by Chris Fox
“It could, but I don’t think we have that kind of time,” Jordan said. He shook his head, frustration all over his chiseled face. “The Director is after something specific. Whatever that thing is, he’ll make a play for it as soon as he’s certain we’re not a direct threat. If we go to ground, he’ll just keep us there until he gets whatever it is he’s after. And even if that’s only taking over the city, we’ll still lose eventually.”
“So what do you propose?” Trevor asked.
“Hell if I know. I’m just buying us time and praying for a miracle.”
74
Desperate Defense
Jordan’s light walk dropped him into chaos. He appeared at the edge of the council chamber, where a pitched battle was being fought. Demons had flooded the room, and pockets of werewolves were battling them. No one had attempted to fall back to the stairs. Instead, they were just brawling. Half a dozen werewolves were down and dying, though Leti and her team were trying to pull them to the relative safety of the stairwell.
The room was lit by a ragged staccato of green blasts from the werewolves and their bracelets, and the sharp muzzle flares of answering automatic weapons fire. The room stank of blood and gunpowder, plus something so rancid it made Jordan tear up.
He sucked in a deep breath, then activated his blur. He pulled deeply from his link to the Ark, though the flow of power was sharply diminished this far away.
It was enough.
He reached for half a dozen of the closest demons, the winged ones carrying black swords. They seemed to be doing the most damage, so they had to go. Jordan pulled them upward with immense force, slamming them into the ceiling forty feet above. Bones cracked from the first impact, but he was pretty sure they were tough enough to take it—so he slammed them into the floor, then into the ceiling again.
After a little more encouragement, all six went limp, and Jordan hurled their corpses at a pack of demon dogs that had surrounded Elia. The dogs jumped nimbly away, but the distraction gave Elia time to counterattack. She pounced on one of the dogs, digging her fangs into its neck. She yanked upwards, ripping out its spine in a spray of gore.
The sudden absence of the six demons strengthened the werewolf position on that side of the room. Leti and her companions darted into the gap, pulling the wounded to the mouth of the stairs.
“Push them back to the doorway,” Jordan boomed. He leapt into the fray, landing on the back of a winged demon. The creature began to spin, its tail wrapping around Jordan’s leg. It yanked Jordan to the ground, its sword arcing toward his face.
Jordan blurred out of the path, ramming two fingers into the demon’s eye. He jerked it forward, slamming the skull into the golden floor. It splattered with a sickening crunch.
“You heard him,” Elia shrieked. She killed another dog, then bounded after a third. All around them, werewolves were ganging up on the surviving demons. The last few seemed to realize their predicament, but not a single one attempted to run. They stood and fought, each inflicting as much damage as they could before dying.
When it was over Jordan stood panting, still in human form. He wiped the blood from his fingers onto his cargo pants, then trotted over to the mouth of the hallway. It was empty, but somehow Jordan was positive that Nox was watching. He studied the corridor a moment longer, then headed back into the room. All around him survivors were climbing to their feet.
“Start piling those bodies around the doorway. We can use them as a barricade,” Jordan ordered. He grabbed a dazed looking kid in his twenties. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. Just focus on one task at a time. Start moving bodies.”
The kid nodded dumbly, then started hauling a winged corpse over to the doorway.
“Jordan,” Leti called from the stairway. She was covered in blood, though he couldn’t tell if any belonged to her. “I do not know how you did it, but you’ve driven them back.”
“For now,” Jordan allowed. He heaved a stinking demonic corpse onto the growing pile.
“Can’t you use your telekinesis to move those?” Leti asked.
“I could, but I already feel the cost of that combat. I can’t fight forever, and Nox knows it. He’ll keep sending waves to deplete our strength, and we need to conserve everything we can.” Jordan heaved a final body, then turned to survey the room. “I only see about fifteen people on their feet. How are the wounded?”
