A Demon's Duty (The Demon Guardian Trilogy Book 1)

by Katherine Kim

  Belit struck a blow that sent him careening backwards, the impact crushing the steel corner of one of the cages and sending him sliding to the floor. His vision greyed dangerously and he knew he must have hit the metal wall head first. He started to roll to gain time to clear his head but instead he became wrapped in one of the damn wings and Belit closed in. She leaped on top of him, hissing and pinning him to the floor with her claws wrapped around his throat, the razor sharp nails at the ends of her talon-like fingers drawing blood from each point of contact. A snarl formed on her lips for the briefest second, hatred for him burning in her eyes as she blamed him for the failure of her plans and promised to hunt May down as well.

  The grey haze ate more of the world around him and the stream of abuse she was heaping upon him faded in his ears. He had to break free or May wouldn’t even have a chance, but one arm was pinned beneath him and he felt the strength draining from his free hand as the world was being blotted out. He had never before in his life prayed, but he did now, hoping against reason that the gods would listen to him for the first time before Belit finished killing him.

  Belit hissed as she pressed forward to finish squeezing his life away, hate and fury sparkling in her eyes, and as she opened her mouth to crow her triumph a glittering silver blade sprouted from her mouth. May sped through a chant and light poured into the demoness using the knife as a conduit and dripping off in shining splatters that burned onto Michael’s chest. He watched Belit’s head and half of her chest disappear into the purifying light, her arms dropping free to land in a pile of leftover demoness parts. Michael dragged in a breath of air, filling his lungs as he blinked up at May, who stood over him shaking with adrenaline and exhaustion. As his vision cleared he could see that she had the hilt of the small silver dagger from his office gripped in both hands and a look of shock in her eyes.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  May stood over Michael, bits of spell drenched demoness dripped off the end of the blade and splashed across him, stinging slightly when they landed.

  “Are you ok?” She asked. Her voice shook and she swallowed quickly.

  “I admit with some surprise that I am rather well, all things considered. I am unreasonably glad you wore that coat, however.” He croaked hoarsely. “And excellent job removing her head.” His vision clearing, he rolled over to sit upright, shedding the parts of Belit’s corpse that had sprawled across his legs and wing and checked for any wounds that needed immediate attention. He frowned, wondering if he should feel something other than very tired. May dropped to sit on the floor, letting her arms fall to her side, the small knife held loosely now.

  “When did…” She faltered. “How?”

  “These… this is why human souls are sought after. Flight is a valuable ability when waging war against another clan, after all, and demons don’t much care for vehicles that are too complicated. Nobody has ever understood why some humans cause this reaction, but there are many theories.” He flexed one drooping wing out to look at it better. They were the same dusky red as his skin, but along the top and down each rib were feathers fading from dark grey to nearly white. “I never thought I would experience it myself though. And I have never heard of feathers, which is interesting.” He stroked his finger slowly down the edge, watching the feathers ripple and spring back under the light touch.

  “Um…”

  “It was your doing, I believe.” He said without looking up. “When you were trying to simply keep me alive. I could feel the power surging and thought it was simply a side effect from the healing and my Mark’s reaction. I didn’t touch more of James’ soul than was necessary to transfer his duty so I didn’t consider this reaction a possibility, but it seems that your gift was more than enough.”

  “But… Sebring didn’t say anything about wings. Just about High Demons using blood as medicine.” May kneeled beside him. Michael looked up at her blandly.

  “Generally I have used pig’s blood, not human. I’m sure you have heard about this effect, but perhaps not in that book. There was a war once… It happened before humanity began recording its own history with any reliability, when travel between all three Realms was far more common, but it is referred to in any number of myths and legends about the end of the world.” He shook his head, and instead reached over and held up her bandaged arm. The brace, not designed to cover open wounds, was turning dark red. “Whatever your intentions were, you freely offered me your own blood. It is just a theory at the moment but I think that because you did that willingly, freely gave that gift, the results were greater than you anticipated. You not only healed my injuries, but gave me power as well, and these wings are a physical expression of that power.” He frowned at her arm now, turning his mind to the immediate future. “We need to get you to the hospital. That wound looks serious, and I can’t simply heal you as easily as you did me. I will call Paula. She and Lee can get you treatment.”

  “What about you?”

  “I probably shouldn’t go out like this. I can disguise my face easily enough, but I don’t think I could hide wings.” He traced a finger down the feathery edge again, wondering at the strange sensations. “They don’t last. They will be absorbed back into my body— like the darts— and I will be back to normal in a day or so I believe, if I remember all the reports correctly. I will stay at my workshop for a day or so to heal.”

  May watched him with solemn eyes.

  “Thank you.”

  “For what?” Michael frowned

  “I’m not sure I can explain it very well. For being you, I suppose.” May took an unsteady breath. “I’m never going to stop missing James and Pike. They were my family— human families are usually not very murderous and manipulative.” When she smiled briefly, Michael wondered how much she remembered. “But I’m glad you’re here. I’m sorry I argued with you about everything. I don’t think I was ever really angry at you. I don’t think I could have finished this myself. She was too strong and too crazy. She’s killed so many people, and for what? A bunch of pets?”

