Demon Hunted (The Bayton Agency, #2), page 11
Lee chose that moment to step in, darting towards Billy who was slowly getting up. Clearly the spirit was taking some time getting used to its new body, flailing and wobbling wildly as it rose. It seemed much more at home controlling a flimsy pencil pusher rather than a well-muscled intern Agent.
Lee was almost upon the student now, preparing to tackle him to the ground. Suddenly Billy shot out a hand, and Lee stopped mid step. One foot was even suspended in the air, but he was unable to move. The possessed hunter began to laugh maniacally now, throwing his head back in sheer mirth.
‘Now this is a turn of events indeed! Telekinesis at that, nice and powerful. This takes me back.’ With a flick of his hand, Billy sent Lee flying backwards through one of the plaster walls. Luckily there was no brick beyond it, and Lee simply fell to the floor two rooms over. He didn't get up. Tessa was thankful they built houses cheap in Bayton. Double brick would have meant a much longer recovery time.
Billy twisted his head back to Tessa, grinning from ear to ear. The effect was unnatural, more movement than a human neck was capable of. It was more like an owl, and the loud cracks were testament to the stress the spirit was placing on the body.
‘I bet you didn't know that this poor sap could do that. I don't think even he did. But I knew, oh yes, I did. This suuuure takes me back.’ While the spirit prattled on, Tessa had palmed her knife, using its tip to carve a small sigil into the wall behind her. She was engraving the symbol covertly behind her back and could only pray that she had inscribed it properly. Hopefully the home owners would fogive her, but given that a demon had already been thrown through a few walls, it was a drop in the ocean. This was going to be expensive for the Agency.
‘You see, I was once a witch, with skills you pathetic hunters today can only dream of. But I followed the rules, and let those idiots take me. I could have killed them all, but instead held to the harm none idea. You know what it got me girl? I'll tell ye, it got me burnt on a stake! Me, in all my power, burnt by these pathetic creatures...’ He continued rambling as Tessa focused intently, boring down with her magick, tapping into the veins of power running through the Earth below her. Drawing it up, Tessa filled herself with it, until her own magick had been eclipsed completely, and she had a line remaining to the earth. She then completed the sigil, feeling its power snap into place.
Billy was still droning on about the various evils inflicted upon him by the ‘cattle’, when Tessa stepped towards him. He threw up a hand, while looking utterly smug.
‘Oh no little girl, don't make me throw you around. I would hate to ruin this lovely conversation just for a few careless steps.’ Tessa grinned back at him, stepping over the accountant who had thrown himself on the floor whimpering as soon as Billy had first piped up.
A quick calculation and a wordless prayer later, Tessa threw herself at Billy. He swiped his hand to the side, but Tessa kept going. Pure momentum meant both of them ended up on the floor. Billy took a few seconds to reorientate himself, so Tessa made best of it, pinning him to the floor by sitting on his chest. He waved his hands frantically, but nothing happened. The spirit inhabiting Billy lost his temper. He kicked and spluttered, but Tessa held firm.
‘Evil bitch! What did you do? I will destroy you for this indignity,’ spluttered Billy, the unnatural soul within him lighting up his eyes with an odd shade of yellow. Tessa simply shrugged.
‘You can try poppet, but I don't like your chances. I have bound the magick of everyone in this room. So, you can't play your little tricks.’ Her attempt at bravado was clearly failing, with Billy beginning to laugh. Sweat began to roll down her face as Tessa held tightly onto the power she had borrowed from the Earth, as it threatened to break loose and destroy her along with the entire block.
‘And? That is your plan? Did you forget, witch, that you need your magick to do the ritual to get me out? I will escape and kill you far before then, even if I must do it manually!’ Scorn disfigured the young man's face as he spoke, but Tessa laughed in it loudly. That finally shook up the possessed boy.
‘Tut-tut, an old witch forgetting the old ways? The rules don't apply if you have an active connection to the oldest of magick! Tapping into the Earth so to speak. That is enough to take you down and then some!’
‘Impossible! To do that you would have to... no one can handle that!’
‘Hah! You know not what you are facing boy. Now we both know that the ritual is simply to raise and direct the power, so all it will take is...’ Tessa faded off as she focused intently, arrowing her borrowed power directly down and into the now blathering Billy. With quite an effort she tore the spirit from his flesh, taking care not to damage the real Billy as she went. A quick glance to Lee revealed a look of utter reverence on the now conscious demon's face.
To complete the task, Tessa began compressing the invading soul smaller and smaller. Finally, it stopped fighting her and meekly winked out of existence, leaving a deafening absence of noise in its wake. She had completely destroyed a spirit. It shouldn’t even be possible, but she had just done it. Slumping forward weakly, Tessa began to shake uncontrollably, sweat rolling down her face in salty rivulets. The Earth magick leached rapidly out of her, draining into the ether. With its retreat, Tessa collapsed completely, falling face first onto the floor.
Also by Ysadora Sonderling
The Bayton Agency
Demon Desired
Demon Hunted (Coming Soon)
Standalone
Heaven for a Predator
Ysadora Sonderling, Demon Hunted (The Bayton Agency, #2)
