Black Market Magic

by Amy Sumida

  “Kavanaugh!” I shouted. “Do you know where an exit is?”

  “Yes, Ambassador,” he said immediately. “Just a block East.”

  “Lead us,” I ordered as I turned to toss another wall up behind us.

  Except Cyrus beat me to it. A wall of ice blocked the street entirely. Cyrus gave me a wink, and I gave him a relieved smile.

  The roar of angry mercenaries chased us down the street, and then the thunderous sound magnified. I looked back and saw the Maut bulldozing through the ice as if it weren't even there. No, wait; it wasn't fairies rolling through the ice wall, but large boulders. Clach was a stone mór—the power to move rock—it had to be Lana.

  One of the other hunters cast out a wall of water, and it was damn impressive. We were using the techniques our enemy had employed to separate us the night before. But we didn't have their numbers, and our barricades weren't lasting long. The next hunter tried a wall of earth, and the one after that sent a whirlwind down the street behind us. Then my Star's Guard gave a go at it. Every knight cast individual barricades behind us, and then they gathered their energy to fuel larger obstacles. But nothing was strong enough. Wave after wave of magic was launched at our enemies—magic of the highest caliber—and still, they came.

  “I'm spent, Lord Hunter,” one of the fairy hunters said to Cyrus as he stumbled over to us. “And Trinlan is almost done too. We'll barely have the energy to run at this rate.”

  “Save your strength for now,” Cyrus said. “We'll find a place to make a stand if we have to.”

  I looked at my Star's Guard, and they met my questioning glance with grudging defeat. They were nearly drained as well.

  Lana's army was growing as it gave chase and it was steadily gaining on us. Fairies were pouring in from alleys and streets as we passed—and they weren't on our side. Our ramshackle army was looking smaller and smaller, and our victory was becoming insignificant very fast.

  Then the fairies of the Underground who had come to help us stopped running. They formed a wall and joined hands, then more stepped up behind that wall and placed their hands on the shoulders of the fairies before them. It went back until all of them stood together. A glow rose from their bodies as their combined magic focused into one powerful force. This was what it must have looked like when Lana's fairies had pooled their magic to separate us. It was beautiful; a shining example of how even the weakest people could be strong when they stood together.

  A massive wall of stone rose up before us. It surged all the way to the ceiling and then spanned out over the rooftops. It was slick—impossible to scale—and thick enough that the frustrated shouts of our pursuers were muted. The rest of us gaped at it for a second before we doubled back and stood beside the fairies. We placed our hands on the shoulders of those at the back of the group and added our magic to the mix.

  It was wondrous—being a part of that connection. It gave me confidence and clarity. It also gave me insight. I could sense the fairies weakening with every strike upon our barricade. We may have formed something amazing together, but we were still the smaller force, and our enemies had magic as well. They were picking away at our wall with perseverance and brute force. They were going to drain us until we were easy pickings. I knew then that we weren't going to make it. These people—my people—who had rallied their courage to come to my aid, and now stood here valiantly against their oppressors, were going to die. I couldn't allow that to happen.

  “Enough!” I called out. “We have to run!”

  The fairies immediately let go of their magic, abandoning the wall to stand on its own as they made a run for it. I began to run with them, Killian and Daxon close by, as the sound of stone meeting stone echoed across the Underground.

  “Conri!” I called.

  The barghest came running over to me immediately.

  “I'm calling in that promise,” I said as I slowed down.

  Conri's eyes widened, and a tear trickled down his cheek, but he nodded. He sped off to the rest of the group. As Conri ran, a monstrous canine burst from his clothing. The barghest was black, shaggy, and larger than a lion. He snarled as members of our team tried to stop with me, urging them onward. I nodded in satisfaction as I watched him herd the fairies to safety, just like a hound with sheep. Then I turned around resolutely.

  It was time for me to make a stand.

