The Dark

by Cheyenne McCray

  “Sure, babe.” The warlock-god’s laugh was mirthless. “I’ll just pack up my things and leave.”

  “That would be a damned good idea,” Jake said in a harsh tone.

  Darkwolf glared at Jake and the warlock-god’s expression turned so furious that Cassia could practically see dark sorcery rolling off him like a thick fog.

  “You almost killed Elizabeth when you fought the goddess, you bastard.” Darkwolf raised one of his hands and pointed his finger at Jake. “You’re history, Macgregor.”

  Jake held up his gun, gripping it with both hands. He moved his feet shoulder width apart and aimed his weapon at Darkwolf. “Not if I take you down first.”

  “Don’t shoot!” Cassia shouted and shoved one of Jake’s arms down with her hand. “The bullet will rebound within this shield and kill one of us instead.”

  Jake scowled.

  Darkwolf smiled.

  The wharf started shaking.

  Hard jerks tossed Cassia and Jake from side to side within her bubble of protection. Kael managed to brace himself as he growled at Darkwolf.

  Cassia hit her back against her shield so hard the breath was knocked out of her. As she slid down the barrier and landed hard, she had a difficult time bringing air into her lungs.

  Only the place where they stood rocked from Darkwolf’s magic. He smirked as his end of the wharf remained still and solid. If it wasn’t for her bubble shield around the three of them, they would have easily been tossed into the bay.

  He was toying with them. The cat-playing-with-his-mice game—before he ate the mice.

  “You have the power, Cassiandra.” Kael stared at Darkwolf, his eyes practically glowing as he curled his lips back from his teeth and snarled at the warlock-god. “Do not let him make you doubt your powers.”

  Cassia didn’t respond, other than giving a sharp nod.

  She called on her Guardian’s powers, letting them expand within her like liquid heat.

  The power burning through her veins became almost heady. Intoxicating.

  She had complete control over it—and that made her feel even more powerful.

  Cassia sent out a flow of magic that radiated from her body in golden waves. The wharf stopped shaking as she fought against Darkwolf’s powers and stabilized the pier.

  It didn’t even surprise her how easy the magic she’d used had been, and that she didn’t have to concentrate to keep the wharf from shaking.

  “So Alyssa was right. You have come into some pretty impressive magic.” Darkwolf tossed a look over his shoulder at Alyssa.

  Cassia’s former Coven sister held her hand up, her fingers splayed over her heart in a nervous gesture.

  “Of course, my lord.” The witch turned her gaze on Cassia and the darkness in Alyssa’s eyes churned Cassia’s stomach.

  No, not witch anymore. Alyssa was a warlock.

  Alyssa looked from Cassia to Darkwolf and smiled, a dark, chilling smile. “Everything I’ve told you has come to pass, hasn’t it?”

  Elizabeth-Junga stood a step back from the two, her arms crossed over her chest as she studied each person who spoke. She was just as sopping wet as the rest of them, but she was still incredibly beautiful. It was hard to believe she was a former demon queen.

  “Quit screwing around,” Elizabeth-Junga said to Darkwolf. “Let’s be done with this.”

  Darkwolf looked at Elizabeth-Junga and the expression on his face for just that moment was—tender? Loving?

  Cassia shuddered. Yeah, right.

  “I have plans for the Elvin witch’s death.” Darkwolf smiled at Elizabeth-Junga, but it turned cold when he focused on Jake next. “But like I said, you’re history, Macgregor.”

  “Bite me.” Jake’s jaw tensed and his knuckles whitened from how hard he gripped his Glock.

  “Sure.” Darkwolf laughed. He glanced at Elizabeth-Junga again. “Or better yet, Elizabeth can do the honors since you almost killed her.”

  It occurred to Cassia the storm had lessened. Rain came in a steady drizzle that rolled down their shields, but the lightning and thunder had abated.

  Cassia’s heart raced. He was gathering more of his magic, drawing it away from the storm.

  What was he going to do?

