by L. L. McNeil
‘Just outside. He was keeping watch for more demons. More of those Prowlers,’ Seila said. The notion that Fallow was weak filled her with dread. She’d had to get back to Caramond House to replenish her energy? She’d not been able to deal with a crowd of people? The police? Whoever was in charge of cordoning off dangerous sites so her Kouzlo could work?
And of course, if Fallow was out of commission, the Enchantress wouldn’t be able to hold up her end of the deal and tell her about Phantoms, demons, and help her reclaim her soul.
Delgo frowned, all his tricks and playfulness gone. ‘We better get outside and see.’
Seila and Damon limped along the tunnel, Amber half-walking between them. Sweat had slickened Amber’s skin, and Seila struggled to keep hold of her. Delgo marched ahead and overtook them. When he moved, Seila couldn’t see his feet touch the floor. They seemed to blur, as though he floated instead of stepped. He pulled his shirt sleeves down and buckled up the cufflinks as he walked, ever maintaining his appearance.
She wondered what the Djinni was capable of if he really put his mind to it. She knew his home dimension didn’t exist anymore, and wondered just how much of his original power he could access. Sekki had been terrified of him. ‘You would have destroyed Sekki, wouldn’t you?’
Delgo glanced back and fixed her with his stare. ‘Of course I would have. That’s what the Kouzlo do. Or haven’t you been listening to a word Fallow’s said?’
She bit her lip and held back a response that would have been in poor taste. She wanted the killing blow. An Elite wasn’t something she’d encountered before, and she was certain that killing Sekki would allow her to reclaim her soul.
Even if it didn’t, and Sekki hadn’t been the demon who’d stolen it from her, the amount of power she stood to absorb from it would make any future hunt a breeze.
With the Lesser Demons dead or scattered—and Sekki’s influence on them clearly reduced—they had some room to breathe. Seila didn’t mind about the amount of noise they all made, this time.
Delgo helped Seila and Damon with Amber up the slope and out of the tunnel’s exit.
Seila took a deep breath of the cool night air. After being in the stuffy tunnel with smoke and flames, the open air was heavenly.
‘Tej? Tej!’ Damon called as soon as they were outside.
Delgo glanced up. ‘Sierra. See if you can find him.’
The barn owl swooped around and away, silent as a ghost. ‘I’ll look, too,’ Seila said. Though tired from the fighting, Delgo’s rescue had given her more confidence and something of an adrenaline boost. She took to the air and headed in a different direction to Sierra.
She thought back to before the demon attack. Tej had said he was near the edge of the rose garden, so she made her way there, first. With Sekki gone and Delgo with them, she didn’t worry about coming across any other demons. Not immediately, anyway.
She’d have time to find Tej.
Seila saw flashes of white in the distance as Sierra flew around the edge of the sprawling Gardens. She had no doubt the owl had better night vision than she did, but two pairs of eyes were always better than one.
Seila hovered, eyes scouring the landscape below. Shapes blurred together, and she was dizzy from all the demon blood.
Sierra hooted loudly, drawing her attention. Seila flapped her wings, crossing the gardens swiftly and following the owl to a dark patch of undergrowth on the far corner of the roses. ‘Tej!’
He was curled up in a ball, arms over his head, radio cut in half, his crossbow several lengths away. Blood dribbled slowly from his nose. It was already drying.
Seila landed by him, knelt in the mud, and put her hand on his throat. She exhaled in relief. He was breathing. ‘Tej? Tej, you okay?’
He let out a groan, and that was enough for Seila to know he was alive.
‘Come on. Let’s get you up and out of here.’
16
Caramond House appeared almost otherworldly at night. Covered by a fine mist from the drizzle that had started again, the outside torches threw flickering halos of light on the driveway.
Tej and Damon had both driven into London, and so both drove their cars to Caramond House. Seila had opted to sit with Damon while Amber stayed with Tej. Although she found Damon’s constant chatter and ignorance irritating, she liked his sombre mood even less. Even Mathilda sputtered less on the drive back, as though the car knew his mood was low, and matched it.
