Studies in Demonolgy: the complete series

by Nichols, TJ

  “I’m not stupid. I went to a cheap motel far enough away from campus. One that doesn’t have magic suppression.”

  “You have that? I remember it being talked about as a possible measure.” That had been years ago with his last warlock.

  “It’s been around for nearly five years. They say it is to stop rogue demons and wizards. The underground says it’s to make sure only certain warlocks have power. There are overrides that qualified warlocks get.”

  The idea of blocking magic was distasteful. Like blocking air or water. It was part of the world and should flow freely. “Would it be safe for you to make contact with the underground?”

  Angus shrugged. “I could look up my ex, Jim. He’s a wizard. He used to have connections.”

  Saka flinched. He shouldn’t be jealous, but he was. He smoothed his thumbs over Angus’s temples. “Let me take away the headache and settle your mind.”

  “I don’t want someone else messing around in there.”

  “The two different spells are still operating against each other, thus the headache. There may be permanent damage if I don’t do something. I don’t want that, and I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “But you did.” Angus touched the scar.

  “Yes, but we both have rules to obey, and not all of them make us happy. I will play the subservient demon tomorrow as expected, if you want to stay in college.” That would be the safest for him too. “If I make a move to take you or break free, I suspect that the watching warlocks will either capture or kill me.”

  “Then there is no choice, is there?”

  “There is always a choice, even if you don’t like the options.”

  “If you can stop the headache, I will happily pay for the use of magic.” Angus glanced down, then reached out to run his fingers up Saka’s arm.

  “I do this freely… but I could stay a while.” How much of what they had done did Angus want to repeat? Tonight he would tread gently, and he would let himself enjoy. He rarely did that these days. It would be nice to have a partner he could work magic with as well as enjoy their time together.

  Angus moved closer; his lips brushed Saka’s. Saka kept his hands on Angus’s temples as they kissed. He felt the warring spells. The anchor Miniti had made and the warlocks’ shield that was supposed to stop Angus from ever finding the memories of Demonside. Those that Miniti hadn’t protected were sealed—including the blood magic. Right now Saka didn’t want to try to unravel that so he left them wrapped and tucked away. The rest of the spell was trying to wrap the anchored memories, an impossible task. Saka bundled that up on itself. Destroying it would leave a trail, and if a warlock looked inside, they’d expect to see the memory bubble. They wouldn’t be able to see that it was empty, only the spell’s creator would be able to look inside—it was a risk but not a big one.

  Angus sighed, and the tension in his muscles eased. “Thank you.”

  Saka undid Angus’s shirt the rest of the way. He couldn’t lie; he did like seeing his mark on Angus. His fingers brushed over it. He wished Miniti had warned him what she was doing with the warlock’s mind.

  “Did I interrupt your evening?” Angus murmured as his hands skimmed over Saka’s shoulders and chest.

  “No. I was asleep and dreaming of you.”

  “Maybe because I was thinking of you. It took me hours to work up the nerve to try this on my own.” Another kiss. Here Angus wasn’t so hesitant about revealing his hunger.

  This desire had nothing to do with magic. It was a dangerous lust that would serve neither of them well. Calling it ritual made it safe, yet it was clear that neither of them wanted that tonight.

  Tomorrow he would worry about what was happening. A lot could change in daylight. So he wouldn’t waste the dark.

  He undid Angus’s belt, and then his jeans. The warlock’s erection jutted forward, constrained by black underwear. Saka pushed him back so Angus lay on the bed, then pulled down the jeans and underwear, freeing Angus’s cock. It rested thick and heavy and dark against the human’s pale skin. The change in color fascinated him, as had the shape. Where demon cocks were smooth, human ones had texture and only the dome was silken.

  He wrapped his fingers around Angus and caressed, enjoying the feel without having to worry about either of them coming too fast. There was no pressure. It had been a while since he’d had sex without it being part of something more. Tonight there was no circle binding them.

  He lapped at Angus’s sac, then tongued the shaft, finally tracing the head. Angus groaned as Saka took him into his mouth. The warlock’s fingers brushed the demon’s horns, then propped himself up to watch.

  His lips parted, and his chest lifted with each breath. “Please, don’t stop.”

  Saka stroked with his hand. “I have no plans to unless you keep making me talk.” He licked the smooth crown, flicking his tongue over the slit. When Angus didn’t say anything, Saka went back to sucking. He planned on enjoying the taste of him this time.

  Knowing that there would be no delay to his release, Angus relaxed a little. His hips started to rock, thrusting into Saka’s mouth. When salty precome coated his tongue, he was tempted to make Angus wait just once tonight, but decided against it. He wanted to have fun and show Angus that, even though he was a mage, he could have sex without controlling everything and making it part of something more.

  The human’s back arched, and he groaned as he came.

  Saka swallowed, surprised that there was so little, then moved over Angus. He kissed him.

  Angus’s eyelids fluttered closed. “There is lube in my jacket pocket.”

  Saka smiled. Angus had obviously thought about this before summoning him. That was interesting. It was also interesting what he was offering. Had Saka left him unsatisfied? That had never been a problem before, but then he’d never had a human lover before.

