that I catch sight of through a doorway.
“Been a while since I used the portal,” Isaac explains, and immediately I’m distracted from the warm, cozy atmosphere as wariness tightens my gut.
Right. This guy isn’t just some cabin-dwelling hermit. He’s a powerful sorcerer who has a literal circle that he uses to summon demons. It can also be used to send people to Hell, which is why we need it.
What sort of person has a circle that can do that?
I look over at the others. Remi gives me a reassuring smile. “Ryland’s acquaintances run the gamut,” he says quietly, “but Isaac is pretty neutral. He’s more interested in study and the pursuit of knowledge than in good or evil or anything else. He’s not malicious. He wouldn’t do anything to really hurt us.”
That’s a bit reassuring, I suppose.
Isaac chants something, and the large rug on the floor rolls back before a trapdoor opens. I jump in surprise. I had no idea that was there.
The older man notices my reaction and grins at me. “You can’t find that door by any normal means, little lady. You gotta know the incantation.”
That’s good, I guess. It’s like the supernatural equivalent of putting firearms in a gun safe. If you’re gonna mess with potentially deadly magic, it’s a good idea to keep it under tight lockdown.
There’s a ladder that leads down. Isaac leads the way, and we all climb down it one by one, ending up in a large, well-lit space underground.
Some of it looks like a food storage area, with barrels of salted meat, corn hanging from the ceiling, and jars of jams and preserved fruit on the shelves. Clearly, Isaac tries to be as self-sufficient as possible while out here.
But over on the other end of the room is what must really be his workshop. There are posters and diagrams up on the wall that detail various spells and runes, a desk with papers strewn all over it, and in the middle, a ring of candles that burn with flames of green and purple surround an empty space on the floor.
“Purple is the color of magic. Green is the color of life,” Beck says quietly to me. “They’re to keep the circle pure of any angelic or demonic influences, since magic and life are neutral forces.”
That makes sense. I’ve heard about “green” magic, versus “white” or “black” magic. The green stuff is just about the pursuit of knowledge and life without trying to accomplish a good or bad agenda. That must be what Isaac is doing.
“I have to say, you’ll be the first angel I’ve ever sent through this thing,” Isaac observes, searching through some potions on a shelf. “Part of why I agreed to this. It’s gonna be fascinating to record how it goes. If you make it back alive, you’ll have to tell me all about your experience so I can record it.”
“Uh…” I swallow.
On the one hand, it’s nice that he’s so friendly and polite, but on the other hand, his nonchalance about this whole thing is a bit disconcerting. Our actual lives are at stake here, and he’s acting like this is just a fun intellectual exercise.
“Of course,” Ryland says smoothly, although I notice his eyes narrow slightly as he gazes at the man.
Isaac finds a small glass bottle with a kind of blue potion inside of it. He makes a noise with his tongue against his teeth, nodding in satisfaction as he shakes it slightly and passes it to me.
“Why is it blue?” I ask.
“Because I flavored it with blueberry syrup,” Isaac replies. “That whole thing with potions tasting nasty is so old fashioned. I think most magic users do it so that they look tough. As if the worse something tastes, the more powerful it is. I want my stuff to taste good.”
“I keep telling you,” Beck says, the green of his eyes flaring slightly, “you could make a fortune marketing flavored potions.”
Ryland rolls his eyes, although his tone is hard as glass. “Don’t make me sic another restraining order on you.”
Isaac just laughs.
I’m guessing that it must be a pretty big deal, somehow, being able to make potions tasty. Maybe it’s because magical potions and spells have to be extremely exact. I don’t know a lot about magic, but I know that much. Maybe adding another ingredient to make it taste good could ruin the entire potion? So if he’s found a way to add flavor while keeping the potion potent…
Ugh. I’m stalling.
I take the stopper