No one ever told Castor how complicated summoning demons could be, but it wasn’t like his folks gave him permission to conjure such evil in their basement.
Spiderwebs tickled his face as Castor swatted them away with annoyance. The wooden steps creaked with their footsteps, and when Castor reached the bottom, he sought out the supplies he’d stowed away in an ancient storage bin.
“Uh, what are we doing down here?” Lucien asked, curiously peeking over his shoulder.
“Summoning a demon,” Castor replied.
Lucien paled, horror washing over his frigid complexion. “You’re joking, right?”
“Nope, I’m dead serious.” Castor placed his grimoire on a crate, opening it to his desired page.
A cavernous, musty room like their family’s basement was the perfect place for summoning demons. One of the first rules of summoning explicitly stated to never summon in a room with windows. While the summoning circle should contain the evil entity, there was a slim chance they could escape and slip away into the night. And that was the last thing they needed.
Not to mention how his mom would kill him if he unleashed a dangerous demon in Briarwood. If the Supernatural Council didn’t remove their magic first and sentence them to death.
Castor centered his candles in a circle on the floor, lighting them with the flick of his wand. Shadows slithered along the walls. Scents of pumpkin spice and vanilla wafted in the air from his candles, flames danced on the wicks as he created the Baphomet symbol on the grimy basement floor, ensuring to sprinkle as much salt in a circle to contain what he conjured up. He double checked the salt, ensuring that it was a full circle with no spots for anything to slip out.
Best not to let some evil demon possess them. Man, would the Supernatural Council have a field day with that.
As a final touch, Castor retrieved his switchblade from his robe’s pocket, slicing at his middle finger before adding his blood amongst the mixed ingredients in the little silver dish. The summoning spell ripped through him like a tornado, and he gestured for Lucien to stay back.
Warmth flooded his body. His blood simmered through his veins as he called upon a creature of the damned, keeping his mind focused and showing no fear to the demon who popped up in his circle. It wasn’t like this was their first encounter. Summoning demons drained a fuckton of energy, and if Castor let his guard down, the demon could easily overpower him.
The basement shook for a split second, and amid the summoning circle, a horrifying angelic figure emerged. Silk raven hair cascaded over the feminine body, with enormous, broken black wings curled around the naked flesh. When she turned to greet them with a sinister smirk, Lucien’s scream pierced through his very soul.
Maybe he should’ve prepared him more for it? Castor couldn’t deny how it freaked him the fuck out when she presented herself with razor-sharp teeth, gouged out eyes, and luminous skin that resembled snow.
“Forgive my friend, for he’s never seen a demon before.” Castor cleared his voice, keeping a steady gaze on her hollowed sockets. Despite the lack of eyeballs, her head remained focused straight at him.
“Greetings, wizards.” She hissed at them like a snake, revealing a fork-pointed tongue.
Lucien came up behind him, trembling hand gripping the back of his robe like a security blanket. Softly against his ear he whispered, “What is that?”
“Is this the infamous Lucien?” she asked, a seductive purr rumbled in her throat.
Dread sunk in Castor’s chest as he willed himself not to let her teasing get to him. Demons feed off their summoner’s desires. And during his teenage years, he admittedly let his fantasies about his best friend roam way too freely. Okay, maybe he still thought about how it would feel to push Lucien up against a wall and kiss him until they were both breathless, but that demon better keep her lewd fantasies to herself.
“You told that demon about me?” Lucien asked in disbelief. “What the fuck, Castor?”
Castor pinched the bridge of his nose. “I didn’t outright tell her. Demons can sense that kind of stuff. She peeked into my mind and probably found a memory I have of you.”
“We feed on your desires.” A mischievous smile danced on her crimson lips, but she stepped too close and got stunned by Castor’s protective barrier. She hissed from the sting, ensuring not to step out of line again.
“I called upon you tonight for information about a recent strand of homicides, mostly vampires, and one mortal. Charlotte Cromwell,” Castor said, his voice full of confidence.
“Hmm. What’s in it for me?” she asked.
“Depends,” Castor replied. “What would you like?”
“Freedom. Just for a few minutes. Let me see the outside world again, just this once.”
“Afraid that’s not possible, sorry. Not only would the Supernatural Council hunt you down and exterminate you like a pest, but they’d sentence me to death. I need something a bit more simple.”
“Alright.” She smirked. “Confess your most sinful desire.”
“That’s it?” Castor raised a brow.
“Do that, and I’ll answer all I know.”
With a flick of his wand, Castor pointed it directly at Lucien and whispered a spell to clog his ears. Lucien glared at him in confusion, struggling to strain his ears and listen to what he was about to say. While he struggled to undo his playful little spell, Castor answered honestly.
“You’ve already seen it, but my most sinful desire is my secret love for Lucien.” Castor kept his gaze on her, cheeks flushed with heat as he continued to detail his explicit, kinky fantasies. Only when he finished did he undo his spell on Lucien’s ears.
“You’re no fun, Castor. However, a deal’s a deal.” The demon sat on the ground, pulling her knees up to her chest, gentle with the wings that covered her. “There’s another demon pulling the strings around there, but they’re not the mastermind behind the murders. I don’t know the name, only heard about them in passing.”
“I see.” Castor rubbed his chin. “Does this demon possess the wizard?”
“No, they do not share a body. However, the demon I speak of inhabits a dead wizard’s body.”
Castor shivered. “Is that possible?”
“Of course. We can inhabit anything that had desires.”
“Was it the wizard or the demon who killed Charlotte?” Lucien asked.
The demon frowned, pushing her face as close to the barrier as possible. “I don’t remember making any deals with you, but for the right price, I’ll answer.”
