Demon Hunted (The Bayton Agency, #2), page 1
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
DEMON HUNTED
First edition. September 13, 2025.
Copyright © 2025 Ysadora Sonderling.
ISBN: 978-1763687448
Written by Ysadora Sonderling.
Table of Contents
Copyright Page
Dedication
Demon Hunted (The Bayton Agency, #2)
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Epilogue
Chapter One
Also By Ysadora Sonderling
To my readers, your support keeps me going.
To OneDrive, for making me lose all of my edits multiple times. I uninstalled you and have the last laugh.
Chapter One
‘Well, that was a barrel of laughs,’ Tessa quipped, tired and bloody after working another night-time patrol of downtown Bayton. She automatically switched the kettle on and set out two badly chipped mugs. Lee settled himself on the couch in his usual fashion, draping his muscular body across its length like some kind of couture fashion model. It was a grace that belied his massive frame and rather impressive horns protruding from his head. He simply shrugged in response, letting Tessa vent after another hard night’s work. Despite needing to keep Lee hidden from the Agency, lest he be banished immediately, he still accompanied Tessa on her night patrols. There was no way she was risking the back alleys of Bayton without some extra protection.
‘I am so sick of these patrols! I mean really, busting poor street kids or sex workers for using delusion and sex spells is not what I saw myself doing with my life!’ Tessa exclaimed as she poured the tea and carried both cups to the lounge room. Lee simply nodded, knowing there would be no need for a response when she was in such a mood.
Tessa just needed to let off steam, huffing her way around the house. She slurped her tea loudly while scrubbing various parts of the kitchen, anger cleaning away the night. Even though she was exhausted, Tessa attacked the grime in her kitchen with gusto.
When she had drenched and scrubbed every cupboard door she finally calmed down. Stalking back into the lounge, Tessa threw herself on the couch beside Lee with a loud huff.
‘You're just pissed because that blonde one clawed your face. I’m sorry I didn’t have time to stop it. I am sure the Agency will have some kind of disgusting murder ready for you soon enough. Then I will have to listen to you whine about that all day.’ Lee laughed as Tessa pretended to look insulted.
‘Oh really?’ she jokingly snapped before she launched herself at him, tickling all the places he hated most. They wrestled energetically until suddenly a loud crack ceased their actions and they found themselves on the floor in a pile of splintered wood and perished couch stuffing. The weathered old couch had finally given way.
‘Oh no! My beautiful couch, do you know how long I have had this?’ Tessa asked, in mock annoyance.
‘By the looks of it, probably since the last witch's council,’ Lee laughed, pulling himself and Tessa out of the debris. The couch had indeed been utterly destroyed, only the arms stood unbroken. They bravely stood alone like residual monuments to what was once her gloriously ugly couch. The rest was a mass of perished foam and brown velour. Here and there shards of wood stuck out. Tessa looked to Lee with a pained grin on her face.
‘Guess it's time to go furniture shopping. I really need a new case soon as possible. The bonus from the last one is almost used up buying you a damn wardrobe and all that pomade. Seriously, who needs that much pomade?’ she quizzed Lee, but he only shrugged in response. Since she had avoided sending him back to Hel, he had lost the ability to just spirit up new clothing, so they had to make do. He felt guilty about it, but there was little in the way of options. ‘Well, I just hope they can deliver,’ Tessa muttered dubiously, the very idea of fetching a whole couch in her ancient car was a joke. It screeched and groaned simply holding people, let alone enormous pieces of furniture. “That or we have to strap it to the top of the Kingswood. I don’t like our chances of getting it home if that’s the case.”
There were, of course, far greater concerns than her couch, but she tried not to think about it, especially when a lot of that stress centred around the delicious man standing before her.
Tessa wrapped her arms around Lee’s neck and pulled him close, breathing in his unique scent before kissing him deeply. Lee returned the favour, placing both of his hands on her hips and pulling her closer still. Without her heels he easily stood a head taller than Tessa, something she absolutely loved. Her hands ran down his back before she brought one back up to cup the side of his face, running her fingers over his angular jaw and high cheekbones. This was the intimacy she craved whenever she was away from Lee, usually when she had to work.
Soon Lee's intense arousal became very apparent, an erection pulsing against the fabric of his pants. Tessa cheekily grinned and rubbed herself against it provocatively. She simply adored the growls that the simple act of seduction could draw from him and always wanted more. Shifting his hands to her butt, Lee easily lifted her so she could wrap her legs around him. Still lip locked Lee began to walk them both to the bedroom, unzipping the back of Tessa's dress as he went.
Lee was about to throw his prize down onto the bed when Tessa's phone rang with the registered Agency emergency only tone. She groaned loudly, sorely tempted to ignore the call, but she dutifully unhitched her legs and was gently placed back onto the floor. Holding the edges of her dress together, Tessa ran to grab her phone and hurriedly answered, trying not to sound disappointed.
‘Lady Bale, a case has come in... for you... which requires immediate attention.’ Sir McAdams' voice boomed down the line, making Tessa flinch and hold the phone a little further away. There must be something very wrong if her boss was shouting and wheezing this much.
