by A C Wilds
“Let’s say I decide to go. How would we find Nox? The Demon Realm is a huge place. Considering what just happened, we might not have a lot of time.”
“Therein lies the problem. Nox has been missing for a century or so. Only one being may know where he is. It will be a journey, and I need you by my side. You can wield the Holy Magic. With it, we have a fighting chance. Without it, we have nothing.”
The odds of this working seem bleaker by the moment. Nox is missing, and I’m the only one who can turn the orb into a usable source. I don’t even know how to use it properly. Healing Mammon was mostly luck.
“You’re not a very good salesman.” I point my spoon in his direction before abandoning it. Picking up the water, I take a big sip, relishing in the lemon flavor coating my throat.
“If I’m anything, it’s honest. I pride myself on laying my cards out before the deal. I’m not a contract demon, and I won’t hide the truth from you. You deserve better.”
His eyes flash red, making me think he cares a bit more than he should.
“We have an impossible situation before us. There’s every chance we could die, but we need to at least try to stop Rahna from destroying life as we know it. Sounds like it might be fun. When do we leave?”
Torque
It didn’t take much convincing for the witch to agree to seek out Nox. The king of the Dark Demons is going to be hard to find, and I’m in awe of her ability to adapt. Going from all she’s known to the unknown in a flash is an admirable trait.
“You can’t be serious,” Mammon fumes. “Seeking Nox out in the Demon Realm is a death sentence. It’s worse than what the Tenebris witches will ever be able to do. In case these years on Earth have made you forget—we are at war!”
“I’m clear what my status is back home. The general will surely know about my return the second I step foot inside the realm, but Rahna wielding the Holy Magic is worse. She will have the capability to recreate worlds, Mammon. I’ll die trying to protect my people. Whatever the cost.”
Huffing, he takes a seat at the table. We sit in church, waiting for the others to join us. At nightfall, the witch and I will travel to the Demon Realm and begin our search for Nox. A pit forms in my stomach when I think about the danger bringing her will put her in, but I need the backup, which I’m not fond of admitting.
“How do you know Uriel will be able to find him? They’ve been apart for over a century. The bond may be broken.”
“It’s a chance I’m willing to take. There’s no other way.”
The door opens, and my crew flows in. Some take their assigned seats while others prop against the walls. I take my place at the head of the table before I open the meeting.
With no fanfare, I jump right in. “Tenebris is after us, and their high priestess wields Holy Magic. I’ll be traveling to the Demon Realm in search of Nox to help stop her. The witch is going with me.”
The room erupts in shouts—men and women talking over one another, trying to make their points heard. Caymn’s expression turns murderous as he slams his hand down on the table. When everyone freezes, I smile.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me. You’re going to leave us alone and vulnerable to go in search of that coward? For what—so he can run away again at the first sign of danger?” Caymn asks with a snarl.
“It’s the only way. Mammon will take my place in my absence, and you will be his second.”
Caymn shakes his head, thrusting his hands through his hair.
“If what you say is true, we will die without you here. A king should be where his subjects are. I’ll accompany the witch. If neither of us comes back, at least you’ll still be able to lead,” Caymn argues.
A piercing pain rushes up from my stomach into my throat as I contemplate Anima not returning. I could send Caymn with her, but his heart is selfish. We need someone who will do anything to protect our people.
“No. You will stay here to protect the clan. Once we leave, I believe the witches will back off. We have the numbers to fight. Without Anima here, they have no reason to act again so soon. Rahna will play this smart. We simply have to be smarter.”
Throwing his hands up, Caymn pushes his chair back so violently it flies across the room. “If you return and we’re all dead, think back to this moment when you could have changed all of our fates.”
The door slams behind him as he leaves the room. All is quiet for a moment while we contemplate his words. I’m taking a big risk, but there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for this clan.
“What do you need from us to prepare?” Mammon asks, breaking the silence. His complexion is finally back to normal, his eyes glowing with new life. Tara has obviously been taking care of him.
“Stay the course, lead in my absence, and everybody prepares for the worst. This is the beginning of a war—one we cannot afford to lose.”
17
Anima
Midnight comes too soon. The pale moon hangs heavy overhead as I walk with Torque through Lock Park. My tension is strung tight as I think about the sendoff the MC gave us. I’m not their favorite person right now.
I can’t say Shelley is all that happy with me either, but she understands. There’s too much at stake. If Rahna does as Torque is convinced she will, we could all die, or, worse, end up enslaved. With that much power, there is little we could do about it, and the lives of everyone on Earth deserves a chance at peace after what the Demons did.
A growl leaves my lips before I can stop it. All those dead humans, and for what? A deal between two clans who care nothing about human life?
“What’s put that murderous look on your face?” His brows scrunch in confusion. I wouldn’t expect him to understand what it’s like to live with the constant fear a demon may hurt you or a loved one.
“I was thinking about your part in demolishing the Mortal Realm. How you and the witches decided to take human life in order to co-exist. Tell me, King Torque, how do you manage to sleep at night with that on your conscience?”
Frowning, he turns away without answering. We walk in silence through the thicker woods. The animals scurry off through the brush, taking care not to cross paths with the two scary predators.
