Shadow’s Wrath (Demon Generals Book 1)

by Gia Tsiknas

  Drina’s words were rushed and frantic.

  “You need to help me! Help me stop them! They have to stop or, or else…”

  “Calm down,” Icham huffed. “Stop whom? What are you talking about?”

  Drina took a deep breath. Her instincts screamed for her to hurry, but she mastered them.

  “You must come back with me and stop the fight between Machi and the Chained Man.”

  Icham shook his head, “What-“

  “Icham!” Roared a large emerald dragon. She raced up to the two dragons, looking around.

  “Please, where is Anget? I heard there was an attack in the Council room, and I know he was there. Where is he? Did he escape?”

  Icham shook his head. “He came in during the battle and led me here. Then he went back to the Council chamber.”

  “No, why would he do that?” The emerald cried in dismay.

  “He found his bonded, Archa. How can he run from a fight endangering his heart?” Icham’s voice was soft.

  “Ancient rules should not dictate our lives. We have a right to live away from humans, away from their self-satisfying wars.” She growled and turned towards the chamber’s path. “I will drag him back here. My son will not be drawn into a human battle to die.”

  “Do no dragons have Raboni in their heart anymore?” Archa sped off leaving Icham’s words hanging in the air.

  “No.” Drina was firm. “But you do, Icham. And it is Raboni that is needed in this battle.”

  “Why do you say that, Drina? Raboni is with us always, and he is with young Machi.” Icham swung his head towards the young black dragon.

  Drina snapped her jaw, snarling in reply.

  “That feckless human is not as close with Raboni as you say. You did not hear her. You did not see her fight. There are demons in that room, Icham, and I need to have Raboni banish them.”

  “Raboni is not at our beck and call, Drina. You know that.” Icham’s voice became steel.

  “But he claims we can call him for help! And his power to purge is needed now.” Drina fell silent, and Icham didn’t reply. Long moments passed before she pleaded. “Please, Icham. I think he’s my bonded.”

  Icham reeled. His lips curling back as he hissed.

  “That vile man is your bonded? Do not jest, child. He is not your sweet prince. Anget told me of that man. He hunts the innocent, he dogs for that vile temptress who stole our home. He killed my Yue!”

  Drina stamped her feet, her tail swinging in agitation.

  “So it’s fine if Anget has his bonded, murderer as she is, but not for me? I lost him once, I won’t lose him again!”

  Her eyes glistened as she raced back into the room. She had hoped that Icham would understand. That he would help her. But she was wrong. She ignored Icham’s cries and sped away. Desperate to save her bonded, her heart.

  As Drina’s black scales melted into the darkness Icham sank to the ground. Anger and shame flooded through him.

  “Raboni.” He cried in despair. “I am such a hypocrite. Help me.”

  With the weight of his guilt bowing him low Icham felt a soft voice, cool as the morning breeze, whisper to him.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  RETRIBUTION

  Pain. Stabbing pain. Machi ignored it. She didn’t have enough time.

  She stumbled forward, pulling a knife from her waist and threw. Aidrian side-stepped the poorly aimed throw and advanced.

  Machi called the knife back to her. It sailed and dug into Aidrian’s leg. He roared, pulled it from his leg, and threw it away. Machi slipped, falling to the floor. Cold met her cheek.

  Ice.

  She blinked. Dark leather filled her vision. Her breath came wild as she tried to stand, to move, to crawl away.

  Aidrian raised his sword.

  Her injuries and the pain from Anget were too much. She had no weapons, her two knives had disappeared during her flight, and the other two were in her boots, too far to be useful.

  A torrent of flames flew over her back, forcing Aidrian to dive to the side. She pushed herself to her feet in time to see Anget preparing another breath.

  Ulokhu sprinted from the shadows and leapt at Anget from behind, snarling. Machi screamed and loosed a wave of magic, trying to stop the demon. The feeble try fizzled over Ulokhu’s coat.

  Machi’s heart seized.

  A roar bellowed through the Council chamber as an emerald dragon slammed the demon dog, sending its small frame flying across the room. The dragon fanned her wings wide and bellowed a challenge. The scales around her jaw fanned out.

