“This first couple had quadruplets,” Micah continued. “Each of those children inherited a propensity for one of the elements. They were the first witches—earth, air, water, and fire. Other demon/human unions followed, and additional offspring were born through the use of the elements spell. This is the gene pool we’re descended from.”

It made an irritating amount of sense. Matings between witches and non-magickals almost never produced a child. The reason had never been determined, since biologically witches seemed completely human.

Micah continued. “The daaeman call witches and warlocks aeamon, their word for half-breed.”

Thomas jolted, remembering what Boyle had called them right before he’d hit them with that thunderclap of magick. “So let’s say, hypothetically, witch magick was born of demon magick. Do you think that witch magick would be powerless against demon magick because of that?”

Micah sat back in his leather chair, making it squeak, and placed his hands behind his head. He contemplated the question a moment before answering. “Witch magick is probably about half as powerful as demon magick. Plus, it’s fundamentally different in nature, having been warped by the element spell cast originally to allow the first pregnancies.”

“So?” Micah could pontificate for hours. Thomas just wanted a yes or a no.

He paused, lost in thought, then shrugged. “I think all bets are off. There’s no way to know why our magick is powerless against them.”

“So, the age-old question has been answered. Witches aren’t really human after all. The Coven philosophers will have fun with this information.”

“We have a foot in both worlds, but it seems we may be an amalgamation of human and demon.”

Thomas suppressed a shudder and changed the subject. “Have you found any other weaknesses besides metal?”

He shook his head. “If I had, you would’ve been the first I’d told.”

“I know.”

Micah leaned back over the scattered papers. “How are Adam, Isabelle, and the others?”

Thomas pushed a hand through his hair. “Adam and Isabelle have gone to see the doctor, but they’re mostly fine. The non-magickal, Simon Alexander, we sent home. Katie and her mother, Melanie, are here at the Coven, under guard. It’s the most we can do for them right now.”

“So what was Alexander’s connection to the demon?”

“The demon never had any direct interest in him. Boyle was using him as a way to get to the little girl, Katie. The demon had come into contact with Alexander through the motorcycle shop where Alexander works. Boyle rides a vintage Harley, apparently. That’s how Boyle became aware of the little girl. We’re not sure why he wanted her. We’re also not sure if the demon deliberately blew the intelligence to Mira, but I don’t see where that would have benefited him. Right now it looks like she picked it up by pure chance.”

“Sounds like Isabelle did a fantastic job out there.”