Chapter 22

Once more Ifound myself in the old guild castle. This time, knowing I dream-walked, I managed to not flinch or panic when Moloch came stomping into his throne room, his cloven hoofs sparking against the stone.

His startled expression quickly turned into a grin that showed off his sharpened teeth. "Back already? How kind of you to make it easy for me to finish you off."

My chin lifted. "You should know by now I'm not that easy to kill. Just ask the goons you sent to murder me."

"Bah, I'm not surprised the humans failed. But I won't."

I should have been scared, considering what happened the last time, but today I'd found my courage, and apparently, it refused to be frightened away. "I should thank you for sending them. They helped me get past the block on my magic. No wonder you want me dead. I am powerful."

His nostrils flared. "You're still weak and untrained."

"Am I?" I taunted.

"Do you need me to prove it again?" He took a step in my direction, but I didn't turn tail and run.

Surprising, I know. I held my ground and raised my hand, waggling my fingers. "Would you like to see what I can do?"

"You can't harm me," he stated with assurance, and yet I noticed the tenseness of his frame.

"If that's true, then why are you so afraid?" I tossed that out there and got more reaction than expected.

"I FEAR NOTHING!" he bellowed.

"Maybe you should. I hear your little demon minions aren't flocking to join your army. What's wrong? Are your princes more powerful? Have they found a new Dark Lord to worship?" I didn't relent, and smoke began to huff from Moloch's nostrils.

"Those puling bastards are nothing compared to me."

"Yet here you are, hiding out on Earth rather than back on your own world slapping them into line. I think you're afraid to go home because you know they'll be gunning for you."

"I will crush any who get in my way," he snarled.

"Will you? I assume you mean by yourself because I don't see a legion." I made a show of looking left and right at the empty room.

A sly expression entered his gaze. "They are busy with the next phase of my plan."

"Going to force more humans to do your bidding?"

"Hardly forced. There are so many of them eager to serve someone with vision. So many craving a freedom from punitive laws that don't allow them to act. In many respects, they are superior to my demon minions for they can walk in daylight, obey orders, and wield weapons. They understand this world and are aiding me in planning my conquest."

I wanted to accuse him of lying but knew he was telling the truth. There were all too many who would jump at a chance to do evil. Just look at the overcrowding of prisons, the rampant crimes rising in countries around the world. Heck, even my own fake parents.

"I will stop you."

"Go ahead." Moloch spread his arms.

"Soon, motherfucker," I swore.

"I look forward to it, messovenata. The fucking part especially."

"Wouldn't it be better for you to just kill me?" I retorted.

"Do you think I care if your corpse is alive when I defile it?"

I didn't gag, but it came close. "You're disgusting."

"Thank you. I'm also violent, unrepentant, and unforgiving. I look forward to our inevitable showdown where you'll get to enjoy all those traits as I murder your friends and then torture you."

He'd regained his cockiness, but I wanted to knock him down before I woke from this dream, so I said the only thing I could that might wipe the smirk from his face. "Torture me with what? That tiny cock of yours? I've had bigger and better. No wonder your princes don't respect you. Hell, they've probably had many a good laugh about your small penis."

"It is not small!" he yelled.

"If you say so, Tiny." On that note, I smiled and waved goodbye, willing myself to wake.

It worked. My eyes popped open to see my ceiling. I lay in my bed, breathing hard but unharmed. I'd done it. Faced Moloch and walked away. Not only that, but I also hadn't been afraid.

Did that mean I was ready to face him in a fight?

No. However, I no longer wanted to tuck myself into a ball in a corner. No more hiding from destiny. No more cowering because I didn't believe in myself.

I was the goddamned messovenata. The first reaper witch in centuries, and I was going to save the bloody world.

With that in mind, the next morning, with Cain and Vance watching me from across the great room—because I'd obviously freaked them out with my threesome suggestion—I sought out Mizuki and said, "I need to know more about how magic works." The day before I'd acted impulsively, wishing for things that somehow my magic translated into actions. I'd gotten lucky, not just in the result but in the fact I'd not accidentally hurt my allies. I couldn't forget how Cain almost got rolled with the cars when my power tossed them.

Mizuki leaned in close to whisper, "Before we get into working on your magic, I want to know more about that kiss!"

"Which one?"

She blinked. "Wait, there was more than one? Did you and Cain…"

"No, we didn't. Not for lack of trying. Thought for sure, after he kissed me, we'd be going hot and heavy. But then again, I thought that, too, when I smooched Vance the day before."

"You've kissed them both?" she squeaked then slapped a hand over her mouth.

