The first to realize what had happened was Richard Murray, shortly after the escape of the demon from the smoldering rubble of the house. Tom came up early and found the place gutted, devastated by a terrible fury. He wandered among the rubble, searching for traces of his friend, who called ghosts who lived with him, the Achaean warrior, the sea captain and the kid, but they could not tell him anything. They just heard screams and then the explosion that had wrecked the house. Terrified, the magician tried to call Cletus, who did not live, but instead found the ginger cat who occasionally camped in the house of the magician, also wandered through the debris of the house, meowing lost. He took it and took it home with you, my heart full of terror, fearing the worst for his friend. He opened the shop, as usual, to discover that the voice of the destruction of the house of the lighthouse had spread fast among the magical inhabitants of the island and was able to partially reconstruct the event, because someone had saw the flashes of magical power and then the huge demonic figure disappear in flight to the continent. What both the most feared had finally happened, the demon had taken over the magician. Richard wondered anxiously what could have happened to lead his friend into the clutches of the curse, and sent dozens of owls at all acquaintances and friends of Tom, hoping for news.
was not until late afternoon that he had news, and when Reyes Serephina entered in his shop, accompanied by a affannatissimo Cletus, the emotion that had stopped to speak English, to return to Russia, her native language. The small, plump sorcerer, usually jovial and dall'eloquio river, greeted them without a smile, the elf sent to calm down in the kitchen, preparing a tea for everyone, and turned back to the two women, with one question on the lips.
"Have you heard of Tom?"
"Mr. Murray said the vampire, looking serious and worried, just taking in the situation," We came here because we need your help .. The demon in the ring content of onyx that Tom found in Prague, took possession of him. Cletus took us here for her, says she and Tom have studied the ring for a long time .. Maybe you know how to release him. "
" I was afraid that might have happened this. It was the terror of Tom. "He said, closing the shop and carrying the two women in the back, where was the kitchen and the staircase that gave access to her apartment above the store. To sit in front of a fireplace, surrounded by a large sofa and two armchairs, often the same ones that had hosted him and his partner in the long evenings of study. Above the fireplace hung a painting, where an elderly woman, plump As Richard and with the same kind look, wringing her hands, watching the two women. It was Richard's wife, Clarissa, who died 15 years earlier, but still widely present in the life of her husband.
"How could this happen?" Asked the picture. "Tom was so careful not never going to let emotions too strong for weeks to this part ... "The vampire
sighed before answering," 's my fault .. He read the .. "Things" .. in my mind, that they have lost control ... "
The magician bowed his head, too discreet to ask what, and took off his glasses to take time, shaking his head.
"I have discovered that the demon is, unfortunately .... This morning I went to Tom to tell him. "he murmured, while the little elf returned with a tray with teapot, cups and biscuits. "This is Asmodeus, one of the eighteen kings of hell, sir of lust and panic. An enemy far beyond the capabilities of my friend, but it is clever. "
Serephina, trembling, put his hands to his mouth, narrowed his eyes and let out a small moan, and Reyes ran his hands over his face. He knew the infernal hierarchy, and that name was one of the worst. The housekeeper hesitated a moment, before opening the large bag he was carrying a book and show the wizard very ancient, ruined by the cover of dark leather.
"I have this ... is a library, a woman gave it to me ... said to be a busybody Hell, claims to be the incarnation of a demon herself. He told me to show it to Tom and when he read it, was flabbergasted. I do not know what it contains, but perhaps you ... "
Richard picked up the book, doubtful, turned pale and began to leaf through it, as Tom had done days before reading it. As we leafed through the pages shrank in his chair, torturing mustache.
