by A C Wilds
As I take my first step up the stairs, a hand grabs my throat, pushing me back into the wall. Before I’m completely pinned, I kick out, and my attacker grunts. Putting distance between us, I pull my SIG. There isn’t enough room in here for a sword fight.
He advances, and I fire off a round. The bullet gets stuck in the bar, missing him. “Little witch, didn’t I tell you to stay away?” His voice sounds like it’s coming from everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
“I’ve been tasked with your assassination. I have a death warrant that lists your crimes against humanity. Come out, and I’ll make it quick.”
I scan the darkness, but I don’t see him. My smoke is impenetrable, but it’s like he’s not even here. I feel, see, and hear nothing. It’s as if I’m fighting a ghost.
A kick to the back has me dropping my gun to spread my hands, bracing myself for the impact of the unforgiving floor. I twist as soon as I hit the ground, then push to my feet. I’ve practiced this move a thousand times. Never stay on the floor—unless death is what one wishes for.
“No more games. Come out and fight like the princep you are. Or are you afraid of the scary dark witch?” Taunting him seems like a good idea…until he appears from out of nowhere and takes a spot in the middle of the room.
Torque releases his glamor, standing before me in a relaxed position as it melts away. He has on his usual jeans and t-shirt with his cut covering the bulk of his chest. Cracking his neck, he gets into a fighting stance.
“All right, little witch, let’s see what you can do with those cute fists of yours. I’m sure having your hands all over me will be the best last thing you ever do.”
Dropping my smoke, I prepare myself. He has no armor on at the moment, but that could change at any time. It had taken him less than a minute to coat himself yesterday.
He advances with a speed that makes my eyebrows rise. Normally, I’m the fast one. My advantage will be my height. It’s hard to hit when the person is so close to you. I slide into his body, ducking to the right at the last minute and landing a blow to his ribs. He grunts out a small sound. Stung a bit, huh?
Pivoting my body to the right, I use his body like a ladder and land on his shoulders, my legs wrapped around his neck. I attempt to use the momentum to drop him to the floor, but he reaches up and catches me with his monster hands on my hips.
Suddenly, this doesn’t feel like a battle to the death. I try to buck off him, but he’s steadfast. Crashing us into a wall, he tries to dislodge me from his shoulders. I squeeze with all my might. If I can get him to blackout, I could slit his throat.
“You’re going to have to do better than that,” he gurgles out.
“If you insist,” I say, pushing my smoke down my arms and grabbing onto his head. My palms are flat to either side of his face.
Tendrils of blackness coat both my arms, creeping onto his skin, but nothing happens.
“What the fuck?” I exclaim. This has to be a mistake. I push more smoke into him, but he just laughs.
“Are you trying to kill me with demon smoke?”
His question causes me to freeze, my entire body becoming rigid with shock and fear. Seconds later, I’m thrown backward. Dazed, I find myself prone on the floor, gazing up at the president of Hallowed Ground.
His expression is amused, devoid of the anger he’d displayed before. “Get up,” he says, giving me his back and walking up the stairs.
8
Torque
A Tenebris witch with demon smoke, a Shadow Slayer. How is that even possible? Her scent is all witch, earthy and bitter. There isn’t a trace of demon blood in her—not any I can see—so why does she have demon powers? And not just any demon’s power, but the king of the Dark’s magic.
I hear her huff up the stairs. She’s a worthy opponent, but tonight isn’t the night either of us die. Tomorrow maybe, but we need to get some things out in the open first.
“How are you not affected by my smoke?” she asks, sword drawn. The blade gleams in the lamplight. It’s a good blade. I’m easily able to tell by how it sings with the dark. Its magic reaches out for me.
“You have demon magic. I can’t be killed by it,” I explain. Her face twists in anger before morphing into suspicion.
“My shadow smoke is witchborn. I have no demon in me. You’re mistaken.”
I lean against the desk, my posture calm and at ease. “Who in this room is a demon king? Raise your hand.” Raising my hand, I grin.
Scowling, she grits her teeth in anger. “Talk, or I’m going to start slicing. Down there was a practice run. We can draw blood in this pretty office.”
“Little witch, you are not skilled enough to kill a king of demons. They sent you on a suicide mission. For what reason, I do not know. But you should be wary of your people going forward.”
“Never mind where I stand with my coven. Tell me about my smoke.”
“The smoke that runs through you mixes with your blood, and comes when you call is the magic of the Dark Demon king, Nox. He can call smoke and use it to hide in the shadows or kill his opponents by sucking out their souls.”
Her jaw comes unhinged, and it drops open like a drawbridge. It’s a very unusual gesture for a warrior, but I could see how this is a shock to her.
“You have to be mistaken. I’m a Tenebris witch. I serve the priestess and my coven. I fight for the humans against the demons who have scourged this plane. I know my place, and it isn’t with the demons.” Her voice holds so much disgust that I flinch back.
“Believe it or not, but it is the truth. Now, let’s discuss why you are here, besides the killing part.” I’ve got to get this conversation back on track before the rest of the club returns.