They both knew Amber was fine—she was simply exhausted—and Tej had survived the Prowler’s attack almost unscathed, though he’d said nothing of how he’d managed it.
Hiding and waiting for the demon to pass seemed the logical answer of his survival, but Seila didn’t voice it in case it damaged his perceived bravery and courage.
Although they’d fought off the demons, and she’d managed to kill more than a score of them—including one of the Prowlers—Sekki had got away. And Delgo had come to their rescue, too. Seila’s pride had been shaken, along with her confidence in herself and her abilities. She’d never needed help before. Others were a hindrance to her. They got in the way. Did stupid things.
But this time? Had it not been for everyone, she’d have died.
She had no question of that.
‘We’re here,’ Damon said.
It was unnecessary. She could see they’d arrived. She patted the dashboard, mirroring Damon’s actions, and got out of the car. She ached all over. The wound in her thigh stung, the slash across her toes thrummed with pain, and cuts and grazes covered her arms. The front door stood wide open, waiting for them.
Seila watched Tej pull up beside Mathilda, and smiled when Amber opened her own door and stepped out. She’d definitely seen better days, but she was alive and well. Seila thought she’d probably sleep for two or three days to recover from everything. Two demon attacks in two nights. Poor thing.
‘Come in, out of the rain.’ It was Fallow. She stood in the doorway, beckoning them over. She looked more gaunt than ever, with dark bags under her eyes and her usually lustrous hair hanging limp. Seila worried the Enchantress might be in real trouble. Soto rubbed his cheek over Fallow’s ankles and watched them.
Seila didn’t need telling twice. They hurried across the drive and into the warmth and protection of Caramond House.
Within moments, they were in one of the lower reception rooms, each clutching a steaming mug of tea. Seila shouldn’t have been surprised. Tea seemed to be the lifeblood of everyone she met.
The reception room was more of a library than anything. A huge fireplace commanded one wall, a widescreen television mounted above it, with tall shelves stacked on either side. The fire had been lit, and it crackled away happily, sending out waves of warmth into the cosy room.
Plush armchairs, a long u-shaped sofa covered with scatter cushions, and even a bean-bag under the bay window, provided ample seating. Seila perched on the edge of the sofa, her hot mug clasped between both hands. Fallow took a seat in the centre of the sofa, cushions piled up around her, Amber to her left. Damon stood by the window, looking out into the rain, and Tej took one of the armchairs, his feet up and crossed on the stool.
Delgo flitted in and out of the room at random intervals, but Seila saw his eyes even when he appeared to have left. She wondered if he became invisible to watch unobtrusively.
Dawn edged the horizon, and birdsong drifted through the window despite the poor weather.
‘I’ve never seen anything like him.’ Seila took a cautious sip of her drink. It was still too hot.
Fallow didn’t need more detail to know what she was talking about. Her breathing was unsteady, but her voice was strong. ‘Elite Demons crop up every so often. This one seems particularly formidable. And he’s rather difficult to squash. His timing, though...’ She shook her head. ‘It’s just Delgo and I right now. It’s almost as if he knew we were weak. Knew the perfect time to act—when we were so thin on the ground we couldn’t get to him.’
‘He looke
d like us. Like a regular person.’ Damon turned to face them, his hands in his pockets. ‘That’s why Tej didn’t realise? When he bought the bracelet?’
Fallow nodded. ‘Most likely. Many Elite Demons can take a human form. Unless you can sense demonic energy, it’s unlikely you’ll realise what they are until it’s too late.’
Tej sighed. ‘I’m sorry. I’ve lost my family to demons. I’ve fought them before. I should know what they are. But this time...I was completely fooled by the damned jeweller.’
‘No-one blames you, mate,’ Damon said.
Tej shook his head. ‘Amber. It’s my fault for bringing the demons down on us. I should have known. At the restaurant. Last night.’
‘But Fallow just said you weren’t to know! You couldn’t have known,’ Amber replied.
‘You were nearly killed because of me.’
Amber got up and walked over to him. She took his hand in hers and squeezed it. ‘It’s okay. If it wasn’t us, the demons would have attacked someone else. Might have killed them. At least we know how to handle ourselves.’ She smiled, looked at him, tried to get him to grin.
