Demon Singer

by Nichols, Benjamin

  The guards rushed them and the battle was joined.

  34 TOO LATE

  Lyric flew up the stairs, his mind clear and his heart breaking. Desperately he felt the tie, ignoring the burning and seeking Acheron. All he found was sobbing.

  Acheron! Please be OK!

  Desperation spurred him on faster. Acheron was not answering. Rounding a corner, he plowed into a handful of soldiers. He barely registered the fact that they weren't Milleytes Lux before he started killing them. In seconds he was up the next flight of steps. He didn't even bother singing. Acheron still lived and he still had her strength. Everyone foolish enough to try to engage him was left broken behind him. Once Ceylan died, Allison Holt's secret themes wore off and Lyric was left with the stark truth of what he'd done. Regardless of who Acheron was, she didn't deserve what he'd done. Grief-stricken, sobbing and berserk with self-loathing, Lyric was a terrifying sight, hurtling through the castle to the war room. Men fell like wheat before him, and the Demon Singer ran on.

  * * *

  Acheron returned to corporeal form in the trees outside the city walls. The gash in her body wouldn't heal. She fell to her knees and called out to Logi. She needed strength.

  "Who is Logi?" A beautiful tenor voice spoke in the trees. The demoness chuckled at her luck.

  "No one, you'll do just fine. What's your name again?"

  "Keith Normvy," the Master Singer stepped out of the shadows and approached cautiously. "I never caught your name."

  Acheron stood, ignoring the waves of pain caused by her movements.

  "I have many names, Keith. But you can call me death."

  * * *

  Cadence and Fugue fought back to back. The small warrior watched in annoyance as Allison jumped on Luper's back and they sped away. Obviously, Vergers don't share the silver allergy weres have.

  The bodies were piling up quickly, none of the soldiers came close to her skill. Fugue held his own very well, but the sheer number of opponents was going to be their end.

  Cadence scowled at the impossibility of their situation. She didn't have time to die, she needed to kill that bitch that made her kneel. She didn't know why it mattered, but she knew she'd never knelt before. The small warrior decided she was not going to die until Allison did.

  * * *

  Lyric reached the door of the war room to find several dead bodies littering the corridor. Among them, an enormous bear dressed in shredded formal wear was dead on the floor. The butler was a were.

  Lyric had vented his rage on the way up and now he was all cold purpose. Standing calmly before the door, he pushed it open. The first face he saw was David Westfall's locked in a permanent scowl. His body was closest to the door. Several bodies surrounded him and the sword in his fist was wet with blood. Lyric felt an odd surge of pride that his grandfather had been the first to greet the threat that entered the room. Next, he found the Wheaties box king, whose name he never learned. The man wasn't far behind his grandfather and held a matching sword. Bodies surrounded him as well. Lyric realized the swords had been behind a shield hanging on the wall. Further in, against the table was Branigan. Where the first two looked angry, he looked sad, even with his hands locked around the throat of his enemy. In the far corner, lying in a puddle of what Lyric assumed was his own urine was combover. His face was terrified, there were no bodies near him.

  The Singer took in the grisly sight without question or comment. He was too late. The four Kings of Markhato were dead. Gently, he closed the eyes of each king and left the room in search of Acheron.

  * * *

  Normvy sang a short upturned phrase that shot him high into the tree above him. Acheron searched for him among the branches. She heard him sing an odd haunting phrase and realized it was his eighth measure. Looking around expectantly she didn't have long to wait, Johaus stepped out of the trees to face her.

  "You got your arm back! Let's see if we can pull something else off."

  The demoness smoked out and appeared on the troll's shoulders, planning to rip his head off as she'd intended to do at the Soul Singers Guild when Lyric stopped her. Johaus reached up, grabbed the demoness and hurled her like a football. Acheron smoked out just before colliding with the tree in her path.

