Page 53 of Bedeviled

I’d almost forgotten about them, the Hungering Ones. Ancient entities that helped me once—for a price.

“If you’re going to speak to me, can you at least be helpful?” I say breathlessly. The voices don’t respond, so I continue. “It would be really nice if you could hold the demon in place.”

The demon slowly prowling toward me lets out a humorless laugh. “They do not answer to mere mortals like you.”

…For a price, Empressss…

The demon pauses.

“Name it,” I say grimly.

…We want blood…

“Done.”

The demon begins sinking into the damp soil, the earth crawling over his feet as it begins to bury him.

Now the creature isn’t laughing.

“How are you doing this?” he demands, shock pulling at his features. Another several inches of his ankles and lower legs descend into the earth.

I release another spell, one that’s nothing more than a strong gust of wind, but it’s enough to knock the demon off balance. He falls awkwardly to the ground. As soon as he hits the soil, the earth around him moves, rolling over his arms and legs, dragging him deeper and deeper into its cold embrace.

“The Old Ones don’t answer to anyone,” he stubbornly insists. He doesn’t look nearly so confident now.

I kneel next to him, my power gathering. “They answer to me.”

With that I begin to incant. “From blood and air, rock and flame, I banish you back from whence you came.”

I shove my power down my arms and into the demon. He grunts, his back arching as the magic sinks in.

Just as quickly as it takes hold, it sloughs off him.

The fuck?

Forming my magic once more, I repeat, “From blood and air, rock and flame, I banish you back from whence you came.”

Power plunges from my palms into his chest.

Once again, it slides away without taking hold.

“What in the Seven Hells?” I whisper as Nero moves to my side, his eyes fixed to the beast in front of us.

Why isn’t it working?

The demon laughs in my face. “Thought you could banish me?” He shakes his head slowly. “Foolish human. I cannot be sent back except upon the death of the mortal who controls me.”

I’d nearly forgotten about the terms of the forged bond made between supernatural and demon. The last time I sent a demon back, the bond had only partially been paid—the demon had tasted my blood and thus agreed to the binding, but then, Leonard Fortuna and the other man had proceeded to wait for that demon to kill me. And I sent that demon back to the Underworld before he ever could.

This one, however, completed the bond.

Behind me, I hear the crunch of pine needles.

“There are fates worse than banishment.” Memnon’s guttural, magic-laced voice rings out like a curse. I exhale, even as the hairs along my arms stand on end.

When he reaches me, his hand falls to my shoulder. Est amage, are you okay?

If I were standing, my knees would’ve given out. As it is, I lean back against him, allowing myself this small indulgence.