The terrain starts to incline, stretching my muscles. My breath comes a bit harder, but I relish in the challenge. It’s been ages since I’ve hiked. My training and missions have taken priority over everything in my life.
“We wouldn’t have done it if it weren’t necessary.” His voice cuts through my momentary joy.
“Destroying a civilization can never be considered necessary. I may be going on this quest with you, but make no mistake, King of Blood, I have not forgotten what you’ve done. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, or, in this case, is tolerated.”
“We weren’t given a choice!” His anger pushes his inner beast to the surface, his eyes glowing ruby red. I wave him off with a flick of my hand.
“How do you expect me to accept there was an additional treaty? I don’t know who to believe anymore. Rahna took me in when I was a toddler. No one knew who or what I was, but she cared for me in her own way. Now she wants to kill me because I may be the key to wielding a magic so raw it could change the universe? None of this makes any sense.”
“Anima…” My name from his lips is a plea. If I didn’t know better, I’d say just the way he said my name, how all the anger drained from his voice, made it sound like he cares about me.
In the quiet stillness alone with him, all the emotions I’ve been hiding want to come to the surface. They want to escape and be given to someone else, but I’m not weak. I’m still a Tenebris assassin whether the coven considers me one or not.
“I don’t need pity, Torque. My life has been hard, but I accepted that a long time ago. If we’re going to take Rahna down, I need to know what caused you to run from the Demon Realm.”
He pauses, backtracks, then takes a step toward me. Thinking he’s about to attack, I flinch, but he’s only watching me like I’m a puzzle he�
��s trying to solve, his brow furrowed.
“I’m the king of the Blood Demons. It’s my job to keep my subjects safe. When the general of my army raised a coup, the only thing I was capable of was running. He took most of my soldiers from me. With women, children, and the elderly and sick to think about, it was my last resort. I never wanted it to be like this.”
Seeming weary, he takes a seat on a nearby boulder. For a moment, I feel sorrow for him. Having the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders must not be easy.
“They followed us through the portal. We barely kept it contained. Mammon was lucky enough to have the last of his magic to close it. After the battle was done and my people lay at my feet bloody and broken, I had to contend with the witches. They weren’t too keen on understanding.”
He thrusts his hands in his hair, the truth of his story staring back at me. “We couldn’t go back, so we made the deal. Their power was intact, they looked like heroes, and we were able to exist in a world where my people weren’t hunted,” he continues.
“That’s awful.” My emotions run hot and cold through me. One minute, I’m so angry with him and the other demons. Yet, the next, I feel bad for them. I must be losing my mind.
“It’s in the past. We only have the future now. You and I can correct this. Make them pay for the murders and for torturing my people. We can change fate before she gets her claws in too deep.”
Sighing, I continue along the path we’d been walking. My feelings for the princep are confusing, to say the least, but for the humans and all the good that runs through this realm, I’ll have to try.
Torque
We make it to the portal in time for the first wave of night magic to caress my skin. Being this close to the veil causes every hair on my body to electrify. The pulse of power that washes over me has me groaning.
“What is that?” she asks, coming to stand by my side.
“It’s the magic of the Demon Realm. The veil is very thin here. I’m not surprised you feel it.” Her ebony hair blends into the darkness, making her alabaster skin glow brighter in the moonlight. My gut contracts with need.
“I’m not a demon. I wish you would stop saying that.” Her face scrunches in annoyance. It makes me want to lean over and kiss the wrinkle in her forehead.
“When you step through the portal and the magic slams into you, you won’t be able to deny it any longer. It’s going to consume you, even as a half-breed.”
A shiver runs through her, and my cock jumps at the thought of making her feel that way. This quest is going to be the death of me.
“I’m not a demon,” she insists again, but her resolve has weakened. Her conviction isn’t as strong as it once was.
“We shall see.”
Calling to my magic, I straighten my hands. They begin to vibrate with power. I don’t let go. Trembling, I push the magic out of my palms and spread it amongst the trees, holding onto it at all costs. I can’t release it.
I begin to make circular motions with my hands. The magic connects with itself, forming a doorway in constant motion. The darkness of the Demon Realm faces us, and I glance down at Anima.
“Ready?”
Her entire face lights up as the energy from my home pumps into her. “Yes,” she breathes.
“Grab hold of my arm, and don’t let go. We go together on three.”
Her eyes bore into mine as she nods. The silver swirling in their depths catches the light. I want to kiss her so badly at this moment.
“One, two, three…” Fueling the magic with the last of my reserves, I jump us through the portal. Heat and pain etch along my skin as I pull her closer. Portal jumping fucking sucks.
We land on the dusty ground about three miles from the nearest town. It’s the only place I could think of that might be safe enough for us to take cover.
“Where are we?” she asks, letting go of me. I instantly miss her warmth at my side.
“Gresa. It’s a small town outside the biggest city. We’ll spend the night here while we make plans for the morning. I need to feed after depleting my magic.”
Jumping away from me, she pulls her knife so fast it’s like it’s an extension of her arm. “You’re not biting me, Princep.”
