Death Waltz

by A. M. Hargrove

  Liasare looked over Jurek’s shoulder at the blank wall. At one time, Jurek’s quarters were decorated with valuable paintings and other lovely things. Now everything was bare, because they didn’t know if they would have to evacuate at a moment’s notice.

  She lifted her head and looked into Jurek’s eyes. “Promise me something. Promise me that when this is over, the three of us will go somewhere and be together as a family. We’ve not done that yet. I want to spend time with each other, playing with our son, doing things families do. You and I never had that and I don’t want our son growing up that way.”

  “Neither do I. When this is over, it will be the two of us, getting to know our son.”

  “Oh, Jurek. I want to be with him so much. It hurts. I feel like my heart is ripping in half.”

  “Liasare, don’t. Don’t think of it. You’ve come this far. We’re almost there.”

  “What if ...”

  “No! I won’t let you fail in this. Do you hear me? I’ll die before I let that happen.”

  She ground her mouth against his and tasted every bit of him. Their kiss was a desperate one, as they found solace in each other. Hands sought, mouths tasted, tongues licked, fingers touched, until they were filled with each other. And in the end, when they were wrapped around each other, damp with sweat, their hands couldn’t seem to be satisfied.

  “You always were right, Alaric.”

  “About what?”

  “Us. When Abaddon had you I felt it.” She took his hand and held it against her chest. “My heart and guts felt like they were being torn out of my body.” She crawled on top of him and wrapped herself around him. “I don’t ever want to be anywhere else but here.”

  “I should certainly hope not. And if I find out you are ...”

  She chuckled. “You think you’re funny, don’t you?”

  “Not exactly. I always told you my sense of humor wasn’t the greatest.”

  “Yeah, well, you make up for it in other ways.”

  “Oh? Is that a fact? Care to share with me?”

  “You know perfectly well what I’m referring to.”

  He grabbed the cheeks of her ass and said, “I think I have an idea.”

  “Don’t get too cocky now.”

  They both laughed. “I hope your pun was intended.” He pulled the blankets over them. “We do need to get some sleep.”

  “I’m not sure I can sleep.”

  He rolled them both, so he was on top of her. He didn’t say anything for a while; he only gazed at her. “I was always drawn to brunettes. But you, you were different. Your hair reminds me of an autumn day, back when Earth was pristine ... like the sun bursting through the clouds at sunset, dancing off the leaves in an array of golds, browns, and oranges. Your hair is like that, when the light hits it just so. There are a multitude of shades on every strand, like each one was hand painted just for my eyes to feast upon. I’ve never known anyone that can piss me off, or distract me more than you. And in the beginning, I was such an ass to you most of the time. Did you know that sometimes I watch you sleep and I ask myself why I was so unkind to you back then?”

  “You were tying to protect me.”

  “I was being a prick, Liasare. I wanted you more than anything but I was too damn stubborn to admit it. I said so many ugly things to you.”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “I want you to know how much I regret treating you so terribly. I will always regret that, no matter how long I live.”

  “You’ve told me this before. You have to let this go. That’s in the past. I’ve forgiven you. It’s time to forgive yourself.”

  “I don’t know if I can.”

  “Why? What’s happened all of a sudden to make you feel this way?”

  His eyes drifted shut.

  “Alaric, look at me.”

  “Liasare, people will die when we go to Abaddon’s realm. This I know. We have asked our people to do so much already. I can’t ask any more of them.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “I’m going alone with you. The rest will stay here.”

  “That’s already been decided.”

  “If you have to leave me behind, I want you to do it.”

  “What ...”

  “I’m going inside with you. You may need my powers to assist you.”

  “No! You can’t!”

  “Think! It’s the only way we can ensure it happens. We need both our powers to make it so.”

  “I won’t leave you behind.”

  He smiled at her. “I doubt you’ll have to, but we go together either way.”

  “And here? The rest of the team will stay behind?”

