by D L Greeley
“Just keep an eye out for an opportunity to haul ass. We’re going to need a distraction.”
“I feel it bears pointing out, our resident decoy is lying on the floor over there barely able to keep his spiritual essence intact. I’m, of course, open to suggestions.”
The demon spoke aloud for the first time. “That was new. Where did you learn magic like that, child?” Her voice was about as pleasant as a piece of sheet metal being drug down a gravel road.
“Child?”
“Compared to her, you’re an infant. Pay attention, demons aren’t conversational, she’s up to something.”
“It’s just something I picked up on back of a cereal box.” I coolly spread the sarcasm in a thin delicate layer. I had no reason to be polite to this creature, but pissing her off any more would be really stupid and at this point, we were pretty deep into stupid territory. She took no notice of it as we started to circle each other, my sword held low and at the ready. Her talons opened and closed, reflexively. I had to be careful or I was going to end up dead very shortly.
“Impressive, one usually has to study such craft.” She was plainly enjoying the banter, always a bad sign. Demons consider themselves superior to mortals. Show one disrespect and they’ll let you have it… unless of course, they’re trying to draw you in. “You remind me of someone, little kitten,” Bastet, purred, “but, all the Nimravus Sapiens were thought to be extinct.”
“Clearly, they aren’t.” I raised the tip of my sword. “Shall we continue?” The demon looked thoughtful, her head tilting to one side, waving her new hand dismissively. “All in good time, young one. Your face is familiar to me, young one, as are your toys. I was under the impression, there were no more wielders of the Spirit Stone left. And yet, here you are. So confident in an antique, you know so little about. Unless I am mistaken, and I rarely am, you are the son of Che An Yagul. Do you command the Spirit of the Ring as well?”
“She knows about you!”
“Of course she does, you dolt! She’s older than I am and has seen the armor before.”
I shrugged, “No, the Spirit of the Ring does not serve me.”
“What are you doing? She can tell if you lie to her.”
“I’m not lying. I don’t COMMAND you and you don’t SERVE me.” I sensed a mental blink and jaw dropping.
“Yet again, I am impressed. A will strong enough to Compel the stone is something to be feared.”
I quirked an eyebrow, pretending to be unconcerned, “No argument here. Is that your way of offering your surrender, YOUR HIGHNESS?”
“A strong will is only as strong as its master and I do fear you look a bit worse for wear, little kitten.”
“On the contrary, I’ve had a nice little break while you’ve been flapping your gums.” I spun the sword, stopped just over my head, the tip pointed right between her eyes. “Come get some, Bitch!”
“My, my, so eager and so CONFIDENT. Too bad, you won’t be able to surprise me with your little tricks again. I can sense your exhaustion; you’ve been chasing us for days without food or rest. Admirable dedication, but all for not. Why not just come to me willingly and spare yourself the pain?”
“Yeah, it’s not going to be that easy… PAIN is kind of what I do. I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”
“And I yours, I am Bastet, but you already knew that didn’t you? You will serve me, Alexander MacFade.”
“So much for anonymity.”
“Just like your mother,” she purred.
“My mother never served you and I sure as Hell won’t be either,” I growled.
I lowered the sword, taking it in both hands, elbows high, my left arm across my chest, a dueling stance. As I stood there facing down a nightmare, trying desperately to figure out what the bloody Hell I was going to do, something around us seemed to trigger. The outside world became dimmer and distorted. At first, I thought I was losing consciousness, yet I was wide awake. Bastet grinned from ear to ear. Literally, she had a mouth that spanned her entire face like a snake. It was disturbing on multiple levels and really starting to piss me off.
Bastet, put a hand to her mouth. “Oops! Clumsy me, did I do that?” Hunkering down like a Sumo wrestler, she readied herself to spring at me. I had let her walk me right into a circle of enchantment. It was 35 feet across and looked like it had been etched into the stainless steel floor by acid and a lot of it. The pattern went deep, at least a half inch; the spell they originally had in mind must have required a massive amount of energy! It was going to take a great deal of effort to break this spell, while the pattern was still intact. The Spirit Stone couldn’t make use of the ambient energy outside and there wasn’t enough inside the circle to light a cigarette. Or was there?
