“Should I turn out the lights?” said Erin.
Raya nodded.
Erin flipped the switches and stood next to Raya.
Raya closed her eyes and murmured words that Erin couldn’t quite catch. She tugged her wand free from her hair and held it over the design, then spoke clearly. “We summon the demon known as Andromalius.”
Nothing happened.
Raya opened her eyes. “Hold my hand.”
Erin obediently placed her hand in Raya’s free hand.
“Say his name with me on the count of three. One, two, three.”
“Andromalius!”
There was a banging sound from down the hall.
Something like faint smoke rose from the salt.
Erin and Raya backpedaled away from the design as a shadowy form coalesced in the center.
A silhouette of feathered wings bloomed from within the confines—except these wings weren’t gray. They were the precise deep crimson shade of red velvet cake.
“Andy?” Erin squinted into the shadows.
The red-winged figure pivoted to face them. His three piece suit shone softly in the light of the candles, and he clutched a bottle of champagne in one hand, and two flutes in the other.
“What do you lot want?” he asked, his English accent dripping annoyance from every vowel and consonant.
“Where’s Andromalius?” said Erin.
His lips twisted. “How the Hell should I know?”
Raya stepped closer, wand extended. “Listen, demon, we’re looking for one of your friends. Andromalius. Goes by Andy. Ever heard of him?”
He rolled his eyes. “Listen, sweetheart, I don’t have time for your little witch games. I was in the middle of a very nice party when I was rudely interrupted by—”
“Little witch games? I’ll blast your stupid demon face straight to—”
Erin placed a restraining hand on Raya’s arm. “What my friend here was trying to say was that we really need to find Andromalius. Can you please help us?”
The red-winged demon leaned closer to Erin. “What’s in it for me, then?”
“I—I don’t know,” stammered Erin.
“Oh, just let me blast him,” said Raya.
“No! Wait. Listen, demon. I’m not trying to scare you, but I’ve seen this woman”—she indicated Raya—“with my very own eyes, blast a demon right out of this world.”
He eyed Raya with one eyebrow raised. “Really.”
Erin nodded vigorously. “Poof. Gone. And I’d really hate for that to happen to you.”
Phoenix looked back and forth between them. “What is this, some kind of good witch, bad witch routine?”
“Not at all,” said Erin. “I just think we can work this out to everyone’s mutual benefit.”
