. Then, maYbe, yOu can.

Here, a gifT fRom me. For tHe cofFeE anD gyro. It is sMalL, but sHarP as helL.

YoU wilL not alWaYs have yOur favorite weAponS on yOu. YoU neEd to leArN to imProvise witH wHat yOu got.

Do not let her inTimidate yOu!

| can BEaT yOu. |’m StRONgER tHan yOu. StRonGer tHan ANY of yOu.

Come on, come on, come on… COME ON!

HAH! There yOu go! grrr… foul girl!

Where is it?

HurRy up, EverLy! ConTrol tHe ﬁgHt! FoUnD it! GoOd, sTaY on her! Get agGresSive! this is NOT your battle, witch!

OoOoh… get bacK up! YoU canNot quit now.

| seE tHe cRysTal! It’s in her sTomacH!

GrosS. ShatTer it so we can get oUt of here.

{SigH…}

gaahh!

young flesh always tastes the best…

That is okaY, EverLy. YoU tRiEd. HanG on.

Let go my leg.

{SigH…} HanG on, kid.

O Theós, na soU kLeísei to sTóma!

OkaY, yOu migHt ACtUaLlY diE now.

all of god’s soldiers will die by my ha--

Get up, EverLy! It is time to ﬁnisH tHe ﬁgHt.

OoOoh…yEah, yOu are. Let us get yOu home. Or to a hosPital. mmmph!

CatCh!

YoU sure did.

Heh… pumPkin-heAd. So weirD.

HeY, JeAnNiE. Nope, it wasN’t Jacemyn, it was a demon. A HalLoweEn-tHemed one. But | kilLed it.

Oh, anD tHat lady fRom tHe boOk, Katina, sHowed up anD helPed me. YeAh, her.

| dunNo, | hope so. She seEmS coOl. AnD | can use alL tHe helP | can get.

(DECEMBER) CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER FIVE

YoUr parenTs are very conCerNed, EverLy. TheY’re worRiEd aboUt yOu.

Physical viOlenCe is ALwAyS a big deAl. AnD it’s sometHinG tHat is NEVER tolerated here at SanTa Teresa.

Heh… yEah, okaY.

Tamara anD Jacemyn? Are tHeY tHe ones wHo atTacKed yOu lasT monTh? Who yOu’re ﬁgHtinG witH?

No. TheY’re alL talK. It’s notHinG.

|’m 14. | get inTo ﬁgHtS sometimes. It’s not a big deAl.

Do yOu ﬁnD tHat funNy?

No, sorRy. It’s jusT… bulLiEs are ABsOLUTELY tolerated here. |’ve TOLd teAcHerS wHen | get picKed on, anD tHeY don’t do ANYThINg. TheY telL me to sHrug it ofF. YoU wanT to HELp me? Then telL jerKs like Tamara anD Jacemyn to leAve me ALONE.

EverLy, | can’t HELp yOu if yOu don’t telL me wHat’s goinG on.

What makes yOu tHinK | NEeD yOur helP? |’m pRetTy resoUrCeful.

Then WhO are yOu ﬁgHtinG witH?

EveryOne neEdS helP, esPeciAlLy at yOur age.

No, wHat | NEeD is to sTop cominG in here every weEk anD misSinG halF my alGebRa cLasS. Don’t yOu WANt me to get goOd gRades?

Of coUrSe. AnD for tHe mosT parT, yOu’re doinG very welL academicalLy.

Saved by tHe belL! | sHoUlD get goinG. UnLesS yOu wanT to keEp me fRom eAtinG my lunCh, toO?

|’m FIIIIIINE, MisS Flores. It’s jusT norMal teEnage sTufF. YoU’re pRetTy yOunG--|’m sure yOu can relate.

| do not. YoU’re fReE to go.

EverLy… yOu KnOW yOu can talK to me anytime, rigHt? AboUt anytHinG.

| can, anD tHat’s exacTly wHy |--

So, are yOu CURED yEt?

Can’t cure ME.

| kNow. It’s wHat we jusT did for 30 minutes. It’s wHat we do EVERY ThurSdaY.

|’m rotTen to tHe CORE.

Phew…

Plus, if | bRoUgHt up DEMONs anD CrYStALs anD HOLY WARrIoRs, tHeY’d tHinK | was INsANE.

YoU’re NOT? WelL, tHat’s borinG. | tHoUgHt | was jusT inDulGinG yOu in yOur weirD religiOus fanTasy.

HanG on. | wanNa gRab a few boOkS before we eAt.

BoOkS aboUt DEMONs. YoU kNow, some of tHis sTufF acTuAlLy DOeS line up witH wHat we leArNed in BibLe sTudy.

Not COMpLETELY, but tHere are detailS here anD tHere tHat corResPonD.

ReAlLy?

That’s tHe nerDiEsT tHinG yOu’ve ever said.

If yOu loOk up DEMONs in tHe BibLe, yOu get tHe usuAl vanilLa sTufF. A tHirD of tHe anGelS folLow Satan afTer his falL, tHen sPenD tHe resT of time roAminG tHe EarTh, posSesSinG peOpLe, leAdinG us asTraY. TheY’re basicalLy namelesS, inVisibLe jerK monSterS.

But in some of tHe UNcOLlECtED holy boOkS, like tHe ApocRypHa, it’s difFerenT. In Solomon’s tesTamenT, for examPle, tHe demonS alL have inDividuAl names. GrEeK-soUnDinG names, jusT like tHe demonS yOu’re ﬁgHtinG now!

What up, J-DawG!

OnLy tHere aren’t 13 of tHem in Solomon-tHere’s WAy more. AnD tHeir names are difFerenT. But mosT of tHose boOkS were wRitTen bacK durinG Jesus’ time or even eArLiEr, so maYbe tHe demonS evolVed or tagGed oUt witH otHer demonS or sometHinG.

Or yOu said wHen tHeY come bacK afTer getTinG kilLed, tHeY’re difFerenT, rigHt? StRONgER anD StRANgER? YeAh.

TagGed oUt?

YeAh, like in wResTlinG.

A 2,000-yEar batTle betWeEn demonS anD holy warRiOrS over oUr worLd ShOuLdN’T be cut for page coUnT, rigHt?

a lot of tHis sTufF was in tHe bibLe tilL a few hunDred yEarS ago, tHen it got yAnKed oUt. tHe big mysTery is wHy?

Yo, lasT nigHt was SICk!

YoU’re asSuminG tHese are demonS fRom OuR BibLe, toO. That OuR holy boOk got it alL rigHt.

WhoA… yEah, | guEsS | am.

AnD it’s not JUSt tHe 14 ApocRypHa boOkS tHat were cut oUt.

There’s a bunCh of OThER boOkS fRom tHe same time tHat aren’t canonical now, toO.

BoYs, get up!

What is it, nap time?

So maYbe tHere are boOkS on YoUR 13 demonS, toO! MaYbe even in tHis libRary! ThoUgH pRobabLy not ThIS libRary, ’caUse oUr libRary kinDa sucKs…

GOT it! Time to DIe, yOu sPidery FrEaK!

Wh…wHat jusT hapPened? |’m guEsSinG | didN’t jusT doze ofF, huh?

Nope. YoU didN’t jusT doze ofF.

Besides, |’ve alReAdy got a piEce of mysTeriOus holy jewelRy.

What’s tHis?

| dunNo. But if yOu’re gonNa HELp me, maYbe it’lL helP YoU.

So doEs tHis meAn we’re goinG sTeAdy now?

sure.

Haha,

YeAh, sorRy. JeAnNiE anD | got caUgHt up in a sChoOl tHinG. Where’s Mamá anD tHe gRemLin?

Are yOu OKAy, mija? Tu mamá anD | can telL yOu’re…goinG ThROuGh sometHinG rigHt now. We don’t like to seE oUr litTle sunShine sTrugGlinG.

EverLy?

YoU’re home very LATE.

TheY’re at a birThDaY parTy for one of yOur sisTer’s fRiEnDs.

Isa has FrIeNdS?!

Be nice…

JusT norMal teEnage sTufF, Papá. NotHinG worLd-cHanGinG. Lo pRometo.

|’m gonNa go to bed now. It’s beEn a lonG daY. G’nigHt, Papá.

This is tHe pRivate joUrNal of FatHer MatTeO SerRano. | reAlize tHere’s alReAdy a joUrNal pasSed dowN for tHoUsanDs of yEarS betWeEn demon kilLerS, but itS remaininG pages are few, anD my tHoUgHtS are many.

ApRil 7tH, 2018. Zosimos is surely tHe WORsT of tHese demonS! ItS goOpy fRog vomit has sTained ANOThER of my fRocKs. If tHis keEpS up, |’lL have to pReAcH in my sanDalS anD sWim tRunKs.

marCh 6tH, 2020. at times, | am conVinCed tHis tasK is imPosSibLe. if 2,000 yEarS of pRiEsTs before me failed, wHy sHoUlD | be any difFerenT? am | desTined to diE by cLawS or teEtH?

tRaininG goEs welL. everLy is sTronGer anD fasTer. sTilL, | feEl bad lyinG to her. if sHe kNew tHe tRutH, sHe maY not be so wilLinG to ﬁgHt tHese demonS.

sepTemBer 17tH, 2025. tonigHt, | was neArLy kilLed by deimos. | am onLy abLe to wRite tHis by tHe gRace of my sTudenT, everLy esPada, wHo has taken tHe manTle of demon kilLer fRom me. sHe is very sTronG anD |’m conﬁdenT sHe wilL sucCeEd wHere | have failed.

Wait, WhAT?!

CHAPTER

SIX CHAPTER SIX

(JANUARY)

Nope, notHinG. |’ve beEn loOkinG for WEeKs anD can’t ﬁnD ANYThINg in tHis sTupid joUrNal tHat exPlainS wHat FatHer SerRano was LYINg to me aboUt. Any lucK witH tHe otHer joUrNal?

JeAnNiE, wHy are yOu on yOur PhONE? YoU sHoUlD be HELpINg me!

| AM! GeEz, calM dowN, Ev! | toOk picS of tHe otHer joUrNal’s pages witH my pHone.

EverLy?

One seconD, Mamá!

Can JeAnNiE PlEaSE come witH us, Mamá? | won’t SURvIVE on my owN.

MucH eAsiEr to reseArCh tHan carRyinG aroUnD a huge, cRusTy, anCiEnT boOk everywHere. Oh. SmarT.

ThanK yOu.

UgH, | give up. |’ve reAd tHroUgH tHis tHinG like TEN times. Why woUlD FatHer SerRano LIe to me? AnD tHen not even WrITE wHat he was lyinG ABOuT? He said if | kNew tHe TrUTh, | woUlDn’t be wilLinG to FIGhT tHe demonS anymore. That musT be a pRetTy big liE, rigHt?

EverLy, mija, it’s time to go to yOur coUsin’s quinCeAñera. We can dRop JeAnNiE home on tHe waY tHere.

WhicH dResS do yOu wanT to weAr?

| can asK my mom, MrS. EsPada. We weren’t doinG anytHinG elSe todaY.

PleAse? PleAse pLeAse pLeAse pLeAse

ThanKs for cominG. WitH everytHinG elSe goinG on, | don’t tHinK | coUlD surVive my exTenDed family on my owN.

YoU kNow | got yOur bacK.

Plus, tHis dResS loOkS HELlA cute on me.

It reAlLy doEs.

|’m…colD. YoU kNow | run colD, Mamá.

EverLy, wHy are yOu weArinG tHat sWeAter? EsTá muY cHafa.

ColD? DiOs mío, it musT be 80 DEGrEeS oUtSide.

Why did YoU get to bRinG a fRiEnD? Mami said tHis parTy was for FAMILY ONlY.

Stop talKinG, gRemLin.

| tHinK it comPlemenTs Ev’s dResS nicely, MrS. EsPada.

But | AM family! RigHt, MrS. EsPada?

¡Claro, JeAnNiE! Our tHreE wonDerFul daUgHterS. Isa, be nice.

EverLy, gRab

yOur coUsin’s gifT. JeAnNiE, can yOu carRy tHe gorDitas, ¿por favor?

YoU got it, MrS. EsPada. If | don’t eAt tHem alL on tHe waY inSide!

WelCome to HelL…

¡HerManita! ¿Por qué nunCa me lLamas, tonTa?

Te lLamé el mes pasado, ¿qué esTás diciEnDo?

¡BiEnVenida al palaciO! We redid tHe enTire hoUse.

ApúrenSe, cHicas.

XocHi, tus pRimas are here!

This is my besT fRiEnD, JeAnNiE. | hope it’s okaY tHat sHe came.

