Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Grams insisted on driving. We had spent half an hour with her teaching me what to do. Although, as she said, this first time—and probably a few others—she’d be taking the reins, given the first few times were always the most dangerous.
“A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, they often say. And that’s exactly right. I can tell you a dozen times what to do, but until you actually have enough practice so you can feel that portal open, there’s a good chance you won’t be able to exorcise the demon.”
Apparently, our family had a connection to a portal linked to the demonic realms, and we were able to open it.
At least, once we had enough practice and instruction.
I was worried—what if I screwed it up? But, at least Grams would be there and she had lived a double life as a demon hunter for years.
“What about killing them? I thought we were demon slayers?”
“There are plenty of demons that we can’t shove through the portal.
And those, we have to slay. But comstod demons…
I meant it when I said it’s a good one start with.
They are sub-demons, which usually means they are easier to kill or send packing.
If you can’t open the portal tonight, I can do it. ”
“Grams, aren’t you worried? I mean… You have a lot of time left, but you are 120 years old.” Age was a sticky subject, and I didn’t want to insult her.
“Age slows me down, yes. But you’ll find that as you age, your powers increase.
What the body loses, the spirit gains. Have you seen some of the Chinese monks?
The Shaolin? Their elders are stronger than the young folk.
They can do things with their bodies that I wish I had the stamina to do.
” She paused, then added, “It’s all in the spirit.
Whether you call it mana, chi, energy, or magic—it all starts on the spiritual plane. ”
I nodded. My great-grandmother knew what she was talking about, and I trusted her.
* * *
We arrived at the place where Lucretia had ended her life. As we pulled in, I could see the misty form was still there. I wondered how many people could actually see it. While still in the car, I pointed it out.
“There it is. Why is it in a misty form instead of in the physical form you showed me in the book?”
Grams glanced at me. “The comstod demons don’t manifest fully on our plane.
They can, but usually revert to their nebulous form.
I believe it’s waiting for a new host. You watch, when we get out and walk over towards it’s going to go berserk.
We’ll need to be ready. Grab the bag that I prepared and I want you to hold onto one of the vials of blessed water. ”
Blessed water wasn’t exactly the same as holy water. It wasn’t blessed in any particular church. But it could act the same, and witches made it to accompany their protection circles and warding incantations.
“Remember, when I tell you, throw it directly onto the mist. Which means we’re going to have to get a little closer than comfort allows, in order to make this work. We don’t want to give it a chance to escape.”
I didn’t want to admit it, but I was nervous. That Grams was guiding the ritual was a relief. I was too afraid I’d screw it up.
“That’s fine with me,” I said. “Even though you told me how to summon the portal, I’m not sure that I can manage to find the right one.”
As we got out of the car and walked toward the creature, Grams seemed to be taller, and her back straightened fully. She had good posture as it was, but all of a sudden she looked intimidating to me—foreboding even.
The comstod did exactly as she predicted. The misty form began to swirl, swelling to make itself look bigger and stronger. The demon knew we were here, and it probably sensed how powerful Grams was.
Grams held up her arms, stretching them wide. Energy began to crackle between her palms. I watched the arc build, an intense, unwavering rainbow of purple lightning that crackled and snapped.
“Repeat the incantation with me. Focus on the words, and the energy behind them,” she directed.
I stepped closer, the crackle of her aura sparking against my skin. She was revved up like a live wire. Together, we joined forces, our voices blending as one.
“Creature from the nether realms,
creature from the dark of night,
creature from the depths of hell,
we command you to take flight.
Away from field, away from tree,
away from city, thou shalt flee,
you who are of darkest scourge,
from this realm we now thee purge.
Away from this realm, hie you hence,
never more to jump the fence.
Nevermore return to this realm,
with threat of death, we overwhelm.”
“Throw the water and help me force it through the portal!” Grams voice echoed through the whirling gale of energy as it spun around us, creating a vortex.
I raised the bottle, and then I could see it—the portal opening wide. I wasn’t sure how it had appeared and I didn’t think I was the one causing it, but I could see it… Brilliant and vivid, surrounded by crackling light that snapped and fizzled and sparked.
The comstod was visible now, no longer a pillar of mist, but a demon with three toes, and puppy dog ears.
It looked far more terrifying than the drawing had, and I almost yelped, but caught myself.
Grams was pushing it, an invisible force field propelling it backwards towards the opening of the portal.
I joined her, using the force of my mind to push against it. We aimed toward the center of the portal, which was now wide open. Beyond the edges of the vortex, I could see lightning crackling around the edges. The smell of ozone was strong, so strong it almost burned my nostrils.
“Now! Push hard!” Grams said, and we used our will to drive the comstod demon into the portal and through. It fought against us, sending sparks showers our way, but it was no match for the two of us together. We gave one final shove, and the demon vanished, the portal snapping closed behind it.
It was gone.
I stared, slack-jawed at what we had done. I had used plenty of magic, but I had never attempted anything on that scale before. My body felt like it was vibrating a thousand times faster, and I gasped for breath, trying desperately to fill my lungs.
Grams grabbed my hand and pulled me down on the ground, forcing me to rest my hands against the snow and the dirt beneath it. “Ground yourself, now. Dig deep, sink into the earth, you know her energy—she’s part of you. Burrow deep and soak in her grounding energy.”
I joined her, sinking deep into the flow of earth and water.
The energy had burned so hot that my nerves felt frayed and jarred.
But finally, the soothing waves of water, and the gentle barren cradle of winter earth appeared, pulling me deep into the great mother of us all.
As I attuned to the plants and the trees of the woods and the animals of the forest, they began to sooth me, anchoring me deep, clearing out the char from the energy of the demon.
I soaked up the magic, grateful for the soothing medicine from the earth herself.
Nature replenished me, she refilled my well, buoying me up, and finally, I was able to breathe. I opened my eyes and realized it was snowing. All around us, the silent flakes fell, kissing the earth with a clear, clean new robe of crystalline white.
I relaxed, rolling over to sit in the chill of the snow. Cold though it may be, the snow felt like a welcoming cushion, and I could have laid down and let it cover me deep, embracing me in its shroud.
“We did it,” Grams said. “The comstod is gone, and it won’t be able to return. I welded the seal shut on that particular portal.”
“Does that mean it won’t ever come back?” I asked.
“Most likely. At least that one. How are you feeling?” she asked, looking over at me.
“I think I’m okay. But I’ve never experienced anything quite like that. I didn’t even know I had that intensity of magic in me.”
“This is only the beginning,” Grams said. “This is only the beginning.”