Nocturnal Magic (Demons of Fire and Night Book 2)

by C. N. Crawford

  “No.” Bael’s razor-sharp voice cut through the air.

  “You’ll give up your manor for this dog? What is she to you?”

  Snarling, Bael began to charge for Abrax—but a burst of magic from Abrax sent dark filaments of night magic racing across the room, wrapping around Bael’s chest and mouth.

  Abrax’s grip on Ursula’s arms was surely crushing her bones. “Abrax,” she spat. “Do you think your daddy will be pleased that you’re assaulting his champion?”

  “Shut your filthy mouth, you abomination,” said Abrax. “If I can’t have you, no one will.”

  Ursula’s heart skipped a beat. Think, Ursula. Think.

  She slid her leg between Abrax’s, and he pressed against her, moaning into her ear. “Have you changed your mind, little dog?” Gritting her teeth, she kicked upward, into his groin.

  Abrax grunted, releasing her arms. Then, he pushed her onto the floor.

  “Massu. Get your dinner.”

  The taller oneiroi ripped the mask off Massu’s face. With a shrill scream, Cera’s brother leapt for her throat. She rolled to the side, and Massu landed softly on the tile, like a cat. She clambered to her feet, as Massu leapt again.

  She blocked his attack with her arm. A white-hot jolt of pain seared through her as Massu buried his teeth in her forearm. She screamed.

  He clawed at her, pulling her hair, exposing the soft skin of her throat.

  “Massu!” Cera’s clear voice pierced the darkness. “Stop this right now, or I will give you a hiding!”

  Massu loosened his grip on Ursula’s arm, his silver eyes wide.

  “Destroy her,” said Abrax.

  Massu’s gaze turned back to Ursula. Hungrily, he licked his teeth. Ursula’s gaze flicked to Bael. Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed him slowly working his way out of the bonds. Come on, Bael.

  “Massu!” Cera shouted. “What did I tell you? Don’t make me come down there.”

  Massu’s head swiveled between Abrax and his sister. His arms trembled with indecision.

  Cera called out again. “Massu, you let her go. You are not meant to be the Corrupted.” “What is wrong with you?” Abrax roared. “I gave you a command.”

  Massu’s turned back to her, baring his teeth, and she glanced at Bael again. In the shadows, he’d ripped away the filaments.

  He roared, a sound of pure masculinity, a primal challenge.

  His eyes wild, Massu leapt for Bael’s throat, a blur of black and silver. A ravenous missile bent on the destruction of Bael’s perfect face.

  But he never made it that far. A sleek black blade glinted in Bael’s hands, and Ursula watched as Bael plunged it into Massu’s chest.

  Cera’s agonized wails echoed off the atrium walls, and bile rose in Ursula’s throat.

  Bael lifted his knife to Abrax. “You may be the son of Nyxobas, but I will kill you to protect my manor.”

  Night magic gathered around Abrax once again. The inky tendrils waved furiously about his head. “You killed my champion.”

  Starlight glistened in Bael’s darkened eyes. “You violated the rules of the tournament.”

  Ursula took a step closer to Abrax. “Your father must be pretty cross about that whole army you raised against him. And here you are, breaking his rules again. How does he punish you? I imagine it’s unpleasant.”

  Abrax’s eyes blazed like starlight and his jaw dropped, like he’d been slapped in the face. Slowly, he turned and began to stride toward the hole in the wall at the far side of the atrium.

  When Abrax reached the gap in the wall, he turned to face them, the tall oneiroi at his side. His gaze slid to Ursula. “When I capture you and force you into submission, the memories of today will only intensify my pleasure.”

  A shiver inched up her spine.

  Shadows curled around Abrax and his oneiroi, completely enveloping them until they disappeared. Cera’s cries still echoed through the atrium.

  Bael turned to her, his face stony. “I must go to Cera. Show me your arm, first.”

  She lifted her arm, wincing at the vicious teeth-marks puncturing her skin. Bael let his powerful magic caress her skin, but this time, she took no pleasure in it. Her eyes slid to Massu’s lifeless corpse, and nausea welled in her gut.

  She hardly noticed Bael leaving.

