Battle Lines (The Ethereal War Book 2)

by Greg Ballan

Bartholomew cringed. "Knight's human sycophants interfered, the large one dare lay a hand upon me. No simian upstart may do so. I was close to the boy and saw an opportunity for us to gain the upper hand. If we could have taken him at that point, our victory would have been all but assured. I tried to capitalize upon a moment and make the best of the situation at hand." The pale demon hesitated sensing his employer's annoyance. "However, I had the opportunity to study and probe the child. He is indeed the one of prophecy. The child is destined to bear the holy artifact. The forces of Light have allowed the sacred birth to occur."

  I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT MOLEC HAS PUT OUT A SOUL CONTRACT ON THE CHILD. I HAVE ALSO PLACED A BOUNTY ON THE CHILD WITH A HIGHER PRICE TAG. BUT THE CHILD IS WORTH MORE ALIVE AS A BARGAINING CHIP FOR RANSOM THAN A CORPSE. THAT IDIOTIC MINION WILL STIR UP A BLOODBATH IF THE CHILD IS KILLED, SENDING THE CONTEST FOR THIS WORLD INTO A FULL BLOWN ETHEREAL WAR! IN SUCH A WAR THERE ARE NO WINNERS. WE MUST GET THE CHILD FIRST! HUNDREDS OF MY SERVANTS ON EARTH, HUMAN AND DEMON, WILL LINE UP TO COLLECT SUCH A PRIZE. ONE OF MY SERVANTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO ABDUCT THE TINY HUMAN AND BRING HIM TO ME BEFORE MOLEC'S FORCES CAN KILL BOTH FATHER AND CHILD. THE THEFT OF THE CROSS HAS ESCALATED A WAR WE WERE WINNING. EARTH, AS A PRIZE, MAY BE ALL BUT LOST DUE TO MOLEC'S INTERFERENCE. THE CURSED UPSTART FORCED LIGHT'S HAND WITH HIS INCESSANT INTERFERENCE AND SCHEMING. NOW MY PLANS FOR EARTH ARE IN JEOPARDY, BARTHOLOMEW. I WANT THAT DEMON'S HEAD ON A PIKE AND I WANT EARTH AS MY RIGHTFUL PRIZE. I WAS WINNING AND I LIKED IT. I WILL WIN IN THE END.

  Bartholomew tilted his head and rubbed his freshly formed jaw line. "If they can circumvent the child's father. I have done more research on the hybrid. In full warrior mode he has no equal in elemental and physical power. He is the perfect guardian. He also possesses an ethereal staff formed halfway across the galaxy, a weapon that's already served to vaporize two powerful demonic forces. Your soul bounty, along with Molec's may go uncollected."

  The disembodied voice hissed mildly in annoyance. Bartholomew winced momentarily wondering if he'd crossed a line with his master.

  ERIK KNIGHT CANNOT SINGLE-HANDEDLY STOP A HOARDE OF DEMONS ALL BENT ON ONE OBJECTIVE. THE LAW OF NUMBERS WORKS IN OUR FAVOR. WE MAY LOSE DOZENS, OR MORE SOLDIERS, BUT IT TAKES JUST ONE TO MAKE A KILL. THE ODDS ARE STACKED AGAINST KNIGHT AND HIS SON. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME. THE HYBRID WILL BE WORN DOWN LIKE A STONE IN A RELENTLESS ONSLAUGHT OF WATER. EVENTUALLY THE STONE DISSOLVES. KNIGHT'S RESOLVE WILL WEAKEN AND FADE OVER TIME AS MORE AND MORE BATTLES OCCUR. HE WILL CRACK. EVEN THE HARDEST DIAMOND HAS WEAK POINTS THAT CAN BE EXPLOITED. TIME AND A CONSTANT BARRAGE WILL FRACTURE THE HYBRID'S RESOLVE. AND WHEN HE HAS BECOME DISILLUSIONED AND EXHAUSTED, HE WILL FAIL AND THE CHILD WILL BE TAKEN AND EARTH WILL BE MINE.

  "Or both will be killed. Either way, it will be my fondest wish to be there when Erik Knight takes that fall. I want to bury my claws through his Human//Esper heart and roast it on a barbeque spit."

  THE CHILD WILL BE MINE! NOW, AS FOR YOUR INDEPENDENT THINKING…

  A black wisp of smoke surrounded the pale demon, crushing him. Bartholomew struggled, but the wispy tendrils held him in check, slowly squeezing the demonic life from his body. The demon felt its body go numb and surrendered to the oncoming black.

