An orange glow from the fireplace reached the hallway, illuminating the side of the stairwell. Upstairs was pitch black, covering her in shivers, as she was well aware the house concealed a terrifying monster. And it was exactly where Gunn planned to go alone. Forcing the point of joining Gunn would end in an argument, which meant they’d be distracted, and the beast would use those feelings against them.
For years, she’d read incantations in books she’d found online. Most were fake, but she’d tracked down two Wiccan groups who were the real thing. They’d offered tips on honing her ability, in particular her morning ritual to ensure nothing ever attached itself to her. She had so much more to learn, like how she’d turned that goose into stone. She’d attempted that exact spell weeks ago, only to have it fail miserably. But now failure wasn’t an option, because she had to help Gunn.
First up was giving him extra defenses against possession, along with maybe an additional weapon. With limited resources, she had to use what she had in her bag for a strong hex. Like the dried raven’s foot. Those birds represented divine messaging, and witches had used them for death magic, too. Their bones were a quick way to conjure a spell of healing. A temporary fix, but still a temporary solution.
Remembering she’d left her bag in the kitchen, she headed down the corridor, hearing the splash of water from the bathroom where Gunn had gone. She rushed along the hall, feeling unease inching up the back of her legs, and she pulled the lighter from her pocket, flicking it on.
She did a sweep of the area behind her, the hall curving and heading to the bathroom and TV room. All clear. She rushed into the kitchen and headed for the drawers where she’d seen birthday candles. With a few placed in glasses, she lit them and set them along the countertop for light.
She grabbed her bag from the corner near the dishwasher and collected the raven’s foot, along with the pouch of herbs she carried everywhere. With all the contents in a glass, she placed her palm over the top, reciting an incantation in her head, the same one she did most mornings. “Safety. Strength. Wisdom. No evil shall penetrate this barrier.”
A spark of energy zipped down her arm, and, on cue, an arc of electricity shot from her palm and onto the ingredients. She raised her hand to watch them burn to a fizzle. Black smoke curled upward, and she filled the glass with tap water. With her hand covering the top again, she shook the items together.
She strained her creation with a colander into a fresh glass and tossed the remains into the bin beneath the sink. Their energies had been absorbed by the water.
With the potion complete, she scanned the room. What to use as a trapping spell?
She’d once read about a devil’s trap using symbols from the Key of Solomon. Well, with no internet, she couldn’t recall what they looked like and one slip or line drawn incorrectly could have devastating consequences. Considering how awfully she’d last messed up a spell, she couldn’t risk getting it wrong this time.
“I’m ready.” Gunn’s deep voice pulled her from her thoughts.
She whirled, her heart hammering in her chest. He stood in the kitchen’s entrance. “Shit, make a sound before sneaking up on people.”
Gunn stood solid and tall, some of his earlier cuts from the goose blushing red, others bandaged, and his wet hair glistened beneath the candlelight. He resembled someone who’d already gone into war, except the previous attacks were child’s play compared to what would come next. It hurt to feel the distance between them, and she missed the way he’d stare at her with hunger in his gaze. The way he lingered too close, tenderly touched her, his whispered words in her ear.
She picked up the glass and moved closer. “Drink this. It’ll keep you safe. No guarantees, but it should make it a bitch for anything to possess you. It’s only temporary, but it’ll last for two hours.”
He accepted it and studied the contents before sniffing the concoction. “What is it?”
“Just a small home remedy.” Telling him it included a dead raven’s foot would not go down well, so she planted a smile on her lips.
Without a word, he gulped it down and wiped his mouth, wrinkling his nose. “Tastes like grit.”
She collected the glass and set it on the counter. Silence settled between them. Pleading for him to change his mind made no sense, as he likely wouldn’t budge. And doing nothing meant they’d wait for the demon to pick them off one at a time. Still, her stomach hurt letting him go on his own.
Gunn adjusted his T-shirt, tugging on the hem, and moved the lasso on his belt an inch.
She dug into her bag and pulled out a quartz crystal in the shape of a small rod. “I carry this with me everywhere. I’ve blessed it under the moon’s light, and it’s meant to help me heal quickly.” She pressed it into his palm, pushing his warm fingers around the object.
His gaze never left her, but no words came either.
So many questions plagued her thoughts, but all arguments fell dead on her tongue as she studied his strong face as he held his composure. What he needed now was strength, not to be torn down, so she swallowed the angry words about him pushing her away. How he was wrong about putting her in danger if they dated.
She stepped closer to him, not caring that earlier he’d pushed her aside. “Just so you know, when we get out of this, I’m not taking ‘no’ for an answer or your sob story or any bullshit you throw my way.”
A smile broke through his stoic expression and his hand caressed the side
