Page 115 of Conjure

Unable to sit down, I stand and walk around the couch. “I’ve seen visions of a man with an axe.”

“This just gets better and better,” Aron chuckles, rubbing his eyes.

I ignore him. “This man…he tells me to stay out of the woods. It’s almost like he…protects me.”

“Do we know if there’s been any mysterious disappearances involving a man in his early twenties?”

Dominic stiffens on the couch. “I’ve seen him too. We talked to him.”

“So now we have a demon and a dead spirit man?” Aron’s taunting laugh is grating on my nerves.

“I know none of this makes sense.”

Gwen stands, resting her hands on her hips. “It makes sense. Magdalene saw visions, too. I’m sure we all have.” She locks eyes with us all. “Don’t tell me you haven’t heard the trees whisper.”

No one answers.

“Fuck,” Dominic breathes, dragging his hand down his face. “What about the ring of salt.”

I chew on my thumbnail. “You were chasing me down the stairs—well, the demon,” I correct when Dominic pales. “I saw the man with the axe enter the kitchen and followed him. There was no sign of him, but the axe was on the floor in a ring of salt.”

“What’s so special about the salt?” Lily asks.

“The demon couldn’t get to me while I was in the circle. But not only that. I’ve seen the axe before. I remember now. It has a binding symbol carved into the handle.”

“This is so fucking weird,” Gwen mutters. “Let’s roll with your idea for a minute. You say you think he is protecting you? Why? Who is he, and why would he protect you? If you saw a binding symbol on the axe, he must have intended to use it on the demon.”

“Maybe he’s another one of her admirers. Seems humans, demons, and ghosts alike line up for a chance to get with the mysterious Camryn. Let’s all join the fucking queue,” Aron sneers, and Dominic shoots up from his seat and launches himself at him.

Lily squeals as the armchair crashes to the ground, and we watch in horror as they exchange blows. At first, it looks like Dominic has the upper hand, but then Aron rolls them over and lays into him with his fists. Gwen and I run forward to pull him off while Lily cries on the couch, but he elbows Gwen, which sends her flying back. The brief pause is Dominic’s opening to ram his fist into Aron’s nose.

Gwen staggers to her feet, touching her fingers to her bruised cheek, eyes flashing with anger. “I’ve had enough of this shit.” She walks out and returns moments later with a bucket of cold water, which she wastes no time pouring over the boys. “That’s enough!”

Dominic shoves Aron off and stands with flared nostrils, water dripping off his sopping hair as he glares at him. Aron is no better off as he pinches his nose to stop the blood from pouring.

“If you’re done measuring dicks,” Gwen seethes. “Let’s figure out how to stop this thing.”

THIRTY-FOUR

CAMRYN

The plan isto scour the local news and public records first thing tomorrow, but it’s late, and we need sleep. Gwen and Lily are sharing my mom’s bed, while Aron is sleeping in the guest room.

Resting against the bathroom doorframe, I observe Dominic as he peels off his damp T-shirt, letting it fall carelessly to the floor. When his battered face reflects in the mirror, our eyes lock in the glass. His intense gaze pierces through me, and then he averts his eyes to turn on the shower.

“You can’t let Aron get to you like that,” I say as he unbuckles his belt with his muscled back to me.

“He disrespected you.”

“He has a point, Dominic. Their friends would be alive if it weren’t for me. I suggested that stupid spirit board. I invited the demon.”

Dominic scoffs, turning to face me. “The demon was already hunting you.” He lowers his head, his jaw clenched, then spins around and pulls the shower curtain aside. “They made a choice. It’s not your fault they agreed to summon the demon.” His voice is as terse as his jerky movements. I watch him remove the rest of his damp clothes in silence, wishing I could say something tocalm him down. I don’t know what. The tension between him and Aron is worsening by the day, but neither is willing to bury the hatchet. We’ve all been through hell these last few weeks.

I walk up to him and place my hand between his shoulder blades. He stiffens beneath my touch. “Talk to me, Dom.”

He shrugs me off and steps beneath the hot spray. “You should leave.”

“But Dom—” I jump when he pulls the curtain shut.