A rustle from behind her caught Amanda’s attention. Reggie was alternately struggling with the ropes and stopping to concentrate on transforming. He was making no headway with either endeavor. After a failed attempt at transforming, he glared at Blackstone. “What did you do to me?”
Blackstone tucked the bloody handkerchief into a pocket and folded his arms. “To be honest, I’m surprised my ward is still functioning. The casting circle must be aiding it somehow.”
“Release me!” Reggie demanded of Blackstone. He then glared at Dr. Rutlinger. “Untie these ropes and make them leave.”
Dr. Rutlinger glanced at the others in the room but said nothing and made no move toward his fellow werewolf. Even if he’d wanted to help Reggie, the odds were stacked against him. He’d have to take on a group that had just defeated two powerful lupusdaemon witches.
Blackstone also ignored Reggie’s request. He turned his attention to Amanda. “So this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. Do you still have the strength to take advantage of it?”
“You aren’t going to stop me?” Amanda asked.
“My mission is to deal with practitioners of dark magic,” Blackstone said. “Although your exorcism has been banned by the Order, that doesn’t make it dark magic. On the other hand, if you proceed, you must be prepared to accept the consequences.”
“You can’t let them do this!” Reggie pleaded with Dr. Rutlinger. “I’m a member of your pack. It’s your duty as alpha to protect me.”
Dr. Rutlinger folded his arms, his eyes showing his anger. “So, now you support me as alpha. I’ve been unimpressed by your loyalty lately, and Skyler has paid the price for your betrayal.”
“That wasn’t my fault,” Reggie insisted. “You’re the one who let Marcella take over. I had no choice but to support her.”
Dr. Rutlinger glanced around the room at opponents who were ready and waiting for him to make a move. His gaze settled on Amanda, and Kyle moved to her side protectively. He let out a sigh of frustration. “Against all odds, it seems you have finally earned your chance, little witch. Forgive me if I hope you fail, but I don’t see how I can stop you.” He turned and walked to the doorway.
“You bastard!” Reggie shouted. “End this now, or I’ll come after you, either here or in the abyss.”
Dr. Rutlinger paused at the doorway with his hands closed into fists, but he didn’t turn around. “Goodbye, Oholepsu,” he said over his shoulder before disappearing into the hallway.
Blackstone closed the door behind the departing werewolf and leaned his back against it.
Reggie’s face had gone ashen, and his eyes were wide with disbelief. “No,” he said in a near whisper.
Amanda closed her eyes and repeated the name Oholepsu in her mind until she was sure she wouldn’t forget it. She didn’t know how much difference it would make to have the lupusdaemon’s true name for the exorcism, but it couldn’t hurt. As for the consequences Blackstone warned against, she’d been ready to trade those for a chance to get her brother back for a long time.
It was good to have a name for the demon that had taken her brother’s body. Referring to it by Reggie’s name had always been painful.
As Amanda walked back to her position at the circle, Oholepsu said, “If you let me go now, we can pretend this never happened. But if you try the ritual and fail, I swear I’ll hunt you down and tear you to pieces.”
Amanda looked at him soberly. She didn’t doubt he’d make good on his threat. One way or another, she was about to join her brother. Then she looked at each of her coven mates and Kyle. Although she was willing to risk death for herself, she had to consider the others. “Then I guess I’d better not fail,” she said.
Amanda started to remove her Star pendant. “Leave it on,” Blackstone suggested.
“I can’t. Only one of us can cast while the Star is active. We can’t maintain the protections and work the ritual at the same time.
“The dark spirits won’t interfere,” Blackstone said confidently. He gestured toward the body of the dark witch. “They scattered upon her death and won’t return while I’m here.”
“Why is that?” Kyle asked, voicing Amanda’s own question.
“I think I scare them,” Blackstone said with a wink.
Well, you are pretty scary, Amanda thought.
