An Angel's Ascent (2 page)

We called forth the four corners, asked for a blessing, and hoped our spell worked. Each demon had to be sent back with a different spell each time. We each came up with random ones in our down time. This was something that didn’t make much sense, but we had no choice. If the authorities got involved and somehow traced it back to us, then we wouldn’t be able to stop the demons, and the city would eventually be over run. I didn’t want to even think about that.

The wind picked up as we began and the streetlight flickered. We could affect our surroundings depending on how much power we used. It left behind a signature trail as well that let other witches know we were here.

My magic was the strongest. I’d dropped a demon once with a quick spell. Something I did only in emergencies, because in most cases, the energy came from the spell caster, it had to come from somewhere or someone.

“
This demon we hold,

Unknown realms behold

We return what’s yours,

Through whatever doors

Its evil a heavy rotting burden

Unwanted turmoil, torture, a sin.

Take back what was sent forth

It’s to us of no worth!”

We then call the four corners again and shut down the spell. This one wasn’t as good as some we had done, but that didn’t matter. The words helped, but it was the intentions behind the spell and the spell weaver or witch that did the job. Being the most powerful of the four I controlled the spell, allowing the energy being used to come from the slain demon. If you were fast enough you could tap into it before it went to wherever energy goes. It would weaken the others significantly if they were to provide the energy, and depending on the spell could kill. I didn’t need to lose too much, or I couldn’t protect them. Raven was the next most powerful after me. She was probably one of the most powerful in the city. Only she didn’t enjoy it like most. She did it only to control her powers. An untrained witch was bad news.

Only extremely powerful witches could tap, hold, and control others powers. These powers were called auras by some or even souls. Some claimed that the soul was entirely different from an aura and did not contain power. I don’t know which was true. I did know that if you could tap a living person’s power, you could use it until either, they stopped you, if they even can, or you drained them dry, which posed the theory it was connected to the soul. Or rather, that the power was something that sustained us as much as blood or air. I was one of these people, but I’d found that under pressure, I hesitate, and that one second could cause me my life. That and it didn’t always work, for some reason. I think it was because the being I tapped fought back.

It’s also very complicating. First, you had to identify their signature, every witches was unique. Second you had to be strong enough to wield yours and theirs at exactly the same time. This was something I wasn’t sure I was ready for just yet. Third once you had tapped into it and gained control, if strong enough they would definitely fight to get it back, so you had to maintain that control the entire time. You had to stay calm, and think carefully on exactly what you wanted to do with the power, while making sure you didn’t use any of your own. Because if they mixed it would cause a very uncontrollable surge, similar to a hurricane, and suck you both dry because power in its basic form was extremely unstable and would turn itself on you. This meant unless I was dead I don’t drain them.

Fourth rumor has it, you became tainted if you sucked an innocent dry. A stain that’s recognizable by all those with my curse accompanies your signature, or ‘smell', and they’d sometimes unconsciously avoid you.

A corrupt witch was a taboo, or an unwelcome witch within our society. Something never forgotten from the Salem Witch Trials in the late sixteen hundreds, when the tainted witches had eventually been caught for it and burned at the stake. My theory any ways, well those who were not so powerful they’d evaded all hunters.

Personally, I think the way those people were executed was a bit unjust. How could they even accuse one of being tainted, unless they themselves were witches with the gift? Any of the tainted would probably escape, leaving only innocents behind to take the fall.

A blemish that some would hunt down and kill outright still today. You didn’t play when it came to stealing other's magic. However, if you were strong enough to get that far there're few who could take you down, maybe a group but not a single hunter.

Last, it twisted you until you went insane. Magic was not meant to be manipulated, only harnessed temporarily and released once more back to where it came from. Basically, it was a circle never ending. Something I had a theory about, was that each witch’s energy was unique and bound to them, meaning we are really only meant to use our own. To me that is a sign.

We each silently thanked whichever god or goddess we worshiped for our success. In my case, I just sent out a silent thank you. I didn’t have a religion other than Wicca, and didn’t worship anything. I’d saved my own ass so many times I felt that my success was because I’d trained so hard through the years. I appreciated the girl's help, but this was my job. I felt I’d been chosen for this. Or more truthfully, that it had chosen me. We’re picked by fate to wield this responsibility honestly, and help those who could not.

I cleaned my sword and sheathed it. It was an original fifteenth-century samurai sword with an impressive hilt. The alloys back then were stronger quality compared to the current methods. Good legit swords were hard to come by nowadays. They were made for visual appreciation instead of actual use.

“
This one was easy, wish they all were,” Simone said, dusting her body off. It seemed she had blown off some steam and was riding the high we got from being victorious. That or she was having an adrenalin rush.

“
If they’re easy, then we wouldn’t need to do this,” Raven replied. She was the serious one of the bunch. Don’t get me wrong, she could party as hard as the rest of us and get as silly as a three-year old when the mood suited her.

“
So now what?” Alisa asked, stretching her legs. She was the one who waited for the next thrill, optimistic that she’d come out on top every time. She soaked danger up and relished it, like a cat does catnip, for crying out loud. She was losing her frigging mind; I thought sometimes.

“
I got work in the morning, so I’m going home to bed,” I told the others. Responsibility was a bitch sometimes. I wasn’t really in the mood to party any ways. I was looking forward to finishing a book I started last week. I was such a book worm. I owned literally, in my apartment not the store, over two thousand books. Hell in the last year I’d read and gifted twice that much to various people or sold from the bookstore.

“
Want us to walk you home?” Simone asked. Impatient or not I was a Wiccan sister, and she would always put that first. Our bond as a coven was unbreakable, or so I hoped.

