For a Few Demons More - Ким Харрисон, читать онлайн бесплатно (полностью) 2 стр.

Keeping Newt distracted while Ceri worked was well and good, but the demon was nuts. The last time I had run into Newt, she had been at least rational, but this was unimaginable power fueled by insanity.

It was here! the demon shouted, and I jumped, stifling a gasp. Ceris breath caught audibly as Newt turned, her black eyes full of malevolence. I dont like this, Newt accused. It hurts. It shouldnt hurt.

You shouldnt be here, I said, feeling airy and unreal, as if I were balancing on a knifes edge. You should go home.

I dont remember where home is, Newt said. Vehement anger colored her soft voice.

Ceri tugged at me. Its ready, she whispered. Call him.

I pulled my eyes from Newt as the demon began to circle again, dropping my attention to the ugly, elaborate, twin-ringed pentagram drawn with Ceris blood. You think calling one demon to take care of another is a good idea? I whispered, and Newts pace quickened.

Hes the only one who can reason with her, she said, panicked and desperate. Please, Rachel. Id do it, but I cant. Its demon magic.

I shook my head. Her familiar? Would you have helped Al?

While Newt chuckled over my nickname for Algaliarept, her demon captor, Ceris chin trembled. Newt is insane, she whispered.

You think? I snapped, jumping when Newt slammed a side kick into the barrier, her robes swirling dramatically. Great, she knew martial arts on top of everything else. Why not? Shed obviously been around a while.

Thats why she has a demon for a familiar, Ceri said, eyes flicking nervously. They had a contest. The loser became her familiar. Hes more of a caretaker, and hes probably looking for her. They dont like it when she slips his watch.

The lights in my head started to go on, and my mouth dropped open. Seeing my understanding, Ceri tugged me down to her pentagram drawn in blood. Grabbing my wrist, she turned it palm side up and aimed for my finger with her knife. Hey! I shouted, snatching my hand back.

Ceri looked at me, her lips pressed together. She was getting bitchy. That was good. It meant she thought shewemight live through this. Do you have a finger stick? she snapped.

No.

Then let me cut your finger.

Youre already bleeding, I said. Use your blood.

Mine wont work, she said from between gritted teeth. Its demon magic, and

Yeah, I got it, I interrupted. Her blood didnt have the right enzymes, and thanks to some illegal genetic tinkering to save my life, I had survived being born possessing them.

The humming presence of the circle above us seemed to hesitate, and Newt made a sound of success. Ceri shuddered as she lost control of the middle circle, and Newt took it down. One thin, fragile circle left. I held out my handconsumed with fear. Ceris eyes met mine, stress making her angular features beautiful. I only looked ugly when I got scared. Newts hand hovered over the last circle, smiling evilly as she muttered Latin. It had become a race.

Ceri made a quick swipe at my finger, and I jerked against the sting, watching a bead of red swell. What do I do? I asked, not liking this at all.

Blue eyes dropping, she turned my hand palm down and set it in the circle. The old oak seemed to vibrate, as if its stored life force were running through me, connecting me to the spinning of the earth and the burning of the sun. Its a public curse, she said, her words falling over themselves. The invocation phrase is mater tintinnabulum. Say it and Miniass name in your thoughts, and the curse will put you through.

Dont summon Minias, Newt threatened, and I felt Ceris control over the last circle swell while the demon was distracted. Hell kill you faster than I will.

You arent summoning him, youre asking for his attention, Ceri said desperately. The imbalance would normally go to you, but you can bargain with Newts location and hell take it. If he doesnt, I will.

It was a huge concession from the smut-covered elf. This was looking better and better, but the sun wasnt up yet, and Newt looked ready to tear us apart. I didnt think Ceri could hold her concentration much longer against a master demon. And I had to believe that the demons possessed a way to control this member of their species: otherwise theyd be dead already. If his name was Minias and he masqueraded as her familiar, then thats the way it was.

Hurry, Ceri whispered, sweat tracking her face. Youll probably show up as an unregistered user, but unless shes cursed him again, hes likely looking for her and will answer.

