Heretics book 3 - The Apocryphile Press

308 :: JOHN R. MABRY
Tom was breathing hard and he looked around like a
caged animal. “If the Blackfriars go, I go.”
“Really, Tom,” Mellert said, shaking his head in distaste.
“That kind of threat does not become you.”
“It is no threat!” Tom announced, and before them all he
removed the episcopal ring from his finger, and placed it on
the table before Mellert. Then, amid the sound of gasps and
protests, he strode out of the room.
:: 65 ::
Terry had balked, of course. “I am not summoning any
demons! It is against our rule, and a danger to everyone in
the house!”
Richard had thought all of this through. He patiently
explained that issuing an invitation on the astral plane was
not the same as summoning—the demons were not compelled
to come, after all. He didn’t bother telling them he had
asked Larch to issue his own invitations, since Richard had
no idea how compulsory those would be. He also explained
that, yes, they would have to remove the wards surrounding
the house, which would be especially dangerous to both
Mikael and Kat, since Articiphus, the very demon that was
oppressing them, was at the top of the guest list. “All we
need to do,” Richard had explained to universally gaping
mouths, “is to ward Mikael’s room. Everyone can hole up
there until dinner is over. I’ll be the only one at risk.”
Terry had called him “fucking nuts” and Dylan had said
worse. Susan was livid, and Kat was incredulous.
“Look, so far we’ve just been reacting to things—we need
to begin ordering them,” Richard had argued. “Even if we
do get Mikael back, he’s nothing better than a prisoner. Kat,