Page 88 of Demon Touched

Leah

“And the possession was immediate?” Viz asks.

I cast my mind back to the moment when Syrus and I became entwined, recalling the ritual from that night in the chamber.

The demons have managed to smuggle me into the Seraph Seat three more times over the next week and a half. Even if Asterim hadn’t gotten duping their guard down to a fine art, I might be worried about fledglings at the academy noticing my absence. Except that as we gear up for the third trial, the atmosphere in the nest shifts. Everyone is more tense and preparations for the final trial are frantic, with all the fledglings training harder, trying to revisit any skills they might need for the mysterious test. It leaves everyone with less room to worry about their peers.

Which is fine by me. Less scrutiny on me means I can spend more time scrutinizing the list of runes Viz has been putting together. We’ve narrowed it down every session, with Viz asking increasingly detailed questions about the way the sorcerers’ ritual played out.

“I don’t know,” I say, looking at Syrus on the other end of the couch from me. “I mean, there was a moment where you were just there, hovering above me. And then…”

“They wanted someone else to be the host. She was just part of the ritual,” Syrus says, not taking his eyes off me. “But I wasn’t going to do as I was told, obviously.” He swallows. “I chose her.”

“You were in my body then,” I agree, picking up the thread as I lift a hand to my throat, remembering the sensation of it, how overwhelming it was that first time.

“I thought I was choking, maybe drowning,” I add. Syrus winces but says nothing as I continue. “Then you moved my hands, testing what you could do, I think.”

“Yes,” Syrus says, finding my gaze again, his voice low. “I had never possessed anyone before. You were my first.” His eyes spark mischievously at the double entendre.

I don’t look at Viz in the armchair across from us, though I’m sure he’s rolling his eyes as he gets this down.

“Then you asked me if I wanted to be free, and I said yes,” I say softly.

Tell me, little lamb, do you want to be free?

Yes! More than anything.

The memory echoes in my mind.

Viz’s pen stops scratching across his parchment.

“Wait,” says the skull-faced demon, lifting his head. “He asked your permission?” He turns to Syrus, so stunned he repeats himself. “You asked for her permission?”

Syrus’s brow furrows as he tries to remember.

I answer for him. “Yes, I suppose. Except he was in my mind and body before then. It’s just after that he really, um, got involved.”

“That must be what sealed it,” Viz says, frantically writing.

“Is that bit important?” I ask.

“Normal possession requires consent from the host,” Viz says, eyes sparkling with epiphany. “Except with the blood magic element of your ritual, the sorcerers skipped that part and simply made you open for business—if you’ll excuse the expression.”

I glower at him but let it pass. “Excused. Go on.”

“As you said, Syrus took control of your body. In typical possessions, he would’ve never been able to do that before securing a yes,” he says, as if working something through in his mind.

“Except she had the blood runes on her, and that gave me a way in. You’ve covered that already,” Syrus says with a flicker of frustration.

“Yes,” Viz says, standing up and crossing to the table, slapping the parchment down on it with an exasperated huff. “And that’s what I’ve been focusing on this whole time!”

Asterim, who’s been napping in the corner, stirs.

“What’s happening,” she murmurs sleepily. “Is Viz finally having a breakdown?”

“Maybe just a little one,” I smile.

“I’m an idiot,” Viz says, ignoring us both. “I thought that because the blood ritual made the possession unique that that provided the key to undoing it. I mean, it’s at least part of the reason for the strength of your connection. The fact that it’s a two-way street, with Leah absorbing some of your characteristics.” He waves a hand at Syrus.