Page 65 of Death Card

Sabine gives a stiff nod. “Once Rose died, Adelaide was able to make a move, but the Hightower witches have always preferred to run from their problems rather than face them.”

Orion swears under his breath. “What do they have against us?”

I hold Sabine’s gaze. “But no one knows for sure who actually killed her?”

“Nope, and no one ever will. There was never enough evidence against the Hightowers to be completely sure.”

I sit back in my seat and chew one of my fingernails. If Gran never found any definitive proof that the Hightowers were behind it, then that meant everyone was a suspect, including her own coven. No wonder she and Gramps forbade any talk of demons. She wanted to stamp out the knowledge for good.

But now someone is summoning demons again, and I need to know how to stop them.

I point to the sheet of paper on the table with Sabine’s drawing. “Can you tell me more about this?”

“It’s the alchemical symbol for magnesium.” She draws her shoulders back as a calmness settles over her expression. Sabine is a teacher at heart. “Quite a few demons are associated with alchemical symbols. Some believe that early alchemists wereinspired by their brushes with demons. Take this one, for example.” She taps the sheet of paper. “It’s difficult to extinguish magnesium once it’s been ignited, so it began to represent eternity. The particular demon who’s tied to this symbol is a pesky one. Once it’s been invited to this plane, it is very difficult to banish.”

Orion is riveted, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “You’ve summoned a demon, haven’t you?”

“My curiosity is purely from an academic perspective. I believe if we don’t understand demons and how their energy works, then we can never truly be safe.” She sucks in a deep breath. “I’ve summoned many a demon in my time. The lesser ones are useful for research and, thankfully, stupid. I can control them easy enough and banish ’em when I’m through. Your grandparents wouldn’t listen to sense when I explained that.”

“And they cast you out,” I say.

“That they did.” A distant expression crosses Sabine’s face. “Your coven isn’t the only one that feels this way. There are very few covens in this world that would condone what I did.”

I glance around again, wondering what would compel a woman like her to live here. “Why didn’t you leave?” I ask. “Couldn’t you have gotten a job at another university and continued teaching?”

“When your grandmother cast me out, I had only begun my tenure at Tulane. Starting over somewhere else felt like a colossal task. I figured academia had given me all the knowledge it could, so I came here.” She gestures to the room around us. “I made a home out among these people, good people who appreciate my skills in healing and mind their business when they need to.”

“How did Aunt Roberta know where to send that letter? Have you kept in touch with her this whole time?” Orion asks.

Sabine studies him silently. “Your family doesn’t stop being your family even after they’ve hurt you. That bond runs deep.” She stands and walks back to the stove. “I go into town from time to time. I wrote to Roberta when I first moved here, to let her know I was okay. We write to each other every few years.”

I remove Sabine’s final letter from my bag and hand it to her. “Why didn’t you write to Gran before she died? Were you still upset with her in the end?”

“Goodness. So many questions from you two.” Sabine unfolds the paper and stares at it for a long moment. “I meant what I said; I’ll see her again. It’s been a very long time, and I don’t like to carry a grudge. There’s nothing either of us had to apologize for. She’s been forgiven.”

Orion settles back in his chair. One leg is wobbly, so it rocks against the floor, but he doesn’t seem to mind.

“Sabine,” I begin, “can you tell us anything about Ga—the demon we’re up against?”

“I sure can.” Steam rises up from the pot on the stove. Satisfied, she comes over to the table and takes a seat between us. “Remember what I said about the lesser demons? Well, the one you’re dealing with isn’t one of them. That one’s a powerful demon known for playing tricks on mortals, fatal tricks. It takes pleasure in inflicting pain and suffering. But rest assured, it didn’t summon itself here.

“Demons exist on a different plane than ours,” she continues. “In order to make contact, they have to be invited in. Oncesummoned, they have a limited ability to affect the mortal plane and are prevented from leaving the confines of the summoning circle.”

“That means the demon’s still contained?” I ask.

She nods. “Unless someone has allowed the demon to possess their body, or if they are using the demon as an amplifier—drawing on the demon’s power. Those are the only two ways they are allowed to impact the world directly.”

Somewhere out there, someone’s made a bargain with a demon, but for what cause? I wonder aloud, “Who would use a demon to steal magic?”

“Someone who doesn’t have magic of their own,” Sabine says gravely.

“Or someone who wants more,” Orion says. He stands and crosses the room to the open window. The stiff set of his shoulders tells me he’s pissed.

Sabine shrugs. “Possibly. If so, you would be able to tell. Demons leave their mark on those they possess, although not in the same fashion.”

I remember Gloria’s words that night after Gramps said he would put an end to this if she turned out to be involved.You can certainly die trying, she’d said. It wouldn’t be the first time they’ve killed innocents in the pursuit of power.

Sabine clucks her tongue. “There’s also another possibility, and I can’t let you leave without telling you,” she says. “Witches aren’t the only ones capable of summoning. Mortals can too.”