“Mai, how much would Bastet know about the properties of the stone?”
“Not much, it’s a closely guarded secret that transfers with the ring. Former users have no ability to recall the details. Why?”
“Have any of the users ever been complicit with Demons?”
“Of course not! What the Hell!?”
Not having any time for Mai’s moral outrage, I shrugged and fixed Bastet with my fiercest stare. “Spelled circles aren’t going to save your ass from me. Now we are both trapped in here and only one of us is leaving. Care to guess which one that’s going to be, Luv?”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m only going to get one chance at this.”
“Someone needs to teach you to respect your elders, insolent whelp,” Bastet snarled and raised her new hand, a fireball forming in the palm. “Once you’re mine, I’ll teach you the meaning of respect.”
It hadn’t taken much to regenerate the arm or power up the circle so she had plenty of power to spare. I issued my own challenge in the form of a roar. She hurled the fireball at me, laughing manically. The gauntlet sprang open forming a small rectangular shield, spanning the length of my arm. The fire ball hit hard enough to knock me on my back, a couple feet from the edge of the circle. I could feel its resistive energy pushing against my scalp, feeling like a jacket hammer attached to the end of a fist full of needles.
Without warning, Bastet leapt onto me, all claws and fists, pounding and raking at everything not covered by the shield. I willed the armor into a battering ram and thrust it forward under what little power I had left. Rushing forward, it drove itself into Bastet’s chest at what was close to force of a speeding truck. She was heavy though, really heavy. It was only enough to roll her off of me; it would have to do.
Springing to my feet, I dove to the other side of the circle, readying myself for the next attack. Bastet grinned at me. “That was pretty good for mortal power. As I figure it, you just drained yourself.”
“Don’t count on it, sweetheart.” I placed the sword back at my hip, allowing it to curl around my waist. Bastet, grinned evilly. “Yes, quite useless against me without the fire, isn’t it?”
I snarled at her in impatience and irritation. “We doing this, or not, ya overgrown CIVET?”
“My, my so impatient. Come now kitten, there’s no need for insults, but this is becoming tedious. Your sour disposition virtually sucks all the fun out of the room. You’re a real buzz kill; has anyone ever told you that?”
“Sounds familiar,” I growled. Having decided she’d had enough, Bastet roared and threw herself at me. Throwing multiple kicks and punches, I blocked until I could clear my head of the effects the circle’s power. I could feel my energy draining; if I didn’t do something quick, losing this fight was going to become a very real possibility. Catching her last punch, I yanked her fist under my right shoulder, driving my elbow into her chest. Using her momentum against her I rolled into the throw slamming her to the floor. She recovered more quickly than I anticipated. Reaching across my back; she grabbed my weapons harness and yanked with all her might. I flew ass over ears across the floor bouncing off the wall of the circle’s force field. My neck and back exploded in a wave of pain like a thousand bees stin
ging all at once. I roared, enraged as I twisted in mid-air, landing on my feet.
Bastet grinned again, cocking her head to the side like an inquisitive dog. “Had enough kitten?”
“Nah, your sister hits harder than you do. I’m flattered by the love taps, but I’m already spoken for. Been trying to let you down easy, but I’m willing to call it a draw.”
Her eyes brightened as she envisioned finishing me off. “Not by a long shot, KITTEN.”
Bracing myself for the next assault, I swung my sword in a double arc with an elaborate flourish, demonstrating my expertise with the blade. “Shall we finish this, then?” She clucked her tongue at me. “Just like the dim witted Nim’s of old. What is that saying you mortals are so fond of? Oh, yes, you brought a knife to a gun fight, kitten.” She cocked back her left arm to hurl a second fireball.
“NOW ALEX!”
“SEISHIN KASAI!” I shouted, with all my might, willing the sword ablaze. It was Bastet’s turn to be surprised. The fireball in her hand instantly snuffed out and a look of pure terror filled her distorted features. She was cut off from her power source. The sword obeying its nature, siphoned away the most readily available energy… her.