  Angus wasn’t his lover. He was a warlock. And he’d brought lube.

  Saka drew away and picked up the jacket lying over the chair, located the lube, and walked back over. “Planned ahead?”

  Angus’s skin turned a pretty shade of pink. “I thought you might want something since I called you.”

  Saka stroked himself with the slick lube. It was different from the oil on Demonside… cold too. “I wanted something, but not because you called me.”

  He couldn’t deny that thoughts of Angus had made him hard. That he had thought about this very thing but had held back because he didn’t want to push the warlock too hard. “Are you sure about this?”

  “Yes. Unless you don’t want—”

  “Oh I want.” He just didn’t let himself have.

  He pressed his cock against the tight ring of Angus’s ass, then pushed in slowly. This time he didn’t have to hold back, and he didn’t have to keep part of his mind focused on the magic. He could sink in and let go. He watched Angus’s face as he thrust in. The way Angus gasped or bit his lip. Saka gripped Angus’s hips, seeking his own release. He pumped hard, enjoying the simple building of tension and the craving for release without the need to do anything but enjoy.

  He threw his head back and snarled as he came. Energy traced through him. He hadn’t performed any ritual, but magic had gathered anyway. He reveled in it, absorbed it. After a few breaths, he withdrew.

  Angus lay there, limp, watching through half-closed eyes. Was he too young for what was going to happen? He would be caught in the middle of a fight between warlocks and demons. But he had magic, and had been accepted into Warlock College. Angus was old enough to make his own decisions. He was already choosing to break the rules of the Warlock College. That they were in the same bed would bring trouble.

  And not just for Angus.

  Saka shouldn’t feel anything for his Humanside master, and yet he did.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Angus and three senior warlocks walked to the sparse forest where they did the demon summonings. Students always summoned outside in case the demon broke free. He flexed his fingers and tried t
o ignore the flutter in his stomach. He really didn’t want to be doing this. The three warlocks had all lied to him and told him that he’d failed to bind a demon and that was why the demon had taken him. Maybe he had failed by their standards… but he and Saka were connected. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling at the memory of last night.

  He felt better than he had in several months. Not only had he summoned a demon, but Saka had fixed the mess the warlocks had made of his mind and then they’d screwed—no one was taking that memory away. His demon had been gone when he’d woken up this morning. Angus had made his way back to college in time for the first class. Everyone seemed to know that a demon had taken him across the void. All he could say was that he didn’t remember. It seemed like every word out of his mouth was a lie.

  He glanced at the warlocks with him. He’d fit right in.

  Except he knew more about Demonside than these three put together and he’d been there. At least he hoped that was the case and they weren’t deliberately harming demons for personal gain. How deep did the conspiracy run? Was it something that everyone knew once they became qualified warlocks?

  Surely not. That would make the secret too big.

  It had to be just the top level, people like his father and above.

  His world seemed colder and drearier after being across the void. The heat, the color… it had all been weird and interesting, and he wanted to know more. He wished he was summoning Saka in private so they could talk.

  The warlocks stopped in the clearing the class had used only a few short days ago.

  “When you are ready, Mr. Donohue,” the lecturer said, obviously unhappy that one of his students had been taken right in front of him. Statistically the first time a wizard bridged the void—to get a demon and become a warlock—was when they got taken. After that it was fairly safe.

  When Angus heard “Mr. Donohue,” he still looked for his father. Mercifully he wasn’t here today. Today nothing could go wrong with this summoning. He’d done it last night. Everything would be fine.

  Unless the warlocks watching planned on betraying Saka and him. Would they send him back to Demonside, or would they punish Saka for taking him? Now he was dwelling on what might happen instead of focusing on what he needed to do.

  He had to focus. He wouldn’t make that mistake again.

  Couldn’t.

  He drew in a breath and found his center, created the circle in front of himself—a little farther away this time. He pushed energy into its invisible walls. In Demonside it would be glowing blue. He could see it in his mind, and it formed more easily.

  Then as if cautious, he started the walk that had begun this drama. Three times around the circle, widdershins. With each step he felt the fabric between the worlds weaken. He pulled it apart a little farther. By the time he stopped, the void was open, and Demonside was on the other side, a smudge of shimmering red was all he could make out. If anything rushed through, it would be contained by the circle.

  Someone had let those rampaging demons through.

  Someone had then justified killing them. Angus doubted they were killed straight out.

  Someone had caught them and used them for ritual magic.

  He exhaled and in his mind called to Saka. He had a name this time. He wasn’t calling for a demon the way he had the first time. Saka stepped across the void, wearing black pants and his machete. The mark on his chest heated as it had last night when Saka was close.

  Saka held his gaze, defiant.

  What had happened to being subservient?

  Behind Angus the warlocks murmured, deciding that yes this was the same demon. Angus needed to prove that he had Saka under control—or at least look as though he did.

  “I am your earthbound master,” Angus said, his voice more confident this time. He almost expected Saka to come straight back and claim that he was Angus’s Demonside master.

  But he didn’t.

  There was a small pause, and then Saka bowed his head—although not so much that he couldn’t make eye contact. “I accept your command.”

