Page 3 of Phoenix Academy: Mayhem

Holding up a hand, I throw all my naturalistic witch energy at the demon. At the same time, I speak his name, putting all my intent into it, forcing a connection where one should never be: "Ezriel!"

Blue energy wraps around his body.

His eyes go wide.

He freezes, dropping my mother's spirit marble, which rolls on the ground beneath us and settles near the hedges. It's all I can do not to pounce on it and take her with me immediately. Because the demon isn't going to go quietly.

Even as my magic settles around him, he bucks the connection, fighting it.

"Ezriel," I tell him, putting command into my voice, "give up. Freeze!"

The demon snarls. "You'll need to do better to that."

Reaching into his suit pocket, he pulls out the billfold.

Opens it wide.

And in a voice full of magic, intones, "Veyasa cordana eert!"

A thousand demons leap from the billfold and swarm all around us in an instant.

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