Destiny Disrupted (19 page)

“Why can’t I read your minds?” she asked.

I shrugged and grabbed a slice of pizza. “Maybe it’s a power you’ll develop over time.”

We ate and gossiped and laughed.

When most of the pizza was gone, Ariana patted her belly. “I’m beyond stuffed.”

“Me too.” I dropped my half-eaten slice back into the box. “I know how we can work off those calories. Magick uses up a bunch of energy, so I want to try a summoning spell next.”

“Who or what are we summoning?” Brittany asked.

“I’m almost positive that it’s demonic hitmen attacking the BRC, and if we can pinpoint the Triad’s location—”

“We just discovered our powers and now you wanna summon demons?” Ariana exclaimed.

Brittany chewed slowly and swallowed. “And then what, Shiloh? Have them show up and kill us like they did the other witches?”

“Pure evil cannot cross the wards,” I replied. “This place is like a damn fortress. As long as we stay near the house, no naughty evils can hurt us, so chill.”

“The demons could just be waiting outside to get us when we leave,” Brittany said with a shudder.

“Not if we vanquish them.” I turned, catching Ariana’s gaze. “Don’t you want a little payback?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Sure, but you want us to subpoena an Upper Level demon for a little heart-to-heart? I hate to say this, but I doubt they’ll be feeling very chatty.”

“C’mon! We can do this,” I said. “No rest for the whiny. Time to put this coven to good use.”

Ariana’s face reset in hard lines. “Super pep talk, but we’ve been a coven for all of twenty minutes, and you’ve gone wacky in the head!”

I wiped my mouth with a napkin. “There’s an incantation in one of the grimoires that can trap demons and a vanquishing potion. And there’s only two of the Triad now, so I like our odds…plus, it might help Trent.”

“You’re right.” Brittany poked Ariana in the ribs with her elbow. “Shiloh has lost her damn mind.”

She was probably right
.

“No, I haven’t!” I lowered my voice and said calmly, “We’ll create a devil’s trap that catches evil beings inside a magickal cage with crystals.”

“Why do we want to trap them? Why not just vanquish them?” Brittany asked.

“Yeah. Good question,” Ariana added.

“So we can get answers. Intel,” I said. “Then we can vanquish them.”

Ariana’s eyes widened. “You’re talking crazy. Those demons are too dangerous.”

“I want to know why their killing witches. The BRC isn’t even a coven anymore or a threat, so why are they going after them? And if we can figure out which ritual the Triad is going to perform, maybe we can stop it,” I said.

“I really, really don’t want to do this,” Ariana muttered.

“Ari, I can’t believe you don’t wanna know why your aunt was murdered.” I stood up. “And there’s no use arguing with me. Do you guys not see my
determined
face? You know what it means,” I said firmly.

“Shouldn’t we call your mom, or even Darrah to help us?” Brittany pressed her fingers together to form a steeple in front of her chest. “Things could get out of hand quickly. We’re not experienced enough to—”

“We have the power of the circle now,” I interrupted. “Time to summon some demons.”

“We should set up the devil’s trap in the backyard. We can stand on the porch within the protection of the wards. Once the demon,
or
demons, are trapped we can start grilling them.” I went into the kitchen and set the grimoire on the counter, then started putting together the supplies.

Brittany and Ariana straggled into the room behind me. Ariana sat at the kitchen table and Brittany leaned back against the counter, resting on her elbows.

I opened the cabinets, took out some herbs, and said to Brittany, “Here’s a quick lesson on demons. Guns are useless and bullets don’t harm them—only ancient daggers forged in holy places, or a powerful vanquishing potion with an incantation…” I paused and glanced at Ari. “Oh, yeah. I need you to write a spell.”

“Me?” Ari shook her head, causing her golden ringlets to bounce on her shoulders. “Let Brittany do it.”

