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Night had fallen while I ht earloomier still, but Eva had foreseen that eventuality "Stor the in chalk She activated the batteries one by one, so the squalor was more evident In the far corner, three rats skittered toward a crack in the wall

Eva made a face "Not exactly pretty, is it?"

"No, but if things go hideously wrong, on’t take out a city block either"

"There is that," Chuch said, joining us

I sh hurt, the way I was crouched on the ce, all of you"

"It wouldn’t be a welco wasn’t all here," Chuch said

Well, everyone except Jesse And he wouldn’t show unless things went catastrophically wrong Here’s hoping I don’t see Jesse Saldana tonight

Booke returned last, but he had everything I needed And he wore a harried look "Iout of don"

"I’m not worried about it," I told him frankly

"But I’m an outla A felon"

"You didn’tthe country on a fake passport and a charm," I pointed out

"That was before I realized I’d be here to face the consequences"

I laughed "Quit fretting, granddad, and shohat you got"

With a grumble, Booke handed me various dried herbs and powders while Kel reminded me when to use each one Soon this will be over That became my mantra as I prepared the site with the spell conored the others; my focus had to be complete, the ritual flawless The susurration of their voices rolled over me in waves, but the snippets didn’t penetrate Finally, I had everything in place, and I was ready to begin

"I need you all to step off I’ate will be--"

"Then shouldn’t you back up as well?" Chuch wondered

"I have to stay close to the circle Theoretically, it should contain the energies and keep the portal froed "Just ick was notorious for rebounding in powerful, unexpected ways

"On it," Shan said

Since I would be using the touch--and sacrificing it, plus the reot out the athame I had carried with me from Sheol In this realm, it didn’t look as ominous, so possibly the trip back had stripped it of some of its power But it still didn’t look harmless I whispered the words in ancient Babylonian as I drew the blade across my palm My blood welled up ruby red and ready to work The crimson fluid dripped down the blade; then the warehouse seemed oddly, ominously quiet, as if there were a barrier between the others and me When my blood trickled onto the chalk, I released the concentration that kept ifting--of sacrifice--and then the circle shimmered

I hadn’t been positive this would work, but I gained confidence asIf this worked as a power exchange, the circle would be drained when the way opened The ritual would take ht?

Not so ick clawed on the way out, raking like barbed wire in my veins as blood spilled fro to be sacrificed With pure will, I forced it out until I had nothing left Then I closedto taper off Booke was there with a roll of gauze; I hadn’t asked him to buy it, but he wrappedlike that," Chuch murmured with a hint of awe

I surveyed my work, and it was a pretty daods kne long, pushing at the way betorlds, until it thinned enough to per it would take

Eva cocked her gun "It smells like trouble in here"

Now that she ;up The Babylonian words sounded strange rolling offit easier to focus After a few repetitions, all distractions faded I poured myself into the spell, all I was, all my will, until I was focused only on the circle

Hoill I know if it’s working--

Before I finished the mental question, a massive boo, no , "Incoht," Eva called back

"Fuckin’ demons," Shan muttered

Awesounning for ht backupbut this time, so had I I didn’t let my concentration lapse; if I did, even for a second, then the spell failed, and there would be no second chances

"What the hell is that?" Eva asked

Her shotgun went off I desperately wished I could see the action, and then soht shades Shit The demon must’ve hired a contractor Since shades couldn’t be haret away fro, couldn’t pause in h felt like it was on fire and my throat was raw, my lips parched, andhave I been casting?

"We can’t hurt these," Shan called "Back off Leave it to Kel and Booke"