  I sent up another wall, but this one was so high, so hot, and so thick that nothing was going to get through it. I not only poured my magic into the wall, but also my physical energy; everything I had left. I heard Killian shouting and then saw his massive snake body curling up beside me. I wanted to tell him to run—that this was all for nothing if he died with me—but I knew he'd never leave. If I die, he dies.

  I sobbed, my tears drying instantly on my cheeks from the heat of my fire. I didn't want to sacrifice Killian, but two deaths were still better than two-thousand. At least my Guard would make it home... and Daxon. He needed to live to fulfill his destiny. But then, almost as if my thoughts had summoned him, Daxon appeared on my left. I shrieked angrily at him, too focused on my magic to be able to form words.

  “No fucking way am I leaving you, Seren,” Daxon said calmly as he held his hands loosely at his sides... hands that began to glow.

  Then I saw Ainsley and the other members of my Guard. Even Conri had circled back. I glared at him, and Con stared resolutely back at me before facing the wall of fire before us. He was still in his barghest form, otherwise I'm sure he would have had a witty retort. And my Guard wasn't the only ones who had returned. Cyrus and his exhausted hunters were standing with us, each man preparing to use the magic that had made him special enough to be chosen for the Wild Hunt... the last of their magic.

  I would have told them to run, would have pointed out that though their actions were honorable, they were also stupid. They should accept my gift and save themselves. What was the point of me making this sacrifice if they were just going to die with me? But an itching started under my skin, and then a burning. My magic was pulling too much from me, and I was going to literally burn myself out. I heard the hag's words in my head, again and knew that it was time for the burn. Time for me to stand firm, no matter how much it hurt. The lives of those I loved depended on it, and I knew that I had the strength of will needed to see this through. Maybe if I played this right, the people beside me would live.

  “Seren!” Daxon shouted as my skin caught fire.

  This fire came from within; it was a part of me. But even though it didn't blacken my skin or sizzle my hair to ashes, it still hurt like a son of a bitch. I screamed as the flames consumed me, burning away my clothing and heating my weapons to a white-hot glow. The leather and Kevlar burned away, and my iron weapons clattered to the street. Fire was all that clothed me as I stood against our enemies.

  Images began to flicker through my mind. I thought of my father and hoped that he'd be proud of me. I had a moment of relief that I had left Cat behind this time, and I saw her laying on my bed; safe and asleep. I prayed that Raza and Tiernan wouldn't let my death tear them apart; that they would keep working toward a planet-wide peace without me. I realized that I was making my goodbye; going through the people I loved and the things I had hoped for.

  “Please stop, Your Highness!” Gradh shouted. “Don't do this. We will fight beside you. Look; the extinguishers are leading the fairies out of the Underground; they're going to make it. There's no need for this!”

  “We are with you, Seren,” Daxon's face was wet with tears. “Forget that hag and let us help you. We all have our strengths; you are not alone.”

  Then one more voice intruded through the roar of fire; Danu's. It was only a memory, but it was a powerful one.

  You are more than your magic.

  I was more than this fire; that's what she had meant. I had more to fight with than flames and twilight, even more than my psychic abilities as a human. I had the strength of my body and my mind. There was a way through this; I just needed to be smart
enough to find it. Like the hag had said; the trick was in knowing when to stand and when to run, but—even more importantly—where to run.

  Quickly, I opened a passage through the barricade, grabbed my sword and dagger from the ground, and lurched through. Before the others could follow me, I closed the wall behind me. An army of startled fairies faced me, jaws and arms hanging limp, as my people shouted at me through the fire. Before the warriors before me could react, I ran through them, striking out with both sword and dagger. The attack would have been easy enough for them to deal with; if only I hadn't been on fire.

  I figured that if I were going to burn, they could burn with me.

  Fairies lurched back from me, and those I engaged were too busy screaming to form a defense. I slaughtered fifty soldiers before they rallied against me, but by then, they had pulled away enough to form spaces between each other. Spaces perfect for forming another barricade in. If you can't fight a force all at once; split it up. I had learned that last night; from my enemy. I let the wall behind me fall and then tossed a new one up in that open space. It separated a small group of mercenaries from the rest of their army.