  She had no idea, but she put more power into their cocoon shield, so much so that it glittered and sparked with gold.

  Could the shield of an untried Guardian hold against an onslaught from a warlock-god?

  Tingles raced up and down Cassia’s spine and she grew suddenly cold. “Watch out, Kael.”

  She glanced at Jake, only briefly, before she stared at Darkwolf again. “Be ready for anything,” she said in a low voice as she thrust more magic into her shield.

  Without looking at her, he gave a sharp nod and shoved his Glock into its holster. He drew out the god-containing weapon and stood, his feet shoulder width apart. He held the gun with both hands, the weapon pointed directly at Darkwolf.

  The warlock-god didn’t look concerned one bit.

  A burst of massive purple energy shot from him, full force, at Cassia’s shield.

  It felt like every molecule in her body was going to explode.

  She cried out as her shield evaporated.

  Pain ripped through Cassia from the force of him tearing apart her magic.

  The impact flung her and Jake away from Darkwolf.

  Kael yelped.

  Cassia’s knee wrenched again, sending pain through her entire leg. The back of her head struck the hard wood of the wharf and stars sparked in her mind.

  An electrical sensation prickled her skin as she rolled to her feet and formed another shield. This time not a cocoon, but a flat barrier that she forced more power into.

  In that moment she realized Jake and Kael weren’t anywhere around her.

  They were gone.

  45

  I would laugh at how easily Darkwolf knocks away Cassia’s barriers if I didn’t have my own agenda.

  I don’t see Jake and that stupid wolf. They aren’t on the wharf any longer.

  What happened to them?

  Interesting.

  Did Darkwolf blow Jake to pieces? Incinerate him? And all because Jake had hurt Darkwolf’s precious Elizabeth.

  I take a step back so I can stare at the bitch without her noticing. The brilliance from Cassia’s destroyed shield still sparkles in the air, making it easier to see Elizabeth. Her attention is completely on Darkwolf and what he’s been doing to Cassia, Jake, and the wolf.

  Well, just Cassia now.

  It’s the perfect moment.

  My belly tingles with excitement as I reach down and pull up my pant leg just enough to draw out the gold Mystwalker dagger I have strapped to my ankle.

  So nice of the Mystwalkers to give me the tool I need.

  The moment my fingers come in contact with it, the hilt of the jagged-edged dagger warms in my palm. The weapon feels good, solid in my hand, like it belongs there.

  When I glance at the wharf I see that Cassia looks terrified as she throws up a shield so weak it’s laughable. Some powerful Elvin witch she is.

  Not.

  I clutch the grip of the dagger hard enough that my hand hurts. My heart beats faster and faster.

  Now, before Darkwolf looks this way. I must do it now.

  Then I’ll get the warlock-god from behind.

  I take a step forward, my body trembling slightly. My legs are even a little shaky.

  The only way to kill a Fomorii demon is to behead them or take out their heart—except if they’re in human form. Then they’re as weak as a mere human.

  Which will make Elizabeth’s death all the easier.

  When I’m standing even with Elizabeth, I tense my muscles. This is it. This will be easy.

  I smile.

  With every bit of strength I possess, I whirl to face her—

  And I drive the dagger into her heart.

  The satisfying feel of metal on bone and the blade tearing through flesh travels through my arm
.

  She screams Darkwolf’s name, but I barely hear her over the sound of my pulse, which rockets from the glee soaring through me.

  What a rush, a high, even more than I felt when I murdered Mackenzie.

  Elizabeth’s hands shift into blue demon claws as she reaches for my hand. Her eyes are filled with terror and the knowledge that she is going to die. She doesn’t have the strength now to shift into a demon and repair the damage I have done.

  She starts to go slack. Blood bubbles from her mouth and pours from her chest, so much that it’s visible even in the rain.

  Elizabeth calls to Darkwolf softer this time, saying something I can’t hear.

  So fast. It all happened so fast.

  From the time I stab her until she’s on her back on the wharf it’s been less than seconds.

  I feel a moment’s exhilaration and triumph.