“
I’m only three blocks away. It’s out of your way. I’ll be fine. There’s no point in you walking all that way,” I said. They knew I was the roughest, toughest of us and could hold my own in nearly any situation, well any normal situation that was. Hell, they had no self-esteem issues about me going head first into any fight. They knew they were my backup. I know that sounds conceited, but it’s the truth. We knew our individual jobs and we did them well.

Simone was staying the night with Raven and Alisa. Otherwise she and I’d have walked together. The girls wanted to start hanging out together, as friends. I didn’t get close to people. It was hard for me to. It took years of building trust. This was something that I refused to give on.

“
If you’re sure you want to do this Angel... Call us if you need us,” Raven replied uncertainly. She smiled at me making sure I really was cool with it.

“
I will, night,” I said smiling back, and watching them turn to leave. If I called anyone friend, it was Alisa, Simone, and Michael. Raven would be my best, if I had to call her anything, or a true sister, not by blood but by love.

I wasn’t worried about them. They were only a block from the duplex and there was no ozone chemical smell.

I waved and headed back to my house. It was after nine and too late for me to socialize any way, business came first. I never regretted it either. I missed my old life, but never regretted what it had become.

Not even a block away I began to hear footsteps echoing mine. I ignored them hoping they would either go away, or I’d be home before they caught up. It was a small town so kidnappings didn’t happen much, but it had entertainment that most small towns didn’t, clubs and bars and such. I had no idea why, but it did, which brought the nightlife.

My pursuer sped up, and at this rate would catch me before the block ended. I sped up myself and reached the next streetlight before I turned to face them. It was hard to see, but I could make out a vague outline. Shit… why tonight? Why could I not get a break? Maybe Headless Demon had a buddy… a buddy who wanted vengeance on the one who had decapitated our latest corpse. It was probably one of those flesh-eating demons. Eek, I was starting to scare myself.

I hoped it was one of the girls coming after me as I hurried on. Looking back over my shoulder, I quickly decided it wasn’t. Whoever chased me was insanely feet tall. I turned and rushed to the end of the next block.

“
Angel, wait up!” a familiar male voice called. Huh… the other demon couldn’t know my name? And why was I running. There was only one set of footsteps. I was fully charged and primed so I could take on almost any single demon.

Confused I turn back around. Sighing with relief, I realized it was only Michael.

“
I thought that was you,” he said. I was going to kill him. I might break Raven’s heart, but I was definitely going to kill him.

“
You scared the hell out of me, you idiot! You don’t chase a girl down a street just to see who it is! I could’ve hurt you!” Damn it, I really could have, silly little me running. I stood a good chance of getting hurt it was true, but only if it was two or more demons or more than two or three guys.

“
Chill out, I just ran into Raven and your other friends and heard you were walking home alone. I’m a bit bigger than you, and I seriously doubt you could hurt a fly.” Was he drunk or high, surely he had noticed by now while helping me lift the stuff in the store that I wasn’t some little teeny cheerleader with noodle arms? Really, it was kind of insulting. Or did he honestly think he was so super strong that I was more or less directing him. Probably, I thought smirking.

Growling I thanked him. He walked me to my door and waited until I was inside with the alarm set. He had more of a chance getting hurt than me. I guess a good arm wrestling match was in order.

I grumbled as I made my way upstairs. Thank the gods, I wasn’t old or something. Grateful as I was, it still had been quite scary. I mean how many times does it turn out to be a friend, ask women who have been in my same situation; they'd agree with me. Bad ass as I was, I still knew how bad ass the boogey man could be. I’d be stupid if I didn’t.

I found a quick snack and checked my phone messages. I called the girls and let them know I made it safely, if you didn’t count shock or near heart attack. I poured myself a glass of wine to soothe my nerves before I checked all my locks and windows. I felt jumpy tonight, for some reason.

After I took a shower and dressed in warm clothes for the night I snuggled up in my king sized super soft bed. It was getting cold outside. I wouldn’t turn my heat on unless it dropped below freezing though. My comforter was thick and warm. I was still a little nervous, so I jumped up and put on soothing music before I went to sleep. For a Sunday, it was a bit more eventful than usual. Thankfully, sleep came with only the usual nightmares. Some of which are so mortifyingly hellish and bone chilling I can’t possibly describe them.

CHAPTER TWO

The next day started the same as any other Monday. I opened my store at seven a.m., as usual. The college student’s order books here sometimes for their classes so I have to be open early unfortunately.

I boot up my laptop and check all my sites while chugging my energy drink. I’m so addicted.

I look over my profile on one of my social sites and consider my appearance while I wait for customers. I’m Goth to the core, to start with.

I’m five feet even, weighing a little over a hundred and have long, dark mahogany, wavy hair. My eyes are a shade of Hazel, but not the way you think. They are purple and bluish green, always changing colors on me. I’m muscular in a very curvy, womanly way, odd for such a petite body. I’ve pushed my body and ate right since the age of seven. I have a very light sprinkle of freckles on my nose and shoulders. Something I’ve always hated, but it’s only the Irish coming out in me.

If I had to describe myself, I’d say I’m responsible, smart but not a super genius and always eager to learn more. I’m also honest and hardworking, friendly but shielded yet not really too shy, and helpful but not one to go out of my way for a person. The last part sounds a little, what’s the word… oh yeah, lazy, maybe selfish, but I don’t see myself that way because I’m always pushing myself to do better every chance I can. Others say different and Raven will lie. I’m what I am, and if someone doesn’t like me. I say go scr… never mind, you get the point.