  My new wall was much smaller than the last. But I only needed it to stand long enough for us to handle those I'd trapped. Without the strain on my magic, the flames within me died down, and I took my first pain-free breath. My people ran up beside me to help me finish off the mercenaries. When we had taken care of that group, I let the wall fall and started the process all over again.

  We had turned the tables. Instead of defense, we were on the offense. It was working, but it was still a strain, and there were several times when my skin flared up again. We pressed on because we had no choice. I fought like a madwoman; naked and vicious, with wild hair streaming about me, and an iron blade in each hand. Still, I knew that I couldn't keep this up for long. None of us could.

  The next wall I summoned sent me to my knees, and the team had to fight without me. Killian curled his coils around my body, supporting and protecting me while he did his fair share of killing. I draped myself over his cool scales, letting them give me some relief as I continued to focus on the wall of fire and thorns.

  “Let it go, my love,” Daxon laid his hand on my cheek. “I've got a few tricks that you haven't seen. Let me take it from here.”

  With a whimper, I let go of my magic, and the wall before us sizzled before it crumbled to dust.

  Through half-opened eyes, I saw Daxon tear off his shirt so that he was bare-chested. He lifted his short-sword, and the glow that had been encasing his hands drifted down the blade. The tattoos on his back and arms came to life and started sliding sinuously over his muscles; Celtic knots constricting, stylized animals lifting their heads to roar, and an entire battle scene on his back playing out like the one before us. Daxon flexed his fingers as he lowered his head like a bull and glared at the oncoming army. The glow of his magic seeped into his eyes, and his body began to vibrate. With a roar, a blast of magic pulsed out from Daxon and screaming filled the air.

  I blinked, trying to focus on what was happening. Our soldiers were pressing forward, claiming the victory. I could see bodies already littering the ground, shaking through their nightmares as they foamed at the mouth. Raza had once said that the Tromlaighe was a fearsome magic, strong enough to claim the throne of Unseelie, but I hadn't realized what that meant until that very moment.

  It's a shame that it wasn't enough to save us.

  Even as my people fought valiantly, more enemy fairies moved up to fill the ranks. Being powerful was great under the right circumstances, but even the strongest fairy couldn't keep fighting forever, and when you're outnumbered, no amount of magic mattered. A hive of bees could kill a cougar if they wanted to. This hive was about to kill nearly everyone I loved.

  I didn't have the strength to even whisper goodbye to Killian. I just laid there in his cool embrace and watched death come for us. My team fought on bravely, their magic and swords lashing out in the harsh light, blood spraying through the air like misty raindrops. But then I saw Conri stumble, falling back under the attack of a fully-shifted riksha, and I knew our time had come.

  I laid my cheek against Killian's body and thanked the gods for such a wondrous love. Not only from Killian, but from Tiernan, and Raza... and Daxon. I had lived several lifetimes in a short amount of time, and I regretted nothing. That was more than most people had, and I was grateful for it. I mentally said goodbye to everyone I held dear, and then I closed my eyes and prayed for one more blessing; make it quick.

  A battle cry roused me. It was one that I knew well; one that I had learned at a very young age. The words were practically written on my heart; they were branded in my blood.

  “Riamh eagla an Dorchadas!” Never fear the darkness; the motto of the Extinguishers.

  It was such a loud cry, echoing out of thousands of throats at once, that it vibrated the windows in the buildings nearby, while the pound of boots shook the stone beneath me. I blinked and looked over my shoulder weakly. My watery gaze filled with a rolling, black tide of extinguishers; weapons raised high as they ran. Psychic energy flowed out from them as they launched an advance attack, but they were quickly upon us. The tide of soldiers flowed around my people, but one man paused beside me as he notched an iron arrow into his bow. He fired his arrow and then turned to look at me.

