The Shadow Rises: A Morgan Rook Supernatural Thriller (The Order of Shadows Book 5)

by Kit Hallows

  Hellish balls of fire shot through the grove like meteorites as the demons raged. One of their missiles almost caught Samuel and set him alight but he took down the snickering devil with an arrow to the heart then felled the fiend lurking behind its back. I glanced around the stark, bloody smoldering scene, relieved to find the mob defeated and our friends taking stock as they gathered their belongings.

  “Morgan,” Samuel nodded to the snow drift behind him where he’d stashed my gear. I strapped my holster on, then my sword and sighed as I pulled my coat on. It felt good to have my armor back. I checked through my bag, grabbed a crystal and drew in its energy, in an attempt to revive myself.

  “Oh. I have something better than that,” Erland said as he paused beside me and pulled out a small stoneware bottle.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  “A restorative. Go easy on it, there’s plenty in there, enough for both you and your allies.” He nodded to Samuel and Astrid.

  “Friends,” I said, and introduced them.

  I uncorked the bottle and took a sip. It tasted of caramelized apples, elderberries and cream. I felt a peculiar sensation as it slid down my throat and when it kicked in a warm flash shot through me, soothing the aches in my limbs and giving me a revivifying rush of energy. I handed the bottle to Astrid.

  “Is it better than my potion?” she asked, a dangerous smile on her lips.

  “Of course not.”

  “Liar.” Astrid took a swig. Within a heartbeat she closed her eyes and smiled. “Oh my. That’s grand.” She turned to Erland. “Is it from Faerie?”

  “Indeed,” Erland said, “it’s an old family recipe, used for battle and celebration alike.”

  “Nice!” Samuel said as he smacked his lips and returned the bottle to Erland. “Almost better than ale.”

  “Almost.” Erland smiled. And then his face became serious. “Now, let’s find Lampton.”

  We made our way up the rise to where the tree branches flickered orange and red above the glow of firelight. The sounds of battle raged as we neared the ridge, then we saw the combatants.

  The Nightkind had been cornered on one side of the clearing, next to the tents and temporary armory, by a dozen armored Fae that fought in a rough line. There was one I recognized, Aberfellow Hax. His pale golden armor glistened in the chaos as he swung his blade and cleaved a minor demon in two.

  At least seventy Nightkind were still defending the encampment; most of them held back but a few attempted to rally and charge. Bodies littered the front, most clearly Nightkind, but I caught glimpses of the burnished silver Fae armor among the dead.

  “Let’s flank them,” Erland called back, as he led us along the wooded rise. We pushed through the undergrowth as cries, howls and screams echoed around us. “There.” Erland held his hand up and nodded to a tree stump. “This might be a good position for you,” he said to Samuel. “Does it afford you an effective vantage point?”

  Samuel leaped up, notched an arrow and took aim. “It does.”

  “Don’t fire until we’re all in place.” Erland led Astrid and I down the slope and we emerged behind the raging mob.

  The Nightkind were focused on their frontline and the Fae, but one crooked imp clocked us as he staggered around looting the bodies that littered the camp. Erland clapped him hard over the head before he could sound the alarm and he fell to the ground unconscious.

  “Ready?” I called over the roaring tumult.

  “Almost.” Erland reached under his cloak and pulled out what looked like a large golden apple. The polished orb clinked again his chainmail as he yanked the metal stem out like a grenade pin and the thing began to glow. Black smoke poured from the opening as he reached back and lobbed it over the heads of the Nightkind.

  Boom! The explosion sent bodies flying in all directions and a plume of bright lilac fire burst through the air.

  “Charge!” Erland shouted and we flew down the hill toward the Council’s muddled army of degenerates. My gun blazed and I took down as many as I could. As soon as my ammo was spent I pulled the sword of intention and leapt into the midst of the throng, hacking and cleaving. Erland parried beside me, his rapier flashing in the gloom while arrows met their mark and Astrid slashed away with her blades.

  We carved our way through the heaving mêlée, attacking and defending until we emerged along the front held by the armored Fae. Their number was less than it had been but they assaulted the mob with a refreshed fervor as we merged with their ranks.

