Chapter 38: Six Years Ago

Lanie

I stood in front of my summoning circle. This was my third one, but my first one solo. I looked around at the runes. I had no idea what they meant, but I knew they would work. Around the circle I set up this demon's favorite things. It was the best way to convince the demon to come. This one seemed to like Doritos, bunny ears, and chocolate pudding. I'm not sure what that was all about, but I didn't make the rules.

I raised my arms before me like I was praising the lord, which I thought was sort of funny since I was definitely not doing that. "Irma, Destroyer of Worlds. I summon you. I beg your appearance. I offer you a trade. I beseech you, please, grant me an audience."

The wind whipped through the scraggly pine trees. It was the best nexus point I could find given my options in Utah. I didn't dare go near the big one, there was way too much witchery going over there.

The runes glowed green as the circle ignited. It transferred a little bit of my power in trade for the demon's appearance. A summoning from Hell didn't require much energy, not like one from a farther realm like Death or another universe. That dealt in soul power, which was not the kind of juice I had handy. The air twisted and turned, then shimmered. A large dark furry creature materialized from the warped space-time. It had long ears pointed like a cat, sharp claws, long fangs, and a large hulking muscular body. It stood breathing heavily.

I waited patiently as Irma looked around at the objects. She bent down and snatched up the Doritos with one claw and the pudding with the other. Her spade like tail wrapped around the ears and set them on her head in front of her actual ears.

"You rang?" She hissed.

"I have a trade to offer you." I said.

"I'm listening."

"I will pay passage for you to stay in this world in trade for your power. I request a lifetime of service of your power. In trade, you will be released into this world upon my death."

Irma tilted her head. The bunny ears flopped to the side as she thought. "I accept." She purred.

I held my hands out. My fingertips spread out with my palms exposed. Irma matched my pose with her long claws sticking out above my hand. The orange dust from the chips and the chocolate from the pudding still smeared the points.

"I, Alaina of the Grey House, accept the power from Irma, Destroy of Worlds." I said.

"I, Irma, Destroyer of Worlds, freely give my power to Alaina of the Grey House." Irma hissed.

Power glimmered and glistened on the end of Irma's black hair. The wind rose whipping my dark blonde hair about my face.

"I bind you to my flesh!" I shouted over the howling wind.

"Wait! No!" Irma screeched. "You're a succubus! A lifetime will be ages!" She pulled her claws back, intending to take a swipe at me.

I jumped back to avoid the slice. "Remi!" I shouted as I dropped down into a somersault.

Remi appeared just outside the vortex of wind with his hands in his jean's pockets. He stood watching me as I ducked and dived out of Irma's reach around the summoning circle.

I tripped, stumbling across the circle. Irma's claw caught my face, slashing me deep down my cheek. I fell to my knees. Remi blinked in, scooped me up, and blinked me outside the vortex.

The wind expanded to include me again, giving us more room to fight. Irma came for me again. "This isn't a fair fight, little girl. You can't have a demon doing your bidding."

"I think it's quite fair," I said breathing hard as I twisted away from another swipe of claws. I ducked down between her legs and popped up the other side. I climbed the hairy back until I hung around her shoulders. The bunny ears flopped from side to side as Irma tried to reach me with her claws. I pulled out my silver dagger and cut the monster's throat. Black blood spurted across the circle. The wind caught it and sent it spinning out where it splattered trees and other plant life.

Irma screamed. She disintegrated into particles that swarmed into my dagger. I could feel the energy pulsating within it. I landed on my feet as Irma was consumed. The wind and the glowing green died around me.

Remi still stood there with his arms crossed. "That was close."

"I know you had me."

"I don't like baby-sitting, you know."

"Aren't you just doing your job?"

"I don't take orders from Isabell."

I shrugged. "But you still have to protect me. It's not my time yet."

He narrowed his eyes at me. "If I were you, I'd be careful what mommy dearest is gearing up to do."

It was my turn to cross my arms. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

"I can't interfere."

I rolled my eyes. "You always say that. Can you at least give me a ride home?"

Remi raised his eyebrow at me and shook his head. He vanished.

"Bastard," I cursed. "Fine. I don't need you anyways."

I snatched up my bag and climbed into my blue ford truck. Well, I guess it wasn't really mine, like legally. I was only 14 and didn't have a permit, but it wasn't like the rules had ever applied to me. I started the engine then began the long trek back home, a nice little farmhouse just outside of Salt Lake City.

As I bounced along, my mind wandered to my homework. It was almost the end of the school year for normal kids, but my schooling never ended. At least I didn't have to learn anything stupid like math. No, my classes were much more practical. I had two different instructors for physical training, one for martial arts and the other for acrobatics. The combination had made me pretty lethal.

Unfortunately, my homework was in neither of those. Instead, Mother had instructed that I be able to read the major words of the next spell we were doing in Aramaic, or at least that was what I guessed the language was. It wasn't really my forte. I wasn't into the intellectual stuff. I remembered what I could, but it was like I just couldn't hold on to that information, like my brain just didn't work that way, like I was missing a piece that other people had.

I tapped the playlist on my phone that started reciting words in Aramaic and in English. I repeated after each one, trying to get them to stick. I hoped Mother would be in a good mood when I got home, because I was not getting an A on this homework.