“No. You’re the one who got all A’s on her poetry last year. Start rhyming. But no gangsta raps, please.” Smiling, I tossed her a pen and a pad of paper from the kitchen drawer. “Spells are fundamentally based on feelings, desires, and will power. For magick to work, it often involves reciting an incantation. It’s important to push your intentions into the spell you’re writing and visualize the energies or power at work. The more you can feel it, the more real it will be. With intent and power, send the energy toward its goal and that’s basically how magick works. ”

Ariana snorted and took the pen and paper. “Do we need a summoning spell, too?”

“Nope,” I said. “Already got one in the grimoire that should do the trick.”

“What exactly are you hoping to discover by trapping a demon?” Brittany asked.

“When I was chatting with Shax, he mentioned that Caym’s master plan was to take over the world and wipe out mankind. But why does he need Trent to do that? Why kill the BRC? There’s got to be some sinister reason behind whatever he’s up to. And that evil bastard isn’t gonna use my boyfriend to do it.”

Brittany gestured at the items I placed on the counter. “Are you making more food?”

“Nope.” I grabbed a cast iron pot, put it on the stove, and turned on the burner. “We need to create a vanquishing potion, and you’re gonna help me while Ariana writes the spell.” I pointed to the grimoire. “Flip through that spellbook and find us one powerful enough to vanquish two demons, in case Caym brings along a buddy.”

Brittany rifled through the pages and sighed. “You’re getting awfully bossy.”

“I’m the High Priestess of this coven, so I give the orders.” I grinned to soften my words. “And since Ariana and I have already been studying witchcraft and the paranormal for quite a while, you’ll need to play catchup. I’ll have Evans hook you up with some reading material.”

“Speaking of Evans,” Ariana said, glancing up. “We should call him and invite him to our little”—she made finger quotes—“demon vanquishing party.”

“He’s staying at the DD headquarters in San Francisco for a few days to see if he could find another way to help Trent, so we’re on our own,” I said, taking a jar of pig’s feet out of the fridge. “And I’m confident we can handle it without his help. Let’s just try it, please?”

“All right, don’t get all stressed.” Brittany moved closer to the stove and wrinkled her nose. I handed her various herbs and she tossed them into the pot. I stirred it, adding a dash of Rosemary to the concoction.

Brittany checked the spellbook. “It needs more hemlock root.” She broke off a branch and threw it into the potion simmering on the stove.

Ariana was writing on the pad, groaning, and scratching it out. She wadded up five papers before announcing, “I’m done.”

“Let’s hear it,” Brittany said, switching off the burner and moving the pot to cool.

Ariana pushed back her chair and stood. “All right, but no mocking.” She took a breath and recited, “Branch of Hemlock, do your deed. Blood of life, will you impede. Poisoned bark will stop the heart. And evil’s breath will bring your death.”

I nodded in approval. “Not bad.” Lifting the pot, I scooped the potion out with a ladle, and poured the liquid into a small glass vial before sealing it with a cork. “We’re ready.”

Slipping the potion into my pocket, I picked up five selenite crystals and a small bag of salt and carried them outside with me. The world was hushed, the sky a stark mass of graphite, bursting with sharp, pointed stars. My friends waited on the porch while I created a pentagram with the salt, then placed four of the crystals at the points that symbolized fire, water, air, and earth. The only spot on the star left empty was spirit.

Backing up with the last crystal clutched tight in my hand, I eyed my handiwork and prayed we weren’t forgetting anything. I stepped onto the porch and stood between my friends.

Brittany nudged me with her shoulder. “Do we really think this is a good idea? We don’t really have a plan.”

“I don’t know what else to do to help Trent,” I said quietly. “Or the other witches in the BRC. It could be your mom they target next.” Pulling back my shoulders, I recited, “
Demons who dwell in flashes of night, uncloak your shadow to witch’s sight. Beasts of hoof where darkness dwells bring the demon Caym up from Hell
.”

A whirlwind of fog spun in the middle of the salt circle. A demon crashed through the center of the whirling vortex onto the ground like a missile made of darkness, and the crack of his impact shook the porch.

Totally not what I expected.