  It was only as I turned back to face the Nightkind that I felt the burning pain in my leg. The cut was deep, and then I noticed Astrid had been wounded too and her left arm hung limply by her side. The injuries could be healed, but not until there was a lull in the battle, and it didn’t look like that was coming any time soon.

  I glanced at Erland. His face and armor were spattered with blood, but it seemed none of it was his own.

  The Nightkind at the front of the pack held their ground, then their shrieks, jeers and cries fell silent. Someone within their ranks was shouting orders.

  Lampton.

  I couldn’t hear his words but I had no doubt we were about to be hit with a new, violent surge.

  “They’re preparing to charge,” Erland said. He spoke in Fae to Aberfellow, who relayed his message down the line.

  There were so many Nightkind. We were outnumbered at least four to one. It was going to be a massacre.

  I clutched Astrid’s shoulders, and she gave me a sad, resigned smile. I kissed her, ignoring the jeers and catcalls from the rallying Nightkind. Nothing else mattered in that moment, nothing at all. Just her. The field faded around me along with the hateful violent din and the only thing left was us. I drew her in close and she didn't hold anything back. In that instance we both knew exactly what we were about to lose, then we broke apart. Her gaze fixed upon mine and held it firm. “To hell with them,” she said, resigned.

  “This is it,” I said, “let's take down as many as we can…”

  She nodded.

  I turned toward the twisted crowd, my heart beating slow and even. We were going to die in this waylaid place that up until an hour ago hadn’t existed, not to the knowledge of most people in the city. But we wouldn’t go down without a fight, and I was determined to find Lampton and tear his head off, if it was the last thing I ever did.

  I can save us, my dark other whispered.

  How?

  Mediation. Lampton will spare us. If he doesn’t, my father will finish him.

  “No way,” I said. “Lampton’s going to die. They’re all going to die!”

  An ogre, flanked by a pair of demons, laughed, then his mocking cackle spread through the mob as the demons conjured fresh balls of hellfire in their palms. The air was riddled with their dark magic. I reached out and took what I could but Astrid placed her hand on mine. “No, Morgan.” She shook her head and her eyes gleamed with tears. “Don’t taint yourself with their wicked filth, battle this evil with your own power. Die with honor. Die as the man I love.”

  She gave me one final, bittersweet smile then her hand fell from mine. When she raised it again, she held a blade and a steely gaze in her eyes.

  I brought up the sword of intention, and we stood, ready to confront the end.

  19

  Erland cast a fast, urgent spell as the demons lobbed their hellfire. The air was charged and I stepped back as an iridescent wall rose around us. The flames struck and tiny cracks of darkness crackled along the shield.

  “It won’t hold long,” Erland cried to Aberfellow. The healer raised his gilded hand into the shifting air and strengthened the magic as another volley of flames was launched.

  Suddenly a huge creature broke from the ranks of Nightkind, part troll, part giant. Its leathery hide was the mottled color of old headstones, its eyes as white as snow. The creature carried a curved scimitar, and it raised it over its head before smashing it down toward Erland, striking his shield.

  An almighty clang rang
out, and the creature roared in victory as the enchantment vanished. Unimpeded, the Nightkind surged toward us, their eyes flashing in the murk, the sound of their charge almost deafening.

  I tensed as I readied myself for the clash then something bright appeared in the corner of my eye. It fizzled like burning phosphorus as it shot from the ridge above and landed in the midst of the Nightkind. A moment later a heavy explosion boomed and a spray of blood and charred flesh rained down.

  Purple bolts struck the battle field like lightning and golden light followed, then I saw figures emerging from the trees; witches, men and women, dwarves and imps, vampires and an unmasked succubus. They attacked as one, hurling spells upon the Nightkind and forcing them into a knot of disarray. The demons turned and fled back into the horde.

  “Are they with you?” I shouted to Erland, as he watched the spectacle.

  “No. They look like residents of the Quarter. They must have seen your signal, just as we did.” He glanced back to the Nightkind, raised his blade and called out to the Fae, then he turned “Are you ready, Morgan?”

