“I am so glad you’re a bookworm.” She spun her sword at her side. “I’d have just taken off his head.”
I unscrewed the cap on the peppermint oil and tipped it toward the bowl. Nothing came out. “Crapity crap. I used the last drop in the spell that bounced off the circle.”
“Can you improvise?” Ember’s eyes grew wide, and I followed her gaze toward the circle.
The demon crouched at the far side and took off like a sprinter, ramming the perimeter and shattering the spell. He was free, and we were screwed.
CHAPTER SIX
The shedim ran straight at me. My heart didn’t just leap into my throat; it tried to escape through my nose. Ember jumped in front of the beast and swung her sword, giving me a chance to scoop up an armful of ingredients and get the hell away. I ducked behind a tree trunk and laid out what I’d nabbed, hoping to Hades I’d packed an extra bottle of peppermint oil…or at least stashed a York patty or something. Peppermint was essential for this spell to hold.
“Improvise faster!” Ember called above the racket of demon snarls and sword slashes. She grunted like she had the wind knocked out of her. Then the demon wailed. Payback was a bitch.
“Why would your sister taunt such a demon? He will shred her once he is finished playing with her.”
“If you both would can it for a minute, I might be able to stop that from happening.” I tossed aside a bottle of lavender oil. It might slow the beast down, but I needed something sharp and quick if I wanted to bind him. “In answer to your question, that’s Ember for you. Hot-headed, quick-tempered badass, who’s the most loyal witch you’ll ever meet.”
He scoffed. “Witches are only loyal to themselves.”
“Says the demon who’s helping me vanquish another demon.” Lemon grass, chamomile, bee balm. If I wanted to give this guy the best nap of his life, I’d be set. Wait… That wasn’t a bad idea. A relaxation spell combined with what I had of a binding potion could slow him down enough for Ember to do her thing.
“Does the shedim have any immunity to magic that I should know of? I mean, aside from being impervious to fire?” I uncorked the lavender and chamomile when my gaze locked on the bottle of spearmint by my right foot. This just might work.
“Sadly, none of us do, or I wouldn’t be in this predicament.”
“Good to hear.” I put a drop of each oil into the bowl. Nothing happened. “Shitake mushrooms. Come on!” I stirred the contents and peeked from my hiding spot behind the tree.
Ember grasped her sword in both hands and swung it over her head, spinning in a circle as her right leg swept out and connected with the demon’s ankle. The demon flailed backward, but he caught himself before his ass could meet dirt. My sister was so good at pissing off her foe. The shedim swiped a taloned claw forward, catching her t-shirt and tearing it nearly in two.
“That was my favorite top, you sorry sack of incubus jizz.” She slashed again, ripping into his thigh. His pained screech nearly tore my head in half.
“He’s angry. She will not last much longer.”
“Whatever gave you that idea?” I whispered the incantations: first the binding spell in hopes that the spearmint would be strong enough, and then the relaxation invocation. The potion simmered. Then it sizzled. Then it popped, and a green flame shot out six inches from the bowl. “Huh. That’s new.”
“Have you tried this spell before?” I didn’t appreciate the wariness in his voice.
“Apparently, this is my day to step out of my comfort zone.” The potion turned to black granules, like fresh ground pepper, rather than the powder I expected.
“Will it work?”
“Only one way to find out.” I poured the grains into my palm and fisted my hand. Pushing to my feet, I peered around the tree to gauge the demon’s location. At least one of the Holland sisters had to look before she leaped.
Ember stabbed the fiend in the gut. It wailed and jerked away, wrenching the sword from her grasp. Black goo oozed from the wound as it yanked the sword from its belly and tossed it aside.
“Any day now, Ash.” Ember grabbed a set of daggers from her ankle holster.
With the demon’s back toward me, I whispered a silencing spell so I could attack in stealth mode. My feet pounded the ground, but I made no sound as I darted toward it.
Ember jabbed her dagger into its shoulder. It swung its arm, claws raking my sister’s stomach. A pained shout ripped from her throat, and she doubled over.
I hurled the enchanted granules at the beast’s backside. They stuck to him like ticks on a dog before absorbing into his ashy skin. He lifted his arm again, his movements slow and heavy.
“That’s the best I could do. Are you okay?” I grabbed Ember’s sword and ran toward her, ready to stab the fiend through both his hearts. She couldn’t hear me, thanks to my silencing spell.
“Oh no.” Ember made a grabby motion with her hands. “This is personal. He’s mine.”
Who was I to steal her chance at retribution? I handed her the sword.
“Never mess with a Holland witch.” She jabbed the sword into the center of his chest and twisted. The razor edge sliced up and then down, creating a foot-long gash.
The demon stumbled back and let out a skull-splitting screech that would have the whole town wondering what kind of animal died in the woods. I guess I should’ve cast the silencing spell on all of us.
Ember doubled over again, her sword and daggers toppling to the ground. I clutched her shoulders, bracing her as the demon wailed again before crumbling to bits and being sucked back into the rift.
“Show me where he got you.” I tried to lower her to the ground, but she shrugged me off. “Ember…”
Oh, right. The silencing spell. “What I’ve done is now undone. As I will it, so mote it be.”
“The shedim’s claws are tipped with poison. If he broke skin, she will need a healer to draw out the toxins.”
“Show me.” I peeled her hands away from the wound. Three bloody slashes stretched diagonally from her rib cage to her hip. “We need to get you to Patrice. You need a healer.”
She spoke through gritted teeth. “You have to close the rift. More demons can come through, and there’s no circle to contain them.”
The adrenaline in my veins chose this moment to dissipate, allowing a wave of fatigue to wash over me. I must’ve cast at least six spells in the last twenty minutes. My vim was waning hardcore, taking my thoughts with it.
“How? What spell will seal it?” I asked.
