Fang Shway in LA by Casey Knight

back before sunrise.”
    I went to my study and started rummaging through my books and files. Unfortunately my books are not indexed, a librarian I’m not. It took me awhile to find what I was looking for. I found it in the Goetic Grimoirie. A book which catalogues all the spirits and the spirits powers, incantations, spells and talismans. A riveting read, no really.
    You see there are two types of manuals on magic. There is the Natural magic and the more ritualistic magic. I use the former, meaning I cook with all naturally ingredients. I use things like chemicals, minerals, herbs and spices, no eye of Newt for me. The ritual practitioners use more prayers, incantations and astrology.
    It took me a while but then I found what I was looking for in the Lesser Key of Solomon, which provides a list of seventy-two spirits. These spirits are in charge of all manner of things. Behemoth is responsible for all things regarding the belly. Go figure who knew these people had a sense of humor. Then I found it. Paralda, the Lord of the Element Air, breathes life into sylphs to do his bidding. Sylphs are spirits that work for the Gods. In this case I was almost certain a sylph was doing a wizard’s bidding. Because sylphs evolved from the four basic building blocks of nature, fire, air, earth and water. These were the only elements I’d detected so far.
    The sylph created a chilling mist, it reminded me of the machines that made the mists used in the old discos, to freeze the guests’ senses while the wizard killed Farok. Now all I needed to do was summon Astaroth. He is a powerful duke who has the authority and knowledge to answer questions about past, present and future spirit activity. Unfortunately, this guy should come with the Surgeon Generals hazardous to your health warning, he's just plain nasty.
    I placed my summoning circle on the floor in my office and fixed it securely in place. Candles burned on the three sides of my dragon’s eye. I placed a shield around myself and another around my home in case this guy got away. Then I held my staff in my left hand and my pendant in my right. For good luck I wore my dragon talisman. Ready as I was ever going to be I chanted a summoning spell and the spirit’s name.
    I smelled him before I saw him. His breath could be fatal which is why I stood across the room. “Thank you for coming Astaroth. It is an honor to meet you.”
    “I doubt it wizard. What is it that you want? I’m busy and I don’t take kindly to interruptions.”
    “I need to know what wizard called a sylph to employ the wind to perform a charm. I know a wizard used the elements to bring stinging cold to cover a murder? What I don’t know is who.”
    “Why should I help you? You haven’t even offered me a bribe.”
    “You haven’t helped me, why would I? You and I know you must answer my question.”
    “The wizard you are referring to goes by the name Al Azif. He uses the book of Grimoire of Honorius in its bastardized version. The power he calls forth is great but untrained.”
    “Thank you Astaroth. How can I find him?”
    “He is at the Chivas manor near the docks. I believe he is expecting you and the dragon. May I go now?”
    Without another word he vanished and not a moment too soon. I couldn’t have held my breath much longer. Well at least I knew what we are up against. I thumbed through my copy of the Honorius. It didn’t take me long to find the spell although it wouldn’t be much help. I am not a practitioner of dark magic. Nevertheless, I wasn’t above studying the section that most wizards’ considered black magic. It gave me some ideas and a place to start.
    I started pulling ingredients off-the-shelf. I crushed herbs, smashed small animal bones and spilled the liquid from several poisonous insects before setting it all to boil. I worked on several potions at once and to each I added a drop of my own blood. My blood is added to bind the spell for my use only. If we had to go toe-to-toe