The Pawns

A psychologist uses witchcraft to treat an abused boy, and finds himself in a race with the Devil-literally-when his magic inadvertently exposes his patient to a demon.

Travis is a witch practicing psychotherapy in modern day Bucharest. He's devised an orb that siphons human trauma to replenish his power. The sphere induces patients to share deep secrets, much like hypnosis, and repressed pain is extracted without any harm done. At least that's how it's supposed to work.

The doctor cannot resist testing his magic on two patients who will not share themselves otherwise. His technique seems to work until it turns wicked. Although nothing in the spell invites it, a demon hijacks everything.

Forced to stand against the evil that powers him, Travis must face long-held delusions about his virtue, his origin, and his hope of redemption, even as supernatural forces terrorize those already exposed to his magic.