  Bartholomew's eyes fluttered. He was still immersed in the regenerative pool. The mystical fluid resurrected his mangled body. His skin, however, still had the scars from the tentacles that had crushed the life from him.

  THE NEXT TIME, THERE WILL BE NO POOL TO RETURN YOU TO THE LIVING. NEVER FORGET YOU SERVE ME AND YOU FOLLOW MY ORDERS. I DON'T NEED YOU ACTING ON YOUR ON VOALITION, DO WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER, BARTHOLOMEW? A fiery demonic face materialized inches above the hapless being.

  The demon raised its pale hands in supplication. "Yes, yes we do." The powerful presence faded, leaving the gaunt demon alone to ponder its second chance. "Two death beatings in under a day. I may not survive a third." He leaned back, allowing his body to absorb more of the purple fluid's life-giving sustenance.

  ◆◆◆

  Molec's Lair

  Molec closed the heavy vault door. The archdemon checked on its prize periodically noting the protective black fabric was withering away bit by bit and the ectoplasmic container holding the Ruby Crucifix would survive no more than another week before it simply vanished under the constant bombardment of holy ethereal energy.

  "The strongest known containment vessel in the universe and it cannot withstand this relic." Molec sealed the heavy door knowing that the reinforced metal alloys of the vault were like paper when it came to containing the holy relic. "As the humans would say, I've got a hot potato in my hands." Molec went back to his palatial office and found an underling anxiously awaiting him.

  "Sir, there's been a development."

  Molec walked behind his large desk and poured a glass of brandy. His acolyte fidgeted nervously while the archdemon sat in his large chair and took a deep sip from his glass. "What's going on, Bendu?"

  "One of Lucifer's soldiers attacked Erik Knight. Knight's place of employment is in shambles. The reports we've intercepted claim a demon attempted to abduct Knight's child." Bendu paused as he flipped the page of his document. "Our agent says it was Bartholomew, and the demon was badly beaten. Police gathered jaw bone, teeth and…" Bendu looked back up, "…blood … demon blood. It would appear Bartholomew was beaten quite soundly."

  Molec laughed, spewing flame from his mouth and nose. Bendu stepped back to avoid being burned as his master continued a deep fit of laughter. "That pompous, pale toothpick finally picked a fight he couldn't win. That one has always been overconfident just like his boss. Despite my hatred for Knight and what he represents I'll gladly give him a point for knocking Bartholomew down a few pegs." Molec turned to face a large chess board adorned with large, intricate carved dark metallic and polished marble pieces. He carefully moved several dark chess pieces toward the opposing king carved from ivory-white marble. Molec absently moved several more dark pawns around the ivory king and with a swift hand motion knocked the king over. "It's a matter of time and numbers, Mr. Bendu, just a matter of time," Molec slid more pieces on top of the fallen king, "and numbers."

  Mr. Bendu nodded and continued his report. "We've also intercepted some buzz through the ethereal networks; Lucifer has also offered a soul bounty on EJ Knight. We believe his forces are gathering for an all-out assault on the hybrid warrior."

  Molec's onyx-black cheeks took on a red tinge. A sea of flame erupted from his nostrils incinerating several papers and folders on his desk. "Lucifer will ransom the child for leverage, I want the child dead! Increase my reward and offer the child's weight in gold credit at the Soul Market. I don't want that prick beating me out of this opportunity. EJ Knight needs to be a corpse so there can be no second coming on this planet!"

  Bendu nodded nervously. "I will relay your orders and let you know when the child has been eliminated. From what I have been told, Lucifer has no intentions of mere kidnapping."

  Molec frowned. "I'm not concerned with Lucifer's plans, only my own. I want him eliminated now Mr. Bendu, before Knight can make allegiances or gather his defenses. Right now, the child is most vulnerable with only the father to protect him. Light will learn of the soul bounty and scramble forces to protect the boy."

  ◆◆◆

  Dawkens' Gym. Milford, MA

  Erik filled out the final insurance paperwork and faxed the forms to the firm's insurance company. Martin had placed yet another call describing the incidents at the gym. Three contractors arrived within two hours after the incident and began making estimates for the extensive repair work. The embattled detective was able to use his own sheer power to straighten the heavy metal frames of the fitness equipment and bar. Erik smirked, recalling how Counselor Denton's face paled as he repaired the savage bend in the heavy 45-pound plate. Erik flexed his arm. The large powerful bicep and triceps muscles tensed steel hard and a jolt of power rippled through his body. He looked over at EJ. The boy was in a deep sleep, clutching
his stuffed bear. His son was the same, endowed with titanic power. He knew this at the moment he'd seen his son at Area 51, a silver infant with fiery blue eyes. The enraged father had torn through an alien armada and pummeled the entire bedrock protective shell at Groom Lake and tore through a ten-ton titanium alloy door to rescue Shanda and his son from Colonel Ross. Erik thought that was his last battle and nothing could ever come close to such a wild, terrifying adventure. He relaxed his arm and sighed. He couldn't have been more wrong. The weary father stared at the clock on his desk. It displayed 10:15pm.