‘Ok Sir, I shall come in immediately. I will be twenty minutes.’ Tessa responded dutifully, while sighing in annoyance.
‘See that you do Lady Bale, this will be a very delicate case, requiring a... unique touch. I shall tell you more when you get to my office,’ he finished and hung up immediately, avoiding all the usual pleasantries. Tessa sighed again and rubbed her forehead.
‘Duty calls?’ Lee asked, sneaking up behind her to zip up her dress again. He already knew the answer but asked anyway. Tessa nodded, reluctant to go. She knew she must, even if only to pay for a new couch.
‘A new case apparently, something that has the man all hot under the collar,’ Tessa replied, before grabbing her abandoned tea and pouring it down the sink.
‘I'm all hot under the collar,’ growled Lee, handing her the purse he had already retrieved from behind the TV. He anticipated that Tessa would never find it herself.
‘But here's the thing hun, you will actually get your respite when I get back. I am pretty sure the Sir never gets any respite. Certainly not by the way he behaves,’ she said sarcastically, before giving Lee a long kiss goodbye.
Chapter Two
It must have been a bad case Tessa thought, as Sir McAdams had only stopped to leer at Tessa twice while she was entering his office and sitting down. He was in his element as always, his pompous overweight mass wedged behind the huge wooden expanse of his table, which rumour has it, was mostly full of candy. He pushed the case file forward after greeting Tessa in his usual abrupt manner.
‘Lady Bale, this case is one of extreme delicacy, hence why I have chosen you to cover it. It also bears some odd similarities to your previous case, so I believe you may bring some good insight also.’ Tessa tried not to groan audibly, turning it into a strangled cough instead. The last thing she wanted was a case like the previous one, especially when the nightmares still woke her in the early hours of the morning.
‘Yes Sir, what are they if you don't mind?’ she asked, accepting the file. Upon opening the cover, she got her answer. Vacant dead eyes stared back at her, surrounded with carved flesh and anaemic skin. Tessa held her composure well, despite the brutal images now burning into her mind. Sir McAdams saw her reaction and grimaced himself, having seen the images already.
‘Given that we can uhhh, safely exclude your previous case's suspect and no details were released from the case to the media, we can fairly safely say that this is someone killing on their own steam. The main issue is who the victim is,’ he elaborated, giving Tessa time to look again and try to see who it was. It was largely impossible given the amount of trauma she had suffered. Tessa was still drawing a blank, so he continued. ‘The victim is a rather well-known local witch celebrity, who runs a successful business from her skills and even does stints on TV. Her name is Stacia Sing, and her business is SingSong Healing over in Upton. She has a rather extensive and affluent clientele base. It is for that reason we need this dealt with quietly and quickly. There is a... uhhh... link to this being a murder of magickal origin, and that is making everyone nervous. Use whatever you need, but get it done,’ he commanded, looking sterner she had ever seen him before. Tessa swallowed hard, suddenly realising the gravity of the situation. Why was she even chosen for this? Surely there were other more experienced hunters to be taking this one?
‘Yes Sir, I will Sir. Where is the body?’ she guessed that was as good a start as any.
‘You're in luck, we got onto this one fast, it's still at the scene, in situ. She was murdered sometime during the night; it was reported two hours ago by her shop hand who showed up for work and allegedly found her. The girl has been sent home, being too distraught to be of any use at the current time. You need to go there straight after you have been to see Lady Kirk for supplies. You are going to need them.’ He nodded before turning back to his papers. That was that then. Tessa was dismissed. She didn’t bother waiting for the cursory hand wave.
Lady Kirk's rooms were in their usual state of chaos, Sibyls rummaging through the latest deliveries and casting various magickal items everywhere. A few other Agents roamed around but the Lady herself was beaming at Tessa with her arms full of leaves, gently feeding them into a grinder.
‘Tessa, darling, how is the healing?’ she shouted over the whir of the grinder before throwing in the last of the rue. She switched the machine off with a flick of her boot and came over to greet Tessa properly.
‘All done thanks to your amazing herbs Lady, they really did an excellent job. I almost didn't have an impressive scar to show off!’ Tessa smiled at the closest thing she had to a friend. Hel, Lady Kirk was the only person at work to actually call her Tessa instead of Contessa or Lady Bale.
‘Oh, because that's such a bad thing! Now what are you doing back here already? Shouldn't you still be off sick and mourning the loss of that hot demon?’ giggled Lady Kirk, looking for all her age like a silly schoolgirl.
‘Hah no, I have a case. Have barely thought about the demon actually. Been too busy sleeping and watching TV.’ Tessa replied, nearly choking on the lie. Lying was hard for her at the best of times, even moreso when it came to Lady Kirk.
‘You have been thrown a case already? But you've barely recovered from the last! Whoever authorised this? I will be giving them a piece of my mind.’
