A Witch’s Demons (Witch's Path Series: Book 6)

by N. E. Conneely

  Tears were sliding down her cheeks, but she just looked at me.

  Closing my eyes, I counted to ten. “Look, even if it’s possible, I don’t have the power.”

  “It has to be possible,” Amber whispered raggedly. “Think of the witch clans. They have ties, blood, family, magic. Werewolves have pack bonds; even us birds form a flock. There has to be something like that between demons.”

  My shoulders hunched. “Maybe, but I don’t know anything about those connections. That magic is very different from what I do.”

  She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “Perhaps that’s the problem. The last witch who hunted demons died before clans became what they are today.”

  I picked up her train of thought. “She wouldn’t have known about those types of connections, but I know witches who do.” My eyes slid over to the books piled on the coffee table. “I have entire tomes detailing how those connections work, at least with witches.”

  “I can’t think of another life-form like demons.” She pulled me over to the sofa. “Magically, there has to be something that is unique to them.”

  “Maybe.” I drummed my fingers against the arm of the couch. “It would have to be a strong connection, one that would allow spells to travel along it. I mean, it’s one thing to simply kill a life-form, but the idea is to kill the demon, leaving the host a regular person again. Those are some complex spells to send along a tie.”

  Amber tilted her head to the side. “Are they really? An alpha can make one of his werewolves stop in their tracks, change form, keep secrets, and even enforce good behavior if necessary.”

  “Eh, forcing a change isn’t the same thing. The werewolf already has that ability. The alpha is mostly triggering the change.” I pondered for a moment. “But making someone keep secrets has some similarities. A simple command like ‘Don’t tell Billy about the surprise party,’ is too easy to get around. For a witch to force a person to keep a secret requires being very specific in the casting of a spell, but how witches use power isn’t the same as what werewolves do.”

  Amber looked at me, and I could see a ghost in her eyes. “The way Adder commanded his wolves, it was like a spell. If they were weak willed, he could make them do anything. Anything. If he was thoughtful and put enough power behind it, he could make the entire pack do his bidding. Why do you think they needed an outsider to kill him?”

  It seemed like a lifetime ago, but it had only been days when Ethel told me she could pull power from the clans. Leaning forward, I locked my eyes with Amber’s. “Tell me everything.”

  When I got home, I found a message from Wells on my phone. Wells warned me to watch my back. They were still trying to locate Dr. Wilson. I wasn’t even surprised Dr. Wilson was continuing to avoid them. Luck was rarely on my side.

  Even though it was late, I was buzzing with energy and ideas. I went into my workroom and dug up a stack of books Ethel had assigned me weeks ago. I went through the stack until a chunky leather-bound book, The Fundamentals of Clan Magic, caught my eye. Settling into my chair, I flipped it open to the introduction and started to read.

  There, plain as day, was the very information I needed. Clan ties operate on a different level than do most magics. Some would consider it to be a more primal level. At their most basic form, they work by identifying those who have a type of link and have been focused to include relationships as part of their selection process. Records indicate that at one point, all witches existed in the same clan. That lasted for a short period of time. The evolution from there to our current structure was relatively quick, with witches first choosing to form their own groups and move away from the original group and later wishing to be magically distinct from their previous groups.

  Amber was right. There were ties, deep ones. And if I could find the right way to target the demons, I should be able to identify them using a similar magic.

  It wouldn’t be easy, but it would be worth it.

  There were still hundreds of details and the actual spell to be worked out, but it was a start. Now there was a different problem. How to power such an effort.

  I snatched a different book, skimming through the introduction and first paragraph. Sure enough, just like ministers could draw power from their clans, the premier could draw from the minister, and with the minister’s help from the entire clan.

  Leaning back, I grinned. That would give me the power to fuel the spells. Of course, I had to get my parents, Ethel, and a bunch of other clans to agree. Though I really just needed Ethel’s approval. If I could convince her of the merits and validity of this plan, she would take care of ensuring enough clans were on board to get the magic we needed.

  Satisfied with my progress on that front, I went back to reading about older magics and identifying groups. I paged through two books, which only had information about identifying based on a shared physical characteristic or item that could link the targets. Since I didn’t have either of those, the books didn’t help. I went back to the first book, but it was about clans and witches, not magic, so that was the last useful reference I could find in its pages.

  Leaning back in the chair, I rubbed my neck. The medallion was feeling heavy tonight. I slipped the chain over my head and set the medallion on the desk. There was a slight whooshing, like something moving quickly through the air. I spun around to see a book flying through the air, right at my head. I threw myself out of the chair and onto the floor. There were two thuds.

  I slowly counted to ten. When nothing else happened, I peeked over the edge of the desk. The medallion was sitting between Varro’s journal and a book. I grabbed my chair, sat down, and reached for the book. When my fingers were a couple of inches away, the cover lifted up, opening the book. Then the pages started to flip. A few seconds later, the book was open, the pages lying flat, and a soft glow illuminated a paragraph.

