The Eighth Mage

by Tamara Geraeds

  Without hesitation, I throw four lightning balls in their direction. Then I focus on hail stones raining down on them. Some of them miss, but with a jerk of her head, Vicky sends them sideways.

  The nuns are hit. Their psychic pushes stop for a moment, and I gesture for my friends to get out of here.

  “I’ll stay here to help you,” Charlie says, moving closer to me when the others start to walk backwards and open the front doors.

  I envision the hail stones getting bigger and hitting all of the sisters, but suddenly I’m flying through the air. I connect with the wall to my right with unpleasant speed, and everything spins. I see Charlie collapsing against the wall opposite me. I expect him to push himself up immediately, like I do, but he lays still.

  There’s a shrill scream from behind me, and Gisella slides over to my best friend. She shakes him, but he doesn’t move.

  I try to get the hail falling again, but I can’t concentrate. Charlie’s still form is etched into my vision.

  An invisible hand lifts me and pushes me against the wall. I try to grab it as it goes for my throat, but I can’t move my arms anymore. A pathetic whine escapes my lips as I try to call for help.

  Gisella glances over her shoulder at me. She stands up to help me, but as she does, Charlie is lifted from the ground. He hovers at waist height for a second, his head tilted back, before suddenly rising higher and slamming against the ceiling. I can hear some of his bones breaking, but the harder I fight to free myself, the harder the invisible hand squeezes. Everything around me is getting hazy as I fight for oxygen.

  The last thing I see before my brain shuts down is the werecat-witch slamming her hands together. There’s a loud whoosh, followed by… nothing.

  CHAPTER 18

  “Babe?” Someone is shaking my shoulder. It must be Vicky, because no one else calls me babe. But her voice sounds contorted, dark and far away.

  “Come on, breathe.” She slaps my cheek, and I open my eyes.

  My lungs scream for air, and I suck it in with big gulps.

  “You’re okay. You’re okay.” She strokes my hair and kisses my forehead.

  When my breathing returns to normal, she takes my hand and pulls me up. “Come on, we need to get out of here. Gisella can handle this.”

  I blink several times, but my vision is not playing tricks on me. The hallway has grown darker. The sisters are all facing the werecat-witch with their arms outstretched. Shadows circle around Gisella as she stands there, her legs spread, her arms wide and her jaw clenched in anger.

  One by one, the nuns start to sway on their feet. One falls down, clutching her chest. This only makes the others more determined to take Gisella out. Their red irises glow brighter as they double their efforts. As one, they take a step forward.

  While Gisella brings her arms to her chest, Vicky and I hurry over to Charlie. He’s still out cold, and I place my finger on his neck to check his pulse. Tears boil to the surface when I feel his heartbeat. “He’s alive.”

  We lift his arms over our shoulders and make for the doors that have closed behind our friends. When we move through the left door sideways, I glance back and see Gisella bringing her hands forward in a pushing motion. I can feel the air move even from where I’m standing. Vicky pulls at Charlie, but I stay put as the force field that Gisella created hits the nuns. They are thrown back and land in a heap on the floor.

  “Gisella! Time to leave!” I yell at her.

  When she turns, her face is a mask of hate and anger. Dark, pulsing lines are etched into her skin, and her pupils are gone. It’s as if I’m staring into two gaping holes.

  “Pull yourself together, please,” I beg her. “We don’t want to lose you.”

  Her lips part, and she smirks at me. “You won’t lose me.” She shakes her head, and her red hair turns a shade lighter. The dark lines leave her skin, and her eyes return to normal. “I’m fine.”

  She catches up with us in what seems to be one stride, turns back one more time and sends all of the shadows to the fallen sisters.

  We step outside, and Gisella closes the door behind us. Charlie mumbles something incoherent when she gently touches his cheek.

  “He’ll be okay,” I tell her, and I gesture at our cars. “If we get out of here now.”

  Behind us, the doors of the monastery open.

  Gisella turns back around. “Go!” she urges us.