  She returned at full speed, intending to rip the troll apart, but Johaus had changed. Now she faced a yellow-skinned likeness of Lyric. Eyes narrowed in fury, Acheron attacked viciously. The Verger was fast though, and strong. He managed to meet her blow for blow then a trilling vocal line fell on her ears and she was spinning out of control. A personal sized tornado was wreaking havoc on her hair and widening her wound.

  The demoness smoked out but couldn't escape the tornado. Normvy guided her into the trees and suddenly she was shrieking in agony as branches flailed and stabbed her weakening body. In desperation, she cried out to her hated singer.

  Lyric!!

  * * *

  Cadence tore into the soldiers without mercy. Everyone who stood between her and Allison needed to die. Fugue was separated from her and she turned to help but he waved her off.

  "Go, kill her, I'll be fine!"

  Cadence, freed for the moment of the compulsive need to protect her companion, changed her tactic. She flew through the enemy, cutting down those in her way, but otherwise just focusing on covering ground in pursuit of Allison and her Verger. Before long, she broke free of those attacking and moved faster among those who were wondering what all the commotion was about.

  Sooner than expected, she happened upon them. Allison was kneeling next to a man on the ground bleeding from his side. Cadence could hear the healing song Allison sang as she approached.

  Allison Holt looked up and slowly stood to face the warrior.

  "Touch him and I'll kill you slow instead of fast."

  Cadence launched herself at the woman and was surprised when her blow didn't land. Allison stepped aside and threw a punch at her head but Cadence dodged it easily.

  Stepping away from Luper's unconscious body, the women fought ferociously. Cadence was impressed at the other woman's skill, but knew she was better.

  Pressing the attack Cadence landed a blow that rocked the fake goddess' head. Allison danced out of reach and sang a brief melody that drew hundreds of stones out of the ground to float in the air all around the warrior. Cadence realized her intention and dove for Luper's body just as Allison sent the rocks flying at her. Several hit their mark before she reached him. Gritting her teeth, she ignored the pain and rolled over, pulling Luper's unconscious form on top of her.

  Too late, she remembered Luper wasn't a real werewolf and was likely not hurt as bad as she assumed. The Vergers eyes opened and focused on her face, registering first surprise, then anger.

  "You stabbed me," his anger became a cold smile. "You are going to die."

  Cadence heaved, but the Verger was bigger and stronger and she'd put herself in a terrible position.

  Luper captured her wrists in his powerful hands and wrapped his legs around hers to hold her still. Allison approached them, a fantastic lump already decorating her jaw.

  "You're a brave little rat, I'll give you that. Coming against a goddess. Do you know how I deal with rats? I stomp them to death. And since I can't seem to shift you, I'll just have to stomp you the way you are. Luper hold her."

  Allison raised a boot above Cadence's head. The warrior drove her forehead into Luper's face. The Verger grunted in pained surprise and loosened his grip. Cadence jerked her legs free and wrapped them around Allison's, bringing the Singer crashing to the ground. Twirling to her feet she drew her remaining raptor blade and held it ready as Allison stood up.

  The Singer took a breath, preparing to end this nuisance once and for all. Cadence had the same idea, and shoved her blade into Allison's throat.

  * * *

  Lyric flew off the castle wall and hurtled through the enemy forces to find Acheron. Men and supernaturals alike tried to stop him. Men and supernaturals alike died.

  Reaching the
trees he recognized the tell tale sourness in the air. Normvy was close by, which meant Acheron was close by, the signals across the tie were weak and pained. She was dying.

  The cold logic that had taken over Lyric's brain demanded he stop. Hyperventilating, Lyric saturated his body with oxygen and sang the eighth measure.

  35 THE EIGHTH MEASURE

  Hot, searing pain ripped through Lyric's body as he opened himself up to the hellfire. Recalling Revelation's words, he prayed as he sang the discernment song.

  Darkness, everywhere except there. There was light, warmth, and peace. There He wrote on a large scroll, the stylus glowed, as did the notes he penned. They sang from the page as he worked and I knew I must sing too. Sing I did. My brothers and sisters, we all sang. Our songs filled the sky, a reflection of His endless glory.

