Page 131

“She did not understand their magic well enough for that, how to steal it or how to use it. But she did know that of the covens.”

“Which was expended after they called the storm,” I pointed out.

“Yes, but not before.”

I stared at the demon, and he smiled slightly. “She intends—” I began, and then stopped, because that couldn’t be right.

“She intends to use the power with which the coven leaders called the storm to destroy the Circle,” Mircea finished grimly.

The demon nodded.

“But that would destroy England, her own country!” I said. “Does she not care about that?”

“I do not know what she cares about, only what she intends.”

“And still you lie,” Louis-Cesare said. “She could have ordered you to destroy the Circle! All of it—”

“Destroy the Circle?” the demon stared at him. “The only thing supporting the barrier that keeps the ancient gods from this realm? Even had I such power, the demon council would rip me to pieces for that, if the gods didn’t return and eat me first!”

“And yet you’re helping her to do just that! If she succeeds—” Louis-Cesare stopped, noticing that Mircea and I were looking at him in confusion. “I . . . should not be discussing this.”

“We’re a little beyond that, don’t you think?” I said dryly. “Tell us.”

He winced, but complied.

“The world is protected, and has been so for centuries, by a barrier—a spell laid by the Goddess Artemis millennia ago, and supported since she disappeared by the mages of the Silver Circle. If too many of them fall, the barrier falls with them, and the gods return. And likely wreak a terrible vengeance upon the Earth.

“The spell was what the Circle was protecting when they fled Europe to get away from their dark counterparts. That is why they were so ruthless in repressing the covens. They were saving not only themselves, but all of us. But if the witch succeeds in her aims . . . she won’t just destroy the Circle. She could end the world.”

Mircea and I both stared at him, but I found my tongue first. Not that it helped much. “What?”

Louis-Cesare sighed. “This is not common knowledge in my day, but it is not a secret, either. Most magical authorities know of it, and at least tolerate the Circle as a result. But in the past . . . I do not know if the witch was privy to such information.”

“She was. I informed her,” the demon said. “I do not think she believed me—”

“But you knew it was true!” I accused. “You knew that you were risking everything—”

“The Circle is careful to preserve its numbers,” the creature said. “She could take a great toll on them that night, but there was no way to know whether it would be enough to destroy the spell—”

“But it might be! You were willing to risk the entire world for your selfish—”

“I can’t go back there!” it roared, suddenly furious. Louis-Cesare pushed me behind him again as it lunged forward, but it was needless. The creature was already leashed. It was caught partway through the movement and flung back against the wall, hard enough to cause half the charred bricks to crumble onto its head.

“Get it out of me!” it roared, writhing. “Get it out! I have told you the truth; now fulfill your vow!”

“I made no such vow,” Mircea said, rising to his feet and looking down on the creature as it squirmed and thrashed. “But I may now, if we can reach an agreement.”

The demon stilled.

“You took the opportunity of the witch’s distraction during the fight in London to escape to a time in which neither of your masters exists. You are free.”

“Not free,” the creature rasped. “Not with this thing inside me.”

“That ‘thing’—” Louis-Cesare began hotly.

“Can be removed,” Mircea cut in smoothly. “I assume that was your plan; to come here where no one bound you and rid yourself of your last burden, and thus be free indeed. But you failed, finding her stronger than you’d anticipated—”

“Not strong! She stole power from me and is using it to block my access to what’s left!”