by Cheree Alsop
“Let me go, cur,” the Archdemon growled.
Smoke rose from the demon’s body as the sunlight burned his skin. Shouts and cries of surprise called up from below as the officers and civilians spotted the Archdemon dangling from high above.
Aleric held Pravus’ gaze and gritted his teeth tighter.
“You can’t stop fate,” the Archdemon said. The flames in the demon’s eyes danced as the smoke from his scorching body thickened.
Aleric didn’t want to let go. He kept telling himself that he could return the Archdemon to Blays, that Pravus could be rational, that he didn’t have to die.
The Archdemon’s gaze narrowed. He reached up a long-fingered hand to the black clasp that held the cloak around his throat. “You’re not the hero of this story,” he said. He undid the clasp.
The force of the demon’s release unbalanced Aleric. His shoulder gave out and he plunged forward.
“Hold on!” Officer Ling yelled.
Hands grabbed the werewolf’s fur. The officers eased him back. Aleric stared down at the Archdemon. The body fell slower than Aleric thought it would. He wondered if it was the adrenaline or pain coursing through his body that made the seconds feel like forever. The Archdemon’s body turned in the air, his cloak wrapping around him like the wings of a massive dragon. Just when Aleric found himself wondering if the demon would indeed change form, Pravus’ body slammed into the pavement.
Screams rose from the crowd that had backed away at the first sign of the struggle. Aleric could hear their cries of terror. Police officers ushered the civilians away, shielding the sight from view with their bodies.
“You tried,” Officer Ling said, drawing Aleric’s attention back to the destroyed room in which they stood.
Aleric limped to where his scrubs lay in tatters near the wall. The officers turned away to give him some privacy. When he phased back to human form, the pain in his shoulder nearly dropped him to his knees. He shrugged into his clothes. By the time he was done, he had to put a hand to the wall to keep standing. Ling ducked under the werewolf’s good arm and helped Aleric to the main stairs.
“You saved my life back there,” Aleric said quietly.
The officer looked behind them at the hole where the demon had fallen. “You saved mine from a demon, also. We’re even.”
“Dr. Wolf, come in Dr. Wolf. Dr. Wolf, are you alright?”
Aleric had forgotten about the walkie-talkie Gregory had given him. The panic in the orderly’s voice helped center the werewolf.
“Dr. Wolf, answer me, please. Are you okay?”
The officers around Aleric paused. He worked the walkie-talkie from his waistband and pushed the button.
“You’re supposed to say ‘over.’”
“Oh, thank goodness!” Gregory breathed. He kept the button pressed when he shouted, “He’s okay!”
A cheer went up from the crowd below.
“You hear that?” Officer Ling said. “They’re cheering for you, Doc. You deserve it.”
“I couldn’t have done it without all of you,” Aleric told them.
Officer Marx winked at him. “You can repay me with dinner.”
That brought a smile to Aleric’s lips. “Deal.”
They were making their way down when a skittering sound caught Aleric’s ear. He turned toward it in time to see a goblin disappear out of sight.
“Do you still have that tranquilizer gun I gave you?” he asked.
Officer Ling nodded. “Yes, why?”
“I found you a target.”
Chapter Sixteen
Aleric led the way through the long alleys. He had made the trip a few times, yet this one was different. Doing so with an armed police escort at every corner and a long line of demons behind him changed things. He carried the cloak over his good shoulder. The way the demons’ expressions had changed when he returned to the basement with their leader’s cloak in his hands had given him hope.
They knew about the grims and the telling. Nobody wanted to risk being the next name the grims were given.
“You tell Queen Ashdava that if she crosses to Edge City for any reason, she will end up the same as Pravus. If any of you linger here, I promise the same fate,” Aleric warned.
He had instructed the officers to leave the Archdemon’s body where it had fallen until nightfall, and then purposefully led the demons out the main doors of the building past the demon’s still, charred form. The solemnity of the group that followed him said that they needed no further proof that Edge City was not a place for fae.