Taking a deep breath, Amanda tried to evaluate the condition of the coven. Even with the Star, did they have the power to do this? They were stronger than they’d ever been, due to the intense practice they’d been doing lately. But they’d already pulled off one exorcism and held a shield against both Marcella and Cyrus. It would be heartbreaking to come close to succeeding and then fail because they didn’t have the energy to finish the job.
Tanya interrupted her cycle of indecision. “Amanda, this is it. You have everything you need.”
She was right. Amanda smiled at the fire witch, amused that the roles of doubter and cheerleader had been reversed for a change. “Thanks, Tanya. I needed that.”
Amanda took a moment to collect herself and then began the incantation for the prime casting. It seemed strange to get right into it without the usual air wall of protection swirling around the casting circle. On the other hand, she didn’t sense the dark-spirit interference that had plagued them earlier.
As soon as she started the spell, Oholepsu redoubled his struggle to free himself from the chair. He gritted his teeth, and his face went red as he strained at the ropes. If he broke the bonds or the chair, they were all in big trouble. But Marcella’s silken rope proved to be more than decorative and held up to the assault.
During her many preparations, Amanda had created two versions of the exorcism. The one she used on Jessie summoned the demon forth so she could trap it. Removing the demon allowed Jessie’s spirit to regain control.
Reggie’s exorcism was a different proposition. The demon was already in full control of the body, and Amanda had no idea where her brother’s spirit might be. She had altered the ritual to call Reggie forth so he would be “nearby” when she purged the demon from his body. If she couldn’t make contact with Reggie’s spirit, the departing demon was probably going to leave behind either a zombie or a corpse. It was one of the many risks she’d debated with Kyle over the past several weeks.
Taking an extra-deep breath, Amanda held the wolf skull above Reggie’s head and summoned her brother’s spirit. Her hands twitched when the skull did something it hadn’t before. It started to glow white. The glow flickered and then extended down over Reggie’s head, surrounding it with a white aura.
While Reggie’s body continued to twitch and jerk against the bindings, his head held steady and his face cleared, giving him an almost sleepy look. The incongruity between his expression and the thrashing of his arms and legs was unsettling.
Reggie’s eyes rolled around for a moment before he managed to focus on Cara. She smiled encouragingly, but he didn’t react. His gaze floated back and forth between the witches in his field of vision until it stopped on Amanda.
“Mandy?” he whispered.
The word instantly brought tears to Amanda’s eyes. No one but her brother had ever called her Mandy. She had brought him back! “It’s okay, Reggie. Just hold on. You’re almost home.”
A low groan escaped Reggie’s lips. “Let me go,” he whispered. The glow faded, and his gaze sharpened. The demon behind them snarled at her.
Amanda blinked in surprise. Had Reggie been arguing with the demon controlling his body or asking her to let him go? This all had to be confusing for him. He’d be fine once he was back with her.
Amanda continued her chanting, calling on the spirits to help her remove the demon Oholepsu from her brother’s body. The demon screamed in fury and agony, its struggles to escape making the chair wobble.
Once again, the wolf skull began to glow. The glow grew painfully bright and then flowed over Reggie’s body. When the glow withdrew, the skull was lit from within with a white light mottled by shifting dark s
hadows. Reggie’s body went still and slumped against the bindings holding it in place.
The demon that had stolen Amanda’s brother from her was literally in the palms of her hands. If she’d known how, she would have crushed it right then and there so it would never bother anyone again. Sending it back to the abyss was the best she could do.
She called on the spirits once again to help her banish the demon back whence it came. Nothing happened. She repeated her call several times before she understood that her words weren’t gathering the magical force she normally sensed. She stopped chanting and turned her attention inward, realizing at once that her own reserves of power were almost completely drained. And if she was drained, all of the witches were drained.
Amanda swallowed hard. What would happen now? Could the demon return to Reggie’s body? Could it attack someone else in the room?