"My God .. this is the darkest of the Dark Arts that I have ever read. I understand that Tom has been stone. But something, incredibly, could help us ... That woman ... had given it to you because it contains a ritual to open a portal to the underworld size. It may be cast out the legions of Asmodeus, but it is also possible it back, if we can trap him back into the ring and we can remove it from the hand of our friend. But it is a big risk ... it would take a magician of great talent to perform the ritual, I do not know if I'm able. Tom could, maybe ... "he sighed. "He's incredibly smart as a magician, you know? Can do extraordinary things ... things that I've never seen it done by anyone. And it is so modest, always saying are nonsense. And yet ... I know this is an educated person, he traveled a lot, learned a lot traveling, and when he speaks of his knowledge ... sometimes it seems to have had direct experience, if not the person who is gentle and kind, one might suspect ... "
"Do not be silly, Richard Murray," interrupted the woman from the picture. "Your suspicion is foolish and disrespectful, we have already discussed! Obviously, Tom has never practiced the dark arts in his life, is not the type! Just look at the kindness with which he treats quell'elfo "said Cletus pointing, which is moist eyes immediately.
The two women looked at each other, surprises, and Reyes, who knew the true identity of the magician, looked frowning for a moment, but Richard held up his hands defensively.
"You're right, Clara, forgive ... However, he might be capable and powerful enough to do this spell, with my help. I alone, of course I'm not able. Just as I have not the faintest idea how we could capture Asmodeus, now that took possession of him. "He snorted, shaking his head.
"I know a hunter .." began Reyes. "A hunter of demons and vampires. Very smart. It is well known and feared among the creatures of the night, his name is Jim Michael Raven, Tom knows it very well, I know you are years that you attend ... since it was established in the States, at least. "
" Yes, I remember. I've seen in stores a couple of times, a big man, tall, big, huge in fact a culture of demonology. It is not entirely Muggle, he once said. "
" Exactly, and is very smart. Despite I am a vampire, we became friends ... He understood that it is a killer as most of my kind. I think we could help. "
" Do you know how to reach you? I do not know him well. "
" Yes, it will not be a problem. "
The magician nodded, beginning to think that maybe there was some glimmer of hope in their favor.
"Yes, but how can we do to remove the ring to Tom?" Asked Serephina, twisting hands.
"There is the possibility to take away the powers ... There is a charm, very old, which was used for just that. But it is not reversible, at least in the formula that we have found. I do not feel like using it, I mean ... that man can do wonderful things once for the group stage magic of Nantucket, where he also read my wife, prepared the background for the scenes of the "Dream of a Midsummer Night" by Shakespeare, by golly, they were so perfect that the spectators had the sensation of being in a forest, there were butterflies and fairies that flew over the heads of all ... it was beautiful. We can not levargli powers, not to mention even in ancient times that many came to suicide, the brutality of mutilation. "
" My God .. means that our hands are tied? "Churches Serephina increasingly alarmed. "If we let him die in the hands of Asmodeus, if we take away the powers to condemn the suicide! No! I'm not there! I am willing to barter my soul with Lucifer himself, to bring back Tom, "said with tears in their eyes, slamming his fists on the table.
"Calm down ..." said Richard, when Reyes approached the ruler, hugging her. "It's not yet said its last word. Tom and I were working on changes on the spell to make it transient. Now listen to what we can do: I'm going with Cletus in Tom's house, searching through his papers all the studies he had done, while you search for this Raven, asking him to help capture Asmodeus, okay? "
Reyes nodded, and kindly consoled the housekeeper.
"I'll take care. Now come on, Sere ... it is time to return to the castle. "
The two women took their leave, while the wizard and the elf materialized with the lighthouse. Tom's study was largely intact, and the little creature knew where all the magic cards, so they could in a short time, raise all the necessary material. Richard decided to go and take it to the Library of Congress Magic of the Wizards, where he worked his close friend and distant relative of his late wife, to see what changes could be made by Tom functional.
Meanwhile, Asmodeus continued to travel the world, feeding the fears and desires of humans, crushing more and more the magician in a grip of horror within itself, feeding on fears and terrifying visions , and in turn feeding the frightening emotions which tortured Tom.
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