  There was Wisdom, measuring the boundaries of the earth. There was Genesis, speaking quietly to creation, introducing it to Him. Joy of joys, Genesis spoke to me, whispered our Father’s name into my ear and told me of the important work I had to do in the Score. Then the joy, the peace and warmth, the love and light were no longer there. They were here. I was no longer watching and singing from outside, I was part of it. Mysteries far beyond the scope of His revealed creation were mine because He gave them to me. To me. Who was I to receive such trust? Such love? Such responsibility? He loved me completely with a love that eclipsed every other wonder he'd created.

  A mystery I've never been given the answer to was Trytohn. How did we allow ourselves to be fooled by our brother? Our Father gave us everything we could ever want. Trytohn promised us things the Father could not give us. And he delivered.

  Father could never give us pain, death, hate, bitterness, disappointment... heartbreak.

  No longer here.

  There.

  Willingly and voluntarily, I left there and followed Trytohn. We all did. Michael stood against us and two thirds of father's children stood with him. It wouldn’t have mattered. Father's tears were enough to cast us from His presence. The Composer didn't cast us out. We did it to ourselves.

  Madness. Hate. Murder. Anger. Rage. Gluttony. Lust. Fear. Loathing. Greed. Vanity. Sloth. Pain.

  Trytohn released us onto the Father's world. We are cursed to live to the day of judgment. No sleep for us. No death. No end. But it isn't the Composer's curse. It is ours. He has blessed his faithful children to forget us completely. We have cursed ourselves to remember. We had heaven. We chose death. We created hell and we carry it with us.

  Lyric's discernment song stopped as he sobbed uncontrollably. The hatred he felt for Acheron melted away and was replaced by terrible sorrow. Humming gently, soothingly he made his way along the tie, into the flaming torment of the demoness and began healing her body. Seeing through her eyes he watched Johaus hit her again and again while Normvy laughed from the branches above. His anger returning, Lyric began his battle song.

  * * *

  Cadence watched in frustration as her raptor blade bent on Allison's neck. The demented singer laughed.

  "I'm a soul singer little rat, it's going to take more than that!" Then the singer sang a small motif that froze her in place.

  Cadence experienced a chill of horror as a familiar voice spoke behind her.

  "He saved the ugly Singer from the boy like his mistress asked. Now he'd like to ask for this pretty pretty for a reward."

  Allison laughed meanly.

  "Oh I think that's a wonderful idea. I have one condition, Giderg. Take a long time and make it hurt."

  Suddenly Cadence, still immobilized, was being dragged away by familiar, slimy hands.

  * * *

  Keith Normvy watched slack jawed through his Verger’s eyes as the demoness caught Johaus’ fist and crushed it. He felt the bones snap. Not a big deal, the shifter could mend broken bones. Far more concerning was the fact that mere seconds ago the demoness was dying. Now she stood straight and her body flared with intense violet flames. Normvy couldn’t stop Johaus as he let go of her and back peddled hurriedly. The flames died down and there she stood, immaculate, lovely and deadly. Normvy hadn’t been able to hear the song of Creation for years, ever since he met Allison Holt and Lisian. For the first time he found himself searching for it to discern what was happening. Looking closely at the demoness’ eyes he saw confirmation of his fear. Lyric had learned the eighth measure.

  Normvy shifted Johaus to reflect his own body, the one he’d lived in his whole life, the one with which he’d learned to fight. Beginning his own battle song, he sent lightning flashing from his fists each time he landed a blow on the demoness. Acheron absorbed them easily. Building on Normvy’s idea, Lyric shunted the hellfire that burned inside him out through the demoness’ own fists. Violet flames left black scorch marks on the Verger everywhere she struck him. Lyric exalted in the power he felt as he beat the other Singer back.

