Firstborn (The Legacy Series) (12 page)

Her eyebrows shot up. “I’m going for an interview with the CEO of Disney,” she replied sarcastically.

“I’ll take a bite out of that sexy princess,” muttered the cat.

Abi made a gagging sound.

“I saw a pool the size of my high school gym,” she said flatly. “I am going swimming before whatever is after me catches up and kills me.”

I made for my bag and rummaged for a change of clothes.

“Fine. We got to meet Gil there either way,” I said. “But I’m coming with you.”

“Hey, they have lobster here,” yelled Amaymon. “I wanna find a place and clean ‘em out.”

He wasn’t joking – the guy could bankrupt a fast-food chain in a single night.

I got changed and attached Amaymon’s pendant to his collar. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror – swimming trunks, tank top and flip-flops. I looked like the tourist archetype. Unless you noticed the short sword wrapped in my beach towel and Amaymon’s eyes. Then it’s goodbye fun land – hello Horrorville.

Abigale stood at the door with her hands on her hips.

“Are you going to chaperone every move I make?”

“Yes. Unless you have a death wish.”

“It’s broad daylight,” she said exasperatedly. “Every time I felt
like I was being chased, it was at night. I mean, we’re on a huge ship filled with people – relax for a second will you?”

Ah, there it is. Defiance and ego
aren’t a good mix.

Little Miss
Succubus thought she was safe just because the sun happened to be up. She thought a crowd of tourists were going to keep her safe. Perhaps she thought herself powerful enough to control everything and everyone.

What a freakin’ idiot.

“So, you think you’re OK on your own?” I asked.

She shrugged. “I don’t see any danger.”

“OK,” I said. Time to show some tough love. I cocked my head slightly, in the cat’s direction.

“Amaymon.”

The cat disappeared.

Amaymon, in his human form
, leaned against the door, rubbing shoulders with her. Then he pushed. It wasn’t a hard push – just the strength it takes for a person to press a button on a computer.

But Abigale was sent flying across the cabin and tumbled painfully.

“Whatever is chasing you is not a human,” I said menacingly. She gave me a look of pure hatred and fear.

“They’re probably around Amaymon’s level of power. So
, if you can deal with him, you’re free to do whatever you wanna do.”

The demon hissed and bared his fangs. As he slowly walked toward her, his clawed fingers raked the air.

Then I tapped his shoulder and stopped him. “But that may not be the case. Most likely there is someone pulling their strings,” I said. “Like an evil wizard.”

I dropped my towel and sword and approached her.

“So, here’s your chance,” I challenged. “Charm me and make me call him off.”

The succubus got to her feet. I could feel her power flow from her body, like a heater left on for
too long.

“You’re mine,” she growled.

I felt her power hit me and I actually stumbled. But I was ready for her.

I used her power to fuel mine and my own aura flared. I might not be able to use magic, and I may not be the most competent wizard around, but if there’s one thing I’ll never lose it’s a cock fight.

I have more raw power than most creatures I meet. Even Amaymon recoils when I cut loose, and he’s as badass as they come. My energy reserves are so large that I can automatically heal from one death blow after another. My magic rendered me virtually immortal, and this little girl thought she could go toe-to-toe with me.

My energy release actually drove her to her knees. I heard a faint scream escape her. She began shaking as I was nearly over her. I knelt next to her and allowed my aura to recede.

The lesson was over.

“I know you’re scared,” I told her gently. Tears flowed from her eyes. “I know this is a very scary world and you don’t get half of what’s going on.” I gently grabbed her hand.

“You’re not as helpless as you think you are but you can’t deal with these guys. This is way out of your league.”

Then
, I smiled − the same way my teacher smiled at me when he saved my life.

“But that’s
OK. We all need help once in a while. There’s no shame in asking for help.”

I helped her up and handed her a tissue. “I’m sorry for what just happened,” I said. It was true – I hate
d having to rough people up and I especially hated making women cry. But it was either this, or watching her be killed.

“We’re on your side, Abi,” I reassured her. “I promise you, I will not let anyone or anything harm you. But you have to trust me.”

She hung her head.

“I need to get stronger,” she managed after a while. “Stronger and better. More control. I need to control this thing inside me.” She tried a weak smile.

“Control is good. Good judgment is good, too,” I said.

She nodded. “I won’t be a pain again.”

“And I won’t be such a douche,” I replied.

We both looked at Amaymon.

“Hey, he made me do it,” he said innocently. “I’m a victim here.”

It wasn’t very convincing, especially with that grin of his and villainous chuckle.

“C’mon,” I said as I rolled my eyes. “Let’s go for a swim.”

Right before I followed Abigale out of the cabin I heard Amaymon mutter, “Hot babes and all the family comedy
I need. Man, I’m lovin’ this already.”

16

I can’t remember the last time I went on
vacation. Probably because I’ve never been on vacation. Hunting supernatural monsters doesn’t exactly pay well.

Abigale was in the pool and, as usual, every person there was giving her way too much attention. Amaymon had settled at the bar and I’d rather not know what he was up to. He could be spiking people’s drinks for all I cared. He kept giggling as he watched people rushing to the bathroom.

Hey, we all got our hobbies.

I guess he got bored after a while because he can over
to the deck chair I was lounging on and handed me a beer.

“Why
’d you do that?” I asked weakly.

He slumped down next to me. “It amuses me.”