I tensed, ready to fight. I reached inside my pocket, fingers grazing the vanquishing potion. My heart thudded against my ribs.

The mini-cyclone died and left the demon in the pentagram. I used magick to guide the last gem and it swooshed through the air and landed on the fifth point. The magickal cage enclosed the demon, and he turned to face us with sharp black eyes. He had sooty flesh and a pointed chin. He was a humanoid creature with four arms and two legs that poked out from its stout body. A forked tongue flickered out between the demon’s lips.

Brittany gasped and her body trembled beside me. Ariana gripped my arm.

The demon shifted like a spider with slow, deliberate movements. Graceful. Dangerous.

“Greetings, ladies.” His hard mouth curved and he brushed dust off his cloak. “I was in the middle of watching
Game of Thrones
, and it’s quite annoying to be plucked from my home when Jon Snow’s about to enter a cave—”

“Oh! Is that the episode where him and that pretty redhead hook up?” Brittany asked.

“Spoiler alert,” I said through my teeth. “Now is
not
the time to discuss our favorite TV shows!”

“I didn’t even have time to press stop on the remote.” The demon glanced down at the pentagram and grunted. “Damn, devil’s trap.”

“You’re not Caym,” I said, stating the obvious.

This was beyond weird. Summoning spells were tricky. They didn’t even work right for my mom half the time. And this demonic dude wasn’t even a Nocturne. Now what?

My pulse raced. Even from six feet away, the demon loomed, blending with the night and shadows, his gaze cold and distant as the moonlit sky. His inhuman stare bore into me with such intensity that I backpedaled.

“What’s your name?” Ariana asked, taking a small step forward to clutch the railing.

“I am Necro. A powerful seer. Why do you call upon me?”

“We didn’t mean to. We were trying to summon another demon, Caym. Do you know him?” I asked.

Necro nodded once. “Yes, he is the high counsel adviser to the leader of the Underworld.”

Brittany shifted her weight, the porch creaking beneath us. “If you’re some powerful seer, tell us what happens in the future?’

“Simple. The magick locking the Sheol is failing. When it does, this realm shall perish.” The demon-spider tilted his head, his voice hoarse and sinister. “Once all the walls crumble and the Nocturnes are freed, they will kill the Forsaken, then enslave the humans. And no matter what you think of Lower Level demons like myself, we are
nothing
compared to them.”

“Why are you warning us?” I asked. “If the Sheol opens, demons win. Humans lose.”

“Because Upper Level demons will rule over humans
and
lesser fiends. And I am nobody’s bitch.” Necro’s flickering crimson aura was the only thing about him not effortlessly, frostily calm. His gaze, like a brand upon my face, burned with hatred and power. “You witches are so naive.”

Maybe I should have thought this through before impulsively summoning a demon.

I exhaled slowly. “Wow. Not like I haven’t heard that before.” I tried to act cool, tough, but inside, my stomach churned and my muscles were battered with chills.

“You are children playing with matches,” the demon said. “You have strength together as the Chosen Ones, but it will not be enough for what’s coming.”

“What do you expect us to do about it?” I asked carefully, never once doubting what he had told me was true. Necro meant every word. But it didn’t mean he could be trusted.

“Do what white witches do best. Stop the demons from escaping the Sheol.”

“How the hell do we do that?” Brittany asked.

The demon stared at her for a moment before responding. “That I cannot see.”

Ariana glanced at me. “Since that Caym demon is a no show, what do we do with this one?”

“Vanquish him,” Brittany replied. “He’s not going to tell us anything useful.”

His eyebrow twitched. “Don’t kill the messenger!”

My hand was still in my pocket, clutching the vial. I pulled it out, fisting the potion. Necro tilted his head, and his body contorted even more spider-like. He moved closer to the edge of the circle.

 Necro rubbed his bald head, such a naturally human gesture, given the dreadfully abnormal circumstances. “Witches, I am the least of your concerns. We’re talking the end of the world.”