“You sure you can open this thing?” Dartan asked in a whisper.
Aleric stared at him. “You’re the one that spoke to the banshees. I don’t know what I’m doing!”
Dartan glanced behind them at the procession. “Keep it quiet. We’ll figure something out.”
Aleric had no idea what was expected of him when they reached the alleyway where he had first been found. The thought of what would happen if he was unable to open the Rift pressed at the back of his mind.
“Wait here,” he told the first demon when they reached the mouth of the alley.
He walked forward with Dartan until the acrid smell filled his nose.
“This is it,” he told the vampire.
“What?” Dartan asked.
Aleric waved his good hand, keeping his injured arm close to his chest to protect it.
“Here,” he said, circling his hand around the area.
“I don’t see anything,” Dartan said. “How are you going to open it?”
Aleric studied the place where he could smell the hole in the Rift. He willed something to come through, wishing for anything that would give him an idea of how to open the Rift. There were so many demons, ogres, and cages of goblins waiting to pass through. He didn’t know what to do if they couldn’t go back to their homes.
“Just kidding,” Dartan said. “I’ve got this.”
Aleric stared at the vampire. Dartan flipped his hand and a small salamander figurine appeared.
“What is that?” Aleric asked.
“A totem,” the vampire said, his tone nonchalant. “Here, breathe on it.”
Dartan stuck the salamander up to Aleric’s face.
“What are you doing?” Aleric asked, batting it away. Amazement filled him when the color of the small figurine changed from yellow to orange, then red. The salamander’s eyes blinked.
“A fire salamander,” he breathed in shock.
Dartan grinned at him. “You didn’t think we’d leave this up to you to figure out, did you?”
Aleric rolled his eyes.
Dartan whispered to the salamander, then held it up to the hole. The salamander jumped from Dartan’s hand and disappeared into the Rift.
“You had that all along?” Aleric demanded. “Do you know how worried I’ve been?”
“Yes,” the vampire replied. His grin pulled at the healing skin on his face. “You should have seen yourself. What were you planning to do if we couldn’t open the Rift?”
“I don’t know,” Aleric said with mixed emotions of relief and exasperation. “I would have figured something out.”
“That, I believe,” Dartan replied with respect in his voice.
The tangy scent of the Rift grew stronger.
“It’s opening,” Aleric said.
They both stepped back as the hole became visible and widened until it touched both sides of the alley. Aleric’s heart tightened at the sight of the corner of Twenty-Seventh Street and the Glass District.
“That’s it,” an ogre’s deep voice said.
“Home,” a demon echoed.
Anticipation filled the air. Aleric and Dartan stepped aside for the demons to file in. Aleric was relieved that the Dark fae creatures appeared just as eager to return to Blays as he was for them to leave Edge City. Both he and Dartan carefully avoided meeting the gaze of the medusa who had trapped them for Archdemon Pravus in the first place. Aleric wouldn’t miss her one bit.
Several demons carried the cages of goblins. Relief at the sight of their departure made Aleric’s shoulders relax. He would be happy if he never saw one of the spider-legged creatures again.
The troll that had been hospitalized with the Archdemon’s spikes gave them a huge grin. The four gargoyles ambled behind him as happy as puppies. The police officers made a huge berth for the creatures to pass through; luckily, they appeared to be in a very good mood after the troll adopted them. Aleric laughed when one of the rock beasts attempted to lick Dartan.
“Ew, gargoyle slobber,” the vampire muttered. He wiped his sandy arm on his shirt.
“Happy for home,” the troll said, his voice a deep rumble that echoed off the alley walls.
“I’m glad you’re going back,” Aleric replied with a smile. “I’m sure your family misses you.”
“I miss family,” the ogre said. He grin didn’t fade as he stepped through the Rift. The gargoyles pushed and shoved each other to get through. The last one finally made it with a loud plop.
“Do you think about going back?”