  She stood alone in the atrium, listening to the sound of Cera’s cries. A deep, gnawing loneliness pressed on her chest.

  Suddenly, it hit her. She was going to die here in the Shadow Realm, among a legion of demons who hated her.

  Chapter 27

  Ursula hurried into her quarters, pulling open her door. Once inside, she shut the it behind her listening for the familiar click of the lock. For the first time in her visit to the Shadow Realm, she actually appreciated the sound.

  She ran for the bathroom, kneeling in front of the toilet, then heaved up her dinner. As she wiped a shaking hand across her mouth, she tried not to think about Abrax.

  He’d corrupted the oneiroi. And she didn’t know what he wanted to do to her—only that everything about him horrified her. What did he mean—she’s not a normal demon, nor a normal human?

  She peeled off her blood-soaked dress, letting it drop to the floor. He sensed something about her, something that stoked his perverse desires. What sort of an abomination was she?

  She grabbed a cloth, running warm water over it, and washed herself off. In a daze, she snatched a fresh nightgown from upstairs, and slipped into it. Half of her wanted to go to Cera, but Bael was already with her. He’d slaughtered her brother, yes. But he still viewed himself as her protector.

  Sunlight streamed in through the window, but tired as she was, she’d be able to sleep through it. She curled up onto the sofa and let her eyes drift shut.

  She slept fitfully, dreaming of the reaper she’d slaughtered today. Remus chased her through a forest of bones, and Massu waited for her in a desolate wasteland. Each dream ended as they pulled her down and into the unending abyss of Nyxobas’s void.

  “Ursula?” A female voice jolted her from her sleep.

  Ursula rubbed her eyes, blinking at Cera, her eyes red-rimmed.

  An image flashed in her mind—Bael’s knife slashing through Massu’s throat.

  “Cera?” She sat up, throwing her arms around Cera. “I’m so sorry about Massu.”

  “Abrax killed him,” said Cera softly.

  “What do you mean?” she loosened her grasp.

  “The lord... Abrax killed his soul when he fed him raw meat.”

  Ursula nodded. “I hope to kill Abrax some day.”

  “Another thing we have in common,” said Cera grimly.

  The rich scent of food wafted past Ursula’s nostrils.

  Ursula frowned. “Please tell me you didn’t cook. You should be mourning, not making me breakfast.”

  “I didn’t cook. The lord instructed another of his servants to cook for us.”

  Ursula arched an eyebrow. “He’s okay with us eating together? He said it was dangerous for us to be friends.”

  Cera shrugged. “I think he figures we’re in danger no matter what. Might as well not be alone for it.” Cera beckoned her to the bar. “Come. Join me.”

  Ursula stood, crossing to the bar. Since she’d puked up her dinner last night, her stomach was completely empty. Her mouth watered at the sight of orange juice, fresh fruit, toast, eggs, and a carafe of coffee. Cera had already set out two plates.

  Ursula took a seat next to Cera and scooped eggs and fruit onto a plate. Ravenous, she dug in, working her way through the eggs and toast. She took a sip of coffee, then glanced at Cera.

  The oneiroi pushed her food around on her plate.

  “Not hungry?” asked Ursula.

  “Not today.”

  “It will take time, I imagine,” said Ursula.

  “I hadn’t seen him in decades. I guess in some ways, I’d mourned him already. But I didn’t need to watch him die.”

  Ursula nodded. “Bael said to
use lavender for the nightmares.”

  Cera grinned. “He is wise. And what does he have planned for you today?”

  “I’m not entirely sure. He said he was going to train me to ride one of the bats, but then we had a big argument, and he said I was a monster, and I said he lived a void like Nyxobas because he was scared of emotions.”

  Cera stared at her.

  Ursula sipped her coffee. “So anyway, I’m not sure if he’s still going to help me.”

  “Well, if he does plan to train you, the main thing is to hold on tight. It’s really not that difficult if you remember to respect the bat.”

  “How do you do that?” Ursula asked.

  “You talk to them. They’ll respond to your instructions.”

  “They know English?”

  “No, but they understand tone and inflection.”

