Page 141 of Inbetweeners
When the need to take in air prevailed, they slid apart.
Phoenix disentangled his hands to touch Emmett’s face, to stroke his cheeks, caress his ears and finally, with shaking fingers, touch his neck. “Are you okay?”
“Now I am.”
“I hate myself for what I did.”
“Don’t. I know it wasn’t you.”
“But—”
“I don’t want to talk about it. It’s done. Gone. Over. So, my idea. Actually, I have two ideas. The first is, what if you had some sort of wristband that you could press on to jolt you away from Vin’s influence? Maybe you could give yourself an electric shock. Just a mild one.”
“Where am I going to get anything like that?”
“Amazon? They sell everything. But since we’re short of time, look at my wrist.”
Phoenix glanced down.
Emmett pulled off the spiked band and turned it inside out. He pushed it over Phoenix’s hand, then wrapped his fingers around it and squeezed.
“Ouch.”
Emmett grinned. “Maybe?”
“Maybe. What’s the other idea?”
“Look what we’re surrounded by. A world of witchcraft. Books and herbs and crystals and all sorts of stuff connected with the occult. Where better to find out how to ward against demons? We’ll start with the books.”
Emmett went over to the shelves and ran his finger along the spines. “Demonology for Beginners. How to Summon Demons. How to have Sex with a Demon.”
“What?”
“I don’t need that one.” He handed a couple of books to Nix. “Check the index forwarding off.”
So much for Amazon’s solitary offering of oil—though maybe he hadn’t used the right search criteria. But according to the books, there was a load of stuff that could be used. Emmett grabbed a box and started to hunt. Black onyx and moldavite, which was a pretty forest-green crystal. Springs of sage that had to be burnt and allowed to smoke in the corners of the room. Himalayan rock salt that also had to be placed in the corners of the room and under the mattress. Clear quartz crystals for the windowsill. Rudraksha beads and—
Phoenix caught hold of his hand. “I think that’s enough.”
“What if I miss the one thing that will work?”
“Most of it’s a load of crap. Apparently, all I need to do is imagine myself in a white ball of light, which is my protection bubble. Then I have to ask archangel Michael to come and get rid of any negative energy. It’s garbage.”
Emmett slammed his hand over Phoenix’s mouth. “Try to keep an open mind, right? We’re taking all this stuff. Use Greyson’s money to pay for it.”
Phoenix gave a snort of laughter. “Why bother?”
“It will make me feel better.”
“Fine.” He put forty pounds on the counter. “Is that enough?”
“Leave all of his money. We’re not going to use it. Not even to buy me chocolate. It’s karma that he pays for the things from this shop. Maybe Sophie’s money will be used to compensate victims’ families.”
Phoenix pulled out the rest of the cash and left it.
“Is the door going to lock when we leave?” Emmett asked.
“I can secure it. Don’t forget the knives, the holy water and violin case.”
