The best expert on demonic possession I could think of was, of course, Father William. When I made it to his church, though, he was in the confession booth.
The person I did find there was Seb. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

“I have a feeling we’re here for the same reason.” I slipped down onto the pew next to him. “What’s yours?”

“I’m out of holy water.”

“I just need to chat with him about ways to tell if somebody’s sold their soul.”

Seb flinched. “I…know there are ways, but it’s a spell I don’t know.”

I nodded. “Maybe Clara could learn it.” I let out a breath. “I’m trying to work out if somebody’s sold their soul or if they’re just being manipulated.”

“Not Tyz’vel again.”

“Tyz’vel again. I even tried setting some angels on him.”

Seb made a wry face. “Would take an archangel, I’d think.”

I nodded. “Probably. But I want rid of him for good. He’s messing with Mike.”

“Let me think about it.” Seb smiled a bit. “At the very least, carry holy water.”

“I will.” Which wouldn’t help much. It didn’t seem like much helped at all against the demon.

I would rather deal with Surtur at some levels. There was a…politeness…to the fire giant. At the same time, they’d both hurt Kanesha.

But they hadn’t actually gone after her directly. Tyz’vel had gone after Mike when he could easily have got Kanesha killed.

I remembered what Thruor had said about her belonging to me. Maybe they couldn’t touch her.

Eventually Father William’s victim emerged. She looked rather upset, and I wondered if it was the number of Hail Marys he’d assigned or, more likely, whatever it was that had kept her in there such a long time.

I studiously ignored her, head down, pretending to pray and waiting until the priest himself emerged.

“You go first,” I told Seb.

William, though, beckoned us both over to the vestry door. “Tyz’vel’s causing trouble again, isn’t he.”

“How did you know?”
“You aren’t the only person in the city I talk to,” he pointed out, actually grinning a bit.
“So…tell me what you know?”