“Well, of course, love. Because where do those students live?”
“In Blackford.” I scrunch up my nose. “I hadn’t thought about that yet.”
Vicky strokes my arm. “You didn’t have time to. And it’s a lot to take in.”
Quinn puts down his empty bottle of beer. “Most of the students we know don’t have a clue that they’re magical yet.”
D’Maeo appears next to Mona. “Can you tell us how to get to the fight?” His fingers brush hers gently and she blushes.
“Sure. My friend wrote the instructions down.” She takes a piece of paper out of her pocket and hands it to him with the first shy smile I’ve ever seen on her. Normally she’s so confident.
I lean over to Vicky and whisper in her ear. “Were we as transparent as that?”
“I hope not,” she says with a wink.
Quinn looks at the ceiling. “I have to go. You should all get some rest and we’ll meet back here tomorrow morning to work on your memories of the premonitions.”
I let out a relieved sigh. “That would be great.”
We nod at each other and he disappears.
“I’m going home, too, guys,” Mona says. “I’ll come back tomorrow to keep an eye on Susan while you’re all out.”
I stand up and hug her. “You’re the best.”
Her sparkles gather everything from the table and put it in the cupboards.
“Leave it, I can do that,” I tell her, but she just smiles and hushes me, while D’Maeo watches her every move with longing.
When she waves and leaves the kitchen, the old ghost stares at her as if hypnotized, while the rest of us stare just as hard at D’Maeo.
Jeep pushes his chair back. “Well, since the soap opera is over for the day, I’m off to bed.”
Even Maël giggles now. “It’s been an eventful day again.” Her dark eyes bore into mine. “But we got through it and we will get through whatever comes next, too. Don’t worry.”
She vanishes before I can thank her.
I reach for Vicky’s hand and turn to walk out of the kitchen, when I notice D’Maeo still standing there.
I snap my fingers in front of his face. “Hello? Earth to D’Maeo! Time to get some rest.”
He blinks and looks at me. His gaze darts back to the front door and his eyes fill with disappointment. “Yes, rest.” Then he just goes up in smoke.
Vicky laughs out loud and drags me up the stairs. I expect her to go into her own bedroom, but she goes straight to the annex and pushes me onto the bed. She drops down on top of me and presses her lips into my neck.
I groan. “We won’t get much rest this way.”
She swats my words away. “Who needs rest.”
I want to protest, but she kisses me deeply. Her hands explore the edge of my jeans and I forget how to think.
CHAPTER 16
When I wake, Vicky’s transparent body is wrapped around mine. She looks so peaceful, and for a moment I just stare at her. She’s fully dressed, in her usual black jeans and black top with lace border. I’ve discovered those clothes come back on automatically, even when she puts on something else. Her black leather jacket has slid down her shoulder, and the blonde tips of her black locks curl towards her round lips. I bend forward to kiss them and she stirs.
“I’m going to check on Mom, okay? I’ll be right back.”
“Sure. I love you,” she mumbles, rolling onto her side.
I let out a happy sigh. Thankfully my life hasn’t been all bad lately.
I slide out of bed and tiptoe out of my room.
I jump as a voice speaks up from the other side of the hallway. “You do know she’s a ghost, right? She’ll move on as soon as her work here is done. Like all of us.”
Jeep is leaning against his bedroom door, his tattooed arms folded across his chest.
“What do you mean?” I ask, a chill already creeping up my spine.
“As soon as we defeat the Devil, we will all disappear.”
My mouth drops open. “What? No!”
He lowers his chin and stares at the floorboards between us. “Yes. We were summoned for the sole purpose of helping our masters defeat Lucifer. Once we do that, we will get the rest we all long for.”
For a second I forget about losing Vicky and my new friends. I take a step closer. “Wait, you long for rest? I thought you all liked staying on Earth a bit longer.”
“We do.” He pushes back his hat to scratch the skin on his head. “And we don’t. It’s hard to explain.”
