by K. F. Breene
“Yeah,” came Tim’s voice. “This one is a nasty one. We took out a different one yesterday—very low power. Sacrifice was a small animal and looked a day old. Didn’t bother you with that one.”
“Wait,” I switched ears. “You took out a low-level demon yesterday? Because so did Stefan.”
Tim snorted. “Figured he wouldn’t call us.”
Well, you didn’t call him, either …
I tapped my phone to speaker so everyone could hear. Stefan was already texting someone—probably Jameson.
“This clown is practicing,” Tim said, “But he’s here now. Can’t see his face—he’s hidden behind a blind, but he’s here. He called up a nasty one, and he’s getting ready to unleash it. It seems like he’s waiting, though.”
“Waiting for what?”
“Well…” the pause doused the room in silence for an anxious moment. “He called it on the same spot as Stefan’s parents died.”
So many emotions blasted through the link at once that I had to muffle it. Stefan stared at the phone, wide-eyed, fear warring the calm leader’s mask he was trying for. Jonas stared at the ground, his arms falling into his lap limply.
“So he’s waiting for Stefan, then,” I clarified.
“Yup. Think so. And it’s probably that guy Andris. We only got a glance at his body and the side of his head, but I could swear it was him.”
“How many do we need?” I asked, as close to calm as I could muster. With Stefan’s swirling emotions and swinging mood, one of us had to stay level.
This would be interesting.
“One of my guys is calling this a class three. That is one bad mamma-jamma, Sasha. I got thirty people, all changed, surrounding it. We got might. We need magic.”
I took a large breath. “We’ll be there as soon as we can. Call if something changes.”
“Yup.” The screen went black as the other line disengaged.
My gaze rose slowly until I met those liquid black eyes filled with uncertainty. We were approaching the moment of truth, and Stefan barely held the reigns of control.
“Jonas,” I said softly. “Go get Jameson. Start getting people ready. Stefan and I will be there in a minute.”
Jonas jumped up. “You got it, mage.”
Before he went through the door, I stopped him. “And Jonas?”
He turned and speared me with a haunted glance.
“Get the witches. We’ll keep them way back, but we could use someone I can sorta link with.”
Jonas nodded, shot a quick glance at Stefan, and then went through the door. Both men knew what I meant—someone I could link with in the event Stefan lost his nerve, shut down, and then unconsciously shut me out.
I faced the love of my life who was scared shitless for the third time ever. “I will be fine,” I said.
His gaze locked on mine. He didn’t acknowledge those words.
“Stefan, I will be fine. If we link, if you give me energy, I can knock that thing out. I know I can. I remember the strange spells from the warehouse, I know exactly how to cut out a Dulcha, I’m familiar with the intricacy of Andris’ recent spells—all I need is a bunch of energy and some time. I can do this. I’ll be safe.”
Still his gaze held mine, his jaw clenched, his hands fisted. On the edge, battling his personal demons so hard he could barely focus on the real demon ready to be unleashed.
“What happened to your parents will not happen to me,” I pushed softly. “This time, you will be there. You can help.”
“I can’t help if I’m taken from the fight, Sasha. We’ll need Toa. There’s still time to blood link with him. If we hurry, if we do it in the car, you can develop it. Or you can—”
I put a comforting hand on his bulging forearm. He clenched his jaw, fighting for control. Fighting the raging nightmare of his worst memory coming to life.
My heart went out to him, but I wouldn’t let that thought filter into my gaze. He didn’t need my compassion; he needed my strength.
“Okay. C’mon.” I hauled him up, refusing to feel the butt tingle. Or the knee tingle. Or the goosebumps. Oh yeah, danger was waiting. I was walking, wide-eyed, into a situation that might kill me. And I couldn’t even look terrified. Fan-freaking-tastic.
Outside the door we stalked, side-by-side, down the hall bustling with people. Stefan’s face was a stern mask, nothing of his warring emotions bleeding through his hard expression. As far as everyone else could see, he was ready and deadly, in charge as usual.
