Page 7 of Raising Hell: MMF Edition

A giant, radiant smile illuminates his stunning face, but there’s an undertone of malice to it that unsettles me further. “Why have you summoned me, human?”

Chapter 4

Casimir

Out of all the ways I had envisioned spending my Friday afternoon, being summoned to the human realm was not at the top of my list. Hell, it wasn’t evenonmy list. There I was, in my hot tub, minding my own business, when the unmistakable pull of a summon started tingling over my skin.

Now, demons get a bad rap, but it’s not our fault, okay?

Witches have used us since the dawn of time, forcing us to carry out their nefarious schemes that, sure, might be fun sometimes. But we don’t have a choice!

Sue us for making the best of the situation.

As the years passed, witch bloodlines have slowly been bred out of existence, which means fewer and fewer demons are being summoned. These days, the majority of us are left to our own devices.

Anyone who says Hell is an awful place to live has obviously never visited. It’s like going to New Orleans, except theaccents are better and the canals are filled with hellfyre instead of ocean water. And, y’know, red clouds and lightning rather than warm afternoon breezes in the sunshine. Then there’s the stifling hundred-and-thirty-degree summers… oh, and we can’t forget the occasional hex tornado.

I’m getting off track here.

Listen, humans obviously have the superior atmosphere, and none of us are ever complaining about the opportunity to visit above ground. But we make the best of it. We have a booming economy in Hell, and the Lucifer that’s currently in office is a decent guy. He even gave tax cuts to those that get summonedandpassed a law that requires a demon’s job to remain available once they’ve been released from their witch’s contract.

Solid dude for the working man.

Now, back to my original point—summoning. Doesn’t happen much these days, and until today, I’ve never experienced it. Witchcraft is falling to the wayside as magic is bred out of humans, but a few large, important families have worked hard to preserve their magical heritage.

Demons are taught who they are and what they’re likely to have us do from a young age. We study them and their history so we can be prepared if it happens. Most of the time, it’s one of them that calls on us to do their bidding, but occasionally you get a surprise.

I stare at the mousy red-haired girl in front of me, trembling and stammering, pale enough that I’m convinced she might pass out if I were to say “Boo.” Eyes the size of saucers are wide and scared, but hold steady on mine.

She’s a surprise.

Honestly, the evil laugh as I passed through the portal was probably overkill, but this is my first time. The poppingof my summoning cherry, if you will. I wanted to make it memorable, you know?

Something to tell stories about later.

Slap into a scrapbook.

“Who… who are you?Whatare you?” she stammers, her voice soft and confused, and for a second, my face wrinkles up like I’m looking at a baby hellcat. She’s so… stinking…cute!

When I remember I’m supposed to be taking this seriously, I force my expression back into a smirk. We demons have a reputation to uphold, after all. “I’m the one who shall ask questions right now.” Oh, dear Satan, it ishardto keep a straight face.

I never was good at improv.

Her green eyes get even wider, and I come close to losing my composure again because I just want to fuckingsqueezeher. I bet she’s so soft. “Wha… what questions?” she asks, and this time I can’t help my smile.

“Why have you summoned me, human?”

“Summoned you?” she squeaks, her fingers digging into the spellbook that she hugs against her chest. “I didn’t summon you!”

My grin has just a touch of sarcasm as I glance at the drawing under my feet that holds me in place. “No?”

“No!”

“Alright… humor me. Explain why there is a summoning circle on the floor.”

“That’s not a… a… summoning circle! That’s a rune.”

Oh, wow, okay, she’s like…new,new. “Same thing.”

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