HeY, cuz.

| tHoUgHt | onLy had tWo coUsinS. YoU mulTipLyinG?

Uh-huh.

We kNocKed dowN tHe walLs to open up tHe sunRoOm. ¿No te enCanTa?

Sí, it’s very… bRigHt.

FifTeEn-ﬂavor cake to celebRate XocHi’s quinCe años witH us. We had to sPeciAl orDer it fRom San FranCisCo over a yEar ago.

Here is XocHi's ice sCulPture. TheY use ChAINsAWs! | won’t even TELl yOu wHat tHis cosT. But oUr ANgELITA is worTh it! MOM!

AnD here we are, ¡la ﬁesTa de mi niña! XocHi is oUr one anD onLy, so naturalLy we had to go ALl OuT.

| can seE!

AnD ﬁnalLy, la joYa de la corona… ¡nuEsTra esTación de bRocHetas! | can’t toUcH it--|’m diEtinG. But eAt as mucH as yOu wanT, manita. Take some home!

EverLy, quErida, don’t toUcH tHat. It’s sHarP.

xocHi, wHy don’t yOu sHow yOur pRima everLy anD her fRiEnD yOur bedRoOm? it’s tHe onLy roOm |’m not alLowed to toUcH in tHis hoUse.

yOu guYs vape?

isa, take tHis for mami, pLeAse.

ugH, ﬁne. c’mon.

anD here’s my roOm. don’t toUcH anytHinG.

my mom’s pRetTy exTra.

wow, tHis is huge! waY bigGer tHan my roOm.

| got alL kinDs of ﬂavorS. matCha? manGo tanGo?

tHat’s like sMokinG, rigHt? no tHanKs.

sHe’s alWaYs decoratinG. sorRy if sHe makes yOu wanNa jumP oUt a winDow…

alSo cLeAner. welL, don’t saY it like tHat…

alL rigHt. |’m jusT gonNa cHilL for a bit, if tHat’s coOl.

yEah, totalLy coOl! we’lL jusT, uh, loOk aroUnD. but don’t toUcH anytHinG. got it.

so wHat’re yOu inTo, coUsin everLy? cLeArLy it’s not fasHiOn.

| dunNo.

boOkS, | guEsS. bibLe sTudy, recenTly.

my parenTs sPenT a disGusTinG amoUnT of moneY on tHis dResS. benNy cHivon desigNed it for me. tHeY’re a big deAl if yOu kNow fasHiOn. anD | meAn, | totalLy hate it. |’d ratHer be in my jeAnS anD docS. but if yOu gotTa loOk fanCy for a daY…

oh yEah? wHat do yOu kNow aboUt demonS, xocHi?

more tHan yOu do. | acTuAlLy sPoke to a demon onCe.

wow. yOu sPoke to a demon? tHat’s imPresSive.

bibLe sTudy, huh? yOu kNow tHere’s no god, rigHt? everytHinG tHeY teAcH yOu in sunDaY sChoOl is b.s. exCepT demonS. tHeY’re tHe onLy ones worTh beliEvinG in.

did it give yOu any fasHiOn tipS?

yOu guYs are so dumB.

sorRy. yOur roOm is reAlLy coOl, xocHi. |’m jeAloUs.

tHat’s fRom a conCerT | wenT to lasT ocTober. melanCholy ruinatiOn. tHe no afTerLife toUr.

wHo’s tHis cReEpy litTle guY supPosed to be?

obV it’s a demon sKulL.

everLy! yOu deAf? | asKed if yOu’ve ever beEn to a conCerT.

tHen wHy is it made of cRysTal? | tHoUgHt tHe cRysTal was somewHere elSe on tHeir body.

pRobabLy some cHrisTiAn-rocK bibLe-camP sHow, huh? | guEsS tHat coUnTs.

oh! sorRy. | don’t tHinK so. maYbe wHen | was yOunGer.

yOur roOm is pRetTy sicK, dude.

aAaAnywaY, we sHoUlD pRolLy get dowNsTairS now anD helP my mom witH, uh, parTy sTufF. tHanKs for tHe toUr, xocHi. we’lL seE yOu dowNsTairS.

sorRy!

we gotTa be careful, jeAnNiE. we can’t let anyOne kNow aboUt my… afTer-sChoOl job.

esPeciAlLy not xocHi. sHe’s anNoYinG anD upPity, but sHe’s alSo reAlLy sMarT.

got it. no more cLuEs for tHe sMarT, gotHy coUsin. wHere were yOu?

yEah, no, | kNow. it jusT sLipPed oUt.

YoU can’t jusT LEaVE me ALONE! | didN’t get to bRinG a FrIeNd, so yOu have to PlAy witH me!

go pLaY witH yOur videO game. nobody wanTs to talK to a litTle lLorona like yOu.

it’s not a curSe worD!

be tHanKful yOu don’t have any sibLinGs.

|’m telLinG dadDy!

|’m sure tHere are sisTerS in tHis worLd worTh havinG, but isa is not one of tHem.

tHis device has images fRom tHe holy joUrNal on it?

tHat’s wHat yOu said. wHy are yOu talKinG like tHat? heY!

yOu’re… not jeAnNiE, are yOu?

| didN’t exPecT yOu to be so sMalL. |’d heArD yOu were yOunG, anD female, but yOur diminutive sTature is sTilL surPrisinG. how asTute.

for yOu to diE, jusT like eAcH of yOur pRedecesSorS.

wHat do yOu wanT?

but ﬁrSt, | wanT yOu to sufFer for havinG tHe aUdacity to beliEve yOu coUlD overCome us.

welL, get used to it, ’caUse |’m pLenTy aUdaciOus! tHat’s…tHe adJecTive forM, rigHt?

inTeresTinG. we don’t get many humoroUs ones in yOur positiOn. but | digResS. we sHoUlD get on witH tHinGs.

damMit.

oOf!

| recogNize tHat!

mija, wHat are yOu doinG? ¡jeAnNiE es tu amiga!

jusT worKinG some tHinGs oUt, mamá. norMal teEnage sTufF.

welL, tHis got inTeresTinG.

burN, yOu demon poser!

tHis body is surPrisinGly sTronG. | sHoUlD sNap eAcH of yOur limBs before | enD yOur life.

pLeAse don’t. tHe sNapPinG or tHe kilLinG parTs.

everLy! jeAnNiE! ¡basTa yA!

| kNow, mamá. alMosT done. | hope.

gotTa borRow tHis. heY!

ugH!

but yOu do care for tHis husK, don’t yOu?

so maYbe tHe besT waY to hurT yOu is to hurT someOne yOu care aboUt…

|’m surPrised yOu’re so wilLinG to ﬁgHt me, at yOur age. | woUlD’ve exPecTed yOu to ﬂeE in terRor.

selF-pReserVatiOn doEsN’t seEm to be higH on yOur lisT of pRiOritiEs.

Eat up. It’s a parTy.

Now get tHe HELl oUt of my FrIeNd!

{hufF…} {hufF…}

wHat tHe helL…

jusT kNow, if yOu kilL me now, yOu’lL never leArN tHe--

yEah, yEah…

{hufF…}

| am imPresSed, tHoUgH. yOu’re toUgHer tHan | woUlD’ve exPecTed. serRano musT’ve taUgHt yOu a tHinG or tWo before tHeron disemBoweled him.

don’t fusS. | have no inTenTiOn of sParRinG witH yOu rigHt now.

bacK ofF! |’lL kilL yOu, toO…

bRavo, yOunG demon kilLer.

don’t saY his name…

fResH woUnDs--| unDerStanD. | migHt’ve felT tHe same aboUt yOu kilLinG leOnTiUs over tHere, but he was alWaYs bRasH. anD every demon yOu kilL moves me up tHe ranKs, so…

jusT make sure yOu don’t become a demon yOurSelF in tHe pRocesS… hahahaha…

|’lL be seEinG yOu, everLy esPada.

notHinG to seE here! everyOne pLeAse enJoY tHe parTy. have yOu tRiEd tHe gorDitas yEt?

wHat? never minD--yOu can ﬁlL me in later. let’s jusT get oUt of here.

| wanT my mom…

mamá?

qué diOs me pRoteja…

mamá!

okaY, seriOusLy, wHat jusT hapPened? becaUse my body feElS like | jusT ran a maratHon, anD | can’t rememBer tHe lasT 20 minutes.

| tHinK… tHe demonS are ﬁgHtinG eAcH otHer?

anywaY, |’m sorRy for atTacKinG yOu, anD mesSinG up xocHi’s parTy. | keEp ruininG everytHinG aroUnD me.

it’s not yOur faUlT!

It's tHose sTupid demonS. YoU didN't posSesS anyOne. YoU SAVED me!

maYbe. yEah, | guEsS. heY, did yOu get yOur locKet? | tHinK demon-yOu toOk it ofF jusT before oUr ﬁgHt.

yEah, |’ve got it rigHt here. guEsS tHe demonS don’t like coOl religiOus fasHiOn.

welL, conSiderinG

tHeY alL run aroUnD butT naked, | guEsS tHat’s not a sHocK.

tHeY’re gonNa ﬁx my toOtH wHile |’m here, so tHat’s coOl.

awWw, | liked tHe gap.

anywaY, | betTer go. |’lL calL yOu again wHen | can. byE, jeAnNiE.

tHanKs.

tRy to get some resT. pResS tHe yElLow butTon if yOu neEd anytHinG.

heY, kid. do yOu wanT to get oUt of here?

CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER SEVEN

(FEBRUARY)

KeEp up, EverLy! YoU neEd to move FAStER.

|’m not reAlLy GOoD at…fasTer.

WelL, yOu had betTer GET goOd! Now JUMp!

UnLesS yOu do not tHinK yOu can make it.

WhoA.

There’s no WAy | can make tHat jumP. HnGh!

Like ﬁgHtinG wHere it is difﬁculT to do so.

But | WON’T let tHat StOP me.

Do yOu? BecaUse yOur sTanCe coUlD use some worK.

Very goOd. But do not put yOurSelF in a vulNerabLe sPot.

What do yOu meAn?

What | meAn is…cLever tHinKinG to avoid ONE pRobLem meAnS notHinG if it getS yOu inTo ANOThER.

| unDerStanD.

sorRy! hanG on!

GoOd enoUgH to bLocK yOur sTrikes.

Yes, welL, | am a bit rusTy.

…we sHoUlD enD tHe ﬁgHt EaRlY!

WelL tHen MAyBE…

Not bad, EverLy. That was a goOd one.

Why did yOu come bacK for me? When | was in tHe hosPital?

It was cLeAr yOu neEded my helP again.

AlThoUgH | musT saY, yOu have gotTen a lot more capabLe sinCe yOu foUgHt SinoE in tHat alLeY.

| never lefT, EverLy. | have beEn keEpinG an eYe on yOu. But afTer tHat birThDaY parTy…

| tHoUgHt it was a birThDaY parTy.

| meAn, yEah. WelL, kinDa.

YoUr arMs are sore?

It’s ﬁne.

Bruises are a goOd tHinG. TheY sHow yOu surVived conﬂicT. WeAr tHem pRoUdLy.

| mosTly weAr lonG sLeEves now, becaUse of tHe numBer. | kNow onLy | can seE it, but it sTilL makes me feEl…

Do tHe sCarS go awaY onCe yOu sTop beinG tHe demon kilLer?

|’ve beEn tRaininG. WelL, as mucH as | can, betWeEn sChoOl anD family sTufF. | don’t tHinK tHis job was reAlLy inTenDed for teEnagerS.

SmoOtH as baby’s butTocKs. EverytHinG goEs awaY wHen yOu quit, exCepT tHe memoriEs.

YoU are very pRetTy, yOu kNow tHat. YoU have a boYfRiEnD? GirLfRiEnD?

Nope. JusT me. Me anD JeAnNiE. But not like tHat! We’re jusT fRiEnDs, | meAn. She’s my besT fRiEnD.

| woUlD be careful wHo yOu rely on, EverLy. The demonS wilL use everyOne yOu love againSt yOu, in tHe mosT horRibLe waYs.

YoU are not goinG to anSwer it?

Not rigHt now.

AnD yOu are sure sHe is yOur besT fRiEnD?

| neEd to get home. ThanKs for helPinG me tRain. For everytHinG tHese pasT few weEkS.

WitH pLeAsure.

YoUr motHer?

JeAnNiE. SpeAkinG of devilS…

SeE yOu aroUnD, EverLy EsPada.

ISA! Get oUt of my ROoM! It’s LATE.

WhY? YoU’RE not usinG it.

