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As Erin completed the incantation, the summoning stone pulsed with an otherworldly energy. The air cracked, and the scent of ozone filled her nostrils. A strange sensation of being watched prickled at the back of her neck. Her heart pounded with anticipation, her grip on the stone tightening.
Moments later, Meri emerged from the shadows, out of the darkness itself. Erin wondered how the summoner had managed it, but she had bigger issues to manage.
“You called?” she asked, her voice smooth and sultry.
Erin felt her breath catch in her throat as she studied Meri. There was an air of mystery and danger surrounding her, but Erin knew she could trust her.
“Yes, I need help,” she admitted, her voice wavering slightly. “A fae was killed here tonight, and I fear the consequences for my temple and the city.”
Meri’s eyes flashed with inner fire, reflecting a deep understanding of the gravity of the situation. “I see. Are you positive it was fae? They haven’t been seen in some time.”
Erin nodded. “Nia, my cook, confirmed it. She’s a devotee of Coyote and claims she’s seen them before.”
Meri seemed to weigh her with her gaze, eventually letting out a sigh of resignation. “Fae are not to be trifled with. But let’s look,” she said, her voice low and serious. “Time is of the essence.”
“It’s just outside.” Erin led Meri back downstairs and across the dance floor, the weight of the situation bearing down on her. The world she had known was rapidly changing, and she couldn’t help but wonder what dark secrets and dangerous encounters awaited her.
With a deep breath, she followed Meri into the night, the fate of her temple and the city hanging in the balance. The outdoor area seemed to grow colder and darker as they approached the hidden fae corpse.
Nia and Bono stood nearby, quietly awaiting their return. Somehow, Bono had found out about the death and had cleared the area of revelers, and Erin found herself grateful for that small blessing.
As they neared the spot, Meri’s eyes narrowed, taking in the dense shrubbery that Erin had grown to conceal the body. “Show me,” she demanded.
Erin waved her hand, and the shrubbery parted, revealing the gruesome sight of the impaled fae. Meri inhaled sharply, her expression darkening. “You were right to call me. If the fae discover this, there will be Sheol to pay.”
“What do we do?” Erin asked, desperation creeping into her voice.
Meri thought for a moment, her brow furrowed in concentration. “I can’t manage this on my own, so you’re gonna have to trust me.”
Erin felt a chill run down her spine. She could have called Blaine, but she suspected if he or the council knew what had happened, they’d use all their powers to shut her down. “I don’t have anyone else to turn to, Meri. What do you need me to do?”
Meri fixed her with a serious gaze. “You’re gonna have to get real cool, real fast, with some good friends of mine.”
CHAPTER46
NADIR
Nadir surveyed the gruesome scene before her, the metallic scent of blood and the sharp tang of fear heavy in the air. The dead fae’s lifeless eyes seemed to bore into her very soul, reminding her of the potential consequences that loomed over them all. She knew she needed help. Specifically, the unique skills and knowledge of her daemonic cabal mates.
Closing her eyes, she reached out through her mental connection to Azimuth, calling him to her side. In response, a familiar sandalwood scent filled the air, and moments later, Azimuth materialized beside her. His skin seemed to glow in the dim light, a stark contrast against the shadows cast by the temple’s walls. To Nadir’s surprise, Kobol and Orias appeared a moment later.
As the daemons appeared, Erin, Nia, and Bono all took a step back, their eyes wide with a mixture of fear and awe.
“Daemons,” Bono whispered, while Nia’s hands shot up as she prepared to fight them off if she had to. Erin looked at each of the new arrivals, drinking in the moment's novelty.
The air crackled with tension, and Nadir could feel the prickling sensation of magic in the air. Nadir tried to imagine the moment from the human perspective.
Kobol, the stout warrior with fiery red curls, wielded a hammer that thrummed with energy. Orias, a dark-skinned oracle surrounded by murmuring shadows that had an eerie life of their own, carried a curved, ornately engraved scimitar that gave off a powerful hum. Azimuth also fought with a sword in hand, and Nadir understood all three had come ready for battle.
She offered the humans a reassuring smile, explaining that her allies were here to help. “Relax,” Nadir said, her voice exuding confidence, “these three always arrive ready to party. This is just a different party than they’re used to.”
Erin swallowed hard, her eyes flicking between the imposing daemonic figures before her. The soft rustle of their clothes and the low hum of Orias’s scimitar amplified the tension, filling the air with apprehension. “Alright,” she agreed, her voice barely above a whisper. Erin gave a slow nod, rolling with the situation far better than Nadir had imagined. “Welcome to the Temple of Dionysos. I’ll take all the help I can get right now, even from daemons. If you’re friends with Meri, then I’ll trust you can help me.”
Brief introductions were made, and then everyone’s attention quickly turned back to the dead fae.
A frown etched itself across Azimuth’s chiseled features. “This is bad. I warned you about the consequences,” he said, his voice tense. “The fae’s presence is a consequence of you befriending a god-touched and helping her. These ancient beings only stayed away because everyone else kept separate and to the rules.”
Orias stepped forward, the shadows around him whispering softly, as if they shared a secret. “True,” he conceded, “but the fae’s return isn’t Meri’s fault. In fact, I’ve seen something coming in my visions, something even I was afraid to put a name to. Now that I see the fae before us, it doesn’t seem real, and yet there can be no confusion. The fae are back for good, and I fear they will wage war on the other races, especially if one of their fallen is discovered.”