“You’re a murderer. You’re collecting humans against their will and making them into your vampires. The council has proof. It’s on the death warrant.” Her stance is firm. Nothing will make her waver from her course in life. This will prove to be tricky.
“Can I see this warrant?” I hold my hand out, expecting to have something placed in it, but she sheaths her sword and pulls out a knife.
She cuts her palm, chanting a spell over it. The blood pools in her hand, making my mouth water. If her scent were intoxicating before, it’s irresistible now. It’s dripping with life and magic.
I move one foot toward her, and she throws the blade at me. A stinging sensation floods my body as the sharp tip enters my shoulder. “Don’t move again,” she whispers, then finishes the spell.
I try to take the knife out, but my hand burns once I touch the blade. The amusement in her face makes her mouth tilt up just a bit.
The blood begins to crumble, and she tosses it in the air like a powder. A single sheet of paper forms between us, transparent, but with writing all over it.
It is a decree. I am charged with the deaths of over one hundred humans. It states I took them against their will. The rest of the document spouts even more lies, but because there is no court of law for demons, the witches declare death and move on to the next demon.
“This is it? A document that explains crimes I did not commit. How is this just?”
“I don’t care,” she says, releasing the spell. The powdered blood falls back into her hand, and she pours it into a pouch on her belt. Smart witch.
“It is not my place to question the warrants I am given. I am the Shadow of Tenebris. I carry out my instructions. You are no different, regardless if you’ve provided information.”
Her mind is made up. There isn’t much I can say to make her stop this crusade, but I may have one more thing that might interest her.
“How about we make a deal? More information for stopping this mission. You cannot beat me, little witch, and it would be such a shame to kill you before we figured out what you are. You intrigue me.”
“No. I’ll take my chances. I’m not afraid of death.” She pulls her sword out again, and its call bounces around the room.
“A wager then?” I ask. There has got to be a way t
o make this witch agree.
“You are truly afraid of me, King?” Her head cocks to the side as if I’m a puzzle she’s trying to figure out.
“Not afraid, just cautious. I believe we could help each other. Besides, it’s probably eating at you—what the prospects meant by Holy Magic.”
Her eyes widen. Got you.
“There is no such thing as Holy Magic.” Her voice is strong-willed. She truly lives by the laws of Tenebris. There’s no gray for her.
“There is a great number of things your young mind knows nothing idea about. Holy Magic is real, and your priestess possesses some.”
9
Anima
“Lies. You are a Blood Demon with a contract on your head, and you expect me to believe that Holy Magic exists? There haven’t been Pure Gods for thousands of years. They were the only creatures to wield something called Holy Magic. What makes you think they’ve returned?” The disbelief in my voice only has him smiling.
“Someone has been doing research, but not the right kind.”
“It doesn’t concern you.”
“I can show you. But you have to remove the knife from my shoulder.” He gestures to my demon blade buried deep into his muscle. I’m surprised it took him this long to ask.
“I’d normally only remove it when you’re dead.” The weapon won’t disable him, but it will slow him down, at least in that arm.
“I’m asking as a show of good faith. You remove it, and I reveal the Holy Magic.”
It would be stupid of me to believe him. I don’t know this demon. How could I trust him to keep his promise?
“Why would I trust a Blood Demon who takes the lives of humans without their consent?” I snarl the last part, making sure he understands my disgust. Regardless of how good he felt when we grabbed my hips or how he smells, he’s a demon and my assignment.
“I assure you I have not committed these crimes. There have been false reports created by your coven to remove demons from this realm. Have you ever thought about asking why you are tasked to kill so many of my kind?”
“You came to this realm and destroyed everything you touched. Then you expect us to let you rule. The only way to police your kind is to kill them. There is no other option.”
“And you believe that? What makes you different from us? You kill blindly without asking questions. Your priestess has you so enthralled that you’ll do anything she says. What if the humans are next? Will you kill them, too?”
His words sting. All my life, Tenebris has been my guiding light. They raised me, trained me, and gave me a purpose. Without them, I am nothing. To change that would mean I’d be changing the very makeup of my existence.
“My opinions are meaningless. Tenebris is the barrier between demons and humans. If we don’t intervene, this Earth would be ruled by monsters.”
He sighs, shoulders drooping in disappointment. For some reason, that bothers me.
“Have it your way then. Tomorrow, we will fight in the meadow at Lock Park. Come alone, and I will do the same. It will be to the death. This time, I won’t hold back.”
“What is stopping me from killing you now?” I begin to stalk over to him when I instantly freeze. The blood in my veins slows to the point where I have almost no pulse. I can feel a tightness in my chest where my heart is supposed to be pumping my blood.
“Do you feel that—how your blood calls to my magic? I’m the king of the Blood Demons. I didn’t get to this position without power. I could crush you now from the inside out. Boil your blood and watch you explode.”
Fear like I’ve never felt courses through me, Torque’s magic is more powerful than Rahna’s, and I don’t think she knows. Or if she does, she truly sent me on a suicide mission.
The spell is broken, and I double over in pain. My body is starving for the oxygen it needs—every cell in my body craving his control over my blood. There is no way I could take him on when he possesses this much power.
