Morgan nodded. “A reasonable assumption. Did you experience something similar, Odette?”
“Not that I can remember, but I was pretty occupied at the time.”
I was trying to sound level, non-judgmental, although inside, I was a little upset that Eva hadn’t mentioned her magic acting strangely. We’d already gone over a lot about that night since arriving in the past. Had she kept it a secret because she was ashamed? Because she hadn’t understood what had happened? Or did she not not wantmeto know?
“What are we going to do if we have demon magic?” Eva asked slowly, as if still unable to believe this was a possibility.
Morgan perched on a stone. “Learn to use it. I have a strong intuition that demon magic could be the thing you need to fight the royals on even ground.”
My lips parted. Until now, I hadn’t had a clue what I was going to do to best Ishtar, who was a thousand times more powerful than me.
“Dark magic is simply the demons’ magic, gifted to a witch—or other type of magical, as you saw for yourself with the shifter pack,” Morgan continued. “Most black witches who have made deals with the royal demons do not have their magic inside them. They carry it within trinkets, like the stones you mentioned.”
She paused, and her gaze leveled both of us. “But you’re not black witches. You’re demon-touched. You have the royal’s magicinsideyou. If you learn to control it properly, that makes you much more powerful. Why couldn’t you use it to fight Ishtar or Lucifer? Perhaps even protect yourself from possession?”
Fear coiled in my stomach. Possession by a royal was one of my greatest fears. Morgan’s totem had helped me fend off the possession before, but more than anything, I wanted to be able to defend myself. After all, my totem might be ripped from my neck at any second.
“I want to learn,” I said firmly.
“Me too,” Eva agreed.
“Then discovering what dark power you have, and teaching Odette to timewalk accurately, will be our primary goals.” Morgan rubbed her hands together, whether from excitement or to fend off the chill, I wasn’t sure. “Luckily, they go together. While Merlin and I will do our best to help you practice, we can’t do it all. We will seek teachers throughout time who know more about the dark side than us. Those who would understand how black witches might manipulate Hell-born magics. Then you will use that knowledge to bring down the very creatures who gave them those powers.”
I blinked. “Are you saying that we’re going to travel through time and look for black witches? Like, starting now?”
“Today, I’d simply like to see if I’m right. Perhaps try to coax the darkness out of you. That’s why we’re here. Anything that happens in this circle is invisible to the creatures of Hell. If you try to access your demon magic, and it works, they’ll never know.”
My stomach churned. Black magic was forbidden because to possess it, the witch had to make a deal with a royal demon. A barter for their soul. Or they had to be touched, often in malice, like Eva and me.
As much as I didn’t like the idea, there was no denying that dark magic was powerful. More powerful than even M&M. We might be training with legends in the witching community, but individually none of us had any hope of becoming as strong as the fallen gods who ruled Hell.
Unless we beat them at their own game.
“Let’s try it.”
I hoped I wouldn’t regret agreeing. So far, my demon mark had brought only pain, but if there was even the slightest chance that it was hiding something to help us defeat the demons in our time, it would be worth it.
Morgan stood. “Show me your mark again, Odette.”
I lifted my pant leg. My mentor squatted down and began examining the mark that Ishtar had left. It didn’t feel like anything, only like someone touching my ankle, but I knew it wasn’t. Her power, bright fuchsia like mine, was pouring out of her as she analyzed the scar.
I held my breath, watching and waiting, as Morgan’s eyebrows pulled together.
After a couple of minutes, she let out a long “Hmmmm.”
I felt ready to jump out of my skin in anticipation. “Did you feel anything . . . dark?”
Instead of answering, she stood and gestured for Eva to join us. When she did, Morgan turned to me. “Place your hands on Eva’s scar.”
I gave Eva a look, asking for permission. She nodded, and I gently placed my fingertips on her cheekbone.
The scar tissue was cool to the touch, just like my demon-touched mark. Usually, I only felt it when I was in the presence of demons or those who called them their masters. When that happened, the scar seared hot.
“Close your eyes,” my mentor instructed.
I did so, well aware of the benefits of depriving myself of one sense so that the others—in this case, my magical senses, might become more sensitive.
“Think of a time when you’ve seen Ishtar . . . even better if she was with Lucifer.”