‘I am well enough Lady, I promise. I really needed something else to do. Although I am not sure I really want this one.’ Tessa fought futilely to quash the images which were popping up in her mind again. Lady Kirk raised an eyebrow and pursed her lips, clearly of two minds whether she wanted to ask about it. Tessa shook her head and saved her the shock.
‘Now all I really need to stock up on is some cascarilla, ajenjible and some althea...’ she trailed off, following Lady Kirk along the rows to collect her supplies before heading over to Upton and its newest little shop of horrors.
Chapter Three
The exterior of SingSong Healing was lovely, with plenty of purple paint, swirls of silver and crystals dangling everywhere. A small collection of tables and chairs sat out the front, they also had some kind of cafe arrangement going on. A jingling bell sounded as Tessa entered the store, breaking the buzz of noise produced by the mundane police officers waiting for her. Tessa nodded curtly, her tattoos identification enough for Law Enforcement. The two police men nodded back before the sacrificial lamb stepped forward.
‘Bout time you Agency lot got here. Been waiting for you for hours with the damn stiff. I have things to do,’ he snapped, his frown forcing his bushy eyebrows so low they almost covered his eyes completely.
‘You mean Ms Sing, not the stiff, I am sure,’ responded Tessa, already feeling incensed by his tone and crude manner.
‘Yeah whatever. The dead witch. Fitting death for a freak like that,’ he spat, crooking his finger at the other officer to follow him out. Tessa became furious, lashing out magick and dropping the temperature in the room until her breath condensed into mist.
‘What was your name officer?’ she requested, mentally slamming the door closed before they could leave. It hurt her head to use her magick so physically like this, but it needed to happen. A little fear of the hunters was almost advocated by the Agency, it helped to affirm their power as a law enforcement agency. Plus, Tessa was damn pissed off. The policeman merely snorted.
‘That's sergeant.’
‘Fine, SERGEANT, what is your name?’ she demanded this time, sending out a tendril of magick to chill him more, resisting the urge to make it squeeze his throat until his head popped off.
‘Sergeant Culpepper. What the hell is all this?’ he yelped, as his extremities began to take on a blue tinge. Suddenly Tessa stopped, allowing the room to return to normal.
‘All what Serg-eant?’ she replied coquettishly, putting on an innocent drawl. He looked angrily to the other officer, who had felt nothing thanks to a nifty little shield Tessa had surrounded him with.
‘It's damn witch tricks. God damned bunch of freaks, it's unnatural and ought to be stopped.’ With that he turned on his heel and stalked out.
‘I will be talking to your superior,’ Tessa called after him, receiving an obscene gesture for her efforts as the other police officer shot her an apologetic look and scuttled out after him. She shrugged and locked the main door behind them, not really wanting to deal with any more attitude when she had a dead witch to investigate. Some people still resented those of magickal nature, with exactly the sergeant's reasoning.
According to the case file, the murder had occurred in the private residence behind the store, where Ms Sing lived. It was surprisingly modest, but she had apparently come from modest means. Tessa entered carefully, taking note of all around her and pulling out her camera. She snapped away at the disturbed table and chairs, clearly knocked aside in a struggle, as well as blood drips and smears on the floor and walls.
A few pieces of mail in Ms Sing’s name had been strewn across the floor, so Tessa carefully took a picture of that too. It seemed that Stacia had put up quite the fight, and Tessa hoped that she had wounded whoever had attacked her. Mundane forensics would test all the blood residue for them to determine if that had been the case.
Finally, Tessa found her, a frail little body left lying in the kitchen. Her various jars of herbs had all been smashed, and Tessa took the time to take pictures of all the debris before finally turning to the body. Ms Sing had clearly been turned this way and that as cuts in her flesh were made to carve various sigils and patterns. Her tiny body was coated in the same blood that was congealed in puddles on the floor, and those strange grey eyes just staring blindly forth.
Tessa sent out feelers for magick, but it was all surprisingly sterile. There was simply nothing there, aside from the gentle protective magick on the house itself. She supposed that whatever nasty act the carvings were intended for wore off fast, so took a closer look to see if there were any clues in the cuttings themselves. The more she looked the more confused she became at their nonsense.
Here was an eye, there a letter and some zigzags, but none of it seemed to mean anything to her. She dug out her phone to call her brain trust, on his brand-new phone. She could only hope he had finally turned on. It rang on and on before Lee finally answered, just as she was about to hang up.
‘Hello Hel cat, need me already huh?’
‘NO! But yeah. This is another case with a real artistic butcher, but I can't make sense of what they have cut. I need you to tell me if you know of anything in your experience. Should I send over some pictures?’ she asked, praying that he would have an easy answer.
‘Are you there now?’
‘Yes? Why?’
‘Oh, never mind about the pictures, I can do one better.’ His voice full of cheeky mystery.
‘Huh?’ Tessa asked quizzically, but it was too late, he had hung up. Suddenly the air next to her shifted and Lee stepped out, narrowly missing the largest blood patch.
‘Woah... what the Hel?’ she asked, feeling just a little unsettled. Lee just shrugged.