“Go, little witch, and make sure you prepare for tomorrow. Regardless, it will be the end of life as you know it.” With that, he teleports in a cloud of red smoke, leaving me alone in the office of the king of Hallowed Grounds.
Torque
The little witch clambers out the window into the night air. She was afraid, the smell of it coating my skin and causing my inner beast to nearly explode with lust. Not only is she attractive, but her scent drives me wild. I can only imagine what her blood would taste like.
The sound of bikes breaks my concentration as the boys return from the drop-off. The Dark wanted to trade regardless of what happened to Azzoz. They must be short on cash to still make this transaction.
“Pres, we got it,” Mammon says as he enters the room. I’m seated at the bar, drink in hand, waiting for them to appear.
Everyone files in after him, and I check to make sure each is unharmed. No signs of a struggle. It’s another win. Having to go to war with the Dark is right up there with killing the witch. I don’t want to, but force my hand and I’ll choose my demons any day.
Mammon walks over, then puts the orb on the bar in front of me. It glows a white so pure I have to squint to keep my eyes on it. A power emits from it, waiting to be unleashed. Holy Magic. Inside a consecrated reliquary with symbols from old languages and religions, the magic pushes at the edges looking for a way out. Only the strongest container could hold it, and this one looks solid.
“Did they accept our gift, or did you have to give the additional item?” I ask, staring into the mist of the orb. I don’t know what I hope to find, but I do know this tips the balance. A bit of Holy Magic on Earth will prevent the demise of the demons no matter how powerful the witches become.
“They were agreeable to the land. I didn’t have to add in the demon keys,” he replies, keeping his voice low and watching the rest of the club settle into their nightly routines. He slides the keys under the bar into my hand, and I place them in my pocket.
What was once stolen has finally been returned to me. The horrific things I had to do to obtain it make my insides curl, but to have it back makes my muscles untense in relief. I’m grateful the Dark never discovered what it truly is.
Club bunnies lurk in the dark outside, waiting for the opportunity to be let inside. When the music starts to play, the females stroll in where they’ve been waiting in the shadows. The lengths they will go through to latch on to the right guy disgusts me. It almost always ends in sadness.
Snatching the orb up, I walk to my office. The door opens silently, and I inhale the scent of the witch. It floods my senses, sending a shock of exhilaration through me. I want her—bad.
Opening my safe, I place the orb inside. I lock the physical lock, but then put my hand over it. Demon sigils light up, and a burst of power washes over the safe. My hands tingle still from the powerful magic leaking from the holy object.
When I turn, I catch sight of something that wasn’t there earlier. There’s a note on my desk, the writing foreign. Picking it up, I read the perfect cursive.
Maybe I changed my mind.
Smiling like an idiot, I sniff the note. The little witch might be more rational than I originally gave her credit for. Her demon magic might yet control her curiosity.
Perhaps there is hope for us after all.
10
Anima
Lock Park is on the outskirts of New City. Since the invasion, the forest has overtaken it, growing into a wilderness that can’t be contained. No one comes here unless they are slightly insane, which describes me perfectly at this point.
Moonlight guides me into an unusual clearing through the broken trees. A chill of foreboding shivers down my spine when I think about what I’m doing. Instead of coming here with the intent to kill the president of Hallowed Grounds, I came solely to find out more about Holy Magic, something I didn’t know still existed until two days ago.
I must be crazy for thinking this could work. My shadow magic did nothing to him. If I’m forced to fight with a sword or gun, the
re’s no way I can win. He’ll freeze my blood before I manage to take three steps.
A branch cracking sounds from behind me. I spin around, my hand flying to the dagger strapped on my hip. Torque strolls out of the woods without a care, certainly not as if he’s about to kill a Tenebris witch. He’s relaxed and confident. This isn’t going to be good at all.
“Don’t you look the part?” he questions, his movements languid and loose.
“The part of what? An assassin? The last witch you’ll ever see?” I taunt. If I’m going to go down, I might as well get in a few good barbs.
Releasing a deep, throaty chuckle, he stops in front of me. A mere ten feet separate us. With the element of surprise, I could take him, but yesterday’s fear pumps through my system. My cowardice makes me growl, but I force myself to draw my sword.
“Curious and ready. You know something is going on with the covens, and it’s eating you alive not to know. If your demon is riding you, there is no way for you to forget it and move on.”
I gape like a fish, mouth opening and closing. “I’m not a demon.” My words sound weak. Even with all my years of training, doubts float through my mind.
“Believe what you want, but, deep down, you know the truth.”
Bending, he places the satchel he’s carrying on the floor. The flap flips up, and a glow illuminates the night. He pulls out a sphere, no bigger than a baseball, and holds it up for me to see.
My breath catches in my throat. The magic swirling inside sings to my core. It’s so beautiful. The surrounding air is charged with some type of enchantment. Even the trees seem to take notice, bending their branches to lean into the clearing.
“That pull you feel? It’s Holy Magic—pure untamed power. It can be sculpted into anything the wielder wishes, which is why it’s so valuable. Spiritus used it for creation, but Tenebris want to abuse it—use it as a weapon.”