  “What do you want me to do?” I asked.

  “Corner Lampton, and finish him.” Erland whispered a string of unheard words before clapping a hand upon my shoulder. A heavy, static-like charge surged through my system and I got the same feeling as when Samuel placed illusion spells over me. “They won’t see you,” Erland said, “not for a little while at least. Use the time wisely, vanquish our enemy.”

  “I’m going with you,” Astrid said as she moved to my side.

  “We'd fare better if you stayed here, to help us hold the line,” Erland said. He leaped forward as an ogre thundered toward him and cut it down before it could strike.

  “Very well,” Astrid said as she pulled a glistening pair of knives from her belt and tensed. “No mercy, Morgan, decimate the bastard. And come back to me.”

  I vanished among the trees as our reinforcements conjured another wave of spells and cast them on the horde. They were followed up with gunfire as a scattering of Nightkind charged out of the throng and tore up toward them. I jumped, grabbed a branch and climbed a tree, securing myself high in its forked trunk as I scoured the rabble below, hoping to spot Lampton.

  It was hard to get a handle on the skirmish. Monsters and warlocks roared, heaved and swarmed, some clearly gunning for Erland while others turned toward the ridge where spells and arrows rained down upon them. Many looked set to flee and - then I saw Lampton, in the midst of the ruckus barking orders.

  I dropped from my perch and shoved my way through the Nightkind, swinging the sword of intention as I went. I cried “End!” over and over as the sword wheeled through the air, hacking down any rabble standing in my way. Demons and vampires turned toward me, their preternatural eyes searching for the enemy felling their brethren, but finding nothing as Erland’s magic held firm.

  “Lampton!” I growled as a rough and bloody clearing opened around me. He glanced my way, narrowed his eyes, and then he saw me.

  I swung the sword of intention upon his head but it glanced off his conjured shield. Filaments of the silvery spell flickered around him like a web as the barrier lost some of its force. My next blow struck harder, and the tip of my blade grazed his chest. His eyes widened as he turned and plunged through the crowd. I was right on his heels, pushing through a knot of ratmen, taking two down before they even realized what had happened.

  My limbs ached, my chest was tight, but I pushed on, never once losing sight of my target.

  Lampton glanced ahead and called out, snapping his fingers as he fled through the mob. Three suited vampires took positions around him as he moved down the hill, and they turned, guns raised, while they waited for me to emerge.

  I pulled my gun, but it was empty and it was impossible to reach into my bag with the heaving horde of the Nightkind pressed in around me. I changed direction, pushed through the crowd and flew down the hill, circling back to the place I’d last seen Lampton, hoping to come up behind them. I paused to catch my breath, reload and grab a couple of crystals, drawing in their magic as I crept back toward the firelight and chaos.

  Lampton and his vampire guards eyed the horde, but now and then they glanced around the trees, as if suspecting an ambush. I froze as their eyes passed over me, then they turned back toward the battle. Either the murk or the last vestiges of Erland’s spell had worked to my advantage. Staring down the barrel of my gun, I focused the magic streaming through me as I took aim at the back of Lampton’s head. Then the muzzle blazed, and the round struck its mark.

  He didn’t move.

  Neither did the guards. Not a muscle.

  It took a moment to realize what they’d done. I turned and plunged through the forest in search of the real Lampton, when a crack of gunfire roared behind me. The bullets punched into the back of my coat and sent me sprawling onto the cold thin snow while pine needles stabbed at my palms. I spun around and fired back, my bullets ripping through the darkness and smashing into tree trunks.

  I slid down the hill, taking cover as another salvo of bullets ripped up my surroundings, then clambered to my feet and ducked behind a broad pine. The sweet smell of sap stirred my senses as its shattered bark rained down around me. I dropped lower, reached around the tree and returned fire.

  One of the guards fell, a red hole in his pale face. The others disassembled into a cloud of black motes, leaving Lampton exposed. I fired but he’d recast his shield and the bullets tumbled to the ground like dead flies.

