Page 62 of Cleansed By Water (The Nature Hunters Academy 3)

“How do you know of this spell?” Osiris asked, his eyes narrowing on the demon.

“I found a book,” he admitted. “I was exploring,”

Osiris snorted. “You mean snooping?”

Crescious raised his chin slightly. “The chamber was open. It was practically an invitation.”

“Of course,” Osiris said dryly.

“My curiosity got the best of me, and you had gone topside, so, I took a tiny peek.”

“Where is the book now?”

“I put it back.”

“And where did you find it?” Osiris knew the answer before Crescious responded.

“The chamber Dolion uses as his resting place when he is here.”

Osiris disappeared and then reappeared in front of the door that led to Dolion’s personal quarters. The demon appeared next to him an instant later.

Osiris placed his hand on the door, commanding it to open with a thought. Nothing happened. “DAMMIT,” he roared, causing the little demon to flinch. “I want you to find out how to break the spell, Crescious, and do it quickly. If you fail me, I will cause you so much pain you will wish you’d never been created.”

“Y-ye-yes, my lord,” the demon stuttered and then disappeared.

Osiris had no idea how the little demon would find the information he wanted. He mentally commanded the underworld to grant Crescious access topside. The demon would not be allowed to stay for long since he’d not been summoned, but maybe he’d get lucky.

With a thought, Osiris took himself back to his throne room and began to pace. He had to get the royal elementals free if he didn’t want a war with all of the light elementals. No doubt they would battle him if he didn’t deliver on his promise.

He knew he could not fight two battles and expect to come out victorious. If Dolion attacked, Osiris could not be also engaged with the light elementals.

“I’m going to destroy him,” he muttered as he thought about the demi-lord who’d betray his lord and master. Dolion had to know that if he were caught, he would face the ultimate punishment: banished to the lake of fire and tortured for all eternity. Osiris would relish in his screams. He would probably set up a chair, grab some snacks, and sit and taunt the demon just for kicks.

“Patience,” he told himself. Acting rashly was not going to produce results. He’d learned in his long existence that good things came to those who waited. But with enemies pressing in on two sides, the luxury of waiting was not something Osiris possessed.

* * *

Nasima and Aviurstood in the office to the archdiocese. The older man stared at them with a scrutiny Nasima did not care for.

“Demons?” he asked, for the tenth time.

Nasima clenched her teeth together, keeping her mouth closed so she didn’t say something insulting.

“Yes,” Aviur said, his voice just as calm as the first nine times that he’d answered.

“Surely, if you believe who we are, then you believe in demons as well,” Nasima said. The Catholic church leaders, at least at the Vatican, were very well aware of the royal elementals and their place in the world. Just as they were aware of the dark elementals. Despite the awareness, Catholics and elementals rarely worked together. But there had been a few times, long ago, when they’d battled evil side by side. It appeared the latest leadership at the Vatican didn’t take battling demons as seriously as previous regimes.

“Perhaps you should get the pope,” Aviur suggested. “I realize he is a busy man, but as you have surely noticed the unnatural temperatures, you should know there is something afoot in the world, and we need to deal with it as soon as possible. Having the church’s cooperation would greatly aid us in this task.”

“I don’t think that will be necessary,” the archdiocese said. “I can show you to the library, and you can do your research. But I do not think we will be able to provide any assistance other than knowledge.”

Nasima wanted to roll her eyes. Of course, the church wasn’t going to associate themselves with any sort of demon talk. They’d gotten bad press in the past for doing exorcisms because people refused to believe in the existence of something soabhorrent, and yet they would believe in angels. Sometimes, Nasima didn’t understand humans and their reasoning. They seemed so much more content to stick their heads in the sand than deal with anything slightly unpleasant.

“That will be fine,” Aviur said. “We greatly appreciate any help you can offer, even if it is just access to your archives.”

She was glad Aviur was there because she couldn’t have been as diplomatic if she’d been on her own. Nasima had little patience for the “ignorance is bliss” attitude when her mate was in danger and the world was being threatened by ambitious demons and dark elementals.

Ten minutes later they were surrounded by dusty books that smelled of musk and stale air.

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