  “Well done, Extinguisher Sloane. You've saved those civilians, and they directed us straight to your team. Rest easy now; we'll wrap this up for you.” He laid his hand gently on my shoulder before he raced off.

  Extinguisher Sloane; the words made me smile. Time and time again I'd been told that I wasn't an extinguisher anymore, but never had it been said by an extinguisher. Because extinguishers knew that once you were one of them, nothing could change that, and nothing could stop an extinguisher from helping another extinguisher. It didn't matter if you hated each other or were the best of friends; when push comes to shove, extinguishers are there for each other. We're kind of like the Musketeers in that way; One for all, and all for one.

  “Riamh eagla an Dorchadas,” I found the strength to whisper after the departing extinguisher.

  I silently thanked Councilman Teagan and the twin gods, and then I went limp with relief as my body gave up the fight. In short: I passed the fuck out.

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  “Seren?” Killian's voice welcomed me back to reality. “Come on, Twilight, wake up for me.”

  “Seren, love, please,” Daxon's strained voice joined Kill's. “Don't do this.”

  “Do what?” I croaked through my raw throat. I blinked my eyes open and focused on the two men.

  “Thank Danu,” Daxon whispered as Killian hooted in relief.

  “Hey, baby.” Killian kissed me softly. “You scared the shit out of me. Don't do that again.”

  “Sorry.” I smiled and leaned my forehead to his briefly.

  “How do you feel?” Daxon asked.

  “I'm okay,” I reassured him as I reached out for his hand.

  “You burned, love,” Daxon said before swallowing convulsively. He squeezed my hand as his lips trembled. “I've never seen anything like it.”

  “Yeah.” I tried to sit up, and they both helped me. “I remember the burning part pretty vividly.”

  I meant it to be a joke, but they didn't see the humor. Both of them grimaced at me. I mentally shrugged and took a good look around. We were in the trunk portion of a SUV. I was wrapped in a space blanket—one of those lightweight military numbers that kept you crazy warm. You'd think that after nearly burning to death, I wouldn't be cold—and you'd be wrong. I felt the tremors of a receding frost in my bones. You know; the kind where you're still quaking on the inside even though your outside is nice and toasty. It was a memory of the chill—a warning to never do that shit again.

  “Are there any clothes I can use?” I asked. “I'm a little tired of being naked.”

  “Yeah; the Extinguishers brought you some gear,” Killian said. �
�There's only a Kevlar vest for your top, but there's a pair of pants that should fit you, and you can wrap the blanket around you for more coverage.”

  Killian handed me the clothes, and I shucked off the blanket. Everyone had seen me naked anyway, and the hatch was shut, so it was only Daxon and Killian who got an eyeful. And it wasn't like they were going to check me out now; they were more concerned with getting me warm than seeing my wobbly bits. They both helped me into the gear; it was a little difficult to get dressed in the back of a SUV. Then I scooted toward the latch.

  “Hey.” Daxon grabbed my arm. “Where do you think you're going?”

  “To check on everyone,” I said as if it were obvious.

  “You gotta let her do her thing, or she won't be able to rest,” Killian explained. “Trust me on this.”

  Kill leaned past me and opened the trunk, and I slid out. I was a little unsteady at first, but the guys jumped out and helped to hold me up.

  “This is ridiculous,” Daxon growled. “You need to be lying down.”

  “I need to know that those people are okay,” I said.

  “What people?” Daxon huffed. “All of our team made it out. They're fine, Seren.”

  “No, they didn't, Daxon.” I stopped to look at him. “You lost soldiers and so did the Extinguishers. Everyone is not fine.”

  “I know,” he said softly. “I just meant the ones you knew personally—the ones you cared...” he trailed off when he saw my face. “Dear Danu,” he whispered. “You care about them all.”

  “Don't you?” I asked him.

  “Not like you, Seren,” he admitted with a little frown of shame. “I care about my people, but when it comes to the others”—he shrugged—“I feel sorry for their loss; that's it. But you... you'll mourn them all, won't you?”