“Are you certain this is the demon Lust?” Jackson asked.
“There’s no other explanation,” Moira said. “The marks on the bodies too closely resemble the marks left by the demon Envy.”
“But I’ve heard that demon marks are common when practicing black magic,” Jackson said.
Moira didn’t respond, and Rafe knew she was upset. She’d been marked by a demon once, and it had nearly killed her. The mark was gone, but it still affected her. She never talked about it with him, and he realized that at some point he was going to have to get her to tell him exactly what happened all those years ago.
“These marks,” Rafe said when Moira didn’t respond, “are unique. They look more like birthmarks, with a thin dark red line inside forming a satanic mark, similar to what you see in occult rituals, but at the same time different than anything we’ve seen before.”
Moira said, “Other demon marks are small, simple brands. The Seven Deadly Sins mark their victims with far more elaborate designs.”
“If the demon is trapped in the chalice, we can put it in a vault, correct?” Jackson said.
“It would be unstable,” Moira said. “We need something sacred to trap it completely.”
Jackson said, “I brought an iron box with me; it will hold the chalice.”
“If it’s all we have,” Moira said.
“There’s another idea-something more permanent than storing it in a vault.”
Moira and Rafe both looked at Jackson. “We’re all ears,” Moira said.
“In theory, if the demon is trapped in the chalice, it should go back to Hell. At that point, while it’s trapped, we melt the chalice and that portal will be closed forever.”
Moira frowned. “That destroys the chalice, but are you certain it will also destroy the demon?”
“I don’t see why it wouldn’t.”
Moira was skeptical on that point, and Rafe asked her, “What are you thinking?”
“This is the demon Lust we’re talking about. It’s not going to let itself get melted.”
“It may not have a choice.”
“We need to talk to Anthony before we do anything like that,” Moira said. “And if the demon is out and about somewhere? Not trapped in the chalice?”
“I don’t know.”
“So we can’t melt the vessel until the demon is trapped.”
“Maybe we can-maybe that would kill it.”
“More likely, if you destroy the portal, its bonds are broken and it’s free.”
“We can use traditional exorcisms,” Rafe said.
“Without the chalice, there’s nothing keeping the demon here. It can go anywhere, do anything, kill anyone,” Moira said.
Jackson said, “I found an exorcism that will draw back the demon and close the portal.”
Moira held out her hand. “Let me see it.”
Jackson reluctantly handed it over. She read it, shaking her head. “No, no, no!”
“But it’s the only way-”
“Moira?” Rafe said.
“It’s a spell, not an exorcism. Exorcisms work one way-sending demons to Hell. Spells summon the demon to you.” Moira was agitated.
“But it could save someone’s life!” Jackson said.
Moira threw up her hands. “You of all people should know better! I don’t care how good or noble our motivation is in stopping this demon, I will not resort to spells and witchcraft to trap it. It can only end in blood.”
“So we wait until the coven calls the demon back?”
“I’d say yes, but that means letting someone else die. Maybe more than one person. I can’t do that. The only thing we can do is control the chalice. Get it away from Wendy and her coven. Then, find who the demon is possessing and perform a
She glanced at her watch. “Anthony should be in Italy soon. We need his input. I don’t know anyone else who’ll know where to get the answers about whether we melt the damn thing with the demon inside or not, or what we can use to imprison Lust. Anthony can be a jerk, but he knows more about specific demons than I do. All those books he reads.”
She was trying to make light of the situation, but Rafe felt her concerns. He strode to the dresser and stood with her. Moira needed to know he was with her one hundred percent.
“Wendy will protect that damn thing with everything she’s got,” Moira said, changing the subject.
“How will we know if the demon is inside the chalice?” Rafe asked.
“The glass changes color,” Jackson said. “But that’s also easy for a witch to fake.”
Moira said, “I’ll know.”
“If they value it so much, won’t they lock it up?”
“No reason to,” Moira said. “They probably have a hidden altar-either a locked room or a room behind a false wall. I can find it. Protective magic will be stronger the closer we get to the chalice.” She frowned, and Rafe reached over and took her hand. He didn’t say anything, but she squeezed back.
She cleared her throat. “So what’s your plan?”
“We wait until everyone inside is asleep. Then we go in and steal the chalice. Put it in Jackson’s iron box, and then … what?”
“I have a vault,” Jackson said. “I can keep it there. It will be safe, at least for a while.”
“See?” Rafe smiled. “A plan.”
“Waiting. My favorite thing,” Moira said sarcastically as the three of them left the hotel room.
As soon as Anthony landed in Italy and worked his way through customs, he called Skye even though it was nearly two in the morning in California. He’d promised he’d call when he landed, and if he woke her he’d say good night and remind her that he loved her.
He simply wanted to hear her voice.
Skye picked up on the first ring. “Anthony?”
“Good morning. Why are you awake so late, love?”
“I can’t sleep.” She sounded exhausted.
“What’s wrong?”
“What isn’t wrong?”
Anthony stopped walking through the airport and found a place against the wall where he could stand without being bumped by other passengers. “Tell me. Is it the situation in L.A.?”
“Partly, but Rafe and Moira are working on it. They’re consulting with Jackson Moreno. Know him?”
“Yes, very well.” He breathed marginally easier. “He’s trustworthy.”
“Good, because I had to come home. Truxel dropped the charges against Elizabeth Ellis. She’s out of jail.”
“And Lily?”
“She’s here with me. Then there’s the press-” She stopped.
Anthony heard the tension and stress in Skye’s voice.
“I’m not going to complain.”
“You can tell me anything, Skye.”
“I know. You do your thing, come back soon, okay?”
Anthony spotted John Vasco from St. Michael’s crossing the baggage claim area. Anthony raised a finger and John nodded.
“Of course,” Anthony said quietly. “As soon as possible. Are you okay, Skye?”
“I’d be better if you were here.”
“I miss you,
“Ditto.”
“Be careful. I’ll be home as soon as I can. I love you.”