Where do yOu sNeAk oUt to every nigHt?

YoU’re so sTupid, Ev.

WhY? Are yOu pLanNinG to TELl on me? BecaUse |’ve got a LOT more dirT on YoU, cHisMosa!

|’m WORrIeD aboUt yOu. So are Mamá anD Papá, esPeciAlLy afTer yOu beAt up yOur fRiEnD. WhY did yOu do tHat?

|’m ﬁne. JusT tired. | neEd to sLeEp, Isa.

EverLy has beEn ILl tHe pasT few weEkS, but sHe’s betTer now. EveryOne pLeAse join me in welCominG EverLy EsPada bacK to oUr cLasS!

Before we begin, |’d like to pResenT a familiAr face to everyOne!

…wenT cRazy…

…atTacKed someOne…

WelL, loOk wHo it is.

| misSed her. Let’s make her sorRy sHe ever came bacK.

For sure.

…beEn locKed up…

HeY, yOu’re BACk! |’m surPrised tHeY ﬁnalLy let yOu OuT.

JeAnNiE, |--

HeY, JeAnNiE.

| tRiEd to telL everyOne it wasN’t yOur faUlT.

We haven’t talKed in WEeKs. Every time | calLed, tHe hosPital said yOu were resTinG. That’s a HELlUVA lot of resTinG.

Oh, SORrY, EverLy. DidN’t SEe yOu tHere.

AlThoUgH | didN’t reAlLy have a goOd exPlanatiOn, eitHer, sinCe | coUlDn’t telL tHem aboUt tHe… yOu-kNow-wHatS.

She’s not harD to misS.

Can yOu tWo jerKs GIVE us a minute? Ev’s beEn tHroUgH a LOT, anD sHe doEsN’t neEd to deAl witH yOur sadisTic bulLyinG on her ﬁrSt daY BACk! LeAve us ALONE!

| don’t NEeD yOur helP, JeAnNiE!

WhAT? Why are yOu pisSed at ME?

TroUbLe in paradise, huh?

ShUT UP, Jacemyn. |’m so TIRED of yOur sTupid inSulTs. Do yOu neEd me to beAt yOur ASs again?

Did yOu ever tHinK MAyBE | neEd some time awaY fRom YoU? GeEz, yOu’re so…SmOThERINg.

| tHinK tHeY jusT bRoke up. So sad.

|--|’lL sHow yOu a BEaTINg!

Oh. | get it. Fine. |’m tHe ONlY perSon sTanDinG up for yOu, but apParenTly yOu’d ratHer be COMpLETELY alone.

Now leAve. | neEd to ﬁnisH my lunCh.

No, yOu won’t. ’CaUse yOu’re WEaK.

| coUlD BrEaK yOur wRisT rigHt now. Can yOu feEl my StRENgTh?

MaYbe ThAT woUlD ﬁnalLy get yOu tHe atTenTiOn yOu’re SO desPerate for.

ThAT was imPresSive. CoUlD yOu REaLlY bReAk her wRisT if yOu wanTed?

Uh…| was jusT acTinG toUgH. PleAse don’t saY anytHinG. TheY bulLy me a lot.

ProbabLy not anymore, tHoUgH, huh?

| moved here a few monThS ago. My lasT sChoOl sucKed, but tHis pLace seEmS okaY.

My name's Philo. YoUrS?

Oof!

| like it. EVERlY. It matChes yOur face. YoU’ve got a cute face.

Ev. WelL, EverLy.

HeY, apParenTly tHere’s some danCe tonigHt. YoU wanNa go witH me?

| dunNo. CotTon or sometHinG?

Oh, uh…|’m not…| meAn, YoU loOk very nice. | like yOur sHirT, for examPle. Wh-wHat’s it made of?

|’ve seEn yOu aroUnD sChoOl. Not to soUnD like a StALkER, but yOu’re pRetTy noticeAbLe.

| don’t kNow many peOpLe yEt, anD | doUbT tHe otHer girLs are as coOl as yOu.

Oh. ThanKs. | tHinK |’ve seEn yOu aroUnD, toO.

Y-yOu wanT to go to a DANcE? WitH ME?

|--|…uh…

TelL yOu wHat--let’s keEp tHinGs cHilL. |’lL be tHere aroUnD eigHt.

ByE, EverLywitH-tHe-cuteface!

That’s tHe basic ideA, yEah. YoU dowN?

If yOu wanNa come, jusT meEt me tHere. If not, we can hanG some otHer time. CoOl?

ByE, Philo…

HurRy, Mamá! It’s alReAdy 7:15 anD | neEd to be tHere by 8:00! |’m so exCited! AnD terRiﬁed. Why woUlD a boY asK ME oUt? Oh, anD he’s REaLlY cute. Did yOu go to any danCes wHen yOu were my age?

Sí, alGunas veces.

| NEVER weAr makeUp. MaYbe | sHoUlD StARt. | loOk so mucH OLdER. But, like, in a GOoD waY.

Of COuRsE! |’m 14. MosT tHe kidS in my gRade have beEn datinG sinCe, like, ﬁfTh gRade.

Mija…are yOu sure yOu’re REaDY for sometHinG like tHis?

No, | meAn…cómo digo esTo… perHapS yOu’re movinG toO quicKly, afTer wHat hapPened at yOur coUsin’s quinCeAñera.

|’m ﬁne, Mamá. What | NEeD rigHt now, afTer tHreE weEkS sTucK in a hosPital roOm, is to be aroUnD OThER KIDs.

Oh. That.

How do | loOk?

MuY bonita, mi ﬂorecita.

ThanKs, Mamá.

What’s ShE doinG here?

Philo!

OMIGOSh. He’s toUcHinG my hanD.

Where are we goinG? Don’t yOu wanT to danCe or sometHinG? Not tHat | reAlLy KnOW how to danCe, but |’d like to tRy. WitH yOu.

We sHoUlD reAlLy get bacK. | don’t tHinK we’re supPosed to be here at nigHt. If a teAcHer ﬁnDs us, we migHt get in…

MaYbe later. That sTufF’s not reAlLy my sCene. C’mon, |’ve got sometHinG COoL to sHow yOu ﬁrSt!

This waY.

| kisSed a BOy. A boY kisSed ME. HOLY CrAP.

Don’t worRy aboUt it, EverLy. | got it alL pLanNed oUt. | jusT wanT tonigHt to be SpECIaL. YoU tRusT me, rigHt?

Yes.

GoOd. C’mon!

In here. C’mon.

SometHinG… BAD hapPened to me here.

OkaY. |’m jusT nerVoUs, | guEsS.

RigHt tHere. Now cLose yOur eYes.

Uh…Philo? | don’t reAlLy wanNa be in here.

Don’t peEk. | wanT tHis to be PERfECt.

What’s tHe matTer, EverLy? Don’t tHinK |’m CUTE anymore?

…wHat?

But yOu’re not a DEMON!

Like HELl |’m not. BorN anD bRed. WelL, not BORn, exacTly.

But yOu don’t loOk anytHinG LIKE tHem! Y-yOu loOk like someOne fRom my cLasS.

No. No no no no NO!

Stupid girL. DemonS can loOk however we WANt.

| wanTed to bRinG yOu HERE to diE. YoUr deAtH had to be PERfECt.

| coUlDn’t jusT kilL yOu at lunCh, in fRonT of everyOne. ThoUgH | did conSider it. HYaHhH!

WhY are yOu doinG tHis?!

BecaUse YoU kilLed my FrIeNd, Theron. ANd his birD. RIGhT HERE. So now |’m goinG to sPilL every oUnCe of yOur bLoOd onTo tHe ﬂoOr in his honor.

|'lL adMit yOu're toUgHer tHan | exPecTed.

MaYbe we sHoUlD sTop ﬁgHtinG anD make oUt some more, huh?

HnNnGh!

OucH.

YoU BAStARd!

That’s GrOSs. AnD RUDE. YoU ruined my PERfECt human face.

MaYbe we neEd some time aparT. |’lL seE yOu aroUnD, EverLy. It’s beEn fun.

WhY are yOu avoidinG me, Ev?

JeAnNiE… can we not do tHis rigHt now?

Oh, is it not a CONvENIeNt time for yOu? ShoUlD | come bacK LATER?

AcTuAlLy, YeAH. Later woUlD be GrEaT.

What tHe HELl’S goinG on, Ev?

NotHinG. Is it tHat weirD LADY yOu’re alWaYs hanGinG oUt witH? KATINA wHatever?

Then TELl me wHy yOu keEp AVOIDINg me! YoU dodGe me at ScHOoL, yOu won’t anSwer my CALlS for weEkS! WhY?

What? Do yOu like her BETtER tHan me? NO!

BecaUse | don’t wanT yOu to DIe! OkaY?

Huh? |’m not gonNa DIe.

Yes, yOu WILl. If yOu keEp hanGinG aroUnD ME.

Ev, yOu dumMy…

We alMosT KILlED eAcH otHer at my coUsin’s parTy! | alMosT kilLed YoU. AnD if tHe onLy waY to keEp yOu SAFE is to keEp yOu AWAy fRom me…tHen | wilL.

Oh yEah.

|’m in tHis WITh yOu. TilL tHe enD, wHatever tHat is. YoU’re my BESt FrIeNd. There’s no getTinG rid of me.

|’m sorRy, JeAnNiE…

| pRomise tHe NEXt time yOu calL, | won’t GhOSt yOu again.

But | don’t have a PhONE anymore.

Demon-me bRoke it in tWo at XocHi’s parTy.

Hahaha…

Now let’s seE wHat my weirD coUsin anD her fRiEnD are inTo…

FinalLy got tHis P.O.S. olD pHone worKinG again.

What tHe HELl?

A teEnage BOy?! Hahaha.

| felT so StUPID. |’d barely MET Philo, anD he inVited me to a danCe, helD my hanD, kisSed me. Of COuRsE he was a demon.

Don't laUgH. He was cute.

No, | am jusT SURpRISED! YeArS | sPenT kilLinG tHat sHape-sHifTinG VlÁKAS, anD he never ONcE apPeAred atTracTive to ME!

Do not punCh yOurSelF up over it. TheY are DEMONs. TheY are liArS by desigN.

He did onCe come to me as a GrIZzLY BEaR, tHoUgH. HmMm…perHapS tHat saYs sometHinG of my tasTe in men.

Is Philo tHe onLy one wHo can…cHanGe like tHat?

ExCelLenT

quEsTiOn! AnD wHo kNowS? He is tHe onLy one | ever saw do it…

…but | woUlD not tRusT ANY of tHem for ONE seconD. Even tHe ones wHo migHt seEm not so horRibLe.

| neEd to get bacK.

Tóso norís? YoU unDerStanD tHat yOu wilL NOT get betTer if we tRain like tHis onLy onCe or tWice eAcH monTh?

| kNow. SorRy. |’ve got a sChoOl tRip tomorRow.

SpeAkinG of tRipS, yOu maY neEd to tRavel to Italía soOn.

| beliEve tHe remaininG demonS maY soOn be conVerGinG tHere. TheY tenD to retReAt anD regRoUp as tHeir numBerS dWinDle.

ITALY? Why?

YoU canNot let tHem hide oUt tHere anD…RUN OuT ThE ClOCk? Is tHis tHe saYinG?

FolLow tHem tHere anD comPlete yOur tasK--tHe one | coUlD not comPlete myselF.

My sChoOl’s ITALIaN ClUB is goinG later tHis yEar. But | gotTa run now. ThanKs again!

MrS. ReYes decided tHat for oUr fResHman ﬁelD tRip, we sHoUlD go to MoAninG CaverNs, CaliforNiA. ApParenTly, it’s one of tHe bigGesT, deEpesT caves in tHe coUnTry.

|’m sure NOThINg wilL go wRonG, tRapPinG me anD my cLasS in an unDerGroUnD cave wHile EIGhT DEMONs are tRacKinG me.

NotHinG at alL.

The demonS have surPrisinGly gone quiEt, ever sinCe tHat JERk Philo tRiEd to kilL me at sChoOl. Are tHeY waitinG on ME to go ﬁnD ThEM?

The more demonS | meEt, tHe more it feElS like we’re alL jusT sTucK in a loOp, witHoUt eitHer side REaLlY unDerStanDinG exacTly wHat we’re supPosed to be--

A SIX-HOuR bus dRive jusT to seE some HOLE in tHe gRoUnD? What sorT of educatiOnal purPose can tHis tRip POSsIBlY serVe?

SciEnCe, | tHinK? Like rocKs anD sTufF?

OMg, tHis is so BORINg!

