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“I have the ability to open a portal between this world and another. So did my aunt.”
Her lips pulled back from her teeth. “Then do it!”
“I can’t work with this one,” I lied. “I have to create a new one. Swear you won’t hurt either of us, and I’ll open another one, just for you.”
“He’s really strong,” she said, voice barely above a whisper. Her hand tightened on Ryan’s arm and he gasped in pain. She actually licked her lips. “Never tasted anything like him before.”
I could feel Ryan’s essence pulsing erratically. “I can’t open this portal,” I said quickly, “but I can create another one. Up in the attic. It would take me only a moment … and it’s much bigger and stronger.” I dropped my voice. “But, if you kill him, I swear to you that I will call powers that you cannot even begin to comprehend, and you will be well and truly fucked.”
Distrust, fear, and hunger flickered in her eyes, but she jerked her head in a nod. “Lead the way,” she snapped, pulling Ryan to his feet. His breath rasped harshly, and his face was ashen. But he met my eyes and gave me a faint shake of his head. He thought I was giving in to her. Or maybe he suspected what I was planning to do.
“Try anything stupid and your boyfriend’s a goner,” she reminded me unnecessarily.
“He’s not my damn boyfriend,” I muttered as I turned and started down the hall toward the staircase. She followed, leading Ryan with the grip on his arm and his hair. He looked like shit, but there was still a murderous look in his eyes.
I opened the door to the attic and flipped on the lights. It was cool, bordering on cold, thanks to the AC vent that I’d left open. But more important, I had a diagram already sketched out, and the storage diagram beside it still brimmed with the potency I’d been siphoning into it for the past day.
Rachel exhaled softly as she entered the attic. “This is like that thing downstairs? It doesn’t look the same at all.”
I stepped to the edge of the diagram and picked up a piece of chalk, then turned to look at her. “You’re right. But comparing the portal downstairs to this one is like comparing a toy car to a Ferrari. You’ll have access to much more power than you could ever get with the other.” Holy shit, I hope I don’t fuck this up. She had to be stopped, but I also wasn’t about to let her loose to rampage through the demon realm.
But I knew she could be destroyed. Rhyzkahl had told me that much. I just didn’t know how.
Her eyes nearly glowed with hunger as she looked upon the diagram.
“Kara … no, you can’t do this,” Ryan rasped, then he hissed in pain as Rachel squeezed her hand on his arm.
“Oh, yes, she can,” Rachel replied with a low laugh. “Yes, this will do very nicely. Go ahead, do whatever you need to.” She lifted her chin imperiously to me.
I will. “Stand back and don’t touch any part of the diagram,” I told her. “This will take a couple of minutes.”
“Just get it done.”
I didn’t look at Ryan again. I wasn’t sure if he knew exactly what I was planning to do, but I didn’t want to see his reaction when he figured it out. I quickly lit the candles, sketched the needed changes into the sigils, then positioned myself at the edge of the diagram so that Rachel and Ryan were to my right. I lifted my arms and began the low chant, weaving the power into the summoning and allowing myself a brief twinge of pride at my ability to manipulate the stored potency. The runes and wards flared to life as I quickly worked through the required forms. I was taking some shortcuts, but it wouldn’t matter with this summoning.
I knew I would be safe, especially with the offering I had ready.
The portal widened from a slit to a glowing vortex, and I could hear Rachel’s triumphant laugh. You won’t be laughing for long, bitch.
I spoke the demon’s name, and a heartbeat later the portal went dark, the candles blowing out from a nonexistent wind.
“What happened?” I heard Rachel complaining. “Is it open? Is it done?”
My heart thudded painfully in my chest. I could sense him in the circle. I could hear Ryan’s breath hissing through his teeth. He knew who I’d summoned. I lowered myself to one knee and bowed my head, clutching my hands into fists to keep them from shaking.
Blue light flared. Rachel gasped, and I knew I had mere heartbeats before she figured out that I’d duped her.
“My lord Rhyzkahl,” I said, voice trembling despite my best effort to appear strong. “Save Ryan Kristoff and stop Rachel Roth, and I will serve you as your summoner.”
Chapter 34
I expected to hear a shout of protest from Ryan or some sort of noise from Rachel, but there was nothing but silence. After several heartbeats I lifted my head. Rhyzkahl stood before me, arms folded across his chest, face impassive. I risked a quick glance around, shocked to see a familiar white-marble hall and raised dais with the Mark of Rhyzkahl carved into it—a symbol that I knew all too well. I blinked in confusion and then looked back to the lord.
“No, we are not in my realm,” he said, answering my unspoken question, voice low but thick with power. “This is merely an illusion that grants us time and privacy so that we can seal the terms properly.” Now I understood. He hadn’t actually frozen time or transported me elsewhere. This was no doubt like the dream sendings, where he manipulated the appearance of reality. And since this was no small thing that I was offering, Rhyzkahl obviously wanted to be absolutely certain that the agreement was a solid one.
I took a shaky breath, heart thudding. “The woman, Rachel Roth, is the creature I told you about. She can consume essence, and … and she’s getting stronger. Much stronger. I think she consumed a hriss from the”—I hesitated, unsure whether to mention the portal, then realized that it was a bit late for that sort of worry at this point—“from the portal in my aunt’s library.” I thought I could see his eyes narrow, but I couldn’t be sure. I swallowed harshly and forced myself to continue. “She came at us and we both shot her, but she got hold of Ryan and healed herself and is holding him hostage—sucking his essence out.” Sweat stung my armpits despite the chill in the air. “She has killed a lot of people, and I don’t know how to stop her, and—”
“And this creature you know as Ryan Kristoff is important to you,” Rhyzkahl finished for me.