We entered the weapon room where I snatched my protective leathers and my dagger. Jameson strolled in, leather duster billowing out behind him. He had the same stern mask Stefan did, but his wasn’t as watertight. Cracks of fear and uncertainly flashed across his expression. “Boss, mage.”
I spared him a glance as I snatched my lucky whistle off its hook. “We’re going to make it through this just fine.”
He started, doing a double take, and honed in on me. It was hard to mistake the pleading in his hazel eyes. And then, slightly embarrassed, he nodded hastily and turned back to Stefan.
“Boss, I’ve got twenty strong here. I’ve got ten more I’m pulling in from the field. Then I’ve got a group of five magic users, all the best. I’ve also got some humans Jonas is claiming Sasha asked for on the way. I’ve notified the Regional. He is letting you and Sasha take lead.”
Stefan attached his dagger to his side. “Sasha and Toa will make up the chief source of magic to take the demon out. I will balance them, along with the witches. The magic users you collected will be a wall between the demon and them. The warriors will be the front line. We protect the magic users. If those animals turn tail and run, we protect our own.”
Jameson’s eyes hardened. “Who else do you want to link with, Sasha and Toa?”
Stefan slid into his vest, leather hugging his large upper body tightly. He shrugged into his leather duster. “They won’t need anyone else besides the witches. Probably couldn’t accept anyone else. Between the two of them … and myself, we’ll have a stack of magic and energy both. It should be enough. But…” I got a glance. “The mage has the final say on that.”
“You’re going to hang back with them?” Jameson asked in an almost-level tone.
A muscle in Stefan’s jaw throbbed as it clenched and unclenched. “I am the only one that can balance Sasha’s power. Without me, she cannot link with anyone.”
I tried not to notice the accusatory glance Jameson shot me. My heart sank. I was taking Stefan away from the fight, from his vengeance. From him making his past right.
I took another deep breath. This was no time for second-guessing. His presence would be more valuable on my end.
“Those merges are set. Ready?” I pushed.
We made our way through the house and out the front door to a waiting team of idling cars. Jonas and Charles joined me immediately, fierce-eyed and grim-faced. Toa drifted up out of nowhere, Dominicous right behind.
“Sasha, this is a powerful demon. The one who summoned it—”
“Let’s do this in the car,” I cut Toa off. “We need to get there.”
Jonas crawled into the driver’s seat of his Hummer, and Stefan followed into the front passenger seat, simmering. He was keeping it together, but emotion ripping at him. Pushing, pulling. Half of him felt like a little kid, scared and uncertain. The other a warring man, ready to tear into this thing that threatened his way of life. The link put it all out there, showing me his every emotion. His face showed none of it.
I swallowed past the lump in my throat. This was real. Really, really real.
“Okay, Toa, what were you saying?” I asked as Charles whisked Dominicous into another ride.
“The one who summoned the demon is on site, and he will be giving commands. The demon will be trying to break free, however. Always trying to break free. It will speak to you. I haven’t told you this—”
“I can speak to them, yes, I know,” I cut Toa off again. “Jonas told me.”
T
oa’s lips made a thin line across his face. “Jonas the expert, yes. And did he, perhaps, tell you how you can assume control?”
“No, and I doubt I’ll be able to learn now, while also trying to link, while also trying to cut it out of this world.”
“Don’t try to assume control, no. That is a lesson for another day—one I am still reading up on. But you need to try and discourage it from connecting with you. You don’t want it to get in your head. They have been known to steal the power of their supposed masters. As one that can speak to it, you will be a potential master in its eyes.”
“It won’t be any different than normal, though, right?” I qualified, my butt tingle getting decidedly more pronounced the closer we got to the site.
I wanted to roll down the window and jump out of the moving vehicle. Then, after I rolled to a bloody stop, I wanted to hobble away as fast as possible. My inner sense said heading into this danger was the worst possible decision I could possibly make. It made concentration difficult.
