Zohar’s eyes shifted nervously between Remy and Gerard’s opaque light sphere.
“He can’t hear you,” Remy said, in response to the question in Zohar’s eyes.
“I didn’t do it,” Zohar replied.
“That’s a lie,” Brady said. “A demon can’t appear by himself and since you definitely are afraid of him, my guess is something went wrong when you decided to use black magic.”
“Is that what happened?” demanded Remy.
“That man has no right to insult me,” Zohar said angrily, pointing at Brady. “He was banished by the Witches’ Governing Council and forbidden to return.”
“I lifted the ban,” Remy replied. “Mr. Whitmore…Brady has been appointed as an advisor to me concerning the laws and regulations applicable to low-level magic users…which include those you enacted. Now answer my question…what went wrong with your summoning spell?”
“I told you…I. Didn’t. Summon. Him!”
“He’s lying,” Cody murmured.
“No, he’s not,” replied Carson. “Magic users cannot lie to the Keeper of All Magic.”
“So someone else summoned the demon?” asked Cody.
“Yes, it appears so,” replied Carson.
“Fucking great,” Cody muttered. “Another nutcase on the loose.”
“Maybe…maybe not,” Remy said, before returning his gaze to Zohar. He studied him for a moment before continuing. “You know who did it. Tell me who is responsible for letting a demon run amuck in our world.”
“Tarja…she was a witch,” Zohar answered reluctantly.
“Was? What happened to her?” asked Remy.
“Killed.”
“By whom?” asked Remy.
“The demon she summoned,” Zohar replied. “I don’t know how it happened but he assumed her identity…and her magic.”
“Effectively killing her,” murmured Brady.
“Yes,” agreed Zohar.
“And that demon…what is his name?” asked Remy.
“Thelgos,” mumbled Zohar.
“Thelgos is the demon now known as Gerard Vonner?” asked Remy.
“Yes.”
“Wait a minute…how did Thelgos turn into a warlock if the magic user he assumed the identity of was a witch?” asked Cody.
“Because Tarja wasn’t the only magic user the demon killed, was she?” Brady asked, giving Zohar a hard look.
“I don’t have to answer you!” Zohar spat out, defiantly.
Shaking his head, Carson muttered, “Not a good time to pull this shit, Zohar.”
“The Mystic Guardian is right,” Remy said. “You will answer all questions regardless of who asks them. Tell me how many other magic users the demon killed.”
