Page 17 of Payback is a Witch

Last time I had a psychic encounter with my power, it wanted me to trust it and follow my instincts. If I fight it, it’ll work against me. If I follow the lead it will work in my best interest. That was fine and dandy until you realize that what’s good for the spider is a chaos for the fly. I had to trust it this time, though. As long as I played along I could somewhat control it.

I stepped out of the alley.

The demon’s head snapped in my direction instantly. The grin that had stretched his mouth unnaturally, showing way too much teeth, slipped but mine grew. While he took my measure I carefully closed the distance between us.

“Fancy meeting you here.” I told him conversationally doing my best to look as unthreatening as possible.

Cocking his head to the side he narrowed his black eyes on my hand just as the pentagram started burning as if wanting to get itself out of my skin. “A witch.” He hissed, his accent so strange it took me a second to get what he said.

“And a demon, walk into a bar.” When he snarled at me I lifted both hands in the air palms up. “You don’t like jokes. Got it.”

“You think this is funny, witch?” taking a step toward me he slightly hunched over and that was my queue.

“Nope.” I made the popping sound with my lips just to annoy him. “But this might be.”

Since my hands were still in the air and my palms were facing him I gave up the control I had to constantly maintain on my magic. It was like holding a hand over a hose while the water is trying to push through. Now that I removed that obstacle my power rushed out ready to play. Much to my surprise my skin lit up as all the sigils reappeared on every inch of it.

The demon widened his pitch-black eyes and tried to run.

Poor thing had no idea there was no escape for him or me where my magic was concerned.

Strong winds picked up lashing my hair around my face and I felt my feet lift off the ground. Thick string of magic like rope burst out of my alms and wrapped around the demon’s limbs. It told me that whatever type of magic this was, it was always listening to my thoughts. I should’ve thought of no drama and problems instead of ripping limbs from demons.

Fighting for his life the demon roared his frustration and pulled on the ropes of power restraining him with everything he had. Not expecting him to be that powerful I threw my head back and screamed when him yanking on my magic felt like he was trying to rip my torso apart. I wanted to ask him questions about why he was here and who told him it was okay to attack humans but all my good intensions went down the drain when I felt pain like never before.

“No, you don’t.” I pushed through clenched teeth and added my own intent and strength to the power streaming out of me.

I almost had him, I could see his arms ready to pop out of his shoulders when the angry mob leading the witch hunt joined us on the street. When they saw us standing in the middle – well the demon standing and me levitating a foot of the ground- they bellowed as one and be-lined for us.

The bastard was using the humans to help him escape.

I needed a new strategy.

Stopping the streams of power that held the demon from escaping I dropped on one knee on the asphalt. Falling forward on one hand fooled the demon that I couldn’t maintain the magic so he hissed and jumped at me, sharp claws forming at his fingertips. The ground was vibrating from the thundering footsteps of the angry mob but I was focused on something else. All the roots and living things that were beneath it. I called on them to come and aid me. The demon was almost on top of me, his shadow falling over me like a blanket of doom.

A sharp claw sunk inside my shoulder as the demon grabbed me, lifting is other arm up ready to rip me to shreds. Calm came over me and instead of crying out at the pain I lifted my head up fully to look at his rage twisted face.

That’s when the concrete under my hand split open and roots as thick as cables slithered from under it. Multiple ones speared through the demon’s upper body and I would ever forget the utter shocked expression on his face. Mine could’ve looked the same because I watched as black tendrils spread over the demon’s skin and burst through it effectively shredding him alive.

Hot blood sprayed all over me when he burst like a balloon, his final cry echoing in my ears. I stayed like that for a long moment not believing what just happened when I realized it was too quiet on the street. Slowly I turned my head to the side.

A wall of people stood there dazed and stunned, and a little afraid, watching me like they were seeing an alien. Not that I blamed them but I fidgeted where I was kneeling, uncomfortable from all the staring. A slow clapping broke the awkward silence and my head snapped in that direction.

Danika stood on the street, right opposite side of the wall of humans. On either side of her stood a person dressed in all black, a male on the right and a female on the left. The only difference between the two was the gold and silver pins they wore on their ties. The female was clapping with a gleeful grin on her face while Danika looked like she was made of stone. Only her emerald eyes were flashing with fury destroying the calm façade.

“How marvelous!.” The female laughed. “You’ve been holding up on us, Danika. Your grandchild is perfect.”

“Ah fuck.” I breathed and closed my eyes.

Chapter 9

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