Page 28 of Mending Mayhem
“Hold it tightly with the intent to keep it…like you did my head…and it will become your trophy.”
“If you—” Chaos started, but I clutched the whole arm in my fist, spun to the imp, and plunged the knife into its chest.
With one final screech, the imp turned into a puff of smoke, and a tiny rift opened, sucking it through before slamming shut. As I opened my palm, hellfire erupted on the severed arm, burning the flesh and goo and leaving only bone behind.
“Looks like we just saved your finger. You’re welcome.” I tiptoed back to the house and wiped the grime from my feet onto the doormat before grabbing the box o’ burnt skull and heading upstairs.
Chaos scooped Ash into a cradle carry and followed me, setting her on a stool while I dumped the dirty knife in the sink.
“Let me wash the slime off, and then we’ll commit what I hope is the biggest magical crime we will ever have to pull off.” I headed for the hall.
“Don’t forget about the time spell if we make it long enough to mend the veil.” Ash winced as Chaos picked a piece of glass from her foot.
“One step at a time.” I lifted the box, reminding her we had other things to worry about right now.
“And don’t forget…” She pressed her lips into a line and cut her gaze toward her demon. “Never mind.”
I strode to my room and set the box and the bones on my dresser before gathering a set of clothes and padding to the bathroom.
“You aren’t curious what else she wanted to remind you of?”
“Nope.” I stripped out of my jammies and turned on the shower. “One thing at a time.”
I turned toward the mirror and grimaced at my reflection. Purple hair coated in slime stuck to my forehead, and some strands stood straight up, while the rest was matted into a knot.
“I’m a mess.”
“A hot one.”
“Haha.” I stepped under the stream and closed the curtain before scrubbing every inch of my body and face and rinsing with water as hot as it would go. Mayhem stayed silent while I dried off and got dressed, and I ran a brush through my hair, studying my reddened skin to make sure I’d gotten all the goo off.
“You’re awfully quiet up there.” I tapped my temple.
“I’m simply going along for the ride.”
“Well, fasten your seatbelt and keep your arms and legs inside at all times.”
“I don’t understand the reference.”
“I’m about to commit a magical felony. Don’t make me any more nervous than I already am.” My stomach soured as I paced down the hall, and when I got to the kitchen, I found Ash gathering the ingredients for the phoenix spell.
The spell I refused to let her take part in.
“Chaos offered to grind the bone so it won’t ruin our food processor.” She gestured to a stone mortar and pestle.
“Imps are surprisingly sturdy for their size.” Chaos sat at the counter and held his hand toward me.
I laid the arm bones in his palm and held his gaze. “I’m casting this spell alone.”
“We’ll have to source more wolfsbane after this. I never dreamed we’d use this much in… Alone? Why? We can share our vim to?—”
“And share a cell when the Higher Power puts us on trial?” I grabbed the mixing bowl from the cabinet and picked up Ash’s phone. “No.”
“We’re not going to get caught, and even if we did…it’s for the greater good. We can’t save Salem without casting this spell.” She started to measure the hyssop, but I took the jar from her hands.
“Try explaining that to the Higher Power. You wouldn’t make it past the ‘I accidentally possessed myself with a demon’ part.” I added two tablespoons to the bowl.
Ash crossed her arms. “I’m the reason we’re in this situation. I’m helping.”