Damned Souls and a SangriaThe Guild Codex: Spellbound / Eight Annette Marie Damned Souls and a Sangria The Guild Codex: Spellbound / Book Eight Copyright © 2020 by Annette Marie www.annettemarie.ca All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations for review purposes. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, places, or events is purely coincidental. Dark Owl Fantasy Inc. PO Box 88106, Rabbit Hill Post Office Edmonton, AB, Canada T6R 0M5 www.darkowlfantasy.com Cover Copyright © 2020 by Annette Ahner www.midnightwhimsydesigns.com Editing by Elizabeth Darkley arrowheadediting.wordpress.com ISBN: 978-1-988153-52-0 (ebook) ASIN: B08C2GSQW9 Version 2020.09.25 Contents Books by Annette Marie The Guild Codex Damned Souls and a Sangria Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Epilogue The Guild Codex: Demonized Delivering Evil for Experts The Guild Codex: Warped The Guild Codex: Unveiled The Steel & Stone Series The Spell Weaver Trilogy The Red Winter Trilogy Acknowledgments About the Author Thanks Books by Annette Marie The Guild Codex The Guild Codex: Spellbound Three Mages and a Margarita Dark Arts and a Daiquiri Two Witches and a Whiskey Demon Magic and a Martini The Alchemist and an Amaretto Druid Vices and a Vodka Lost Talismans and a Tequila Damned Souls and a Sangria The Guild Codex: Demonized Taming Demons for Beginners Slaying Monsters for the Feeble Hunting Fiends for the Ill-Equipped Delivering Evil for Experts The Guild Codex: Warped Warping Minds & Other Misdemeanors Hellbound Guilds & Other Misdirections The Guild Codex: Unveiled The One and Only Crystal Druid Steel & Stone Universe Steel & Stone Series Chase the Dark Bind the Soul Yield the Night Feed the Flames Reap the Shadows Unleash the Storm Steel & Stone Spell Weaver Trilogy The Night Realm The Shadow Weave The Blood Curse Other Works Red Winter Trilogy Red Winter Dark Tempest Immortal Fire The Guild Codex Classes of Magic Spiritalis Psychica Arcana Demonica Elementaria Mythic A person with magical ability MPD / MagiPol The organization that regulates mythics and their activities Rogue A mythic living in violation of MPD laws Damned Souls and a Sangria Chapter One I’d never seen the Crow and Hammer this packed yet this silent. Fifty-one members sat around the pub tables or on stools at the bar, and every face was turned toward the east wall. For some, a fearful shadow lurked in their eyes—the non-combat mythics. In others, a bright spark of expectation—the adrenaline-loving fighters. And in a few, a cautious worry—the wiser, older members who knew this wasn’t normal. This wasn’t just a meeting. It wasn’t just a job. Like the rest of my guild, my gaze was fixed on Darius, who stood facing the men and women for whom he’d created a home. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.” His somber words carried across the room. “We have an urgent matter to discuss that will affect every member of this guild.” Bracing my elbows on my knees, I searched for a hint of his usual quiet amusement. I couldn’t find any. “Many of you are familiar with the incident eight years ago known as the ‘Enright extermination,’ where eleven demon mages were discovered in Oregon and wiped out by the Keys of Solomon. The Enright demon mages were part of a larger organization called the Court of the Red Queen. For lack of a better term, it is a cult—a demon-worshipping cult. “Just over a week ago, an investigation undertaken by several of our members uncovered more.” His gaze swept across the room. “The Court of the Red Queen survived the Enright extermination and has been active for the last eight years. Furthermore, the cult has now taken up residence in Vancouver.” A buzzing whisper sputtered through the room but fell silent as he continued. “This group is extremely dangerous. Not only are they adept at hiding in plain sight, but their members include summoners and contractors with no regard for MPD regulations. And as demonstrated in Oregon, they know how to create demon mages. If the cult is in Vancouver, that means, in all likelihood, there are demon mages in Vancouver too.” I expected another wave of whispers, but no one so much as cleared their throat. I understood why. Demon mages were the most universally feared type of mythic. A human possessed by a demon, with access to the demon’s magic and a high probability of slipping into violent madness—yeah, they were nightmare fuel of the worst kind. An unbound demon was more destructive, possessing greater magic on top of beastly strength and a nearly unkillable body, but demon mages were more feared because their danger was hidden behind a human face. You could spend years in the company of a demon mage and unless he drew on his demonic power, you’d never know. My gaze slid to the mythic sitting on the stool beside mine. Ezra watched Darius with his usual poker face. “After a week of careful investigation,” the GM continued, “we’ve identified eight suspected cultists. Though we haven’t uncovered their stronghold yet, we suspect their numbers are much higher, and an unknown percentage of them could be demon mages. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll submit our investigation to the MPD, at which point their agents will take the lead. Multiple guilds will be involved—including, most likely, non-local demon hunters like the Keys of Solomon. But Vancouver isn’t a remote location like Enright, where the casualties of the battle were limited to cultists and guild combatants.” My hands curled into fists. Cultist casualties … including Ezra’s parents. It turned out the Keys of Solomon hadn’t murdered innocent families at Enright, but between their excessively anti-demon members who’d tried to kill Ezra and their unexpectedly pro-demon members who’d tried to kill me, I wasn’t a fan. “The Crow and Hammer has called Vancouver home for over fifty years.” Darius’s gaze speared each guild member, one after another, as he spoke. “And we will allow neither a demon cult nor an outside guild seeking bounties and glory to destroy it. Protecting our city will require every single one of you, whether you’re a psychic, alchemist, scholar, apprentice, or combat mythic who’ll step onto the battlefield. “To defeat demons and demon
