I stretched my arms in front of me as a wave of bitter anger steamed to the surface.
"I volunteered to assist conjure it years ago, but they constantly declined to give me any features about the demon. I appreciate their being overprotective of a young girl, but I am not a kid anymore."
"Yes, I realize that," Ralph said with a soft grin.
"To be candid, all we have ourselves is an inscription of the demon and a proficiency of how he murdered the preys. It is not much to go on, but if we could learn new reserves, probably we could discover the precise class of demon and, more significant, the summoning name."
Hell, yeah, it was more crucial. There are a limited number of symbols used for conjuring Porphyric demons to earth. Each category of demon—Jinn, Kerub, Shedu, Oni, Asura, etc—needs a symbol specific to its category.
The variable is the extension of the demon's tag. Without the tag, the demon can not be conjured.
"And if you could discover the demon's label," the Grandmaster put in, "then, with your conjuring mastery, you could manipulate him, and coerce him in front of the Oaks committee. Like every other demon, he can be compelled—"
"To tell the fact," I completed.
"Yes, I am well familiar with the explanation they have been rummaging for this demon all these years."
It would be the ideal testifier for the murders. If he could be found and resolute, he would inform everyone who conjured and instructed him to murder those three species.
It would vindicate my parents. The situation was, that nobody recalled what demon they were looking for.
"How can we discover the demon's class and name in two weeks, when you have been labouring on it for years?"
"There is nothing further that I can do privately, but probably there is something you can do. We have safeguarded you from this for too long. As you explained, you are an adult now, and a strong mage. I understand you have been studying and labouring with other magicians outside the declaration—"
"What else could I do?" I snarled, realizing this was prohibited.
"You committed what you had to. But if I am thinking correctly, I believe you may have connections and references that could give rise to a unique philosophy to the hunt."
My brain started blazing as I compiled a short list of alternatives I could try.
"If you can convey to me some more features about the demon in query, perhaps."
"Well, my dear, 'perhaps' is all we have now. If the demon can not be specified conclusively …"
"Then what?" I questioned.
"Then," he answered after a long sigh.
"We are going to have to accept the Oaks Order's decree and give up your parents."
A suffocated protest got snapped in my throat.
"I understand this is difficult to hear, but we honestly don't have another possibility. We can not afford a battle right now. Periods have improved, and the community is sharper and smarter than it was a hundred years ago. The Warrens won't glance the other way if more people are murdered, and there has been too much severe light shed on our association over the killings as it is. A magical war could signify the end of the E∴E∴ and, as its commander, I can not tolerate that to happen."
I listened to what he was saying, but I could not approve of it. We disagreed for considerable minutes, going around in loops until I acquiesced and shut up. He gave me the definition of the demon and what small knowledge he had on the insignia; it was not much to go on.
"This is occurring so quick." I felt like I was being sucked into a vortex with no possibility of escape.
He clasped my hands concurrently in my lap. "If there is anyone to criticize in this, you can indicate the finger at me. Your parents contended on protecting you out of this trash, but I should have quarrelled with them.
Even now, I am sure they would not authorize my wanting you to do this for them."
"Well, since no one can reach them right now, I believe they don't get a vote."
"Sweetheart, you are a competent magician than either one of them—even fairer than me, and that is the fact. Maybe that is due to your outstanding understanding, but even without it, I know in my heart that you are powerful. If anyone can assist them, it is you."
I gazed at the fireplace, hearing his statements, but inwardly making suggestions.
"Do you have an area in mind where you can commence your search?" Ralph inquired.
For the first time since I had entered, I glimpsed a little concern in his face and wondered if he thought that I could do this.
"Yes," I retorted with as much confidence as I could summon.
In the middle of the turmoil swirling around in my head, one provincial reserve strutted above everyone else who might assist me, someone that no partner of the E∴E∴ or any other magical declaration would ever assume inquiring, because of centuries-old discriminations and mistrust: a retired priest. One who was not a Warren … or even human, for that problem.
Father Ben abode down the street from me. I encountered him a year or so ago when he was strolling his dog past my house.
Unfortunately, at the moment I was on the verge of binding some imps for my aged Earthbound acquaintance. But instead of freaking out and phoning the cops on us or sentencing me to hell, Father Ben was very enthusiastic about what I was doing.
And I was very attracted to him because he was the first Earthbound priest I had ever met. We struck up a fast, if not unusual, friendship.
It had been ten years since he had resigned from the priesthood. Back in his heyday, he spent a reasonable bit of time researching demons, from both religious and traditional angles.
He certainly had a few personal impressions about the subject that was not church-sanctioned. But he never had difficulty differentiating what his faith labelled "devils" from demons, and he was pleased with his spirituality and his position in the world.
And probably that is why I believed him. He did not know my true personality, of course—no one did—but he realized I was different, and he was alright with that because he was different too.