by J. C. Diem
Loki offered his hand to Nifirial. Staring at it in puzzlement, the faery hesitantly held his own hand out. Closing his fingers around the smaller being’s hand, Loki had to fight against the instinctual urge to pull away. Nifirial’s skin felt slick and decidedly unpleasant.
“What a strange ritual,” Nifirial said in bemusement. Fortunately, the ruler of the ugly green aliens didn’t offer his four-fingered hand to him. He merely bobbed his head in greeting.
“Can you sense the angelic and demonic realms?” Loki asked. He surreptitiously wiped his hand on his trousers, but it did nothing to rid him of the distasteful sensation of touching the supernatural being.
The faeries were shorter than he’d expected. Nifirial was the tallest and he was barely five and a half feet tall. From what he’d seen through the portal, the females were far tinier. They were probably less than five feet tall. All were thin, willowy and stunningly beautiful. Until they revealed their pointed teeth, that was.
Closing his eyes, Nifirial sent out his senses. He and his brethren were highly attuned to all things magical. He sensed two dimensions that were parallel to Earth. One emanated holy power and the other was steeped in darkness. “I can,” he replied. “Which one do you wish to visit first?”
“The angels’ realm,” Loki said. Angels would strike swiftly once they became aware Earth was in danger. For all he knew, they could already be aware that aliens had arrived.
“Move closer to me,” Nifirial said. He waited until everyone was touching, then he stepped between dimensions, taking his companions with him. Their surroundings changed to a white nothingness that was almost blinding. After a few seconds, their eyes adjusted and they saw pearly white gates that were standing without apparent support. Beyond them was a misty nothingness that radiated holy power.
Rho gazed around in awe and squinted at the harsh brightness. The sense of goodness flowing from the gates was almost overwhelming. Apart from clenching his fists, Loki showed no signs of distress at being here. The faeries winced away from the gates, proving they harbored darkness in their hearts.
“Can you bind the gates?” Loki asked.
“There may be a way,” Nifirial said as he examined the gigantic barrier. “But it will take a considerable amount of our magic. Casting this spell will leave us drained and all but helpless.”
Loki saw the sly glance he flicked at them and he knew their spell would come with a price. “Is there a way for you to replenish your magic afterwards?” he asked.
“We can siphon it from other magical beings,” the fae ruler said a little too casually.
Loki looked at Rho, sharing his horror at the thought of allowing them to steal their essence. Neither of them were about to volunteer to give up their magic and weaken themselves so horribly.
Cursing inwardly, Rho knew he would have to offer them the services of his shamans. “My shamans will provide you with the magic you require to recover your strength,” he said grudgingly.
“Agreed,” Nifirial said, then he and his five warriors approached the gate. Linking hands, they stopped a few feet away. It was as close as they could get to heaven without suffering debilitating pain. Chanting in their musical language, a weed sprouted from nothingness. It grew rapidly and became a gangrenous looking greenish-black tree that spanned the height and width of the gates. Thick, thorny branches sprouted and wrapped around the pearly bars until it was hidden from view.
Shouts of alarm came from the other side of the gate and indistinct forms appeared in the mist. The angels used their bright blue holy swords to attack the plant, but it just kept regenerating. Made by a dark fae enchantment, not even their celestial power could kill it. The plant ate their magic and became stronger with each spell the angels used against it.
“There,” Nifirial said in satisfaction. “That will hold the gates shut indefinitely.” His already translucent skin had gone even paler from expending his magic. His entourage were swaying on their feet from exhaustion.
“We need to head to hell and bar the gates before the demons become aware of our plan,” Loki urged his allies.
“We have drained ourselves too much,” Nifirial reminded him. “We must replenish our magic before we can attempt to repeat the spell.”
Heaving a sigh, Rho spoke. “Return us to Earth. I will call on some shamans to lend you their magic.”
Concentrating on Earth, Nifirial transported them across dimensions again. The faeries waited impatiently as Rho approached the portal that showed the throne room on Asgard. “Send six lesser shamans to Earth,” he commanded his head magician.
