He stood and motioned for her to sit in his vacated chair.
As she took the seat he pushed an opened book toward her.
Damn, not another book.
"What's this?" he asked.
She had no idea. The pounding in her head crushed any interest in reading. "You tell me."
Placing a hand on the page, she leaned forward and studied the script. She couldn't read the writing. It contained symbols she had never seen before. It didn't compare to the demonic language, which closely resembled Hebrew. It looked more like Egyptian symbols.
Out of the corner of her eye she became aware of Asmodeus leaning over her right shoulder. He smelled of soap and musky cologne. She recalled the feel of his body on top of hers, the soft touch of his lips.
She took a deep breath. "I've never seen it before. The writing reminds me of ancient hieroglyphics."
"Yes it does. I tried to decipher it using the ancient language and it did not coincide."
Why would he assume she contained knowledge of this writing? Because of the demonic spell book she had summoned him with?
She placed her thumb and forefinger to her temples. Her headache was becoming a migraine. Stars floated behind her eyelids. "Do you think this book is important? Does it carry any significance for you?"
She put a hand on the page to save her spot and flipped the book closed. On the cover was a star in the middle of a circle, both in flames.
Jerking her hand from the book, she stood and bumped into Asmodeus. She had heard of this book before. There had been many copies that claimed to be the Demonic Book of Spells, though none had turned out to be legitimate. The flames on the cover were dancing and casting light, which made her believe she was looking at the original.
"What is it?" he asked, picking it up.
"You shouldn't have touched that." If the rumors were true, the book contained spells of possession, manifestations and incantations. You could make someone schizophrenic from the spells held within those pages. You could make people do terrible things. Dark power radiated from the cover.
"I found it in your house last night."
Stunned, she could only gape at him as the seconds passed by. "You did not find that in my house. And wait, why did you go to my house?"
He slapped the book back down on the desk. The eerie glow of the flames on the cover drew her gaze. Christ, the spells contained within…
"It was under your bed. Raum and I went to your house before we went to Mary's."
That was impossible. She had never laid eyes on it before. "I don't perform spells such as those contained in that book. I never have."
"You summoned me. You read the summoning spell written in the demonic language you claim you don't understand. Do not stand before me and tell me you do not delve in dark magic." He put a finger under her chin, commanding her gaze from the dancing flames on the cover. "Did you obtain more powers from this book? Have you been working the spells therein?"
She shook her head, slapping his hand away. "Asmodeus, I have never laid eyes on that book. Never." She held his gaze, willing him to see the truth in her eyes.
He stood before her, his eyes lighting to a vivid yellow. "I believe you."
Her gaze was drawn back to the moving flames on the cover. "Why didn't you ask me about this last night?"
"I wanted to look it over first." He sat on the chair and opened the book.
"Why isn't the Demonic Book of Spells written in the demonic tongue?"
"Because the demon who made it did not want others sharing in his knowledge."
"I thought demons couldn't command the energy of the earth. Where did that book come from? What powers do the spells draw from if not the energy of the earth?"
"No one knows where it came from, and the powers are rumored to come from both the energy of the earth and from one's life force." He idly flipped through the pages. "Who could have placed this in your house?"
"No one. The only other witch I know is Kelly, and she doesn't mess with that stuff either. She's the one who taught me to stay away from it. The spells from dark magic can consume you, turn you into something you're not."
"Have you noticed a change in her as of late?"
"No. She would never touch that book." Kelly hadn't been acting different, and she'd be the last person to get into something like that. It would destroy everything Kelly had worked so hard to obtain. "Why were you searching my house last night?"
Asmodeus's eyes began to glow. "Naberius and Raum were positive you were acting last night at the park. They argued you used a spell of some sort, and you were never in any danger from the Nephilim. Of course I stood up for you, saying you hadn't been dishonest with me. He convinced me to go to your house and search for a motive for your reappearance."