Page 14 of Place of Torment

“We can do whatever you want, Samir.” Not taking the bait to get into an argument, I pointed at my friend lying motionless in the magic circle. “For a moment stop talking and listen to her heartbeat. Whatever he did,” jutting my chin toward Rowen, I didn’t return his tentative smile. “It works. Listen.”

“I managed to stabilize her.” Rowen shakily pushed himself off the floor as Samir kneeled as close to Alice as he could without touching the circle.

Dominic and I looked at each other.

“She was even awake to speak with me for a short while. Unfortunately, we got excited too fast, and I dropped the circle so we could both come and tell you the spell worked, and your friend is well.” Confusion clouded Rowen’s features, and much to my surprise, the witch stepped close to where Samir was listening to Alice’s heartbeat with his eyes closed and pure relief was etched across his face. “The second the circle broke, she dropped lifeless on the floor. I panicked and opened the circle back up immediately.”

“Was she awake after you opened it?” It was the first time Echo spoke shocking me to hear her voice, because I totally forgot the two demons were in the room with us.

She was watching the area where Alice was sleeping through a slanted gaze, as if she could see something the rest of us couldn’t. Placing a hand on Dominic’s forearm, I stepped aside taking him with me, giving her more room in case she had an insight that could help.

“That’s the thing.” Tone full of frustration, Rowen started slapping his robe to clean it from whatever dirt, dried herbs, and dust it had collected from the floor. “As soon as the circle was back up, her body was turned, straightened, and placed at the center as we see her now, but I never touched her. And before you try to kill me again.” He glared at Samir with courage I had no idea he possessed. “I’m one hundred percent sure there is nothing else there with her. It was the magic of the circle that did it…I think.” The witch scratched at his forehead and turned the washed-out green eyes on me, hopelessness clear in them.

My mind was reeling trying to come up with answers I had no way of knowing. On principle, I stayed away from the witches while I was under the roof of the Council. Magic was a foreign concept to me. ‘But not to Alice.’ A tiny, barely audible whisper spoke in the back of my mind.

How much did they know about my friend? Was Samir aware she is the Mmico they are waiting for their prophecy? I had a suspicion Dominic suspected there was something special about our human friend, plus he started caring for her much to his displeasure. So, I was not worried that he may see her as a tool to be used. Rowen and the demons were a wild card. I had to be careful what I said in front of them.

Echo saved me from guessing.

“How very peculiar.” The male demon inched closer to the circle while giving Dominic a wide berth, side-eyeing him warily. “The whole gadget’s usage, candles, crystals and herbs is different, but this is how we normally heal if we are gravely injured. In a circle though, because we are in our most vulnerable state.”

“Shut up, Chester.” Echo hissed at him, balling her hands into fists at her sides. I had no doubt she was imagining she was holding Chester’s throat. “What is the matter with you telling our weaknesses, you idiot.”

“Can you stop talking to me like I’m some simpleton.” Lifting to his full height, he glowered at the much shorter demon. “Were you not present in that foyer when we fought? We don’t need to be at our weakest for them to kill us.” Waving a hand frantically in the direction of Alice, he shook his head. “Maybe if we help with this one, they’ll return the favor.” After a long staring match with Echo, he blew out a heavy sigh muttering under his breath. “If we stay alive long enough.”

They continued bickering amongst each other, but a brand-new hope bloomed in my chest. Digging my nails into Dominic’s forearm, which I was still clinging to, and I didn’t notice, I turned to Rowen, urgency making me sound breathless and meek.

“Rowen, when did this happen?” Waiting for his answer, I held my breath.

A line formed between the eyebrows on the witch’s face, and a weird sequence of glowing lights passed over the sigils on his face. “I’m sorry, what?”

“When did you reopen the circle and had Alice placed like this in it?” My voice broke a few times, but I managed to get the words out.

“Umm…” Rowen’s eyes darted around the room as he attempted to remember and finally, he limply shrugged one shoulder. “About twenty? Maybe thirty minutes ago.” After blowing out a long breath, his eyes lit up. “Around the time I heard your voice in the foyer. I’m sure of it because that’s why Alice wanted to break the circle so she could come show you she’s better.”

“I do not understand.” Annoyed for being ignored, Samir rose from his crouch. “Someone better explain what is going on.”

“Do you trust me?” ignoring the arrogant Atua, I turned to face Dominic.

“Yes.” There was no hesitation, no doubt or second guessing. Only firm confidence and belief in me shone through those emerald eyes as they watched me steadily.

Warmth spread through my chest, thawing the frost crusting my heart after the bloodbaths I left all over Chicago. On a whim, I popped up on my tiptoes and pressed my lips on his hoping it relayed all my gratitude for his support. I had to fix all the hurt I’d caused him since we met, but it was neither the time nor the place.

Strong arms wrapped around my back pressing me to his chest as if he was too afraid, I might disappear if he doesn’t hold me hard enough. The desperation I felt in his touch broke me anew, and I stood there a bit longer, offering the intimacy he needed and deserved.

“I will explain everything later.” I told him a little breathlessly after we broke the kiss. “I need to speak to Echo and Chester alone, in this room.” I pointedly turned my eyes to Samir and Rowen too.

Samir had his mouth open to start arguing when Rowen, for the first time, acted out of character and grabbed him by the shoulders. The Atua was taken by surprise hard enough that he was out the door gaping like a fish at the witch before his brain got online again and he started shouting and threatening. Dominic was already closing the door behind him at that point so I knew he would keep them out.

My heart skipped a beat when he gave me a quick wink before the lock clicked shut.

“Well?” Chester asked warily. “Talk about what?”

“How long do you guys heal when you are in a sleep like this?” I cut to the chase pointing at Alice.

“From a few hours to a few days depending on the injury.” Echo frowned, probably wondering if I’d lost my mind.

“Well, we need to figure out how to keep Samir and Rowen out of this room by then.” Slapping my hands on my hips, I looked around the room hoping to find…what? An armoire that will block the door?

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