Page 78 of Witch's Promise

"Something went wrong," Jessy continued, her voice growing stronger. "The spell, it... it didn't work the way it was supposed to. After that night, my parents were different. Like they weren't themselves anymore. I think... I think they summoned something. Something that wasn't meant to be in our world."

The implications of Jessy's words hung heavy in the air. Gabe's mind raced, connecting dots and drawing conclusions he didn't want to face. He turned to Alex, seeing his own grim realization mirrored in the god's eyes.

"A demon," Alex said, his voice low and filled with an ancient weariness. "It's possible they opened a portal to one of the Nine Hells. If that's the case, we're dealing with a being of immense power and cunning. One that can shapeshift at will, blending in with its surroundings."

The weight of this new information settled onto Gabe's shoulders like a physical thing. Sean was out there, alone, potentially facing off against a demon with powers they could barely comprehend. The urge to rush out, consequences be damned, was almost overwhelming.

But Gabe forced himself to think rationally, to be the leader his team needed right now. "Lucas," he barked, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I need you to track Sean's phone. Now."

Lucas was already moving, his fingers flying over his tablet with preternatural speed. "Got it," he said after a moment that felt like an eternity. "Last ping puts him at the edge of Salem, near the old Miller property."

Gabe nodded, a plan already forming in his mind. "Alright, listen up. Alex, Marcus, you're with me. We're going after Sean. Lucas, Finn, I need you to stay here and protect the Reeds. If this demon is as powerful as we think, we can't risk leaving them unguarded."

As the team moved to carry out his orders, Gabe felt the familiar pressure of expectations weighing down on him. The fate of Sean, of Jessy's parents, of potentially the entire town rested on the decisions he made in the next few moments. The responsibility was crushing, threatening to overwhelm him entirely.

But as Gabe caught sight of the determined faces of his team, of the trust and faith shining in their eyes, he felt something else too. A steely resolve, a burning determination to see this through no matter the cost.

"Let's move," Gabe said, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions raging inside him. "Every second counts. Sean's out there facing this thing alone, and I'll be damned if we let him down now."

As they headed for the door, gear in hand and grim determination etched on their faces, Gabe allowed himself one moment of vulnerability. He thought of Sean, of the rekindled connection between them that now hung by a thread. Of all the things left unsaid, the future they might never get to explore.

"Hold on, Sean," Gabe whispered, more a prayer than anything else. "We're coming. Just hold on."

His knuckles turnedwhite as he gripped the steering wheel, pushing the car to its limits as they sped towards the coordinates Lucas had provided. The night air whipped through the open windows, carrying with it the acrid scent of ozone – a telltale sign of powerful magic at work.

As they approached their destination, a solitary wooden house loomed out of the darkness. It stood alone in a sea of overgrown weeds, its windows blazing with an unnatural light that set Gabe's teeth on edge. Something was very wrong here.

Suddenly, the earth beneath them shuddered violently. The car swerved, tires squealing as Gabe fought to maintain control.

"What the fuck was that?" Marcus exclaimed from the backseat.

Alex's voice was grim when he answered. "Demonic energy. It's coming from inside the house. We need to move, now."

They burst through the front door, magic crackling at their fingertips as they prepared for battle. The interior of the house was a maze of shadows and flickering light, the air thick with the stench of sulfur and burning flesh.

Gabe's eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of Sean or the demon. That's when he spotted it – a thin cord dangling from the ceiling. An attic access.

"Up there!" Gabe shouted, already moving towards the hidden entrance. He yanked on the cord, sending a rickety wooden ladder clattering down.

The sound of splintering wood and shattering glass filled the air, punctuated by an inhuman roar that made Gabe's blood run cold. Without hesitation, he began climbing, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs.

As Gabe's head cleared the opening, the scene that greeted him turned his blood to ice.

Sean lay crumpled on the floor, his body battered and broken. Looming over him was a creature straight out of nightmares – red-skinned and horned, with a tail that lashed back and forth like a whip. The demon raised a clawed hand, ready to deliver the killing blow.

"No!" Gabe roared, magic surging through him with an intensity that made the air crackle. Without conscious thought, he hurled a witch globe – a concentrated sphere of pure magical energy – directly at the demon's head.

The globe exploded on impact, sending the creature staggering backward with a howl of pain and rage. Its eyes, burning with hellfire, locked onto Gabe.

"If it isn't the boyfriend," the demon sneered, its voice a guttural growl that seemed to vibrate through Gabe's bones. "Come here to die, did you?"

Gabe's lips curled into a defiant snarl. "Not if I can help it."

He launched another witch globe, this one aimed at the demon's chest. The force of the blast sent the creature flying across the room, crashing into the far wall with enough force to crack the plaster.

"Alex," Gabe called out, never taking his eyes off the demon as it struggled to its feet. "How do we banish this thing?"

Alex materialized beside him, his presence radiating an aura of cold power that made the hairs on the back of Gabe's neck stand up. "I can open a portal back to the Nine Hells," Alex said, his voice tight with concentration. "But I need an opening. You'll have to hold it off while I prepare the spell."

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