From Rules For Fighting Demons — an urban fantasy adventure

Stepping into the house was like pushing through invisible strands of sticky cobwebs.

They hurt where they touched skin.

Each strand was award designed to sap energy.

Drain the will and steal magic.

Evoke dread.

Enhance fear,

The skill it took to make this kind of spell work, took centuries to hone.

I wondered about Harold.

Who was he?

Or what was he?

Hail stepped in behind me and put his hand on my shoulder.

It was like being thrust into a frigid pool of ice water.

Whatever the wards were doing, his grip knocked it away.

I gave him a small nod of thanks

“This kid’s got some ‘splaining to do,” he said in a spot on imitation of Ricky Ricardo.

Then he steered me toward the portal.

Not in it,

Not through it.

Close enough.

It felt like slipping past a sleeping tiger.

The nebulous cloud extended through the front room, past a half wall partition into the shallow kitchen.