Seila was certain she saw Tej’s bottom lip tremble.
‘You’re right. I just...I don’t know what I’d do if…’
‘Stop it. The bracelet’s gone. Seila destroyed it, you saw. We know what happened. Things will be okay.’
‘There’s quite a difference between Lesser Demons and the Elite caste,’ Fallow said, hear breathing laboured. ‘Lesser Demons are the ones you see. That stalk in the shadows, that attach themselves to a host, like Soul Stealers, or live in ruin and decay, like Toxic Fangs. But Elite Demons are something utterly different.’
‘He said he was going to become the Demon King,’ Amber said, taking her seat on the sofa again.
Fallow sighed and rubbed her temple.
‘What does that mean? A Demon King?’ Seila asked.
‘It means the end of your dimension.’ Delgo materialised cross-legged on the bean bag, only his purple smoke giving away his magic. ‘When a new Demon King or Queen rises, it’s game over. They rip open a Mirage so wide it creates a permanent portal to the demon world. There’s nothing you can do to seal it. Hordes come through and destroy everything.’
A chill settled in the room at the Djinni’s words.
‘That’s what happened to your world.’ It was a statement, not a question. Seila did not want the same thing to happen to this dimension. What was the point of fighting so hard against demons if they were going to destroy everything.
‘Although you might’ve scared off the Elite Demon, we’re still running out of time,’ Fallow said, pressing on. ‘It won’t be long before he’s back. We need to seal Sekki’s Mirage, cut off his link to the demon world. It’ll not only stop the influx of demons to Fernhampton, but it’ll weaken him, too.’
‘Where is the Mirage?’ Seila asked.
‘It’s in the western section of Richmond Park. I’ve been working on a spell to locate it. It’s quite drained me, but I’m certain of its location now. My runework is rudimentary at best, but I know how to seal a Mirage, and I have Claes’s notes. I’ll need all of you to cover me. Against the rules that someone always needs to be here, but I’m willing to risk it. I don’t expect Sekki will be happy that we’re sealing his link to the demon world.’
‘Fallow, I think you’re—’ Amber began, but Fallow held up a hand to stop her.
‘Amber, don’t apologise.’ Fallow shifted in her seat and leaned over to the young Elemental. ‘You’ve been through enough. I know you’ve never wanted to join us. Never wanted to fight demons. After what happened to your mother...it’s no surprise you never came to me.’
The Elemental sighed, her breath shaky. ‘It’s not that I don’t want to...I just...I’m scared of what might happen.’
‘I’ve been doing this for so long, it’s difficult for me to remember what it was like at the beginning. I’d never force you to join. Why else do you think I’ve stayed away all these years?’
Amber looked up at the Enchantress.
Fallow took a breath and continued, ‘I know what you’re capable of. You’d do me a great honour if you lent us your strength. Gods know, I could do with it.’
Amber pursed her lips, her expression unreadable.
Seila didn’t particularly want to face Sekki again, or his demons. She’d come within a hair’s breadth of becoming a Prowler’s lunch thanks to Fallow’s stupid trick. Yes, Delgo had helped, but she hated relying on anyone else. She’d never been dependent and had no plans to start now.
Fallow cleared her throat and shifted her position on the sofa. ‘I fight for life. That’s why I took over the Kouzlo here, why I pledged to keep these cities and these people safe.’
Everyone’s attention was on the Enchantress, now.
‘I’m not a fighter. I’m not a field agent like Seila,’ Fallow glanced at her, ‘and I’m alone here save for Delgo. I can’t even stay away from Caramond House for too long without being weakened.’
‘Why is that? I thought you’d been here for decades?’ Damon asked.
Fallow sighed. ‘It’s part of how my power works. But I’ll be okay. I know none of you are formal members of my Kouzlo. None of you have experience in hunting demons, save the Phantom. But I implore you. Help us seal the Mirage, get rid of Sekki. If he wins, it won’t just be the Kouzlo that’s wiped out. It’ll be all of London. Perhaps the entire dimension, if he is strong enough.’