Amanda felt a warm hand on her shoulder. Blackstone had come to her side. He reached his other hand toward the skull and placed his palm on the front, like a faith healer ministering to the infirm. In a calm but commanding voice, he spoke several phrases and then bumped his hand solidly against the skull.
With a screech that hurt Amanda’s ears, the mottled light streamed out of the top of the skull. Rushing upward, it scattered against the ceiling like a fountain.
The sound and brightness suddenly cut off, and Amanda found herself panting and staring at the wolf skull’s toothy grin. The artifact seemed to be pleased with itself.
Blackstone gave Amanda’s shoulder a squeeze. “Nice work,” he said. “Now, let’s see what you’ve wrought.”
Amanda handed the wolf skull to Kyle and knelt in front of Reggie. He was so still that she was afraid her efforts might have been in vain. She checked his neck for a pulse and found a slow but steady beat. His chest moved gently up and down with each breath. Okay, the lights were on, but was anybody home?
She lifted his head off his chest, cupping his face in her hands. “Reggie. Reggie, wake up. I’ve missed you so much. Please come back to me.”
Reggie’s eyelids fluttered. When he opened them, it took him a several seconds for his eyes to focus on Amanda’s face. He lifted his head and drew in a shuddering breath. “Oh, Mandy. What have you done?”
Chapter 35
Careful Wishing
“Follow me,” the nurse said, coming around from her station with a folder under her arm. “I have to go that way anyway.”
Amanda hurried to keep pace with the swift-footed woman. At her side, Kyle was humming something familiar. When Amanda realized what it was, she stopped and stared at him.
“You aren’t seriously humming ‘Ding, Dong, the Witch is Dead?’”
He grinned and urged her to get moving again. “Why not? Marcella’s death took a big weight off my mind.” He then sang, “Ding dong, the demon witch is dead.”
The nurse frowned over her shoulder at them, and Amanda elbowed Kyle in the ribs. “Shh. This is a hospital.” Amanda’s attempt to be serious fell on deaf ears.
“So what? No frivolity? I’d think the patients would enjoy a little entertainment to brighten their day.”
“Maybe if someone else were singing it.”
“Ooh, ouch.”
The nurse paused at a door and waved a hand toward it before continuing on. Amanda peered in through the door’s window. Reggie was sitting up in his bed, reading. Amanda opened the door and went inside.
“Hi,” she said, walking to the side of the bed. “How are you feeling?” she asked as she put her hand on his.
“Better, thanks.” Reggie answered. He started to pull his hand away but then let it be. “The doctor says he’ll release me tomorrow.”
Amanda was disappointed by his guarded tone. It was like he didn’t want to talk to her. “That’s good news,” she said, forcing cheer into her tone. “Do you have somewhere to go? I’m sure Lucille would be happy to have you stay at the farm for as long as you want.”
He looked away from her and fussed with his bed sheets. “Thanks for the offer. I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet.”
What was wrong with him? Of course he needed a place to stay. He had no money and no transportation. “Do you know what time you’ll be released tomorrow? I can come get you.”
“We’ll see,” he said.
Kyle shifted from one foot to the other. He undoubtedly sensed that something was amiss.
“What’s going on? Why are you being like this?” Amanda asked.
“Don’t push, Mandy. I have some things to figure out.”
“Like what?” she insisted. “Aren’t you glad to see me? Aren’t you glad to be back among the living?”
He looked up at her then and squeezed her hand. “Yes to the first. I’m not so sure about the second.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You should have let me go.”
His words pierced her heart like a knife. She lowered her head. “I couldn’t let that thing walk around in your skin. It was torture every time I saw it.”
“Oh, you were right to destroy the demon,” he said with conviction. “As long as my body lived, I was trapped in a dark space with the promise of the light just out of reach. It was … a kind of purgatory.”
Kyle had been right after all. Reggie was trapped in the abyss that whole time. “That sounds horrible,” she said.
“It was. But all this,” he waved his free hand around vaguely, “ain’t a whole lot better. The demon left behind … memories … and impressions. Some of them are seriously disturbing.”