  A knock sounded on the door, and Ursula jumped up. Guess we’re still on, then. “I’ll get it.” She hurried across the floor, flinging open the front door.

  With the sunlight streaming behind him, Bael stood in the doorway, dressed in black riding leathers. His gaze trailed over her nightgown.

  Of course, she hadn’t bothered to get dressed before she flung open the door. But then—after their conversation yesterday—she had the strongest urge to distract him out of spite.

  “Hello, Bael. Come on in.” She turned, knowing that he’d get a full view of the nightgown’s plunging backline.

  “Do you plan to wear clothes to this training?”

  “Thinking about it,” she said, turning back to him. She let the sleeve of her nightgown fall down, exposing her shoulder, but not so far that he could see her breast.

  His gray eyes pierced right through her. “Are you doing this on purpose?”

  Cera cleared her throat. “I feel it’s time for me to leave.”

  “Not yet,” said Bael, his eyes still locked on Ursula. “Please help Ursula find some clothes.”

  Cera let out an exasperated sigh. “Honestly, I don’t know what’s going on with you two.”

  As Cera hurried toward the stairwell, Ursula called out, “Make sure it’s not too distracting for Bael! He gets distracted easily.”

  His jaw tightened.

  She crossed her arms. “Wouldn’t want you falling off your bat.”

  Bael’s features softened, and he glanced away. “Is Cera okay?”

  “As good as can be expected. She wants to murder Abrax, but that is perfectly reasonable.”

  Bael stared at the floor. “I had to kill Massu. Abrax had driven him insane. Once corrupted, there is no returning from the madness.”

  Ursula nodded. “I know. Plus, he was about to mess up your pretty face.”

  Bael glared at her. “Pretty?” He spat the word like an insult.

  Cera’s footsteps thundered down the stairs, and she bustled into the room with a bundle of clothes in her arms.

  “That was fast,” said Bael.

  Cera nodded at the pile. “These should be appropriate for training.”

  “Thank you, Cera.”

  Bael nodded, his gaze landing on the top of the pile—on the lacy black knickers and bra.

  He turned to walk for the door. “I’ll meet you on the roof.” When he was halfway to the door, he turned to face Cera, nodding so deeply it was almost a bow. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  Chapter 28

  Ursula stepped out of the elevator and onto the roof, shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight. On the sleek black roof, Bael crouched next to the bulk of an enormous black bat. As she approached, her heels clacking over the marble, Bael turned to look at her.

  She wore thick woolen leggings, a leather jacket with a fur collar, and black riding boots that almost reached her knees. To complete the getup, she wore a large leather-covered helmet. She’d asked Cera if the helmet was strictly necessary, but the oneiroi had insisted.

  Bael’s lips curled in a smile. “Nice helmet.”

  She frowned. I knew the helmet was a bad idea. “Cera said it would protect my head.”

  Snorting, the bat shifted. It was monstrous, at least twice the size of Sotz.

  She pointed. “Am I riding that?”

  Bael patted the bat’s back. “Vesperella? No, she’s my baby girl.” He put his fingers to his lips and whistled. A flapping of wings beat the air, and a moment later, Sotz landed next to her.

  “I think you’ll find it’s easier to learn on a bat you’re already familiar with.”

  She nodded at Sotz. “We’ve been getting to know each other.”

  “Can you steer?” he asked.

  “Not really.” Not at all.

  Bael nodded. “You’ll need to learn how to do if yourself if you want to have any hope of surviving the race.”

  “So how does it work? There was a harness that I held onto before.” Ursula tried to remember how she’d seen Cera steer, but her vision had been blocked by Cera’s back.

  “You need to learn to ride bareback.” Bael climbed onto Vesperella, demonstrating as he spoke. “You can hold onto the loose skin just behind the ears. Then just direct the bat’s head the way you want it to fly.” He tugged Vesperella’s head to the right.

  Ursula took a deep breath, glancing at Sotz. He narrowed his eyes. As she moved in closer, a low rumble rose in his chest and he bared his teeth.

  “Easy, Sotz,” said Bael. “Just step over his shoulders. You’ll need to crouch a little bit.”

  “His shoulders?”

