Page 5 of My Demon Charming

I don’t know if it will work, but that doesn’t matter. Right now, all I can see is hope taking shape and form.

Goddess, please let the rumors be true. Please let this be my way to freedom.

I have no choice. I have to believe. Because if the rumors aren’t true, then…

Then there’s no way out.

But hey, I’ve lived with that thought for five years. I can live with it for the rest of my life.

But if it works?

I try not to let my mind run wild with fantasies. I like hope, but if this doesn’t work, it will crush me.

I crawl under my bed and pull out the box. It cost me an arm and a leg, but out of all the kits, this is known to be the most legit.

I saved all my money, as much as I could without being caught by Kevin or Michelle. I’d been doing it for months before I could finally give Jace enough to order it.

The black cardboard box singes my fingers as I cut through the tape and open it. I know it’s probably my anticipation, but this moment… It feels magical even if I’m not.

The contents only add to the feeling as I brush my fingers over them. Over the silk pouch, the silver knife, the little brown leather notebook. They’re laid over a red velvet cloth. I remove the contents one by one, and when I lift the fabric, it reveals the stack of black candles.

Goosebumps crawl up my arms.

Everything feels right. Everything looks like the items sold at Mom’s apothecary.

It would frustrate me that I paid so much for things I can find in the store, but it will all be worth it if the words in the little leather notebook work. They’re probably worth more than everything else combined. They’re the reason these summoning kits are so expensive.

The pages are hard and browned. The binding feels homemade. Handcrafted as all the kits are.

I barely remember to breathe, with the tension rising both in the room and my chest. A feeling that intensifies as I read the instructions on the first page.

First, a circle of protection.

With shaky hands, I open the pouch and remove the white chalk to draw a circle on the floor.

Next, I draw a star inside the circle, each point symbolizing one of the elements of nature.

Finally, the salt.

I take the pouch and pour the salt around the circle’s rim, forming a second ring of protection.

Light the candles.

I place a black candle at each of the points of the star and retrieve the matches provided by Demon Emporium.

Last, recite the words on the next page.

As I light each candle, I read the incantation as written.

“Hear me now, loud and clear.

Though you are far, I want you near.

Hear my call, answer my chant,

Come hither, lend me your hand.

You can’t break me, you can’t hurt me.

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