  Then unbelievable agony from his back to his chest and he looked down with Acheron’s eyes to see a large yellow fist poking out of her chest holding the same odd knife Ceylan had tried to attack him with. He’d forgotten again, misdirection. His view through Acheron’s eyes dimmed and he found himself several yards back from the fighting, watching as the Johaus he’d been fighting disappeared and the real Johaus stood with his arm buried to the elbow through Acheron’s back.

  With a shock, he realized his tie to Acheron was severed. He felt weak, tired, and frail. He watched the demoness fall and soul crushing grief threatened to choke his voice off completely. Then the steely determination that had saved him time after time took over. Without thought or doubt, the Demon Singer raised his voice and cast his Soul Song through the trees. Creation rested, watching the gossamer violet soul song wind through the air and among the trees, waiting for the downbeat.

  It was with a strong sense of déjà vu that Lyric watched the explosion that occurred at the moment of their tie. Normvy and Johaus were blown away like reeds in the wind. The trees closest all leaned away from the beautiful demoness that stood in the center of the blast zone, beautifully unscathed. But Lyric wasn’t done, the words of the prophecy echoed in his head and for the first time in known history, a soul singer sent out a second casting.

  * * *

  Cadence was up to her neck in the earth, Giderg standing over her, chuckling and preparing to do unspeakable things. Suddenly a silence fell and a haunting echo raced ahead of the Demon Singer’s song. It whispered in Giderg’s ear and he looked up in terror at the death that came for him on the wind. It doesn’t stand to be caught between a Singer’s Song and his Verger. The Violet cable shattered the gnome’s head as it passed through the top of his body and out the bottom to reach the woman buried in the dirt.

  With a shock, Cadence felt the tie she’d felt on the Verge. It pulled her out of the ground and raced all along her body, shattering the scar on her left wrist and coursing up her arm to her head. Suddenly her thoughts were clear and her memories returned as Lyric’s soul song healed the damage done by Acheron’s attack.

  A voice came from outside the tent where Giderg had buried her. Allison Holt came striding in demanding to know what the hell had happened.

  Cadence remembered her, she remembered herself, she remembered everything. The Singer stopped short when she saw the bloody mess that used to be Giderg lying in the dirt.

  “How the hell did you manage to break my song?”

  Lyric’s thoughts came singing along the tie. Cadence, kill her. The warrior smiled. She remembered what she could do. Cadence pulled her sword from the Verge, realizing that she had an entire arsenal at hand.

  “You fool,” Melody was unimpressed. “I’m a goddess, no one can stand against me.”

  Drawing on the power of Lyric’s Soul Song, Cadence sent it ringing along her blade as she swung it in a deadly arc, severing the woman’s head from her body.

  “I’m the Demon Singer’s Verger, I’ll stand wherever I damn well please.”

  * * *

  Lyric and Acheron stood over No
rmvy’s prone body. Johaus lay broken a few yards away. The demoness squatted down next to the Singer and slapped him back to consciousness. Lyric’s former teacher looked up in confusion, then terror as he realized his position.

  “I wanted you awake for this.” Acheron sat the Singer up and grabbed hold of both sides of his head. Lyric looked away, not needing to watch her pull it off. The sound it made was bad enough.

  * * *

  General Rondeaux watched as a commotion approached him from the left flank. Three figures strode through his troops toward him. His soldiers hurried to get out of the way. Lyric, Acheron and Cadence stood before the general, the demoness held two heads. Rondeaux felt his entire world go sideways. The Singer he couldn’t care less about, he found the man repellent. But there, held carelessly by the hair was the visage of his goddess, his reason for living. The only reason he was sending thousands of souls to their deaths on the spears of the Milleytes Lux. Acheron threw the heads at his feet.

  “General Rondeaux. This war is finished.” Lyric said. The general looked at the young man. He’d aged in the last twenty-four hours. “Order an immediate and complete withdrawal. We have no interest in prisoners or vengeance. Enough blood has been spilled needlessly in the name of this woman. She is no goddess. She was a woman, she was evil and now she is dead.” Lyric fixed Rondeaux with a steely look. “This is your one opportunity, general. Refuse and you will die and I will disband your army.”