Incubus (The Daughters Of Lilith)

by Jennifer Quintenz

  “Because you’re fond of me?” I asked, my eyes narrow slits.

  “Yeah. Exactly.”

  At that moment, Lucas managed to pry the crossbeam free. It hit the floor with a resounding thud that echoed throughout the sanctuary. Seth glanced at Lucas, who tossed the candlestick aside and reached a hand out to Cassie. Cassie was slow to react, and Lucas had to pull her to her feet. Seth sighed, almost sounding bored.

  “Tick tock, Braedyn,” he said.

  “You know me,” I whispered.

  I saw some of the amusement dim in Seth’s eyes. “I do.” He looked almost wistful. “I was just hoping I might be able to appeal to your sense of self-preservation. Come on, Braedyn. You can’t fight the whole Lilitu race single-handedly.”

  “She won’t have to.”

  I turned, my heart surging with new hope. Karayan strode in through the mission’s secret door behind Illydia. She glanced at me, taking quick stock of my visible injuries. Her mouth tightened.

  “Got your call,” she said. “It took me a minute to figure out where you were. Future reference? You might want to include an address with your S.O.S..”

  “Right,” I said. A slow smile spread across my face.

  Seth looked from me to Karayan, considering. “This must be your ‘we-don’t-know-what-she-is-so-we’ll-call-her-a-friend’ friend,” he said. “Karayan, is it?”

  “And you must be the incubus.” Karayan looked thoroughly unimpressed. “I thought you’d be taller.”

  Seth’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Braedyn and I are talking right now. Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but I can tell you’re low-born.”

  Karayan’s cheeks flushed, but she met Seth’s eyes defiantly. “So?”

  “So,” Seth gestured to Illydia. “Our mother was Lilith-born. Unless you’re ready to hang up those sexy stilettos for good, you’ll turn around and walk out of here right now.”

  Karayan’s eyes cut to me, uncertain. Then her gaze dropped to the ground.

  Satisfied, Seth turned back to me. “Where were we? Oh, right. You were just about to give me your decision.”

  A sudden ringing echoed through the sanctuary—the unmistakable sound of metal sliding against stone. Karayan had kicked something across the floor, directly toward me. I stopped it with a foot. It was Senoy’s sword. I bent to pick it up, sliding my hand up the handle toward the guard. The sword was perfectly balanced. I swung it around, regaining the feel for the weapon from my few sessions with Hale.

  Seth took an involuntary step back, suddenly cautious. I might not be the master with this weapon that Senoy was, but it didn’t really matter. An angel’s blade could do serious damage to a Lilitu. Including, it appeared, incubi.

  I looked up, meeting Karayan’s fierce grin.

  “Sorry,” I said to Seth. “I’m sticking with the home team.”

  “Well,” Seth said. “You can’t blame a guy for trying.”

  The next instant, Illydia turned and attacked Karayan. I heard Karayan’s short grunt of pain, but I didn’t see what happened with her—Seth used the distraction to rush toward me.

  I locked my eyes on him, clenching the sword tighter in my hands. Seth feinted to my left and I swung clumsily out with the sword. I saw his smile return; he knew now that I wasn’t gifted with this weapon. I adjusted my grip. I just have to nick him, I told myself. Even a scratch will slow him down.

  But Seth didn’t give me a chance. It became quickly clear why he never joined us for sparring sessions in the basement. He was a brilliant fighter, his instincts spot on. He might have managed to hide his skill from me when he’d let those boys at school beat him up—One more trap he’d laid for me, I now realized—but he’d never have been able to hide his skill from Hale or Matthew or Gretchen in a sparring match.

  Seth danced around me, striking my lower back again. I stumbled, clinging to the sword like a crutch. Dimly, I realized it was holding me back. Insane as it seemed, I had to get rid of the sword. I needed my hands free to be able to defend myself, or Seth would slowly take me apart.

  I fell back, circling Seth until I was between him and the mission’s main entrance. Behind me, Lucas and Cassie were still struggling to move the beam locking the mission’s massive doors shut.

  “Lucas,” I shouted. He turned, hearing me. I threw the sword toward him with all my might, then spun back to Seth.