  The nuns file out of the building, and immediately, the whole street darkens even further. We push a half-conscious Charlie in the back seat of his car. Vicky slides in beside him and Dylan on his other side. When I see Jeep has already started Phoenix, I jump behind the wheel of Charlie’s car. I prepare to back up the car to pick up Gisella, but Jeep is already steering Phoenix toward her.

  Dark clouds gather above the battling women. Even though I can barely see them, I can tell they are throwing force fields at each other. Gisella is constantly bracing herself against the pressure, and the nuns keep swaying on their feet.

  The werecat-witch really looks like a witch now, with her red hair blowing in an unseen, strong breeze and shadows soaring above her. When the clouds part for a millisecond, I can tell that the look on her face is murderous.

  Charlie groans behind me, and my gaze shifts to him. “Are you okay, mate?”

  His hand goes to his head and then to his ribs. “I’ve been better, you know. What happened?”

  Dylan chuckles. “Your girlfriend is kicking their asses.”

  Charlie works himself up on his elbow to peer through the rear window. “Really?”

  Gisella throws her hands forward again, creating a blast that knocks over the sisters. A couple of them fly through the open front door. The rest scramble to their feet quickly, but Gisella hops inside my car, and Jeep hits the gas. I do the same to make sure we don’t collide.

  Something I can’t see shakes the car. The doors and windows rattle, and the vehicle sways. I grab the steering wheel tighter and push my foot down as far as it will go. The corner of the street comes closer at frightening speed. But so does the darkness behind us.

  A glance in my rearview mirror tells me Jeep isn’t the only one following us. The nuns have started their pursuit. They remind me of bad guys in superhero movies with their robes billowing behind them.

  “Make the turn!” Vicky suddenly yells.

  My attention flies back to the road in front of me. I turn just in time to avoid the lamppost and thunder on into the garden behind it. “Sorry!”

  “It’s okay, we understand,” Dylan says.

  “It still makes me nauseous,” Charlie responds.

  “Sorry,” I repeat. Then I point at the sky. “Look. It’s getting brighter above us.”

  Vicky turns in her seat. “They’re giving up.”

  I risk another glance in my mirror and let out a sigh of relief. The others have gotten away too. And Phoenix is still in one piece.

  I drive back to the highway and stop on the corner of the last street before it. Jeep comes to a halt behind us.

  “What are you doing?” Vicky asks. “Jeep can drive your car home. She’ll be fine.”

  I smile when she refers to Phoenix as a she, since everyone usually refuses to do that. “I know that, but I want to check on the nun, and we need to discuss our options. Plus, Gisella has to heal Charlie.”

  Vicky raises an eyebrow. “It would be better to do those things at Darkwood Manor. And if something was wrong with the nun, the others would’ve let us know already, don’t you think? We should get her to safety, at home. What if those possessed nuns come after us again?”

  I point my finger at her. “Exactly! That’s what worries me. Why did they possess those sisters instead of killing them and taking the soul with them? And what was in that hole on that ceiling?” I suppress a shiver. “They’re up to something. We need to find out what that is, and how to stop them.”

  Vicky’s mouth nearly falls open. “And risk the nun fall
ing back into their hands?”

  “Of course not, Charlie and Dylan will take her to Darkwood Manor. The rest of us will go back to the monastery.” I tilt my head. “And do you really want to save one nun and leave the rest in the claws of those demons?”

  She grits her teeth. “Not really.” She rubs her face with a guilty expression. “I guess I was a bit too focused on our mission.”

  “That’s not a bad thing.” I blow her a kiss. “I know you would’ve suggested to go back later. I just think it would be better to stop them as soon as possible.”

  Charlie moves closer to the car door with a groan. “I’d like to help. I feel better. Maybe Dylan can take the nun back to the mansion on his own?”

  I ponder that for a second while Jeep gets out of my car. “No, I’m sorry, but I think it’s better that at least two of us go with the nun. She’s unpredictable, so we need two people who can keep her calm and make sure she stays at Darkwood Manor until the coast is clear. And we need Gisella to fight the demons.”