My eyes are locked on his see-through frame. For a moment he has lost his usual care-free, semi-serious demeanor.
“Try,” I say. “I really want to know.”
His tattoos start to wriggle under his skin and he presses his teeth together.
“Are you okay? Do I have to call the others?”
He breathes in deeply and closes his eyes for a second. “No, it’s fine.” He wipes a drop of sweat from his temple. “This is one of the reasons why I’m sometimes sick of being stuck here. You don’t see it, but I have to fight these souls trapped under my skin every second of the day. Sometimes they scream at me.”
I wring my hands together. “I’m so sorry. I wish I could help you with that.”
“I know. But we all carry a burden of some sort. We are constantly torn apart between the desire to save the world and the longing for rest.”
There’s more, I can see it in his eyes. Something that hurts him even more than the constant battle against his demons.
I lean forward and touch his arm. He flinches a little. “Is there anything I can do?”
His familiar grin comes back, but it’s only his mouth that smiles. “Defeat the Devil a bit faster?”
The corners of my mouth mimic his. “I’d love to do that. And I’ll definitely do my best.”
He’s getting vaguer, ready to apparate to the kitchen, when I hold up my hand. “Jeep?”
He becomes clearer again. “Yes, master?”
There’s a bit of sarcasm in his voice, but also respect, and even a little affection. The combination makes me like him more every day. “Is there… is anything else bothering you? Any other reason why you don’t want to stay here?”
He averts his eyes, but not before I’ve seen the glint of sorrow in it.
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” I assure him.
“No, it’s fine.” He briefly touches the brim of his hat. “I would just very much like to be reunited with my wife. And I’d like to see my parents again. My friends, my… just everyone that has passed on.”
I lower my head in shame. I can’t believe I have never thought about that before. These people, these ghosts that were summoned to protect me, have loved ones waiting for them. They should have been with them all this time, but instead they are stuck with my family, fighting evil.
“Jeep,” I straighten my back and look him in the eye, “you have my word that I will do everything within my power to get you to them as soon as possible.”
He takes off his hat and bows. “Thank you, master. That means a lot to me.”
Before it gets awkward, he vanishes.
When I climb the stairs to the attic, a tear tickles my cheek. As I reach the last step, the gravity of what Jeep told me hits me full-force.
If we stop the Devil, I lose Vicky. We have only been together for five seconds, but I can’t imagine my life without her. My legs suddenly refuse to carry my weight and I have to grab the ragged handrail to save myself a tumble down the stairs. The top of my shirt is drenched before I even realize I’m crying.
“Hey, what’s happened to you?” Mona’s voice suddenly says.
Her warm smile greets me as I look up.
I wipe my face quickly and pull myself onto my wobbly feet. “How did you get in?”
“What a strange greeting,” she says with a giggle. “I can pop in whenever I like. I was awake, so I thought I’
d come by and check on Susan.”
“Oh.” I nod. “Yes, I was just about to do the same.”
“But you got some bad news on the way here?” She opens her arms wide. “You need some comfort. Come here.”
I hold up my hand. “Thanks, but I’m fine. The breakdown is already over.”
I try to slip by her, but she won’t let me. She grabs my arm and pulls me into a hug that almost smothers me. “Hold still.”
Grumbling under my breath, I obey.
While she holds me with one arm, the other moves around. I can’t see where, because she’s still pressing me hard against her chest. I remember her being smaller than me, but somehow I can’t look over her shoulder.
I fight the urge to free myself, and a sudden calmness falls over me. Suddenly my memory takes me back to the nights just after Dad vanished. I had the most horrible nightmares, but woke up surprisingly calm. It never made any sense, but now it does.
“You’ve done that to me before,” I say softly.
She lets go and beams at me. “Well, of course, I’m your fairy godmother, I’m here to ease your pains and worries.”
