Demon Singer

by Nichols, Benjamin

  Philip was tall and well muscled. He'd been chubby when they started together but the Guild had a tendency to work that out of you. He stood erect with excellent posture. His face was open and relaxed, as it should be when using proper technique. None of this was new though, Lyric had watched Philip sing hundreds of times. He listened as Philip entered the last part of the song and realized what it was. Philip was confident. He was completely at ease in his role as Discerner, responsible for the safety of the Guild. Lyric was conflicted inside. Part of him rejoiced at seeing his friend assume the mantle of such a weighty responsibility with such ease and comfort. Another part was angry that his friend didn't trust him anymore. Regardless of Lyric's own feelings, though, he could be glad for one thing. Philip had found his part in the Score.

  The song ended and Philip gestured for the guards to release Lyric. They did so immediately, but remained at attention on either side of the Singer.

  Philip stared at Lyric for a long time before speaking.

  "I've only been at this for a month, but nothing has surprised me until now." he started slowly, as though carefully considering his words. "I find no darkness in you, Lyric." Lyric thought this was good news and wondered why his friend looked so sober. His heart sank as Philip continued. "Nor can I find any light in you. It's as if you are gray. I sense tremendous power coming from you and from the place you're tied. Power I wouldn't think any man could wield without burning up. That in itself is unique and frankly, frightening. However, for the first time I cannot discern the nature of that power or the objective of it. Part of you doesn't even seem human." Sadness stole across Philip's expressive face. "What has happened to you my friend?"

  "Too many things, Philip. There's no one else I'd rather tell the story to than you. But I must get to Ervin. The war isn't coming, Philip, it's here. Less than three weeks away."

  "Impossible, the woman hasn't the strength of numbers to attack Markhato. It would be suicide."

  "That's just it!" Lyric said. "She doesn't have the numbers, but her general does! I need to give my report to the Master and deliver this message." He held up the envelope given to him by the Keylac. Philip deftly plucked it from his hand. "Don't!" Lyric grabbed for the envelope but Philip held it away from him, opening it up.

  Everything went nuts.

  The envelope exploded in a huge green ball of flame that sent Lyric, Philip and the guards flying like paper dolls in a strong wind.

  Instantly, Lyric was back on his feet, his insides cold as ice. He had no idea what happened but it couldn't possibly end well.

  Philip was just as quickly back up, the guards took a moment longer. Philip turned to face Lyric, his face registering shock, then worry and finally rage. Lyric had seen that look on Philip's face once before. The night they found the men who sold his sister to the demon.

  Lyric remembered that awful night all too clearly. He remembered the smell of rot and sulfur. He remembered a rough tag in his shirt that bothered his neck. He remembered the fire, the cold wind and the look on Philip's face as he exacted retribution on the men responsible for his little sister's death. Eight men died violently that night. Now Philip was staring at Lyric with that same look on his face. Lyric felt panic threaten, he didn't want to hurt his friend. He felt an answering twist in his tie to Acheron. Then he ignored everything but the fight in front of him.

  Philip was an inch taller than Lyric but half again as wide. The Singer didn't want to display his demon-enhanced strength and cause even more of a rift between them. He thought quickly and sang a brief phrase that yanked his friend over his head and hurled him across the courtyard.

  Philip was a trained singer, though. He may not possess Lyric's natural ability, but he made up for it by drilling and practicing and forcing his mind and body to recall various useful pieces. Lyric knew he out muscled Philip vocally, but combat song was about more than just strength.

  Philip sighed out a calm line that slowed his momentum and brought him lightly to his feet. Turning on Lyric, he approached, hyperventilating to flood his body with oxygen and enable longer phrases.

  "Philip, don't, I don't want to fight you."

  Philip ignored Lyrics protests and began his combat song.

  Sparks of blue rose from the ground and coalesced into a brilliant ball of cobalt fire. With a well-rehearsed motion, Philip sent the ball spinning toward Lyric expanding as it went.

  Lyric had already grabbed the theme of Philip's combat song. Humming smoothly, with a beautiful cascading vocal line Lyric made a motion with his arm as though wiping a window. A clear sheet of water followed his motion and intercepted the fireball.

  Green light flared behind him and something came hurtling through the gates. Lyric recognized who it was instantly.

  "Kill no one!" He shouted as Acheron tore into the contingent of guards preparing to rush Lyric. The demoness snarled and somersaulted away as the guards restored their balance and prepared to rush her.

  Acheron grinned wickedly and motioned them forward. Her smile turned to a look of shock as a huge yellow troll popped into existence in front of her and backhanded her across the courtyard.

  Lyric could only be aware peripherally of what was happening to the demoness as he focused on countering Philip's next attack. A keening wail called forth a volley of shrieking arrows with eagle heads. Lyric closed his eyes and countered, a rapid motif that sent lightning singing into the deadly barrage, burning to ash each missile.