  He bows his head. “I understand. You don’t need me to fight anymore.”

  “Actually, I need all of us, but as you know, you three are the only ones capable of driving home without me.”

  He grins at me. “I know, I was just playing with you. Keeping the nun safe is an important task, and I’ll be happy to do it.” His hand flies to his side. “As soon as Gis has put my ribs back together.”

  “Great.” I gesture at the driver’s seat. “Can you drive?”

  He looks at Dylan. “My head still hurts, and I’m a bit dizzy, so maybe you can take us home?”

  Dylan starts to laugh. “Are you kidding me? I’m too young to drive, and I don’t know how.”

  Charlie lets Vicky pull him out of the car while Jeep comes to a halt next to me. “You’ve been old enough in ghost years for quite some time, you know.”

  “I guess you’re right, but I still don’t know how to drive, so that doesn’t help us. And neither would getting pulled over by the cops.”

  “What’s the plan?” Jeep enquires.

  I nod at Charlie’s car. “Charlie and Dylan take the nun to the mansion while we come up with a plan to get those demons out of the other nuns.”

  “Good idea.”

  Charlie takes a step forward and nearly keels over. He grabs the car door for support. “Maybe we need a new plan.”

  Gisella comes strolling over too. I want to ask her where she got all of that power, but we have other priorities at this moment. So instead, I ask, “Can you heal Charlie?”

  She takes Charlie’s head between her hands and looks into his eyes. “I can only heal broken bones and such, but I’ll see what else I can do.”

  I leave him in her competent hands and walk over to my car, followed by Vicky. The nun nearly gets squashed between the ghosts in the back seat. Although not literally, of course, since they blend together to give her some room. Her arms are folded across her chest. I’m not sure who she’s mad at: us or herself.

  I pull the car door open. “We’re changing teams.” I bend over to meet the nun’s eyes. “Two of us will take you to a safe place while the rest of us go back to the monastery to save your sisters.”

  I give Taylar and Kessley some room to get out of the car. When I hold out my hand to help the nun out, she takes it reluctantly. “My name is Dante, by the way. I am glad you decided to help.” Without letting go of her hand, I walk back to Charlie’s car.

  Gisella has worked her magic. Charlie is doing a lot better. I open the back door and gesture at the back seat. “Charlie and Dylan will protect you. I hope we can talk later.”

  She lifts her foot to get in but changes her mind and turns back to me. She holds out her hand, and I take it. “My name is Sister Carol. Thank you, Dante, to you and your friends. I may be a sinner, but I still know good when I see it. I was wrong to leave my sisters, but I know they will be okay now. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you save them.”

  I nod gratefully. “Maybe there is. Is there another way into the monastery? A way through which we may be able to slip inside unnoticed?”

  She frowns but soon starts to nod feverishly. “We recently installed a garbage chute in the kitchen. Since I’m usually the one who does all the cooking and baking, hardly anyone else ever uses it. You may be able to climb in through it.”

  She explains how to approach the kitchen without being seen, and we quickly say goodbye.

  I slap Dylan on the back. “Stay safe. I’ll see you soon.”

  “I will light a candle for you,” Sister Carol says before she steps into the car, and I give her a small bow.

  Charlie hugs me as soon as he lets go of Gisella. Then he gets behind the wheel and drives off. I watch the car until it’s swallowed by traffic. Then I turn my head toward Gisella, who’s still standing next to me. “Are you okay? How did you do that?”

  There’s no need for more words; she knows what I mean. “It started as a reflex. I got so angry about what they did to Charlie that the power simply rose to the surface. But I could control it. I could direct it at them, and my mind remained clear.”

  “The evil inside didn’t overwhelm you? Not even for a second?”

  She tosses her hair over her shoulder with a flick of her head. “Not even for a millisecond.”

  Hope flows through me, warming my chest. “Do you think you can do it again, without the anger?”

