Cid tried not to stare where Sariel’s sword lay. For the moment it was forgotten. How had it not effected Gadus? Were heritage demons immune to angel magic? There wasn’t enough information on them. These were the wheeler-dealers of the demon race. He assumed they were high demons, perhaps here before the fall. He had too many questions and not enough answers. Father Santos asked him to trust him that he could handle the problem here, and he had. Right now, Cid was questioning why he was overly keen to operate independent of PEEPs and, especially, Mia Martin. His choice to do so may just get them killed.
Jesse walked across the summoning circle bold as brass. He kicked the crystals to the outside of the circle.
Gadus looked at him.
“I’m just cleaning up,” Jesse said. “I hate a dirty house.” He walked over to where Cid had piled boxes of salt. He took one and plunged the acolyte’s dagger into it. He leaned against the wall and watched as an unseen hand took the crystals one by one while Gadus’s attention was on Arnold.
“We can leave now,” Arnold said. “Spend a few months in the warm weather and I’ll be right as rain.”
“You’re dying,” Gadus said, running her hand along his cheek. “I love you, but you’re leaving before my very eyes. I can’t go where the light is going to send you. Your refusal to take over Bridgeton’s body is a slap in my face. Don’t you care that I will be without you? Don’t you love me, or was all that a lie?”
“You chose a good man, and with a few exceptions, I’ve stayed that way. I can’t abide to have another death on my conscience. I was young and hot-headed when I took those lives, but now I can see that what we did was wrong. August didn’t suffer anything but loss of pride. It was innocents who suffered in this house. Walnut Grove House became a prison with the worst kind of warden. We did this. I will not participate in a regeneration. I’m sorry. I will take my love for you into the next life if it’s offered. If I’m to be punished, then I will do so knowing that I was so loved in life.”
Gadus looked at Bridgeton and couldn’t stomach looking at him much longer. How would she be able to do so once she forced Arnold into his body. She then looked at the very masculine Jesse. He stirred the desire inside her that she thought she had lost. She could return to an honorable existence if she took the contract with Jesse, and possibly enjoy herself too. Honor and desire over love, this was the trade she was willing to make. But first she needed a sacrifice. She had hoped for the pious priest, but the pedantic contractor would have to do.
“Acolytes, prepare my sacrifice.”
Father Santos saw that the robed ghosts didn’t move. A closer look showed that they were being pulled downward through the floor. They pushed at unseen hands, and when their hands were no longer any use to them, they twisted and screamed but could not free themselves from the Italian workmen ghosts who held them firmly from below.
CLINK! THUD!
The acolyte in the north spot of the circle fell forward with a crystal embedded in his head.
Before Gadus could react, another clink sounded, and the acolyte in the south position fell with a thud.
“STOP!” Gadus demanded. “Not here, you moron!”
CLINK! THUD! CLINK! THUD!
The last two fell. First east and then west.
Cid used this confusion to retrieve Sariel’s sword. If it didn’t work on Gadus, it may still work on whomever was resetting the power grid. He ran over and put himself in front of Jesse. He stood with the dagger drawn in a fighting stance his avatars used in the games he played with Ted.
“Careful, you’re not made of steel, Superman,” Jesse said. “But I appreciate you trying.”
A recharged Arnold stood up. His eyes glowed with strength and determination. “Gadus!”
She turned and saw him. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s time to stop this.”
“NO!”
Gadus picked up what was left of the carved screen and flung it at Arnold. Murphy manifested in time to slice the deadly projectile down the middle before it could reach the congressman.
“Come now, Miss Gee,” Arnold said, his voice calmer. “We’ve spoken about this. It’s time to leave. We’ve had a good run.”
Gadus walked over to him. Murphy stood in front of him.
“Sir, I thank you, but Miss Gee was just having a bit of temper. Please step aside.”
Murphy did so.
Gadus walked into Arnold’s arms. She held him for a minute before stepping back and snapping his head to the side. Arnold fell lifeless to the floor.
“Gadus, you’ve just condemned yourself. Heritage demons cannot kill their owners,” Father Santos proclaimed.
“He never owned me. August did. Arnold killed August,” she said.
As she talked, the ghostly remains of the acolytes were pulled through the floor, the black crystals disappearing again one by one.
Gadus walked over to Bridgeton. “You look nothing like him, or I’d consider you.”
“Looks aren’t everything,” Bridgeton said.
“True, but you have to be beautiful on the inside. You have no redeeming qualities. You carry the arrogance gene along with a cruelness that I’m not sure I can abide for long.” She walked over to Cid and pushed him aside with her mind. Gadus stood in front of Jesse. “The circle is free. All you have to do is summon me. We’ll sign the contract and take it from there.”
“I’ll do