  “Where the bat’s wings connect to his chest,” said Bael. “You’ll want to sit right up against them. When he’s flying, grip onto his chest with your calves.” His gaze slid down to her legs. “You’ll need to use your thigh muscles to hold on.”

  Ursula stepped over Sotz’s neck and eased herself down. The moment her bum touched his back, he clambered forward toward the edge of the roof.

  “Slow down,” she shouted, tightening her thighs around his body. She gripped the loose skin behind his ears.

  An instant later they were streaking down the roof and into the air. She glanced down at the crater, hundreds of feet below, and her breath caught. When Sotz curved wildly to the right, she lost her grip on his skin. Her heart thrummed wildly.

  Panic blazed through her body, and she reached again for a grip, but Sotz twisted away from her. The motion sent her sliding to the side and she grabbed blindly, her fingers wrapping around the soft skin of one of his ears.

  Sotz let out an ear-piercing shriek, bucking and jerking his body. She tried to hold on, but he threw her into the air.

  Her heart stopped, and everything seemed to slow down. For a brief moment, her momentum keep her on an upward trajectory, and the whole valley of the crater spread out before her. She could see the houses of the oneiroi, Asta’s purple spire, even the faint shimmer of magic along the rim of the crater, magic that—unfortunately for her—created gravity. She hurtled toward the ground, terror screaming through her mind. A scream tore from her throat.

  As the wind ripped through her hair, something jerked the back of her jacket, halting her descent. In the next moment, Bael was pulling her on to Vesperella.

  “Hang on to me!” he shouted over the wind.

  Instinctually, she wrapped her arms around his neck, her face pressing into his chest. The bat was too large for her to get a grip on with her legs. Instead, she wrapped them around Bael’s waist. He leaned in, steering the bat through the air. His heart pounded hard through his shirt.

  She clung to him as he guided Vesperella out of a deep dive. The g-forces pressed her against his warm body, and she breathed in the scent of sandalwood by the sea. His sweet breath warmed the side of her face.

  “Don’t worry,” he said. “The first time you fall from a bat is always the scariest.”

  The first time?

  She could feel his muscles shifting as he expertly controlled the bat. With the wind rushing over their bodies, Bael directed Vesperella back to the rooftop in a great lazy arc.

/>   “When you fly again,” he said, “don’t grip too tightly. It will spook him. You must be gentle with the bat. As I’m steering her now, even a slight twitch of my fingers is enough to make her respond the way I want.”

  Ursula swallowed hard. Talk about distracting.

  Bael guided Vesperella into a soft landing on the roof, and Ursula unclenched her legs from Bael’s waist. She stepped off, fighting dizziness.

  He smirked. “Given the grip you had on me, I know you’re strong enough to hang on.”

  “Thank you for not letting me die.”

  “I had a feeling you might need some assistance on your first flight. I almost smashed into those rocks over there on my race to get you.” He pointed to a particularly sharp looking crag. “But, the main thing is to never grab a bat by its ears. They’re very sensitive. I’ll call Sotz and you can try again. ”

  Before Ursula could protest, Bael was whistling for the bat. This time, Sotz landed next to Bael, his beady eyes trained on her. Ursula was relieved to see that his ear appeared undamaged.

  Bael reached down and scratched Sotz’s head. “It’s okay, little guy. She’s just a little clumsy.”

  “Well, there’s no need to rub it in.”

  “Let’s try it again,” said Bael.

  This time when she sat on Sotz’s shoulders, she didn’t lower her full weight. Instead she crouched down and whispered into the bat’s ear.

  “I’m sorry, Sotz. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  She nuzzled her head against his. Sotz’s fur was soft as velvet, and while he didn’t pure like a cat, he didn’t growl either.

  “You’re a good bat. A good bat,” she repeated. She scratched behind his ears as she had seen Bael do with Vesperella. Then she gingerly lowered her full weight.

  This time when Sotz launched, she already had a firm but gentle grip on the skin behind his ears. They hurtled toward the ground, and her stomach dropped. Gently, she pulled back on Sotz’s neck and he leveled off. They flew above the crater’s floor, barely one hundred feet above the ground, racing over the little stone houses and narrow alleys of the Shadow Kingdom.