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My skin itched with nervous anticipation. I rubbed my arms and tried to relax into the seat. Not much chance of that happening. Too much was riding on this effort. The safety of everyone the demon might hurt, the Assembly’s trust in me and my consorts… My own faith in myself.
“We’re pulling off up here,” the enforcer in the front said to the driver. A minute later we eased onto the grassy shoulder of the isolated road. The demon had roamed into the rolling forested land here, weaving this way and that, but keeping enough to a predictable path that the Assembly officials had been able to estimate where it would head in the next hour or so.
The enforcers stuck close by my sides as we tramped through the brush. Tangy cypress scent washed over me on the hot summer breeze. About a five-minute walk from the road, the trees opened up to a clearing of scruffy grass and wildflowers. A dilapidated cabin stood off to the side, next to an overgrown lane that was still functional enough that we’d be able to drive the truck along it to drop off the cage. Hopefully soon we’d be driving it back to collect its cargo.
The panels of the cage itself were sprawled across the floor of the clearing, one wall leaning against a couple of tree trunks where there hadn’t been quite enough room to spread it out completely flat. Seth was already there, stalking around the perimeter, stopping to prod one joint and another.
My pulse hiccupped when I saw him. He must have come straight from the construction lot when they’d brought the cage out here. I’d thought he’d finish his work back there.
It was hard not to notice that a couple of the enforcers trailed behind me as I went over to him. At least they kept a bit of distance rather than lurking right at my back. I wondered which of the officials had instructed them not to let me get too far from their reach.
What had they been instructed to watchfor, and what were they supposed to do to me if they saw that?
The sunlight in the clearing lit Seth’s tawny hair with a warm glow. Despite the tension in his face, he managed to bring a lot of warmth to his smile too when he saw me approaching.
“It all looks good to go,” he said. “Everything should move and latch together the way we discussed.”
“We didn’t discuss you being here,” I said. “Seth, if this plan doesn’t work, or even if the demon puts up a real fight, which it probably will…”
“I know,” he said, before I had to point out that he couldn’t protect himself even as well as the average witch here could. “I remembered what you said to Damon before about distractions. A few of the witching men who’ve been helping with the construction work came along to set things up, but they’re driving back to the city in a few minutes.”
Relief washed away a little of my nerves. “Good. I want you heading back with them. You’ve already done more than your part here.”
“You know if I thought it’d help you more than distract you, I’d stay,” he said.
“I do. You don’t have to worry about me doubting your commitment.” I poked his chest. “What Iwantis you as far away from that thing as possible.”
With all the enforcers milling around, it didn’t feel like the right time or place for much of a PDA. Seth grasped my arm and pressed a quick kiss to my forehead, and that would have to be enough.
“I’ll be waiting for you back home,” he said.
“I’ll see you there,” I replied, willing those words to be a promise.
Someone shouted for Seth over by the lane. I gave him a little shove, and he brushed his hand over my cheek before he loped over to join the other men. My heart ached, watching him go.
This would not be the last time I saw him. I wouldn’t let it be.
“Let’s go,” one of the enforcers near me said. “The observers say the demon should be in range in about fifteen minutes. We need to get into position. It’s a few degrees off course.”
I nodded and followed her and the primary squads deeper into the woods. We had two tasks to accomplish: pushing the demon onto the right path to bring it to the clearing, and then propelling it all the way onto the cage’s base so that we could close those walls around it. The first part, at least, we could be subtle about. We didn’t want the fiend to know it was under assault until as late as possible.
The same sergeant who’d led our previous effort was calling out names and pointing every squad into position. I took my place on the twig-scattered ground behind the main mass of enforcers, in about the middle of the formation. I was supposed to be lending power to all of them, as much as I could. Although from the looks some of them shot over their shoulders at me, maybe they were worried I’d end up using that power on them.
A fresh prickle crept down my back. I shook it off. When we were finished here today, they’d know they could count on me.
We fell into a hush. The sergeant gave a soft call and gestured for us to move forward several paces. The demon must have adjusted its course again.
The erratic vibrations of its unearthly energy trickled over us. My back stiffened as I braced myself for that pulsing to intensify. There was a crunching, crackling sound in the distance, getting louder as the creature shambled closer to us.
The sergeant motioned for us to begin the redirection spells. Or rather, for the enforcers to begin them. As they swayed in their silent magicking, I brought my hands to my chest and spread my arms into the air, looped them around my body and unraveled them again. With every movement, I concentrated harder on the unsettling vibration I could summon from my own spark when I focused on it.
The sensation of the demonic influence in me tremored through my chest and limbs. I passed it on with the flow of my magic to the enforcers all along our line. A little of the power the demon held, to push against its inherent strange magic. It had worked when the men from the Frankford’s faction had contributed their stored power. I had a nearly endless supply.
The quavering of the demon’s presence rose as the sounds of its destructive arrival grew louder. Trees groaned and toppled several paces from where we stood; branches on those closer wilted when the creature paused. I reached into myself and called forth that eerie essence even faster.
Don’t look this way. Don’t stop. Just keep going where we tell you to.
The enforcers’ spells combined with my demon-flavored magic seemed to be working. The demon shifted to one side and shuffled on toward the place where the cage was waiting. Our formation shifted in turn, all of us easing along beside the demon’s path. I could barely see the creature, just a reddish glow and glimpses of knobby limbs between the trees, but my stomach was churning with the sense of its presence.
