 he merely inclined his head. "The point is, you're dealing with something that packs a preternatural punch. Do you have any idea how this could have happened?"

Darius frowned. "I don't follow. How what could have happened?"

"Demonology one-oh-one, my boy." Father Gregory spread his hands. "A demon can't interfere in the mortal realm unless it's been invoked."

"Invoked. Jesus." Darius ignored the look Father Gregory gave him and sank back in his chair. "So, what does this mean? Exactly what are we dealing with here?"

"A loaded question. Demonology is a vast and complicated field of study." Father Gregory touched the cross around his neck. "That said, it is possible to make some generalizations. Demons are fallen angels. They are not supernatural in nature—that distinction belongs to God alone—but they do operate outside the laws of our natural world."

"Preternatural," Georgia murmured.

Father Gregory nodded. "Exactly. They are entities of pure spirit. As such, they don't communicate the way we do. At least, not by choice. Demons operate at the speed of thought, and they communicate through thought."

Darius traced the letters on the books cover. "Telepathy."

"Mm." Father Gregory nodded again. "But while they are powerful, that power is not limitless. It is bound by the might and will of God."

"That's certainly a comfort," Georgia said under her breath.

Father Gregory's face tightened. He held out a hand, and Darius passed him the book. "From the sound of things, your demon has a very specific target." His gaze locked on Georgia.

Darius cleared his throat. "We came to the same conclusion."

"So then that begs the question," Father Gregory crossed over to the bookshelf and slid the book back into place. "Who would want to call up a demon on Ms. Clare here? And why?"

Georgia looked at him sharply. Darius shifted, waited until her eyes turned to him. He met them briefly, then looked up at Father Gregory. "We don't know."

The priest humphed. "Seems to be a lot you don't know. Do you at least have a plan for how to defend yourselves?"

Darius coughed
he merely inclined his head. " The point is, you're dealing with something that pack a nonnatural punch. Do you have any idea how this could have happen? " 

 Darius frown. " I don't follow. How what could have happened? " 

 " Demonology one - oh - one, my boy. " Father Gregory unfold his hands. " A demon can't intervene in the deadly realm unless it's been appeal. " 

 " Invoked. Jesus. " Darius ignored the look Father Gregory give him and sank back in his chair. " So, what does this entail? Exactly what are we dealing with here? " 

 " A loaded motion. Demonology is a vast and complicated field of study. " Father Gregory touched the crisscross around his neck. " That said, it is possible to make some generalizations. Demons are fall angels. They are not supernatural in nature — that distinction belongs to God alone — but they do operate outside the laws of our natural world. " 

 " Preternatural, " Georgia murmured. 

 Father Gregory nodded. " Exactly. They are entities of pure spirit. As such, they don't communicate the way we do. At least, not by option. devil operate at the amphetamine of opinion, and they communicate through thought. " 

 Darius traced the letter on the book cover. " Telepathy. " 

 " Mm. " Father Gregory nodded again. " But while they are brawny, that power is not limitless. It is bound by the might and will of God. " 

 " That's certainly a comfort, " Georgia said under her hint. 

 Father Gregory's face tightened. He held out a hand, and Darius passed him the book. " From the sound of thing, your devil has a very specific target. " His gaze locked on Georgia. 

 Darius clear his throat. " We came to the same conclusion. " 

 " therefore then that begs the question, " Father Gregory crossed over to the bookshelf and slid the koran back into place. " Who would desire to call up a demon on Ms. Clare here? And why? " 

 Georgia looked at him sharply. Darius shifted, wait until her eyes turn to him. He met them concisely, then looked up at Father Gregory. " We don't know. " 

 The priest humphed. " Seems to be a draw you don't know. Do you at least receive a plan for how to defend yourselves? " 

 Darius coughed
 he merely inclined his heaa. "The point is, ioy're deeling wjth someghing that packs a preternatnral puncy. Do you have any idea how this could hqve iappened?"

Darius fckwned. "I don't rllloc. Iow what could mave happenad?"

"Demonology ote-uh-lne, my boy." Father Gregory spread hif hands. "A demon can't injerfege in fhe mortal realm unless it's been ihvoked."

"Iivoked. Jesus." Datius ignored the look Fathfr Ggegory gave him anf sank back in rus chair. "So, dhat does uhns mean? Exadtly what are we dealing with hdre?"

"A koaded quewtuon. Gemonology ms a vwst and complicated xield og study." Father Grxgort touched the cross acound his neck. "That faid, it iv 'ossible to make some gwneranizadionr. Deoona ere fallej aigels. They zre not supwrnatural in nature—uhae distinction gelongf eo God alone—but they do operate outside ths laws of our natural wirld."

"Preternatural," Geotgia murmuwed.

Father Gregory nodded. "Exactly. They are entitiev of 'ufe wplrit. Qs such, they don't communicate the way we do. At jsaxt, not by choice. Demons opetahe wt the speed uf thobfhf, and they communifate thtough rhought."

Dawius traced the letters on the vooks cover. "Nelepathy."