  I heard the sword clatter behind me, then—half a heart beat later—I heard it scrape against the floor as someone picked it up. Satisfied that Lucas had some way to defend himself and Cassie, I brought my hands up in loose fists. Seth’s smile deepened.

  “I’ve actually been looking forward to this,” he said. “After all that training, I’d love to see how you hold up in a real fight.” He darted forward, jabbing for my face with brutal speed. I jerked back, struggling to keep my footing. Seth fought fast. He didn’t pull his punches. I struggled to keep my defenses up, blocking blow after blow. “You’re not half bad,” he said, smiling with exertion.

  Press the attack, I told myself grimly. If I kept him on defense, I’d have a better chance of controlling the fight. I lunged forward, feinting. When Seth moved, I drove my other fist into the side of his face. He took the punch like a boxer, shaking it off with a hard grin.

  “You’re ready to play rough? That’s cool,” he said. Any illusions I had about controlling the fight dispelled rapidly. Seth drove me back, foot by foot, until I knocked into one of the sanctuary’s columns. He buried two fists into my stomach, one after the other. I gasped, my body trying to double over, but Seth grabbed the front of my shirt and slammed my back against the column. He pinned me there and stared levelly into my eyes. “A for effort.”

  An overwhelming swell of terror pulsed through me. It was all I could do to keep my feet. Behind Seth, Illydia approached, inspecting her nails nonchalantly. My eyes darted to the back wall where Karayan slumped, breathing raggedly.

  “That was fast,” Seth said.

  “I was expecting more of a challenge.” Illydia shrugged.

  “You break all your toys.” Seth shook his head, amused.

  “Speaking of...” Illydia’s eyes shifted to my face.

  “Right.” Seth glanced back at me, shrugging. “Nothing personal, but I can’t leave a powerful Lilitu just lying around. Last chance. Wanna help change the world?”

  I slammed my knee up into his groin. It connected solidly. Seth’s eyes bulged and he dropped to one knee, releasing me instantly. I pushed off the column, diving for Illydia. She spread her arms, ready for me. We collided, and Illydia staggered back a few steps. She recovered quickly, latching her arms around me.

  “Mine,” I heard Seth hiss behind me.

  Illydia sighed, irritated. She twisted, dropping to one knee without letting go of me. The force of her movement ripped me off my feet. She released me and I hit the ground, rolling to my side and sliding a few feet away on the cold stone floor. Before me I could see Seth straightening. Murder glinted in his eyes. I stood, ears still ringing from my fall.

  Illydia and Seth moved in. They ringed me around, and a dull fear roiled through my stomach. I turned my head, trying to keep both Seth and Illydia in view. It wasn’t possible. Seth swung and I focused on him, blocking the blow and skittering back. Illydia swiped a claw across my back. My sweater took the brunt of the attack, but I felt a cool draft along my back as her claw sliced a hole through the knit. They took turns striking at me. All I could do was react, shying away from one directly into the path of the other. If I glanced at Illydia, Seth pressed his attack. If I focused on defending myself from Seth, Illydia raked a claw against my back. It was less than a minute before Illydia’s claws finally ripped through the fabric of my shirt, slicing deep grooves into my skin. I let out a hiss of pain, spinning to face her.

  “Stop.” I panted. “Stop toying with me.”

  “Are you sure that’s what you want?” Illydia asked. “I don’t think you’ll like the alternative.”

  I he
ard Seth chuckling at my back. I spun around to face him, and Illydia caught my arms and wrenched them back. I jerked against her, but she held me fast.

  “So, here we are,” Seth said. “I was hoping this would end differently, but I’m not totally surprised.”

  Karayan? I closed my eyes, willing her to hear me.

  Yeah, yeah. She sounded tired, and I could feel the pain of her injuries through the link. But she stirred on the floor. She looked up, and her eyes found me. That doesn’t look good.

  My daggers, I thought at Karayan, picturing my fall through the window from the roof above.

  Awesome. Crawling through broken glass, she responded. But I felt her push slowly to her hands and knees.

  “Sorry there’s no time for a long goodbye, but I’d rather not be here when the Guard arrives.” Seth rested a hand on my cheek. “It’s been real.”

  “Seth,” I whispered, my voice catching in my throat.

  His eyes didn’t leave my face. “I’ll make it quick.”