In an act of pure desperation Bastet turned and lashed out with a clawed hand, digging deep into the steel pattern, braking the circle and disrupting the spell, not a very bright idea. All the power of the circe and the ambient heat, held out by the repulsor field, flooded into the Spirit Stone through every exposed spot, rocking me back on my heals. I caught myself before I fell, but it did give me an idea.
“That just might work, Alex!”
“Nice try,” Bastet snarled as she got to her feet. “I see you had one last trick left in the bag, but I grow tired of this. I am no longer entertained and you’re proving more hassle than you’re worth.”
“Yeah, I get that a lot, nowadays. Sorry to disappoint, your highness but I couldn’t give a rat’s ass about your entertainment.” Bastet’s maniacal grin returned. “Good bye Mr. MacFade.”
“Take your best shot, bitch!” I had to time this perfectly and there was going to be one chance at it. Bastet roared at me and hurled a double fisted fire ball that must have been five feet wide. I stood stock still as it closed the distance between us. I could see the flames glinting in Bastet’s eyes, gloating over what she took to be a resignation to my fate.
“GOD’S ABOVE ALEX! DO IT!”
“Not yet, I has to be closer.”
“ALEX! IT’S TOO BIG, DO IT NOW!”
“NOT YET!”
I could feel the heat from the mass of flame on my face, its brilliance almost blinding. “ALEX!” Mai screamed in desperation and pure terror. I spun, bringing my right arm up in front of me. The runes and sigils of the gauntlet flared as it sprang open into a large flat Roman style shield. Dropping behind it, down on one knee I shouted, “SEISHIN GEKITAI!” The full force of the energy from the circle of power flooded in the shield powering up its repel function. With the entire charge being concentrated, the fireball bounced off the surface and streaked back across the circle at ten times the speed Bastet threw it. Engulfed in her own flames, she never knew what hit her.
Jumping up I ran to Bastet’s side and plunged my gauntleted hand into the inferno. “SEISHIN KASAI!” The flames flared as Bastet writhed and thrashed, no longer able to quell the torrent of cyan destruction. The Spirit Fire burned so hot, it consumed the demon completely, girders and flooring started to warp from the paranormally intense heat.
Bastet gone, presumably her spiritual essence sent rocketing back to Hell,
I stumbled out of the circle, releasing the power and collapsing in a heap on the level below. Just before the soles of my boots started to melt, I might add. Flat on my back, I lay panting, completely drained. I puffed my cheeks to blow a dread, out of my face.
“Don’t you ever cut it that close again; do you hear me?”
“Oi! They can hear you across the bleeding street.” I sat up, causing my head to feel like it was going to explode. “It worked, didn’t it?”
“Only just.”
“Well then take the ruddy win and be quiet about, Mai.”
“You know she’s not dead right, just REALLY pissed off.”
“Acknowledged, don’t care, Satan can kiss my ass.”
It was right at that moment, I heard laughter…two voices. I looked around with my still blurry vision. It was entirely possible I had a concussion. In fact, it would be a bloody miracle if I didn’t. My head still swimming and my thoughts bouncing around like a rubber ducky in an oil tanker, I tried to Focus. “Is that Casey?”
“Yes, but who’s he with?” Mai sounded tired but her curiosity was piqued. I rolled to my knees and elbows with a great deal of effort. “Only one way to find out,” I grumbled as I climbed the stairs to the 2nd level. OK, I admit it, I CRAWLED up the stairs.
As I crested the last step, I was just able to focus my eyes enough to recognize two forms sitting on the lower steps of the next flight, I cringed internally. “Bloody Hell, I can’t do this right now, Mai,” I groaned wearily.
“Yes you can, Alex. You have to, she needs your guidance.”
Directly in front of me sat Casey and Arianna LeBlanc… prattling on excitedly about the “amazing” battle and about how WE kicked Bastet’s ass. Funny…I don’t remember the WE part and it felt like it was MY ass that had been kicked, repeatedly.
As I trudged forward Arianna popped up to make room for me on the stairs. What a polite little lady she was, now looking exactly like she did in the family picture. That just made it worse… I smiled weakly, “Thanks kid.” Plunking myself down, I looked to Casey. He shrugged, “Some just aren’t ready to go right away. Talk to her, Mack, she’s still here… gotta be for some reason.”