  Some magical items can collect and store magic for future use. There have been documented cases of them expending this magic to the benefit or detriment of the bearer. Anecdotal reports indicate that these items can grow and develop as they age and gain the ability to benefit their bearer.

  I looked at the medallion. “That’s all good and well, but how do I use it? And does it even apply to you?”

  Varro’s journal flipped open. The pages turned until they reached the first blank page. Words slowly appeared.

  The medallions can help you. They are older than me and come from a time when magic was different. They can forge connections where modern magic sees none. They can protect you, power spells, and even cast spells on their own. Trust the medallions. They will protect you and help you kill demons. They work best when joined but can function independently.

  I lifted an eyebrow. “So you’ll help me?”

  It rattled against the desk.

  “Tomorrow I’ll start crafting a spell to kill all the demons.” Tomorrow, because my eyes were starting to lower with fatigue and I needed the sleep.

  The medallion sent out a pulse of light.

  Chapter Sixteen

  I woke up full of energy and focused on my goal. As soon as I finished breakfast, I made phone calls. One was to see if Julius, a gargoyle, could come help us kill the demon. The others were to my parents and Ethel. If I was going to make this work, I would need their help and approval. It took some careful phrasing, but in the end all of them agreed to be there in the afternoon for a talk.

  Rodriguez emailed me with an update on the vehicle that had run me off the road. A truck matching the description I’d given him had been reported stolen two days before. They’d found its burned-out remains on the side of a road at the Cherokee-Pickens county line, though they didn’t have any leads as to who’d stolen the car or who was driving it when it tried to run me off the road. It was disappointing news but not unexpected.

  With my phone calls and email taken care of, I spent the rest of the morning writing the outline for a spell. Every now and then, the medallion would warm and I’d find I’d written something di
fferent than I’d intended, but I was grateful for the help. It seemed like I’d only been at work for an hour, but when I checked the clock it was nearly noon.

  Landa let me eat in the kitchen, away from the residents and an overnight guest. I cut through the garden to get back to my apartment, stopping to spend some time with Ty. After giving him good cheek scratch, I went back to my apartment to set up for the big meeting.

  At exactly one, there was a knock on my door. Mom, Dad, and Ethel were all at the door.

  I motioned for them to come in. “There’s a tea tray in the living room. Make yourselves comfortable.”

  “Michelle.” Mom’s eyes darted between Ethel and me. “What is this about?”

  “I’ll tell everyone in a moment.” I shut the door behind them. “Would you like some tea?”

  Ethel’s eyes raked me up and down. “I canceled three appointments for this.”

  “It’ll be worth it.” And with a little luck, I could get the power I needed.

  Dad patted my shoulder and followed Mom to the living room. I hung back, letting the three of them choose their seats. Then, taking a deep breath, I pulled a chair in front of them, sat down, and started with the words I’d been rehearsing for the past half hour.

  “I’m so glad the three of you could make it.” My smile was toothy, but that was because I knew I was in for a fight. They wouldn’t want to give me the information I needed, but I was determined to get answers.

  Ethel, sitting ramrod straight in her chair, narrowed her eyes. Mom and Dad exchanged a look.

  “Since I started taking lessons with Ethel, I’ve learned a lot about our clans. However, all of you have very carefully avoided the specifics of power transfers. I know ministers can pull magic from the clan.” I pinned Ethel with my gaze. “I would think the premier can do something similar, though on a larger scale?”

  “That”—Ethel’s voice was icy—“is a conversation we will have when you are further along in your education.”

  “Why?” Mom looked confused. “Why would you need to know?”

  Dad sighed. “It’s a bad idea, Michelle.”

  Mom pivoted toward him. “What’s a bad idea?”

  “It’s the only way.” I couldn’t keep the desperation out of my voice.

  “It’s a way,” Dad said kindly. “But it’s dangerous, and there’s no guarantee of success.”

  Mom’s eyes darted between Dad and me. “Will someone explain?”

  “Think about this, Michelle. You could die. You could be burned out, and you might not even make the spells work. Is it worth that?” Dad asked.

  “Will someone explain?” Mom glared at everyone.

  I took a deep breath. “I want to know if we can pool enough energy to cast the spells against the demons so all of them would die. One night, one set of spells, all the demons dead, and we’ll have the local demon so we can be sure it worked.”

  Mom paled.

  Ethel cleared her throat. “And how are you intending to identify all the demons? Unless I am mistaken, you don’t have an item that belonged to each of them, or any other unique identifying property.”

  I didn’t answer her question, not wanting to give away the medallions’ importance and have someone try to take them. “I need to know if we could get enough power to fuel those spells.”

  “Do you have any idea how much energy that would take?” Mom asked.

  “Well, I suspect once you account for the energy drop over distance, that I would need to pull from most of the witches in the US. I mean, the spell has to reach the entire world at a high enough potency to capture and kill the demons without the direct application of demon’s bane or personal oversight.” I was trying to think about how much magic that was because I knew what they were going to say, and it was worth the risks.

  “Anyone who tries to manipulate that much energy would die,” Dad said flatly.