Bowing obediently, the shaman chose six of the weakest of his kin to travel through the doorway. The faeries moved away so their allies wouldn’t be able to witness what they were about to do. Nifirial waved his hand and a dense wall of shrubs grew up out of the ground to surround them. This plant wasn’t imbued with magic like the one that barred the gates to heaven. It hadn’t cost him much magic to create it.
Loki frowned when he heard muffled screams coming from behind the leafy barrier. When the plants shrank back into the ground, the faeries were alone and there was no sign of the Grimgorg sorcerers.
Eyes pulsing almost black from having his magic recharged, Nifirial grinned, showing his sharp teeth. “We are ready to travel to the demons’ realm now.”
Loki realized the faeries were even cleverer than he’d thought. Nifirial hadn’t specified how much magic he would siphon from the sacrificial sorcerers. To him, it was within his rights to drain them completely of their lifeforce. Rho had worded his permission to allow his new allies to use his people’s magic poorly. He’d basically given them free reign to utterly drain his shamans whenever they used their magic. Loki didn’t enjoy being outwitted by the faeries. It seemed he would have to remain vigilant to ensure it didn’t happen again.
Enraged that six of his people had just been murdered so casually, Rho darted a glance at Loki to see him shake his head in silent warning not to protest. The Asgardian was a master of appearing to be serene, but his tense shoulders spoke of his concern. He’d known the fae were dangerous, but he apparently hadn’t known that they could consume the magic of other species.
Gesturing for everyone to move in close again, Nifirial reached out to the dark realm where demons lived. He shifted the group to a different location and they appeared in a gloomy, mist-filled place. A gigantic black wall barred their way.
“Where are the gates that lead to hell?” Rho said in irritation.
“Why, I am right here,” a male voice responded. A section of the wall shimmered and a huge black wrought iron gate appeared. Eyes and a mouth formed out of what appeared to be decorations of souls being tortured. The faeries instantly shied away from the metal that was harmful to their species. Taking in the strangers, the gate flicked a look at his gargoyles. One of them disappeared to the nowhere lands at his mental order. He’d known this day was coming, but not even he could have predicted what was about to happen.
“A talking gate,” Loki said in astonishment. “How very quaint.”
Frowning at the condescending tone, the gate eyed the beings. All were magical, but the six with pale skin and pointed ears concerned him the most. He sensed they intended to do him harm. While Hellscourge and her two new friends were the agents of Order, Loki Laufeyson was the agent of Chaos. The gate always preferred Chaos to rule, since it made life far more interesting, but he’d never expected to become in danger himself. “Whatever you intend to do, Fate’s warriors will stop you,” he warned them. The gargoyle that he’d sent to warn Hellscourge reappeared and settled back on its perch above him.
“Ooh, should we be scared?” Loki said tauntingly as Nifirial and his kin cautiously approached the gate. He had no idea who these warriors were that the gate was talking about.
“I would be if I were you,” the master gate said ominously. Hellscourge had defeated the strongest demon in existence. Not even the ruler of hell had been able to overcome her. She had
something few other demons could boast of; loyal friends and a veritable army of willing hellbeasts. Sadly for her, they wouldn’t be able to come to her aid this time.
Ignoring their conversation, the faeries gathered their magic and joined hands again. Nifirial sent another dark seed into the ground. It was much easier to control this time now that he was filled to bursting with power. Another gigantic plant rapidly rose to surround the gate. Feeding on the evil that emanated from hell, it began to suck the sentience out of the gate. Soon, it would become just a hunk of unanimated metal.
Not as depleted of his magic this time, Nifirial turned to his allies. “Heaven and hell are now bound. After we have replenished our magic again, we can begin bringing our people to Earth to assist you with your invasion.”
Rho felt sickened at the thought of sacrificing more of his people, but he was bound by their agreement. If he’d known the faeries could siphon their energy directly from other magic users like this, he would never have agreed to become their allies. The thought of ruling Asgard and many other worlds was the only thing keeping him from abandoning this endeavor completely.