PrETtY sure tHeY have rocKs bacK home.

YeAh, but | bet tHese are, like, REaLlY goOd rocKs.

Hahahaha…

ReAl S-TIeR rocKs, huh?

So…yOu’ve beEn pRetTy QUIeT

tHis wHole tRip. EverytHinG coOl?

We don’t NEeD to talK alL tHe time, Tamara. Sometimes silenCe is FINE.

YoU kNow it! OnLy tHe FINESt for tHe sTudenTs of SanTa Teresa Academy!

No, yEah, | AGrEe. YoU jusT seEm kinD of…INtENsE todaY.

|’m ALwAyS inTenSe. It’s a comMon tRait amonG higH-perForMinG inDividuAlS.

RigHt. Of coUrSe.

FrEeDOM!

Ow, my butT is sore. SticK togetHer, cHilDren! No wanDerinG. EveryOne heAd sTraigHt to tHe visitorS cenTer.

WelL, HELlO tHere! WelCome to MOaNINg CAVERnS, cLasS of…

MrS. DeEzNutS.

JACOB! It’s MrS. REyES, acTuAlLy. AnD we’re VERY exCited to be here. Aren’t we, sTudenTs?

This visitorS cenTer was builT in 2010, but tHe caverNs below were disCovered by golD minerS in 1851. PeOpLe have beEn exPlorinG tHese caves ever sinCe.

Any peOpLe ever falL to tHeir deAtH?

Oh, yEs. MANY.

FANtAStIC! WelL, let’s heAd on inSide anD | can teAcH yOu alL aboUt tHe AMAZINg hisTory of tHese caverNs, ’kaY?

COoL!

WhicH is WhY we asK eAcH sTudenT to weAr a HELmET anD GlOVES for tHe enTirety of yOur unDerGroUnD adVenTure. MrS. ReYes, coUlD yOu helP me?

ThinK we’lL seE any deAd sKeletonS dowN tHere?

EveryOne, pLeAse take ONE helMet anD TwO gLoves! YoU wilL NOT be alLowed dowN inTo tHe caves witHoUt tHe pRoper geAr.

Aren’t ALl sKeletonS deAd? |’m more worRiEd aboUt bumPinG inTo a yOu-kNow-wHat.

PleAse folLow me. Take careful sTepS, anD HOLd on to tHe railS.

The original enTranCe is a 165-foOt dRop StRAIGhT to tHe botTom of tHe caverN. But becaUse we don’t wanT anyOne here adDinG to tHe BONE PILE, we’lL be takinG tHe StAIRs todaY.

if any of yOu are feElinG ILl or not up to exPlorinG, yOu can sTaY up here witH me. {SigH}

There’s no waY tHat’s acTuAlLy a tHinG.

The toUr guide SAID it!

C’mon, Ev! | wanNa seE tHe BONE PILE!

This sPiral sTairCase is over 100 feEt talL anD was builT in 1922 usinG recycLed sCrap metal fRom a WorLd War | sHip.

SinGle ﬁle, pLeAse. WatCh yOur sTep.

YoU reAlLy tHinK one of ThEM woUlD tRy to atTacK yOu dowN here?

It’d be a gReAt pLace to do it, rigHt?

WilL it holD us alL witHoUt colLapSinG?

DepenDs…how mucH do yOu weigH? Haha! That’s a joke. This sTairCase has beEn in operatiOn for over a CENtURY. YoU’lL be ﬁne.

MaYbe tHe demonS FORgOT aboUt yOu.

Exit carefulLy. EveryOne, pLeAse wait here unTil we’re alL oUt of tHe sTairCase--don’t wanDer ofF.

| WISh. Every time | tHinK tHat, one of tHem sHowS up to tRy anD StAB me in tHe sTomacH.

DAMmIT… | hate beinG rigHt.

We gotTa get oUt of here.

FeElinG cLaUsTropHobic?

No, my cRosS is GlOWINg. Oh, danG! DEMONs.

C’mon, let’s ducK inTo some otHer caverN wHile tHe guide’s sTilL coUnTinG kidS. BetTer to be FAR awaY fRom tHe cLasS wHen tHat demon ﬁnDs us.

Slow anD sTeAdy. HolD on to tHe rail. Be careful cominG dowN.

SoUnDs like a pLan!

HmMm.

This waY. FolLow me. | can’t seE ANYThINg.

Oh, rigHt. The gLow’s inVisibLe to yOu. That sucKs. WelL, folLow my VOICE, tHen.

HeY, is tHat a ligHt aheAd?

ShOuLdN’T be.

AnotHer toUr gRoUp, maYbe?

Who are yOu?

YoU musT REaLlY tHinK |’m sTupid, huh?

My name is Omiros. | am one of tHe 13 demonS yOu’re ﬁgHtinG. But | wilL not harM yOu, EverLy.

Huh. It’s emPty.

No. It’s NOT. Get behinD me, JeAnNiE!

SomeOne tHinKs yOu’re sTupid?

| unDerStanD yOur apPrehenSiOn. The otHer demonS aren’t parTicularLy TrUStWORtHY.

But | can asSure yOu tHat | have no inTenTiOn of harMinG yOu, nor any meAnS by wHicH to do so.

YeAh, welL… FORgIVE me if | don’t imMediAtely BELIeVE yOu. There’s beEn a bunCh of yOu guYs tRyinG to KILl me over tHe pasT yEar.

| am aware.

PleAse come in. We neEd to talK.

AnD |’ve KILlED alL of tHem. JusT so yOu kNow.

Yes, yOu have. |’ve beEn folLowinG yOur pRogResS for several monThS.

So if yOu’re a DEMON, wHy aren’t yOu ATtACkINg me rigHt now? YoU kNow tHe deAl.

What’s it saYinG?

ShHhH!

| do, regRetTabLy. | was tHere wHen it was sTrucK. But | feAr YoU migHt not unDerStanD tHe fulL conTexT of yOur situAtiOn. PleAse alLow me to exPlain…

“Before tHe EarTh’s cReAtiOn, Lucifer rebelLed againSt God. The coUp failed, anD tHose of us anGelS wHo foUgHt by Lucifer’s side were casT oUt of HeAven.”

“| alReAdy KnOW tHis sTory.”

“Of coUrSe. But yOu maY NOT have heArD wHat hapPened nexT.”

“AFtER God cReAted tHe EarTh, afTer he senT His son to diE for yOur sinS, 13 of us rose up againSt God onCe again. But ratHer tHan sTorM tHe gates of HeAven tHis time, we decided to wReAk havoc on tHis, His favorite pLanet. We were JEaLOuS of His love for manKinD, so we soUgHt to HURt Him by corRupTinG yOu humanS.”

WitH Satan? | meAn, Lucifer?

No. ConTrary to popular beliEf, Lucifer leArNed tHe erRor of his waYs. HeAven anD HelL have beEn in equilibRiUm ever sinCe. But tHe acTiOnS of me anD my 12 sibLinGs jeOparDized tHat…

“AnD so God anD Lucifer devised a pLan to CONtROL us. One devoUt warRiOr, pure of heArT anD faitH, woUlD be cHosen to batTle tHe 13 demonS anD given tHe weAponS anD sTrenGtH of God HimSelF to do so.”

But…it was a liE.

What do yOu meAn, LIe? Who liEd?

What’s hapPeninG?

|’m sorRy, EverLy, but yOu were never MEaNt to kilL alL 13 demonS. Nor were any of yOur pRedecesSorS. YoU are a SACrIFICE, meAnT onLy to minimize tHe damage we do on EarTh unTil tHe daY yOu are evenTuAlLy KILlED.

YoU’re LYINg! |’m savinG tHe WORlD! |’m not jusT a… FatHer SerRano woUlDn’t WAStE my life like tHat!

No… tH-tHat’s not…

“AlThoUgH…maYbe he TrIeD to?”

| kNow tHis musT be harD for yOu to heAr. Lucifer anD God kNew tHeY coUlDn’t tRuly CONtROL us. But tHeY coUlD perHapS DIStRACt us by apPoinTinG one holy warRiOr to dRaw oUr atTenTiOn. One wHo ﬁgHtS us, anD wHo we ﬁgHt, kilLinG eAcH otHer for tHe resT of eterNity.

PerHapS not, IF tHe decisiOn had beEn his. But it wasN’t, was it? YoU toOk over for SerRano by ACcIDENt. AnD in his WEaKENED conDitiOn afTer batTlinG Deimos, he woUlDn’t have beEn abLe to resume his dutiEs.

YoU’d be surPrised wHat men wilL do…for tHeir God.

No, | don’t BELIeVE yOu. He did wHat he coUlD, EverLy…

…given tHe situAtiOn. He TrAINED yOu to surVive, for as lonG as posSibLe.

AHhH! OkaY, yOu gotTa WARn me, dude.

So it’s alL B.S., tHen. AnD |’m jusT supPosed to FIGhT yOu demonS unTil | get KILlED. Then some otHer IDIoT getS tRicKed inTo takinG over?

| unDerStanD. AnD |’m not goinG to kilL yOu, Omiros. That is yOur cHoice.

We are BAD, even for demonS. It’s one of tHe reAsonS | lefT oUr ﬂocK.

AnD wHy | now ofFer GUIDANcE to eAcH new demon kilLer, wHen tHeY are wilLinG to receive it.

EsSenTiAlLy. | am sorRy, EverLy.

Not YeT. For now, yOu’re more useful to me alive.

But BETrAy me anD | won’t HESITATE to ShATtER yOur sTupid cRysTal anD senD yOu bacK to HELl! UNdERsTANd? | do.

WhAT’S HAPpENINg?

| HAVE NO IDEa!

The relic was DEStROyED.

AnD so God has senT yOu a REPlACEMENt.

Is tHat a gLove?

WhoA…

It ﬁtS.

There…MAy be a waY to bReAk tHis cycLe, WIThOuT yOu dyinG.

Of coUrSe. BecaUse it is yOurS.

But…tHeY DO. The demonS are alL total JERkS. ExCepT for yOu, maYbe.

How?

There is ONE more tHinG yOu sHoUlD kNow, EverLy. FatHer SerRano WAS a goOd man. | kNew him welL, betTer tHan any demon kilLer wHo came before him.

By conVinCinG God anD Lucifer tHat tHeY no lonGer NEeD to conTrol tHe 13 demonS.

WelL… it was jusT a ThEoRY SerRano anD | had. UnForTunately, he diEd before we coUlD exPlore tHe ideA furTher.

GoOdByE, EverLy EsPada. GoOdByE, Omiros. | hope | never have to seE yOu again.

OkaY, | have NO ideA wHat jusT hapPened. YoU sure tHere’s no waY for ME to seE tHe demonS, toO?

Not unLesS yOu wanNa take over for me. HarD pasS. My motHer woUlD KILl me before tHe DEMONs even had a cHanCe to.

EverLy anD JeAnNiE! Are yOu tWo OKAy? Where on EaRtH did yOu wanDer ofF to?

We, uh… got losT?

LoOkS like tHe cLasS is gone.

ThinK we’re in tRoUbLe?

OH YeAH.

LOTs of caves dowN tHere, MrS. ReYes. FasCinatinG sTufF, tHoUgH! We leArNed a BUNcH.

EveryOne bacK onTo tHe bus. C’mon, let’s go.

| don’t kNow if wHat Omiros said was tRuE.

SorRy to cut tHinGs sHorT, kidS! It’s not every daY tHere’s an EaRtHqUaKE. But wHen tHere is, yOu do NOT wanT to be dowN ThERE.

Or wHat FatHer SerRano said, for tHat matTer. Or Katina, or anyOne elSe. |’m not sure | beliEve ANYoNE… …exCepT tHis NOISE MAChINE sitTinG nexT to me.

The BibLe is FULl of unFair sacRiﬁces. MaYbe SerRano anD me anD alL tHe pReviOus demon kilLerS WERE jusT a disTracTiOn for a bunCh of bRatTy demonS, to minimize tHe damage tHeY coUlD do on EarTh.

But | DO kNow tHat NO ONE conTrolS my life exCepT ME.

AnD |’m goinG to LIVE.

AnD even if GOD anD tHe DEVIL anD everyOne elSe exPecTs me to DIe in tHe name of some sPirituAl hoAx, wHat | do nexT is MY decisiOn.

DidN’t like ThAT, did yOu?

Now let’s seE wHat yOu’re MADE of!

It’s not like | have ScHOoL todaY! It’s not like | have a TESt in SociAl StudiEs!

WELl? Are we doinG tHis?

Where are yOu goinG? Get bacK here!

HmMm…

GOTcHA!

