Darkmask (Pharim War Book 5)

by Gama Ray Martinez

  “Was that a spider?” Osmund asked.

  Lina shivered and looked like she was going to be sick. “It had too many legs to be a spider.”

  “One of those possessing demons?”

  Jez shook his head. “Those could never survive this kind of heat.”

  “We should go, Jez.”

  “It didn’t look that tough,” Jez said.

  “Try fighting it when you don’t have anything to breathe.”

  Jez met his gaze for a second before nodding. They started to rise but hadn’t reached the ceiling of the chamber before the magma churned again. An arrow shaped head rose from the magma followed by a serpentine neck. A thick body with wings made of fire emerged. It stood atop the magma on four legs as thick as tree trunks. Eyes of blue fire locked onto the trio. It opened its mouth and roared so loud that the air vibrated against Jez’s skin and rocks came free from the ceiling.

  “Jez,” Osmund said. “That’s a dragon.”

  Then, it attacked.

  CHAPTER 16

  A ball of magma shot forth from the dragon’s mouth. In desperation, Jez reached into the magma itself. He had little strength with pyro magic, but magma was a mixture of fire and earth, and terra magic was an area he was strong in. The magma turned in the air, rushing past them and splashing into the rock ceiling.

  Jez shoved Lina at Ziary. “Get her out of here before you run out of air.”

  “What about you?” Lina asked.

  Jez drew more deeply of Luntayary, and the pharim’s power made his skin sizzle. “Pharim don’t need to breathe.”

  That was the case for ordinary pharim, though Jez didn’t know if it would hold true for one clothed in human flesh as he was. Still, it was the only chance they had. He didn’t wait to see if Osmund listened. He dove, sword first, toward the dragon. Fire billowed from the creature’s nostrils, but before Jez got close, it dissolved into flames. Jez pulled up just before he crashed into the molten surface. He flapped his wings to gain altitude, but a heartbeat later, his back exploded in pain. He screamed and spun in the air. The motion flung the spider demon from his back. It crashed against the wall, squealing. The burns on Jez’s back continued to send pangs of pain pulsing through his body. He threw a hand forward, and the rock wall opened briefly before closing again, crushing the spider demon in its grasp.

  Flaming jaws closed around Jez’s shoulder. For a second, all he knew was pain. He screamed. His sword fell from his hands, evaporating before it had fallen a few feet. He tried to send power into the demon, to wound or destroy it, but the pain was too much. He could feel its jaws burning through his flesh and searing him to the bone. It began pulling him down into the magma.

  A shadow passed over him. Suddenly, the pain decreased as the dragon demon released him. His wings barely had the strength to keep him aloft. He rose a few feet before turning to look at his foe.

  A being with flaming wings, and a robe that looked like blood, was fighting the dragon. She had a sword made of fire, and her eyes blazed even brighter than the demon itself. Taller than most men, she moved with a deadly skill far beyond mortal capability. Jez had seen her before, when he had called an army of pharim to invade the abyss.

  “Nakel?”

  The Shadeslayer didn’t acknowledge him. She just continued her deadly dance. The dragon flinched every time she struck. It wasn’t fast enough, and her blade sliced through its leg. The weapon passed harmlessly through it. The dragon seemed not to notice and continued retreating. After a few seconds, Nakel had scored another half dozen hits, all to no effect. Slowly, the dragon became aware and grew bolder in its attacks.

  It didn’t make sense. Nakel’s blade might look like fire, but it was really something more, a weapon crafted with the expressed purpose of battling demons. Nakel herself was a Shadeslayer, a warrior among the pharim. While the purpose of the Shadowguards was to defend, the Shadeslayers had been created to attack. Magma dragon or no, after landing so many strikes, the creature should have been banished.

  “Come on, Jez,” Lina said through clenched teeth. “I can’t keep this up much longer.”

