“Huh?” Ethan stood as memories returned and more flyers came in to land all on the roof. Most were curiously quiet and wary around him.
“Where’s the Kitsune, Lad? We can have a brawl another time, but now we need it and the mirror.” Thor pushed aside the pain and threw his braid of golden hair back across his spine.
“Gone.” Storm-shadow announced. “I didn’t hear much, but I saw the Kitsune flee and the Crescent Mirror is no more.”
“WHAT!” Came a mighty voice and heads shot up as an Enforcer of immense power landed before Ethan, Storm-shadow, Shadow-storm and Thor. His helmet was on fire, had gigantic black wings, carried a lance of pure light and a sheathed sword at his hip. The enforcer stood fourteen feet tall and bulged with muscle that all Enforcers and male Spirit Guides had in surplus. “Explain! Fate sent me when the mirror was just used. It needs to be recovered.”
Storm-shadow stomped on a silvery chain and said “All that remains is this. I saw it crumble and disappear. The Kitsune made some wish and next I see is my companion jump over and place his hands on the mirror too. Then there was a blinding light and the Kitsune fled.”
The burning helmet turned on Ethan, but the oppressive anger of the Enforcer lessened. Large black eyes behind the helmet’s fire narrowed till he said “The Elemental returned to life? Fate will not be pleased with what you’ve done.”
“I could care less what he thinks right now.” Ethan growled and everyone gasped, but the Enforcer made no move. “I did what I thought was right. If you’re looking for someone to blame you need to go place it on him. It was his doing that made the Kitsune steal the mirror in the first place. I don’t really know what happened to it, but if it’s gone I say good fucking riddance. Something that powerful should never have existed to begin with. Right now I’m in the mood to roast something so I suggest you fly along before you become fried chicken.”
Deathly silence blanketed the whole rooftop and even the wind seemed to hold its breath. Then the Enforcer walked forward, a mountain of muscle, but Ethan held his ground while everyone else backed far away. They stared at each other for a moment before the giant of a man bent over and plucked the chain that once held the mirror. “Mr. Volorum, you would do care to watch that mouth against we Enforcers. If my duty was not to retrieve the mirror you would be punished. I give you this one warning. Hold that tongue no matter how overwhelmed you are. Be thankful my task is clear and finished. If the mirror is destroyed, so is my needed presence.” Black wings spread and instantly the Enforcer shot to the sky, soon all that could be seen was the flaming helmet in the starry sky.
A great sigh came all at once, but the first to laugh was Thor. “Lad, you sure have some mountain size stones. Even I fear the Enforcers. Go put on some clothes and take a breather.” At that, Ethan blushed and looked down to realize how he was dressed. “The rest of you, make sure the Kitsune is caught or killed if need be. Lad, did it say where it was heading?”
Ethan stopped and knew what he had to do. Right now he had to let this one go. Tokala earned a second chance this time. “Not really. All he said was he was the Kitsune you didn’t kill long ago.” This darkened Thor’s mood. “Maybe you can tell me why it’s suddenly dark out? Before I tried getting the mirror away I remember it still being daylight.”
“Daylight?!” someone in the crowd said. “You’ve been out of contact for over twelve hours. Everyone’s been worried when we lost communication.”
“Everything will be sorted soon!” The commanding officer with a hammer said loudly while readjusting his eyepiece. “Right now we need to hunt the fox down. Get to it!”
With a roar, half charged the door while flyers took off and surrounded the building. Ogres, Nagai and Amazons poured through the hospital but as Ethan stumbled to the door his legs were wobbly and began buckling. Scaly hands shot out of nowhere and Ethan was eased down by Blake as Floa had Translocated the entire team. “Easy now.” The Naga said, nearly poking Ethan in the eye with the pommel of the broadsword sticking out from his right shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
Nell knelt beside him with Kira and were concerned, but listened as he said “Drained…” He sighed and breathed deep. “Feels like I just completed one of your grueling training sessions and all my joints ache… So it’s really night. I swear it’s felt like a few minutes tops.”