“Recovering, for the most part. We’ve had two fatalities.” Leti’s face hardened, her smile evaporating. “We’re weaker now, and it seems Nox has a near limitless army.”
“I’m working on that,” Jordan said. He trotted over to the stairwell.
Leti followed. “How?” she asked, pitching her voice low. It was nearly drowned out by the moans of the injured, and the bravado from Elia and Davina as they talked about a counter attack.
“I’ve sent Trevor and Anput to shut down the portal. If they’re successful, we limit Nox’s reinforcements. We’re still vastly outnumbered, but that will force him to be more cautious. That buys us time.” Jordan moved down the stairs into a makeshift infirmary.
“To do what?” Leti asked.
“Get these people down to the lowest level. Odds are good the next wave will push us back, and we might lose this floor,” Jordan said. He didn’t have an answer, so he focused on what they could accomplish. “I need to go stop Elia from doing something stupid.”
75
Ann
Trevor crept toward the obelisk, convinced that his ragged breathing was going to give him away. He sucked in deep lungfuls, lightheaded from the exertion. It had only been a light blur, which scared the hell out of him. Trevor shook his head, focusing, and studied the cluster of demons standing around the obelisk. All five were the same winged variety, and now that he had a closer look he was pretty sure that these were the toughest of the lot. All stood at least nine feet, and all were female.
They are corrupted Ka-Ken, I believe, spoke a familiar female voice. It was cultured, and pleasant to the point of flirtatious. If that’s the case they are nearly impervious to shaping. You’ll need to find another way to best them.
“Anput?” Trevor whispered.
Not exactly, the voice replied, giving a musical laugh. She served as my template, of course. I mean, she did design the new virus after all. You can’t really begrudge her that.
Well, at least you’re more pleasant than my Risen was. Trevor glanced toward the far obelisk at the opposite end of the portal. The real Anput was creeping up on it, just as he was creeping up on this one. She faced a similar group of demons.
You said they’re impervious to shaping. Illusions bend light. Will that still work on them? Trevor thought.
It should, the voice suggested. What would you like to call me, by the way?
Uhhh, let’s call you Ann.
Trevor circled around the demons, maintaining a hundred-foot gap. The other side of the portal showed an airport surrounded by jungle. Ranks of demons were assembled, close enough to rush through the gate at a moment’s notice. It was the closest look he’d gotten, and it filled him with dread. There were so many demons, each a powerful champion or deathless. Nox had well and truly created an army of gods, and nothing in this city was going to stop them.
Hey, none of that, Ann said sternly. Focus on the immediate problem. How do we get rid of ten feisty demons who will tear us apart in a straight up fight? Impress me, hot stuff.
Trevor knew she was right. Fix the first problem, then worry about the next one. All ten demons looked bored. Instead of watching the portal, they were jealously watching the rest of their forces surround the pyramid.
That would change the instant either he or Anput came out of the shadows to disable the portal. They could blur, but who knew what the demons could do? If they could blur, too, Trevor would be overwhelmed before he could complete his work.
He needed them to leave the obelisk entirely, long enough for him to do what needed to be done. But how did you get guards to leave a post?
Hmm. Trevor smiled.
He studied the base on the other side of the portal, mapping the size and layout in his mind. Then he thought back to the single craziest battle he’d ever seen. Set’s army had attacked their camp, giant winged dragons raining gunfire from the emplacements bolted into their demonic hide.
Trevor envisioned the battle with as much detail as he could, then began to shape. It was more difficult than it had been, requiring both more concentration and more energy.
He conjured the illusion of dragons strafing the cluster of buildings at the far side of the base. He added a layer of sound, simulating gunfire and explosions. The realism of the illusion shocked him. Prior to this new virus, his illusions had lacked sound and were really just tricks of light. Now he could see—and apparently manipulate—more types of signals. Just as they’d hoped.
