Page 21 of Magic Unleashed

At that, Geneva straightened and turned to face them. Her eyes narrowed when she saw Ash, but there was a flicker of amusement in her expression.

“Well, well,” she said, crossing her arms. “If it isn’t Ash Shadowbane. Haven’t seen you in a while. Still causing trouble?”

“Geneva.” Ash flashed her his signature grin. “You wound me. I’m a reformed man these days.”

Geneva scoffed. “Yeah, right. What do you need?”

Phoenix stepped forward, handing Geneva the sample they’d brought. “Can you run this through your equipment? We think it’s the same residue we’ve found at multiple demon-summoning sites. If it matches, it’ll give us a solid connection.”

Geneva nodded, taking the vial. “I’ll get started right away.”

Ash leaned against the table; eyes gleaming with mischief as he watched her work. “You know, Geneva, you’ve always had this… serious thing going on. Ever thought of loosening up a bit?”

Geneva didn’t even look up from her equipment as she replied. “Ever thought of not being such a complete and utter douchebag?”

Phoenix stifled a laugh while Griff, over in the corner, wasn’t as successful and tried coughing to cover his chuckle.

Ash, undeterred, just grinned wider. “Hey, I’m just saying. Life’s short.”

“Life would be shorter if I had to put up with you,” Geneva muttered under her breath, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips.

A few minutes later, Geneva straightened, her expression more serious. “It’s a match. Same residue, same demonic energy signature. This is the link you’ve been looking for. I can scientifically connect all of these back to Fontaine. You have what you need to fry the bastard.”

“Oooh, beautiful, sexy, smart, and vicious—I like it,” said Ash with a leer.

“Shut up, Ash,” said Phoenix and Geneva in unison.

Phoenix felt a mixture of relief and dread. They had what they needed to move forward, but it also meant the threat was even more widespread than they’d feared.

“We need to move,” Griff said, his voice hard. “If there’s another summoning happening, we can’t waste time.”

After leaving the lab, the trio was able to track the summoning by using Phoenix’s honed senses and Griff’s police scanner which chattered about various sightings that were being called in. They finally arrived at an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city, the air was thick with dark energy as they approached. The smell of sulfur and decay hit Phoenix’s senses long before they reached the building, and she could feel the familiar pull of magic in the air.

“This is it,” Ash said, his voice low as they crouched behind a row of rusted-out cars. “You ready?”

Phoenix nodded, her hand already reaching for the blade sheathed at her side. “Let’s go.”

The warehouse was dimly lit, the eerie glow of candles flickering in the distance. A group of hooded figures stood in a circle, chanting in a guttural, ancient language that sent shivers down Phoenix’s spine. In the center of the circle, a glowing pentagram pulsed with dark energy, and the air vibrated with the promise of something malevolent.

“Now,” Griff whispered, and the three of them surged forward.

The battle was swift and brutal. Phoenix’s magic flared, golden light slicing through the darkness as she fought. Griff moved beside her, his strength and precision a steadying force in the chaos. Ash darted through the fray, his twin blades flashing in the dim light as he cut down one hooded figure after another.

But the summoning was already in motion.

The ground shook as the pentagram flared with violent energy, and a deafening roar filled the air. From the center of the circle, a massive, horned demon began to rise, its crimson eyes gleaming with malevolent hunger.

Phoenix gritted her teeth, pushing her magic to the limit as she unleashed a blast of energy toward the demon, but it barely flinched. Griff was beside her in an instant, his body pressed close as they faced the demon together.

“This is bad,” she muttered, her breath ragged.

“We’ve faced worse,” Griff replied, his voice steady despite the danger.

Together, they pressed forward, their magic and strength combining as they fought the demon with everything they had. Ash darted around them, keeping the other cultists at bay, but Phoenix could feel the strain of the battle weighing on her. The demon was too powerful, its magic ancient and dark.

As they fought, the tension between them shifted, the heat of the battle intensifying everything. Every brush of Griff’s hand against hers, every glance they exchanged, felt like a spark igniting something deeper.

And then, in the middle of the chaos, it happened. Griff grabbed her arm, pulling her close as they dodged a blast of demonic fire. His eyes met hers, and for a brief moment, the world fell away. Without thinking, without hesitation, their lips met in a fierce, desperate kiss—one fueled by the intensity of the moment and the unspoken emotions that had been simmering for so long.

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