  Jez blinked and looked up. Just inside the shaft leading to the surface, Lina and Ziary watched him. He turned back to the battle and understood. Lina had been in the abyss as well, and she had seen Nakel battle. He started to fly up, but as he passed through a strand of demonic energy, he shivered. A sneaking suspicion crept up on him. He looked to where he had crushed the spider demon. He extended his protection sense. Strands ran from the demonic remains to the dragon, and he understood. The spider had been a scout, something set to watch in case the dragon needed to be warned. Once it had detected them, it had called for the greater demon. The dragon had stopped what it had been doing to battle them. There were only a few things it could’ve been doing in the heart of the mountain. It might have been hiding, though that was unlikely given that the demons had the advantage. The only other possibility Jez could think of was that the demon had been searching for something, and if that was the case, it couldn’t be allowed to succeed.

  He tried to summon his crystal sword, but it didn’t come. He’d been wounded too badly, and his strength was spent. If this thing was to be stopped, it had to be in a simpler way, but he had precious few options.

  The dragon’s head snapped through the illusion of the pharim. For a second, it seemed confused. Then, it turned its eyes to Jez. Jez tucked his wings and dove at the beast. The demon actually seemed surprised. Once again, it dissipated, but this time, Jez was ready. He spun and threw his hands forward just as the demon reformed in the spot that would’ve been behind Jez a second ago. Jez shoved every ounce of power he could through his hands. It washed over the dragon. The creature only flinched.

  Jez didn’t think. He flew forward and grabbed its head in his unprotected hands. For a moment, pain so intense it blurred his vision filled him. It passed after a second, and Jez tried not to wonder if he had burned all feeling from his hands. Dimly, he realized the dragon was trying to pull away, but he refused to let it. He forced the pain back and looked into the dragon’s flaming eyes. He clenched his teeth. Now that he had physical contact, he sent his power directly into the creature. Its eyes blazed, and it opened its mouth to spew fire, but it was too late. The molten earth solidified, snuffing out the flames as it became solid obsidian. Jez sent one more surge of power into the beast, and it shattered.

  He drew back his hands, which were little more than blackened husks. Osmund and Lina were staring at him in utter shock. Jez tried to manage a smile, but the effort made him so dizzy he thought he would pass out. It took all he had to stay aloft. He limped through the air. Every breath burned his lungs, though whether that was because Osmund’s working was wearing off or because the demon had hurt him, Jez had no idea.

  “Did you really have to do that?” Lina asked.

  “Yes.” Even the act of speaking was taxing.

  “Why?”

  He took a few seconds to try to steady his breathing, but it was no use. “It was in the mountain.”

  “Yes, I know, but why didn’t you run when you had a chance.”

  “Do you remember what Besis said about the demon cages?”

  Lina thought for a second. “They work best for the one who created them, but anyone can use them, provided they know how. The stronger the demon was, the more power the mage has access to.”

  “There’s a cage in the mountain.”

  “There is?” Lina asked.

  “No,” Osmund said. “You can’t mean...”

  Jez nodded as he clawed at the air, struggling to rise. “Marrowit. They’re looking for the cage of Marrowit.”

  CHAPTER 17

  Jez’s strength was nearly gone. The battle with the dragon demon had taken too much out of him, and it took everything he had to pull himself out of the hole. As soon as he reached the surface, he collapsed onto the ground.

  “Jez, this isn’t exactly a safe place to take a nap,” Ziary said. He looked at
the sky and cursed. “The bat demons are coming.”

  Jez struggled to his feet, but his head swam when he tried to summon power. Ziary glanced at him and nodded.

  “Lina, hide him. I’ll go after the bats. Try to get him back to the city.”

  “What about you?” she asked.

  “I can take out those demons, but as soon as I do, I’ll probably have half their flyers on my tail.”

  “Osmund, you can’t.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m not about to kill myself by facing an army on my own. I still have enough control over Ziary to be able to run. With a little luck, I’ll lose them.”

  “No,” Jez said, though his voice was weak. “Get to the city. Tell them what we learned.”

  “I’m not going to leave you...”

  Jez stood up on shaky legs and spoke between heavy breaths. Every word was a struggle. He gripped Ziary’s collar, though that was as much to remain standing as for any other reason. “They have to know. If Sharim gets Marrowit’s cage, no one will be able to stop him.”

