Fire Within - By Ally Shields Page 0,98

first went to Martin, the other Guardian in the district, who was covering for her on anything that couldn’t wait. Fortunately, he reported everything else had been quiet, and nothing required her immediate attention.

Her next call went to Claris. Ari hadn’t talked with her since Sunday, even though her friend had left two messages. If Ari didn't call soon, Claris would be pounding on the door. Besides, Ari would need additional magical ingredients as soon as she figured out a formula. She wanted to make sure Claris would be expecting her.

“Oh, dang,” Claris said when she picked up. “Finally you call, and I’ve got a store full of customers. I can’t chat long.”

“No big deal. I’m swamped myself but wanted to let you know I may be over to get some stuff. But you called me.”

“Oh yes. She’s back. The cat, Hernando’s lady friend? You’d asked about her, so I thought you’d want to know. Appeared yesterday morning. Skinny, so I fed her.”

“Sucker. You’ll never get rid of her now.”

“I know, but she’s so cute with those big ears. I wonder…oops, got to go. Call you later.”

Ari grinned at the empty phone. What a totally different life Claris lived, where cats and customers were the important things in her daily world and not demons, werewolves and vampires. Sometimes Ari envied her—but not for long.

Ari fired up the laptop and dug through the trunk again, setting aside keepsakes that she’d examine another day. That included a string-tied packet belonging to her father. His writings wouldn’t contain info on the magicks, as he hadn’t been a practicing warlock. In witch families, not everyone inherited the ability to use magic, but they carried the genes. The ability could skip several generations before another true witch or warlock emerged.

She grabbed a stack of letters in her mother’s handwriting. What she needed was witch wisdom. She found what she was looking for in the second letter she read, a letter from her mother to Great-Gran. It described the defeat of a halfling demon who had turned evil. Instead of a banishing spell, her mother had used a banishing potion. That was unusual in itself, but it was the explanation of how it worked that caught her eye. The potion had cast out the demon side, leaving an empty earthly shell. When her mother destroyed the shell, the halfling died.

What had Moriana said? An image changer was just another demon. The differences between a halfling and Riverdale’s demon were only a matter of degree. Could it really be that simple? Bind the demon to his form, douse him with the potion, and then destroy his body? Wouldn’t he be left in limbo, forcing him into the same choice as a vanquishing spell?

Ari’s face broke into a broad grin. She couldn’t perform dark magic, but she knew how to cook potions. For the first time in days, she knew the solution was within her grasp. Binding spell, banishing potion. What could be simpler?

She tackled the spell first. She’d used versions of it for years, had successfully adapted it to werewolves. Making it work for a demon should be possible with a little work. In any spell, it was the language that mattered, and luckily, the Goddess wasn’t particular about the artistry. In this instance, the chant needed to bind both body and spirit. It took more than an hour before she was sure she had it right.

Take the outer form, hold it firm and still; Bend the demon spirit to your stronger will;

Wrap with chains of strength and might; Bind him, Goddess, with your light.

As sand to sea, so mote it be.

The potion was a bigger challenge, but Ari knew the foundation. The tektite stone. It was used in all banishing magic and would be the main ingredient. The other parts of the recipe would take more research and a little experimentation.

Ari rolled her head to loosen the tension in her neck. Her witch senses were growing more insistent, raising the hairs at the nape of her neck. She checked the clock. 2:40 p.m. It would be dark by 8:00 or 8:30. Less than six hours before the demon’s powers would peak. She didn’t think it would wait any longer.

Ari reached for the phone, when it rang in her hand.

“You’re never going to believe this,” Ryan said.

“The demon’s kidnapped the mayor and taken over City Hall?” she quipped.

“Huh? He’s done what?”

“Sorry. Having a mental moment. What’s happened now?”

“Got a hit on Freida Stanley. Or should I say