Chapter Ten
~~~ Hell ~~~
VIOLET TELEPORTED THE small group a short distance away from the master gate. They were still in the underworld. Not even she could teleport demons directly from their fiery realm to Earth, or even to the shadowlands.
The ground was gray, arid and cracked from an absolute lack of water. A few black, spindly petrified trees dotted the landscape. Without the volcanos that were so numerous in the inner realms, it was perpetually dim here. As always, there was no sun or moon. All nine realms were dismal and depressing, but this one was the gloomiest.
Something had indeed happened since she’d seen the gate a short while ago. A gigantic greenish-black tree completely covered the iron bars. It had wrapped its thorny branches around the gate to hold it shut. She felt the last flicker of life draining out of the master gate and into the plant and darted forward. Growing to twelve feet in height, she assumed her golden form and armor called on her axe. Morax was right beside her with his scarlet weapon that was identical to hers in hand. Together, they hacked at the dense branches. They tore the tree apart, but it just kept growing back.
“It is no use,” Morax said with a scowl. “This plant is magical and our weapons aren’t enough to kill it.”
Taking a step back, they looked upwards to see the stone gargoyles had become fixed and lifeless. The gate was devoid of sentience now, which meant all of the gates would be the same. A chill went down Violet’s spine. She needed to see how extensive the damage was.
Transporting them all to one of the other gates that led to Earth, she strode over to the blank wall. “Gate, are you there?” she said. The black wall remained inert.
Sytry was wringing his hands with worry. “This is bad,” he said in a low voice. “I have never heard of the gates not appearing when they have been called before.” About the height and size of an average man, his eyes were scarlet and his skin was as black as his robe. All demons were hideous and he was no exception.
“Their magic is gone,” Morax said flatly. “I fear we will not be able to aid you this time, Hellscourge.”
“Can’t you just teleport a bunch of demons to Earth?” Nat asked Violet.
Morax shook his head before Violet could respond. “Demons are tied to hell. We can only leave through the gates that lead to the shadowlands. Violet is the only one who can bypass the gates entirely.” She’d only managed to bring her fellow warriors with her because they didn’t originate from the underworld.
“If you guys are tied to hell, then does that mean the angels are tied to heaven?” Lexi said. Thankfully, they were all speaking English, so she could follow the conversation without needed Nat to translate.
Violet’s face went pale. “Nathan went to heaven to speak to the angels. He could be in danger.”
“Wait!” Sytry said before she could teleport away. “I have something for you.” Violet waited impatiently as he reached inside his robe. She’d forgotten about the gift he’d mentioned. “This book contains some runes that I thought you might find useful,” he said and handed her a small sketchbook.
“Thanks, Sy,” she said in genuine gratitude. “I appreciate it.” His spells had come in handy many times. It couldn’t be a coincidence that he’d arrived at the palace just as a new disaster had been about to unfold. Once again, Fate had stepped in to guide her minions. Violet turned to speak to Morax. “I’ll take you guys to your palace, then we need to get back to Earth.”
A second pack of hounds was waiting in the throne room when she returned everyone to Morax’s palace. They were the first pack that had become tied to her and they surged around her in worry. They’d sensed her need and had come to offer her what help they could.
“I wish I could take you guys with me,” Violet said as she patted them. Her alpha leaned against her legs and whined deep in his throat. “But it’s too dangerous,” she added. “You can’t survive on Earth for long.” Demons could stay outside their own realm indefinitely if they were in a human host, but hellbeasts had to return to the underworld. They would die if they stayed away for too long. They drew their strength from her when they visited Earth. She couldn’t afford to allow herself to become weakened by sustaining their existence.
“I am disappointed that we will not be able to assist you this time,” Morax said. “Good luck. I have faith that you and your fellow warriors will prevail.”
“Don’t you want Chaos to win?” Nat said in surprise.