Amanda’s heart crept into her throat. What had she done? Tears filled her eyes. “You’d rather be dead?”
He was silent for a moment. “It’s hard to explain. When the demon pushed me into the abyss, I was terrified at first. All I could think of was getting my body back. Over time I reconciled myself to the idea that the life of Reggie Clark was over and it was time to move on. But I couldn’t move on. My spirit was still somehow tethered to my body. After a while, all I could think about was finding a way to move into the light.”
“And then I snatched you away from it,” Amanda concluded.
“Exactly,” he responded gently.
“I don’t know what to say. Maybe I’m being selfish, but I’m not sorry I brought you back. I missed you so much. But I’m sorry if you’re unhappy.”
They were both silent until the moment grew awkward.
“Maybe it wasn’t your time to go,” Kyle suggested.
To Amanda’s surprise, Reggie responded positively to the philosophical remark. “That’s what I’ve been pondering,” he said.
“You’re coming from a unique perspective on the ‘Why are we here?’ question,” Kyle continued. “I’ve been where you were, briefly, so I can relate to the initial terror, but you’ve gone where only the fully possessed have been before.”
Reggie gave Kyle an approving look. “Yes. I think you understand. And it bugs me that others are still trapped like I was.”
Amanda shook her head sadly. “I’m not sure what we can do about that. At the moment, the Order still has a ban on the lupusdaemon exorcism. And that was before we knew it could be used after First Moon. The werewolves must feel more threatened than ever now that they’re all vulnerable.”
Reggie’s brow creased with concern. “Doesn’t that make you a target?”
“To some degree,” Amanda said. “But I learned my lesson from the first time around. I published the new ritual as soon as I got home yesterday. Besides, we don’t know if having the demon’s true name plays a critical role in the ritual’s success. If it is essential, the werewolf community can rest a little easier. They don’t generally share their true names with humans.”
“Unless one of them is feeling vindictive,” Kyle added.
“Well, Dr. Rutlinger is a demon,” Amanda pointed out. “Vindictive probably goes with the territory.”
“Which is why we’re still watching your back,” Kyle said.
Amanda agreed wit
h a nod and turned her attention back to Reggie. “Anyway, I think you should come to the farm, get your bearings, and take your time figuring out what you want to do with yourself.”
“I’m sure that’s good advice,” Reggie answered.
“But you’re not going to take it,” Amanda said, sharper than she intended.
“Like I said, I’m pondering. The Hayworth Farm is still an Order sanctuary, right?” Amanda nodded. “You know how I feel about that bunch. I’m not too excited about becoming their latest subject of study.”
Kyle shrugged. “It’s not so bad. It’s been interesting to work with them.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Reggie said wryly. To Amanda, he said, “Leave me your number. I’ll call you later to let you know what time I’ll be released tomorrow.”
It sounded like he was agreeing to let her come and get him, so that was progress. Amanda had come prepared for the request. She slipped a business card out of her pocket and handed it to him.
“Great,” Reggie said with a smile, setting the card on the rolling table next to his hospital bed. He adjusted his pillow and eased himself lower on the bed. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to catch some Zs.”
Amanda rubbed his arm lightly. “All right, you get some rest. Just give me a call later, okay?”
“Sure thing, Sis. Good seeing you again, Kyle.”
Kyle nodded and offered a parting wave.
Amanda rubbed her forehead as she and Kyle walked down the hallway away from Reggie’s room. “Why do I get the feeling he’s not going to call?”
Kyle put his arm around her shoulder. “He’ll call. He has nowhere else to go.”
Amanda grabbed an armful of clothes from her dresser drawer and dropped them into the open box on the bed. Kyle worked at her desk, filling another box with books.
“I’m so mad I could spit,” Lucille said from where she stood at the doorway to Amanda’s room. Her arms were folded across her chest and her expression was a thundercloud of frustration.
Demon Witch (The Ternion Order Book 2) Page 25