  Yellow troll? That was Keith Normvy's shape shifting Verger, Johaus. That meant short tempered, extremely accomplished, Song Master Normvy was here and about to hand out ass whoopins. It also meant that if it was Normvy and his Verger in the bayou, things were getting out of hand quickly. The Singer sang a minor counterpoint against Philip's theme and focused on his tie with Acheron. The familiar discord jangled harshly in his mind's ear. Forcing himself to ignore it, he tapped into the seemingly limitless torrent of Acheron's power. The demoness, engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the Verger responded to Lyric's draw by vanishing in her puff of dark and reappearing at Lyric's side.

  "Do it, Lover. Use me."

  "I don't know the measure yet." Lyric ground out listening as Philip changed his song.

  "Doesn't matter, this is practice."

  "Doesn't feel like practice," the soul singer prepared himself.

  The time for doubt was past. Lyric shoved aside all his feelings, feelings of disgust, of betrayal, of anger, disappointment and shame and laid hold of the tie with his song and brandished Acheron as a weapon.

  As drilled by his Demoness, the Singer focused solely on the tie and began his battle song. His vision became disoriented as he saw through both his eyes and Acheron's together. Closing his own eyes, he poured the power of his song into the demoness. Seeing through her eyes gave him the benefit of the sight. He was again amazed at the detail with which he could see and the glows of the men in the courtyard rallying to attack both Demoness and Singer. Philip was glowing a beautiful azure that was actually reflected in the glows nearest him. The biggest surprise was Normvy. A gaunt, blustering, but unimpressive man he looked like a magnesium flare.

  FOCUS!

  Acheron's thought reminded him of the very real peril he faced.

  Casting his arms out he sang a dark minor line from Mistress Holts' book that caused a thick fog to fall on the soldiers, but more than fog it stuck to them and slowed them down. From the mist, the ponderous form of the Verger trundled forward, easily walking through the airborne sludge. The newly revved up Acheron smiled and launched herself at him. Just as she reached him, Normvy's clear tenor sounded out of the fog. His Verger caught the demoness in midair and smashed her, face first into the cement. The shock forced Lyric out of her head. He almost fell, disoriented and nauseous. Not ready yet. Acheron disappeared in a flash and reappeared atop the troll's head preparing to rip it from his shoulders.

  "No!" Lyric cried and used his song to send the demoness flying again.

  "Asshole!"
She screamed as she disappeared in the fog.

  Lyric saw he was being surrounded by the slow moving guards and Philip was concentrating on a song to renew his attack.

  Lyric sang his repellant song from the diner and cleared the area with the exception of Philip. He listened to Philip's complicated song and couldn't help but admire what he'd constructed. The tune was two themes put together, one focused on the attack he was preparing, while the interwoven theme was for defense, nullifying the effects of Lyric's tune.

  Lyric tried to predict what to expect from the primary melody Philip sang. They had years of experience sparring with one another, so Lyric knew his friend tended to be unimaginative and predictable. His favorite form of attack was sheer crushing pressure that forced his opponents to yield.

  Lyric prepared his counter measure, watching the area around him for the telltale signs of the approaching attack. At that point, Philip would be forced to concentrate solely on his attack and let his defense drop. There it was, a faint blue glow surrounded the singer and began contracting. A sharp phrase from Lyric caused the earth beneath Philip to shoot up several feet, catapulting his friend back into the fog. Lyric prayed he didn't get hurt when he landed.

  Suddenly Lyric's world turned sideways as he was picked up by one enormous yellow hand. Normvy's Verger had taken advantage of Lyric's distraction to get behind him. Wicked yellow eyes stared balefully at his face and the giant mouth grinned as the troll raised its opposite fist, preparing to smash Lyric's head into jelly. Lyric tried to sing but the troll's grip tightened and constricted his chest, not allowing him to breathe. He couldn't even cry out when he felt his ribs break.

  An unholy shriek shattered the air as Acheron slammed into the Verger. The giant troll lost its grip and dropped Lyric in a heap as it reeled from the ferocity of the demoness' attack. Lyric tried to inhale and sing but fire lanced through his chest and almost made him pass out. He watched in a daze as Acheron, beautiful still, even in her rage, ripped the troll's arm from its body and used it to beat the yellow monster backward.

  Lyric rolled to his knees and prepared to stand when a knifepoint was pressed against his throat. He looked up into the cold eyes of Keith Normvy. The Master Singer spoke softly.

  "You will die, Demon Singer, and the veil will fall." Traitor! Lyric howled inside, unable to speak still. Furious, the singer looked for a solution while he waited for the kill stroke. Normvy's face took on a startled expression, right before he collapsed in a heap. Philip stood behind him still holding the shield he'd used to render the man unconscious. Reaching down he helped Lyric up. The remaining guards surrounded them, humming a theme Lyric recognized as a holding song.

  "Lyric, you will accompany me to the holding cells to await the counsel's judgment."

  "No, he won't." Acheron came strolling through the circle of men with the troll's yellow arm over her shoulder like a club. "He will accompany me away from here. You won't stop him because you know you can't take me. You have nowhere near the juice of this dickhead, who you might be interested to know is a traitor," she threw the troll's arm across Normvy's back. "And besides, you love Lyric as much as the rest of us. Step aside."

