Hexed

his pants and that would have stopped it, but his contortions were mildly entertaining, and I wanted to see what he would do if he worked himself free. I stayed behind my tea counter and made no threatening moves.
    » Werewolves are abominations of nature. Nearly every religion acknowledges this. «
    » Ah, now I see. Do you guys also have a thing about vampires? «
    » If by a ‘thing’ you mean a predisposition to kill them, then, yes, we do. «
    » How do you feel about witches? «
    » We do not suffer them to live! « The priest flushed again, and I decided witches were a touchy subject with him.
    » Right. You couldn’t possibly have said anything else. So what about me, then? What do you think you’ve been talking to? «
    » You are a holy man, like us. «
    That was a surprising answer. » Um, didn’t you just say a couple minutes ago that Jesus was going to rain fire down upon me? «
    He answered me in one of those condescending this-is-for-your own-good voices. » There will be a reckoning for the time you have spent associating with infernal powers, but we recognize that you follow the old path of the Druids. «
    My eyebrows shot up. They knew what I was after all. » And where does it say that Druids associate with infernal powers? Because we don’t. «
    » It was Druidic magic that opened a portal to hell in the Superstition Mountains, « Father Gregory asserted. » And you were there. «
    Bloody Aenghus Óg. » Yeah, and I killed most everything that came out of that portal. That was my only association with those powers, okay? I destroyed them. «
    » And the demon at Skyline High School? «
    » That was the fallen angel Basasael. Also slain by yours truly. «
    The priest paled even faster than he blushed, demonstrating remarkable facility in cutaneous blood flow and its constriction. » You slew a fallen angel? « he nearly whispered.
    » On ne takoi sil’ny! « Rabbi Yosef growled from underneath his jacket. He is not that strong . Well, I’m strong enough to make you look like an idiot, I thought. He looked close to getting himself free.
    » Yes, I did, Father. So, look, I’m willing to let you guys walk out the door with nothing lost but a knife and a little bit of dignity, but I don’t want to see you again. You’re not welcome here, and I’m never going to show you my books. I don’t sell them to fanatics of any stripe. Let’s just live and let live. When it comes to hell, we’re on the same side, anyway. Can we agree to that? «
    » I cannot speak for everyone, « Gregory said, casting a meaningful glance at the rabbi squirming in front of him. » But for my part I am satisfied. «
    The rabbi finally got one arm free of his jacket, and the other quickly followed. He immediately began to chant in Hebrew and trace a pattern in the air with his hands. I flipped on my faerie specs to watch. As he spoke and moved his fingers, tiny points of light in various colors hovered and then connected themselves in a gossamer threadwork. I saw already that it would be a spell based on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, so I let him proceed. As soon as he finished and tried to execute it, the shop’s wards would recognize it and shut it down. The priest glanced at me nervously as his colleague chanted, wondering if I was going to do anything, but all he saw was my air of unconcern.
    » Ha! « the rabbi cried when he finished. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back, fists clenched and held out at nine and three like he was driving a big rig, waiting for something to happen. Maybe he thought an angel would appear and kick my ass, or grant him strength, or give him a special brownie. After a couple of seconds of expectant heaving of the breast, he opened his eyes, turned his head, and saw me smirking at him.
    » Nice try, Rabbi Yosef. « I released the binding on the priest’s clothes and said, » You’re free to go, Father Gregory. If you ever return, I will not be so polite or forgiving. This is your only warning. «
    » Understood, « the priest said, clambering creakily to his feet. He shook out his arms and then took a few uncertain steps toward the door. » Come on, Yosef, « he said.
    » Oh, the rabbi will join you outside in a few moments. « I smiled. » We have something to discuss in private, if you wouldn’t mind. «
    Father Gregory checked with the rabbi to make sure this was okay with him. The beard nodded first, and then the rest of the head followed. The priest stepped out, and the