Storm-shadow then tossed his mane and pranced around to say “This scent… a plant from Demon World. It acts like magic, shifting perception to make time appear faster. A short quarter hour, given the concentration, may make a day pass completely. Quite dangerous if prolonged. Your body would starve to death in what would merely be an hour or so. Ellen, in my saddle, pull out the canteen. He needs to drink and flush his system.” The Centaur came over and did so. She then handed the drink to Ethan who greedily drank, realizing how dehydrated he was. “It is no wonder you are so temperamental and challenged an Enforcer. Take care of yourself and cool off.”
In seconds the canteen was empty, but before he could ask for another Magnus handed his over, but was actually a sports drink. He said “Thanks.” and downed it too. By the time he finished it Kira had left and returned with his clothes and his headset saying “I found these in a corner by the stairwell, by charred marks made by your feet.”
He was appreciative and quickly slipped into them and excused himself as a biological emergency hit and he had recovered enough to run to the nearest men’s room and voided an overfull bladder.
By the time he returned to the roof as a new man, many were quietly waiting for an explanation. He waved his team over to a corner as well as Thor and Shadow-storm. In a low tone he said “You won’t find the Kitsune, but he isn’t what any of us expected. Thor, I know you rarely let anything go, but he has changed. We need to go to the First House for a debrief.”
“Tell me right now why I should.” The head of the Fifth House levelly commanded.
“Have you asked yourself why the Kitsune hasn’t hurt a single individual? How long ago did you and he clash?”
“Six hundred or so years ago.” Thor said. “And yes, it has bothered me. Last we met he was a cruel bastard and stole some precious items from my loft. He is one of the few demons who can claim to have bested me. So what was this wish the Enforcer said had happened? What was the wish?”
“To heal someone dear to him. He was willing to sacrifice himself to do it. I don’t know what happened after, but before I passed out I tried taking his place…”
“Ah, so now it makes since.” Thor rubbed his scaly smooth chin. “There is an old legend my father told me of the mirror that says only a selfless act will end the mirror’s power. If it is truly gone… well… there is nothing anyone can do. And agreed we are, Lad. The mirror needed to be destroyed. I cannot say the same for the Kitsune. His past must be judged. And find him we will. But you must return to my father and tell him everything, and I do mean everything. Since you belong to his House I cannot order you without his directive.”
“Thor,” Ethan grabbed the man’s arm and released it quickly when the ancient warrior glared. “sorry, but you need to trust me on this, he has changed, for the better. He could have wished for anything, but he spoke on behalf of another. Believe me when I say that if he wished for anything else I would have roasted him without a second thought. We were this close from one another.” Ethan stepped back some. “He isn’t like other demons I’ve faced. If by some chance you do find him and he doesn’t attack, you will detain him only. He has spent the last seventeen years repenting and I believe him.”
“LOST THE SCENT!” a Naga shouted from the door a dozen yards away.
Thor gave Ethan an appraising look before shaking his head. “I’ll take your opinion under advisement, Lad. When we find him, so long as he doesn’t attack or harm another, he will be treated justly. He broke many laws and will be held accounted for. But if he so much as retaliates in any damaging way, I’m going to put him down and finish what is long overdue.”
“Th
at is all I’m asking.” Thor nodded and walked away, barking orders to secure the entire building. A familiar person landed on his shoulder. “Floa, how’s your girl?”
“Shaken still, but unharmed. She’s never been so helpless without her Translocation abilities. She and her team, as well as everyone are unharmed. Are you ready to head home and answer to my fiancé?”
This silenced the group completely. “Wait? When did you get engaged… I thought your and Nymph kinds only marry your soul mates when you… you know.” He said.
“I’ll let Odin explain. I just can’t keep it as a secret anymore.”
Magnus snorted. “Odin? That virile old Viking? He’s never married and never settles.”
Nell laughed. “You’re joking, Floa. Odin is the most promiscuous male to exist. And he only sleep for a week in a whole year, meaning he has a lot of time to get things done.” One green eyebrow arched. “Usually with threesomes every night. Once he satisfied a hundred women in one night.”
“A hundred and nine actually.” Floa corrected proudly. “I was there and wow… What a rush!” the Pixie giggled as she shivered. “But you will learn soon enough that he has been granted a gift that no one knew about. And I can’t wait to see your faces when I make him tell all of you.”
