Saphora said, the words sealing her end of the bargain.
“I will give you my name at the same time you hand over your blood, not a second before.”
The witch went over to the desk and opened a drawer. She pulled out a small glass bottle, not taller than an inch. It was almost full, to where the stopper was inserted.
Saphora walked over to him and held out the vial. Crescious reached out his clawed hand and grabbed the bottom of the glass. As he pulled it from her he said, “Crescious.”
The minute the vial was in his grasp, he disappeared from Blackhorn manor.
He smiled to himself as he reappeared in Osiris’s hall. He’d given the witch his name, but she’d been foolish in not being more specific. She needed his full name in order to summon him. The only being who knew his full name was Osiris.
“Did you succeed in acquiring what I need?” Osiris asked as he stood from his throne.
Crescious held up the vial and paper. “I have, my lord.”
“I admit I am surprised,” Osiris said, almost looking pleased.
“Thank you.”
The lord of the underworld walked over and plucked the items from Crescious’s hands. He unfolded the paper and began to read. His face tightened marginally. “Is this the witch’s blood?”
“Yes,” the demon answered. “But I don’t have Dolion’s blood, of course.”
Osiris’s lips turned up in a thin smile. “You don’t, but I do.”
Osiris possessed samples of the blood of every demon in his domain. It was one of the things that made him more powerful than all the rest, that and what was allowed to him by the Creator.
He disappeared from his throne room and reappeared in front of the sealed chamber that held the book he needed, the one containing the spell locking in the royal elementals.
Crescious materialized next to him a second later.
“This better work,” Osiris muttered as he began to read the words on the page.
“I’m pretty sure my blood is freezing in my veins,” Shelly said as she hopped up and down.
“Is that possible?” Tara asked as she watched her BFFF imitate a bouncing ball.
“I don’t see why it wouldn’t be,” Gabby said. Tara shook her head. She was happy to be back with their group, all except for Aston, who was still on assignment. Apparently, he was in Transylvania, which Shelly had declared “cool as shit.” It seemed her aversion to swearing wasn’t coming back anytime soon. Hell had cured her of that affliction.
“So, when is this shindig starting?” Shelly asked. She was no longer bouncing because Ra had wrapped her in his big arms and pulled her tightly against him. Elias had done the same to Tara, but she had her back against him so she could see everyone.
Liam had his arms wrapped around Gabby, but she looked supremely uncomfortable. She held herself stiffly as if her limbs had frozen. Tara watched as Liam leaned his head down to her ear and whispered something. Tara was impressed when Gabby finally relaxed into him and laid her head back on his chest.
“They brought us all to this huge hydro plant and left us standing here freezing our nuts off,” Shelly huffed.
“Umm,” Liam said, a crooked grin appearing on his face, “I was under the impression that you didn’t have nuts, Shelly.”
Shelly turned her head to look at him. “Why? Did I ever tell you I didn’t have nuts?”
“Bloody hell,” Elias rumbled as he buried his face against the back of Tara’s neck.
“Could we drop the nuts, please?” Gabby groaned as she rolled her eyes.
Liam winced. “That would be painful, babe. Perhaps remember that in the future when we are—”
Liam’s words were cut off by Gabby’s hand covering his mouth.
“No. Just no.” Gabby growled at him.
Shelly laughed as she turned in Ra’s arms and pressed her back against his chest. “I like the control you have over your man, Gabs. It’s impressive.”
Gabby jerked her hand away from Liam’s mouth. “Eww. You licked me, you dick.”
“I can’t help myself. You taste delicious.” Liam grinned from ear to ear.
“Why do I have the feeling that he’s going to start groping her at any moment?” Tara whispered so only Elias could hear her.
“Because he probably is,” Elias whispered back. “But I have a feeling Gabby can hold her own against his wandering hands.”
“Agreed,” Tara said.
“Can we get back to my original question?” Shelly asked.
“I imagine the professors are talking to the plant managers about us helping. The water is freezing very fast, and this plant is the