“And?” Kristy asks impatiently.
“They found brimstone in the soil near the door.”
“Shit,” Kristy and I say at the same time.
“There was a demon attack, that’s not unusual,” Kristy tries to assure us all.
“It is if we’re trying to downplay the demon’s powers. Only Third Hierarchy and above can pass back and forth between the realms of earth and Hell. And when they pass through…”
“The soil where the gate was opened is poisoned with brimstone,” I finish.
“I still don’t see how this is concerning,” Kristy presses.
Evander puts his hand on my shoulder and takes in a breath. “They know Callie fought off the demon.”
“Do they know about Lucas?” I interrupt.
“I didn’t hear them bring up a vampire, but they seemed a little distracted, seeing how it’s, well, impossible for you to do what you did, sister.”
The heat intensifies, but suddenly I’m cold. “I know. And I don’t know how I did that. I promise—”
“I believe you,” Evander promises. “And so does my mother. But the Grand Coven…they know it’s not possible for a witch, let alone a young witch like you, to kill a demon with royal heritage as easily as you did.” His brow furrows. “They think you made a deal. That you’re working with him.”
“Him?” I ask.
Evander’s brows push together, and worry clouds his brown eyes. “The Devil.”
Chapter 9
“That’s ridiculous,” I spit. “I didn’t make a deal with the Devil, nor would I ever. I’ll admit I’m reckless and impulsive, but I don’t have a death wish.”
Kristy twists the ties to her cloak around her fingers. “I hate to admit that this has any validity, but it does. I mean, if you look at it from their point of view.” Her blue eyes meet mine, and she frowns apologetically. “The demon was after twenty-five-year-old Virgos, which you are, and then you were able to fight it off. We know that’s not how things went down, but from an outsider looking in…”
“Fucking hell, I see it too.” My eyes fall shut, and I shake my head. “What do I do now?”
“Leave,” Evander says. “Dessert is optional, and many have already left. The Grand Coven has a sentencing tomorrow, and I know Ruth and Albert will be leaving tonight. Go before they have a chance to question you about it, because we both know the punishment for being found guilty of Satanism.”
“I’ll go too,” Kristy says. “Make it look not as obvious as just Callie leaving.”
“Good thinking.” Evander pulls me into a hug. “Stay safe, sister. Maybe the next time I see you we won’t be fighting demons or worrying about excommunication.”
“You totally jinxed us.”
“Good thing I have a counter spell for that,” he laughs, patting my back before letting me go.
“Oh, before we leave,” I say. “The Ley line seemed weird.”
“Weird in what sense?”
I shake my head. “I’m not really sure other than it gave off more of a pulse of magic than normal.”
“It could be from the Solstice.”
“That’s what we thought too.”
“I’ll make a note of it with the council. Now go, Callie!”
Kristy takes my hand. “We’re leaving.”
“Thanks for doing this,” I tell Kristy as we walk through the now-empty hall. “I know you like cake.”
“I do, and I expect you to make me one. Oh! That mayonnaise one with the really creamy frosting.”
“I can handle that.”
“And really, don’t feel bad. Daniel was making eyes at me during the gathering.” She wrinkles her nose. “Maybe I should give him another chance. He’s just a little suffocating.”
“Have you told him that?”
“No!” she gasps.
“Maybe you should, and he’ll give you some space.”
“I’ve thought about it, but the right time never came up.”
“So you’d rather ghost him instead,” I laugh. “If the spark isn’t there then don’t settle. But if you want to be with him without things getting too serious, let him know and see if he’s game. Though I’m sure if you’re offering sex, he’s going to go with whatever you say.”
She laughs. “I’m sure too. We get along so well. Too well, maybe. Like we’re better as friends.”
“You need a bad boy,” I tease. “Someone to bring out the wild side I know is hidden underneath all your love potions and charms.”
“I do think I’d rock a nose ring and leather jacket.”
“Oh, you totally would.” We walk back into the gathering hall, heading for the door.
“Leaving already?” someone asks, and I don’t have to turn around to know that voice belongs to Ruby Darrows.
“Yeah,” I say, looking behind me. “We are.”
“Don’t you want to sit in on the festivities?”
“I’m not feeling well,” Kristy says, putting her hand over her lower abdomen. “I have bad cramps and want to get home to make a potion for it. Callie is walking me through the woods.”
“What a nice friend.” Ruby cocks on eyebrow. I get her distain in our younger years, but why hold onto it now? I’ve never done anything to her to make her dislike me like this either. It’s her own insecurities manifesting before her eyes, and I wish all women would know that picking someone else apart will never build you up. All it does it make you look petty and mean-spirited.
“She is.”
Ruby briskly walks over, looking me up and down. She saw vampire marks on my body the last time she saw me. She’s looking for them now, but she won’t see any thanks to Kristy’s healing balm. And the fact that the last place Lucas fed off me was my inner thighs.
“I hope you feel better, Kristy,” Ruby says, motioning to the door. “Ginger tea helps.”
“I’ll give that a try. Thank you.” With a smile, Kristy turns back around, and we use magic to open the door. The incantation is the same from the inside, but this time, I don’t have to offer a drop of blood to prove I’m a member of the coven.
“Invoco elementum terrae.” I hold up my hand, feeling power pulsing through me.
“Invoco elemuntum aeris,” Kristy chants.
“Invoco elemuntum aqua.”
“Invoco elemuntum ignis.”
Bright blue light fills the empty space in a large tree, and we both step through, emerging into the woods. The sounds of the night are loud around us, and I turn, making sure the door seals back up before daring to move away. I’m not chancing anything getting through. Not now, not ever again.
“I’m going to go home, pour myself some wine, and read the rest of my book.” Kristy pulls the hood of her cloak up to keep the bugs away. “What are you going to do?”
“Lucas, first and foremost, and then I think we’re going back to Chicago for the night.”
“That is a lot of driving around. I bet you’ll both be glad when that big white house is ready to live in.”
“For sure.” I toss an energy ball up into the air so we can both see.
“What about his businesses in the city?”
“The bar is his newest investment, and I think he’s trying to get Eliza ready to take it over so he can start something new.”
“Eliza is interesting.”
“That’s one way to put it,” I laugh.
“What’s the nature of their relationship?”