Demon Magic by S.A. Beck

Author:S.A. Beck [Beck, S.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Beck Books

14

The Shrine of St. Cuthbert

As she approached the cathedral, Ines felt lighter than she had in days. The decision to come here hadn’t been forced upon her by circumstances, as had happened with leading the Earthly Host. It hadn’t come out of the demands of others. It wasn’t even about others, not directly. It was her choice, the opportunity to learn more about herself, to work out who she was and who she wanted to be.

As she walked along a narrow street, its shops and restaurants closed, several windows boarded up, she thought about Damon and Rumiel. If she had only met one of them, then everything would be fine.

Thinking about either boy made her smile. Memories of kissing them stirred thoughts and imaginings she could never admit to her parents. The bond she had with Damon was like friendship reinforced a hundred times over. Just looking at Rumiel made her heart burst with excitement. How could she choose between those feelings?

The last time she had been near Palace Green, Hema and Jason had rescued her from Oldfield’s mages. Happiness was replaced with barbed anger that hooked at her insides as she remembered Jason at that first encounter, and then days later, when Oldfield had killed him.

The woman had to be stopped. If only for that reason, what happened this evening was important.

The sun was starting to set as she came out onto the green. The cathedral loomed in front of her. It was still an amazing sight, now crowned with something stranger. Angels and demons flocked around it, dark and light shapes hovering in the air like moths drawn to a flame. The air grew hazy as they swirled around the building, not coming close enough to touch or to enter, just seeming to bask in its presence.

Any doubts she had about the power of the place evaporated at the sight.

No one else was to be seen anywhere on Palace Green. The demons and angels might not be fighting each other, but they would still make dangerous company for any mages. Even ordinary people would have trouble not seeing all these supernatural beings, the mind’s trick of blanking them out failing in the face of so many. It was no wonder that people were staying away instead of seeking the comfort of the church.

Still, she approached cautiously, so as to avoid drawing the attention of either angels or demons. She didn’t want to risk any interruption. According to Marklew, this was a powerful time of day, and she wanted to make the most of it.

Whoever had left the cathedral last had left the door wide open, possibly distracted by the chaos of the world, possibly hoping to provide sanctuary in these troubled times. Despite her fears, none of the angels or demons even glanced in Ines’s direction as she walked through the door and into the cold interior.

The inside of the cathedral was every bit as stunning as the outside. Stone pillars the size of giant redwoods held up a vast vaulted ceiling.

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