  "Shit! How the hell did it get so late?" He stuffed several papers into his top desk drawer and locked it, then gathered his keys and approached his sleeping son. Erik grabbed a nearby blanket and gently covered the child. "You've had a big day, little man. Let's get you home and tucked into a nice warm bed." He gently lifted the sleeping child and carried him.

  He shut down all the lights and quietly approached the door. The workers had erected a large piece of plexiglass as a temporary replacement for the shattered window. Several sections of drywall were neatly stacked in a corner with two large pails of wall plaster. The workers had cut away all the damage and assured him the new wall board would be in place before the end of the following business day. Erik absently noted that the firm had connections with some very high quality construction contractors.

  "That's another one I owe you, Counselor."

  Erik stepped out into the early fall night. The moon was full and the sound of crickets coming from the small patch of trees and shrubs was a small comfort. A slight breeze tickled his face and he absently tucked the throw blanket tighter around EJ's shoulders with his free arm. As the detective approached his truck his danger sense shrieked. The comforting breeze ceased and the sound of crickets fell silent.

  "Oh shit!"

  Three green lances of energy slammed into his back, knocking him forward several feet. The stunned father desperately twisted his body as the force propelled him into a parked car. Erik was able to rotate far enough that the side of his body not carrying his son took the full impact. Erik's body caved in the door of a large coupe. Two more lances of energy sped toward him! Erik pushed off the crumpled door and executed three one-armed cartwheels avoiding the burning green beams that engulfed the damaged car. The vehicle erupted in crimson flame raining burning bits of metal and plastic debris. Erik ignored the searing agony raging through his already battered body as he smelled the charred scent of seared flesh.

  "The truck!" Erik ran toward his truck fumbling for his keys. Amazingly, EJ remained blissfully asleep. As Erik approached the vehicle, more eerie green streaks illuminated the night sky. Erik's danger sense warned him to leap away. The hybrid launched himself thirty feet into the air as his truck exploded into a fireball. The Sentient Staff buzzed angrily. It was still in the form of a heavy forearm bracelet on EJ's arm. "I know you're there! I'm a bit busy right now. If I fail, protect my son. Don't try to save me. Save my son!" The staff growled angrily, clearly understanding but not liking Erik's command.

  Out of the darkness, five beings emerged. Man-sized and reddish brown in color, the texture of their skin reminded Erik of a gnarly, diseased tree trunk. They didn't talk, or engage him. They charged as a unit, intent only on killing the father and son.

  Erik crouched, leaning forward on the balls of his feet, ready to meet their attack. He couldn't escape and he couldn't hide. He could only fight and the hybrid was willing. He leapt into the air, executing a spinning back kick. Whip-like, his leg struck the skulls of three attacking creatures. He followed up with a spinning back fist, slamming against the thick skull of another attacker. The creatures howled and hissed angrily as the desperate father continued to fight. Pain seared as claws raked over the burnt flesh of Erik's back. His enhanced metabolism kicked in and began to seal the gaping wounds.

  I have to get some distance! Powerful legs tensed and Erik leapt an impossibly high forty feet into the night sky, landing yards away. He had a few precious seconds and he capitalized on them. He willed his body stronger, allowing more of the Esper DNA to dominate his being. The enhanced power crackled through his body. The demons rapidly closed the distance and prepared to attack again. Erik raised a fiery blue fist and launched a searing ball of plasma energy. The superheated air around the glowing orb crackled as thunder broke the silence. The burning orb incinerated two of the demons. Their death howls shook the night. Two cars behind the vaporized creatures exploded, decapitating a third creature. The headless corpse flailed its arms as glowing orange ichor erupted from its neck. The two remaining demons separated. Burning green lances materialized in their hands as they approached.

  "Daddy?" EJ stirred and squirmed.

  Erik tightened his grip on the child. "Don't move buddy. Just keep your arms around Daddy's neck and shoulders, okay?"

  EJ's tiny body began to shake. "More bad things!"

  Erik leapt in the air again as two energy lances passed through the air he'd just occupied. The hybrid landed on top of a large light post. Razor sharp Esper claws dug into the floodlight housing establishing a solid grip. He watched, concealed behind the large lamp fixtures, hoping the stream of bright light would conceal them from their attackers. Erik cursed silently as they turned and looked up. They knew exactly where he was hiding! He spied a luminous green glow.