“Floa, thanks.” Ethan said and she smiled.
“Don’t mention it! You looked like you needed a distraction. If you need more I can tell you about my sex life?!”
“No!” Ethan shouted and laughed as she expertly eased tension. “Right now I want to sleep and dreaming of you getting it on with that ancient badass will give me nightmares.”
“Awe, you’re still so adorable.” She patted his cheek. “And here I thought you and Kanade would finally shed that shyness after all the time you two…” She stopped as he placed his middle finger against his thumb and tensed. She knew he would flick her. “Alright. Hey, I can’t stop being what I am. Immortal sex drives in women are insatiable. You’ll learn soon enough. Everyone ready?”
All nodded and she clapped.
They instantly Translocated to the road outside the castle. Then before they took one step Floa clapped again, disappeared and ten seconds later reappeared in her larger form, carrying Blossom asleep in her arms and even brought along Kanade.
“Ethan!” Kanade began to cry as she shot after him, wrapped her arms around him and took to the sky. She slowed as he croaked “Can’t Breatheee…” and she pulled away. He sparked a levitating flame above them so he could see her face. She used her power to lock them in place so she didn’t need to flap her wings constantly to hold position. Down below the team waited, but Floa disappeared with Blossom and came back soon empty handed, obviously to put the baby Pixie to bed. Kanade though said “I’ve been so worried, My Angel. Dress kept me informed and told me you were lost, no one could communicate with you all day. I was so worried.” She cried into his neck while he stroked her hair soothingly. “The other team you saved tried goin’ back to rescue you, but couldn’t get anywhere near close… Oh, Ethan, I was so worried. What happened?”
“I’m okay. Really. I would like to tell this only once because I’m tired and hungry and I want to hear why Floa and Odin are going to be married.”
The last part had Kanade’s tears stop and she drew away in surprise, but not releasing her superhuman embrace around his middle. “What? When did this happen? They…” She looked down at the patient group and then back at him. “You better not be lyin’ or tryin’ to make my worry into a joke. You won’t like… Oh who am I kiddin’. Come here.” Despite her embrace, she leaned forward for an expected kiss. He was all too eager to oblige. When they pulled apart she spoke in a dainty yet husky tone. “You better find a way to make me feel better, Husband. I expect you to make up for puttin’ me through Torment.” Hell’s equivalent.
“I’ll start with a backrub.”
“And bring me to ecstasy till I tell you otherwise. And I’ll make sure you won’t get a wink of sleep so that you won’t be able to leave bed. I’ll make it especially impossible to walk as my legs will be locked around you. You have much to make up for before I consider lettin’ you from my sight again.”
“Your wish is my command, Ma’am.”
She smiled and read his surface thoughts and liked what she saw. She felt an erotic shiver shoot up her spine and warm the entire core of her being before she asked “Love, it will be quicker to let me read your mind. May I?”
“Go right ahead. I have nothing to hide from you, but later, if I omit certain details, will you promise to stay silent?”
Kanade nodded and dove into recent memories of the past half hour to say “So you had no idea that I’ve been in a tizzy all day and night? And I agree, you did the right thing. I also am glad that you are so selfless. I wouldn’t have been mad if you had died, but I’d be there right behind you, proud you did good and gave your life for a stranger, a demon at that. And to answer your biggest question, Yes, some demons aren’t a threat and can love. It is rare though and demonic nature is difficult to resist. Those who know love find it easier. This Tokala will likely repent so long as his mother lives. Afterwards, who knows. I’ve never heard of such a tale, more so that he loves a human. We will talk later, in private.” He wholeheartedly agreed, even as she processed his memories in an instant rather than speaking. “Right now I want to learn about Floa and Odin. It doesn’t make sense.”
