Taming Demons for Beginners (The Guild Codex: Demonized #1)(82)

All contractors have an “infernus”—the artifact that holds your demon’s power. Don’t lose it! Without it, you can’t control your demon. Wear it around your neck on a chain, keep it in your pocket or purse, or leave it in an easy-to-access spot at home. The farther the infernus is from you, the weaker the connection to your demon.





I blinked bemusedly. The way this book was written, you’d think literally anyone could pick up an infernus at the local Demon Mart. I didn’t know how much demon contracts cost, but I was pretty sure they started at six figures. Most people didn’t drop that kind of cash, then learn control techniques from a gimmicky book.



Now let’s practice the first step in wielding your demon. There are only two magical command words tied to your infernus, and you’ll need to memorize both.





RISE calls your demon out of the infernus

Command: Δα?μον, ?ναστ?θι

Daimon, anastethi! (DHEH-mon, ah-nah-STEE-thee)





REST returns your demon to the infernus

Command: Δα?μον, ?σ?χαζε

Daimon, hesychaze! (DHEH-mon, ee-SEE-cha-zeh)





Practice saying both commands. When you’re ready, hold your infernus and concentrate on where you want your demon to manifest—not too close to you! Now speak the Rise command. Did your demon appear? Perfect!

Remember, focus is important. Repeat the Rise and Rest commands as needed. Once you’re comfortable with the process, you can transition to thinking the commands silently.

(Commands not working? Turn to pg. 12 for troubleshooting help.)





I snorted at the thought of a “troubleshooting” page, imagining their suggestions. Demon won’t boot properly? Try turning your infernus off and on again.

Under normal circumstances, a contractor controlled their demon like a puppet, manipulating its every movement through a telepathic connection. I didn’t have to worry about that. In fact, I had zero control over my demon.

Which, all in all, was a terrifying problem to have.

I tapped the page. “‘There are only two magical command words tied to your infernus.’ Hmm.”

Command words tied to the infernus. That could mean they were built into the contract or built into the magic of the infernus. Since I didn’t have a real contract, I suspected the commands wouldn’t work, but only one way to know for sure.

Balancing the book on one hand, I tugged my infernus from under my jacket and tilted it toward the light, the chain jingling. I examined the palm-sized silver pendant. Perfectly round, flat, and thin, with a spiky emblem etched in the center. Arcane runes marked the outer edge.

Focusing on the empty aisle a yard away, I muttered dubiously, “Daimon, anastethi.”

Red light flared across the infernus and I almost dropped it. Arcing out of the pendant, the bright blaze hit the dusty tiles and pooled upward, as though filling an invisible mold. At almost six feet, the light solidified into the familiar shape of my demon.

My extremely displeased demon.

Crimson eyes stared down at me, their eerie glow obscuring dark pupils that had contracted to slits against the overhead fluorescent lights. Four small horns, two above each temple, hid in his tangled black hair, and a mixture of dark fabric, sturdy leather, and gleaming metal armor partially covered smooth skin the color of toffee with a burgundy undertone.

His dusky lips pulled back from his teeth, revealing pointed canines. “What did you do, payilas?”

Demons inspired panic in everyone and I was no exception—but my sharp alarm was for a different reason. I frantically checked if anyone had noticed that flare of light.

When no one started screaming about the demon in the library, I glanced from the book to Zylas. I had … I had called him out of the infernus?

“Payilas,” he growled.

“Um.” I hesitantly lifted the book. “I found the commands for the infernus?”

Those lava-like eyes narrowed, then swept away from me to take in our surroundings. His nostrils flared with a silent inhalation and his nose wrinkled in distaste.

“What is this place?” he asked, an alien accent swirling through his husky voice.

“It’s a library … part of the Arcana Historia guild. Which, uh, means you should go back into the infernus before someone sees you.”

His long, thin tail swished, the two curved barbs on the end just missing a shelf of invaluable texts. He canted his head as though listening.

“There is no one close.” He waved a hand around us. “What you need, is it here?”

“I don’t know. I only just started looking. Will you get back in the infernus now?”

His upper lip curled, flashing his canines again.

Nerves tightened my stomach. My demon was standing in the middle of a mythic library. If anyone saw him, at best, I would get kicked out. At worst, I would be discovered as an illegal contractor and put to death.

Time to test the “rest” command. I concentrated on my infernus. Daimon, hechaze!

Nothing happened. Crap. Was I messing up the Ancient Greek? I was better at Latin. I looked down at the open book.

It vanished from my grasp. Zylas held the book up as though debating whether to burn it to ash on the spot. Turning, he stretched onto his toes, reached for the highest shelf, and shoved the book into the back.