Page 83 of That Mafioso Magic
“Good, because I heard demons are a nasty bunch.”
“I just need a few moments to cast the spell,” I explained.
James snorted. “A few moments are all that demon will need to kill you. I hope you have something else planned other than using these two as a distraction.” He motioned to Jewel and Xavier.
“I do, as a matter of fact.” My plan was to blast the damn thing with light energy balls to keep it off its game while I conjured the spell. That would have to be enough.
“Well, I guess I wish you luck if only to make sure you survive long enough to fulfill your end of the bargain with my alpha,” James said.
“Oh, you’re a real sweetheart, thank you,” I said.
Again, he only chuckled. The car ride was a little less awkward, that was until we reached our second contact. James climbed out and approached what looked to be a little girl, no older than thirteen maybe. The two looked to have exchanged unpleasant words, but both started walking back to the limo. The little girl climbed in first, and she was wearing black leather pants and a tank-top. On her hip was a knife, and I could tell the pouch around her waist was for concealing a gun. I think it was safe to say, she was no child regardless of her appearance.
She settled into the seat across from Xavier, Jewel, and I, then James climbed back inside, sitting on the opposite side of the limo with the bar separating us. The awkward level shot up to ten. I cleared my throat and decided to break the silence by giving the driver the address of where we needed to go.
“I’m to make sure you survive long enough to give my master his due, so I will be at your side the entire time,” the vampire informed me.
“So, like a bodyguard?” I asked, and nodded in Jewel’s direction. “I already have one of those and she’s very capable.”
“Oh, no doubt. Rumors of Sage’s female pride members being vicious cunts has reached our ears. I’ll simply be back up,” the vampire stated in a very methodical tone.
I think I was more insulted by the derogatory word she used to describe Jewel and the rest of Sage’s pride than Jewel was, because her expression remained emotionless, which just made her look even more badass.
“So, what is your name?” I asked. “Or do I just call you ‘back-up?’”
“Shanie,” she replied, her cobalt blue eyes peering deeply into mine as if she were trying to figure me out. “So, how powerful are you as a mage? Because demons aren’t easy to kill.”
“I can do it,” I said, and hoped I wasn’t being too overconfident. I really believed that I could.
“I guess I’ll see with my own eyes,” she said. And the way she said it made me feel like she may relay such info back to her master and maybe he’ll ask for more than just a simple barrier spell. I needed to be prepared for anything.
A half hour passed before we were a block away from our location. The limo driver stopped, parked, and turned the engine off. I gathered everything I was going to need and did a final check with everyone else.
“I wasn’t going to help, but now I can’t let a vampire have all the fun,” James said.
I rolled my eyes, but held back on the comment I wanted to say and instead, opted for, “The more the merrier.”
We all climbed out of the limo and the supernals took off at speeds no human could see, especially the vampire. I had to trust that they were sticking to the plan to block off the exits as much as possible. Xavier and I approached with caution. The house was dark on the inside, but there was a bluish glow as if someone were watching a television. I concentrated, drawing the magical elements into me and I channeled it at the door, blasting it open, but still leaving it on the hinges. I ran inside and as soon as I did, Lacey, or the demon inhabiting Lacey’s body, jumped up from the sofa she had been lounging on and shoved me back outside with the power of her mind.
I crashed into Xavier and we both tumbled to the porch. He let out a pained “umph” as I quickly scrambled off of him. When I heard more commotion coming from inside the home, I ran back inside with Xavier right behind me. I saw the demon tossing Jewel through the wall into the next room, leaving a big hole and drywall dust in the air. This was a powerful demon! Shanie threw her knife at the demon’s back and it hollered, then turned to face the new threat. It took hold of Shanie telepathically, then lifted her in the air and with the snap of her fingers, twisted the childlike vampire’s neck, breaking it at an awful angle.
I conjured up the magic around me and began blasting my light energy balls at the demon. The first one hit it in the chest, sending the demon flying through the air and slamming into the wall, splintering it like a spider’s web. I followed it up with more as Xavier did his part, running up to the demon and dousing it with holy water that was also spelled to weaken it. The demon hissed as its skin sizzled and smoked from the holy water. Xavier retreated quickly, getting as far away from the demon as he could.
The demon snarled; a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth giving me the chills down my spine. “You will pay for this!”
I ignored the threat and continued to work the spell. James jumped in, punching the demon and picking it up over his head. He then slammed the demon hard on the floor, the impact actually shaking the foundation. He kicked the demon once, twice, and on the third kick, the demon stilled his leg, then broke it with its telepathic ability. The leg snapped and bent back in a horrible and unnatural position as James cried out in agony. He collapsed to the floor, his bones protruding through his leg a ghastly sight. The demon then used its powers to pick him up and toss him into the big screen television, shattering it into pieces. With the TV now damaged, there was very little light in the room. Good thing the supernal didn’t need it.
At this point, Jewel and Shanie had recovered from their attacks and jumped back into the fray. Shanie leaped onto the demon, sinking her fangs into the flesh of Lacey’s neck just as Jewel punched Lacey several times in her chest. Once the demon’s legs buckled, Jewel held Lacey’s hands down, stopping the demon from channeling its telepathic abilities through her hands. The demon roared in rage as the two supernals continued to weaken it and keep it contained. I finally finished the incantation and ran over to them, taking a big chance. I slipped a bracelet on Lacey’s right wrist and watched in relief as the demon seemed to freeze in time. Her eyes staring open and glowing red as they peered at me. Yeah, it was creepy as fuck.
Shanie withdrew, then ran off so fast, but I could hear her retching in the bathroom. Apparently, demonic blood wasn’t a delicacy to vampires. Good to know. Jewel sat back on her heels, panting as she caught her breath. Blood was dripping from several mostly healed wounds, but she was winded. Restraining the demon must have taken all of her shifter strength.
“Damn, this bitch was strong!” Jewel commented.
“Even after the holy water,” James stated as he sat on his ass rubbing his leg that was still healing. At least the bone was no longer protruding through his flesh. But his pants were ruined and quite bloody. Everyone looked a bit worse for wear as I gave them a onceover.
“I didn’t realize how long that spell took,” Xavier said.
“It didn’t take me as long this time as the first time, but with so much going on, it just felt like it was taking forever,” I said. “I mean, everything that just happened went down in less than three minutes.”