  Ziary looked him in the eye for several seconds. He met Lina’s gaze and sounded like he hated himself for what he was saying. “I should be able to reach Tarcai, but not if I stop to lure them away. Hide him. I’ll try to send help.”

  She nodded, and her eyes flickered purple. Ziary turned and flew away, moving so fast he left a red streak in the air. Jez released his transformation and returned to his mortal form. Most of the damage to his hands vanished, but his skin was still cracked, and he had no feeling in them.

  “I had no idea he could move that fast.”

  Lina shrugged. “His scion is of air and fire.”

  The catoz tried to follow, but they didn’t have the speed to keep up with him. In a matter of seconds, they had moved out of sight.

  “Can you walk?” Lina asked.

  Jez struggled to his feet. He tried to take a step, but he lost his balance. Lina caught him, though she grunted as she supported his weight. It took him a few seconds to regain his balance. He shook his head. “I can barely stand.”

  “Do you know where we are?”

  Jez shook his head. “Not exactly. We have to be close to the demon army. Somewhere ahead of them or else they’d be all over. We can’t stay here.”

  “I’m open to suggestions.”

  “We should at least get away from that hole,” Jez said.

  Lina spread her arms. This part of the mountain wasn’t quite as barren as other areas, but there was no cover. He tried to take on Luntayary’s form again, but his head spun, and he doubled over and threw up.

  In the distance, they heard a rumbling. Lina’s eyes went wide.

  “Jez, they’re coming. What are we going to do?”

  Hiding them with an illusion wouldn’t do any good. This place would soon be overrun with so many demons that he and Lina would be trampled, regardless of whether or not they were seen. He scanned the area, but there was nothing. Nothing aside from the hole.

  “In there.”

  “Jez...”

  “There’s no time.”

  He reached into the earth with his power. He didn’t have the presence of mind to do anything complicated, but this working was about a simple as it could get. He clenched his fist and twisted. A cracking sound echoed from within the hole as a piece of the side wall broke off and tumbled down into the magma.

  “Come on.”

  He stepped toward the hole. He was about to jump in when he reconsidered. He might be able to make it under normal circumstances, but right now, he was more likely to fall into the molten earth. He closed his eyes. This working was more complicated, though not by much. The stone groaned as the sound of the approaching army grew louder.

  “That has to be good enough,” he said. He grabbed Lina’s hand and jumped in.

  She cried out, but it only lasted a second before they hit the stone ground Jez has shaped from the wall a dozen feet down. Jez tugged at her, leading her into the small cavity he had formed. As soon as they were inside, he shaped the earth, locking them in. Then, he created a series of small holes leading to the surface to allow air in. When that was done, he slumped against the stone wall. The sunlight peeking through the air holes didn’t provide enough light to see by, but still, Lina didn’t create a ball of light.

  “I wouldn’t want to do that again.” Even speaking almost took more effort than he could muster.

  The earth rumbled louder, and soon they could hear heavy footsteps above them. Lina nestled in close to him.

  “It reminds me of when we were in the abyss.” Her voice had the hollow sound that always accompanied the illusion to keep their speech private. She smirked. “We always go to such nice places.”

  He was going to respond, but it was too much. He just leaned against her. Before long, he was asleep.

  CHAPTER 18

  “Jez.” Lina was shaking him. Slowly, he opened his eyes. The air felt thick, and he struggled to breathe. Though he’d created air holes, they really only allowed a trickle in, just enough so they wouldn’t suffocate. He had no doubt that the demons would’ve detected them if he’d tried to do anything more.

  “I think they’re gone.”

  Jez nodded, though he doubted she could see the gesture in the fading light. He stretched his senses through the rock.

  “I don’t think there’s anyone else out there.” He let out a breath. “How long was I out?”

  “I’m not sure. The sun came up a little while ago.”

  “Osmund?” Jez said, though he knew she had no way to know what had become of him. He tried to ignore the lump of guilt that bloomed within him. Osmund had to have made it back. He had to have. Slowly, Jez got to his feet. His head banged against the stone ceiling, but he barely noticed it. “I was out since yesterday?”

