I Conjure Thee Read Free Page B

didn't want to lose the upper hand to her. He had to remain aloof and indifferent to her until he decided what he wanted from her. That is, of course, if he was going to help her... that little detail was still undecided in his mind.
    However, for some unknown reason he wanted to help her. “What do you need?” He finally asked.
    As she looked up at him, he noted a glimmer of hope flash in her brilliant blue eyes when she met his gaze. “It’s my son; he’s dying. He's been given a month to live.” He felt a stab of pity, watching as her eyes filled with tears. He heaved a heavy sigh; he had figured as much. “Take me to the child.”
    She laughed, though tears still hung in her eyes. “Just like that, you’re going to help me?” She eyed him suspiciously. “Nice try. How can I trust that as soon as I leave this circle you won’t kill me?”
    Damn humans; always suspicious. She should be grateful I’m even considering assisting her .
    “You can’t,” he replied, with a nonchalant shrug.
    He stood up and walked to the outer parameters of the circle. She rose to her feet as he approached and took a step back from him, then another, increasing the distance separating them. He reached out and trailed his fingertips along the perimeter of the invisible magical barrier; bright white sparks sprayed outwards where his fingers connected.
    He stopped circling her and put his left hand out, palm up waiting for her to accept it.
    “Correct me if I’m wrong but you were the one that summoned me, not the other way around, witch.”
    She continued to eye him suspiciously, but made no move to accept his truce. “What do you want in return?”
    “Does it matter?”

    ****

    She sighed; it was a mixture of relief and defeat. “No it doesn’t.” She really had no choice. She now realized that not having the proper summoning and binding spell also meant she didn't have the proper banishing spell either. The gravity of the situation had fully hit home. He had been right earlier; she couldn't remain in the circle forever. She'd need to eat, drink, and the need to urinate was beginning to reach urgent status.
    He extended his hand to her once again. “Well then?”
    With great hesitation she inhaled sharply, and took his hand, stepping outside the protection of the circle.
    A surge of energy pulsated through her as his hand took hers and she emerged from her sanctuary. With the energy came images, fast and furious, they were so random and distorted she couldn’t make any sense of them. The emotions that accompanied them were unmistakable, she was overcome by feelings of sorrow, fear, hatred, so intense and unlike anything she had ever experienced before. Mere seconds after taking his hand she collapsed into his arms unconscious, mentally and physically exhausted.
    The last thing she was aware of was Tony catching her easily as she fell against him.

    ****
Her head was throbbing as Clarissa slowly awakened. She moaned softly as consciousness returned. She knew without opening her eyes that she was in the hospital, still dressed in the robe.
    How did I get here? What?
    Confused she slowly opened her eyes and immediately caught sight of Jeffrey, his frail little body covered in a beige blanket up to his chin.
    It was a dream, the whole thing was a dream . She wasn't sure if she was relieved or upset by the realization.
    "It's about time you woke up," a deep male voice stated coming from her left.
    Startled, she yelped and jumped from her chair, spinning around to face the voice. It was the man in her dream, the Infrit, reclining in one of the plastic hospital chairs.
    "It was a dream. It..."

    A grin touched his lips, and his dark eyes shone with amusement as he shook his head.
    "No dream, Clarissa. You fainted." He shrugged, "I guess."
    "What are we doing here?" She slowly made her way over to Jeffrey, placing herself between her son and Tony.
    "I decided to come see the child for myself," he stood, and she took a couple of