Her body shifts into a fighting stance. Every graceful move makes me want to pull her in closer to me regardless of the consequences.
“Relax, little witch. I’ve brought blood. After tonight, though, I won’t need it. The land will refill my magic.”
She relaxes her posture, but keeps the knife in plain sight. Chuckling, I lead her down a path toward the town. “I’m not going to hurt you. Besides, once your body awakens, you’ll be much stronger than your starved self.”
“Are we back to thinking I’m a demon?” she asks with a groan, shaking her head.
“If you don’t believe me, touch the earth. See what happens to your magic. If you feel nothing, I’ll drop it, but if something happens…”
My voice trails off with the taunt. She glares at me, but bends. Hesitating, she hovers her hand over the red clay. Sighing, she releases it the rest of the way.
An explosion hits, knocking me back. Before I can get up, a scream rips through the air. Anima is covered in smoke, her body shadowed behind the demon magic.
I rush to her, but her magic shoves me violently back. Circling her, I try from another side, but I get the same results. She’s going to have to do this alone.
“Anima! Anima! You need to control it. Stem the flow. You can’t take it all in at once.”
Her gaze lifts to mine, the silver in her eyes so bright it resembles stars. Her power is beautiful to behold. I want to be wrapped up in it. Let it consume me.
Growling with frustration, she tries to filter it out, the smoke getting thicker as she fails. “I can’t do it. It’s too… strong.”
“You can and you will, little witch. We didn’t come all this way so you can die from your powers awakening. Concentrate on my voice. Focus on the pain, pull it to you, and push it back out.”
She grunts, and I can only guess she’s taking my advice. The smoke begins to clear, but she’s struggling and there’s nothing I can do.
“It’s too much.” Gritting her teeth harder, she lets out a howl of pain. My heart begins to break. I’ve just found her. This can’t be how it ends.
A roar sounds from the forest. A loud, powerful sound that shakes the trees and has my heart skipping. The Demon Realm is home to fantastically horrible creatures.
Anima’s head snaps up as the creature approaches through the thick brush. The hair on the nape of my next rises as I realize what’s come to confront us.
The white tyger. A mythical creature of the west, something I’ve never seen in my immortal existence. This isn’t the same as the feline from the Moral Realm. The beast stands six feet at the shoulders, stripes so thick I’m not sure if he’s white with black or the reverse. Muscles corded and ready to strike with teeth the size of my fingers. Eyes the same silver as Anima stare at me before it charges in our direction.
Smoke trickles along the dirt, searching for the creature. Anima’s posture tightens, and her roar awakens the night. The tyger doesn’t hesitate to barrel straight for her.
I move swiftly, trying to take the brunt of the attack, but he jumps over me and lands on the witch through the smoke.
She twists on her back, eyes swirling with power. I scramble up, trying to go to her, but the tyger hisses in my direction, and it gives me pause. His large claws sink into her shoulders, his teeth inches from her face.
Blood begins flowing freely from the wounds. His breath comes out in swirls of the same smoke as he roars in her face.
Nose to nose, they stare into each other’s eyes. I’m frozen in fear. I may be the king of Blood, but I have no idea how to take down an ageless beast of magic itself.
Anima’s smoke begins to clear, and a smile spreads across her face. The tyger rests his forehead on hers, chuffing in what I can only call happiness. She wraps her bloody ar
ms around its neck, and it rubs his face over hers.
18
Anima
My nose tickles from the fluffy fur in my face. I let out a laugh, and Namir presses closer to me. He saved me from the magic.
A shift on the dirt brings my attention back from the power surge. Torque stands a good distance away with his face contorted in shock and worry.
“Are you okay?” he asks. He takes a step forward, but Namir growls, warning him back.
I tap his nose, and he releases his claws from my flesh. I wince in pain, but as I sit up, he begins to lick the wounds. They heal instantly, and I ruffle between his ears in thanks.
“For a while, I thought I was lost. The magic invaded every part of me. It was so intense, and I was burning from the inside. And then Namir saved me. He sucked in all the magic, then funneled it into me so I could absorb it. It was incredible.”
I stand, brushing the dirt from my pants. Namir rubs alongside me, almost knocking me down. I strain my neck to look at him. He gives me a tyger smirk before turning to Torque with a growl.
Torque stares down the tyger with more balls than I thought he’d have when faced with a huge beast.
“He’s a friend. Don’t eat him,” I coo, raising my hand and scratching the side of the tyger’s face. He leans down to give me better access. I can’t believe I’m being affectionate with a demon cat.
“He’s your familiar,” Torque whispers. The awe in his voice makes me think not everyone gets a monstrous tyger as a familiar.
“I don’t know what he is, but I’d be dead if he didn’t pull me out of that power surge. I hope he sticks around. We could probably use his strength and protection.”
“He’ll go where you go for the rest of your days. You’re bonded by blood and magic. He claimed you as his own.”
It’s my turn to be shocked. I try not to squeal in excitement, not wanting to ruin my reputation as a badass assassin. But I can’t stop my huge smile as I lean into Namir. He’s so perfect.