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My motto was that every victory, no matter how small, should be celebrated so we would prowl on through life and never get beaten down.
Circe rolled her eyes. In her delusional mind, she thought she was more mature than I. But I understood that she wanted to keep that image in front of Jasper. At some point, I might need to talk to her, as she considered me competition more often than not.
Perhaps that was the problem with only one male in a pack.
Jasper obliged me and hit my palm with his rough one for a high five before we jogged down a long street toward the old, abandoned library—our residence—several blocks away.
The metal dish glinted in autumn’s sunlight at the top of the brown building, beckoning us to return home. That was always a comforting sight.
“We’ve never had a demon in this forest before.” Jasper started, strolling to my left.
“We almost became the demon’s snack today,” Circe said, large eyes peeking at Jasper. “Did you hear its laughter? It chilled me to the bone. If any more of them come, Crack won’t be safe for us anymore. Where can we go next?”
Worry knotted in my stomach.
We’d never lingered in the forest long enough for any monsters to ambush us. Each of us played a different role—Jasper flushed out game, I shot them, and Circe used her spells to cover our scent so we could leave the scene quickly once we’d grabbed the game.
We’d never had a demon complication before.
We weren’t equipped to deal with a demon. We might not be lucky again if another Hell-creature, especially a more powerful one, showed up in town.
However, the flame had appeared out of nowhere and burned the demon. The demonic being had vanished without a trace after it screamed, as if it had been dragged back to Hell.
But the realm of Hell had already merged with half of Earth’s surface, which was Lucifer’s greatest achievement. Somehow he’d broken the seal and the boundary after eons of confinement in the endless inferno. And now he sought to bring the full Hell to Earth. Only the God of War and his four demigods held on, refusing to give up their reign on the other half of the planet.
“You have magic, Marigold,” Jasper drawled. “It was powerful enough to banish a demon. And all this time you thought you were just a human.”
“But I am a human,” I said, staring down at my hands and willing a spark of fire to manifest, to give some evidence that the flame had indeed blasted out of me and prove that I might be something more.
I’d felt energy surge through me when the flame appeared, but it could’ve been my imagination. I’d tasted fire and smoke on the back of my tongue, but it could’ve just been the burning air.
Right now, not even an ember answered my call.
I shook my head. “I couldn’t have the kind of fire that could burn a grade-three demon.”
“How did you know that demon’s power grade?” Jasper asked.
“Uh...” I blinked. “I thought everyone could tell.”
“We couldn’t,” Jasper said. “I think your need to protect us and your intense reaction to the demon threat brought out your power.”
“Or the flame could have come from Circe,” I said, turning to my witch friend. “Did you feel like it generated from you? You’ve been practicing fire spells.”
She bit her plump lower lip and mused for a second before she nodded. “It could’ve. I’ve cast fire spells before, though nothing as big as that. But when facing the demon, I could have enhanced the flame. I felt the power blast in the air. Everything happened so fast I couldn’t trace my spells. I need to practice more on my power to conjure up fire at will.”
I nodded in approval. “You’re a natural, Circe. We can clean up the courtyard for you to practice.”
Circe beamed.
Jasper gave me an unreadable glance, but he didn’t look convinced that the flame was Circe’s witch fire.
“What do you guys need?” I asked, changing subject. “You two go ahead and stew the shimera.” Jasper was the best cook among us, so cooking was his lot. I grabbed my backpack. “I’ll go take the other shimera to the market.”
“Maybe I should go to the trade?” Jasper said, concern in his brown eyes.
“No way,” I said. “I’m the best trader, and you don’t even bargain much.” I knew he was worried that I might get attacked alone. I grinned at him. “I know all the shortcuts, and I run damn fast. No one enjoys messing with me.”
Jasper gave me an appreciative look. “You’re a vicious fighter, and everyone who isn’t awfully dumb has learned that you’re also vengeful.”