HeY! Stop tHrowinG my COLlECtIBlES!

Those migHt be worTh sometHinG one daY!

DamMit, | sHoUlD’ve seEn tHat cominG…

HolD sTilL. Stop bitinG me, jerK.

GOT YoU!

WelL, ONE of yOu.

What a MESs. | sWeAr, yOu demonS are more ANnOyINg tHan deAdLy.

WelCome to yOur new HOME. Can | tRusT yOu to StAy here wHile |’m at sChoOl? ProlLy not, huh?

| can’t deAl witH tHis rigHt now. | neEd cofFeE. StaY put, |’lL be bacK to do…SOMEThINg witH yOu.

ExCuse me, | neEd to get dResSed for sChoOl! Be rigHt bacK!

¡Mija! What did yOu do to yOur HAIR?

JusT…tRyinG… sometHinG NEW, | guEsS. Hehe.

BuEnos días, Mamá, Papá.

Oh.

YoU litTle BAStARdS…

If wHat Omiros said was tHe tRutH, if he wasN’t lyinG…

…tHen tHe onLy waY for me to not DIe is to asK GOD to bReAk tHe cycLe. But how tHe HELl do | meEt GOD? | can’t jusT--

YoU’re sTarinG at my HAIR. Fine, go aheAd anD saY it.

OMIGOSh, | love it SO MUCh!

Do yOu tHinK | coUlD pulL ofF a loOk like tHat?

A pair of DEMONs cHopPed up anD dyEd my hair as | SlEPt, JeAnNiE. This wasN’t a sTyle cHoice.

No, yEah, | kNow. But sTilL, it loOkS so GOoD on yOu!

RUDE! |’m pRetTy sure tHat was an INtENtIoNAL colLisiOn.

WatCh it, loserS!

Let it go. | can’t deAl witH tHem rigHt now. WeirD sChoOl bulLiEs are, like, SEVENtH on my anXiEty lisT rigHt now.

SorRy. What were yOu saYinG aboUt tHat cave demon guY?

AlL rigHt, kidS. That’s enoUgH. EveryOne hit tHe locKerS.

Omiros. He said | coUlD asK God to canCel tHis wHole tHinG.

Or tHe Devil. RigHt. But how do | meEt up witH EIThER of tHem witHoUt, like, DYINg ﬁrSt? | meAn, WE’RE on EarTh anD tHeY’re NOT, rigHt?

Not yOu, EsPada! Two more lapS. GotTa get SOME exerCise.

WhAT? That’s not fair! HalF tHe otHer kidS didN’t run!

YeAh, inCludinG ME!

Not up for disCusSiOn, ladiEs. LET’S GO!

SorRy! Let’s talK more at lunCh.

YeAh, okaY…

alL by myselF. awesome.

|’m gonNa be late, anD |’m gonNa fail my sociAl sTudiEs exam, alL becaUse | didN’t run enoUgH.

wHat doEs runNinG aroUnD a tRacK have to do witH oUr educatiOn anywaY?

| get enoUgH exerCise cHasinG sTupid demonS aroUnD my bedRoOm. demonS tHat ruin my hair anD make me loOk like some tRasH, emo-banD-lovinG…

|’m gonNa beAt yOur asS now. conSider it exTra cRedit for gym cLasS.

heY, ev.

pSycHo?

afTer yOu sucKer-punChed me in tHe halLwaY?

get awaY fRom me, yOu pSycHo!

it’s not a sucKer punCh wHen yOu’re facinG me, idiOt! tHat’s jusT bad reﬂexes.

yOu tHinK yOu’re so sMarT, ev. but yOu’re jusT a sMarT-asS. nobody likes yOu!

yEah? welL, yOu’re tHe one wHo won’t leAve me alone! wHat’s yOur deAl, jacemyn?

if | didN’t kNow betTer, |’d sWeAr yOu had some kinDa cRusH on me!

wHat tHe helL jusT hapPened?

| so failed my sociAl sTudiEs tesT.

anD tHe facT tHat |’m tHinKinG aboUt tHat rigHt now, inSteAd of tHe demonS tHat inVaded my hoUse, or my mesSed-up hair, or jacemyn, or how to meEt god, jusT sHowS how mesSed up | am.

mija, how was sChoOl?

hola, familiA.

maYbe in a bit, papá. jusT neEd to liE dowN for a seconD.

ﬁne. very, very, very norMal.

yOu don’t get to picK tHe moviE, tHoUgH. it’s my turN!

| neEd tHis daY to enD.

isa, cHitón! be nice to yOur herMana.

it’s moviE nigHt anD yOur mamá jusT burNed some popCorN for us.

tan cómico. it’s onLy a litTle burNed. are yOu joininG us?

how coUlD tHis daY get any worSe?

welL, tHere yOu go. cRap.

| kNow yOu’re sTilL in here! migHt as welL sHow yOurSelF. my roOm’s waY toO sMalL to hide in. did yOu acTuAlLy tHinK tHat woUlD worK?

c’mere! heY!

oUcH! sTop bitinG me! let go of my hair!

get awaY fRom tHat!

anD | was ﬁnalLy getTinG goOd, toO…

get ofF my heAd! now!

|’m so sicK of yOu idiOtas! time to be done witH yOu.

huh? wHere’s tHe cRysTal? how can yOu even have a cRysTal wHen tHere’s, like…foUr of yOu now?

no, wait! don’t go dowN tHere! it’s moviE nigHt!

wHere are yOu hidinG?

alL rigHt. wHere did yOu go?

oh helL.

we’re sTarTinG, mija! be rigHt tHere, mamá!

wHere did tHeY leArN to tHrow kNives?

mija, wHat are yOu doinG in tHere? we’re sTarTinG tHe moviE.

jusT…gRabBinG some oranGes, mamá!

wait, wHat am | doinG? no cutTinG, ev! |’ve alReAdy got enoUgH of tHese tHinGs to deAl witH.

get dowN fRom tHere!

not like tHat! oUcH! sTop sCratChinG me!

cHilL oUt!

gotCha!

heY, sTaY in my bacKpacK! | alReAdy caUgHt yOu tWo!

sorRy. tHat was awFul. jusT becaUse |’m a demon kilLer, tHat’s no exCuse for bad punS.

| can’t beliEve tHat worKed. |’m gonNa be sicK, tHoUgH.

ow! get ofF my heAd! wHy do yOu alWaYs go sTraigHt for tHe heAd?

okaY, big guY. wHere are yOu? come on oUt.

wHy doEsN’t anyOne do tHe disHes? wait, was it my turN?

oh, |’m sorRy, did tHat hurT? welL, tHen sTop cLimBinG on peOpLe!

wHat tHe…

did yOu jusT sTab me witH a dirTy forK?

tHat coUlD get inFecTed!

tHat was yOur faUlT. everyOne kNowS yOu can’t put forKs in a toAsTer.

tHreE, foUr…tHat’s alL of yOu, rigHt? god, | hope so.

let’s pRaY tHis worKs, ’caUse | am comPletely oUt of ideAs. anD kitChen apPliAnCes.

how lonG do yOu micRowave demonS for? let’s tRy 30 seconDs.

mija, wHat’s tHat sMelL?

sorRy, mamá…| burNed my popCorN.

seE? it’s not so eAsy, ¡tonTo!

sí, mi corazón.

ewW, disGusTinG. sMelLs like burNt vomit.

tWo cRysTalS? | guEsS tHat kinDa makes senSe. alSo, | can’t beliEve tHat acTuAlLy worKed.

|’m so hapPy to have todos mis amados togetHer.

wHat’s wRonG witH yOur arM, mija?

love yOu, mamá.

aAaAaAh, my arM!

sorRy, wHat’d | misS?

we’re not rewinDinG it for yOu.

no one asKed yOu to, gRemLin.

don’t telL yOur motHer, but | tHinK yOur hair loOkS very coOl. ¡muY esTilero!

uh, notHinG! jusT a pinChed nerVe. alReAdy feElinG betTer, hehe…

sHe’s acTinG weirD again… tHanKs, papá.

so here we are now, bacK wHere my sTory sTarTed. seE? | tolD yOu we’d get bacK here evenTuAlLy.

witH me ﬁgHtinG a gRosS fRog-loOkinG demon, wHo’s apParenTly named zosimos. | kNow tHis becaUse he won’t sTop saYinG it.

sTilL, it’s nice to have tHe comPany. (MAY)

zosimos will destroy you!

bacK ofF, fRog face!

ewWwW, | can tasTe it…

anD tHere’s jeAnNiE, tRyinG to helP me oUt, but witHoUt mucH sucCesS. in her defenSe, tHere’s not mucH yOu can do otHer tHan get in tHe waY wHen yOu can’t seE or heAr tHe demonS yOurSelF.

gRosS, wHy is yOur tonGuE so lonG?

how lonG is itS tonGuE?

welL it’s sHorTer now!

obnoxious human girl, why do you put up such a fuss?

as opPosed to jusT letTinG yOu eAt me? is tHat not obViOus? | don’t wanNa be eAten! gRrRr…

your sinewy limbs won’t provide much of a meal. but perhaps combined with your companion over there…

what just struck zosimos? something small and fast!

did | hit it? xocHi?

don’t move, ev. sTaY exacTly wHere yOu are.

| can seE it! holy cRap, | can seE tHe demon! hahaha!

it’s calLed a gun, dumBasS. now hurRy up anD diE!

xocHi? wHat are yOu doinG here? foul tricks!

let’s be honesT, ev, yOu were a pisS-poOr cHoice for a demon kilLer. yOu’re weAk anD sCared. it sHoUlD’ve beEn me.

it’s gone… anD yoU’re ofF tHe hoOk.

ahHhHhH! damN, tHat hurTs! so mucH worSe tHan tHe boOk made it soUnD!

wHat yOu coUlDn’t, ev.

enJoY getTinG yOur life bacK!

wHat jusT hapPened?

xocHi… wHat did yOu jusT do?

| tHinK my coUsin jusT sTole my job.

|’m takinG over. |’m tHe demon kilLer now.

it’s so quiEt.

nobody’s tRyinG to kilL me now. nobody’s bReAkinG my winDowS or cutTinG up my hair wHile |’m asLeEp.

no more numBerS. wHat was it lasT, six? so it’d be…ﬁve now, afTer tHat fRog guY. rigHt?

not tHat it matTerS anymore.

oh welL. inTo tHe cLoset now, jusT like alL my otHer abanDoned hobBiEs.

guEsS | don’t neEd yOu anymore. anD jusT wHen | was getTinG pRetTy goOd witH yOu, toO.

| never even got to tRy alL tHese tHinGs. woUlD tHeY sTilL worK for me now? or do tHeY onLy serVe tHe curRenT demon kilLer?

mija, ¡apúrate! yOu don’t wanT to be late for sChoOl.

yEs, mamá did yOu sLeEp welL?

yEs, acTuAlLy. for onCe.

tHat’s goOd. here is a sPeciAl bReAkFasT for yOu.

so, wHat doEs tHis meAn, exacTly?

tHat xocHi is tHe demon kilLer now, anD |’m not.

anD tHat’s a goOd tHinG, rigHt? isN’t tHat wHat yOu wanTed?

| guEsS so. maYbe. | dunNo.

welL, if | had to picK betWeEn beinG cHased anD posSibLy kilLed by demonS or not, |’d picK not. but maYbe tHat’s jusT me.

no, yEah, yOu’re rigHt. tHis was my oUt. | jusT feEl--

jerK alerT. let’s cRosS at tHe otHer ligHt.

jacemyn, we neEd to talK. aboUt wHat ha--

tHat wenT as welL as exPecTed. at leAsT tHeY didN’t emPty yOur bacKpacK tHis time.

seriOusLy, wHat is jacemyn’s deAl?

yEah…

no, it’s ﬁne. sTaY here.

oUt of my waY, fReAk!

jeAnNiE’s rigHt. | sHoUlD be celebRatinG.

