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.