Page 69 of Cleansed By Water (The Nature Hunters Academy 3)

He held out the vial and the blade to her. “There,” he said. “It is done.”

When Saphora went to grab the vial, he pulled it back. “The spell,” he growled.

With a huff, she walked over to a desk and snatched up a pad and pen. She wrote in a quick, sharp motion, and he wondered if there would be holes in the paper by the time she finished.

A couple of seconds later, she held out the paper to him. She took the vial, and he snatched the paper. Then Saphora grabbed the dagger.

“It’s been a pleasure, witch,” he said.

“You might like to know a couple of things about that spell,” she said before he could disappear.

“What things?” Crescious asked.

“It requires the blood of the one who cast the first spell,” Saphora explained. “It also demands the blood of one who has greater power than the spellcaster.”

When she said nothing more, he narrowed his eyes on her. “Is that all?”

Saphora stared at him, her eyes full of disdain.

Finally, the other witch decided to speak. “You have to tell him, Saphora,” she said, her voice desperate. “He works for the lord of the underworld. Do we really want to draw any more of his attention than we already have?”

“You need the blood of a Blackhorn witch,” Saphora eventually said.

Crescious bared his teeth at her. He should have known that it had been too easy. He’d been about to leave, thinking he had acquired the spell his master needed in under thirty minutes.Fool.

“And what is the price for this witch's blood?” he asked.

“Your name,” Saphora said again.

He began to pace, his feet stomping on the floor as he cursed all witches. They were the reason he was in this situation, as well as Osiris. If witches hadn’t been able to assist Dolion in his quest for power, then none of this would have happened.

But what else could he do? He had to be able to perform the spell. If he showed up in front of his lord without the means to remove the magic keeping Osiris out of Dolion’s chambers, Crescious would suffer unimaginable pain.

After several minutes of cursing, spitting, and generally wishing the witches would burn in hell, he finally said, “Fine. I will give you my name, but there are limits for which you can use it.”

Saphora narrowed her eyes on him and then sharply nodded her head.

“You can only summon me once. And you cannot command me to do anything to harm Osiris, lord of the underworld. You will not command me to open, or attempt to open, the gates of hell.” As he spoke his terms, he sealed his will with the magic given to him by Osiris. It was unbreakable. “If you go against these terms, you will be sent to the underworld and face the wrath of my lord.”

“Let it be done as you have said,” Saphora said, the words sealing her end of the bargain.

“I will give you my name at the same time you hand over your blood, not a second before.”

The witch went over to the desk and opened a drawer. She pulled out a small glass bottle, not taller than an inch. It was almost full, to where the stopper was inserted.

Saphora walked over to him and held out the vial. Crescious reached out his clawed hand and grabbed the bottom of the glass. As he pulled it from her he said, “Crescious.”

The minute the vial was in his grasp, he disappeared from Blackhorn manor.

He smiled to himself as he reappeared in Osiris’s hall. He’d given the witch his name, but she’d been foolish in not being more specific. She needed his full name in order to summon him. The only being who knew his full name was Osiris.

“Did you succeed in acquiring what I need?” Osiris asked as he stood from his throne.

Crescious held up the vial and paper. “I have, my lord.”

“I admit I am surprised,” Osiris said, almost looking pleased.

“Thank you.”

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