I open my mouth to ask why she didn’t take my pain about Dad’s departure, or my fear after my premonitions, but she strokes my cheek and says, “Unfortunately some pain is useful. That’s why I never take all of it.” She steps aside and waves at the bedroom where Mom is still lying in a coma. “Now, back to business, love. Quinn is on his way, so you’d better get on with this.”
I can’t bear to stay with Mom for long. The black stuff is creeping up her body way too fast and she already looks like she isn’t really here anymore. My throat clogs up at the thought of losing her, no matter how many sparkles Mona sends my way.
But after a deep breath, I kiss Mom goodbye and go downstairs, where my Shield is waiting.
The smell of coffee and bread floats my way and Vicky smiles as she offers me some toast.
“How domestic,” Taylar grunts.
Vicky glares at him. “If you want hot chocolate, you’d better shut up.”
The young ghost pretends to close a zipper over his mouth.
As I bite into my toast, Quinn joins us out of thin air. “Oh good, you’re eating. You’ll need your strength.”
My appetite evaporates instantly. “Great way to spoil the mood, Qaddisin.”
He grins when I call him by his real name. It’s still hard to believe he’s an angel, but I’m slowly getting used to it. I mean, it’s not stranger than me being a powerful Mage destined to keep the Devil in Hell.
I snort at the thought and the others turn their heads to me.
“Sorry,” I say, lowering my toast. “Sometimes it hits me how strange this all is. Surreal.”
Quinn takes a cup of coffee from Vicky without looking at her. “Surreal or not, this is no joke. And if we want to save your mother, we’ll have to hurry.”
D’Maeo stands up. “He’s right. Your mother is running out of time and we don’t know how long we have before that boxer’s soul is snatched by those sand demons.”
“Or how long before Vicky gets sucked back into the Shadow World and won’t be able to come back,” Jeep adds.
Vicky shivers at his words and I shove the rest of my toast into my mouth. “Righ’, le’s go.”
I halt in front of Quinn and wait for instructions.
He nods approvingly. “Breaking the spell that makes you forget your premonitions about the Devil isn’t easy.”
“What else is new?” I mumble.
“We’ll need to mix your blood with that of a creature from Hell.”
I let out my breath. “That’s it? No problem. We’ll catch one of those sand bastards, cut it and put our blood together in a bowl.”
Quinn stares at me without moving. “That won’t work. The blood has to be mixed inside you.”
Instinctively I back up. “What?”
Jeep grabs a knife from the table and waves it in front of my face. “He’s saying we have to cut you and make the demon bleed into the wound.”
Vicky takes my hand. “That can’t be healthy.”
“It’s the only way,” Quinn says with a sigh.
I push the fingers of my free hand onto my eyes for a second. “Okay, no problem. I’ve got my Shield to watch over me, I’ll be fine.”
Maël takes out her wand and holds it out in front of me. “We’ll be with you every step of the way.”
A smile creeps around the corners of my mouth. “Thank you.” I love how she always manages to whip out her staff at the right time. She’s my Gandalf, only much prettier and better dressed.
I turn my attention back to Quinn. “So what happens after this blood mixing?”
“I jumpstart a premonition.”
In my mind I see him connecting some cables to my mind.
“It won’t be pleasant,” he adds.
I pull my shoulders back. “Well, unpleasant is my new way of life. Tell me the plan.”
Quinn slams a hand onto my shoulder. “We lure a demon here. You guys fight it, but don’t kill it. Leave the rest to me.”
CHAPTER 17
It turns out luring a demon isn’t very hard. We leave Mona at Darkwood Manor with Mom and drive to my house. It looks nice and quiet, as if nothing has ever happened here. But that doesn’t ease my nerves anymore. I know now that evil can jump you from any direction at any moment, even when you’re prepared. There are different means of protecting yourself, but also many ways to break through that protection. At least I have my Shield with me now and an angel.
We get out of the car and Jeep points at the front door. “Time to trip over the threshold again, Dante.”