  “More than that, actually. She was looking for me I’m afraid. To curry favor in the clan. I’m sorry. Perhaps if I hadn’t fled my brother back then… perhaps they would all still live.”

  “But you would be dead instead. Paula told me yesterday not to take credit or blame for the actions of others. You should listen to her.” May stood, turning to survey the remains of the warehouse. Michael rose to stand beside her, nodding. He guided her towards the stairs leading up to Belit’s chamber.

  “I will remember to in the future. She’s fairly wise for one so young.” May stopped, and turned slowly back to him.

  “Michael. Was that a joke?”

  “Perhaps.” He answered her gravely.

  “You’ve had a tough night. We should get you checked out too, you may have hit your head.”

  “Demons have remarkably thick skulls. I did actually hit my head, but I’m sure I’m quite whole.” He drew his brows together for a moment as she headed to the stairs and asked her “Which reminds me. Why do you have that knife here? I’m certain that I left it in my office.” May ducked her head and turned for a moment almost the same shade Belit had been.

  “I, um.” She said, pulling the jacket around herself like a blanket. “I sort of rummaged through your desk. And borrowed it. By accident.” Michael blinked. Then he threw his head back and roared with laughter. May froze, eyes wide, and stared at him. He laughed so hard that he had to sit down on the floor of the warehouse again, right where he was. After a few minutes he wiped a hand over his eyes and grinned at her frightened face.

  “What sort of chaotic life have I set myself up for? You searched my office.” He chuckled again. “In the past three days I have behaved more like the demon I was expected to be than I have for well over a century, and for what? For an impulsive wisp of a human priestess who rifles my desk at the first opportunity. You may be the only human in the whole, long history of humanity, to search though a demon’s home, do you realize
that?” The corner of May’s mouth twitched as she began to see the joke.

  “Well, I was curious. I mean I’m stuck with you now, so I wanted to know something about you.” May protested. “And Paula came to the door just when I was looking at it so I just sort of stuck it in my pocket.”

  “You just…” Michael dropped his head into his hand. It was too much: the emotional back and forth, the back to back near-death moments, the still wild power surging through him and making him dizzy, and now May just stood there, swaying from expending all that energy in the fight, and told him that she went through his desk and stole a weapon. By accident, yet! “Almost every other human I have ever met has been at the very least cautious of me. Even those who could very well make me work hard for my own life. You, however, have truly never once been afraid of me, have you? Not even slightly.” He smiled, genuine and from his heart. “Not even as a child.”

  “No. No, I suppose not. It’s kind of funny now that you say it, isn’t it? Wait, as a child?” May drew her brows together. “That was you? That was you that saved my life when my horrible uncle pushed me into traffic!” She gasped after a moment. Michael nodded.

  “I wondered if you remembered. I’m glad, actually. And that is a very strange sensation to me. I don’t think I have ever been glad of anything ever before.” Michael told her. He stood up turned her back to the staircase. “Now, we ought to call Paula and get you to a doctor. I know how sharp that blade is and your arm needs attention.” May grinned at him.

  “Who gets to tell them about Belit’s seduction scene?” She asked.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  “Well that room was about the worst thing I’ve ever seen.” Paula said from the kitchen. She was making breakfast again. Lee lounged in one of the oversized armchairs, and was idly flipping through the newspaper. He had already scanned the headlines and read all about the recent rash of warehouse break-ins. Authorities weren’t sure if anything had been taken, since the warehouses in question had been largely empty, though the destruction in the historic building was a concern. Investigations were ongoing. The smell of bacon and coffee drifted through the room and Michael took a moment behind his closed his eyes to stretch his awareness out, checking his wards and enjoying the moment.

  After the battle in the warehouse, May had waited for their reinforcements in Belit’s chamber, tucked into Michael’s coat and obeying his order to keep her arm over her head. Michael, for his part, collected Belit’s remains and burned them in the middle of the cement warehouse floor with a massive wave of power, and delivered the ashes to May for further cleansing. The hounds finished dissolving and their residual power mostly drained off down the river to be purified by nature itself. As soon as Paula and Lee had arrived at the front door, Michael left by the back, avoiding any uncomfortable conversations about the sudden appearance of wings on an otherwise earthbound individual by explaining from the other side of the door that he did not feel he was dressed for company. It was true as far as it went, since he hadn’t thought to dress for battle when he had left his apartment that morning.

  The wings proved to be a bit of a problem, unfortunately. May had suggested that perhaps the two of them should keep that detail of the evening to themselves, since she was unsure of how the new ability would be viewed by the Temple’s Council of Elders who would be deciding his fate very soon. She was sure that her report, as well as the good opinions of Paula and Lee, would keep him relatively safe from a summary death sentence, but she pointed out that the Council would be assuming he was earthbound. Michael agreed that a sudden and unexpected factor like flight would likely factor into any decision by the Elders. So after he slipped out the back of the warehouse, he stayed in his office tower sanctuary for a day to rest and to get the swirl of untamed power at least leashed safely. However, despite his understanding of how the process worked, the strangely feathered wings did not simply reabsorb like his darts.

