"Why wasn't the prisoner affected like this?"
Drugs, thedemon supplied.
"Probably high," I muttered. "What doyou eat, anyway?" I asked aloud.
Energy. I'm doing my best not to harm you.
"Great."
"What did it say?"
"It feeds off energy. It's doing its best not tohurt me, but I don't think it can help whatever it's doing to me."
No.
Somehow, we were already in my basement. Dariuscarried me to the center, and I dropped the charm on the workbench. Though he'dnever been down here before, Darius knew what to look for and backed me out ofthe circle that was permanently inlaid into the concrete floor with a band of silver.That had cost me a small fortune, but after the mistakes of my past, I had dishedout the money to craft a solid containment for my workspace.
The crippling pain cramping my stomach eased and Iheaved a relieved sigh.
"Thanks."
"Of course, Chris. Can you still hear the demon?"
I waited for a few moments for it to talk to me, beforeshaking my head. "No."
"Good. So, how do we cast a demon out of a charm?"
"Fuck if I know."
"Got any resources that might tell us?"
I shook my head. "I got out, Darius. I have a fewthings to put up wards, because I'm not a total idiot, but I got rid of therest."
He stared at me. "Seriously?"
"Well, I mean, I know where it's at. But it's notaccessible for a reason."
Darius ran his hand over his short hair and sighed. "Thatwas smart, but also inconvenient."
"Why don't you try a normal exorcism. If it doesn'twork, I'll put some thought into it. The charm is safe here, anyway."
Clearly unhappy with my suggestion, he still agreed.Yet again anointing me with holy water and the cross on my forehead. This time therewas no unpleasant tingle.
He studied me and I nodded. No demon.
"Okay."
Darius performed the rite, but with no body, and noreal resistance, we couldn't tell if it had been successful.
Sighing, I stepped into the circle and clutched thecharm.
Hunger washed over me again, and I doubled over.
Must destroy the charm. Bound.
The demon's voice had faded, but it was still there.
"Nope, he's bound. We gotta release the bindingsomehow," I stated through gritted teeth. I dropped the charm back on the table,almost able to feel the energy drain this time since I was looking for it.
Since I didn't have the charm in my hand, I managed toget out of the circle without Darius breaking it. That was a good sign.
"It's getting late," I declared. "I'mgoing to eat again, and then pass out on my face. Unless you're staying, youmight want to head back to your church and, I don't know, meditate on theproblem or something. I'll see if I can find something to help tomorrow."
I knew just the spell, but Darius didn't need to knowwhat I was up to. This particular spell typically found me all sorts of troublealong with the answers I sought. He might have had an idea of what I was up toby the long look he gave me, but ultimately, he gave in to my plan. I walkedhim to the door.
"I'll check in with you tomorrow."
"Sure, Darius. See you then."
"Be careful, Chris."
I didn't bother to reply. We both knew I didn't knowhow to be careful. Not really, or I wouldn't have gone with him today.
Darius walked to his car, a distinct, probably guilty,hunch to his shoulders. We locked gazes for a moment when he turned to look atthe house again, before he got in his car and drove away, leaving me alone witha bound demon in my basement. Kind of like last time.
Fortunately, this time, I really did think the demonwasn't out to hurt us. That would certainly be a first for me.
My stomach growled and I headed for the kitchen.
Chapter 2
Price
My senses full of the scent of old books and heavyincense, I followed the magical tug on my chest as the spell I'd cast at homeled me to what I needed most at the moment. Hopefully, whatever it was, wasactually the way to release the demon from the charm and not some other thing.I'd focused my intent as clearly as I could manage, and though I often hadmixed results with this spell, I felt pretty good about this casting.
The pull had taken me from my house to the downtowntourist district. I wandered past the artsy stores until the tug led me to, Ishit you not, the metaphysical store. The froufrou one I'd never been in. Whatthe hell?
I almost didn't go in, but the pull from the spell waspretty clear so I pushed open the door and tried not to wince as the nearlyphysical wall of incense aroma hit me.
Still, even though my senses should have beenoverwhelmed, I could smell the original scent that had clouded my nose thewhole way here. Musty books and heavy, spicy incense.
I barely looked around at the crystals, rocks,candles, dream catchers, and other things that littered the shelves. The pullstill tugged at me until I ended up at the counter, staring at the man whountil I'd walked up to him had been reading a book. He had bronzed skin, liquidbrown eyes I could get lost in, and medium length wavy black hair that justbegged me to run my fingers through it.
"Hello," he said and something like a middleeastern accent washed over me.
I managed to snap out of my flat-out stare as thespell released me.
"Hi," I managed, feeling more than a bitflustered. I hid my embarrassment behind sass. "Got any good books?"
He arched his eyebrows before he curled his lips. "Afew. What do you need?"
"Um." I glanced over at the store's copiousbook collection and sighed. It was all new age stuff. That was all well andgood, but they likely didn't have what I needed there. Why had the spellbrought me here? "Something to release bindings?"
"Perhaps you should find an exorcist. I hear the localcatholic church has one." He sounded bored.
"I am an exorcist," I snapped before I couldstop myself. "I can
