Crimson Eyes

by L. L. McNeil

  Seila and Tej took his advice, and Seila crouched low, bracing herself for an explosion of some sort.

  Damon headed over to them, unsure what all the commotion was. ‘Hey, what’s happening? What’s that?’ He pointed to the swirling mist, which had formed into a wide arch about ten feet high.

  Delgo didn’t have the chance to answer him.

  A knee-high boot stepped through the arch and onto the grass, metal buckles clinking. It was immediately followed by the boot’s owner—a tall, blonde woman, with severe blue eyes and the deepest scowl that Seila had ever seen. She wore two hand axes, one on each hip, a black corset with gold buttons along both sides, a thick leather belt, and dark green breeches tucked into her boots. She took in the four of them, blinked, then grabbed one of her axes and hurled it at Damon.

  He let out a gasp of shock, raised both arms and a wall of flame engulfed the axe before it slammed into him.

  Seila was on her feet in an instant, sword held high. ‘Stop right there!’

  The woman didn’t even look at Seila, her gaze was locked on Damon and his wall of flame. ‘You need to show me some respect!’

  Damon staggered back, his arms still up. ‘What the hell? Who do you think you are? Chucking axes around and demanding respect!’

  She sneered, looked down her nose at him, then back at the others. Her eyes narrowed on the Djinni. ‘Delgo. Is this your idea of a joke?’

  Delgo grinned wide, teeth on full display. ‘He’s new, my Lady. I couldn’t resist. Be kind.’

  Her scowl softened, but didn’t leave her face. ‘Of course you’re the one to blame.’ She grabbed her other axe and hurled it at the Djinni. Her attack was fast, accurate, and would have smashed straight into Delgo’s chest had he not disappeared in a puff of purple smoke.

  ‘Stay right where you are!’ Seila yelled, sword still held.

  The woman continued to ignore Seila and strode towards Damon. She gave his flame wall a cursory glance, then stepped through it, leaning down to pick up the axe she’d thrown at him.

  Seila lowered her sword in shock. The woman didn’t even look singed.

  She inspected the axe, ran a finger over the blade, and then re-attached it to her hip. ‘Delgo, this is no time for your silly games. What are you doing? Having a picnic? The world is about to fall around your heads and you’re playing games?’

  Seila took a step forward, irritated at being ignored. ‘I told you to stay where you are! Last warning.’

  The woman then looked at her. She stared at Seila’s sword for a long while before shrugging and retrieving her other axe from where Delgo had been.

  Tej leapt back as she approached, and hurried over to Seila. He still clutched his crossbow, but he didn’t lift it to aim. ‘Who are you?’

  The woman inspected her other axe and then sheathed it. The misty portal through which she’d walked faded away with a soft pop. She looked over at where Delgo had reappeared, some ten feet away, and ignored Tej’s question. ‘Gorath is here.’

  Delgo’s smile dropped from his face. ‘No…’

  Her scowl deepened. ‘I followed him. That’s what I came to tell you. Where’s Fallow?’

  ‘She...she’s away at the moment. Recovering. We’ve only just put down an Elite Demon.’

  The woman scratched her chin. ‘Well, you’d better fetch her, then.’

  Delgo’s eyes darted to the side as he considered. After a minute, he licked his lips, eyes sombre, all playfulness gone. ‘Yes, I’ll have to. Don’t do anything until we’re back. Please.’

  ‘No promises.’ The woman smiled then, a mirthless grin that gave off no warmth.

  ‘You’ve attacked my friends. Moved when I told you not to. Ignored us,’ Seila said. ‘Tell me who you are now, or I’ll drive this sword right through you!’

  The woman rolled her eyes and faced her. ‘You are a self-important creature, aren’t you?’

  Seila raised her eyebrows. ‘Look who’s talking! You waltz in here, making demands, giving orders.’

  ‘Stop it. Both of you,’ Delgo said.

  The woman folded her arms over her chest, shifted her weight to one hip. ‘I am Lady Tress, and I don’t answer to anyone. And I suggest you don’t attack me with that sword, Phantom. You’re going to need me if you want to survive Gorath.’

  Seila’s grip didn’t falter. ‘Who’s Gorath?’

  ‘An Elite Demon,’ Delgo said. His voice quivered.

  ‘Not another one!’ Damon said. He groaned.

  Tress let out a short bark of laughter. ‘Look what the pup says. Scared little thing. Don’t worry, little pup. I’m here to stop him. You can stay here and hide behind your candle-light.’

  Seila narrowed her eyes. She really didn’t like Tress. ‘If there’s an Elite Demon anywhere near, I’ll be the one to kill it.’

  ‘Not happening, Phantom,’ Tress replied. ‘I’ve been hunting Gorath for years. He’s mine.’

  Seila wasn’t going to give up the chance of power, of her soul, to some pompous woman that she knew nothing about. ‘I have an accord with Delgo and Fallow. I get the killing blow.’

  ‘I don’t care. Gorath is mine.’

  Seila wrinkled her nose. This woman was stubborn as a goat. And she didn’t seem bothered that she had a sword pointed at her throat.

  ‘I need to leave now, retrieve Fallow,’ Delgo said. He glared at both of them. ‘Don’t kill each other. That is an order.’

  Tress huffed, clicking her tongue. ‘Tell that to your Phantom. Wild creature wants blood.’

  Seila kept her sword held high. She refused to concede. Refused to show weakness. ‘I have a name.’

  Tress flicked her hair. ‘I don’t care. You Phantoms are all the same.’ She turned to walk away, headed towards Caramond House.

  That was it. Seila snapped. ‘Tress!’

  She paused, glanced over her shoulder. ‘It’s Lady Tress, thank you very much. And I suggest you listen to Delgo. You kill me, you kiss your dimension goodbye.’

  ‘I’m no pup! I’m the Elemental who beat Sekki, sealed his Mirage and banished him!’ Damon said. Evidently he’d found his courage while Seila had stood up to Tress.

  ‘A runesmith, are you?’ Tress raised an eyebrow. ‘I hope you’re a better runesmith than you are an Elemental. Otherwise this Kouzlo is finished.’ She continued on, striding to the house as if she owned it, and disappeared inside.

  ‘What a piece of work,’ Tej said.

  Seila lowered her sword when she was gone. In her fury over Tress, she’d almost forgotten the woman’s warning. Another Elite?

  ‘I don’t care who she is, either,’ Damon said. His fists trembled. ‘We got rid of one Elite. This one ain’t gonna be no different.’ He turned to Tej. ‘Come on, mate. Shoot some bolts, I’ll see if I can blast them out the sky.’ His right fist ignited, burning a bright white flame.

  Seila was impressed he focussed his rage into something productive, but right now, she’d quite enjoy watching him burn a hole through the back of Tress’s head. She sufficed by watching Damon throw balls of fire into the air after Tej’s crossbows, and let her own anger simmer down until it reduced.

  Movement caught her eye and she looked back to Caramond House, hoping Tress wasn’t coming back for round two of insults and aggression. When she realised it was Ashante, and she was running towards them as fast as she could, Seila knew something was wrong.

  She jumped into the air, wings speeding her along towards the Enchantress. ‘What’s wrong? Has Tress done something?’

  Ashante skidded to a halt, panted. ‘What? Tress? No don’t be ridiculous.’

  Seila fluttered her wings, half upset. She wanted a good excuse to take her Seiken Blade to the vulgar woman.

  Damon and Tej hurried over, concern lacing their faces.

  Tej asked, ‘What’s happened? You look like you’ve seen a demon!’

  Ashante caught her breath and looked up, fear in her dark eyes. ‘Prowlers incoming.’

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