“What do you-”
Castor clamped his hand over Lucien’s mouth before he finished that sentence. Hell’s bells, did he know nothing about dealing with demons? Never show them that kind of desperation. They’ll easily manipulate a person to do anything they want for answers, regardless of if it was true.
“You won’t make any deals with Lucien. But I also ask the same question, if you know.”
“If you want to know, it’ll come with a price.” She grinned.
“Then nevermind,” Castor brushed it off, as if it wasn’t important. “Is there anything else you can tell us about the murdered vampires?”
“They were merely practice for the real thing,” she replied.
“Can you elaborate?” Castor frowned. “Is someone killing vampires to test out their death curses?”
“Perhaps.” She nodded. “I can’t speak for the killers and their motives. I just know that what you’ve witnessed is only the beginning.”
“That’s ominous and vague.” Castor raked a frustrated hand through his hair. “Is that all you know?”
“Yes. However, there is something else that would pique your interest. It would require extra compensation.”
“What kind of compensation?” Castor cautioned.
“The thing I’ve wanted from you ever since you summoned me.” Shadows slithered along the walls, closing in around Castor. Her hollowed sockets remained focused on him, pitch-forked tongue hissing in amusement. “Sell me your soul.”
“No.” Castor held his ground. “If it’s that important, we’ll find another way to obtain the information. It sounds like this is all you’ve got for us, so it’s time you go back.”
“Wait.” Her voice deepened, resembling something ungodly and grating. “Maybe there’s something else we could exchange.”
“You can’t have Lucien’s soul either.”
“Fine, but maybe I could have a little of his protective magic.” Her head tilted, as if able to see Lucien standing off behind him. “Let me have that pretty necklace of yours, Lucien. In exchange for information about your sister’s death. I know why she was killed and how you can find her killer.”
“No deal,” Castor replied. “Lucien’s not giving up anything-”
“Here.” Lucien unclasped the necklace, dropping it into the palm of his hand. The crystal sparked with glittery crimson. “Where do you want me to place it?”
“Lucien.” Castor seized his wrist. “Don’t do this. You don’t understand the consequences of handing your magic over to a demon. Let me handle this.”
“I know what I’m doing.” Lucien’s eyes darkened. “If this is how I find Charlotte’s killer, then I don’t mind.”
Before Castor could convince him to change his mind, Lucien tossed the necklace into the circle of salt that imprisoned her. Her greedy little hands swiped it up, holding it high as she smirked. But that expression of glee only lasted a split second.
“This isn’t yours.”
Lucien shrugged. “You specifically said you wanted that necklace and I gave it to you. Now, please, hold up on your end of the bargain.”
Her jaw cracked as she reached out for the barrier, as if intended to strangle him. Lucien jumped back, safely hidden behind Castor until her rage simmered. Demons didn’t like it when you deceived them. Not even Castor expected that twist. Why the hell was Lucien holding on to his sister’s necklace? Where was his own?
The demon held up her end of the bargain and took a moment to cool off before saying, “Charlotte found out about a cult of dark wizards and vampire hunters that reside up north in the mountains. She made the trip up there herself. While she covered her tracks well, someone spotted her and realized what she’d learned. Charlotte turned this information over to the Supernatural Council and they kept letting her investigate. Until she died.”
Lucien shook his head. “Why didn’t she tell me about this?”
“One of the Council’s conditions was her silence. Anything she learned had to be kept confidential. Not just for their sake, but to keep your family safe. If you had known what she found out, you’d be dead.”
Chills pricked as Castor’s arms. He reached a comforting hand out for Lucien, but pulled away. It wasn’t the time nor the place. They needed to stay strong.
“You won’t tell us what she found, will you?” Lucien asked.
“Afraid not, even if I wanted to.” Her uncanny smile remained. “I have no idea what she found. Only what I’ve heard in passing from others of my kind who dealt with those wizards.”
“Wait a minute.” Castor froze. Every inch of him his body screamed at him to send her back to hell’s underworld right away. “Are demons working with these dark wizards?”
“What do you think, Castor?”
Her sinister laughter pierced through his soul. Without daring to question her further, Castor released her back to her own hellfest world, only removing his circle after ensuring her entity no longer remained.
Just as a precaution, he drenched the place with bottles full of holy water. Not something he proudly kept handy, but the local church never questioned his reasonings for it. He wasn’t unholy enough to steal it from them, of course, but he did hide it down in the basement away from folks.
“Do you know what this means?” Lucien’s voice cracked. “Charlotte’s death is gonna be one of many. Dark wizards are gonna start another war. Charlotte was probably collateral damage. She snooped too close and they caught on to her.”
“I know, and that’s frightening as hell, but don’t you ever do anything reckless like that again.” Castor yanked him by the scruff. “Do you understand? She could have possessed you.”
Lucien’s body went limp in his grip, head turned to the side, where the demon once sat. “I had to see what she knew.”
Castor released him with a sigh. “She sensed how badly you wanted to find Charlotte’s killer and used it against you. For fuck’s sake, I thought you’d gone insane and gave her your magic crystal. Although it only contains a little of your magic, she could weaponize it against you.”
“I’m not that desperate or stupid.” Lucien straightened his posture, adjusting his collar. “Tell me, what was your sinful desire? She seemed quite intrigued by it, and you had to block me out like a damn child with that Hear no Evil spell.”
“Nothing, really.” Heat soared through Castor’s face as he turned toward the stairs. As if he’d ever admit that out loud to him. “Come on, my mom should be cooking supper. Let’s not trouble her by being late.”
Comments (2)
See all