“Any idea how to start that conversation, oh wise one?”
“Hey man, I’m just the help; heavy lifting is YOUR job.”
“Thanks Case, your unwavering support has always been a constant source of inspiration,” I quipped sourly. He rolled his eyes and whistled, “Somebody’s in a mood.” My eyes flashed with barely contained anger, “I wonder why?”
“Excuse me, Mack is it? I CAN hear you, you know.” Arianna was standing right next to me, giving me a sweet smile that said, Get your head out of your ass.
“Yeah, I am aware of that and I apologize. What can I do for you, Arianna?”
“You can't blame yourself for what happened, you know.” I looked away from her, my gaze dropping to the floor. “Pretty sure I can…” I just couldn’t face her. She walked around to stand in front of me with hands on her slight hips. I Sensed she was a stubborn little thing, who didn’t die easily, tough little girl. “This was totally not your fault. Casey told me what you did for me and I love you for that, but…”
“There’s always a bloody, but.”
“I want you to promise me something.” I nodded. “I’ll do my best, for all that’s worth tonight.” I owed her at least the honor of a last request. She smiled, ignoring my self-pity. “I want you to make sure my mom and dad know I love them AND I want you to PROMISE me, they’ll NEVER know what that sicko did to me. It would destroy my mom.”
Mai’s stray thought drifted across my consciousness. “Interesting…but not the father?”
“No real surprise there, is it?”
I nodded, knowing exactly how Ms. LeBlanc, would feel. Staring at Arianna’s body, lying motionless on the floor, there was no way. The medical examiner would give them a detailed report and I couldn’t mind wipe the M.E. The media was all over this.
“Arianna,”
“Ari.”
I nodded, “Ari, I don’t know how I could do that. Your body… it’s so obvious.” She laid a hand on my chest. “Look at me.” I lifted my head. She was actually SMILING at me, the guy who couldn’t get it together long enough to save her life. “Casey tells me, I trust you. You’ll find a way. Promise me?” What choice did I have? It was her dying wish and my adopted fath
er Oroku, had always taught me, “A death bed promise, made with a sincere heart, is a sacred duty.”
“You have my word, Ari. I’ll do my best.”
“Good, now with that out of the way, it’s time to go young one,” a new voice belted out. I jumped up, sword at the ready, growling at a young man standing a few feet away. I hadn’t heard him approach. That was virtually impossible with my ears.
He had golden blonde hair, ice blue eyes and looked around 25 years of age, but his countenance was ancient. He wore a simple business suit made of what looked like light gray silk. “You shan’t be needing that Mr. MacFade. I am not here for you, not that it would do you much good.”
“Who the bloody hell are you?” I could Sense a spiritual essence and a very powerful mind, but no physical presence. Casey’s eye’s popped open wide, “Dude, that’s death!”
“What?” I stared intently at the teenage ghost. My head snapped back to the newcomer. He gave me an ethereal smile. “I believe the boy referred to me as Death. That is quite accurate, although my given name is Azrael. Come along, Arianna. There are some very important people who have been waiting quite some time to see you.” Arianna looked off in the distance behind him. “Grandma!” She turned to me and pulled my head down, planting a firm kiss on my cheek. “Thank you for coming after me when no one else would, Mack. Tell my mom and dad I’ll be waiting for them on the other side. Remember your promise?”
“I will.”
“BOTH of them?” She gave me a meaningful look and then she was gone… I couldn’t help but notice Azrael stayed behind, following his angelic gaze to Casey. Azrael cocked an eye brow. “Mr. Fuller? Are you coming this time?” I looked at Casey with narrowed eyes. “This time? How many opportunities have you had, Case?” Remaining silent, Casey looked defiant. Azrael just chuckled and adjusted a sleeve. “Mr. Fuller has declined my invitation four times now.”
“Four times?” The reason hit me as the boy’s emotions flared. “Casey, tell me you haven’t been hanging around for me.”
“Of course not, God what an ego!”