An unsettled chill descended in the room, despite the fire’s warmth.
‘What are we supposed to do if we don’t help?’ Tej said.
Delgo spoke, giving Fallow a rest. ‘You’d flee. Put your affairs in order. Leave town. Leave the country. Maybe you could outrun the demons before it’s too late.’ The Djinni perched on the arm of the sofa. ‘I wouldn’t blame you. You’ve just seen what we’re facing.’
Seila kept her gaze on Delgo. He’d lost his world. His home. As close as he seemed to be to Fallow and Caramond House, he wasn’t of this world. She couldn’t wrap her head around how demons could take over a dimension like Delgo’s.
If Delgo had lost, they didn’t stand a chance.
She wanted to go to the Mirage, hunt down any other demons lingering there, or new ones that came through. But if she encountered Sekki again, she really didn’t know what she’d do. He’d been able to paralyse her with a look. He was unlike anything she’d ever faced before, and wasn’t in a rush to fight him again.
The Djinni’s suggestion of fleeing didn’t seem like such a bad idea. Why get involved in the Kouzlo? Why bother working to someone else’s tune?
But if she somehow managed to survive another encounter with him, managed to slay him and take on his power…she’d never struggle again. Prowlers would fall before her like flies.
Fallow slumped forward.
Delgo was at her side in a heartbeat, straightening her on the sofa.
‘What did I do?!’ Amber gasped.
‘Nothing. She’s just used a lot of her power. Needs a bit of time to recover, same as with you. She’ll be fine.’ He spoke gently, stroked Fallow’s cheek, made sure she was comfortable.
Dread washed over Seila. Fallow—and Delgo—had seemed to be all powerful. But Fallow had chinks in her armour. Chinks that Sekki was beginning to widen. No wonder both of them wanted to destroy the other as quickly as possible.
‘I just need a few minutes,’ Fallow said. She patted Delgo on the arm. Her chest rose and fell quickly.
‘Fallow.’ Amber took Fallow’s hands in her own. ‘We can’t risk any more demons getting through the Mirage. The longer it stays open, the more likely it is people will start dying. I’ll fight with you. I’m ready to do what you need. I want to fight for life, too.’
Seila smiled. She had to respect Amber’s grit.
If Amber wasn’t afraid to fight Sekki again, then neither was she.
17
Once again, Seila flew over London. But this time,
her eyes were wide open. She knew exactly what waited for her at the end of her flight. And, for once, she wasn’t just fighting for herself.
She still wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about it. How she could be independent and fighting for herself while also accepting help? But she didn’t have the time to chew it over. They needed to seal the Mirage now. Delgo would only have scared Sekki off. The Elite wouldn’t have gone away.
Delgo and Sierra both flew a short way ahead of her, and below, Tej’s roaring Mustang carried Amber, Damon, and Fallow. Seila didn’t think Fallow had the strength to stand for long periods of time, much less seal a Mirage, but they didn’t have a choice.
She wasn’t sure what to expect when they saw the Mirage. Would it be a hole in the ground? Like the tunnel had been? Would it be a bright beam of light leading into the sky? Would it be invisible? The unknown challenge excited her, even though she’d very nearly lost her life when she’d encountered Sekki only a few hours earlier.
It had to be close to four in the morning, and the rain had finally let up. A few cars were already on the road, but they were largely alone. No-one ever thought to look up, and Delgo was all but invisible when he moved, little more than a wisp of purple smoke.
Perfect conditions for putting an end to the wannabe demon apocalypse.
When the land below changed from city streets to grass, she descended. Fallow and the others were on foot, so they’d be a little while behind. She and Delgo were to scope out the location—just in case Sekki had planned an ambush.
Seila left no stone unturned. Drifting overhead, she peered among the trees, hills and rolling fields. She passed over where Delgo had checked, just to be sure. She looked and listened, nostrils flaring as she tried to catch the scent of demon blood among the wet grass.
She was so engrossed in looking and listening for demons that she didn’t see the Mirage until she nearly flew straight into it.
‘Seila!’