  “I genuinely don’t know, May.” He sat on a stool and leaned on the table as he spoke into the phone that evening. “Every report I’ve ever read about this phenomenon describes it as only lasting for a day or two. They should be shrinking by now, at least.”

  “It really does explain a lot about the waves of demon attacks throughout history. I suppose each wave related to some sort of inter-clan squabble.” May said in his ear. He heard her sigh and imagined that she was frowning. “So what do you want to do?”

  “I think that a large part of my trouble is related to my new, not very well understood Guardian’s power. If that is the case I may be able to gain control over the wings once I can get that power under better control. If that is not the case…” He knew he sounded tired.

  “I could ask Lee, maybe?” she offered.

  “It might come to that, but let me keep trying for a bit longer. If I can’t join you by tomorrow morning, we should all meet here.” He said, and rested his head in his hands after breaking the connection.

  He did manage to restrain the power hard enough to make his way back to the hotel in the darkness of the small hours. Lee found Michael sprawled, nearly comatose, on the great room sofa when he left for his morning run. It was the smell of coffee and bacon that finally roused him, and he allowed himself the luxury of waking slowly, listening to the sounds of the two Elders talking quietly before he opened his eyes.

  “Paula, I know it won’t mean much from me, but you would have my undying gratitude if you could bring me some coffee.” He called. There was a muffled yelp from the kitchen and Paula stuck her head around the corner.

  “Michael! Oh hon, I hope I didn’t wake you. Of course I’ll bring you some coffee, it’s the least I can do for you.”

  “You look terrible.” Lee commented, folding the paper carefully and eyeing him. “When you’ve had some rest, I expect to see you in the gym. From what May tells us you’re rustier than we thought.”

  “Agreed.” Michael eased himself into a sitting position. Though to be fair at the end I had some extra troubles to deal with. In fact I am still dealing.”

  “Oh?” Paula handed him a steaming mug and perched on the arm of the sofa. “May told us about the hound at the end taking a bite out of you.”

  “Indeed.” Michael stared at the steam drifting quietly upwards.

  “She also told us about why she needed all those stitches up her arm.” Lee added.

  “I can’t say we entirely approve, but it does fit the definition of emergency measures.” Paula agreed.

  “Lay off him, he was almost dead at the time.” May stood in the hallway entrance looking rumpled and grumpy. “And like hell I was going to let those mutant hellhounds kill another of my Guardians.” She stormed across the room into the kitchen. Michael’s eyebrows rose.

  “Well, I can understand that.” Paula sighed. “And we are glad you survived, Michael. I don’t mean to imply otherwise.”

  May came back out of the kitchen with her own coffee. She plopped down on the other end of the sofa from Michael and eyed him.

  “Lee has been chastising me for being out of practice.” He explained.

  “Mmmm.” She said, glaring at him over the rim of her mug.

  “Well, I’m going to go finish making breakfast.” Paula reached out and patted Michael’s shoulder, gently. “You just take it easy, both of you. All that fighting, and Michael took quite a beating. You’ve both earned a few days rest at least.”

  “Agreed. But I will see you in the sparring rooms. Soon.” Lee said, standing to follow her.

  “Subtle, aren’t they?” May said, watching the pair leave the room.

  “Tactful at least.” Michael agreed. They sat in silence for a few minutes, sipping their coffee.

  “They tell you about the Council’s decision?” May finally asked. Michael nodded.

  “That they do not wish to leave the fate of this area to a demon? Although it is interesting that they wish for us to watch over the gate. It seems that there has been a fair amount of travel between Realms in
the past month, which is unusual. Yes, I spoke with them at length on the phone last night. They know that I have lived here for several human generations, but I can’t blame them for not being entirely comfortable with the new circumstances.” He raised his eyebrows at her. “Are you?”

  “Well,” May took a deep breath and let it out very slowly. “Yes and no. I keep turning to tell James something because he’s here. But he’s not really here, you are, with enough of a trace of him to confuse the hell out of me.” She frowned at her coffee, trying to find a way to say what she needed to.

  “I always assumed that I’d have a whole life with those guys. It never crossed my mind to even think about what I would do if they ever died, because I figured we’d all be retired by then. Like Paula and Lee, you know? Teaching or researching or whatever else Elders do. It never crossed my mind that I’d lose them both before we even hit thirty. So no. I’m not really okay. I’m grieving, and that’s going to take a long time.” She finally looked up and met his eyes. Michael could see her mentally superimposing his other features over his human ones. Which did she think of as his true face, he wondered. He didn’t know which he thought of as his own anymore either, now.

  “I’m sorry.” He said. May shook her head again.

  “That’s not what I meant. Not really. I guess…” She frowned again, searching for the right words. “I guess that if this all had to happen, I’m glad it’s you. I trust you, and in a weird sort of way I’m comfortable with you around.” She finally said.

  “Breakfast, you two!” Paula called. She swept out of the kitchen with two huge plates of eggs and bacon. “You both need your strength. Come on, up to the table!” She set the plates on the table and turned to sweep back into the kitchen. May cocked an eyebrow at the door Paula just disappeared through.