“I know. Pixies and Nymphs only marry their…”
Together they looked at each other with realization and said simultaneously “Soul mate!” she though added “But… Oh we need more information before our minds accidentally assume wrongly.” She spread her wings and lightly snapped her fingers, ending the spell and glided down. Kanade landed without offering an apology and stepped closer and knelt in front of her friend. “Show me proof. Ethan told me you and Odin…”
Floa smiled and blatantly exposed much of her large breasts proudly by pulling the collar of her top down. Ethan turned away in modesty, but it was too late as the image of green perky nipples were loosed upon the world. Others came closer to see a silvery patch of skin glistening between her full bosom. “See. I’m marked now after so long…” Violet eyes shifted to the one person not looking. “Oh, Ethan, they are just boobs. I know you know that when a Pixie finds this between their breasts… Well you know someone had to be between my thighs.” She pulled the top back up and sighed “So modest. Come, we must get done before you hear how special my mark means to me.”
Kanade embraced the Pixie while Ethan turned back. “I’m so happy for you, Floa. It is long since been due you got what we all seek.”
“Thank you.” Floa said, teary-eyed. “We must hurry. I want to do this with him. It’s not my story to tell and if we linger I won’t be able to resist.”
Floa and Kanade held hands as their group hurried down the sparse hall. Many of those still awake called greetings, but didn’t hurry to hear news, which would come out no later than breakfast. Nell was the only one who had to leave for Vina, since she didn’t have much to say she was allowed to retire for the night. She walked away saying she’d see everyone tomorrow.
About a half mile later they were greeted by Kiroq who was leaning against the wall with his wings wrapped around himself like some kind of robe and it gave him a mysterious air. The Gargoyle fixed dark brown eyes and tapered ears in their direction. When they got close enough he parted his half, doglike hairless muzzle to say “Glad to see you still alive, Ethan. Thor contacted the House and told the council leaders you are to be debriefed of the situation and got a bit chummy with the Kitsune. Follow me, we’re ready to hear all about it.”
Dread filled Ethan, but it didn’t show as he and his team followed the Gargoyle into the elevator. As the door shut he asked “Kiroq, how much trouble am I in?”
“Deactivate your gear.” Kiroq tapped his ear meaningfully and waited till it was done. Ethan turned it off while all eyes took at the general. Kiroq then showed his thick fangs
as he smiled. “Whatever you told Thor sure got under his skin. That old man hates letting things go and has a habit of wanting to be better than any other. He doesn’t like how you let the Kitsune go, especially since it was one who thwarted him.” Kiroq’s large claws scratched his head. “You needn’t fear, but answers are all we’ll need from you. So long as you didn’t break any rules you’ll be fine. Already many of our forces are coming back to get some rest or returning to the Fifth House. As of five minutes ago, the demon is still at large. So it’s true the Kitsune hasn’t harmed a single individual?”
“No.” Kanade said.
“And how did you know? You weren’t anywhere near this problem.” Kiroq said suspiciously.
“True, but I saw my angel’s memories. And I agree with Ethan’s choices in what he did.” She defended herself and her love. “Unless provoked, Tokala, that is the Kitsune’s current name, won’t likely harm a fly. For years he has found a new path and his reasons for the theft of the mirror were reasonable, in his own way. No law was broken. Will this take long, Ethan is tired and hungry?”
“I don’t believe it will take long at all.” The large Gargoyle said and moments later the elevator chimed when they reached the top floor.
The Ogress wasn’t at her desk, being so late. It didn’t matter so much as they took a left and followed the large, four and a half foot tall, massively muscled Gargoyle to the tribunal room. All the leaders were in session and rapid typing from Tattoo on his computer ‘clicked’ and echoed continuously like calm and intensive talking. Some Ogres and a half dozen flying Pixies were working. When they entered Pegasus stomped one large Clydesdale size hoof on the polished marble floor like a gavel in a courtroom. Silence proceeded thereafter. The great black stallion leveled his brilliant blue eyes and said “They’ve arrived. Now we can get actual answers.”
“Aye.” Odin said as he pulled on his blonde braided beard that hung to the heart of his sternum. “Welcome lads and lasses. Again, Ethan, you caused another profound stir in Spirit World. Fate isn’t happy and wants you locked up for a decade for allowing his father’s creation to be destroyed.” The room silenced at that and Ethan gulped till the middle aged looking Viking grinned. “But I also heard what you said to that Enforcer. You must be a descendant of a Viking. No other human has such gall to stand against one of them and not quake.”
Forgemaster (Book 1 in the Spirit Guide Saga) Page 50