Unregistered? I wondered. Licking my lips, I closed my eyes. I was already connected to the line, so all that was left was invoking the curse and thinking his name. Mater tintinnabulum, Minias, I thought, not expecting anything to happen.

My breath came in a quick heave, and I felt Ceris hand clamp on my wrist, forcing my own to stay in the circle. A jolt of ever-after spun from me, colored with my aura. I felt it leave me like a winging bird, and I struggled to hold myself together as I saw it flee in my imagination, taking a portion of me with it.

I wont let him steal it from me! Newt shouted. Its mine! I want it back!

Concentrate, Ceri whispered, and I fell into myself, feeling that freed slice of me ring like a bell through the entirety of the ever-after. And like a ringing bell, it was answered.

Im a little busy, came an irritated thought. Leave a message on the damned landline and Ill get back to you.

I shuddered at the sensation of thoughts not my own curling through my mind, but Ceri kept my hand unmoving. Within Minias was a background clutter of worry, guilt, aggravation. But he had dismissed me like a telemarketer and was ready to snap the connection.

Newt, I thought. Take the imbalance for my calling you, and Ill tell you where she is. And promise you wont hurt us, I added. Or let her hurt us. And get her the hell out of my church!

Hurry! Ceri cried, and my concentration bobbled.

Done, the voice thought decisively. Miniass worry sharpened to a point and joined mine. Where are you?

My brief elation vanished. Uh, I thought, wondering how you give directions to a demon, but Miniass own thoughts faltered in confusion.

What the devil is she doing past the lines? Its almost sunup.

Shes trying to kill me! I thought. Get your ass over here and collect her!

You arent registered. How am I supposed to know where you are? Ill have to

I stiffened, jerking my hand out of the circle and Ceris grip when the voices presence squeezed my thoughts harder. Gasping, I fell backward onto my butt, my body mirroring my attempt to jerk away from Miniass presence.

come though on your thoughts, a darkly mellow voice said.

Heavenly Father, save us, Ceri gasped.

My head spun, and I caught a glimpse of Ceri falling backward. She hit her circle, and panic iced through me when it broke in a flash of black.

Oh, God. Were dead.

She met my gaze as she sprawled half upright on the floor, her eyes saying she thought she had killed us. Newt cried out, and I spun where I was sitting, only to freeze in shock.

Nothing stood between Newt and us now but a man, his purple robes reflecting hers in all but color. He was barefoot, and only now did I remember the flash of those robes coming between me and Ceri as he shoved the elf into the bubble to break it so he could get to Newt.

Let me go, Minias, Newt snarled, and my eyes widened at his thick-knuckled hand gripping her upper arm. She has something of mine. I want it back.

What has she got of yours? he asked calmly, his back to me. Newt was a head shorter than Minias, and it made her look vulnerable despite the scathing vehemence in her voice. His voice carried the intent sound of a more-than-casual question, and my eyes dropped to the grip he had on her staff, right above her hand. It never eased up, not even as his honey-amber voice spilled into the violated sanctuary like a balm. Soothing, yes, but holding tension, too.

Newt said nothing. I could see the hem of her robe past Minias tremble.

I scrambled up, Ceri finding her feet beside me. She didnt bother to reinstate the circle. What was the point? Minias shifted to block Newts view. He was focused on her, but I was sure he was aware of us, and he looked like he knew what he was doing. I had yet to see his face, but his brown hair was short, the curls crushed by the same hat Newt wore.

Breathe, Minias said, as if trying to trigger something. Tell me what you want.

I want to remember, she whispered. It was as if we werent even in the room anymore, so focused were they on each other, and only now did Miniass grip become gentle.

Then why do you

Because it hurts, she said, her bare feet shifting.

Leaning in as if concerned, he asked gently, Why did you come here?

She was silent, and then finally, I dont remember. It was agitatedsoft and threateningand the only reason I believed her was that she had clearly forgotten before Minias had shown up.