My stomach dropped. “You mean, the freaking apocalypse.”

“Yes.” Necro nodded. “Once one of the nine dimensions of the Underworld, like the Sheol, is opened, others will soon be unlocked. Demons will overrun the Earth.”

“There must be a way to stop it,” Brittany said, her voice rising. “You wouldn’t be telling us all this unless you wanted us to prevent it.”

The knots in my stomach tripled. “There isn’t a way, is there?”

“Afraid not.” The demon shook his head and studied the three of us. His terrible eyes blinked, then he laughed. It was an ugly, mocking cackle. “However, killing the Chosen Ones will guarantee me some much needed respect in the Underworld. Deference my kind rarely receives. If I kill you, then I shall become legendary.”

Brittany took a deep breath and exhaled loudly through her nose. “Guess share time is over. Throw the potion, Shiloh.”

I lifted my hand to fling the vial at the same moment that a big crow swooped downward and snatched one of the crystals in its talons. Necro’s mouth tilted upward into a sharp smile. The wards around the devil’s trap instantly dissolved.

My heart hammered so hard I wanted to vomit. This was so
not
good. The demon had brought along a feathery friend.

I pitched the potion at Necro. The demon smirked, and waving one of his hands, he knocked the vial aside. It landed on the grass in the dark.

Damn, damn, damn.

Necro grinned. “Did I forget to mention that I’m also a Master of the dark arts?” With one of his left arms, he waved at the house and the trembling blue lines of the defense wards winked out.

Holy demon babies. We were dead meat.

“Get inside the house,” I ordered. “Call Darrah or my mom.”

“
Now
you want to get help?” Brittany said sarcastically.

“Just go!” I said. “The wards are down. The house isn’t protected anymore.”

Brittany rushed inside, but Ariana remained on the porch. Our eyes met.

“Just wait here. I’ll let you know if I need backup,” I said softly.

“What’s the signal?”

“Um, me screaming.”

“Got it. Go kick some ass,” she said, smacking me on the butt.

Cautiously, I stepped down the porch steps. Once my boots touched the lawn, I took a fighter’s stance.

Necro lifted his hand, palm facing upward. A spark of black magick appeared, forming a glowing fireball in his palm. Smirking, he hurled it at my chest.

White magicks twitched over my skin—light and strong—protecting me from the fiery orb. The fireball struck the translucent shield around my body like a punch, and knocked me on my butt.

Leaning hard on the side of the house, I stood on shaky legs. My pulse spiked, pumping adrenaline. “Is that all you’ve got?” I shouted.

With a burst of magick propelling me forward, I rushed the demon. Prickles of supernatural energy ran along my arm and into my fist. I swung hard and my knuckles landed squarely on his jaw. Necro’s head whipped to the side.

Bouncing on my feet, I struck again with my leg. He sidestepped the assault, blocking the kick to one side and sweeping his other two arms around in a looping blow. He hit me hard on the cheek with dual fists. Pain seared my temple. White spots clouded my vision. I fell to my knees, wheezing and fighting dizziness.

“This feels a little anticlimactic, don’t you think?” Necro backed up with two of his arms folded over his chest and the other ones resting on his hips. “Killing the three of you, the most powerful witches in the world, will help me return to the Underworld with honors!”

“Not if we’ve got anything to say about it!” Ariana hurried to my side and pulled me to my feet. With a flick of his wrist, Necro used dark magick to knock Ariana into the side of the house. She crumbled into a heap. Groaning, Ariana sat up and blinked.

Before I had time to react, a ball of fire shot from Necro’s outstretched hand. Ariana jumped up and deflected the hit with her new power before it struck me. A tall barricade of flames sprang up between us and the fire-throwing demon. The fireball struck the wall and liquefied. Ariana nodded at the fiery partition. There was a sharp
hiss
as the flames were magickally extinguished. A spiral of smoke curled upward from the ground. The lawn was on fire.

“
Oops!
” Ari ran to get the garden hose and douse the burning grass.