  "Hold on tight, buddy. Daddy has to jump again." Again, Erik tightened his grip on his child and leapt as far as his enhanced legs could propel him. He landed at the edge of the parking lot—a leap of a hundred feet. The pavement cracked and buckled beneath his feet upon landing and Erik rolled once to absorb the shock and protect EJ from the rough landing. He came up just in time to see the tall lamp post fall over, bathed with white hot sparks of electricity. The fallen post smashed a nearby car and sent another loud shockwave into the eerily quiet night.

  The two remaining demons turned toward father and son. Green radiance bathed their bodies and illuminated the entire parking lot. "Hang on EJ!"STAFF!! SHIELD, NOW!! The Sentient Staff flowed from the child's arm and almost instantaneously formed a large disk on Erik's forearm. Erik crouched down, shielding his son and himself behind the silver disc. A wave of green energy slammed into the staff and it howled angrily as sentient organic metal deflected and refracted incalculable ethereal power.

  The world was dark and silent for endless seconds. Erik slowly stood, the shield still on his left forearm while he held a terrified EJ in his right arm. The two creatures approached, each carrying an ugly edged metallic weapon that glowed with the same greenish energy.

  "EJ, listen to me very carefully. I want you to stay here, but if something, or someone—anyone—comes close to you, you shout and the staff will be back here to protect you before you can blink." Erik looked directly into his son's tear-filled, terrified young eyes. "Do you understand me buddy? Stay right here and if anyone or anything tries to get near you, shout. The staff will hear you and I'll sense the danger. Daddy has to face these things now."

  Tears streamed down the young boy's face and he trembled. "Okay."

  The stark terror in those tiny eyes fueled Erik's fury. His own pain meant nothing, but the pain of his son was more than he could bear. Erik held up the shield. CLAYMORE BATTLE SWORD! The staff droned as it melted and shifted, forming a massive six-foot heavy Scottish blade. Blue plasmatic energy crackled up and down the blade's massive length. Erik held the weapon high and adopted a defensive ward as he approached the demons.

  Metallic blue plasma clashed with demonic green metal in a shower of sparks and light that illuminated several hundred yards. Erik swung the large blade with lethal precision, blocking several strikes and crazed thrusts from his opponents. The larger of the two demons attempted to force him away from his son, to allow the other creature to take the child. The hybrid sensed the strategy and kept pressure on both demons pressing his attack and forcing both creatures back. He winced in pain as a hooked edge slashed against his leg, cutting a large wound in his thigh
. Erik dropped the blade's tip and deflected the next strike. He slid the burning silver edge down the demonic blade, bathing them all with burning sparks of violent opposing energies and, with a flip of his wrist, cut the forearm off the attacker. The demonic weapon fell heavy against the pavement and the stunned creature held up the severed upper arm in shock and surprise. Before the demon could fall back, Erik lunged forward driving the point of his sword through the demon's throat. He flexed his arm and shoulder, slicing the blade clockwise decapitating the wounded demon.

  The other demon's blade burned as it pierced Erik's left shoulder. The demon pulled the weapon back, twisting the blade to open the agonizing wound. Fighting the demonic energy that threatened to consume him, the hybrid launched a hard front kick, which shattered the demon's gnarled chin and forced it back. Erik held the massive blade in his good arm and hurled it into the demon's chest like a javelin. The sword tore through the heavy hide and the blade exploded through the stunned demon's back. The creature clutched at the weapon only to be attacked by scalding jagged arcs of energy that danced along the blade's surface. Erik held out his hand and made a slicing gesture. The blade sawed through the terrified demon, spilling blood and ichor from the growing wound. The demon screamed a death cry consumed in a scalding purple fire. The Sentient Staff flew back into Erik's hand before the demon corpse evaporated, sent back to whatever hell spawned it.

  Erik limped back to EJ, loosely carrying the gore covered blade. EJ ran to his father, openly weeping in terror. Erik knelt down and caught his son in an embrace, ignoring the pain of his wounds.

  "It's okay, son. It's okay. They're gone now." Erik led EJ back to the large dumpster and he sat down, leaning his back against the rusted metal hulk.

  "Please don't die, Daddy."

  Erik reached over to touch his son's cheek. He realized that EJ's shirt was covered with his blood. Erik took a moment and tried to heal his wounds. Normally his body would heal rapidly but these wounds seemed to resist his natural healing ability. The battered warrior focused more of his remaining energy to stop the blood hemorrhaging from the multiple gaping wounds. Erik winced as the bones in his shoulder ground against each other as they reset themselves and fused back together.