A quick glance over my shoulder showed Vance had left the space and not overheard.

I kept my voice low, though, as I replied, "Yeah, I puckered for the guys, but not very well, apparently, since I spent the night alone." More or less. I didn't mention Nova's latest attempt to protect my dreams had failed. No need to panic anyone with Moloch's attempt to threaten me. I'd handled it. Maybe I was getting the hang of this hero thing if I ignored the honesty part. I knew by not telling I broke a promise to be more forthcoming, but I didn't see how revealing the threat would change anything.

"Just because they didn't spend the night doesn't mean they're not interested. Which one are you leaning toward? I'd have such a hard time choosing."

"And see that's where I might have fucked things up. Given I can't decide, I kind of threw the idea of a threesome out there."

Her eyes widened. "Oh."

"It did not go over well."

Her lips quirked. "Maybe they'll come around to it."

"I don't know. I mean I explained I didn't expect them to play with each other since they were really obviously not into that and that it would be about me. Alas, the mere suggestion had them skedaddling. And now they appear to be avoiding me."

"Give them some time to think about it," Mizuki suggested. "You never know. They might come around to the idea."

I snorted. "Doubtful. Anyhow"—I waved a hand—"there are more important things to discuss, such as my power and how to rein it in so I'm actually controlling it and not accidentally using it."

"I don't know how much help I'll be. I've always had to focus super hard to get mine to behave how I want it to. Hence the focus words and gestures. What you did…" She shook her head. "It's next level. Even Nova uses preset spell forms to accomplish the bigger tasks."

My lips turned down. "Meaning I'm screwed."

"Not really. Your magic is awake. With practice, you'll learn how to keep it under your control."

"You know what? You're right. Rome wasn't built in a day," I chirped. "Let's get practicing."

This time, I didn't glare at the candle outside. I had magic. It should be easy to make it light.

Light.

LIGHT.

Annoyance had me pursing my mouth. "Why isn't it working?"

"What are you doing different from yesterday?"

"Nothing. I'm thinking of what I want, just like I did when we were attacked."

"There is a difference, though. You're not actually fearful."

"Or angry," I added. "Could it be I have to be pissed or deathly afraid for it to work?"

"Emotional activation is a thing," Mizuki stated. "Adrenaline might be the key to unlock it."

"Meaning I need someone to piss me off." As I said that, I spotted Cain emerging from the woods, wearing a tank top and shorts, his body glistening with sweat.

Sexy fucker. Sexy fucker who rejected me because I got greedy. I tried to get mad but found it hard to hate him with that lanky walk of his and those broad shoulders peeking from his shirt.

"You're drooling," Mizuki murmured.

"Can you blame me? He's damned hot." My pussy clenched with desire, and my flesh heated.

Poof.

"Um, Sadie?"

A glance over showed the candle burning bright. My lips curved. "Guess there's more than one way for my magic to unlock."

For some reason, Mizuki found this hilarious, and I joined her in giggling uncontrollably, leading to Cain casting us a puzzled glance as he passed. His sweet ass flexed in his snug shorts, and I sighed. "Damn."

In response, the candle's flame burned taller.

Fear, anger, and now arousal, all triggers to unlock my magic. Good to know.

I calmed my mirth and eyed Mizuki. "Tell me about every spell you've ever heard of. I want to know what is possible with magic."

"Actually, I don't think I will because that might limit you," she commented. "Where your power is concerned, trust your gut and imagination. It's served you well so far."

"What if I try something impossible?"

"Then it won't work."

I grimaced. "That's what I'm afraid of." I paused. "What about this portal thing we talked about? Is that something I could potentially do?"

"Maybe?" Mizuki shrugged. "I don't know enough about them to know what's involved, but maybe I should amend my statement and suggest that before you try anything new, maybe run it past one of us first. Specifically Nova, when it comes to portals."

"Afraid I might open a portal to a worse dimension than Inferis?"

"Yes."

"How many other worlds are there?"

Again, her shoulders rolled. "I don't know, but I imagine a fair number."

A non-answer that had me wondering. Nova had suggested trying to shove Moloch back into a prison dimension, but what if the doorway opened to a place like Earth and we accidentally screwed some people in another world? And there was still the question of how to keep him there. There had to be a solution. A way of getting rid of Moloch for good.

I spent that day on the internet, researching ways to kill gods and demons. Dinner proved to be a quiet affair with just me and Mizuki, my two protectors choosing to guard me from the outside. As if they couldn't bear to be around me.

I went to bed alone. Didn't even have Moloch visit.

Turned out he'd been busy.