Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 7

part of the circle near the window. "Walk around the glyphs until you reach that spot, then step over the line."
    Corin nodded, following Rafferty's directions. He had only barely reached the far side of the circle when a loud thump came from the wall where the door had been. Corin jumped, startled, and nearly stepped over the circle in the wrong spot. Rafferty glanced at the wall wide-eyed, but then shook his head.
    "They won't get in," Rafferty said, but he moved quickly, crossing the room to the writing desk. He picked up two daggers, walking over to Corin and handing him one. He crossed the room, jumping slightly when the wall thumped again, the floor reverberating with the force of the impact.
    "Will it take long?" Corin asked, glancing at the wall again.
    "Fifteen minutes, maybe," Rafferty said. "Step in. When I cut my arm, I need you to cut yours. You don't need to do anything else—and don't step out of the circle until the light fades, all right?"
    Corin nodded, stepping into the circle. A warm, pleasant rush of energy surged across his skin, erasing the last traces of uneasiness from the priest's touch. Rafferty stepped in opposite him, and Corin watched him take a deep breath. Light flared up from the edge of the circle, reaching towards the ceiling. It glowed white, obscuring the view of Rafferty's room outside the circle.
    Rafferty started chanting then, and Corin watched him carefully, waiting for his cue. Rafferty continued chanting, speaking the words slowly and clearly, and Corin wondered what language it was. He listened carefully, curious, but none of it made any sense to him. A few moments in, Rafferty lifted his arm. His dagger shone with the glow of the circle's light, and he drew the dagger across his palm.
    Blood dripped to the circle, and the glow flared brighter. Corin took a deep breath and dragged his dagger across his left palm as he'd seen Rafferty do. The dagger was sharper than he'd realized, and he cut more deeply than he'd intended. Corin turned his hand to let the blood fall to the circle, surprised when the circle turned a gentle, calming blue.
    Rafferty continued to chant, and Corin started feeling dizzy and light-headed. He set his feet more firmly. He didn't want to screw it up by passing out. The floor shook, and for a moment Corin thought he had fallen, but everything settled in the next second. The circle's light flared even brighter, then, as Rafferty shouted a final word, abruptly died out and away.
    Someone screamed nearby, and Corin fell to his knees, feeling weak and unsteady. Rafferty was on his knees across the circle, and the wall behind Rafferty, where the door had been, was completely missing. There was a priest passed out on the far side of the circle's edge, and Corin braced himself, expecting to feel the cold wash of the demons' presence.
    Nothing happened, and Corin took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. His hand was still bleeding, but it was sluggish and slow and not important. Rafferty struggled to his feet slowly, wavering there a moment before stepping out of the circle. Corin thought about following suit, but he stayed where he was, not feeling any particular rush to stand.
    Rafferty stepped over to where the priest was laying and knelt down, pressing a hand against the man's neck. He wasn't breathing, Corin realized. He wasn't moving at all, and Corin's stomach sank. Had they killed him? Rafferty didn't look surprised, standing after a moment and turning to Corin. He crossed the room slowly, stepping into the circle as if it didn't exist. Corin glanced down and realized it didn't actually exist anymore. The outside edge of the circle was burned into the floor, but the rest of the marks were gone.
    "Here," Rafferty said, holding out a hand to Corin. Corin took it, letting Rafferty help him to his feet. Rafferty's touch didn't feel like anything for once. Corin stood still for a long moment, not letting go of Rafferty's hand, wholly because he thought he might fall over without the support.
    "Is he dead?" Corin asked, and Rafferty winced, which was as much confirmation as Corin needed.
    "Come on, sit down," Rafferty said, and Corin's heart sank. Rafferty had known it would kill the man. He'd known. Why hadn't he said anything?
    "Are they all dead?" Corin asked, not sure he wanted to know the answer to that. If they weren't, Corin was dead. They'd kill him in retribution, if nothing else.
    "No," Rafferty said firmly, leading Corin over to the bed.