recognition to unlock it and hands it to me. I open an internet search and pull up a chart of the moon phases.
“There was a new moon last night, and one the night the other bodies were found.”
“What does that mean in terms of magical significance?”
“A few things,” I say, looking at the date of the next new moon. “It can be literal in the sense that a dark sky is ideal for dark magic, but it’s also good for setting new intentions, and your spell can grow with the moon. In regards to demonic sacrifices…I’m not sure. Obviously, it has significance to them since two sets of victims were killing the same way, over a Ley line, and on a new moon.”
Lucas runs his fingers up and down my arm, helping to keep me calm. “If the next sacrifice takes place on the next new moon, we have a month.”
I nod. “It gives us a little bit of time, at least. I’ll let Tabatha know, and Nicole and Naomi. Their gran studied demonology. Maybe she’ll recognize if this ritual is some sort of summoning or something else.”
“Good idea. There are other covens protecting Ley lines just like yours, correct?”
“Right.”
“They should be warned and on the lookout for demons. Is it possible to place wardings around the Ley lines?”
“Maybe around a hotspot, but they’re too big. Though if we can get all the covens around said hotspots to cast a spell at the same time, we can probably tap into the Ley line’s collective power and cast something pretty damn powerful.” I hold out my hand and telekinetically bring my purse over so I can get my phone out. Evander was meeting with some friends at a bar in town tonight and will be able to receive my text to relay to Tabatha later, who’s back at the Covenstead. I fire off a text and put my phone done, not expecting a response until the morning.
Lucas is right: we have a month, and a lot can happen in a month. A lot of good…and a lot of bad. I’m trying to stay positive, to think we’ll get to the bottom of this just in the nick of time like usual, but I have a sinking feeling that Paimon is already here, and he’s not alone.
Chapter 28
My phone rings, stirring me from my sleep.
“I’ll get it,” Lucas tells me, and my eyes fall shut. It’s early in the morning—much too early to be awake yet. “It’s your sister.”
I sit up, worried something happened because why else would she be calling me so early? Nerves prickle through me. What if my spell is weakening and she had a dream about getting shot? A lot has gone on, pushing that issue to the back burner, but the guilt is still there.
“Hello?”
“Hiiiii,” Penny says into the phone, little baby-voice melting my heart.
“Hi, Penny! What are you doing up this early?”
“Inks! Inks!”
I look at Lucas and shrug. “Hey, Penny, where’s Mommy?”
“Inks,” she says again, getting frustrated. There’s movement against the phone, and it sounds like she’s slapping the screen. “Inks!”
“Penny, what are you—ugh, again?” Abby groans. “Oh, gosh, Callie, I’m so sorry.” Penny starts crying, upset Abby took the phone away. “I just got home after seventeen hours at the hospital and just want to sleep so I gave her my phone. I’m that mom now, and I don’t even care. Phil was suppose do to be here, but he had to rush in and take care of a patient who ripped out his foley right after surgery.”
“I don’t know what that means, but I’m sorry. You sound exhausted.”
“I am.”
“Lucas and I are planning on going to Chicago tonight to buy a crib from some fancy-pants baby store Eliza insists we go to. Everything is handmade and way overpriced. I could come over beforehand and play with Penny so you could nap. I’ll consider it practice for when Elena gets here.”
“Oh my god, that would be amazing. When? Now? I’m joking. But I’m not.”
I laugh. “I can come if you want me to.”
“No, it’s okay. Unless you can do that teleporting thing Julian does. Phil should hopefully be home in an hour so he can take this monster. Until then, I’m locking her in my bedroom with the TV on since she keeps calling people when I give her my phone. I should have let Phil get her a tablet for Christmas,” she grumbles to herself. “I think I’m going to order one now, actually.”
“I