Minias lost the last of his anger. I felt as if we were witnessing a common but seldom-seen event, and I hoped he would hold to his promise that they wouldnt take us when they were ready to leave. Then lets go, he soothed, and I wondered how much of this was caretaker and how much was simply caring. Could demons care about each other?

Maybe youll remember when we get back, he said, turning Newt as if going to lead her away. If you forget something, you should go to where you first thought it, and it will be waiting for you.

Newt refused to step with him, and our eyes met when Minias moved out of the way. Its not at home, she said, her brow furrowed to show a deep inner pain and, under that, a seething power held in check by the demon whose grip had slid from her staff to her hand. Its here, not there. Whatever it is, its here. Or it was here. II know it. Anger slipped over her brow, born from frustration. You dont want me to remember, she accused.

I dont want you to remember? he asked harshly, his hand falling from her and extending in demand. Give them to me. Now.

My gaze flicked between them. He had gone from lover to jailer in a pulse.

Im missing my cache of yew, he said. I didnt make you forget. Give them to me.

Newts lips pressed together, and spots of color appeared on her cheeks. It was starting to make sense. Yew was highly toxic and used almost exclusively in communing with the dead and for making forget charms. Illegal forget charms. I had found a yew in the back of the graveyard by an abandoned mausoleum, and though I didnt commune with the dead, I had left it, hoping that plausible deniability would keep my butt out of court if anyone found it there. Growing yew wasnt illegal, but growing it in a graveyard, where the potency was enhanced, was.

I made them, Newt snapped. Theyre mine! I made them myself!

She turned to leave, and he reached out and spun her back. I could see Miniass face now. He had a strong jaw, clenched with emotion. His red demon eyes were so dark they almost hid the characteristic goat-slitted appearance, and his nose was strongly Roman. Anger was heavy on him, balancing Newts own temper perfectly.

Emotions cascaded over them both in a rapid, fluid torrent. It was as if a five-minute argument were passing in three seconds, her face changing, his responding, causing a shift of her mood that was reflected in his body language. He carefully manipulated her, this demon who had removed the sanctity of the church without a second thought, who had turned a triple blood-circle to her willsomething that I had been told was impossible but of which Ceri had known Newt was fully capable. I didnt know whom to be more frightened ofNewt, who could plague the world, or Minias, who controlled her.

Please, he asked when her face shifted to chagrin and her black eyes dropped.

Hesitating briefly, she reached into the pocket of her expansive sleeve and handed him a fistful of vials.

How many did you invoke when you remembered? he asked, the vials clattering.

Newts eyes went to the floor, beaten, but the sly look to her demeanor told me she wasnt sorry about it. I dont recall.

He jiggled them in his hand before pocketing them, clearly seeing her unrepentant mood. There are four missing.

She looked at him, real tears showing. It hurts, she said, scaring the crap out of me. Newt had inflicted her own memory loss? What had she remembered that she didnt want to?

Ceri was standing beside me, almost forgotten, and she slumped, telling me that it was almost done. I wondered how often she had seen this played out.

His mood easing, Minias pulled Newt close, the purple of his robe curving around her. Newt folded her arms against herself and let him hold her, her eyes shut and her head tucked under his chin. They looked elegant and self-possessed standing in their strongly colored robes and proud stances. I wondered how I could ever have doubted Newts gender. It was so clear now, and I spared a thought that perhaps she had subtly shifted her appearance. Seeing them together made a shudder ripple over me. Minias was the only thing holding Newt to her sanity. I didnt think he was just her familiar. I dont think he had ever been just anything.

You shouldnt take them, he whispered, his breath brushing her forehead. His voice was captivating, moving up and down like music.

It hurts, she said, her own voice muffled.

I know. His demonic eyes locked with mine, and I shivered. Thats why I dont like it when you go out without me, he said, looking at me but talking to her. You dont need them. Breaking our eye contact, Minias turned her face to his, his hand cupping her strong jawline.

My arms wrapped around my middle, I wondered how long they had been together. Long enough that a forced burden became one willingly shouldered?