  Powerful, black hatred slams into me and knocks me to the wharf.

  Darkwolf.

  He’ll get me before I can get him.

  Where will my soul go when I die?

  Do I have a soul left?

  I’m aware just long enough to feel my body explode.

  46

  Anguish punched Darkwolf’s chest like a wrecking ball had slammed into him. Tears flooded his cheeks as he dropped to his knees beside Elizabeth.

  “Shift!” He shouted as he slipped one hand under her head and placed his other hand over her heart. “Goddamnit, shift, Elizabeth!”

  Blood gurgled up from her throat. He dropped every bit of magic from the sky, the Stormcutters—everything but a light shield, to protect him and Elizabeth so that he could care for her.

  Darkwolf poured the rest of his power into healing Elizabeth.

  Tears mixed with remnants of rain on his cheeks, hot against cold.

  Darkwolf’s entire body shook as he ground his teeth and struggled to heal her failing heart. He could repair the damage. He could.

  “I’m not going to let you die,” he managed to get out as his whole body seemed to expand from the amount of power he was channeling and forcing into her body. “I’m repairing you. Mending your heart.” His voice trembled. “Shift, Elizabeth! Shift!”

  Her mouth opened and closed, and she started to say something. More blood poured from her mouth as she tried again to speak

  He didn’t stop what he was doing, but he leaned closer to hear her.

  “I think”—she swallowed as her words came out in a gurgling gasp—“I know what love is now.”

  “No!” Darkwolf shouted as he felt the whole world crumble to pieces around him. A hundred daggers stabbed his own heart. “You’re not leaving me!”

  But Elizabeth’s eyes became wide and glassy. Her body completely still.

  In the next moment the body of the blue demon Junga appeared.

  A brief flash of what Elizabeth had been.

  She crumbled to silt, and a light rain began washing what was left of her into the bay.

  47

  Jake’s lungs burned as he held his breath beneath the surface of the bay’s icy depths. The water chilled him to the bone, dangerously cold and causing his muscles to spasm and cramp. It was so dark he couldn’t make anything out.

  Thank God he still held the containment gun in a death grip. He hoped like hell it was waterproof.

  His boots, Kevlar vest, and duty belt weighed him down. He had to get out of them.

  With one hand gripping his array weapon, he struggled with his vest as he tried to unfasten it. No go.

  He was going to die from lack of oxygen.

  No. He was not going to let down countless people like he’d let down his team in Afghanistan.

  After fumbling a few precious moments, Jake holstered the containment gun to free his hands and hurried as fast as he could to unfasten his body armor and kick off his boots.

  As they floated away, he didn’t have time to feel relief. His chest was on fire from his dwindling air supply. He had to get air.

  A brief flash of light showed him the surface and he put every bit of effort into pushing himself toward it. His muscles didn’t want to work as they cramped from the iciness of the water. Goddamn, but his whole body hurt from the cramping.

  Jake started to see spots, as what little air in his lungs was almost gone.

  Images of the explosion outside that cave, Pacer’s body being ripped apart, seared his mind.

  With one more massive effort, Jake broke the surface.

  He took a great gulp of air, his lungs aching so much his chest hurt. He sputtered and spit out the salty, fishy taste of the water as he fought his cramping muscles to keep afloat. His duty belt was heavy, but he needed it.

  He reached for the hip where his containment weapon was still holstered. Thank God he hadn’t lost it while ditching his vest. He’d lost his Glock, though. Now the problem was whether or not the array weapon worked after being completely submerged underwater.

  No time to think about that now.

  Not only was he feeling the aftereffects of what he’d just gone through, but he was fuzzy-minded and his skull hurt like a sonofabitch. He must have taken a blow to his head on the wharf before ending up in the drink.

  And then there was the magic lightning that had created havoc in his mind. No wonder his brains felt scrambled.

  More images from that night when dark sorcery had torn apart the lives of his men and their families sparked in his thoughts.

  And all those captives, those dark sorcery slaves.