The reaction among the demon guards was swift and professional. One demon from each group sprinted toward the pyramid, kicking off buildings then using their wings to get altitude. Both could blur. The rest of the guards sprinted through the portal, onto the base. They rushed toward the combat, fanning out as they approached. These demons didn’t blur. Hopefully that meant it would take them time to get there, realize they’d been had, and then get back.
Suddenly, Osiris strode onto the battlefield. He was rushed by a cluster of demons, and cut them down ruthlessly.
It took Trevor several moments longer than it should have, but he eventually realized it had to be Anput’s handiwork. Nice, a great way to signal to him that she was there and paying attention.
Oh, that’s devious. Well done, both you and my flesh-and-blood counterpart. See? Things aren’t so hopeless after all.
We still need to disable the modulator, Trevor thought back. He blurred to his assigned obelisk, bending to examine the equipment the demons had attached. A rectangular box had been affixed to the side of the obelisk.
Trevor didn’t recognize the metal, though he suspected it was a more advanced version used in Hades’s power armor suits. The box sucked in power, and Trevor could feel the signal it broadcast into the modulator. He materialized, reaching for the box.
A thick ropey tail wrapped around his leg, and he was jerked from his feet. Trevor slammed face first into the marble, and his nose shattered.
The pain exploded through him in a way it hadn’t done since he’d become deathless. He was unprepared for the shock of it.
Oh, that’s an unfortunate side effect of reactivating your full nervous system. I probably should have mentioned that. Ann’s tone was contrite. I can make it up to you, though. Let’s harness those shiny new abilities. First, activate a blur.
Trevor did so, his flight slowing as the demon who’d grabbed his leg raised him into the air again. He wasn’t eager to repeat the whole face-smashing thing. He tried to turn to mist, his normal defense when attacked by something larger and stronger.
Nothing happened. The place where that ability had been was simply…gone.
Hmm, that’s unexpected. Dematerialization was a desired trait. Sucks that we lost that. Okay, next option. Unfortunately, the demon is stronger than us. I’m not sure you can get loose by sheer physical strength.
I’m open to suggestions, Trevor thought back frantically. He’d reached the apex of the demon’s swing, and was already starting back toward the marble. He tried to accelerate his blur, but it felt weaker than it had. This new virus sucks. Give me some options.
Umm, well at the very least we can stop the marble from crushing our skull. Take a careful look at the demon, study the skin with your new senses. See how the molecular bonds are formed. You can replicate that. Make your skin into demon hide.
Trevor tried to do as she asked. He looked closely at the demon, sucking in a quick breath when his vision zoomed in to show a microscopic view. He saw mites on the demon’s skin, tiny bacteria invisible to the naked eye. Trevor zoomed again, now seeing the molecules making up the epidermis. He saw how they fit together, a series of interlocking tetrahedrons. It was amazing in its simplicity.
Good, good. Now, use that on your own body. Will it to happen, just like you’d shape anything else.
So Trevor did. It proved far easier, and felt more natural, than blurring now did. Trevor reshaped the molecules of his skin, willing them to become a thick carapace. The process took time, completing as his cheek slammed into the marble again. This time, there was almost no pain.
Now we need a better way to fight back. Unfortunately, I don’t have any suggestions.
Trevor didn’t need one. In exploring the demon’s defenses, he’d also spotted a flaw: the molecular bond joining the tetrahedrons was the weakest part. A sustained burst of powerful radiation might get those bonds to break—the kind of burst that came from the grey man’s boomerang.
He’d seen exactly how the boomerang amplified the signal, creating the green beam. Could he mimic that?
I don’t see why not. All the device does is amplify the signal through modulation. You should be able to do the same thing.
He looked at his hand, balling the fingers into a fist. That fist became translucent, then hardened into a dark green gemstone. Trevor aimed it at the demon, willing a flood of power into his fist. An emerald beam washed over the demon’s face, illuminating every feature as the skin began to flake away. Trevor roared, forcing more energy into his fist. The beam intensified, and the demon’s entire head disintegrated. The now headless corpse tumbled limply to the ground, the tail finally releasing Trevor’s leg.