  “Get away from my son!” Her bludgeon of a tail swung at Aidrian as she snarled.

  Aidrian flinched and Machi took the moment to scramble to her feet.

  “Mom?” Anget tried to get up but cried out in pain.

  The emerald dragon loosed a sea of flames at Ulokhu, so hot Machi had to shield her face. The demon’s body was consumed, and he shrieked. Aidrian screamed, formed a spear of ice, and took aim. Machi flapped her wings and used the momentum to barrel into Aidrian, sending his deadly projectile glancing off the emerald’s tough brow. The emerald dragon’s flame halted as she blinked and shook her head.

  Machi tumbled with Aidrian. In a fair fight she had the physical advantage, being more fit and skilled at hand to hand combat, but Aidrian wasn’t hurt and Machi was. Time was not her friend.

  Ulokhu crouched on the ground, gaping holes ripped into his body. With a snarl he leapt back and melted into the shadows once again.

  At the lull in battle the emerald scooped up Anget in her enormous maw and sped out of the room. Anget struggled to free himself, to stay with his bonded, but he was no match for his mother.

  Machi continued her struggle with Aidrian, not even noticing the dragons had left. She wouldn’t lose. Couldn’t lose. Not to Aidrian. Not to the man who took everything from her.

  Pain ripped through Machi’s head as Aidrian grasped her hair and yanked, but she would not let go. Aidrian rolled and now he was on top of her. His large hand grasped at her wrists, but she twisted and pulled, eluding him. She brought her elbow up into his nose and Aidrian cried out, losing his grip and they flipped again. She was back in control.

  Machi grabbed for her boot knife, but Aidrian recovered from his daze and punched her jaw. She reeled to the right. Aidrian bucked and Machi tumbled away, and he was free.

  Disoriented she righted herself and looked up to Aidrian. Somehow, he had ended up near his sword. He scrambled to retrieve it. Machi tried to use her wings to push her forward, but they screamed in protest. She had damaged them in the tumble.

  Machi conjured a flash of light. Aidrian screamed and covered his eyes.

  ***

  “Enough!” Drina bellowed, releasing her pent up frustration in a roar that shook the hall. She had entered the room in time to see Machi thrown. Apprehension filled her. She wasn’t a devout follower of Raboni. She wasn’t sure he existed. But she was desperate. With all her soul she called out to him.

  Please! If you really are there, save him! Save my bonded!

  For a fraction of a second her doubts swamped her. Raboni would never come for her. He’s a human figment, a scare-tale to frighten children to obedience. But in the total silence of the hall following her roar, when the two warriors froze in shock; in that fraction of a second, she heard a whisper.

  Renounce them, child.

  Without taking another moment to second guess herself she screamed. “In Raboni’s name, demon be gone!”

  Aidrian screamed. Ulokhu fell from the shadows convulsing, foam leaking from his mouth. Aidrian slumped, but Ulokhu remained. With effort the demon stood up. Its furious eyes locked onto the young dragon.

  Do you mean to challenge me? The voice of the demon was a breathless sickly pant. Its tone spoke of longing and envy; of desperate yearning that tore at the soul and decayed the body.

  ***

  Machi shivered. This was the second time she heard a demon general speak.

&nbs
p; Drina shook, but stood firm. “Leave this place, demon. You are not welcome here!”

  You have no power over me, lizard. I bow to no mortal. Ulokhu laughed, and Machi swore it sounded womanly.

  Drina stepped back as the demon advanced on her, foam dripping from its mouth.

  “I--” Drina’s words caught in her throat.

  Saiya’s words rang in Machi’s mind.

  You have something Aidrian does not.

  Machi remembered back to the night Hanaq had consumed her. She couldn’t fight it. And neither could Saiya. She had only survived because…

  Know your limits, Saiya had cautioned, and ask Raboni for the rest.

  Machi screamed as she struggled to her feet. She took a deep breath and bellowed.

  “Raboni has power over you, Ulokhu.”

  Ulokhu flinched and turned his feral eyes to Machi.

  You have no right to call him. You are a murderer, just like Aidrian, a filthy, murderous human.

  Machi hesitated.

  “We have the right!” Icham bellowed.

