Page 59 of Heavensent & Hellbent

I decree thee to exit here.

Hear my roar and leave.

I demand you with all my power:

Be here no more.

Well, shit.

25

My curtains were drawn, the bedroom door closed with my suitcase pressed against it for extra privacy. Dad was on a work call across the hall, and Ehsan was still gaming downstairs. It was risky, doing what I was about to do with them so close, but I had no choice.

My phone buzzed again.

Zain

Is everything okay? I just want to make sure you’re all right.

And are you still free to meet tonight? I need to go away tomorrow for another week.

It physically hurt to look at his name on my phone—and I was weak, curiosity and longing clouding my judgment.

Sorry I missed your message! I’m fine. Where are you going?

Training. Will I be able to say bye to you before I go?

I stared at his message and replied quickly, knowing I couldn’t linger or I’d let those emotions take hold over what my brain knew I had to do.

My dad wants us to spend time together today, so I won’t be able to get away. See you when you’re back?

Damn, okay. I told Sebastian about the jinn bothering you (not the full extent), and he offered to watch over your house, just to make sure you’re safe from them while I’m gone. Is that okay?

I was touched that he cared, but the words only frightened me. What if Sebastian figured out what I was and told Zain?

To stop myself from spiraling, I put my phone on airplane mode. Everything was relatively still, except for my heavy breathing. I took a sip of water and placed the glass on the floor next to me. I was dehydrated and I couldn’t remember the last thing I had eaten. I had been so overwhelmed last night I hadn’t had dinner, so it had probably been twenty-four hours since I last ate. Under normal circumstances that would have had me wanting to eat a cow, despite being a vegetarian, but I felt nothing of hunger now.

Unfolding the note, I reread the spell. I had an idea, an amendment to the spell that would give me everything I wanted.

Sun streamed through the cracks on either side of the curtains, illuminating the dust that floated in the air.

Closing my eyes, I muttered the words I had memorized. “I call to thee from the great unknown, hear my cry, hear my moan. I call to thee, the great Jaleh Esfandari. I demand you, I decree you. Show yourself.”

Hope rose within me at the prospect of seeing my mum. She would explain everything. A lump caught in my throat, and I blinked through tears. My ears were hypersensitive to noise. I had even turned off the air-conditioning. I opened my eyes slowly and, seeing no change in the room, let out a deep sigh.

“Of course,” I muttered before noticing that the candle was unlit. Grabbing the box of matches next to me, I relit it. I gazed at the flame on the long candlestick. The more I looked at it, the higher the flame seemed to get. It was almost like I was controlling it. I shook my head to clear the thought, but that led to the flame moving in the same direction, from left to right.

Encouraged, I read the words again, this time with more confidence.

“I call to thee from the great unknown, hear my cry, hear my moan. I call to thee, the great Jaleh Esfandari. I demand you, I decree you. Show yourself!”

I kept my eyes open this time, seeing exactly when the flame was extinguished. It was just after I said my mum’s name. I sat up straighter and breathed deeply, ignoring the swell of emotions that were threatening to break free.

I recited the words again.

Nothing.

I relit the candle one last time.