by Raquel Dove
Balthazar was able to follow the scent of magic through the small town that surrounded the palace and out into the countryside of Devas, but the further he got from the palace the harder it became to follow. The scent was beginning to wane and the amulet wouldn’t last for much longer. He pushed himself as fast as his power would allow him, trying to close the distance between him and Alexandra’s kidnapper.
He eventually had to rest for a moment to catch his breath. Leaning his bare back against a tree trunk, he glanced down at the amulet that hung around his neck. The foul smell of the magic was all he had scented for the past few hours and he needed a rest from it. He removed the necklace and inhaled the sweetness of the cool night air as he leaned his head back against the tree. He didn’t plan on resting for very long, just long enough to catch his breath.
Balthazar’s nose twitched as the wind picked up, carrying with it all the smells for miles around. He picked his head up as an unmistakable scent filled his nose. Rain was coming. This seriously complicated his situation. The Devasi sense of smell was extremely powerful, but the presence of a natural water flow like rain nullified that power. It also made them physically weak. He would have to outrun the rains or he’d be useless when he found Alex. He would have liked a few moments more of rest, but he just didn’t have that. The rains would be here soon. He tied the amulet back around his neck and continued to follow the horrid smell of the powerful magic, pushing himself even harder to outrun the coming storms.
Unfortunately, the rains were moving unnaturally fast. It wasn’t long before he felt a heavy wet drop splash on the bridge of his nose. Even as the sky opened up above him and the rains began to drench him, Balthazar attempted to follow the scent as far as he could. He eventually lost all ability to smell as the rain cloaked him in a thick wet sheet.
Balthazar stopped in a grassy field. The deep green color of the dying grass brought to mind the wide, always curious eyes of Alexandra. A jolt of pain twisted its way through his chest at the thought of losing her. He would not give up. He would find her and bring her safely back to Devas. To his harem.
Balthazar strained his eyes into the distance. Storm clouds were all he could see in all directions. He hadn’t gone that far into the rains, and he should be able to see where they let up. It didn’t make sense. There was something unnatural about these rains.
He could feel himself growing weaker by the second and he knew it wouldn’t be long until he passed out entirely. If he didn’t find shelter soon he’d be in a lot of trouble. He turned around, looking for an escape from the rains and came face to face with a white haired demon.
“We should get out of this rain,” Ashdad said, a crooked smile on his face. Balthazar narrowed his eyes, a weak growl rumbling in his chest. He didn’t recognize this demon, or where he was from, and that troubled him greatly.
“Who are you?” Balthazar demanded. Without his sense of smell he was unable to tell anything about the demon.
“You’re trying to save the girl,” Ashdad said, ignoring Balthazar’s question. “I’m a friend.”
“Who are you?” Balthazar demanded again, his words slow and measured as his eyes searched the white haired demon before him. A hint of recognition flashed in his mind, but it was gone as quick as it came.
“I’m a friend,” Ashdad said again, placing a hand on Balthazar’s shoulder. “I can get us out of this rain. You should come with me.”
Ashdad turned away without another word and disappeared. Balthazar weighed his options. He didn’t have many. He wouldn’t be able to help Alex if he stayed in this rain, but he had no idea who this demon was and he certainly didn’t trust him. In the end, it didn’t matter if he trusted him or not, he had to get out of this rain. He would worry about everything else once his strength returned.
Balthazar was able to follow Ashdad to a small cave, but using his speed drained the last bits of his strength. His senses were so disoriented he could barely see straight as he made his way into the cave.
“This is your way out of the rain, old man?” Balthazar grumbled as he tried to shake water off his skin. “I don’t have time to wait this out. I need a way around it.”
“There’s no way around it, boy,” Ashdad said, his tone weary. “They won’t be able to keep this up much longer. There are limits to their powers.”
“Who are they?” Balthazar asked, his strength beginning to return as he shook the water off him. “And who are you?”
“They are the Magi,” Ashdad said. He wiped a hand down his face. “I thought Sami would be able to protect Alexandra from them. It’s the only reason I sent her here.”
“How do you know my father?” Balthazar said, stepping closer to the demon. He was trying to smell this demons scent so that he could read him. “And how do you know Alexandra.”
“Sami was my son,” Ashdad said, his grey eyes piercing through Balthazar. “And Alexandra was entrusted to my protection.”
Balthazar was stunned, unable to process what Ashdad said. He just stared blankly at him, trying to understand. He knew it was true. He recognized him now from the friezes in his private quarters.
“Lord Sultan Ashdad,” Balthazar said, his voice almost awed. “The Royal Records say you disappeared centuries ago. My father searched most of his lifetime for you.”
“I made stupid mistakes,” Ashdad said, his eyes looking towards the ground. “I’ve spent the rest of my life trying to correct them.”
“Where have you been?” Balthazar asked. The two demons made themselves more comfortable, sitting down with their backs against the cave wall.
“I’ve been in the human world,” Ashdad said. His appearance shifted as he spoke. Balthazar’s eyes grew wide as the demon before him changed into a human.
“Take the human to the Magi,” Aelek said to Baal. They had met just outside the border of the heavy rains that the Magi had created.
“I don’t take orders from you,” Baal scoffed, a short laugh sticking in his throat. His grip on Alexandra tightened. He’d suffocated the girl just enough to put her to sleep. He couldn’t handle her incessant babbling about how Balthazar was going to come for him. “I have what I want, and I have no intention of giving her over to anyone.”
“Lord Baal,” Aelek said, trying to suppress his annoyance. He’d had just about enough of the demon. It wouldn’t be much longer and he could do away with him. “The young Lord Sultan will most certainly be coming after her. We don’t want him catching up.”
“Let the boy come,” Baal said, his voice rising. “I’ll take my revenge on him as well.”
“No,” Aelek said sharply, “He causes too much trouble for us. Look, I don’t really care about him, but the Magi seem to think he can cause us problems, so until they’ve finished with the girl it’s better to avoid him.”
Aelek reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vial of thick blue liquid. He tossed it to Baal.
“Drink that,” he said, “It will hide your presence from Balthazar until you reach the Magi. Get the girl to them as quickly as possible.”
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