I dont want to remember, Newt said. The things Ive done

A demon with a conscience? Why not? They did have souls.

Dont, Minias said, interrupting her. He held her more gently. Promise youll tell me the next time you remember something instead of going looking for answers?

Newt nodded, then stiffened in his arms. Thats where I was, she whispered, and my gut clenched at the sound of realization in her voice. Minias froze, and beside me Ceri paled.

It was in your journals! Newt exclaimed, pushing him away. Minias fell back, wary, but the demon was beyond noticing. Youve been writing it down. Youve written down everything I remember! How much do you have in your books, Minias? How much do you know that I wanted to forget?

Newthe warned, his fingers fumbling in his pocket.

I found them! Newt shouted. You know why Im here! Tell me why am I over here!

I jumped when Ceri gripped my arm. Shouting in rage, Newt swung her staff at him. Miniass fingers danced in the air as if babbling in sign language, forming a ley line spell. I felt a huge drop as someone pulled on the line out back, and with a surprising shout, Minias ended his spell by popping the lid to a vial hed taken from Newt and flinging it at her.

Newt cried out in dismay as the sparkles hung in the air, her anger, frustration, and pain shocking in their depth. And then the potion hit her, and her face went blank.

Sliding to a stop, she blinked, glancing over the empty sanctuary with no recognition in her gaze as it landed on Ceri and me. She saw Minias, then threw her staff to the floor as if it were a snake. It hit with a clatter and bounced. Outside, past the stained-glass windows, the robins were singing in the predawn haze, but in here it was as if the air were dead.

Minias? she said, her tone confused and dismayed.

Its done, he said gently. He came forward, scooping up her staff and handing it to her.

Did I hurt you? Her voice was worried, and when Minias shook his head, relief spilled over her, quickly turning to depression.

I felt sick.

Take me home, the demon said, glancing at me. My head hurts.

Wait for me. Miniass gaze flicked to mine, then returned to her. Well go together.

Ceri held her breath as the demon approached us, his face down and wide shoulders hunched. I thought briefly about reinstating the circle but didnt. Minias stopped before me, too close for comfort. His tired eyes took in my nightclothes, Ceris blood staining my hands, and the three circles that had nearly failed to stop Newt. His gaze rose to encompass the interior of the sanctuary, with my desk, Ivys piano, and the stark emptiness between them. You were the one who stole Ceri from her demon? he asked, surprising me.

I wanted to explain that it had been a rescue, not stealing her, but I just nodded.

His head moved up and down once, mocking me, and I fixed on his eyes. The red was so dark that they looked brown, and the characteristic demonic sideways pupil gave me pause.

Your blood kindled the curse, he said, his red, goat-slitted eyes darting to the blood circle beside me. She told me about shoving you through the lines last winter. His eyes traveled over me, evaluating. No wonder Al is interested in you. Do you have anything that might have attracted her?

Other than the favor I owe her? I said, my voice shaking. I dont think so.

His eyes dropped to the elaborate circle Ceri had drawn for me to contact him with. If you think of anything, call me. Ill pick up the imbalance. I dont want her coming over here again.

Ceris fingers on my arm tightened. Yeah, me neither, I thought.

Stay here, he said as he turned away. Ill be back to settle up.

Alarmed, I pulled from Ceri. Whoa, hold up, demon boy. I dont owe you anything.

His eyebrows were high and mocking when he turned around. I owe you, idiot. The sun is almost up. I have to get out of here. Ill be back when I can.

Ceris eyes were wide. Somehow I didnt think that having a demon owe me a favor was a good thing. Hey, I said, taking a step forward. I dont want you just showing up. Thats rude. And really scary.

He looked impatient to be away as he adjusted his clothing. Yes, I know. Why do you think demons try to kill their summoners? Youre crude, unintelligent, grasping hacks with no sense of social grace, demanding we cross the lines and pick up the cost?

I warmed, but before I could tell him to shove it, he said, Ill call first. You take the imbalance for that, since you asked for it.