  Jurek nodded. “If my hunch is correct, Dark Creatures will descend from the skies and it will be Hell on Earth.”

  Liasare pondered this briefly. “But how are we going to lock all of them inside with Abaddon if they’re here?”

  “We won’t. Our team will have to destroy them. They must be prepared to do so.”

  “Oh, shit. Then they’ll need all the weapons we can get to them. We have a lot to do when the sun rises.”

  “Either way, we both need rest. We won’t be able to do this if we can’t keep our eyes open. Now let’s sleep. We can talk more of this in the morning.”

  “Alaric?”

  “Yes, love.”

  “Hold me close tonight.”

  “Always.” He kissed her temple as she burrowed into his side.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  In the morning, Liasare rolled over and found herself alone in the bed. She sat up and stretched, feeling the bones crack in her spine. Jurek walked out of the bathroom and said, “Hey sleepyhead.”

  “Hey yourself.”

  “Better get a move on if you want a shower.”

  Liasare groaned. “I just want a day where we don’t have to do anything.”

  He looked at her for a second and then pounced. She screeched as he tickled and nipped her with his teeth.

  “Stop!”

  “What? Don’t you like this?”

  “No! Not this early!”

  Jurek laughed. “It’s not early. You already overslept, lazybones.”

  She elbowed him but then his mouth latched onto to one of her nipples and that ended her struggles. Between sighs, she managed to say, “I thought I had to get a move on.”

  “You do. Right beneath me. I need you.” His teeth pushed into the soft skin of her abs, and she moaned. “I can’t ever get enough of you. You’re like velvet against me.”

  Their power erupted, and they were both lost to the pleasure that burst forth between them.

  “Sometimes I think it will ease, this thing between us, but I’m not sure it ever will,” he said.

  With her hand on his cheek, she said, “I don’t think it will, Alaric. We’re too ... I don’t know if there even is a word for us.”

  He kissed her, then pulled her to her feet. “Come. We need to get going. We have lots to do.”

  ***

  By the time Liasare made it to the main room, it was a hive of activity. Tak brought her the shield, along with her new sword. The shield was outfitted with a band that strapped to her forearm, allowing her the use of her hand.

  “This is great. It will deflect any threat and protect the key, but I won’t be limited to one hand. Good thinking,” she said.

  “I had to reconfigure your sheath and the way it straps to your back, but it’s all ready. Now all we need to do it forge your power and we’re good to go.”

  “Let’s do it.”

  In the meantime, Jurek was coordinating the weapons cache for the Guardians. He was making sure there were enough on hand for everyone, in the event they needed backup.

  “We’ll keep the extras in here, but make sure this storage closet remains locked at all times. We don’t want anyone coming in here that doesn’t have permission to use these,” he told Marik.

  When Liasare was finished working with Tak on her weapons, Jurek as
ked her where the skeleton key was.

  “It’s in our quarters.”

  He looked around the room, then said, “Put it on now. Wear it at all times and stay armed with your shield.”

  “Even in here?”

  “Even in here. Abaddon is still in the children’s heads. And remember, he had no qualms about walking in here before.”

  “You’re right. Come with me. Putting that thing on is more than just a little scary for me.”

  They went to their quarters and she retrieved the key.

  “This thing isn’t very large for a task so monumental, is it?” he asked.

  “No. I was thinking the same thing.”

  She put it around her neck and Jurek attached the clasp. “It’s quite beautiful,” he said. “Especially with it glowing the way it is.”

  When she looked down, she saw there were small blue stones in the crescent she hadn’t seen before that were now neon-like.

  “It is lovely.”

  “Liasare, sleep with it tonight. You cannot be caught unaware. Do you understand?”

  “I do.”

  Jurek’s hunch proved correct. As they were winding down the day, Liasare felt her skin prickle. Her hand reached out for Jurek’s.

  “He’s here, or close. I feel his presence.” Before she could send out an alarm, his voice vibrated the walls as his grating laughter filled the room. The Guardians fell to their knees, the sound piercing their sensitive ears.