“This one has more power,” Toa answered, cool as a spring day. “Its words will be harder to tune out.”
“Great. Should be a hoot.”
We rolled to a stop amid a sea of vehicles. Charles and Dominicous were getting out beside us, both ignoring the gaggle of witches filing out of the car as well. The people in my car didn’t move.
I watched the witches through the window crowd around Charles, demanding answers.
“We’re here,” I said into the quiet car.
“Yes,” Toa responded.
“Cover the link, Sasha,” Stefan said in a low tone.
“But Stefan—”
“Cover the link.” He looked back, power and command shocking into me.
I took another big breath as fear and uncertainty muffled, and then disappeared from my body. Well, Stefan’s fear anyway—I still had plenty of my own.
I searched down deep for the other link, the faint one left over from when I was a child in shock. When I found it, I nearly gasped. Impatience, anxiety, and yes, fear warring through his center, spiking and rolling.
Amazed, I jerked my vision toward him, on the other side of Charles’ car. There Dominicous stood, face firm and resolute, his strength and power expressing his utter confidence.
It was good to know my fear wasn’t abnormal—I was just worse at hiding it. Or ignoring it.
“Ready, Sasha?” Stefan asked in bold tones. He was getting ready to lead.
“She nodded,” Toa helped, climbing gracefully from the car.
I clambered out as well, feeling the adrenaline start to pique through my limbs. I opened up and let the elements flow, washing over me. Immediately the wrongness of the magic in the area accosted me, magical sludge covering me in filth.
“This place doesn’t feel right,” Delilah said softly as she stepped closer. The others came over as well. “Something not good awaits us.”
Large warriors stepped around us, making their way to the battle zone. All the guys with us except Jonas and Charles did the same, getting in position, coming up with a plan.
“Call the corners right now,” I addressed the group of women. “Stay connected.”
I turned to stare directly at Birdie. “If the demon breaks through, you need to run. Get out of here, okay? Take the girls with you.”
Her chin rose a fraction. “Absolutely not. You’ve been at this for a few months. I’ve been at this for a few decades. I will not turn tail if you need me.”
The others nodded, less certain, but not cowards. And that was the thing with women. We could show our fear, and admit to being terrified, but when someone was in need, we pushed that aside and showed up to the party.
I exhaled a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “Stupid move, but okay.”
“Mage.” A steadfast man, short for his race at only six-foot-one or so, stared down at me with a severe face. He looked vaguely familiar, but so did everyone. I was having a hard time remembering what duty everyone had.
“Yes?”
“I’m Zeke. Chief magical user, specializing in linking. I’ll be leading the magical unit to protect you.”
“Oh. Thanks.” What else was I supposed to say? Yes, I should’ve remembered you of all people. Sorry about that. Also, thanks for putting your life on the line for someone that completely forgot your duty.
I really needed to start doing flashcards with faces and names!
As if on cue, a cluster of men and women pushed in behind him, ready to follow me to the front line and battle with magic. And somehow, it felt way different than battling the Eastern Territory. For one, we weren’t squaring off against people with the same caliber of fighting—we were squaring off against an otherworldly creature. Second, everyone was scared shitless. I could see it in the tiny movements and the shifty eyes.
For them to be afraid—a warrior race who thrived on battles—meant this was a very bad situation.
“Suck it up, child. There is a job to be done.” Birdie patted me on the back, the last touch being a small shove.
Summoning my courage, I marched out beyond the cars, magical people at my back. Jonas and Charles waited for me, falling in beside me as I passed.
“Ready for this, Sasha?” Charles asked quietly.
I nodded. I didn’t trust my voice.
A line of huge warriors spread out before me, standing firm on scarred and burnt grasses. Swords glowed at sides and tattoos peeked out of battered and stressed leather. Off to the left was a group of trees holding some sort of cloth hanging within its branches. The wind, slight but present, billowed the material, catching on leaves. A flickering glow from within half silhouetted a large figure, still for the moment.
