Contents
Chapter Ten. Phoenix
Overview
Kenning’s intervention lets Walden unleash her bound tenth‑order Phoenix, turning the battle against Old Faithful. Laura delivers the killing blow to Charlie’s possessed body, collapsing the incursion’s hold. Suspicion prompts Walden to swear a blood‑oath granting Laura authority if Phoenix endangers the world, reshaping their trust and control.
Summary
Laura Kenning storms into School House and drives back Old Faithful, which wears Charlie’s corpse, with blinding, concussive spells that exploit human senses. Walden shelters them with her shield but realizes they cannot win by force alone and begins a complex invocation, asking Laura to distract the demon.
Walden awakens the tenth‑order Phoenix bound beneath her tattoos, letting it channel power through her. The fight shifts to demon versus demon: Phoenix, guided by Walden’s expertise and discipline, outmaneuvers Old Faithful, crippling Charlie’s body by targeting human vulnerabilities and preventing the demon’s escape.
When Phoenix moves to feed on Old Faithful’s power, Walden clamps down with strict leashing spells to avoid catastrophic possession. With Old Faithful staggered but not yet ended, Walden authorizes Laura to finish it. Laura’s runed sword strike through Charlie’s chest kills Old Faithful; Charlie’s body withers to a husk as the incursion begins to destabilize.
Afterward, Laura turns her sword on Walden, suspecting possession. Walden asserts control over Phoenix and offers a binding oath. She swears a blood‑sealed geas giving Laura knowledge and power to act if Phoenix ever threatens the mundane world, satisfying Laura’s duty.
As the fog of the incursion thins, lesser demons skitter back. Walden and Laura witness memory‑imps replaying teenage Saffy and Charlie carefree and laughing, a poignant echo as they leave the house where Old Faithful finally died.
Who Appears
- Dr Saffron (Saffy) WaldenMagician and teacher; awakens her bound tenth‑order Phoenix to defeat Old Faithful, restrains it, and swears a blood‑oath to Laura.
- Chief Marshal Laura KenningCombats Old Faithful, lands the killing blow through Charlie’s chest, then enforces duty by extracting Walden’s geas regarding Phoenix.
- Old FaithfulEleventh‑order demon possessing Charlie’s corpse; outmatched by Phoenix and finally killed by Laura’s runed sword.
- PhoenixTenth‑order demon bound under Walden’s tattoos; fights through Walden’s body, restrained before it can feed on Old Faithful.
- CharlieWalden’s late friend whose corpse is the demon’s vessel; body destroyed when Laura kills Old Faithful.