  Philip took a breath and prepared to blast the demoness. Acheron smiled.

  "Before you make that mistake, ask me how many Singers I've killed. I have no problem adding you to the tally.” Taking Lyric by the arm, she escorted him toward the gate.

  “Don’t go, Lyric.” Philip called after them. “Let me help you, the Master must be able to do something.”

  Lyric shook his head at his friend, still unable to speak. His heart broke at the sorrow on Philip’s face.

  “Then I have no choice. Lyrical Sound of the Evening, as the Discerner responsible for this gate and the safety of the Soul Singers Guild and in light of your situation and the events of this afternoon, I must declare you to be fallen, an enemy of this guild and beyond salvation. The Guild will take the appropriate steps to ensure you cease to be a danger to the Score. I’m sorry.”

  Hot tears flowed freely down Lyric’s cheeks as he allowed himself to be led out of the gates of the place he loved most and up the street. Acheron walked slowly, allowing him the dignity of leaving under his own power, but supporting the majority of his weight. If she were ever capable of compassion, this would have been the time for it. The closest she came was to say to Lyric quietly.

  “The next time I meet the Singer tied to that Troll he is going to die.”

  26 REUNITED

  "You're being a little bitch," Acheron scolded Lyric as they lay next to each other in the grass outside the back of the motel.

  Lyric wearily flipped the demoness off. He'd refused to let her try to heal his broken ribs. He refused to go to a hospital to be examined. He refused to try to sing a healing song on himself. Since tying to Acheron, Lyric's world had spiraled out of control. He was done with things happening to him. He was determined to regain control of his life. Now that the Guild had declared him fallen he had no constraints except his own. That was both freeing and terrifying.

  "Seriously, this is asinine. Your pet is still missing. Your Guild has declared you enemy number one. Moreover, we still need to make it to Markhato. Instead of getting on with it, you're pouting because your little friends are being mean to you. You need to conquer some of your issues and either let me fix your ribs, or do it yourself."

  If it didn't feel like fire, he would have sighed. He couldn't breathe without pain. He couldn't sing more than short phrases at a time. Every time he moved his body he could feel the bones grinding. Best to start his new found freedom small.

  Okay, Acheron. What is it going to cost to fix me?

  Nothing, stupid. How is it possible we've been through the last few months together and you still don't get the fact that your well-being is my well-being? Just hold still.

  Acheron rolled over and looked carefully at his body. A piece of leather materialized in her hand and she shoved it in his mouth.

  "Bite down, this is gonna suck."

  Lyric braced himself but was completely unprepared for the agony that washed through his chest and abdomen. The demoness plunged her hand into his belly up under his rib cage and forced the bones back into position. Lyric tried to writhe away from the pain but Acheron held him still with one arm across his chest and both legs wrapped around his like a vise. He screamed into the leather gag as she rooted around inside him. After what must have been less than a minute but felt like hours, she removed her hand and let go of him. Lyric lay still in an exhausted heap. Acheron kissed him on the spot her hand had entered and started working her way down.

  Lyric threw himself to the side and forced himself to his feet. Obviously some taboos remained.

  "What the hell!?"

  The demoness smiled wickedly as she stood up as well.

  "I figured I'd get you up or I'd get you up. Either way I win. Though I was hoping it would go the other way." She pouted prettily.

  Lyric stood frozen, staring at the demoness. He thought his body might very well rip apart as he struggled with the waves of desire that screamed at him to give in. It was so much easier to resist when the attraction was physical. After the events of the last several weeks he found his hatred for Acheron waning. He was beginning to question his blind faith to the Guild. His leg twitched as he almost took the step necessary to close the distance between them. Closing his eyes, he prayed and turned away from her, forcing his feet against their will to walk away.

  Acheron grinned and followed. She wondered when he finally gave in whether she'd satisfy his desire, or rebuff him as he had her so many times. Probably, whichever was cruelest at the moment she decided.

  Inside the motel room, Lyric got out of a shower that was much colder than he'd have liked, but at least his mind was clearer. Immediately there was a knock at the door that threatened to splinter the wood.

  Acheron sniffed the air and said.

  "You're going to want to answer that, I think."

&
nbsp; Giving the demoness a confused look, he headed for the door. Throwing back the bolt and the chain Lyric barely turned the knob before the door flew open and Cadence was bursting in and wrapping her arms around Lyric in a firm embrace. The Singer stepped back in shock, but happily returned the hug.

  "Cadence I've been so worried, where were you?"

  The warrior stepped away from Lyric and approached Acheron.

  "Welcome back sexy," the demoness greeted Cadence. The smaller woman grabbed a hold of Acheron's head and pulled her close so they were eye to eye. The demoness put her hands around the woman's waist with an expectant grin that immediately vanished. They stood like that for close to a minute in complete silence. Lyric watched in confusion. He tried to hear Acheron's thoughts through the tie, but picked up nothing other than she was there. The discord that tended to distract and annoy him was all he could hear. The harder he concentrated the louder it seemed to get. Finally, he gave up and waited.