Page 70 of Strike It Witch

The men climbed slowly to their feet, keeping their eyes averted from the demon trapped in the two circles—theirs and mine. Denzel spoke without looking at me. “This really isn’t Mictlantecuhtli?”

“Not even a distant relative,” I said.

“Hey, you don’t know that. I’ve been told we share a cousin on my mother’s side,” Gnath scoffed.

“So, you’re saying we aren’t in trouble?” Denzel asked.

“Hate to make a blanket statement. You’ve probably pissed off a few gods in your time, but the Aztec god of death isn’t one of them, as far as I can tell.”

“You’re sure?” Kale looked shaken.

“Yep. Just stop worshipping him, and he’ll forget you existed, if he even knew at all, which he probably didn’t. Mictlantecuhtli is a ruler in the underworld. I imagine world political leaders, megachurch preachers, and corporate shareholders keep him pretty busy.”

The men backed away from the circle.

“Can you banish the demon for us? Forever?” Denzel asked.

“It’ll be difficult,” I lied. “And you’ll both owe me a favor.”

“You got it,” Denzel and Kale said together. “We swear it on our honor.”

“The deal is done,” I said, theatrically. “Now, get out of here.”

They scampered off, shifting to rats halfway through the cemetery, leaving clothing and flip-flops strewn on the road behind them.

“Do all witches like collecting favors as much as you do?” Gnath sounded annoyed and a little bored.

“No. Guess I’m a bit demon-like in that regard.”

“Perhaps you are.”

He hadn’t assumed his human form, but my eyes still watered from his stench. Not all demons smelled bad. Sexton, for instance. It was just my luck to keep running into one that smelled like he’d crawled out of a hot sewer.

“So, what was the deal with the rats? Some sort of scam to gain power? I thought you were a highway demon.”

“I believe in diversifying my portfolio.” He floated around the edge of the circle. “The power I got from the clowns in that cult enabled me to open the occasional portal.”

“Just not hold it open long.”

“Well, no. I mean, I was down to a congregation of two, and look how quickly they ran away. It’s not as if their worship was very potent. But it was a boost.” One side of his ghostly body quirked up in what I assumed was a shrug. “What do you plan on doing now? Will you banish me to Hell?”

“Most people wouldn’t say that with such hopefulness.”

“I’m a Hell demon stuck in Limbo. There’s nothing to do. Everyone’s so disgustinglyrepentanthere.” He peered past the edge of the circle, eyes lighting on the one I’d poured. “A second circle. Why do you do that? Don’t you trust your power?”

“The rats drew the first circle,” I said. “They were so consumed with fear, they didn’t even notice I’d drawn a second one around them. What would you have done in my place?”

“Brainless sycophants are the worst, aren’t they? We have so much fun with them in the otherworlds.” He sighed, and I felt my eyebrows to make sure they hadn’t been singed off by the odor crawling out of his mouth. “It’s been so long since one made it to Limbo. Most go straight to Hades, do not pass GO, do not collect?—”

“Right. And that’s why you want to go back to Hell? To torture sycophants?”

“Part of the reason. I told you. I’m booooored.”

Bored, huh? I can use this.

I cleared my throat and raised my voice. “Gnath, servant of iniquity, commander of the second brigade of malfeasance, former demon of Highway 86, and Mictlantecuhtli impersonator, how would you like to use up both your favors to me in one goandget everything you want?”

“Do I have to do theFireflything? Because I can’t swing that or the cellulite. You were right about Lucifer and women’s beauty product manufacturers. They’re pretty tight.”

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