That had to be the guy who summoned the demon.
“Why don’t we go and rip that loser out of the trees?” I asked the cluster around me.
“He is within the confines of his spell. If we cross his barrier, it will release the demon.” Toa drifted up, sparing only a quick glance for the magic people behind me. “We have two objectives here tonight. One, take down the demon. Obviously, this is first. Two, capture whoever is calling them. He will be tied here while the demon is in existence—a stronger demon has a stronger hold on the caster. One of this magnitude will bind him, I am sure. If he loses hold for even one moment, he will be in a fight for his life, just as we are. When we banish the creation, we will hope to have enough manpower alive to go after the creator.”
“Always with the sugar-and-flower delivery, Toa,” I commented, my arms shaking so bad I had to clasp my hands together. “A real encourager, you are.”
“You sound like Yoda. Come on.” Charles put his hand on my back to steer me, something he did when he knew my courage was dicey. The warmth of his hand seeped into my skin, comforting me a little. Worst came to worst, he wouldn’t leave me.
As I neared the cluster of warriors, a hole formed in their wall of muscle. For the first time, I could see across the field. The rays of the nearly full moon fell across a huge, winged creation, looking surprisingly like…
“Is that an angel?” I asked in a wispy voice.
“A weeping angel,” Stefan answered in a growl. “It’s merely the form it took.”
“But…it looks sweet and innocent.”
Standing within the confines of a large circle drawn in the ground by what looked like oil, but was most assuredly blood, stood a slender woman-figure in billowing robes. A band or wreath of some kind circled her head, trapping short blondish curls to her scalp. A serene expression stared out of a porcelain face. Large, feathery black wings curled up behind it.
“That’s just not right,” I reflected.
Beyond the circle, standing twenty yards away on what must be their territory, was a half-circle of fur. Animals of all varieties had lined up and spread out with a huge bear in the middle, staring across at us. Tim and his crew were ready to fight, waiting on my signal.
“Okay, let’s get this party underway.” Stefan glanced to his righ
t and left, his warriors taking his signal and immediately falling into formation. A line stretched out along the circle on our half of the territory line, swords hanging low and ready, the colors of red through burnished gold.
“But if we just cover one side, and the Shifters run,” I commented softly, “which they won’t, but if they did, the demon would just run that way and escape. I thought you would try to double-cover…”
“Andris is controlling this demon,” Stefan informed me in a tight voice. “It will come for me. After it kills me, it will try to take you, most likely. Trek didn’t know much, but he was under the impression Andris could bend you to his will if I were out of the picture.”
“Well, Trek has always been a little delusional. The cape should’ve told you that.”
“And we don’t have enough people to double-cover,” Stefan went on. “We have to focus on what’s important. You.”
The fabric within the tree saw movement and pushed to the side. The angel in the center of the circle looked slowly to her right. And out walked Andris, cool and calm, sporting a small smile on his relaxed face.
His eyes found, and then stuck to, Stefan. His smile grew. “We meet again.”
“Which was your intention,” Stefan returned. “You’ve been practicing.”
“Of course. You know me; I like to get it right before I use my knowledge to its full potential.”
“But you didn’t get it right with Trek.”
Soft laughter echoed across the clearing. “Not yet. He’s a fool, but a useful one. And you’ve kept him safe and sound for me, thank you for that. I will pick up that project after this. With all your magic workers here, who is left to protect your homestead?”
“We’ve always had more talent than you, Andris. We have plenty more magic workers at the mansion, and more still in other outcroppings.”
“Yes, but not the best. Speaking of—” His honey-spun eyes flashed to me. “Sasha, so good of you to come. Do you think you’re ready for this?”
“I have a white mage, too.” I jerked a thumb at Toa. “And your practicing has really helped my understanding of how these little suckers exist. I can blink this thing out lickity-split.”
“Are you so sure?” Andris asked in a silky voice.