I smirk at him. “You’re so funny.”
He takes off his hat and bows. “I know.”
D’Maeo and Quinn step forward and scan the sides of the house, while Maël watches the street behind us.
I beckon the others. “Okay, let’s concentrate. If you guys hide inside, we might be able to surprise the demon.”
They blink out of sight without a word and for a moment I’m alone in the street I grew up on. I hear the wind rustling through the trees and the sound of traffic in the distance. Birds sing and the sun warms my face. In my mind, I’m transported back to my early childhood, when Mom was still healthy, Dad was still with us and I had no idea magic was real. Good, quiet times.
I turn back to the house. Maël is watching me from my bedroom window, her staff firmly in her hand. Although she doesn’t speak much, I feel connected to her just as much as I do to the rest of my Shield. It’s as if an elastic band is tied between all of us, keeping us together, making us stronger as each of our different trades are combined. As much as I would like to go back to a quiet, non-magical life, I don’t want to lose these new friends, either. I guess I’ll have to keep fighting to have it all.
With a few large strides, I reach the front door, unlock it and walk in, deliberately disturbing the line of salt at the doorstep. I give the door a push with my foot, but not hard enough to close it completely.
“I’d better pack some clothes to take to Darkwood Manor. And tools, I need tools.” I pretend to be lost in thought as I walk through the house, collecting things I need to stay at the mansion. Meanwhile, I keep one eye on the front door and check for my athame and Morningstar in my pockets.
“Don’t depend on your battle weapons too much,” Quinn’s voice says in my head. “Your magical powers are much stronger. Use them. But remember, don’t kill the demon.”
Easy for you to say.
I drop a suitcase on the couch, carry an armload of clothes downstairs and start folding them. It’s not easy to fake calmness, since adrenaline is pumping through my veins. With every shirt that goes into the suitcase, my heart beats faster. My focus never leaves the energy core in my chest.
When I’m halfway through the pile of clothes, there’s a rustle behind me. Sand slides between my feet and I whirl aro
und. “Oh, crap.”
Instead of the one demon we were hoping for, there are two. Their tentacles fill the whole room and their long, muscular arms throw the furniture between us aside.
“Sure, destroy more of our stuff. Why not?” I slowly close the suitcase and push it off the couch. I still need those clothes if I get out of this alive.
The sand at my feet catches fire and I jump out of the way, tumbling over the back of the couch. When I push myself back up, a tentacle smashes down. It hits my legs full force as I duck. My knees give in and a strong arm pulls me off the ground.
“Use your powers,” Quinn says in my mind.
Oh, right, I forgot.
The energy is not far away. While I’m dangling upside down between the couch and the sideboard, I summon a bolt of lightning. It glows brightly, making the demon turn its lizard head away. Its remaining three arms grab blindly for my hand, but before they can reach me I release the bolt.
Everything around me seems to explode and bits of reptile skin rain down on me. The demon howls, but doesn’t let go. It slams me hard onto the floor. Black spots fill my vision and the light in my hand flickers and dies.
“Guys?” I grumble, fighting to stay conscious.
There’s a battle cry on my left and the dark shape above me drags me along as it turns towards it. I kick the arm with my free foot, but it doesn’t even notice. It’s slithering left and right to avoid the sword that tries to cut it into pieces. I squint to see who’s holding it. When the black spots subside, I can make out a wrinkled warrior’s face surrounded by gray hair. D’Maeo.
Somewhere behind me I can hear Jeep yelling instructions.
I concentrate on my core again and think about ice. The tentacles below me sweep D’Maeo off his feet. As soon as the old ghost is down, the scaled head turns my way and spits sand onto the arm holding me. The sand catches fire, and the flames defrost the part I just froze. I increase the surge of power going into the demon. The flames extinguish and the beast roars. Its tongue shoots out of its mouth and hits me square in the eyes. I shake my head to get rid of the sand that blocks my view, but it doesn’t do much good.
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