“Only if I am the one wielding it,” the Demon Prince said with a sly smirk.
“Loki has apparently been chosen for that task,” Lexi said. “It’s one he seems to be very suited for.”
“I’ll see you guys when this is all over,” Violet said to Morax and Sy. Giving her hounds a final pat, she whisked herself and her two friends back to Sophia’s store. Seeing Nathan sitting in his usual seat, she almost burst into tears of relief that he hadn’t become trapped in heaven. She snatched him out of his chair and hugged him to her chest.
“He looks like a ragdoll when she hugs him like that,” Leo said to Sam. Dangling from Violet’s grasp, Nathan sent them both a withering look when they shared a quiet giggle.
Realizing she was still in her golden form, Violet shrank herself back to her normal size so she was no longer twice the height of her boyfriend. Back on his feet again, he wrapped his arms around her. “Did you speak to the angels?” she asked.
He shook his head. “A gigantic tree has grown in front of the gates. I could not get past it.”
“You must have arrived just after Loki sealed the gates,” she said. “He did the same thing in hell. The demons won’t be able to help us either.”
Reynolds slumped back in his chair and rubbed his face with both hands. “Did either of you see who Loki’s allies are this time?” he asked.
They shook their heads. “They were gone by the time we got to the gate,” Violet said. “Whoever they are, they can use powerful magic. It sucked the lifeforce straight out of the master gate.”
“What is that book?” Sophia asked and pointed at the sketchpad she was holding.
“Sy turned up just as we were warned about the gate,” Violet replied. “It’s full of runes.” She briefly flicked it open to see dozens of demonic symbols and descriptions of the spells.
“I am sure it will come in handy,” Sam said. He’d seen just how useful Sy’s spells were many times.
“There you go, Leo,” Violet said and tossed the sketchpad to him.
“Thanks,” he said dryly as he caught it. “This is certainly interesting, but I am afraid I cannot read it.” Angels found demonic runes to be abhorrent. He’d asked her to bring him back a present, but he wasn’t interested in this kind of gift. He gently tossed it onto the table as they all took a seat.
“If Loki’s allies have sealed the gates to heaven and hell, then they must be getting ready
to begin their invasion,” Elijah said. “Does anyone have any ideas where they might strike first?”
“It could be anywhere,” Nat said. “Loki is unpredictable at the best of times. He might hit one of the bigger cities like here, or maybe Los Angeles.”
Lexi shook her head. “Something tells me this version of the God of Mischief will be different from the others. I think he’s going to start off small to test his ally’s capabilities.”
The angels looked at her doubtfully. “How could you possibly know that?” Brie asked with a hint of a sneer. Lexi might look human, but she was a monster. It was difficult for her to think of a werewolf and a vampire as being good.
“It’s what I would do if I were him,” Lexi responded. “He’s a sorcerer, too, don’t forget. He will probably want to see exactly what they’re capable of before they attack a large city.” She didn’t take offense to the teen’s attitude. If their situations had been reversed, she would have had a hard time trusting herself, too.
“If he uses this tactic, we won’t know where they’ve attacked until long after they’ve rounded up the population,” Violet said with a heavy sigh.
“You said the Grimgorg use a magical dome to pen the civilians in,” Reynolds said. “I think that would be our best bet at finding wherever the aliens are going to invade.”
“How?” Sam queried. “Do you have some kind of device that will inform you when magic is being performed?”
“Yep,” the detective replied dryly. “It’s called ‘social media’.”
Nat and Leo sniggered. They sounded far too much alike for such different beings. “He’s right,” Nat said. “The moment the dome springs into place, you can bet dozens of people will be taking photos and videos of it. It’ll be a race to see who can post it on the internet first.”
“I’ll contact my Captain and advise him of the coming threat,” Reynolds said and stood. This conversation would be best performed in person. “I’ll let you know the moment I hear anything about a silver dome appearing anywhere.” He headed for the door and the rest of the team settled down to wait for disaster to strike.