  Briefly, she closes her eyes. “Yes,” she says. “I can control it. But…” She opens her eyes and meets mine. “It won’t be enough. I can slow them down, but I can’t stop them. I don’t know enough about my powers to do that yet. There might be more I can do, but not now. And I certainly don’t know how to get the demons out of the sisters. I’m afraid we’ll need a priest for that.”

  I beckon her to follow me back to my car. “Let’s ask the others if they know anything about exorcism.”

  CHAPTER 19

  As expected, Vicky and D’Maeo know a thing or two about exorcisms.

  I rub my hands when they’ve finished their stories. “Great. I suggest we try that. It’ll be faster than locating a priest who can do an exorcism for us. And one priest for nine nuns probably won’t be enough anyway.”

  “Good point,” Jeep says. He walks around the car and opens the door on the passenger side. “Let’s go get supplies and hurry back to that monastery.”

  He doesn’t seem concerned about another confrontation with the nuns at all, and that gives me more confidence. We saved Sister Carol, defeated the demons and held back the other sisters. And now we have a new plan: to free the nuns of their possessions. We can do this.

  A quick search on the internet tells me where we can find the nearest DIY-shop and supermarket. Since my Shield will flash home if we get separated, we can’t split up, so we all file into the supermarket to get everything we need, and then drive to the DIY-shop to get some wood.

  Maël takes it and sits down on the back seat, with her legs outside, covered by an old towel that I found in the trunk. I hand her my athame, and she starts to carve.

  Meanwhile, mostly hidden from view by Phoenix, we prepare the ingredients for our exorcism. I’m about to ask Vicky to hand me her necklace, which is a cross, to create holy water, when I think of something. “Hey, wouldn’t it be much more effective if we asked Quinn for help? He is an angel after all.”

  Vicky frowns at me. “Sure, if he has the time. Which he probably doesn’t.”

  “Easy enough to find out.” I check for passerby, and when the coast is clear, I call out to Quinn in my head.

  With a whoosh and a bright flash, he lands next to me. His dark face is covered in red lines, and I cover my mouth with my hand. “Are you okay?”

  His hand touches his cheeks and forehead, and he examines the red that sticks to his fingertips. “Oh. Yes, that’s not mine.” With a shake of his hands and head, he gets rid of it.

  “Did you find the miss
ing angels?” I ask.

  “Not yet,” he grumbles. “What do you need?”

  I raise the bottle of water in my hand. “Can you turn this into holy water?”

  “Sure.” He takes the bottle from me, lifts it to his mouth and breathes out. A tiny light jumps from his lips into the bottle. It illuminates the water for a second, spreading from the surface to the bottom, before vanishing.

  Quinn hands me the bottle. “There you go. Anything else?”

  “Yes, do you have some kind of angelic object that we can use for an exorcism?”

  “And the exact lines we need to recite?” Vicky adds quickly.

  Quinn’s hand goes through his short curls. “I can get you an angelic object, no problem.” He turns to Vicky. “And you don’t need to recite anything specific. That’s just something they do in the movies, but demons are not affected by them. All you have to do is be confident and tell them exactly what you want. The only specific word that truly affects them is their true name, but I’m guessing you don’t have that.”

  I scratch my head. “Not unless they’re called Tornado Demon 1, Tornado Demon 2 and so on.”

  His lips curl up a bit. “I don’t think so.”

  Kessley giggles. “We can always try.”

  With a smile, I shake my head. “Sure. But seriously. Quinn, what kind of angelic object can you lend us? And is there anything else that could help us exorcise nine demons?”

  His eyebrows move up. “Nine demons?” He breathes out loudly. “That’s a lot. Give me a sec.”

  He vanishes into thin air with only a soft whoosh.

  D’Maeo is pacing up and down beside the car, mumbling to himself. “If the bible citations and such won’t do us any good, does that mean the other things won’t work either?”

  I put a hand on his arm to stop him when he passes me. “Don’t worry about it. Quinn would’ve told us if the holy water was useless. We can ask him about the cross when he comes back.”