Page 33 of Love Summoned

Our attention is dragged toward the source.

A sign for Wild Moon on the side of a brick wall points down an alley.

Sloane and I run, almost there when another scream and the clashing of falling objects echoes around us.

Sloane blows the door open with her magic. A woman with red hair, just like my vision, is pinned to a desk, while a demon with glowing blue eyes fights against her. She does her best to fend him off, but she’s no match for him, not when his fist ignites with inky fire.

“Hey!” Sloane shouts, summoning her power. A pink orb crackles in her palm, growing bigger and brighter then she shoots it forward, sending the demon toppling over. He loses his hold on the woman and goes crashing to the ground.

I rush over to her, helping her up while Sloane fights the demon.

“Are you okay?” I ask the stranger.

Her tawny skin is marked with streaks of gray dust from the scuffle. Deep crimson curls fall from her ponytail. She heaves in quick breaths as her hands clutch mine in support, but she nods.

“I’m Sera.”

“Delaney,” she answers absently as she watches Sloane continue fighting.

“Is it just one of them?” I lead her to a chair in the center of the room while taking in every doorway in the small store.

“From what I’ve seen,” Delaney says.

A pendant resting against her chest catches the light from an overturned lamp. It’s no Wiccan symbol I’ve ever seen, not that we have to wear something that declares our status, but most will wear something as a mark of pride and respect to the craft.

“I need to help my sister. Call out if any more show up?”

Delaney nods as I back away, jumping in to help Sloane.

She strikes the demon with another energy bolt. He catches it in an ignited palm, sending it back with half as much force as Sloane wielded. Her forearm comes up to block it, a force field lifting between us and the bolt. Energy ripples through her protective shield when it hits before it shatters to the ground.

“You’ve got the vanquishing potion?” Sloane retrieves a dagger from her thigh strap.

“Ready,” I shout back, pulling the vial from the pouch looped on my belt.

Sloane waits until the demon charges at us again, and he throws more power. It shatters against the shield when it hits, then Sloane drops the barrier. Gripping my forearm, I sink down, dropping my weight, and then Sloane tugs. I hold my core tight, flipping my legs as I somersault over the demon’s head, landing with steady feet behind him. He meets the end of Sloane’s dagger as I smash the vial against his back.

His screams fill the room until he’s nothing more than dust at our feet. Sloane stumbles back, leaning into the wall behind her.

“Sloane!”

My sister clutches her side where her stab wound is still fresh.

“I’m okay,” she pants. “Just winded.”

“Let me see.” I bat her hand away and lift her gray tank, exposing the bandages at her side. No blood has seeped through. I carefully peel away the cotton, checking the stitches beneath, but they’re still intact. In fact, she looks a lot more healed than I expected, considering it’s only been thirty-six hours.

“Huh… it looks fine.”

“Told you.” She smirks.

I chuckle, but it’s interrupted by a stampede of heavy footfalls.

“Hands where we can see them!”

I back against the wall, hands up as three men crowd us, eyes full of anger. A woman follows behind, looking forlorn as she takes in the state of the store.

“Oh, Goddess, look at this place.” She picks up the turned-over lamp, the woman we saved earlier no longer sitting in the chair. Where did she go?