Dartan’s voice caught Aleric’s attention. The last few demons were stepping through the Rift. The human police officers ringed the mouth of the alley behind them. He could see the stares of amazement on their faces.
“I don’t have anything to go back to,” he told the vampire quietly. “You?”
Dartan hesitated. At Aleric’s raised eyebrows, the vampire chuckled. “No. Never. And miss all the excitement here? I couldn’t leave this city in your hands in good conscience.”
“What does that mean?” Aleric asked.
Dartan just grinned his fangy grin and didn’t reply.
“Do either of you boys have anyone you want to send messages to?”
Both of them turned to see the selkie. She wearing one of Nurse Eastwick’s sun dresses and looked extremely happy about going home.
“I’m glad to see you awake,” Dartan said.
She looked hesitant to approach the vampire, but at Aleric’s encouraging smile, she smiled back. “Thank you. I’m glad to be going home, and like I said, I would be happy to take messages to anyone you hold dear back in Blays.”
At her searching look, Aleric shook his head. “Thank you for asking, but no.”
Dartan shook his head as well.
She gave them both a warm smile. “I feel safer knowing that if something happens to one of my family and they fall through the Rift, they’ll have you two here to help them back home.”
When she passed through the Rift, the hole began to close. Aleric caught a faint whiff of the sand and copper scent of the Glass District.
Dartan caught the smile on his face when then Rift closed completely. “What’s that for?”
“Memories,” Aleric said.
“I’m glad you had some good ones,” the vampire replied.
A small object fell through the place where the hole had been. Dartan caught it with his fast vampire reflexes before it could hit the ground. He opened his palm to reveal the salamander totem.
“Just in case,” he said.
Aleric nodded, relieved that they had it.
“They’re gone for good?” Police Commissioner Oaks asked from behind the pair.
“They’re gone,” Aleric replied. “I’m hoping it’s for good. By the looks of the Archdemon’s lair, they had been there for a while, possibly at the beginning of the Fae Rift. With any luck, they won’t be back.”
“What do you want me to do with this?” Officer Ling asked. He held up the goblin they had shot after the Archdemon fell.
“I’ll take it back to the hospital,” Aleric told him. “With the others Dartan’s been rounding up, we should hopefully have enough cures for everyone left who was bit. If not, we’ve got more searching to do.” He looked back at the place where the hole had been. “I’m just relieved most of the goblins are gone with the rest of them.”
“Me, too,” the hulking Commissioner agreed. He turned to Officer Ling. “Drop Dartan and Dr. Wolf back at the hospital before you head to the precinct for debriefing. They look like they could use a lift.” He glanced at Aleric and lowered his voice but still said loudly, “Especially the werewolf. Make sure he doesn’t fall over dead.”
“Very funny,” Aleric replied. But he was definitely feeling the effects of the battle. The thought of returning to the Dark fae wing of the hospital and sleeping for maybe a year sounded inviting.
“Come on, hero,” Dartan said, ducking under his arm. “I’m sure Nurse Eastwick has a lecture ready for you about using that arm.”
“Tell her I didn’t have a choice,” Aleric begged as they followed Officer Ling to the car.
“I’m not getting in the way of your lecture,” Dartan replied. “You deserve everything you get.”
“I just saved the city,” Aleric pointed out.
“But did you keep your arm in the sling?” Dartan asked.
“Well, no, but I didn’t use it much.”
“You used it to keep from plummeting over the edge of a building after an Archdemon, if I recall,” Officer Ling said, opening the car door for them.
“Ha! See,” Dartan said.
Aleric gave the officer a wide-eyed look. “Whose side are you on?”
Officer Ling grinned. “I just didn’t want you to leave out the details. They seemed important.”
Aleric climbed inside and refused to scoot over, forcing Dartan to go around to the other side of the car.
“I see how it is,” the vampire said when he slid onto the seat.
“I’m not talking to you,” Aleric replied.
Dartan chuckled. Aleric watched the midnight world speed past outside the window. The flashes of light, shadowed forms, and reaching buildings became a blur; his weary mind drifted.