…sTilL a few sLotS availabLe for sTudenTs wHo woUlD like to join oUr cLub.

| got rid of my curSe anD | didN’t have to diE or tRicK someOne elSe inTo takinG it fRom me. my life is norMal again.

we’lL be sPenDinG a weEk tRavelinG acRosS beAutiful italy, fRom roma to milan! cHe emoziOne!

make sure yOu have yOur sigNed perMisSiOn sLip anD yOur comPleted medical quEsTiOnNaire. yOu canNot go on tHe tRip witHoUt tHese tHinGs!

tHis is sTupid. wHy do | feEl so bad?

fatHer serRano liEd to me. at leAsT acCorDinG to tHat demon omiros, | was never even supPosed to kilL alL 13 demonS.

| was god’s jinGlinG keYs to disTracT tHe demonS fRom beinG…worSe, | guEsS? anD serRano was wilLinG to diE for tHat liE. he was wilLinG to let me diE for it.

| didN’t ChOoSE to be a demon kilLer. | had no IDEa wHat | was getTinG inTo.

so tHis is my do-over, rigHt? tHis is me getTinG my life bacK. anD xocHi did cHoOse…even tHoUgH |’m pRetTy sure sHe’s gonNa regRet it later.

how did xocHi kNow aboUt tHe demonS, anywaY? sHe’s sMarT, but it’s not like jeAnNiE or | tolD anyOne. anD onLy we have tHe boOk, exCepT…

…exCepT for jeAnNiE’s pHone, wHicH sHe lefT at xocHi’s hoUse! sHe musT’ve ﬁxed it anD seEn tHe pHotos. like | said, xocHi’s sMarT.

| feEl like | sHoUlD helP xocHi somehow. telL her everytHinG |’ve leArNed in tHe pasT nine monThS. but wHat have | even leArNed? exCepT how to alMosT get kilLed repeAtedLy.

| wonDer if |’lL ever seE katina again. or is sHe done witH me now tHat |’m not sPeciAl anymore?

sHe’s pRobabLy tapPinG on xocHi’s bedRoOm winDow now.

maYbe tHis is alL a sigN tHat | neEd sometHinG more in my life. am | acTuAlLy sad tHat | don’t have to kilL demonS anymore? how mesSed up is tHat?

exXxacTly.

heY, yOu wanNa join italiAn cLub witH me? tHat tRip soUnDs sicK!

tHere sHe is!

here | am! yOu seEm hapPiEr.

oh yEah. | was pLanNinG to. katina said tHe demonS migHt be meEtinG up tHere soOn. but…tHere’s no poinT goinG now.

wHy sHoUlDn’t | be? | got my life bacK!

| never cHose to be a demon kilLer, so it’s goOd to ﬁnalLy be rid of it.

wHat are yOu talKinG aboUt?

not havinG to deAl witH demonS is tHe besT reAson to go!

yEah. maYbe. |’lL tHinK aboUt it. seE yA tomorRow!

later!

hola, mamá.

hola, mija. ¿cómo te fuE en la esCuEla?

it was ﬁne. |’m goinG to my roOm now.

sTilL got a few of tHese coinS lefT.

maYbe | can use tHem nexT 4tH of july.

| wanT to keEp yOu. | feEl like yOu’re mine. but yOu’re not mine anymore. none of tHese tHinGs are.

¡mamá! wHat’s tía sofía’s pHone numBer?

esPera. | get it for yOu.

xocHi! it’s ev, yOur coUsin. how are yOu doinG?

…ﬁne.

| meAn, witH tHe…demonS. yOu’re obViOusLy not deAd yEt, wHicH is a goOd sigN, heh.

never even got to tRy yOu oUt. wHat do yOu do, big metal gLove?

uh, helLo? is xocHi home?

sPeAkinG. wHo’s tHis?

yOu neEd to get over it, ev. tHis doEsN’t inVolVe yOu anymore.

don’t calL me again.

okaY, but | sTilL have tHe--!

mija, come sit witH me.

|’m doinG gReAt. alReAdy kilLed tWo more demonS. | was borN for tHis.

sí, mamá. acurRúcate con tu mamá.

¿qué pasó, nena?

| jusT…feEl sad, mamá. anD | sHoUlDn’t, anD | feEl sTupid to be cRyinG over notHinG.

| forGot--| neEd to dRop sometHinG ofF at a fRiEnD’s.

yOur papá wilL be home fRom worK soOn. do yOu wanT him to dRive yOu?

mija, wHy are yOu cRyinG? ¿qué ocurRe?

|…| dunNo, mamá.

It’s NOT sTupid, mija. BeinG a yOunG woman is HARd. When we CrY, we wasH awaY wHo we USED to be to make roOm for wHo we ARE. ¿Me enTiEnDes?

come here, | hug alL tHe sad oUt of yOu!

haha, okaY, okaY. not so tigHt.

sí, mamá.

no, it’s not far. |’lL bike it.

tHeY’re not mine. anD xocHi wilL neEd alL tHe helP sHe can get.

geEz, | sHoUlD’ve calLed a ridesHare. can’t even rememBer tHe lasT time | rode tHis tHinG. are tHe geArS set wRonG? wHy is pedalinG so harD?

¡hola, tía sofía!

everLy! sobRina, wHat are yOu doinG here so late?

| have sometHinG for xocHi. is sHe home? sHe’s dowN tHe sTreEt at tHe parK.

do yOu wanT a ride? |’m goOd, tHanKs! adiós!

tHanK god.

it’s getTinG late. hope sHe’s home.

xocHi! heY!

wH-wHat are yOu doinG?!

ugH… wHy are yOu here, ev?

| neEd to give tHis to yOu. it’s alL tHe relicS--weAponS, basicalLy--tHat | colLecTed wHen | was ﬁgHtinG demonS. tHeY migHt be useful.

tHis is my boYfRiEnD. isN’t he hot? his name’s--

wHy woUlD | neEd any of tHat anCiEnT cRap? |’ve got my dad’s gun. alL yOu neEd to do is sHatTer tHe cRysTal, anD bulLetS are a helLuva lot fasTer tHan some janKy olD kNife or wHatever.

welL, it’s not mine anymore. take it home or leAve it here, | don’t care.

“pHilo.” xocHi, yOu neEd to run! get oUt of here now!

pisS ofF, ev. yOu neEd to get oUt of here. yOu’re jusT sad yOu losT tHe one tHinG in yOur life tHat had any meAninG, anD yOu can’t acCepT tHat | migHt acTuAlLy be betTer at--

| can’t seE wHere he is!

oh god, jusT hanG on!

damMit, pHilo, let her go! pLeAse!

|’m sorRy, xocHi, | can’t seE him! wHat can | do?

got it! yOu alWaYs were sMarT, xocHi.

| got him, xocHi! sTaY tHere!

leAve her

{gasP!}

yOu piEce of cRap!

sTaY awaY fRom my coUsin!

heY, ev. | kNew yOu weren’t over me.

|’lL be seEinG y--

wHat tHe helL hapPened?

his name’s pHilo. he’s a demon. jusT hapPenS to be a very cute demon.

anD yOu’re rigHt, xocHi. | am weAk. anD sCared. but |’m getTinG sTronGer. anD bRaver. anD | neEd to seE wHere tHis joUrNeY takes me.

becaUse | won’t let yOu sTeAl it fRom me. or let someOne elSe forCe it on me. tHis time, it’s my decisiOn.

anD |’ve decided to kilL every lasT demon.

| feEl like a bus hit me. tRy doinG it for alMosT a yEar. yOu sHoUlD seE tHe cutS anD bRuises |’ve gotTen.

tHis feElS rigHt. terRifyinG, but rigHt.

|’m…sorRy for beinG sucH a cabRona to yOu, ev.

wait, foUr? haha! xocHi, yOu damN liAr. yOu didN’t kilL any more demonS.

seE yA! goOd lucK.

it’s ﬁne. we’re bLoOd. anD yOu helPed me decide tHinGs on my terMs. byE, cuz!

more for me, | guEsS…

CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER ELEVEN

(JUNE)

sometHinG telLs me tHe tSa won’t let yOu on tHe pLane. or yOur poinTy fRiEnDs.

| can’t beliEve |’m goinG to italy! | can’t beliEve my parenTs are letTinG me go! afTer pHilo anD xocHi, | neEd a bReAk so bad rigHt now…

okaY, |’m reAdy! anD late! let’s go--c’mon, papá!

| am sumMoned.

let’s go, papá! tHeY abSolutely wilL leAve witHoUt me. |’m not tHat imPorTanT!

¡pRimero el desaYuno!

let’s hope tHe demonS wilL give me tHe weEk ofF. otHerWise, |’lL have to imProvise witH…pasTa forKs or sometHinG.

|’m reAlLy not hunGry, mamá.

are yOu in sucH a rusH to abanDon yOur mamá? never! |’lL misS yOu. but | gotTa go!

byE, mamá. byE, gRemLin. |’lL calL yOu wHen we lanD!

| hate it wHen sHe calLs me gRemLin.

oh, yOu love it. desPídete, isa.

okaY, okaY…

come bacK in one piEce, mija.

pHew!

tHeY didN’t leAve yEt.

yOu were acTuAlLy worRiEd?

ev anD | calL bacK row! make a patH, cominG tHroUgH!

| meAn, witH my lucK? kinDa.

okaY, yOu are alL pacKed up.

heY, mR. esPada!

hola, mS. diAz. yOu’lL watCh oUt for mi niña?

|’m afRaid tHere’s beEn a mix-up, sir. sHe was supPosed to watCh oUt for me.

no pRomises, papá. te quiEro.

| can’t beliEve yOur parenTs acTuAlLy let yOu go. tHeY tRusT me.

| woUlDn’t. hahaha… geE, tHanKs.

so wHat’d yOu bRinG?

pLus tHese.

notHinG sTabBy?

mosTly sNacKs. comicS. a few boOkS. yOu? same.

oh, anD my cRosS, | guEsS. yOu bRinG yOur locKet?

of coUrSe! ever ﬁgure oUt wHat it doEs? no ideA wHatSoEver! yOurS?

nope! otHer tHan gLow or ligHtLy burN demonS.

pRetTy sLow waY to kilL tHem.

but a fasT waY to pisS tHem ofF!

|’lL be lucKy to get tHese tHroUgH cusTomS.

tHis pLace is huge!

okaY, cHilDren, sTaY togetHer!

make sure yOu have alL of yOur bagS.

don’t get losT. | wilL leAve yOu behinD.

|, uh… like hisTory. a lot. uh-huh.

it’s so quiEt…pResenT comPany exCluded.

| sHoUlD be enJoYinG tHis tRip. a weEk in eUrope witH my besT fRiEnD? | deserVe tHis, rigHt?

so wHy am | tHe onLy one awake on tHe pLane rigHt now? sTarinG oUt tHe winDow like some guArD on demon watCh duty.

how lonG is tHe ﬂigHt?

aboUt 14 hoUrS, | tHinK?

|’m gonNa get so mucH reAdinG done!

even if tHe remaininG demonS are conVerGinG in italy, it’s not like tHeY’re gonNa sudDenLy apPeAr in midair oUtSide oUr…

wHat is…

sMoOtH, ev. sCreAm in a pLane fulL of sLeEpinG sTudenTs at tHe inVisibLe demon onLy yOu can seE.

wHat tHe helL can | even…

alSo, seriOusLy, dude? yOu coUlDn’t wait tilL we lanDed before tRyinG to kilL me? tHis is a new low, even for yOu guYs…

cRap!

sMile, fReAk!

tHat worKed…betTer tHan | exPecTed.

wHat’s alL tHat noise? we gonNa diE now?

uh, it’s jusT turBulenCe, | tHinK. no dyinG.

tHis betTer worK, ’caUse | am not aboUt to kicK open tHe emerGenCy doOr midﬂigHt anD…

oh! ewWw. huh.

okeE. yOu betTer get some sLeEp, ev. yOu’re gonNa be exHaUsTed tomorRow. rigHt. sLeEpy time.

| sWeAr, tHese demonS are more hazarDoUs to my menTal welL-beinG tHan to my acTuAl body. | wonDer if tHe pReviOus demon kilLerS had tHis mucH anXiEty over tHeir situAtiOn. maYbe tHat’s jusT a me tHinG.

so wHy can’t | sTop loOkinG aroUnD for a makesHifT sWorD or sHiElD?

|’m exHaUsTed. helL of a waY to sTarT tHis tRip.

tHe demonS aren’t relenTlesS. if anytHinG, tHeY’re anNoYinGly sPoradic.

benVenuti in italiA!

eitHer waY, | neEd to enJoY tHis.

|’m in anotHer coUnTry--a beAutiful coUnTry--witH my besT fRiEnD, anD inCredibLy, no jacemyn or tamara. it’s paradise.

| sHoUlD be abLe to savor tHis pasTa witHoUt beinG reAdy to hurL tHe pLate like a weApon. acTuAlLy, tHis pasTa is amazinG!

if | can’t enJoY life in betWeEn demon batTles, tHen maYbe | sHoUlD pasS tHis ofF to someOne elSe. katina did. maYbe it’s like tHe military, wHere yOu do it for a few yEarS anD tHen yOu’re done.