Our bottles clinked.

“So
, what time did your sister say she’s gonna meet you?”

“Should be in about an hour,” I replied.

But of course, Gil has her own timing.

A shadow was cast over me. I opened my eyes and there she was, wearing a dull summer dress and a pair of designer sunglasses that probably cost more than my car.

“Hello, brother.”

“Make that one minute,” Amaymon quipped.

I sat up and made sure Djinn was still within reach. Hidden, but within reach.

Abigale had gotten out of the pool and approached us. I stopped her a few feet away.

“No tricks,” I told Gil.

She held up her right arm. “No tricks.”

“Isn’t this pleasant?” Mephisto was getting some attention in his butler suit but still, he loomed there like a shadow. The two angels had their FBI uniforms on and looked like bodyguards to some celebrity.

“Why y
ou gotta bring ‘im here?” cawed Amaymon. He still lay there, not even bothering to look Gil in the eye, and belched loudly.

“Brother,” replied the butler. “I could smell you from all the way ashore.”

“Don’t piss me off, asshole. Last time I checked I can still kick your ass.”

“Mere luck.”

“You wanna have another go?”

Gil stepped in front of her familiar. “That’s a bit too much testosterone for my taste.”

She turned towards the succubus. “Hi, I’m Gil. So sorry we didn’t properly introduce ourselves last time.”

Abigale glared at her outstretched hand and recoiled.

Gil sighed. “Well, I guess there are some hard feelings after all.”

I crossed my arms. “So. Why are we meeting here?”

Gil smiled. “Because it turns out we are both after the same thing.”

“You’re not taking the girl.”

Her laugh rang. “Keep your precious succubus, Erik,” she said. “I was referring to what is hunting her.”

“Huh. And what would that be?”

A buzzing sound penetrated my head, like a faulty radio station struggling to make sense.
Not here
, a voice rang in my head. It sounded exactly like the voice in my dream − just less painful.

The angels. Whatever they were about to share must be some classified stuff.

To hell with it. I was comfortable here, out in the open, where I had the advantage. No way was I trusting them.

“No, I’m thinking here is just fine,” I said
. The buzzing stopped. “You guys better speak English because we are not communicating by white noise.”

“The information is too sensitive to be divulged freely.” So
, they could speak English. It was the one on the right who spoke – in that robotic way which reminded me of a badly edited sci-fi movie. They didn’t ever move their stiff necks and only their lips went up and down.

“Well, tough shit,” I said. “You can either accept my term
s or go back to whatever shithole you came out of. Let your imaginary God listen to your whining.”

You know how you hear yourself say something, and you know it’s wrong, but you just can’t stop yourself?
Now, I’ve mouthed off people in the past and suffered repercussions. But these guys took it to a whole new level. The angels glowed brighter and brighter, like a pair of suns going supernova.

“Speak not your Lord’s name in vain.” Their voice
s were like a megaphone in my head.

Gil stepped in between us. “Zamiel! Escariel! There is no need for such drastic actions. He meant nothing b
y it.” She was actually sweating.

“The heathen must die for his actions.”

Amaymon hopped to his feet. “Alright! It’s been a while since I fucked up an angel. Let’s rock.”

“Enough
, both of you,” yelled Gil. “Erik, control your familiar.” Her aura flared.

“You need him,” she growled at them. “Priorities – he’ll pay later.”

She actually got through to them. Their glowing receded and they remained stiff as boards.

Gil glared at me as she panted. “How about you do not anger the celestial beings?”

“How about a new rule?” I suggested. “No one fights, and we all go home in one piece. What do you say?”

The angels nodded very slowly.

“I could have taken them,” murmured Amaymon. He sat down and actually sulked.

“O
K, then,” I said. “Let’s hear it. What’s after Abigale?”

Both of them twisted their heads to look at each other. The edges of their sunglasses shone, as if someone had switched on a light behind them. When they finally spoke their voice was one.

“Lust.”

I stared at Gil, who had an equally befuddled expression
on her face.

“Come again?” I asked.

“The Seven have taken physical manifestation,” they said.

I looked around. Maybe they understood what was happening.

Gil and Abi just stared at the angels, waiting for the next clue. Good − for once I wasn’t the only one not getting it. Mephisto and Amaymon simultaneously let out a quick bark of laughter, something which I took as a very bad omen.

“The Seven?” I asked. “Seven what? Stars? Sisters? Cute
, little kittens? I bet it’s not cute, little kittens.”

“Try th
e Seven Deadly Sins,” Amaymon said with a lopsided smile. “Pride, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Gluttony, Lust, and Envy.”

“Why can’t it ever be kittens?”

“The Seven Deadly Sins?” Gil asked. “I thought they were just biblical symbols. Please, explain.”

“They are Master Gil,” replied Mephisto. “They are simply a categorization of different ways humans fall – they are just an elaborate list. Nothing more.”

“Then, what the hell are you guys on?” I asked, poking a finger at the angels.

They did that weird robotic thing, where they moved their heads together to look at me.

“The Seven Deadly Sins are a categorization of human temptation. They are of human origin,” they said.

“And what’s that got to do with everything?”

“The Sins are energy – the most negative energy of all,” explained the angels. “Now, they have been assimilated with certain high-level demons, giving the Sins a physical form.”

“Ah, come on,” countered Amaymon. “You have any idea what sort of power that would require? To make something that abstract into a reality?”