He stood, panting, the smell of cooked demon filling the area around the obelisk.
Well done. We make a great team. You keep doing the work, and I’ll be over here cheerleading.
76
Parlay
Jordan folded his arms, staring hard at Elia. She still had a wild look in her eyes, but at least she had stopped ranting at her followers.
“Fine,” Elia snapped. She, too, folded her arms. “If you think trapping ourselves here is smarter than breaking loose, I’ll defer to your ‘wisdom.’”
“You’re damned right you will. There’s no way I’m letting you abandon a fortified position. We have a choke point. The second we step outside, we get attacked by the entirety of Nox’s army, instead of just the few that he can force down this tunnel. Do you want to find out what those giants can do? Because you’ll find out the second you go out there.”
Jordan unfolded his arms, walking over to Davina’s group. He’d left to allow Elia to save some face. Embarrassing her right now was counterproductive, so as long as she obeyed orders he was happy to concede the field of battle.
“Jorrrdaaan,” a deep voice boomed from somewhere in the city outside the temple. It had to be enhanced with shaping, and it sounded tinny, like a bullhorn. “Come out and meet with me. I’ll give you safe passage for the duration of the conversation, and you know me well enough to know that I’ll honor it.”
Just like the Director. Succinct, and reasonable. Jordan turned back to Elia. “I’m going out there to talk to Nox. I’m leaving you in charge, but I want your word that you will not follow me out there. You remain here, ready to defend this place. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” Elia said warily. “Why are you doing this? What do you hope to gain?”
“Nox knows me, and he knows I’ll make taking this place both difficult and time consuming. He wants me out of the way,” Jordan explained. “By meeting with him I gain the same thing he’s playing for…time. I’m trusting you and your desire to keep this place safe. Don’t disappoint me.”
Elia gave a grudging nod.
Jordan started walking up the tunnel, moving deliberately toward the artificial sunlight in the distance. He walked slowly, using the time to think. How much had the Director changed? If he was the same man, he was indescribably dangerous. More so than anyone they’d dealt with—certainly more so than Set.
Set had been unbalanced and easily manipulated. Nox was neither.
Jordan paused at th
e mouth of the tunnel, donning his sunglasses. The Director stood about fifty feet outside the tunnel. He wore a tailored suit, tasteful sunglasses, and a silver watch. So far as Jordan could tell there was nothing to imply that the man was also a demon, which meant that he could somehow shapeshift like a werewolf.
“Hello, Jordan,” the Director called. He walked slowly toward Jordan. “It’s been quite some time since we last saw each other. I was quite convinced that you’d died. I’m pleased to be wrong.”
“I thought you were dead too. What happened when the base was overrun? How did you survive Set’s attack?” Jordan offered a hand as the Director approached.
“Set blunted the explosion somehow.” The Director accepted his hand, giving a firm handshake. “The next thing I remember, I was crawling out of a chrysalis. Hades uses them to create demons, like the army you see behind me.”
“Hades? Not you?” Jordan asked. He eyed the demons ringing the temple. There were at least fifty, and he’d estimate another fifty hidden from sight. Maybe as many as double, so chalk it up to two hundred adversaries, assuming Trevor found a way to disable the portal.
There were also the giants, and more demon dogs than Jordan could count.
“Fair enough. I’ve created my fair share, though I give them more choice than Hades does. I’ve never forced anyone,” the Director said. He sounded more defensive than Jordan expected, betraying a great deal. Unless that was done intentionally. With the Director, you never knew. Ruses within ruses. “The point is, I survived. Apparently, so did you. How?”
Jordan was a long time in answering. Anything he told Nox would be used against him, but he also needed time. Jordan decided to take a chance.
“Something called TSDS. Apparently, the Ark exploding messed with our light walk.” That was all he was willing to give—for now, at least.