the decadent contrast between them and her pale, white skin. Almond eyes sparkled with amusement at Alex’s slack-jawed expression.
But it wasn’t her face—as interesting as it was—that had caused Alex’s jaw to drop. It was her attire. A thick black choker sporting an enormous green, red-flecked stone was at her throat. A dark emerald-green corset cinched her waist to impossibly small measurements and thrust out her bosom. A matching skirt of plush velour fell in intricate pleats to the floor. It split up the length of her thigh as she moved further into the room. Alex was desperate to know where one could acquire such a gorgeous, erotic outfit.
The woman laughed and angled her head in acknowledgment of the admiration in Alex’s eyes. “The name’s Melynda, and the answer to your next question is eBay,” she said. “I shop at a store called Darker Pleasures on eBay. I’ll give you their card. Now what can I do for you today?”
Alex carefully laid the cross down in its nest of purple velvet as she considered her response. How exactly did you ask someone how to get rid of a demon? But first, just in case Rose checked up on her, Alex dutifully inquired about natural remedies for sleeplessness, mentioning her friend’s name in case Rose got a discount for referrals. In response, Alex was given a tea with valerian root and catnip, of all things. She stood at the counter as her purchase was rung up, still having come to no logical way to ease the question into normal conversation.
Melynda saved her the trouble. “So,” she said, handing over Alex’s change before leaning her hip casually against the counter, “wanna cut the crap and tell me what you really came here for?”
Alex tucked her purchase into her purse and then slowly looked back up. Then she figured that if Melynda could be blunt, she could too. “I was wondering if you could give me any information on how to…umm…how to unsummon—”
“Banish,” the dark-haired woman interjected.
“Right. Uh, how to banish a demon.”
Melynda tapped thoughtfully at her lower lip with one two-inch red nail. “What spell did you use to conjure the demon?”
“No spell.” Alex hastened to assure. “At least I don’t think it was a spell. All I said was ‘I summon you.’”
Melynda’s dark brows rose in obvious astonishment. “I summon you,” she repeated. “That’s it? No conjuring circle? No blood? Nothing?”
Alex shrugged. “Nope, nothing else. And now he won’t…”
Her words faded as Melynda raised her finger for silence and slid back through the curtain. She returned a moment later bearing a tome as large as her torso. The smell of antique leather and rotting parchment drifted up from the crackling pages as she rifled through the grimoire. “Summon,” she muttered. “Summon, summon… ‘Summoner.’” She read the passage quickly and then lifted her head to regard Alex with unabashed delight. “Tell me, Miss…”
“Alexandra,” Alex said, not entirely sure why she gave the more formal version of her name.
Melynda grinned at her as she carefully closed the book. “Tell me, Alexandra, are you, by chance, a Summoner?”
“I… I don’t know.”
“Did the demon call you by that name?”
“Yes, he—” This time she was interrupted by Melynda’s whoop of glee.
“Holy shit! A Summoner in my shop! There hasn’t been a known Summoner for more than two hundred years.” Melynda hurried around the counter to pump Alex’s hand. “It’s an honor,” she said, all trace of her previously aloof demeanor erased in her excitement. “Who have you nabbed?” Her gaze flicked around the shop as if expecting the demon to appear at any moment. “And where is he? I was under the impression that a demon summoned that way was connected to the Summoner at all times.”
Alex resisted the urge to smack her forehead. So that’s why Kasdeya wouldn’t leave her alone! “He’s not on this plane,” she said, cutting her gaze sideways to the other woman, expecting the explanation to shock her.
Melynda just nodded. “So now you can’t even put your makeup on without him staring back at you, huh?”
Actually, Alex had forgone makeup lately. It just hadn’t seemed worth it. But she nodded anyway at Melynda’s observation, astounded at the depth of knowledge the woman had about her situation. She obviously knew way more about this than Alex herself did.
“Well,” said Melynda, leaning back with her elbows on the counter. “If it were anyone else, I’d send them home with mullein, marjoram, witch grass—you know, the usual. And, of course, the appropriate sigils. But hell, Alexandra…” She tossed back her head and laughed. “You’re the god-damned Summoner. Just pop back into that plane and banish him.”
“But how do I do that? Banish him?”
“Same way you summoned him. Say, ‘I banish you, insert-name-here.’ Who did you say it was?”
Alex hadn’t said. But she saw no harm in assuaging Melynda’s obvious curiosity. “Kasdeya.”
All the blood drained from Melynda’s already white skin, lending her the hue of a corpse. “You’re joking.”
Alex shook her head, puzzled at the woman’s response. “No, his name’s Kasdeya, or so he told me.”
Melynda’s hand rose to her throat. “A lesser demon wouldn’t dare take his name. Punishment would be swift, to say the least, if Kasdeya found out. Jesus, Alexandra, do you know who he is?”
Alex shook her head again, and the dark-haired woman’s eyes took on a wistful, faraway glaze as she caressed the smooth column of her neck. “You’ve raised a high prince of Hell. Practically the Prince of Hell, second only to Satan.” She licked her lips and cocked her head slyly, leaning closer to Alex. “Is he beautiful?”
Alex’s cheeks blazed at the thought of how beautiful he was. “Yes.”
“Mmm-hmm. I thought he would be.” Melynda sighed, staring into space a moment longer, and then straightened. “Hold on one more sec.” She again disappeared into the back, but this time she was gone nearly ten minutes. Alex thought about just leaving; she had the info she needed. But it wasn’t in her nature to be so blatantly rude. And, anyway, she kind of liked Melynda, as odd as she seemed.
“Here,” Melynda huffed, finally coming out with an armload of books. “Do some reading on…well, yourself.” She grinned again. “It might surprise you to know exactly what you’re capable of. Oh, and here’s the card for Darker Pleasures. On the back, I wrote down my cell, work and home numbers.” She was tossing the books into a plain purple bag.
“How much do I owe—”
Melynda shook her head. “Nothing. Just keep in touch, okay? I’d hate to have to explain to my coven how I let a Summoner slip through my fingers.”
Alex said she would stay in contact, although she wasn’t sure that she intended to keep her promise. A coven? What exactly was she getting into?
“Listen,” Melynda said as Alex turned to leave. “Don’t be too hasty about tossing Kasdeya back. Lord knows if you’ll ever be able to reach him again. A prince
