of protection,” she explained. “As long as we’re in here, we’ll be protected
from the demons.”
Casey dumped a hefty bag of coal into a wide brass brazier set into one of
the other circles.
“The coal is an offering, used to lure the demons and give them form in
our world,” my aunt continued. She flicked her eyes to me. “Kahanov would
have used blood to summon the blood demons that attacked you. A lot of it.”
Memories of the blood drainers with all their tubes and IV bags brought
bile to my throat.
At my aunt’s command, Casey lobbed a fireball into the pile of coal.
Bright orange flames flickered in his eyes as he grinned at me. “You’re going
to love this.”
Why didn’t I believe him?
Laurel gently shoved me inside the glowing circle of protection, and
Casey joined me. She strode to the burning heap of coal and poured her
magic into it until the surrounding circle of runes glowed bright red.
With a swift gesture, she raised her hands, and all the shadows of the
room swung toward her. She began chanting and weaving her hands, and the
world twisted around her silhouette. Vertigo squirmed in my belly, and I
grabbed Casey’s arm as the room spun.
As my aunt’s voice rose in tempo, the air crackled with power, and the
scent of brimstone burned my throat. The fire seemed to suck the shadows
inward.
No doubt about it—this was definitely diabolic magic.
An ear-splitting screech echoed through the room, and a sinister form
rose from the flames, clawing at the air.
My aunt scurried back to the circle of protection just as the lighting in the
candlelit room returned to normal, leaving a flaming demon perched atop the
pile of coal.
It was about two feet tall.