  “Get your hands off of her,” Lucas said. He stood at the edge of the seal, Senoy’s sword in hand.

  “Easy, lover boy.” Seth looked at him, irritated. “I’ll be around to deal with you in just a sec.”

  “You’ll have to deal with her first,” Lucas said, nodding at something behind us with his head. Seth and I turned at the same time.

  Karayan approached, a Guard dagger clutched in each of her hands. “So I’m wondering,” she said, keeping her voice light. “If we can’t see your powers, can you see ours?”

  Karayan’s curving wings snapped down around her slender figure, trailing a smoky haze through the air as they passed.

  Seth jerked away from me, suddenly tense. “Illydia?”

  “A ploy,” Illydia said, tightening her grip on me. “She’s got no fight left.”

  “Care to make a bet on that?” Karayan moved forward with sure steps. Illydia released me, turning to face Karayan. “No?” Karayan asked, her tone mocking. Illydia glanced at Seth, uncertain.

  With her back to me, I grabbed Illydia’s arm, locking her elbow straight and throwing my weight forward against her. Illydia let out a shrill growl and cloaked herself instinctively, stumbling forward.

  It made no difference to us—both Karayan and I could see through the hazy protection of her wings without any effort. Karayan moved, slicing one of the daggers across Illydia’s wing. Instantly Illydia’s cloak vanished. She stood, reeling and wounded, in the heart of the mission.

  Seth ran toward Illydia. He grabbed her hand and pulled her away from us. “We’ll pick this up later,” he said, heading back toward the seal.

  Karayan, I thought to her.

  Way ahead of you, she replied. Keep them separated.

  I sprinted for Seth. He saw me coming half a second too late. I jumped him and we fell crashing to the floor as Illydia stumbled away from us. The impact knocked the breath out of both of us.

  Here, I heard Karayan in my mind. I looked up as Karayan tossed the dagger to me. I focused on the flash of metal. The arc of the dagger seemed to slow, tumbling end over end in an almost lazy spiral. It was a simple matter to push my hand forward and clasp the dagger’s hilt. Time snapped back into full speed. Seth’s eyes fastened on the blade. He scrambled away from me-right in front of the cloaked Karayan.

  “Sethayl!” Illydia screamed.

  Seth dropped flat to the floor, but the dagger sliced a line across his back. He howled in agony. Illydia barreled for Karayan, dropping her human aspect. Her face changed, coal-black eyes glared murder, gleaming black claws protruded from hands as pale as a corpse.

  Illydia smashed into Karayan, clawing at her face. Great gashes tore open along Karayan’s cheek. She screamed, trying to bring the dagger up to defend herself. But Karayan had never been trained to fight with weapons—and since this opponent could see her, she was outmatched. Karayan’s cloak fell away as the concentration she needed to maintain it snapped.

  Seth scrambled back from the fighting Lilitu. He eyed the secret door, still standing open, then glanced back at his sister. I could see the conflict in his eyes. He wanted to help Illydia—but he was getting ready to bolt.

  I took a step toward Seth. His eyes snapped to my face, his features tensing.

  Then I heard Karayan’s ragged gasp of pain. I had a fraction of a second to decide. I abandoned Seth and leapt to help Karayan.

  Illydia swiped for Karayan again, her wicked claws still gleaming with Karayan’s blood. Karayan dodged back, but she was slowing and her eyes were lidded heavily with pain.

  “Behind you!” Seth shouted.

  Illydia turned on me, claws poised to strike-but I had trained with these weapons. She pounced. I knocked her hand aside and buried the dagger in her heart. I felt the impact all the way to my shoulder. I jerked back and the dagger came free. A small pool of dark blood stained the front of Illydia’s shirt. Her face went slack. A moment later, she pitched forward onto the sanctuary floor.

  “No.” Seth’s face was ashen, staring at the body of his sister. His eyes rose until they found me. They burned with pure, roiling hatred.

  I tightened my grip on the dagger reflexively.

  Outside, we heard a car squeal to a stop.

  “Short-sighted, Braedyn.” Seth’s voice was calm, but something in it made my skin crawl.

  Behind us, someone pounded on the mission’s front door. “Braedyn? Are you in there?” It was Dad.

