Straitjackets & Holy Water — Ash Krafton

Teenagers make mistakes, but those mistakes rarely involve magic -- and they should never result in murder....

Eighteen-year-old mage wanna-be Simon Alliant thought his problems would be over when he used a spell to rid the world of his long-time bully. He figured one little demonic scare and Ritchie would back off. He didn't think the demon would actually kill him. Or steal an innocent child as payment. But the price keeps climbing. This time, the price is what he treasures most in the world -- his mother.

Her mind shredded by the horror of what she'd witnessed, Norma's been marked by the demon who will soon take her, as well. His faith in God stumbling, Simon finds an unexpected source of support: the mysterious owner of a New Age shop who offers him the magical training he so desperately seeks.

But time is running out. The evil grip on his mom grows stronger each day. Will Simon learn enough mage craft to stop the demon before it claims his mother's life? Or will she become another victim of Simon's greatest mistake?