  Angus released the breath he had been holding. He wanted to turn around and see if the warlocks approved, but he didn’t dare take his eyes off Saka.

  “This seems like a dangerous demon for such a young warlock,” one of the warlocks behind Angus said.

  “He is a common black-horn demon… I thought they were considered safe.” Angus still didn’t turn. They would never admit that Saka had already dragged him across the void. What lies would they tell to make him appear dangerous?

  Certainly nothing close to the truth. Saka was dangerous because he was a mage. A stronger warlock might have been able to control him. A stronger warlock might have been killed in Demonside and not given a chance. There were two reasons the demons were letting him live. He already doubted the Warlock College, and he was young and untrained. At what point would he become dangerous to Demonside? Were they weighing him the way the warlocks were assessing Saka?

  It was an unsettling thought.

  Saka stood waiting, his fingers loosely curled. Angus had no doubt that Saka could use magic as effectively as his machete. Behind him was the void and Demonside. For a moment Angus thought that he could smell the heat and the spices, hear the noise of singing. If it were easy to come and go, he would visit again.

  A place where you could see magic was fascinating. How did the warlocks assessing him and Saka not see the opportunities… the expansion of the use of magic if it were constantly being replenished and if the demons worked willingly instead of grudgingly? The opportunities to learn and share knowledge.

  “He is armed,” a warlock finally replied.

  “A soldier?” Angus continued to play dumb.

  “They have no armies in Demonside. He is not a good selection. We should start over.”

  “No. He is my demon. The connection was made for a reason.” As he spoke Angus realized the weight of those words. The connection had been made for a reason. Not because of strength or ability but because of knowledge and desire. He met Saka’s gaze, the endless black of his eyes.

  Saka straightened a fraction. This time when he dipped his horns, it was in acknowledgment. He understood.

  So did the warlocks. They went back to muttering amongst themselves.

  Angus couldn’t shrug because the warlocks were watching him, but he rolled his eyes and smiled, glad no one could see his face. Saka couldn’t do much in case a warlock noticed, but the mark carved into Angus’s chest became hotter. He thought Saka might have winked.

  A warlock coughed. “Very well. Let’s hope you have him under control. Your father would be most upset if you were taken to Demonside.”

  Angus pressed his lips together to keep from either laughing or arguing—he wasn’t sure which. Saka’s eyes narrowed, and his tail flicked. He looked as though he’d like to smite that warlock and drag him off to Demonside.

  “Shall I draw up some power and then let him go?”

  “Yes, yes finish this off.”

  He didn’t have to draw energy as Saka gave it. The scar heated further as the magic sank into him. Whatever the rest of the day held, he had more magic than he could handle, or need. It would of course dissipate overnight. Magical energy couldn’t be stored in bodies, but it could be shared.

  In Demonside it could be stored. He’d seen Saka’s glass orbs.

  Could it be stored on this side of the void too?

  Now wasn’t the time to ask either Saka or the warlocks. He probably wasn’t even supposed to be thinking of those questions. He was supposed to be listening and obeying. Learning by rote to become a good warlock.

  In his heart he knew he was already becoming a rogue warlock.

  Angus sat in his room and stared at the website. Saka had said to seek out the underground. The idea had occurred to him after the warlocks tried to hide his memories. That Saka wanted him to make contact was intriguing. Were the demons in charge already working with humans? If so that mea
nt that things were changing.

  He had no proof, though. All he knew about the wizard underground was what Jim had told him—which wasn’t that much as at the time Jim had been on the fringe, trying to decide if he was being edgy and cool or if he actually cared and wanted to make the world a better place. Right now all Angus could think about was surviving college. If the underground could help with that, then that was where he’d look for answers, or at least look for someone who could help him.

  Hopefully Jim wouldn’t be a prat. Over the last four months, they hadn’t kept in touch, except through the occasional post on Wheel, a social network for warlocks and wizards. When Angus had entered college, most of his nonmagical friends had fallen away.

  Angus pulled up Jim’s profile… he was dating someone else already. A woman. Well, that was unexpected.

  What should Angus say to him after all this time?

  You were right? No, they both knew that Warlock College wasn’t where Angus had wanted to be. They had both believed that there was something going on behind the magic of the most powerful warlocks. They had bought into the conspiracy theories of the underground.

  Asking for help wouldn’t get him anywhere, and he wasn’t sure what help he needed. He wasn’t sure what help Jim could give. Angus tapped the desk. Why would any wizard help a warlock? Especially those in the underground who were fighting for demonic rights and the end to drawing magic across the void.

  Why would Saka point him in this direction? He had the feeling that Saka knew more than he’d let on. Yeah, but if he were Saka, he wouldn’t trust a warlock easily either. While it wasn’t expressly forbidden for students to make contact with the underground, it was one of those things that if discovered could go against a young warlock when trying to get a job. It was a smear and mark of untrustworthiness.

  His name was already marked because he’d been taken. There wasn’t much else the college could do to him… getting kicked out was what he’d wanted in the first place. The underground might be interested in all the things he wasn’t supposed to remember.