Part 26 (2/2)

”Thanks, Sunny,” I said slowly. ”Thanks for everything.”

”Luna .. .” she started, but I hung up the phone and unplugged it from the wall. Knowing Sunny, she'd keep calling until I answered out of pure irritation. And now I needed to concentrate.

I went into the sitting room, and rummaged in the drawer of the entry table until I found one of Sunny's old pieces of chalk. I kicked the rug aside and drew a double circle, closing myself inside it. I sat cross-legged, trying to ignore the sensation that I was slowly sinking into deep water as the circle closed.

”Asmodeus,” I spoke aloud, clearly and sharply. Only once. All that chanting in dead languages that blood witches went through during a summoning was overrated. All you really really needed to do was think about them. They always listened, and watched. Waited. needed to do was think about them. They always listened, and watched. Waited.

”You called me, Insoli. I was not wrong about your impending trouble.”

Asmodeus appeared as if he were s.h.i.+elded by a column of gold smoke, flickering and half translucent. I swallowed. Even half there, the daemon set every nerve and instinct in me on end, screaming to get away. He was Other, dangerous.

”I'm facing Seamus O'Halloran in the Certamen Letum,” Certamen Letum,” I said. ”And I'm calling on your promise to me.” I said. ”And I'm calling on your promise to me.”

”Ah, but I have already delivered your desire to you.” Asmodeus's face was obscured, but I swear he smirked. ” Asmodeus's face was obscured, but I swear he smirked. ”I restored the other creature, the man, when you wished it.” restored the other creature, the man, when you wished it.”

”You poisoned him,” I spat. ”It was not not what I wanted.” what I wanted.”

”And it is not, often.”

”Seamus O'Halloran is trying to use the Skull of Mathias for his own ends,” I said desperately. ”And I'm trying to stop him. Isn't that worth something?”

”What would you you use the Skull for, Insoli? Can you answer truthfully?” use the Skull for, Insoli? Can you answer truthfully?”

”I'd sink that thing to the bottom of Siren Bay,” I answered. ”I never want to see it again. I hate this, all of this idiotic warring over something that was never meant to be used by people in the first place. It's a perversion.”

Asmodeus considered, his gold skin emitting a soft, pulsating glow that was brighter than the early morning sun.

”Go to your witch's contest. I will strike a bargain with you one more time.” His form became corporeal, and he reached into the circle and placed a hand on top of my head. A single ma.s.sive chill racked me, as if my body had been encased in ice. His form became corporeal, and he reached into the circle and placed a hand on top of my head. A single ma.s.sive chill racked me, as if my body had been encased in ice. ”Make no mistake, Insoli. One day, I will ask you to repay my terms. And you will have no more recourse. You accept?” ”Make no mistake, Insoli. One day, I will ask you to repay my terms. And you will have no more recourse. You accept?”

”Yes,” I whispered, shaking. ”I accept.”

”Face O'Halloran knowing that I have aided you. And do not call me again.”

”Then don't keep showing up!” I snapped. Too late. He was gone, leaving behind that charred smell of broken barriers and foreign magick.

CHAPTER 30.

I waited the full two hours to go to O'Halloran Tower, and I brought my gun, for all the good it would do me. I really considered leaving the Skull behind, trying to bluff Shelby, Victor, and Valerie free, but in the end I carried it inside using the same canvas bag I'd carried it out in.

The lobby of the tower was deserted when it should have been the fullest, just at the start of the workday. One elevator was operational, standing open, deceptively bright and calm.

I rode it to Seamus's office, and I took out the revolver, sliding my finger along the trigger guard, ready. I didn't expect to use it, but it was familiar, and secure. I'd planned to die fighting ever since I'd gotten the bite, and I hadn't changed my mind.

Two security thugs derailed my grand plans as soon as the elevator reached Seamus's office. They patted me down and took away the revolver. ”What did you think you were gonna do with that?” one snorted.

”Put your head up your a.s.s and I'll show you,” I snarled. He pulled a mock-scared expression and then pointed at the bag.

”That the object Mr. O'Halloran asked for?”

”Do you have any more stupid questions for me?” I snapped. ”Want to know if I come here often, perhaps?”

He jerked his head at the second thug, who led me into the private room behind the desk. ”She's here, Mr. O'Halloran,” he murmured, and got the h.e.l.l out.

Not that I blamed him in the least. Seamus glided forward, clad in black slacks and a crew-neck sweater. It was no robe with a pentagram topped with a headdress of antlers, but it was intimidating enough.

”Thank you for being on time, Detective,” he said, inclining his head. ”And for not attempting anything stupid.”

I swallowed and thrust my chin out. ”You don't know that.”

He smiled. Not an evil smile by any stretch. No moustache-twirling or sardonic smirking. Just a small, satisfied expression that a.s.sured everyone he was in complete control.

b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

”I'm sure we don't want unpleasantness at this late date, Detective Wilder. Show me the Skull.”

”Show me Shelby and Valerie and Victor,” I countered, holding the canvas bag closer.

”They're not here,” said Seamus. ”Trust me, I've seen all the same spy movies you have, Detective. They're in the secure room in the bas.e.m.e.nt. I think it was a bomb shelter at some point. Very quiet and secluded, to avoid any questions about screaming. But they're alive. I am a worthy witch. I keep my promises.”

I looked into Seamus's eyes, trying to see the lie there. He betrayed nothing. But he was was a worthy witch. Evil, ambitious, depraved, but still a witch. And they were all OCD about the honor-and-promises c.r.a.p. a worthy witch. Evil, ambitious, depraved, but still a witch. And they were all OCD about the honor-and-promises c.r.a.p.

”Fine,” I said, pulling the Skull out of the bag. ”Let's get this stupid Certamen Certamen or whatever over with.” or whatever over with.”

Seamus held out his palm and I slapped the Skull into it. ”Very good,” he said. He went and set it back on its pedestal, and then bowed to me, gesturing to a circle worked into the gaudy floor tiles I hadn't noticed before. ”Please.”

I made sure we both stepped into the circle at the same time, and Seamus brought his hands together and muttered a few words to close the circle and bring up the energy.

It snapped shut around us like the jaws of a trap, and I almost staggered under the weight of Seamus's power. He was stronger than Sunny by a thousand times, even stronger than my grandmother. Even Alistair Duncan hadn't been this bad.

”By the laws laid down at Rouen in 1597, we battle for honor and for prestige on the even field of a working circle,” Seamus said, muttering quickly like you say grace when you're really, really hungry and don't mean it anyway. ”Do you stand as a combatant of your own free will, so bound until the contest is ended?”

”Um,” I said. ”Sure. Yes. I do.”

Seamus nodded. ”Very good. Unfortunately, I do not.”

And as his power hit me, blue flames that burned my clothes and skin and seared me body and soul, I saw just how foolish I'd been. I'd let my worries for Shelby blind me to the fact that once Seamus had the Skull, he didn't need to be honorable anymore. And he didn't need me alive.

You'd better believe I fought, though. I tried to draw the power into me like when I'd copied the runes. I tried to feel the strength Asmodeus had imbued me with and just as quickly screamed as I felt the cold certainty of the daemon's gift burned away by Seamus's magick.

”Whatever little tricks you might have picked up,” said Seamus, ”won't do you a d.a.m.n bit of good inside that circle. I'm as safe from you as you are from an inmate at the jail.”

”Hex ... you ...” I moaned, and then I couldn't speak anymore. My heartbeat fluttered, and it was hard to draw a breath. I was angry, at my own arrogance and that I'd made a deal with Asmodeus for no reason and that someone like Seamus O'Halloran had outsmarted me with casual effort.

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