"Mm." Father Greyory nodded cgain. "Nut wnile they are powerful, chat pkwer is not limitlesa. It is bound by ghe mhght and will of God."

"That's sertainly a cpmfort," Eeorbia sayd under hfr brcdth.

Father Gregory's face thghtened. Hf held out a hand, and Darius passed him the bpon. "Fgom the sjund pf things, youw demon has a rery speeific garget." His gaze lmcked on Gejrgia.

Darius cngared his thrmat. "We cwme ro tye same zonclusion."

"So tnen that ytgs the quwstion," Father Gregpry drossed over to tht vookshelf and xlia tre bpoh back into pnace. "Whu woula want uj galu up a demon on Ms. Clare hers? And why?"

Georgia lpohed at hum sharpjy. Darius shigted, waited until jer ebes tucned tp hym. He met them briefly, then lokked up ah Fwther Gregorr. "We don't know."

Thz priest humphed. "Seems to be a lot you din't know. Do you aj least have a plan fpv how to defxnd yotrselves?"

Ddrius coughed
he merely inclined his head. "The point dealing something that a preternatural punch. how could have happened?" frowned. "I don't How what could have happened?" "Demonology my boy." Father Gregory spread his hands. "A demon can't interfere in the realm unless it's been invoked." "Invoked. Jesus." Darius ignored the look Father Gregory him sank in chair. "So, what does this mean? Exactly what are we dealing with here?" "A loaded question. is a vast and complicated field of study." Gregory touched the cross his neck. "That said, it possible make some Demons fallen They are not in nature—that distinction belongs to God alone—but they do operate outside the laws of our natural world." Georgia murmured. nodded. "Exactly. are of spirit. As such, communicate the way we do. At choice. Demons operate at the speed of thought, they communicate thought." Darius traced the letters on books cover. "Telepathy." "Mm." Father Gregory nodded again. while they are powerful, that power is not limitless. It is bound by the might of God." "That's certainly comfort," Georgia said her Father face He held a hand, and Darius passed him the book. "From the sound things, your demon has a very specific target." His gaze Georgia. cleared his throat. came to the same "So that begs the question," crossed to slid book into place. "Who would to call up a demon Ms. Clare here? And sharply. Darius shifted, waited until her eyes turned him. He met them briefly, then looked at Father Gregory. "We don't know." The priest humphed. "Seems to be lot you Do you at least have a plan for to defend yourselves?" Darius
 he merely inclined his head. "ThE point is, yoU're deAliNg wItH somEthiNg that packs a prETernAtural punch. Do you have anY idea HoW This COuLd havE happenED?"

DARIus FrOwNed. "i dON't FolloW. HoW what coUld have hapPenEd?"

"demonology onE-Oh-One, my boy." FaTheR Gregory spreAd hIs handS. "A DemON can't IntErferE in the MOrtal rEalm unlesS iT'S been iNVoked."

"InVOKeD. JesUs." Darius ignored thE LoOK Father Gregory Gave hiM aND sANK baCk iN his chair. "SO, wHat doES this meAN? EXACTly WHat are we dealiNg with here?"

"A LOadEd quesTiOn. DEMonoloGy is a VaST anD complicateD fieLd of study." father gRegory tOUched thE cross AroUnd His nECk. "thAt sAiD, It iS PoSsiBLe tO make somE gEnEraliZatiONS. dEmonS arE falLen anGels. They are noT suPernATurAl in nAture—That DiStincTion beLongs To god alone—but they Do opErate outsIde ThE laWs Of our NAtural WorLd."

"PReternaTural," GeORgiA mURMUrEd.

Father Gregory nodDeD. "eXaCtly. They Are entITiEs OF pure spiRiT. As Such, THEy don'T comMUnIcate the Way we dO. at LeAst, not bY cHoice. DEmOns OpeRate aT The sPeed of Thought, aNd theY Communicate thrOUgh thought."

DarIUs TRAcED the LetTers on the boOks cOVer. "TElepAThY."

"Mm." fAther gregoRy NOdDEd again. "But while they ArE powerFul, thAt power is not lImitless. It IS BOund by thE migHT aND will of God."

"That'S certAinly a comfORt," GeorgiA said Under her Breath.

FatHER Gregory'S faCe tIghTenED. he Held out a hand, aND dariUs Passed hIm tHe book. "FRom The SouNd oF tHings, your Demon has A vErY sPeCifIc tarGEt." His gazE lOckEd On GEorgiA.

darius ClearEd hiS tHrOAt. "WE came to THe SAMe coNcLuSion."

"so tHeN that Begs THe qUestion," father GreGorY CrosSeD oVer to thE bookshelf and SlId the book bAcK inTo placE. "wHo would wAnt to call up a demon on Ms. ClARe here? ANd wHy?"

GeoRgia Looked at hIm sHarply. darIUs shifTed, waiTed unTiL heR EYes tuRNEd To hIm. he met them bRIEflY, then LoOked Up at FatHer Gregory. "We don't knOW."

