Page 7 of Strike It Witch

Gnath drew back. “Everyone knows your kind, dirt witch. You guys piss a lot of people off.”

“Bailar,” I said, imbuing the word with magic. The flames jumped the inner salt line and danced into the circle.

“Stop it.” The silver flames reflected in the black mirrors of his eyes. He held up a clawed green hand. “I’ll tell you, all right? Years ago, I was warned that a powerful earth witch protects this region.”

“Years ago” meant that the powerful witch he’d been talking about was Mom, not me. Why did that bother me so much?

“You were warned, and still you came,” I said.

“A demon hungers for flesh—and you humans are so tasty.” He smiled, revealing both rows of sharp teeth. “Plus, the risk seemed low this far from your town. I was mistaken.”

The opening shrank another inch.

“You have no idea how mistaken you were.” I wiggled my hands deeper into the soil and let magic bleed into my eyes. “Hold your gateway open, fool.”

“Iam. It’s not easy to do.” He dropped the evil smile and shrugged. “Look, you were right. I’m not great with doorways, okay? Elaine usually handles them, and she doesn’t know I’m here. She’s going to be furious.”

“Demon, if my partner doesn’t make it back through that portal, I’m going to release these flames.” A mirthless smile pulled my cheeks tight. “The pain will start slow and won’t end for days. Elaine will be the least of your worries.”

He gulped. “Don’t kill me. Please.”

“You’ll owe me a favor.”

“Yeah, sure. Don’t roast me alive, and I’ll give you a favor. Great deal. Wish I’d thought of it.”

"Are you really being a smart ass with me right now?" I asked.

His eyes widened; his mouth drooped. "No. I mean, yes, I was, but I'm sorry. Favor, you want a favor. Okay."

“So, it's a deal?” Demons used precise language when making a deal, and the only way to hold them to their word was to turn that wording back on them.

“If reincarnation wasn’t impossible for our kind, I’d swear you’d been a demon in a past life.” He paced to the edge of the circle, avoiding the flames. “Yes. It’s a deal. I, Gnath, owe you one favor.”

“No conditions.”

“Fine.” He rolled his eyes, but because the sclerae were completely black, the only way I could tell was that he threw his head back and stared skyward.

“The word you’re looking for is yes,” I said.

“Yes. I agree to provide you with one favor, no conditions. We can’t shake on it, but if you know all that other stuff, you probably know demons don’t have to shake on it if we give our word.Son-of-a—” He slapped his forehead again, congealed blood coating his hand. “Shutup, Gnath.”

I marveled at how readily the creature had given up his one shot at defeating me. If he’d insisted the deal was contingent on a handshake, I would’ve had to break the central salt ring or enter it, putting myself at risk either way.

“No, keep talking, Gnath,” I drawled. “I’m enjoying your workshop on how to defeat a demon in ten minutes or less. Does the class have a subscription fee, or do you work strictly from donations?”

He snarled and took himself off to the side of the circle furthest from me. I banked the silver flames, retaining the inherent threat yet conserving my energy. A quicksilver spell required a lot of magic. I was already starting to feel drained.

Hurry, Fennel.

Ida seemed to pick up on my fatigue. She tapped the crystal face of her watch. “He’s over. We’re at three minutes, twenty seconds.”

“Release me, and I’ll retrieve your—” Gnath’s nose wrinkled. “—catas my favor.”

Another crack preceded yet another narrowing of the opening. This was going to be close. Way too close.

“Fennel G. Lennox, move your furry butt,” I yelled.

I clawed deeper into the soil, extracting all the magic it had to offer. If Fennel didn’t get out soon, my only option was to go after him myself and, unlike the cat, I couldn’t terrify demons with my mere presence. I wasn’t even sure I could use my magic in Limbo.

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