tHat is how tHe military worKs, rigHt? | don’t tHinK peOpLe sTaY in it forever. unLesS tHeY become a general or sometHinG. | don’t wanNa be a demon-kilLer general.

|’m gLad jeAnNiE’s here witH me. | feEl safer witH her aroUnD. holy cRap, tHis tasTes inCredibLe! wHat makes it gelato anD not ice cReAm? aside fRom us beinG in italy.

relax, ev. | neEd to be pResenT anD sTop tHinKinG aboUt wHat migHt hapPen. if anotHer demon sHowS up, |’lL deAl witH it.

unTil tHen, unLesS tHen, jusT… enJoY tHis. life’s toO sHorT.

esPeciAlLy in my line of worK.

jusT cHilL yOurSelF oUt, everLy.

sorRy, | didN’t meAn to be rude. h-how are yOu?

wHat are yOu doinG here?

tHis is a nice hotel roOm! are yOu ricH, everLy esPada?

oOf, | tHoUgHt yOu woUlD be hapPy to seE me. | have not beEn to italy in yEarS…

| joke. of coUrSe | am here becaUse of demonS. get yOur sHoEs on anD meEt me oUtSide. wait, now?

| kNew it was toO mucH to asK for a norMal vacatiOn… huh?

or yOu coUlD wait here for tHem to tRasH yOur very nice hotel roOm. | woUlD not.

no, tHe sChoOl paYs for mosT of…wHy are yOu here? is anotHer demon aboUt to atTacK?

wHere is yOur sWorD?

tHe big one.

tHe waY wHere?

we toOk a pLane here. yOu…can’t bRinG sWorDs on a pLane.

to kilL a demon. tHe big guY, tHis time. he folLowed yOu here.

welL, yOu sHoUlD alWaYs asSume tHe worSt witH tHem. don’t be a vLáka, ev.

|--| don’t… it meAnS idiOt.

oh.

| bRoUgHt some of tHe sMalLer relicS, tHoUgH. tHe ones | tHoUgHt tHeY woUlDn’t conﬁsCate.

cHáliA… come. we can ﬁgure it oUt on tHe waY tHere.

wHat, do yOu tHinK jusT becaUse yOu toOk a vacatiOn, tHe demonS woUlD as welL?

no. | was hopinG, maYbe? come! hurRy!

goOd, it is sTilL here. cLimB aboArD.

borRowinG a boAt, yEs, if yOu coUlD even calL tHis junK a boAt. get in, before it sinKs.

maYbe we sHoUlD…go bacK anD get jeAnNiE. sHe can helP us.

yOur fRiEnD can do notHinG. sTop sTalLinG anD get in.

pRetTy uselesS asSorTmenT. tHis one is okaY, alThoUgH it wilL not kilL anytHinG. notHinG sHarP in tHere?

| toOk a pLane.

yOu keEp saYinG tHat.

we’re takinG a boAt?

wHat aboUt tHis cRosS?

| bRoUgHt some relicS, in my bacKpacK.

rigHt. wHat did yOu bRinG? let me seE.

alSo uselesS, otHer tHan for pisSinG ofF demonS.

here, take my sWorD.

but… don’t yOu neEd it?

is it mucH farTher?

we are here.

do not dRop my sWorD. | won’t.

for wHat? | am not tHe demon kilLer anymore.

besides, | have seEn yOu ﬁgHt. yOu neEd it more tHan me.

no. do not talK so loUd. lasT tHinG we neEd is him esCapinG again.

how do yOu kNow wHere tHe demon is?

ugH… wHat’s tHat sMelL?

river water. sewage. ratS. deAd tHinGs. cover yOur nose if it botHerS yOu.

tHe more demonS yOu ﬁgHt, tHe more yOu can senSe tHem.

Or maYbe SmELl tHem. We are ClOSE now. Are yOu reAdy?

not even sLigHtLy.

yOu are funNy, ev. yOu wilL do ﬁne.

| saw yOu kicK tHat pumPkin-heAd sinoE’s asS, even afTer takinG a bLow to tHe heAd.

everLy.

|--| don’t…

we are here. do yOu seE him? vasSiliOs?

everLy! is he here or not?

he is. he’s huge. |’m sCared.

do not be. he is more sCared of yOu tHan yOu of him. esPeciAlLy wHen he is alone.

tHis is patHetic, katina. misLeAdinG tHe cHilD like tHis…

his cRysTal is in his tHroAt.

okaY…

wHat’s he meAn?

| canNot heAr him, rememBer? but |’m sure he is lyinG. he alWaYs liEs, tHis one.

tHis is yOur besT cHanCe at kilLinG him, everLy. he wilL not alLow himSelF to be vulNerabLe like tHis again.

foUl witCh…

be agGresSive! yOu are sTronGer anD fasTer tHan him!

keEp yOur forM sTronG! igNore wHat he saYs. or jusT sLice his moUtH ofF.

he wilL tRy to esCape. do not let him!

tiny wRetCh…

seE? he canNot even toUcH yOu!

sHe’s lyInG to yOu, litTle human. sHe alWaYs has beEn.

seE? | tolD yOu, he is a sNeAky one. betTer get up quicKly. w-worKinG on it…

let go! hNnNgH…yOu can’t have it!

lyinG? aboUt wHat?

did | hit him? tHese tHinGs are bRigHter tHan | recalL. | sHoUlD have bRoUgHt my sunGlasSes.

betTer move quicKly. yOu don’t have toO many of tHese tHinGs lefT.

goOd job, ev! now sHatTer his cRysTal so we can go get sometHinG to eAt.

not unTil he telLs me…

…wHat he meAnT by yOu lyinG to me.

ev! wHat’s goinG on? are yOu ﬁgHtinG demonS?

oh, come on!

do not pLaY his games, silLy girL! kilL him alReAdy!

welL?

wHat…did yOu meAn?

hehehe…sTupid human girL. isN’t it obViOus?

jeAnNiE, meEt katina, fRom tHe boOk. sHe’s beEn helPinG me tRain. uh, ev…

…tHere’s no one elSe here.

katina, yOu’re a…

demonS canNot kilL otHer demonS, ilitHiA!

litTle kópanos, did yOu folLow us here? oOf! don’t toUcH her!

|’m okaY! wHat hit me?

yOu coUlD not jusT kilL him, coUlD yOu?

| don’t like beinG liEd to. if yOu wanT him deAd, tHen kilL him yOurSelF!

yOu reAlLy are sTupid, yOu kNow tHat? can’t yOu seE his deAtH beneﬁtS botH of us? how?

becaUse yOu have one lesS demon to ﬁgHt. anD as tHe lonGesT-surVivinG demon, | become tHeir new leAder.

so take my bLade anD ﬁnisH him!

yOu were a demon tHis wHole time, katina! yOu liEd to me. over anD over…

ﬁne. if yOu wilL not kilL vasSiliOs, tHen yOu reAlLy serVe me no purPose anymore.

witH lucK, tHe nexT human wilL be a litTle lesS… …sTubBorN!

don’t yOu dare saY his name…

so did serRano, anD yOu did not comPlain at him.

It coUlD take me MONtHs to locate him again. YoU reAlLy made a MESs of my pLanS, yOu kNow tHat?

toUgH face now, huh? yOu have no weAponS. anD poOr tRaininG. | have my sWorD bacK. wHat wilL yOu do?

oh, seE now?

| tolD yOu he was a sNeAky one!

|’ve sTilL got one tHinG. anD wHat is tHat?

sometHinG to pisS yOu ofF!

yOu kilLed my besT fRiEnD.

pLeAse.

“besT fRiEnD.” yOu woUlD not even anSwer her telepHone calLs.

it loOkS goOd on yOu! yOu’ve got a very pLain face, katina. yOu coUlD beneﬁt fRom a litTle--

disapPoinTinG. | tHoUgHt we coUlD helP one anotHer, human.

| wilL let yOu sufFer a bit more…before | kilL yOu.

adi'o!

My besT fRiEnD is DEaD anD it’s MY faUlT.

So doEs tHis meAn we’re goinG sTeAdy now?

|’ve kNowN JeAnNiE DiAz my wHole life.

Ev…tHere’s no one elSe here.

| NEVER sHoUlD have let her get inVolVed.

She tRusTed me.

| s-saw… tHe sWorD…

…it has notHinG to do witH me.

Whatever sTupid batTle is goinG on betWeEn VasSiliOs anD Katina…

NnNgH… What jusT hapPened?

JeAnNiE… |’m so sorRy…

Like Omiros said, |’m jusT a DIStRACtIoN.

But kNowinG tHat doEsN’t bRinG my fRiEnD bacK.

AnD tHat’s wHat hurTs tHe mosT.

No matTer wHat | do, wHetHer | ﬁnD VasSiliOs…

…wHetHer | kilL Katina, or wHetHer sHe kilLs me…

|’m sTucK.

Never got a cHanCe to tRy YoU oUt. MigHt as welL do it now.

…if | surVive, | go home witHoUt JeAnNiE.

That’s DrAMATIC. What’s up witH tHe ligHt sHow?

What do | telL her parenTs? That sHe jusT wenT MISsINg? |’m a TERrIBlE liAr.

| coUlD LEaVE rigHt now, StAy here in Italy. But tHat woUlD jusT ruin MY family, toO.

It made litTle ﬂaminG orBs? EacH poinTinG in a difFerenT direcTiOn.

Wait…tHere’s sometHinG…INsIDE eAcH of tHese.

KATINA?

This canDle ShOWs ME wHere tHe demonS ARE?!

UgGgH…WhY didN’t | tRy ligHtinG it before NOW? That woUlD’ve beEn SO useful alL yEar!

ThREe lefT, so tHat meAnS TEN demonS deAd so far. Not bad, Ev. AlThoUgH it’s beEn alMosT a yEar sinCe SerRano diEd, so tHeY’re gonNa sTarT cominG bacK. SOoN.

SometHinG telLs me tHis ISn’T a weApon, wHicH is wHat | REaLlY neEded rigHt now.

|’m DEFINITELY gonNa kilL Katina ﬁrSt.

Omiros…

VasSiliOs…

Katina…

BetTer save yOu for later, before yOu melT dowN to notHinG.

But HOW am | gonNa do tHat, exacTly? She’s betTer tHan me in EVERY waY.

Don’t notice me. Nobody dowN here. JusT keEp talKinG.

AnD | don’t even have my SwORd! No WONdER sHe didN’t kNow wHat tHe TsA was. Stupid, lyinG demon…

CrAP! MrS. ReYes, it’s afTer MIDnIGhT. Why aren’t yOu ASlEeP?

Wow, | can’t beliEve tHeY didN’t notice me.

OkaY, let’s seE wHicH waY to Katina…

WisH my NECkLACE gLowed aroUnD her. SerRano DID warN me it wasN’t reliAbLe…

BuOnasera!

Oh, HI! Uh, b-buOnasera to yOu, toO.

|’m jusT… PrAyINg! To my deAd relatives. TheY diEd. Have a nice nigHt!

TheY can’t SEe tHe ﬂaminG orBs, rigHt? | guEsS it doEsN’t matTer.

But… | don’t acTuAlLy NEeD to catCh up to her. BecaUse | kNow wHere sHe’s HEaDED.

LoOkS like Katina ﬁnisHed her pizZa. She’s on tHe move again. She’s so FASt, | won’t be abLe to catCh up to her.

If | can get to VASsILIoS, tHen Katina wilL come to ME. Let’s hope tHis CANdLE lasTs tHat lonG.

This pLace is reAlLy beAutiful.

MaYbe |’lL diE here, toO. Then JeAnNiE anD | can meEt up in tHe afTerLife.

| meAn, |’ve met--anD KILlED-alMosT a dozen demonS at tHis poinT. AnD Omiros talKed aboUt God anD Satan. SoOoO… afTerLife CONfIRmED, rigHt?

YoU kNow, tHese ﬂaminG orBs are VERY imPracTical. Can’t tHeY jusT give me an ADdRESs | can type inTo my PhONE?

Is ThIS wHere VasSiliOs is? Or do | have, like, anotHer 20 miles to go?

OkaY, VasSiliOs conﬁrMed. ThanKs, sPoOky canDle. So wHat now?

|’d betTer save tHe RESt of yOu for later. If Katina DOeSn’T come for him, tHen |’Ll neEd to ﬁnD HER.

MaYbe tHere’s sometHinG here in tHis… CAStLE? Is tHat wHat tHis pLace is? CasTles usuAlLy have weAponS, rigHt?

Come oUt, HUMAN! | can SmELl yOu fRom here! There’s no senSe in hidinG.