  Machi’s head swung to the Council door. Icham shuffled into the room. Drina’s mouth opened and closed, but she didn’t speak. Her relief was obvious even in the semi-stoic facial features of a dragon.

  You are a traitor! A betrayer of your bonded. You have no right. Ulokhu hissed.

  “Be gone, demon!” Icham snapped. “We will not listen to your poison any longer. By Raboni’s will, disappear!”

  Ulokhu screamed and charged at Icham, his body hissing and dispersing in white light.

  “Icham!” Machi tried to limp forward, but she was too far and Ulokhu was moving too fast. Icham stood still, staring toward Ulokhu’s charge almost as if he could see the demon. His ruined eyes piercing in its intensity as the demon leapt.

  “You cannot hurt me, demon. I am Raboni’s.”

  Shrieking, the demon exploded in white light before he touched the blind dragon.

  The room was quiet. Machi heaved, trying to regain her breath. A groan caught her attention, and she whirled, almost falling over her swollen ankle.

  Aidrian groaned again and shifted on the floor. Machi bent and grabbed her boot knife.

  She was close enough. She could get to him before he could gain his senses. He would pay for the blood he spilt. Anger coursed through her blood. Whispers tickled her mind as she struggled forward. Faint, familiar whispers that spoke of retribution. Of blood.

  Machi’s eyes sparked, and the whispers grew louder, more insistent. Machi stumbled and landed on her knees beside the groaning Aidrian. Blood pounded in her ears, drowning out the cries of the two remaining dragons in the room.

  Machi lifted her arm, the knife glistening. Her face contorted into a malicious grin as she stared at the semiconscious man. Her anger flared, and a soft purr echoed in the back of her mind. The remnants of her wrath rekindled her connection to Hanaq.

  Do it. The beast urged. Do it and become one with me.

  Machi hesitated, and in that moment a black, wheat-shaped tail slammed into her stomach, sending her falling back. Machi felt her ribs crack.

  Coughing and gasping for breath Machi looked up. Drina stood over the groaning Aidrian. Her tail flicked back and forth, ready to swing again, if need be.

  Icham stood by the door, several meters away, trying to catch his wind.

  “Drina!” Machi screamed. “Get out of the way!”

  “No!” Drina bellowed back. “He’s my bonded! I won’t let you kill him!”

  Machi flinched. Bonded? No…

  “He’s not your bonded, Drina! He can’t be! That man is a murderer, he deserves to die!”

  “You’re a murderer too, in case you have forgotten.” Drina snapped. “And you don’t deserve death.”

  Machi bit her tongue. She refused to argue with the stubborn dragon. What does she know? He killed my parents, and he sent Brizna to captivity and torture. He’s inhuman.

  Machi watched as Drina turned and nuzzled Aidrian. He groaned again, but could struggle to his elbows. He vomited before looking up at Machi.

  In dawning horror Machi watched as his eyes drained from a milky-white to blood-red.

  Drina shifted, so she looked into Aidrian’s eyes and he froze, startled by the huge dragon inches from his face.

  “Aidrian?” Drina cooed. “Do you remember me?”

  Sluggishly, as if he were drunk, Aidrian blinked and stared into Drina’s eyes. His featured went from fear, to shock, then disbelief as he croaked out a word. Tears flowed down his cheeks.

  “Drina? Can you be Drina?” He flung his hands around the dragon’s head and hugged her. Drina hummed in pleasure.

  Machi couldn’t look away. She was frozen. Aidrian, the man she had feared and hated; the man who had stolen her life and her happiness so many times, was getting a happy ending.

  “No!” Machi screamed. Tears streaked her dirty face. “He’s a murderer! You’re a murderer! You took everything from me! You don’t deserve happiness!”

  Icham limped up to Machi. Aidrian’s head shot up, and he looked into Machi’s eyes. A flicker of recognition flashed in his face, but it didn’t linger.

  “Do I know you?” he asked.

  Machi screamed and tried to leap forward only to be caught by Icham’s forepaw. She cursed and lashed out, trying to force her way to the person she desperately wanted to kill. Icham took the brunt of the force, and after a while Machi calmed. Her voice was ragged and broken when she finally spoke.

  “He deserves to die.”

  “I know.” Icham whispered.