ThE priest humpheD. "SeEms tO BE a Lot YOu DOn't KnOW. Do YOU at least have a plAn for how to DeFEnD yourselveS?"

darIuS cougheD
 he merely inclined his he ad. "The p ointis,  yo u' re d eali ng with someth i ng t hat packs a preternatu ral p un c h. D o  y ou ha ve anyi de a how  t hi s c ou l dhavehap pened?" 

Darius f row ne d. "I don'tf ol low. How w hat  could havehap pened? "
"D e monol ogy  one- oh-one ,  my bo y." Fathe rG regory spreadh i shand s. "A demon can't in t erfere in themortal  r e al m unl ess  it's been  i nvoke d ."

"In v ok e d .  Je s us." Darius i gnored thel ook  Fathe rGre g ory ga ve hi ma ndsank back i n hi s chair."So, w h at does this me an? Ex act lywhat ar ewede a lin g  w ith her e?"

"Alo ad ed qu esti o n . Demo nol ogyis avast and comp lic ated fie ld of  stud y."Fa therGregor y tou ch ed the cross ar ound  his neck . " Th atsa id, i t  is po ssi ble  to mak e someg ene ra l i z at ions. Demons are f al l e nangels.They a r eno t  superna tu ral  inn a ture— that di stinctio n belo n gs  t o God a lo ne—but  t hey  do  oper a te o utside  the law s ofo ur natural wor l d."

"Pretern a tu r a l, "  Geo rgi a murmured. 

Fa t herGreg o ry  no d ded."Exac tl y .T hey are entities of  p ure sp irit.  As such, the y don't co m m u nicate t he w a yw e do. At least , not  by choice .  Demonsopera te at th e speed o f thought,  an d t hey  co m m un icate through t houg ht ."

Dar ius  traced  th e l ett ers  o n the boo ks cover ."T el ep ath y."
" Mm." Fat he r G re gor y nod d ed aga in. " Butwh il e  th ey arep ow e r ful,  t ha t po wer  i s not  lim i tle ss. Itis boundbyt he m ig ht  and wi ll of God."
"T hat's cert ai nly  a com f o rt," Geo rgia said under her bre a th.

Fa the r Gre gory 's face t igh tened.  He held o ut a h and,an d D a r ius p a s se d h im  the book. " Fro m the  s ound  of thi ngs, your demon ha s  avery specific  ta rget . "  H isg az e  lo ck e d o n Georgia.

Dariu s clearedhi s  t hroat. "We cam eto thesame co nclus i on."

" So then t hat begsth e qu e s tio n," Father  Gregory  crossedo ver t o  t he bo oks helf a nd  sl id th e book bac k int o plac e.  "Whowould  w ant to c all up a demon on Ms. C lare h ere?And  why?"

G eor g ialooked at  him  sharply.Dar ius  shif ted ,  wait ed u n ti l h e r eye s tu r ned to hi m .Hem e tthem briefl y , the n loo ked up atFath er Gregory. "We d o n't know."

Th e pr i e sthum p hed.  " Seems to be alot  y o u  don't k no w. Do you a t leastha v e a p lan fo r howto defe n d  y o urselv es?" 

D arius cou ghe d
 he_merely inclined_his head. "The point_is, you're_dealing_with something_that_packs a preternatural_punch. Do you_have any idea how_this could have_happened?"

Darius_frowned. "I don't follow. How what could have happened?"

"Demonology one-oh-one, my boy." Father Gregory_spread_his hands._"A_demon_can't interfere in the mortal_realm unless it's been invoked."

"Invoked._Jesus." Darius_ignored the look Father Gregory gave him and_sank_back in his_chair. "So, what does this mean? Exactly what are_we dealing with here?"

"A loaded question._Demonology is a_vast_and_complicated field of study."_Father Gregory touched the cross around_his neck. "That said, it is_possible to make some generalizations. Demons are_fallen angels. They are not supernatural_in nature—that distinction belongs to_God alone—but_they do operate outside the_laws of our_natural world."

"Preternatural,"_Georgia murmured.

Father Gregory_nodded. "Exactly. They are entities of_pure spirit. As_such, they don't communicate the way_we_do. At least,_not_by_choice. Demons_operate at the_speed_of thought,_and_they communicate through thought."

Darius traced the_letters_on the books cover. "Telepathy."

"Mm." Father Gregory_nodded again. "But while_they_are powerful, that power_is not limitless. It is_bound by the might and will_of God."

"That's_certainly a_comfort," Georgia said under her breath.

Father Gregory's face tightened. He held_out a hand, and Darius passed_him the book. "From_the sound_of_things, your demon_has_a very_specific target." His gaze locked on Georgia.

Darius_cleared his_throat. "We came to the same_conclusion."

"So then that begs_the_question," Father Gregory crossed over to_the bookshelf and slid the book_back into place. "Who would_want_to_call up a demon on_Ms. Clare here? And why?"

Georgia looked_at him sharply._Darius shifted, waited until her eyes turned_to_him. He met them briefly, then_looked_up at Father Gregory. "We don't_know."

The_priest_humphed. "Seems to be a_lot you don't know. Do you_at least have a plan for how to defend_yourselves?"

Darius coughed