“Do you think it’s possible to catch a star?” a younger Sherian asked.
“Maybe,” young Aleric answered. He kicked a rock. The object bounced away from him. Light glinted from its sides as it skittered down the street that fronted the Glass District. “What’s that?” he exclaimed. He ran after it.
“Where are you going, Ric?” Sherian asked.
Aleric scooped the rock up and studied it. It was as large as his palm and caught the light from the stars overhead.
Sherian caught up to him. Awe showed in her voice when she said, “What is that?”
On impulse, Aleric held the rock out to her. “I caught you a star.”
Sherian took it with gentle fingers. Her eyes were wide as she looked from the rock to the stars high overhead.
“You’re amazing, Ric,” she breathed.
Without warning, she threw her arms around his neck and gave him a tight hug. As they walked back up Twenty-Seventh Street, she hefted the rock. Little lights shone on the buildings around them. Sherian gave Aleric an amazed look. They exchanged a grin and took off running to show their street friends what they had found.
“We’re here, Aleric,” Dartan said.
Aleric realized he had dozed off during the short ride. They were stopped in front of the Emergency Room. Officer Ling opened the door and Aleric rose. Both the human and vampire watched him as though afraid he was going to fall over.
“I’m fine,” he told them. “Stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?” Dartan asked.
“Like I’m made of glass,” he replied. “I’m not going to shatter into a thousand pieces.”
“That’s because you’ve already been pulverized, Wolfie,” Dartan replied, his tone only half-teasing.
When the door to the Emergency Room opened, Nurse Eastwick and Dr. Worthen rushed out. The nurse took one look at Aleric and forced him to sit in the wheelchair she had brought.
“I just know you used that shoulder when I specifically told you not to,” she lectured. “Do you want more stitches? I’m starting to believe that you like them in some strange, sadistic way. We have to have a talk about that.”
Aleric met Dartan’s gaze behind her.
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“Help me,” he mouthed, his expression pleading.
Dartan grinned. “You’re on your own,” he mouthed back.
Aleric gave himself up to the nurse’s lecture. Dr. Worthen walked next to Aleric’s wheelchair. When the werewolf glanced at him, it was obvious the doctor was trying not to laugh.
***
Aleric’s forehead rested on the soft sheet. It felt cool and comfortable. His shoulder ached, but the sling and the pain medication he was on made it bearable. He listened to the monitors. At least with the time he had spent at Edge City Hospital, he was beginning to understand what the numbers meant, and they were steadily getting better.
The sound of a breath catching made him lift his head. He met Lilian’s surprised gaze. Dr. Worthen’s daughter looked nearly recovered, especially considering how close to death she had been before Dartan administered the final antidote. Aleric felt the appropriateness of the fact that the last goblin he had caught after Pravus fell from the building was the one that had been her cure.
“Where am I?” she asked, her voice weak.
“In the hospital,” Aleric told her. “But you’re recovering just fine.” He sat back gingerly in the chair he had pulled to the side of the bed.
“I know I’m in the hospital,” she replied. “But what floor?”
“You’re in the Emergency Room,” Aleric answered.
Her eyebrows pulled together, forming a little furrow between them. “Where’s my dad?”
“He wanted to be here, but a patient came in that needed immediate surgery. He asked me to watch over you until he was done.”
“Do I know you?” Lilian asked.
The way she watched him made Aleric feel light-headed. He wanted to smile reassuringly, but was worried he would come across looking like a rabid werewolf. He went with a half-smile that definitely wasn’t as heartwarming as he had hoped.
“Wait, I remember,” Lilian said. Her gaze lightened. “You’re the janitor that asked me about the bite on my arm.”
Aleric felt as though some of the air had been knocked out of him. She remembered him. He forced a smile. “That’s right.”
“Why did my father send a janitor to keep an eye on me?” she asked, puzzled. “And what happened to you? Did you lose a fight?”