  “He killed my mother.”

  “I know.” Icham’s breath caught.

  “Why?” Machi couldn’t articulate the whole question, but Icham knew what she asked. He had gone through this very thing in the arms of Raboni, back in the tunnel. He didn’t want to stop her. Icham yearned for the justice Yue deserved. But it wasn’t about justice.

  “You are Raboni’s, Machi.” He choked through his emotional voice. “And Raboni calls for forgiveness, not vengeance.”

  Machi slumped against him and cried. She grieved for her parents and grieved for her life. Icham pulled her close and shielded her figure with his wing.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  FIGHT

  With a final thrust the blob of gray splattered, marking the temporary end to the siege of his mind. Brizna gasped and wheezed, his swords whispering strong with purpose. He blinked as he looked around. The gray expanse that had engulfed him before was patchy and marbled with color, evidence of his gradual victories against the shadows Aalas had subjected on his soul.

  A wicked chuckle echoed around him. The remnants of the gray blob gathered together and merged to form a full-body mirror. He raised his swords, but the mirror didn’t move. As he watched it his body flickered onto its smooth surface. His mirror-self was laughing. He held no swords.

  With a flash the mirror was a window and his marbled expanse was a box, closing in on him until he could barely move.

  “No!” Brizna screamed and threw himself at the window, at his mirror-self, trying to escape. His fingers slid over the smooth glass pane.

  The double tutted and shook his finger at Brizna’s attempts.

  “You may have won the battle,” its lazy, deep voice drawled. “But we will win the war. Sit back and enjoy.”

  “Be gone, demon!” Brizna spat, collecting himself. “Raboni rules this mind, body and soul. You are not welcome here.”

  The demon hissed, and the window shattered. The walls of Brizna’s marbled expanse disappeared. But after a moment the demon calmed, and a lazy smile filled its features.

  “Don’t be in such a rush, mortal. Life is meant to be enjoyed. Just relax and I’ll treat you and your body right.” Whispers of darkness grazed at Brizna’s mind. Feelings of lethargic melancholy deadened his limbs, making his swords heavy as lead.

  Brizna gripped them tighter, banishing the lethargy.

  “I am no longer under control of the Shadow a
nd his demons; I am Raboni’s son, and you will release me!”

  The double cried out and shrunk into a horned, feathered serpent.

  “You are a weak mortal. I was invited here, and I will not leave.” It hissed.

  Brizna lifted his swords to the sky. The demon shrieked and dispersed into shadows.

  With a jolt of pain Brizna pulled into consciousness. He sat up at rigid attention, clutching his head. The darkness gave his room an eerie and sinister light. Crying out, he erupted in blue sparks. They danced across his bed and traveled across the floor. Dizzy, he leapt up from the bed, throwing away the sweat drenched covers. The stone floor felt shocking on his bare feet. He stumbled to the mirror, knocking the washing basin that sat in front of it to the floor. He grabbed the pitcher of water that stood to his right and emptied its contents on his head.

  Brizna cried out as the ice-cold water hit him. Another eruption of blue sparks seared his skin, evaporating the water. He looked up and glared into the mirror. His reflection was the demon.

  “Get out…” Brizna gasped.

  The demon shrieked and reached to throttle him. Brizna’s own hands grabbed his throat and started squeezing. With another shower of sparks Brizna slammed into the mirror, his hands falling to his side. Blood trickled down his forehead as he continued to glare at the broken pieces.

  “I said get out.”

  The demon, now Brizna’s own shadow, grasped a shadow image of a knife. A real knife was now in Brizna’s left hand.

  “You shall never be rid of me, boy.” It hissed. Brizna took hold of his left hand and twisted the knife out of its grasp.

  “By Raboni’s name, leave!” The demon fell silent, but Brizna knew the war was far from over. Brizna looked around the room. “How much longer can this last?”

  Soft padded footsteps hustled away from the room. Brizna cursed, knowing the manservant was running to tell Zafirah about his latest accomplishment. He had a strong urge to kill the man, but shook it off. He was almost positive it was the demon. Almost.

  “Raboni, give me strength.” He could already feel the demon stirring, as Zafirah’s cold hands grasped his soul.