I glanced at Ceri for guidance, and she nodded. The guarantee that he wouldnt show up while I was showering was worth it. Deal, I said, hiding my hand so he wouldnt take it.

From behind him, Newt eyed me with her brow creased. Miniass steps were silent as he moved to take her elbow possessively, his worried eyes darting to mine. His head rose to look past Ceri and me to the open door, and I heard the lub-lub-lub of a cycle pulling into the carport. In the time between one heartbeat and the next, they vanished.

I slumped in relief. Ceri leaned against the piano, the flat of her arms getting blood on it. Her shoulders started to shake, and I put a hand on one, wanting nothing more than to do the same. From outside came the sudden silence of Ivys bike turning off, and then her distinctive steps on the cement walk.

So then the pixy says to the druggist, Jenks said, the clatter of his wings obvious. Tax? I thought they stayed on by themselves! The pixy laughed, the tinkling sound of it like wind chimes. Get it, Ivy? Tax? Tacks?

Yes, I got it, she muttered, her pace shifting as she took the cement steps. Good one, Jenks. Hey, the door is open.

The light coming into the church was eclipsed, and Ceri pulled herself up, wiping her face and smearing it with blood, tears, and dirt from her garden. I could smell the stink of burnt amber on me and throughout the church, and I wondered if I would ever feel clean again. Together we stood, numb, as Ivy halted just past the foyer. Jenks hovered for three seconds, and then, dropping swear words like the golden sparkles he was shedding, he tore off in search of his wife and kids.

Ivy put a hand on her cocked hip and took in the threeno, fourcircles made of blood, me in my pjs and Ceri crying silently, her hand sticky with drying blood clutching her crucifix.

What on Gods green earth did you do now?

Wondering if Id ever sleep again, I glanced at Ceri. I have no idea.

Chapter Two

I didnt feel good, my stomach queasy as I sat on my hard-backed chair in the kitchen at Ivys heavy and very large antique table, shoved up against an interior wall. The sun was a thin slice of gold shining on the stainless-steel fridge. I didnt see that often. I wasnt used to being up this early, and my body was starting to let me know about it. I didnt think it was from the mornings trouble. Yeah. Right.

Tugging my terry-cloth robe shut, I flipped through the Yellow Pages while Jenks and Ivy argued by the sink. The phone was on my lap, so Ivy wouldnt take over as I searched for someone to resanctify the church. Id already called the guys who had reshingled the roof to give us an estimate on the living room. They were human, and Ivy and I liked using them, since they generally got here bright and early at noon. Newt had torn up the carpet and pulled several pieces of paneling off the walls. What in hell had she been looking for?

Jenkss kids were in there right now, though they werent even supposed to be in the church, and by the shrieks and chiming laughs, they were making a mess of the exposed insulation. Turning another thin page, I wondered if Ivy and I might take the opportunity to do some remodeling. There was a nice hardwood floor under the carpet, and Ivy had a great eye for decorating. She had redone the kitchen before Id moved in, and I loved it.

The large industrial-sized kitchen had never been sanctified, having been added on to the church for Sunday suppers and wedding receptions. It had two stovesone electric, one gasso I didnt have to cook dinner and stir my spells on the same surface. Not that I made dinner on the stovetop too often. It was usually microwave something or cook on Ivys hellacious grill out back, in the tidy witchs garden between the church and the graveyard proper.

Actually, I did most of my spelling at the island counter between the sink and Ivys farmhouse kitchen table. There was an overhead rack where I hung the herbs I was currently messing with and my spelling equipment that didnt fit under the counter, and with the large circle etched out in the linoleum, it made a secure place to invoke a magical circle; there were no pipes or wires crossing either overhead in the attic or under in the crawl space to break it. I knew. I had checked.

The one window overlooked the garden and graveyard, making a comfortable mix of my earthy spelling supplies and Ivys computer and tight organization. It was my favorite room in the church, even if most of the arguments took place here.

The biting scent of rose hips came from the tea Ceri had made me before she left. I frowned at the pale pink liquid. Id rather have coffee, but Ivy wasnt making any, and I was going to bed as soon as I got the reek of burnt amber off me.

