“At the point of Ascension,” Sulis declares, “when the Dark Star first realizes he inhabits a shell strong enough to support him, he will gather himself to Rise and tear asunder the bindings of mortality.”

“He will cleave his entity from yours, and with his first breath he will purify the vessel of your soul and begin the Earth’s subjugation.” Ket’s fingertips inscribe the air.

“But in the space between heartbeats, we will have our chance,” Brixia promises. “As he separates, and before he breathes, he will become exposed … and we may seize him.”

Lydia speaks for the first time, her voice soft and thin. “The ritual will bind Azazel, preventing him from taking that first breath while we extract him from your body.”

Marcus Cheng is genuinely excited. “It’ll be a surgical strike, and everything will hinge on the timing, but … it can be done.”

“True sorcery requires a balance of six elements,” Ket begins, “and to execute a spell as demanding as this, they must be wielded by magic-workers with an unparalleled degree of skill. Our circle is finally complete with earth, water, air, fire, wood, and metal.”

Water is my element. I hear Brixia’s voice in my head, although her lips don’t move. My gifts include telepathy, remote viewing, and the casting of illusions.

“I am air,” Ket says, rippling, vanishing, and then reappearing again. “Disapparition and the control of unseen matter are my domain.”

“Mine is fire.” Sulis raises a hand, and sparks gather above her palm, swarming into a ball. “My abilities speak for themselves.”

Lydia is next, and when she claps her hands together, the air crackles. Sparks jump to life around her fingers, and my hair stands up. “Metal elementals control electricity. We also make excellent mediums.”

I sit up a little straighter. I had Lydia pegged for the kind of person who sells homemade wind chimes at farmers’ markets, not the kind of person who can kill you with a handshake. Hope’s uncle is next, and even though I know his element is wood—and what powers that gives him—watching him shape-shift into a perfect double for Sulis is nonetheless remarkable.

When it’s Ximena’s turn, she merely shrugs. “I didn’t come prepared to give a demonstration, but earth witches possess great strength and are skilled with mesmerism.”

“For generations, my sisters and I have stalked the Corrupter, playing sentinel—and our moment is finally at hand.” Brixia steeples her fingers. “On the vernal equinox, four days hence, the planets and stars will be in their foretold houses. The Ascension will begin … and we will take hold of Azazel, casting him from this realm. We will banish him into hell at last.”