  I lifted an eyebrow. “I doubt it. Equally sizable works have been done in the past.”

  “By suicidal idiots,” Mom muttered.

  I shifted my focus to Ethel. “Can you pull energy like that?”

  “What you wish to do is rather more difficult than most works.” She held up a hand, halting the protest forming on my lips. “Due to the complexity of the spell, it would have to be cast in its entirety by one person. In addition, this would be a sustained effort that could not be interrupted. That is assuming the spell has been tested and is sound?” She tilted her head to the side.

  “Working on that part.”

  An eyebrow lifted, but she continued without further comment on that aspect of the plan. “From my understanding of how demons are killed, you will also have to find a method of binding the demon to the host body without using demon’s bane so that it may be killed, and also delivering the killing blow. Then, of course, we must consider the distance and magnitude of the spells. Hardly a small or simple undertaking.”

  “Correct.” I told myself Ethel would help me, not because I believed she would but because I needed her help. None of this would work without her.

  “It isn’t worth it. Kill this demon, but leave the others and live your life,” Mom pleaded.

  “I-I…” My words were going to hurt her and Dad, but it was the right choice. “I’m sorry. I have to do this. Demons don’t die. If I leave even one alive, it will hunt me for the rest of my life. I want to be able to live and have a normal life. I can’t do that with any of them still living. Not to mention the horrible things they do to the people around them. Since they never die, they simply leave a trail of bodies and broken lives behind them. That has to end.”

  The thump at the front door of my apartment drew everyone’s attention away from me. Elron was standing there, a thin book in his hands. “Michelle’s right. We have to kill them, and it can be done.”

  “You know how to do this magic?” Ethel’s voice was heavy with derision.

  Elron ignored her tone as he sat next to me. “I was paging through Sylvia’s journal when a line of text appeared.” He opened the book to a page near the back, one that had been empty the last time I saw the book. “‘Magic can be infused with demon’s bane if the magic user ingests the demon’s bane. The efficacy of demon’s bane increases when it is mixed with magic prior to being applied to the demon. Ingesting demon’s bane also prevents a demon from being able to move to your body and claim it as a host.’”

  “Well, that takes care of one problem,” I said.

  “Do you have any concept of the amount of demon’s bane you would need to ingest to ensure all the magic is potent enough?” Mom’s voice kept going up in volume.

  “Having worked with the plant, I do not believe it has any harmful side effects. I certainly would not recommend it to Michelle if I thought it would hurt her.”

  “Nancy, we are perfectly aware of your feelings on the matter,” Ethel said sharply. “We should continue this conversation like rational beings.”

  “You’re saying I’m not rational?” Mom screeched.

  I winced. While the two of them bickered, Elron took my hand in his. I squeezed and he squeezed back. I doubted he fully agreed with my plan, but he supported me because he knew it was right. With the news of how to distribute the demon’s bane, my crazy idea was becoming a plan.

  My eyes settled on Dad, and I finally realized Mom was being the most vocal, but Dad, well, he was seeing something. A frown was etched deep in his face, and his eyes were filled with a mix of pain and pride. Our gazes met, and for a long moment he looked at me. Then he nodded.

  “I’m going to help her.” His words were quiet, but they cut through the bickering like a foghorn.

  Mom and Ethel gaped at him, trying to absorb what they had heard.

  He spoke to Mom first. “All those nights when she was young and I couldn’t be there, I worried. I knew we were doing the right thing, keeping all of us safe, but that was never enough for me. I wanted her to grow up strong, with a moral compass and firm ethics. I wanted her to know w
hen to fight for what was right.” He shook his head. “However, imagine my surprise when I got to know her as an adult and she was everything I could have hoped for in a daughter and more.

  “The safety of one person, or even the group of us, isn’t worth more than the lives these demons take. It’s still a difficult spell. There are problems and concerns. It could kill her or leave her unable to perform magic. It could do that to all of us, but if we manage to kill the demons, even if we don’t survive, we’ve given the world a great gift. I’m going to help her, not because I like the idea of my daughter doing this, but because it’s the right thing to do.”

  I was on my feet and hurling myself into his arms before the last word faded from the air. “Thank you, Dad. Thank you.”

  His arms were almost too tight around me. “But,” he whispered. “You aren’t allowed to die. You hear me? You aren’t allowed to die.”

  “I promise,” I whispered back. A little voice in my head reminded me that I shouldn’t make promises I couldn’t keep.

  Ethel sighed gustily. “I’ll assist, but this spell needs to be perfect. I still need you to be the next premier.”

  I looked at Mom. “Please?”

  She shook her head. “How can I agree? As your mother, I’m supposed to protect you.”

  My shoulders drooped. There had to be a way of explaining this to her, one that helped her understand how important this was to me.

  “In this case”—Dad’s words were soft—“helping her is protecting her. Michelle will attempt this spell with or without us. Our options are to be there for her or stand aside.”

  Mom held Dad’s gaze for a long moment. I wasn’t sure what passed between them, but when she focused on me, she nodded. “I’m not happy,” she said, “but I’ll help.”