  She gave him a slow nod. “The battle could’ve already started. Can you transform?”

  Jez closed his eyes and drew on Luntayary’s power. The form came easy, though he had to slouch to fit. He reached into the well of strength that was Luntayary’s power and sent a surge of terra magic into the ceiling. It split open, and morning sun streamed in. He picked up Lina in one arm, though his hands still hurt from before. Once they took to the air, it didn’t take long for them to find the army. It hadn’t quite reached the caldera, though it was obvious the Academy’s terra mages had joined the battle. Craters and fissures opened beneath the demons, reducing their advance to a crawl.

  The sky teamed with flying demons. Giant birds and bats, transformed beast mages, met them in the air. From the ground, protection mages hurled bindings while destruction mages threw balls of fire. Ziary zipped around, leaving destruction in his wake. A wave of relief washed over Jez at seeing his friend alive, but he didn’t allow himself to dwell on it, not in the middle of a battle. Demons fell by the score, but even the combined efforts of the defenders weren’t enough.

  “Hold on to me,” Jez said. “I’ll need both hands free for this.”

  “All right,” Lina said.

  She twisted in his grip until she could close her arms around him. Her eyes widened as her fingers brushed his wings. They locked gazes for a second, and he drew his sword with one hand as he threw the other forward. A wave of pure force rushed out from him, distorting the air. The nearest demon, a thing that looked like a woman with bird wings, screeched before collapsing into dust. Half a dozen others suffered similar fates. Then, Jez rushed forward, drawing more deeply of Luntayary, his sword flashing as he waded into the fray.

  Demons converged on him, but he had come on them by surprise, and they hadn’t been prepared for a pharim to fly into their rear. He mowed through them like a scythe cutting through wheat, and after a few seconds, he had broken through the enemy lines. At least a dozen demons tried to come after him, but in doing so, they concentrated their position, making them an ideal target for the pyromages below. A burst of blinding white fire reduced the demons to ash.

  Jez landed in the path leading up to the Aca
demy just long enough to let Lina go. Then, he rushed to join the battle lines. There was an almost tangible sense of relief as he stood side by side with the mages of the Academy.

  His sword moved in a blur, often cutting down two or three demons with each stroke, but the tide kept on coming. Even drawing as deeply as he was of Luntayary, his arms were getting heavy, and his sword was slowing. Nearby, Captain Narva fought. In spite of the fact that she had no magic to speak of, she moved with deadly grace, cutting down demons almost as fast as the mages near her. Beside her, Jabur battled with a savage fury. Dusan’s former bodyguard had taken many wounds, but he fought on in spite of that.

  Above, the sky rumbled as clouds formed. Jez spared a glance over his shoulder. A woman in blue and red robes stood with her arms raised. She let out a cry and lightning spewed from the sky, incinerating flying and land-bound demon alike. The clouds let loose a torrent of rain. Jez turned back to the battle. The woman was a storm mage, one of the few who had strength in both the dominions of protection and destruction. The wind and rain would dampen the use of pyro magic, but venta and aqua magic would be strengthened at least tenfold.

  Jez tried to seize his power and lash out with the water, but he had used too much magic too recently. His energy was spent. He needed a boost and suppressed the shiver that ran down his back. He reached into his robes. He wasn’t sure it would be there. As far as he knew, everything he carried when he transformed was changed with him, but his fingers closed around a silk pouch. He thought about the phobos he’d banished on his first day at the Academy, and once again felt the oily sensation as he grasped his power. He gripped the rain, forming it into a whip. With a slash of his arm, the whip lashed across the line of demons, cutting down a dozen of them. A wave of force shot forward as he snapped the weapon back, destroying another half dozen enemies. Jez struck again, and his second strike was even more devastating than the first.

  Other protection mages lashed out with water while destruction mages utilized blasts of wind to knock flying demons from the sky. Ziary, seemingly unaffected by the storm, continued to strike with fire and sword. He blazed like the sun, and after a few seconds, there wasn’t a demon within a dozen yards of him.