  “Come, my Sarah Liana. It is our time.”

  “It will never be our time. When will you understand that?”

  Jurek squeezed her hand. “Don’t let my hand go. Understand?”

  She scarcely had time to snatch her shield before Dark Creatures were bearing down on them. They came from everywhere, storming into the warehouse by the dozens.

  The Praestani warriors armed themselves and used their power to fight them. But the Dark Creatures outnumbered them.

  “We need to get Abaddon out of here. The Guardians are useless with him invading their heads,” Liasare said.

  “No! If we walk out there, he’ll take you away.”

  Jurek and Liasare were back to back as they fended off the Dark Creatures.

  “It’s the only way I can do what needs to be done! We both know it. Or this is going to end badly. We’re outnumbered as it is.” She plunged her sword into one of the creatures and another took its place.

  “Fuck! You’re right. On a count of three, flash outside. One, two, three.”

  They appeared outside and immediately tumbled into a vortex. When things stopped spinning, they were both on their hands and knees, heads still spinning. Pain stabbed their skulls and they both struggled to stop themselves from vomiting. They were violently disoriented; it took a few moments before they could gather their thoughts.

  “Where the hell are we?” Liasare asked.

  “You hit that nail right. Hell. That’s where we are.” Jurek barely got the last word out before they heard his grating voice reverberating in their heads.

  “Ah, my lovely Sarah, it is unfortunate that you brought him. Now you’re going to have to watch him die.”

  Liasare gave her head a fierce shake attempting to clear it. The swimmy feeling began to dissipate and she clamped onto Jurek’s wrist as hard as she could as they both rose to their feet.

  She looked at the ground for a second, assessing her possible actions. Then a thought struck her as she lifted only her eyes. They swirled gold and were on the verge of going black as she growled. “No. You are wrong. I’m not going to watch him die because you can’t kill him. Wanna know why? His power is my power. If you kill him, you kill me. It’s that simple.”

  Jurek looked around to establish their location and how they could reach the exit. The room was vast, dark, and smoke-filled but he thought he could make out an opening behind them. He hoped it was the gate. Before he could think on it further, Abaddon’s bellows interrupted him.

  “How dare you!” Abaddon’s anger escalated. “Then I will make you watch him suffer, much as I have suffered these years without you.”

  He raised his hands and a force ripped Jurek out of her grasp. Liasare yelled as she watched him land several feet away from her.

  She stood her ground. “Don’t you dare touch him. I’ll destroy anything that tries.”

  Dark Creatures rained down from above. They surrounded each of them, snarling, drooling, fangs exposed, and ready to feed.

  Abaddon’s cackling rang out. “Go ahead. I have many to take the place of the ones that die.” The hideous beasts advanced forward. Liasare raised her hand and swept it across them as her power flowed through her eyes, striking some of them down. The Dark Creatures in front all collapsed as she continued to discharge her current upon them. They screeched in the throes of death as Abaddon’s anger mounted.

  He raised his arms in rage and fire erupted from his fingertips.

  “You think I fear your power? I will make you burn in my Hell for that.”

  Flames leapt around them, enclosing each of them within a circle. Fire licked their clothing, singeing them, but Liasare kept it at bay with her shield and her own energy force.

  “I don’t fear you. The Light is always stronger than the Darkness,” she yelled over the noise.

  “Maybe it is for you, but not for him!”

  Jurek was helpless without a shield, as the inferno weakened him and flames clawed at his legs. He faced Abaddon with only his power, while Liasare took on the Dark Creatures.

  Over the din of Hell, she heard Jurek yell, “Your cove, Liasare!”

  Liasare focused on her special place as she fought with a vengeance. The Dark Creatures, who seemed to be immune to the flames advanced forth and Liasare swung her sword, cutting down the ones in front. But there were so many, she couldn’t keep them all at bay. For every one she killed, there was another to take its place. It was hopeless. They surrounded her and even her power wasn’t enough to stop them all.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she dared a glance at Jurek and saw he was taking fireball after fireball being thrown at him. She needed to help him, and fast.

