Brianna stared at Kelly in astonishment, no idea how the spell had worked. It shouldn't have. She didn't have the power to pull off a summoning spell.
She'd sold her friend up the river.
"You fucking bastard," Kelly said with a smile.
"You're looking good, sweetheart." He cocked his head to the side. "The stench and look of death suits you."
Kelly's gaze fell to Brianna. She was slumped on the carpet, leaning her back against the wall as if she needed support. Her arms were lying lifelessly on her lap in the handcuffs. She seemed to sober instantly. "I take back what I said. There is nothing good in the Demonic Book of Spells."
Brianna glanced at the dog, which was back to a slobbering, content pooch, and started crawling slowly toward Kelly.
Kelly shook her head. "Stay away from me," she warned.
Brianna didn't stop.
"You are doing exactly what he wants, Brianna. He wants me to bond with you, and the closer you come to me the less I am able to control myself."
Brianna stopped. What did Kelly mean, bond with her?
The demon walked to Kelly and stood over her. "Did you do your homework on bonding?"
Kelly's lip curled. "I browsed the book, yes."
"Then what are you waiting for?"
"I will not do as you asked. I won't give you that power."
The demon looked less than pleased. "You would sacrifice yourself for her? The only way you will recover is by bonding with a witch such as Brianna. I suggest you smash the remaining do-gooder in yourself and get on with it."
Brianna watched as Kelly eyed her with hunger. Brianna shrank away. Bonding didn't sound too good.
"I won't." Determination settled into Kelly's features.
The demon made a tsking sound, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jeans and taking a deep breath. It was as though he forced himself to look put out by Kelly's response. "Kelly, Kelly, Kelly, what am I going to do with you? You never listen to me."
Kelly's lip lifted in distaste. "Asmodeus is out looking for you. He'll probably be here in minutes."
Hope bloomed in her chest. "How do you know?"
"He called Raum looking for you. Raum is out looking too."
The demon looked as though he'd like to kill them both with his bare hands, then he quickly masked the look of hate with one of nonchalance. "Like I give a shit about those two second-rate demons. Even combined, their powers are not as potent as mine."
Brianna remembered Asmodeus's explanation of his powers in Tony's. Now would be the perfect time to put a little fear into this demon. "I summoned him from the Abyss. He still contains all of his Angelic power. They had to return his powers so he could withstand the Abyss. I'm thinking he might be more powerful than you think he is."
He seemed to be contemplating what she had just said. She slid a glance at Kelly. Even if Asmodeus came in and saved the day she wasn't sure Kelly would make it.
There was a chance Asmodeus might be able to heal Kelly, as he had done with her before.
"Where is the Demonic Book of Spells?" the demon asked Kelly.
"Raum has it."
"You dumb bitch."
Brianna flinched as a light filled the room. Before she opened her eyes she sensed that it was Asmodeus. She wasn't sure if her psychic abilities chose that time to spring to life, or if it was the familiar feel of his presence.
"It would seem you have some explaining to do, Leviathan." Asmodeus stood in front of the demon, his back to her.
Leviathan's face was a mask of hatred. "Do you honestly believe you can stop me? A demon from the second fall up against a demon such as myself?"
Another light flashed through the room, quickly followed by another. Naberius and Raum stood next to Asmodeus. She breathed a sigh of relief. The cavalry had arrived.
Leviathan no longer had a smug expression on his face as he stared at the men standing before him. He backed up.
When Asmodeus advanced, Leviathan threw his hand out and she ducked, remembering what power Asmodeus had used on the angels. The stagnant air in the house turned turbulent. She could hear the crackle of static electricity, feel the hair on her arms raise.
Glancing up, she caught Raum approaching the demon from the side while Naberius hung back, waiting to make his move.
The demon materialized a sword, as did Asmodeus and Raum. Before Raum could lift his sword the demon turned to him, and an invisible source slammed Raum into the wall, sending him through the plaster. Naberius thrust out his hands as Raum slid to the floor.
The demon grunted from whatever power Naberius had used, and brought his sword up as Asmodeus attacked him.