Jenks was standing on the windowsill in his Peter Pan pose, his hands on his hips and cocky as hell. The sun hit his blond hair and dragonfly-like wings, sending flashes of light everywhere as they moved. Damn the cost, he said, standing between my betta, Mr. Fish, who swam around in an oversize brandy snifter, and Jenkss tank of brine shrimp. Money doesnt do you any good if youre dead. His tiny, angular features sharpened. At least not for us, Ivy.

Ivy stiffened, her perfect oval face emptying of emotion. On an exhale she drew her athletic six-foot height up from where shed been leaning against the counter, straightening the leather pants she usually wore while on an investigation run and tossing her enviably straight black hair from habit. Shed had cut it a couple of months ago, and I knew she kept forgetting how short it was, just above her ears. Id commented last week that I liked it, and she had gotten it styled into downward spikes with gold tips. It looked great on her, and I wondered where her recent attention to her appearance was coming from. Skimmer, maybe?

She glanced at me, her lips pressed together and spots of color showing on her usually pale complexion. The hint of almond-shaped eyes gave away her Asian heritage, and that, combined with her small, strongly defined features, made her striking. Her eyes were brown most of the time, going pupil black when her living-vampire status got the better of her.

I had let her sink her teeth into me once, and though as exhilarating and pleasurable as all hell, it had scared the crap out of both of us when she lost control and nearly killed me. Even so, I was willing to cautiously risk trying to find a blood balance. Ivy flatly refused, though it was becoming painfully obvious the pressures were building in both of us. She was terrified of hurting me in a haze of bloodlust. Ivy dealt with fear by ignoring its existence and avoiding its origin, but her self-imposed denial was just about killing her even as it gave her strength.

If my roommates/business partners could be believed, finding thrills was what I organized both my daily life and my sex life around. Jenks called me an adrenaline junky, but if I was making money at it and remembered my limits, where was the harm? And I knew to the depths of my soul that Ivy didnt fall under that looking for a thrill umbrella. Yes, the rush had been incredible, but it was the self-worth I had given her that told me it hadnt been a mistake, not the blood ecstasy she had instilled.

For an instant, Ivy had seen herself as I did: strong, capable, able to love someone fully and be loved in return. By giving her my blood, I had told her that yes, she was worth sacrificing for, that I liked her for who she was, and that her needs werent wrong. Needs were needs. It was us who labeled them right or wrong. I wanted her to feel that way all the time.

But God help me, it had been a rush.

As if she had heard my thought, Ivy turned from Jenks. Stop it, she said, and I flushed. She couldnt read my mind, but she might as well have. A vamps sense of smell was tuned to pheromones. She could read my mood as easily as I could smell the sharp scent of rose hips coming from my untouched tea. Crap, Ceri really expected me to drink this?

Jenkss wings reddened, clearly not liking the shift in topic from how to spend our pooled business money to how to keep our teeth to ourselves, and Ivy gestured with a long, slim hand to include me in their argument. Its not that I dont want to spend the money, she said, both soothing and assertive. But why do it if a demon will take it down again?

I snorted, turning to the phone book and shifting a page. Newt isnt just a demon. Ceri says shes one of the oldest, most powerful demons in the ever-after. And shes stark raving nuts, I muttered, turning a page to another listing. Ceri doesnt think shell be back.

Ivy crossed her arms to look slinky and svelte. So why bother resanctifying at all?

Jenks snickered. Yeah, Rache. Why bother? I mean, this could be good. Ivy could invite her mom over for a housewarming. Weve been here a year, and the woman is dying to come over. Well, at least she would be if she were still alive.

Worried, I looked up from the phone book. Alarm sifted over Ivy. For a moment it was so quiet I could hear the clock above the sink, and then Ivy jerked, her speed edging into that eerie vamp quickness she took pains to hide. Give me the phone, she said, snatching it.

For a Few Demons More - Ким Харрисон 2 стр.

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