  A blast of cold air whirled behind me. The telltale black motes caught the corner of my eye as a vampire materialized, sinking its teeth into the back of my neck before I could move. I twisted toward it and fired. The vampire released me with a hiss. As it staggered back, I shot it in the head and clamped a hand to my neck.

  The bloodsucker’s bite stung like hell but the bolt of fiery green energy roaring my way stole my attention as it lit up the dark trees surrounding me.

  I dived away as the eldritch magic exploded right where I’d stood. Dirt, roots and stones rained down. I glanced back to Lampton. He was conjuring another spell.

  That distraction was all the remaining vampire needed as it whooshed up behind me in a cloud of crackling darkness. I growled with fury as the creature pinned me against the cold earth, its eyes fizzling with victory and mean, desperate hunger.

  20

  I raised my gun as the vampire loomed over me but before I could fire, my hand was in its grasp, its claws sank into my wrist and I dropped the weapon.

  It leaned in close, its fangs descending toward me. I closed my eyes and struggled to shove the creature away. There was a roar of gunfire and the beast relented as something wet spattered my face. I looked up to find the top of the vampire’s head missing, and its eyes staring lifelessly. I grabbed its throat as its fangs fell toward me and tried to shove it away, but my arms failed under its dead weight.

  “Here.” Someone appeared by my side and pulled it off me.

  I turned and saw a tall young woman with beautiful bright green eyes and a fall of silver hair. Beside her was a man in his late twenties. He glanced down to the gun in his hand and his dark tousled hair obscured his face as he reloaded. He was blinkered, I knew that in an instant, despite the frayed cloak and black bandanna he masked himself with to hide it. I staggered to my feet and was about to thank them when Lampton cast another spell toward us.

  “Move!” I shoved them back and let my coat take the blow. Icy energy crackled in the air and the tree beside me turned charred and black.

  The man and woman melted into the trees but a moment later I saw him fire at Lampton. His bullets glowed, twisted and fell away as they struck Lampton’s shield. I grabbed some crystals, took their power, and pulled my sword. Lampton spotted me, and fled into the woods. I ran in pursuit, the crystals and my thirst for revenge driving me on as I hurtled through the undergrowth.

  As I closed the gap between us, I could hear his panicked, gasping breath. He turned a
nd threw out his hands. “Stop!” he barked.

  “Sure,” I said, lowering my sword. “I’ll just walk away and forget about all this. Yeah?”

  “I understand,” Lampton said, his words ragged and breathless, “but I wasn’t going to harm you tonight. I already told you that.”

  “Only because you were going to hand me over to Stroud.”

  “We have a place for you. These changes are coming whether or not you want them, but you can live. Indeed you can rule! This world,” he spat on the ground, “is a place of limitations. You have talent and potential. I can-”

  “You can die.” I grabbed his chin and forced him to look me in the eye. He tried to shrink away, but I held him firm before shoving him back.

  “Imagine how much I can hel-”

  His gaze widened and he threw out his hands as I swung the sword and tore through his throat. With the second blow his body crumbled to the ground and his head tumbled into the snow a few feet away.

  My fleeting sense of triumph faded as the cold and darkness drew in around me. Lampton was a victory, but only a minor one in the grand scheme of things. Stroud was the one we had to stop. I paused to look around for the strangers that had saved me, but they’d vanished.

  “Let’s go,” I muttered as I crouched down and grabbed hold of Lampton’s slick black hair. Then I stood and carried his gory head off through the trees. Soon firelight and spell light gleamed around me. The tables had turned; only thirty or so Nightkind were still standing. They'd formed a defensive circle to ward off the Fae and our unexpected reinforcements from the city.

  I lobbed Lampton’s head into the midst of the monstrous crowd and watched as the realizations took hold. Some broke for the woods, some fought and fell in the chaos and others slowly lowered their weapons. Those who fled were pursued and felled by armored Fae and ragtag fighters. My body ached as I plunged on. No mercy was shown. Once Lampton had declared that our laws no longer applied, as far as I was concerned it was open season on anyone and everything who'd aided him. I searched for Mr. Humble amongst the survivors and the dead, but there was no sign of him. He’d keep.