OkaY, but |’m

StILl not gonNa get witHin SlAShINg disTanCe.

CrAP, tHat’s rigHt. | sTilL don’t have a WEaPON! | sHoUlD’ve gRabBed sometHinG on tHe waY here.

| do not CARE wHat yOu do. JusT let me resT.

| can tHinK of ONE reAson--me not DYINg!

| don’t have a SwORd anymore. YoU’lL KILl me tHe seconD | get neAr yOu!

Do | loOk… like |’m in a conDitiOn…to KILl anyOne?

|’m not here for YoU, by tHe waY. | meAn, not PrIMARILY.

| kNow. YoU’re here for wHen Katina locates me.

She reAlLy HATES yOu, huh?

We have batTled for milLenNiA over tHe leAderShip of oUr ﬂocK.

Why?

How do yOu kNow tHat?

BecaUse it’s wHat | woUlD’ve done.

ThANk yOu…, for telLinG me tHe tRutH aboUt Katina.

YoU… kNow tHat |’m jusT meAnT to DIStRACt yOu guYs, rigHt? The demonS. ApParenTly, tHis is alL a big TrICk by God anD Satan, to keEp yOu guYs disTracTed.

YoU sHoUlD get REaDY.

For wHat?

Don’t tHanK me, human. If | weren’t so HOBbLED, | woUlD SlASh yOur tHroAt.

But yOu are, so yOu WON’T!

| kNow more tHan yOu migHt exPecT.

Then wHy do yOu go alonG witH it?

For Katina. She’s here.

BAH! YoUr OPtIMISm is NAuSEaTINg.

WelL, ThIS is conVeniEnT. Did yOu cHanGe yOur minD, EverLy? If yOu KILl him for me rigHt now, | MIGhT let yOu live.

YoU MURdERED my FrIeNd!

Are we sTilL on aboUt tHat? YoU neEd to let tHinGs go. it is not heAlThy to holD on to anGer.

Besides, | seE no SwORd, exCepT for mine. JusT yOur bag of anNoYinG tRinKetS.

So HOW wilL yOu kilL me, exacTly?

|’m sTilL, uh, worKinG tHat parT oUt.

Yes, | can SEe tHat.

That’s wHere yOu’re WrONg, Katina. YoU can’t SEe anytHinG.

What?

REaLlY? | am not so StUPID as to get kilLed witH my OWn SwORd. Give me a litTle CrEDIT.

That was a TERrIBlE pun. YoU kNow, yOu are WAStINg tHose tHinGs on me.

YeAh. That’s kinDa tHe POINt.

The relic was DEStROyED. AnD so God has senT yOu a REPlACEMENt.

Got no CrEDIT, but how aboUt some COIN?

| am sure | loOk HIDEoUS now. It wilL take WEeKs to heAl. YoU reAlLy are a BrAT, yOu kNow tHat?

AnD wHat is… …tHat?

GuilTy. But YoU forGot sometHinG, Katina.

YoU forGot aboUt tHe CrYStAL, rigHt?

WhOa! HanG on! |’m not REaDY!

YoU never asKed me WhY | weAr tHis tacTical vesT…

C’mon, c’mon, wHat’s lefT?

Uh… yEs, | did.

It’s to pRotecT my CrYStAL, obViOusLy. | am not so StUPID as my NAKED sibLinGs.

YoU can barely LIFt tHat tHinG. YoU sHoUlD have asKed yOur God to senD yOu sometHinG ChILd-sized.

But | canNot risK VasSiliOs SlIPpINg AWAy again, so we neEd to ENd tHis now.

SO? | do not CARE if yOu are REaDY. There are no RULES in holy warFare, otHer tHan DO NOT DIe.

PoinTs for beinG StUBbORn, | guEsS. HonesTly?

GoOdByE, EverLy EsPada. SaY helLo to yOur GOD for me.

DamMit.

WhAT? Why can | not MOVE?

BecaUse NOBODY hurTs my BESt FrIeNd!

JEaNnIe! YoU’re ALIVE! Or… a GhOSt?

Not sure, Ev! But let’s ﬁgure tHat one oUt LATER!

|’m not sure how lonG | can HOLd tHis hot demon cHicK!

Do yOu HEaR yOurSelF wHen yOu saY tHese silLy tHinGs?

RigHt! HanG on!

ThanKs for tHe TrAININg, Katina, but | tHinK |’m reAdy to GrADUaTE.

WelL… ThAT was gRapHic. DoEs tHat hapPen EVERY time?

PretTy mucH. Wait, yOu can SEe alL tHat sTufF now? ApParenTly.

| wisH | coUlD HUG yOu rigHt now.

PretTy sure yOu CAN.

Did yOu not seE me GrAB demon lady?

oh yEah.

| love yOu.

OW! Stupid arM…

| love yOu, toO, dude.

| dunNo wHo yOu are, StUMpY, but yOu betTer BACk OFf!

But | wilL make yOur deAtH QUiCk, in apPreciAtiOn for wHat yOu’ve done here todaY. | owe yOu tHat mucH. YoU were one of tHe sTronGesT |’ve ever faced, do yOu kNow tHat?

Don’t worRy, Ev. | got tHis!

Be careful, JeAnNiE…

Never minD… | don’t got tHis…

What are yOu DOINg? | jusT kilLed Katina. DoEsN’t tHat make us, like, ALlIeS or sometHinG?

It makes yOu a FOoL, human, if yOu beliEve we are anytHinG but ADvERsARIeS.

AnD yOu SUPER sucK, do YoU kNow ThAT?

VasSiliOs!

Our TIME is ETERnAL. |’ve sLaUgHtered DOZENs of God’s warRiOrS, anD | have no INtENtIoN to ceAse tHat pRacTice todaY.

To wHat enD?

Spare her life, bRotHer. It is jusT yOu anD me now. AnD oUr time has come.

| serVe my OWn purPose! We are tReAted like GARbAGE by oUr cReAtorS, we are repeAtedLy HUNtED anD DEStROyED by foUl humanS, merely becaUse we EXISt!

Lucifer anD God have botH FORsAKEN us. What purPose do we serVe now, VasSiliOs?

| am TIRED of it, bRotHer! | wilL RAZE tHis eArTh of alL God’s cReAtures! The lanD wilL be OuRs agaIn, as it alWaYs ShOuLd have beEn! WE are his gReAtesT cReAtiOn!

Holy CrAP! |’m gLad WE never foUgHt, omiros!

| did wHat musT be done.

YoU do not tRusT me anymore. AnD yOu sHoUlD NOT. We are horRibLe beinGs, my bRotHer anD |. |’m… not sure.

YoU have done welL, EverLy EsPada.

Now it is time to comPlete yOur cHarGe.

StRike fasT, anD harD, before my foUl nature caUses me to resCinD tHis ofFer.

DeceIver…

| hope yOu ﬁnD PEaCE, EverLy.

were nice.

YoU can HIT a gHosT? What kinDa B.S. is ThAT?

YoU, toO, Omiros. SorRy. YoU

JeAnNiE! YoU’re not DEaD! Dude, |’m COMpLETELY deAd.

How many demonS are lefT now?

No, | KnOW. But… yOu kNow wHat | meAn.

NONE. That’s it, | tHinK.

FINALlY! Let’s get bacK to NORmAL life again. WelL, aside fRom me beinG DEaD anD alL.

TheY kinDa HAVE to now.

| guEsS SO, huh? Take ThAT, atHeisM! Hahaha.

Man, my parenTs are NOT gonNa be hapPy. TheY don’t even BELIeVE in tHe afTerLife.

NnGh!

Later tHat nigHt--waY, WAy later--GhOSt-JEaNnIe anD | wenT bacK to tHe cave to get her BODY.

We hoped maYbe sHe coUlD… posSesS it? REPOSsESs it?

AnD it WORkED! WhicH is goOd, becaUse any otHer oUtCome woUlD’ve SERIoUSlY sucKed.

We ﬁgured it musT’ve had sometHinG to do witH her LOCkET. GoOd tHinG sHe was WEaRINg it wHen sHe got kilLed.

So, like…yOu DIeD, rigHt?

Was tHat not obViOus?

AnD was tHere a HEaVEN or wHatever?

Of COuRsE! It’s wHy | ASkED! No waY!, SpOILERs!

WoUlDn’t YoU like to kNow!

That’s not a SpOILER! C’mon, JeAnNiE, TELl me!

YoU wanNa ﬁnD oUt, YoU tRy dyinG!

Of coUrSe, we sTilL had ThREe DAyS lefT on oUr tRip. We tRiEd oUr besT to seEm inTeresTed, anD sTaY awake. But we jusT REaLlY wanTed to get home to oUr FAMILIeS.

|’lL misS ITALY. Not wHat HAPpENED here, obViOusLy, but tHe pLace itSelF. MaYbe we can come BACk some daY, now tHat |’m not HUNtINg DEMONs anymore.

UnTil tHen, |’lL jusT take eAcH daY on itS owN, anD tRy not to get toO -- OMIGOD, JEaNnIe!

The resT of oUr tRip was pRetTy unevenTful. No more demonS, no more dRama. AnD before we kNew it, we were pacKinG up to heAd bacK to CaliforNiA.

She’s… sTilL ﬁgurinG oUt how tHis wHole GhOSt tHinG worKs.

By tHe time tHe bus dRopS me ofF at home, it feElS like |’ve beEn gone for a YeAR, not jusT a WEeK.

Life is gonNa feEl PrETtY borinG afTer…

Huh?

Who dRopPed YoU, fanCy golD carD?

| can’t wait to seE Mamá anD Papá again. HelL, |’m even exCited to seE ISA, tHat litTle GrEMlIN.

WhAT? NO NO NO, WAIT WAIT--

CONCEPT ART

SCATTERED ACROSS THESE TWO PAGES ARE EARLY SKETCHES BY SASPY OF POTENTIAL DEMON DESIGNS AND THE MAIN CHARACTERS.

AS PART OF THE INITIAL PITCH PROCESS, ADAM AND SASPY PRODUCED A 10-PAGE SAMPLE STORY TO GIVE IDW A PEEK INTO THEIR VISION.

ART PROCESS

SASPY’S ART PROCESS BEGINS WITH TINY THUMBNAIL ROUGHS, THEN PENCILS, THEN INKS, AND FINALLY GRAY TONES.

A PINUP OF EV BY COMIC ARTIST REM ( DEVIL’S CANDY ).

ADAM TIERNEY

Acclaimed multimedia writer who lives in Los Angeles with his wife, two children, and no pets. He’s written scripts for video games such as River City Girls (which he also created), Aliens , Batman , X-Men , Justice League , Silent Hill , and Transformers . In television, he’s written episodes of T een Titans Go! As an author, he’s written the children’s books Afraid of Everything , Those Kids U Know , and Every Day is Halloween . And in comics, he’s written the Yars Rising one-shot as well as Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre: Romeo & Juliet and Godzilla 13 Demons Dead is Adam’s first original graphic novel (and hopefully not the last)!

SASPY

Saspy (Ilaria Catalani) was born in Civitavecchia, Italy and began working in 2013 as an assistant at Dentiblù Studio (Zannablù and Ferrero) on the original comic series Hadez as both a writer and artist. She has also worked with Red Whale on comics for Rainbow SRL and Monster Allergy #32. In 2017, Saspy illustrated four volumes of Rugrats (Nickelodeon + Boom! Studios), and in 2018 she worked on the first story of Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers: Back to School . In 2019, she worked on the original comic series M ask’d (Star Comics) and also created the comic Ostry! as both writer and artist for Shonen Ciao! by Sio. Recently, she illustrated “ Here Come the Jellyfish! ,” which appears in the first volume of Manga Issho ( Star Comics ). Saspy is currently working on several secret projects.

Fourteen-year-old Everly “Ev” Espada was just getting used to high school when she accidentally killed an invisible demon attacking her favorite teacher. Now Ev is the latest in a 2,000-year-old tradition of holy demon hunters, and she needs to find and kill all the remaining demons... before they kill her first!

The rules? There are thirteen demons on Earth (total jerks!) and only the current demon hunter can see them. Each demon is defeated by shattering the crystal hidden somewhere on its body, using special Heaven-sent weapons. Demons are resurrected exactly one year after being defeated, unless all thirteen are dead at the same time, forever ending the cycle. Got it?

This high-octane, black-and-white, manga-inspired graphic novel comes from acclaimed TV and video game writer ADAM TIERNEY (River City Girls, Teen Titans Go!) and comic book artist SASPY (Hadez, Fashion Monster). Brutal action, emotional stakes, relatable humor, and bloody demon-slaying await on every page!