Page 87 of The Demon's Spell

“Lucas and I watched innocent people die at the hands of the demon,” I said. “We all saw what happened the night of the Burning. The longer the priestesses are in power, the more people will die. We said when we formed The Coven’s Shield that innocent lives would come first. I don’t think we have a choice anymore.”

“No,” Mandy insisted. “We always have a choice. The priestesses won’t hesitate to react to an attack like this. We don’t know how many people will die as a result. This could be a mistake.”

“It could be our only chance,” Verla pressed. “We could get rid of the demon and gain power over the Imperium Council. I’m afraid Nadine is right. We no longer have a choice.”

“I think we all know this is a morally gray decision,” I added. “But the world isn’t black and white. We can’t pretend that it is. All we can do is our best to save as many innocent lives as possible.”

Nobody protested, because we all knew what needed to happen. The world wasn’t black and white… and it looked like we didn’t have any other option but to immerse ourselves in shades of gray.

Everything was in place by the time the priestesses called a meeting that Friday. Verla and I had created the brew, which we handed off to William. He met with Claudia that week about her investment offer, and he’d slipped the potion into the wine she served at every meeting. I entered Octavia Hall that night feeling like this could save us all. Finally, it could all be over.

I started up the stairs, but when I reached the second floor, my heart leapt. A hand came out from the shadows and grabbed me. “Let go of me—”

“Priestess,” a voice came in a hushed whisper.

I realized it was Hector. I quickly followed him into a small, dark office next to the stairwell.

He trembled. “I figured it out, Priestess. I know what they’re making me brew. The poison not only kills, but controls its victims. The priestesses will have control over people in the afterlife. It will trap their souls here, so the priestesses can use their spirits in time of war. They intend to test it on their own people, then use it as a weapon against the fae. They want to build a dead army.”

My stomach dropped out of my abdomen. I didn’t know such a thing was possible, and it was far worse than I imagined. Killing their own people was one thing, but making them into slaves in the afterlife? This went beyond wicked.

I placed my hand over my mouth. “If they control the spirits of those who take this poison, it won’t be long before they realize Monica is alive—if they haven’t already.”

“Th—they’ll blame me for getting the potion wrong,” Hector stammered. “If they find me unfit for the job, they’ll find someone else to use their Wand.”

“We have to get you out of town,” I decided immediately.

“Right now?” he asked in a trembling voice. “I have a wife. I—I…”

I swallowed the terror rising in my chest. “We have a plan that’s already set in motion. The wine they’re drinking tonight will take away their powers. The priestesses won’t get a chance to use their poison. If you leave before it’s done, they’ll suspect you. We must play along as if everything is normal. Can you do that, Hector?”

His hands continued to tremble, but he drew a deep breath. “I will do my best, Priestess.”

“Go upstairs now,” I instructed him. “We can’t be seen together. I’ll be there soon.”

Hector nodded and hurried out of the room. I waited a few minutes before making my way upstairs. When I entered the Imperium headquarters, Hector was at the fireplace, brewing the poison the priestesses were forcing him to make. The priestesses laughed and chatted like he wasn’t even there. I didn’t understand how they could be laughing in the midst of everything they were planning. Their laughter quickly died when I entered the room.

Claudia glanced at the clock. “You’re late.”

“I got here as quickly as I could after my dialysis appointment,” I stated coolly. I wasn’t going to let her forget that she was playing with people’s lives with her health insurance reform. “Skipping my treatment for organ failure wasn’t an option.”

“There’s no need to be dramatic, Nadine,” Lilian said.

“I’m simply stating the truth,” I replied. “You called a meeting to discuss the changes being made in the coven. This is a pressing matter I believe we should discuss.”

“The matter of student health insurance is already settled,” Margaret said. “We’re here to discuss other matters.”

“What is more important than saving the lives of your people?” I asked. “Students are losing access to therapy and life-saving medications because they can’t obtain health insurance to pay for it. I take life-saving treatment three times per week, and the Imperium Council has voted it unnecessary. Explain that to me.”

“Suffering is a simple fact of life,” Claudia said. “Sometimes, certain people must suffer so that others don’t have to.”

Her statement was like a punch to the gut. I couldn’t believe she’d said that.

“We’re the Imperium Council,” I stated. “We have the power to help our people. No one has to suffer.”

“I disagree,” Claudia said firmly. “Sacrifices must be made for the greater good. That said, I believe we can move on.”

Claudia stood and pulled a bottle of wine, along with five wine glasses, off the shelf behind her. She began pouring the wine as she spoke. “I have ideas for a new community center. A fresh design will give us new opportunities for hosting events, which can prove profitable to the coven.”

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