Patrick met my eyes and shrugged. It didn’t look like he was any happier about the new arrangement than I was. We both planned to cooperate simply because Erkens had asked us to.
And so another phase of my life began. It was a difficult adjustment. The fact Erkens was there to guide us made things the tiniest bit easier. We were family and that was all I needed to make it through the trials to come.
EPILOGUE
Bhesaj scowled as he got off the phone. The plan had been ruined by that stupid girl. He had been so sure she would show up, that she would do what he asked her to do.
He stared at the vial of ash he had paid so much money to attain. So much money, so much planning, and it was demolished because of Madison Meyer and her spawn. That was something they hadn’t planned for, or even thought was possible.
“Should we go straight to the next plan?” Bhesaj asked, sipping at his drink as he looked at the boy who stood before him.
Kip shook his head, his black eyes showing the fact he had been possessed. “No. We should give them time. We will let them believe they have defeated us for a time.”
“Is that wise?” Bhesaj asked, finishing off his drink in a long swallow before he refilled the glass and drank more.
“Are you questioning me, shaman?” Lanac asked, curling Kips mouth into a derisive sneer.
“Yes, I am,” Bhesaj said, draining another glass and again refilling it.
“Then you’re an even bigger fool than I thought,” Lanac said, taking a small step closer. “Drawing attention to ourselves at this point will only keep them on alert. If we lull them into complacency, it will be easier to defeat them later.
“They now have an archangel, a Nephilim, a demigod, an otherworlder with legendary power, a medium, and Madison. Not to mention all the others that you chose to torture for your own amusement. You are lucky to have made it out of the PSA alive.”
Lanac folded Kip’s arms and sneered. “None of us planned on interference from the future. Next time, we’ll know--”
“Next time?” Bhesaj barked, lumbering his way to his feet. “No, Lanac. There will be no next time,” he said, chanting quietly to himself.
He could feel the power of the spell, feel the power of the spirits around him. Sheenan’s spirit had shown up a few minutes before, along with the girl Adrian, all of them adding the power of their spirits to the curse he used. It was soul magic, the darkest of all the powers. It was also the most powerful.
Kip’s body jerked and spasmed as Lanac was slowly torn from him. It was not the typical sort of exorcism. It worked in that way, though. The demon would be drawn out without being sent back to hell.
Bhesaj’s big body sweated profusely as he lifted the box that held the binding rune inside the wood itself. He wasn’t sure his legs could hold him up much longer. He fought for all he was worth, finishing the spell as the spirits around him guided the demon into the box.
Kip’s body fell to the ground, blood pouring from his eyes, nose, and mouth. His spirit rose, though didn’t move on. It remained with the others Bhesaj controlled.
He reached down and snapped the box closed, able to feel the demon’s power through the box. He would be able to draw on it for years without having to deal with the creature’s foolish plans. He was in control and he had plans of his own.
Dr. Renat stepped out of the bathroom, an ornate cup in his hand. He handed the cup to Bhesaj, his eyes flicking down to look at Kip. Neither man made any move to help the boy, simply allowing him to die on the ground in front of them.
Bhesaj took the cup of Jamshid and lifted it into the air. “Come, Sheenan,” he called, his ability mixed with the magic of the cup drawing Sheenan’s soul into the body Dr. Renat had managed to get out of the morgue at the PSA.
Sheenan’s spirit hovered for a few moments until Bhesaj poured some of the elixir of life into his shattered mouth.
After a few long moments, the body moved. It did not take long before the body was able to move as though it had never died.
Bhesaj sighed deeply. “You fool. This cup can bring you back to life, not heal your injuries. If you had paid attention when I told you about it, you would have known this,” he accused, scowling at the broken face of the man.
Sheenan turned his head but his mouth could form no words. The bullet had torn his face apart, making it impossible for him even to speak.
Dr. Renat shrugged. “He’s useless now. Just get rid of him,” he said in a cold voice, turning to the door. “I’ll be in touch, Bhesaj.”
He didn’t acknowledge Dr. Renat’s words, his power busy guiding Sheenan’s soul back to the underworld where it had been. Their plans would be harder to bring about without Sheenan yet it would not be impossible. He would make sure Madison Meyer paid for what she had done. There would be no escape for her or for the world she so cherished.
Page of Thanks
As always, my editor deserves a metal. Her ability to clean up my messes and help to improve my stories is worthy of the gold. Thank you SO MUCH, Ruth. Your Ruthless editing has saved my books!
And to Alain, for the advice on out-of-body experiences and all the chats about everything and nothing, you are a FABULOUS beta reader and an equally lovable Twitter-twin!
Laura, do you think Mrs. Gentry would like my books? (LOL!)
And to everyone who read this book and have supported me through this whole series, thank you. Keep watching for more books in the Madison Meyer series. There’s so much more to come!
Keep in touch with me online at:
My Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Shannon-Reber-1450668291923946/
My Twitter:
https://twitter.com/ShannonArtWrite
My Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/authorshannonreber/?hl=en
My Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14219796.Shannon_Reber
Other Books by Shannon Reber
www.amazon.com/author/shannonreber
In The Works (The Light Bearer Prequel)
In Their Midst (The Light Bearer Book 1)
The Key (reprogramming the gods Book 1)
Ill-Fated (The Cintamani Chronicles Book 1)
Ill-Omened (The Cintamani Chronicles Book 2)
Ill-Starred (The Cintamani Chronicles Book 3)
The Cintamani Chronicles (The Complete Trilogy)
The Girl In White (A Madison Meyer Mystery Volume 1)
The Exiler (A Madison Meyer Side Story)
The Black Merchant (A Madison Meyer Mystery Volume 2)
The Dark Spirit (A Madison Meyer Side Story)
The Infernal Goddesses (A Madison Meyer Side Story)
The Thirteen Bends (A Madison Meyer Mystery Volume 3)
The Mistaken Son (A Madison Meyer Side Story)
The Team’s Tales (The Madison Meyer Side Stories)
The Shadow Walkers (A Madison Meyer Mystery Volume 4)
The Trail of Ruins (A Madison Meyer Mystery Volume 5)
The Fire of Hestia (A Madison Meyer Mystery Volume 6)
Friends and Foes (The Druid Heirs book 1)
Life and Loss (The Druid Heirs book 2)
Peace and Peril (The Druid Heirs book 3)
The Druid Heirs (The Complete Trilogy)
Misery (A Short Story)
Cadger (The Annwyn Revolution Book 1)
Illusion
Gray (Awakening Book 1)
White (Awakening Book 2)
Black (Awakening Book 3)
The Stockades (The Uniters Code Book 1)
The Sepulcher (The Uniters Code Book 2)
The Stronghold (The Uniters Code Book 3)
The Sanctum (The Uniters Code Book 4)
The Shrine (The Uniters Code Book 5)
The Uniters Code (The Complete Series)
The Seer (The Seal of Solomon prequel)
The Puppeteer (The Seal of Solomon Book 1)
The Gatekeeper (The Seal of Solomon Book 2)
The
Fire Wielder (The Seal of Solomon Book 3)
The Seal of Solomon (The Complete Series)
About the Author
Shannon Reber was born a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away . . . or her imagination was anyway. She lives in western New York with her husband and a wide variety of both real and imaginary friends who often battle it out for dominance in her head. Who needs another normal person in this messed up world? Read her books, or the evil overlord will take control of her mind!
The Next Chance Page 12