  Jake ground his teeth.

  I’m not losing these people. I’m not letting Cassia down.

  Jake took another welcome, deep breath of brine-scented air. For a moment he was disoriented. Where the hell was he?

  The lighthouse on top of Alcatraz Island strobed across the water and he gained his bearings at once. That had probably been the flash of light he’d seen while underwater, too.

  The huge water swells didn’t help his fight to keep afloat.

  Even with his boots and body armor off, he constantly had to struggle to keep his head above water. His teeth chattered. His muscles cramped. His mind felt cloudy.

  When he had a chance to catch his breath, he analyzed the situation as he treaded water, his back to the wharf. He turned to his right.

  He stretched out his arms and kicked his feet, and did his best to ignore the pain—the fierce burn from freezing saltwater in his wounds along with the cramps in his muscles.

  Rain now fell in light drops, like tears, and the lightning and thunder had stopped. He glanced at Crissy Field as he was turning toward the wharf.

  Light coming from the field showed him only what he was sure were Marines and the Alliance—no water funnels.

  They’d done it! They’d kicked those bastards’ asses.

  Was Darkwolf dead or sent on his way?

  Jake swallowed.

  Cassia?

  When he finally worked his cramping body around to face the wharf, the first thing he saw was Cassia behind a glittering gold shield that gave off enough light to see her by. Relief that she was alive warmed some of the chill inside him.

  He realized he’d been thrown a good thirty feet from her and the wharf.

  She was staring at something with her mouth open. Jake’s stomach cramped as much as his muscles when he saw the expression of horror on her beautiful features. Heart pounding, he adjusted his position as he continued to tread water, moving in the direction she was looking.

  Jake barely had a chance to see it happen.

  One second Darkwolf was bent over the supine form of Elizabeth-Junga. The other woman was no longer there.

  For only a flash, Elizabeth-Junga transformed into a huge blue Fomorii demon.

  The demon crumbled into a pile of silt.

  Jake’s blood had been pumping at a sluggish pace in his frozen body, but his pulse moved a little faster when the realization hit him.

  The demon-bitch is dead.

  The demon that had ordered legions of oth
er Fomorii demons to murder thousands of humans. Junga, whose own claws and wickedly sharp teeth had killed countless people and members of the Alliance. The same demon that had scarred Rhiannon’s face.

  Jake stared at Darkwolf.

  The warlock-god looked like he was sobbing. His entire body shook as he bent over the place where Elizabeth-Junga had been.

  Jake slowly started for the wharf, needing to keep moving and needing to take care of the warlock-god. To help Cassia send him away while he was vulnerable.

  Darkwolf really had felt something for the demon-woman.

  How twisted is that?

  If Darkwolf hadn’t murdered thousands, hadn’t been responsible for bringing the Fomorii demons and the dark god and goddess to San Francisco to begin with, Jake might have felt sorry for the warlock-god.

  Nope. Not even close to feeling bad for the sonofabitch.

  Like the dark sorcery bastards who had caused the event that hung over him for years, he held no compassion for Darkwolf.

  They had caused it.

  Jake had fallen for it.

  That wasn’t happening again.

  He sized up his alternatives. The cramps in his body lessened as he numbed even more from the iciness of the water.

  Rather than going to Cassia, he’d head to the other side of the wharf to come at Darkwolf from behind. The purple shield around Darkwolf glittered, even though it didn’t seem as strong as it had before. Jake didn’t know how he and Cassia were going to take on the warlock-god, but somehow they would.

  Jake could barely move his arms and legs. One of the reasons the prison had been built on Alcatraz was because the water was so cold a person wasn’t likely to survive swimming from the island to shore.

  Thank God he didn’t have to go that far. He wasn’t sure he was going to survive the thirty or so feet to the wharf if he didn’t get out of the water.

  Water crushed his chest, and it became harder and harder to breathe. The wharf seemed so far away. He prayed that Darkwolf would drop his shield once Jake got there. And that he’d have the strength to go after the warlock-god.