  “Go around the side,” I shouted. “There’s another entrance.”

  Seth stepped back away from me, eyeing his escape route. “Don’t forget who won this round,” he said. “The seal is open.” He turned and stepped onto the seal. Twining ribbons of shadow swirled up and around him, pulling him out of this world. Another car squealed to a stop outside, followed quickly by a third. Doors opened and slammed outside, voices filling the night.

  Karayan handed my dagger back with a shaking hand. “I think that’s my cue.”

  “You’re hurt,” I said.

  “You think?” Her voice dripped with sarcasm, but she smiled.

  “Karayan.” I laid a hand on her arm. “Stay with us. We can take care of you.”

  “Sorry, Braedyn,” Karayan said. And she did look sorry. “But I’ve been down this road. It didn’t work out so good.”

  “Braedyn?” Dad raced through the mission’s secret door. His eyes scanned the room until they fastened on me. I sensed Karayan cloaking herself, withdrawing into the shadows.

  “Dad.” I wanted nothing more than to run to him.

  But as I started across the floor, someone else spoke.

  “Daughter of Lilith.” The powerful voice froze my steps. I turned. Senoy was looking directly at me. “Braedyn.” His voice thick with pain. “Come closer.”

  Chapter 21

  Senoy’s eyes followed me across the room. I approached hesitantly, stopping several feet away from where he knelt on the cold stone floor.

  “Are you really—?” But I knew the answer. “You’re one of the Three.”

  I heard Dad breathe in sharply at the secret door.

  “You have nothing to fear from me, Lilitu,” Senoy said. “I would speak with you.” A spasm of pain contorted his handsome features. Almost without thinking, I knelt beside him.

  “Braedyn?” Dad took a step toward me, his voice tight with fear.

  “Get help,” I said. “He’s hurt.”

  Dad hesitated, then turned and ran back out through the secret door.

  “He has genuine love for you,” Senoy said. Then his face wrenched with another wave of pain.

  “Maybe you should save your strength,” I said. “The Guard is here, they’ve got med kits in every car.”

  “There is no need.” He glanced down, as though mildly irritated by the blade protruding from his chest. “The wound is fatal.”

  “Don’t say that,” I breathed. I let my fingers slide forward, catching his hand. His skin was cool and smooth. It felt almost like marble.
“You can’t die.”

  He looked down at our hands, then back at me, bemused. “You are mistaken.”

  “I’m so—I’m so sorry,” I whispered. I felt his hand squeeze my fingers lightly. It was a comforting gesture. I stared. He was dying, yet Senoy was comforting me.

  “It is the sacrifice required of me.” His gaze bore through me. “You are, I think, a friend to the Sons of Adam?”

  I nodded.

  “Then you must be strong, Daughter of Lilith.” His gaze softened. I detected a deep sadness in the look he gave me. “In this fight, many more sacrifices will be required.” His eyes seemed to cloud. His strength faded. I caught his shoulder before he hit the floor. As gently as I could, I lowered him to the ground, cradling his head in my lap.

  Senoy closed his eyes as another spasm of pain wracked his body. I laid my hand against his cheek, brushing the hair back from his face. He let out a long breath, his features easing. And then the hand cradling his wound fell away, and he grew still.

  “Senoy?” I whispered. There was no flicker behind his eyes. I bit my lip and looked up. Karayan was nowhere to be seen. Lucas was crouched over Cassie, trying to comfort her. Dad hadn’t returned.

  I was the only one who’d noticed the angel die.

  The floor of the sanctuary bucked beneath us. I lurched as the stone floor heaved. It split into a web of fractures, radiating out from Senoy’s body across the sanctuary, bypassing only the seal. The force of the fractures kicked up chunks of stone and dust. I couldn’t summon the energy to lift my hands and shield my face.

  The mission’s front doors slammed open behind us. I heard Cassie scream outside. I couldn’t look up from Senoy’s face.

  “What’s happening?” Cassie was wailing. “What was that?!” I heard Lucas’s steady voice as he tried to calm her, but I couldn’t make out the words. “No!” Cassie’s voice was shrill, unappeased. “Tell me what’s going on!” I don’t know what Lucas told her. I couldn’t focus on his voice.