  “Jurek! My shield!”

  She tossed him her shield while sending a power blast toward Abaddon, giving Jurek a chance to catch it. In the meantime, she spun around, swinging her sword in a wide arc, taking out a dozen Dark Creatures.

  Abaddon’s curses echoed throughout his realm. The floor vibrated under her feet, causing her to stumble. The heat was excruciating. Her body was slick with blood from all her wounds and her hands were sweaty from the heat, making it difficult to hold onto her sword.

  Though her touch would kill the creatures, they still slashed her with their horrific claws before they died. She was bruised and bleeding from multiple gashes on her arms, legs, and torso. Her body was weakening from her wounds as she felt her power lessening. She had decided long ago she would never allow herself to be taken prisoner by those heinous creatures again.

  She suddenly yelled, “Stop! If you let him go, I’ll stay with you.”

  “No!” Jurek cried.

  Abaddon called off his creatures. They inched away, but were still within striking distance.

  “How do I know this isn’t some trickery?” Abaddon asked.

  “You’ll have to trust me,” she said.

  “No, Liasare. Don’t do this,” Jurek cried.

  She looked at Jurek. Collapsing to her knees, she said, “It’s the only way.” Her head fell as she tried to collect her wits. Blood ran down her arm and covered her hands.

  Abaddon jeered at her. “He’s not so strong now, is he? He weakens you. Look at him, pitiful wretch that he is. He’s dragged you down. If it weren’t for him, you would still be fighting me, wouldn’t you? You need someone strong. Someone who can stand beside you in times like these.”

  Liasare wiped her brow with the back of her hand that carried her sword. “I suppose you mean you. Why would I want you? You are nothing but evil and you stink
of rotting flesh. You disgust me. But you’ve won. You’ve proven you’re the stronger one.”

  “Yes, and I will show you exactly how strong I am ... how strong the two of us can be together ... instead of him, weak thing that he is,” Abaddon sneered.

  “I suppose you will. Call off your minions. Make them disappear.”

  Abaddon walked a wide circle around them, his black robes swirling about him. The flames still crackled as heat seared their skin. They couldn’t stay trapped by the fire much longer before the heat would overcome them.

  Think, Liasare, think!

  And then it hit her.

  “Abaddon, exactly what do you want with me?”

  His grating laugh jarred their skulls again, but no matter. She needed to get past this.

  “Answer me, dammit!”

  “You know what I want. I want to mate with you. To make you mine."

  Upon hearing those words, Jurek turned his head, looked at the devil himself, and said through clenched jaws, “Over. My. Dead. Body.”

  Now. Join our powers now, Alaric. Everything we both have.

  Liasare leaped across the tongues of fire and grasped Jurek’s wrist.

  Jurek turned solid black eyes toward Abaddon, and a streak of light erupted. They raised their joined arms up and Liasare felt the temperature around her drop. Goosebumps broke out all over her body. A surge of energy danced through her and she glanced at her hand where it clutched Jurek’s wrist. A force of brilliant blue-white light erupted and shot upwards. Jurek turned his hand so he could grab onto Liasare’s.

  Abaddon bellowed and the Dark Creatures began attacking them in full force.

  “Now, Liasare. Use your sword!”

  Jurek used his eyes to destroy the creatures as Liasare cut them down with her sword. The Light that formed from their joined hands shot up into the sky and neither of them understood what it was.

  Liasare felt Jurek tug her arm forward, pointing it toward the beasts, and the Light blasted them backwards, turning them to dust. The noise was deafening. It was as if Hell was literally coming apart.

  Where’s Abaddon?

  Liasare looked around and couldn’t see him. He’d vanished in the melee. They slowly backed toward where they thought the gate was, and she felt his presence behind them.