Firstborn (The Legacy Series) (21 page)

I know – it’s confusing. It confused me
, too. But at that moment I understood it as clearly as breathing.

My magic extended to the water and the water became mine to play with. I willed it upwards and transmuted it. The water spray became a series of thick icicles that were shot at the Ushi-Oni from every direction. It worked
and the beast screamed as more ink-black blood gushed out.

Mephisto landed on the deck with a thump and was actually wheezing on all fours. I felt as if I had just run a marathon and swam for my life after being chased by dinosaur sharks. I felt v
ery naked and realized that I was back to my old self − no more black skin, or claws, or shadows.

I was back to a human being with absolutely no advantage in this situation.

The beast groaned as our spells vanished. The rock was sucked back to the seabed, the wind had vanished into literal thin air and my ice evaporated before you could say
global warming
.

I saw light around the Ushi-Oni as the angel legion went in and subdued the beast.

“Wonderful job,” said Jehudiel. The angel helped me up. His touch made me feel better, stronger.

But there were no Anima Particles I could absorb. Dark Erik
had gone back into my subconscious and I was left alone with a short sword and a battered body.

“Do not worry,” said the angel gently. “You have weakened it enough. One more spell and this will be over.”

He reached into his cloak and extracted my flintlock. “I borrowed this in order to prepare our magic.”

I snatched the gun away and checked the clip. Empty. What goo
d was a gun without any bullets?

“Heaven entrusts you with its magic,” said the angel. He grasped my
hand and pressed something into it. There was a painful explosion of light and I felt something small and solid.

A bullet.

It wasn’t even the right fit for the flintlock. I stared at it. There was power in the thing – ancient and certain power.

“So
, I’m supposed to the Rip van Winkle this thing?” I asked.

The Archangel cocked its head. That’s it – if Heaven doesn’t
have a sense of humor I’m booking my ticket for down south.

“It’s a bullet y
ou moron. Just shoot that fuckin’ thing before the Alpha flattens us.”

Amaymon – resolving self-esteem issues since whenever he was spawned.
Jehudiel smiled. Oh, that joke he got.

Douchbag.

“Have a little faith,” he said.

I raised my gun. “I’m not that good with faith. That’s why I carry a gun.”

Jehudiel’s expression remained unchanged.

“O
K, then,” I said. “Let’s try it your way.”

Despite its weird shape, the bullet fit in perfectly.

I aimed the gun at the Ushi-Oni but something stopped me. It was like I was downloading instructions directly into my brain. This wasn’t a human bullet – you don’t just point and click and expect the thing to die. This was Heaven’s magic, a spell created by Jehudiel himself. This thing was designed to destroy every trace of the Sin of Lust and completely eradicate her presence.

It was magic designed to destroy and repair the dimension. Magic that no human could ever conceive, much less create.

I understood what I had to do.

It was like we were all connected telepathically. As soon as I was ready t
o shoot, the angels disappeared from around the Alpha and lined up behind Jehudiel. They had no emotions, at least not human ones, but I could sense some curiosity. A human doing Heaven’s will. One screw up and we’re all monster chow.

No pressure
, Erik.

I pointed the gun upwards and pushed all my magic into it. This was not just an angelic matter
, this melded human and angel magic for the purpose of eradicating evil.

It all sounded very Power Rangers for a moment and, you know what – I let it slide. For once
, I let go of all my cynicism and just accepted the fact that I was doing the right thing, for the right cause and the right reasons.

And everything else can get bent.

I pulled the trigger. The recoil was a giant explosion that pushed me into the metal of the decks, denting it.

The bullet itself was a swirling mass of light that rocketed into the sky. We all followed its trajectory, even the Ushi-Oni. It reached the clouds and expanded, tracing light all over the sky.

I felt the connection with the entire sky. I looked down and saw a string of black going from my body all the way into the sky. I was in control of this Armageddon-level spell. I willed it to life and I gave it purpose.

The sky swirled and grey clouds condensed into a swirling mass. Thunder and lightning resounded all over the place. I dropped my gun and focused entirely on the spell. The shadows coalesced inside my right hand
as I squeezed it into a fist. The sky swirled.

A giant fist formed out of the clouds – a giant
, God-like imitation of my hand. I flexed a finger and the cloud fist followed.

Jehudiel snickered. “The hand of God.”

Turns out Heaven had a sense of humor after all.

I pulled my fist back and thunder clapped louder than ever. I felt giddy. A grin stretched painfully on my lips.

“Harry Potter can kiss. My. Ass!” I yelled in ecstasy.

I punched forwards, towards the Ushi-Oni, with every intention of erasing its presence, and that of Lilith, from the universe.

The fist shot forwards and morphed into a giant, spinning lance. The spell crashed with the Alpha and I felt absolute magic take effect.

There was no cry of pain, or anger. The Ushi-Oni was shredded on a subatomic level and froze as the cloud javelin destroyed it
, once and for all.

*****

It was over. I was certain of that. No more Sin, no more Lilith, no more end of the world – for now.

All that remained were a whole bunch of questions.

Ah, screw it. Questions come later. Right now, I need some sleep. Maybe I should take the week off. God knows I deserve it – and I mean that literally.

The angels began disappearing one by one.

“Our task is done,” said Jehudiel. “I thank you for your cooperation with us, Erik Ashendale.”

I nodded. It wasn’t over – not by a long
shot. There will be repercussions for Lilith’s death. The whole balance of power shifted, leaving a void in the universe. Jehudiel wasn’t telling me everything. I guess he was saving an ace up his sleeve for later.

Freakin’ angels.

Mephisto’s nodded at me. “Master Erik. I have orders to escort you safely to the pier. There, you will meet with Master Gil.””

“What about Abi?” I asked.

“She has been delivered to your office address and is presently waiting for you there.”

His form shimmered and a black dog took his place. “Please
, follow me.”

A portal swirled in front of him.

I groaned. The last thing I wanted was to meet Gil. But I suppose that was to be expected.

“Fine,” I said. “But I ain’t getting in there.”

The dog cocked its head.

“He gets portal-sick,” whispered Amaymon, loudly enough for everyone to hear.

Mephisto let out a short bark. “Then, how do you suppose we travel back? We do not have life boats on this thing. We are not even on the proper space-time continuum.”

Amaymon elbowed me gently. “
I could always shove you in again.”

“Fuck off,” I replied as I picked up my gun and holstered it. Djinn rested comfortably in its sheath.

I turned to the angel. “Think you could do me a favor?”

He nodded. All I heard was the gentle flapping of wings and the world spun.

28

We reappeared on the pier.

And by
we,
I mean the angel and myself. The two demons travelled through portals. No self-respecting demon would be caught dead hitching a ride with an angel. That’s how the end of the world starts.

“You took your time.” Gil stood there leaning against a white
, unmarked van. Can you get any creepier, Gil?

“You weren’t much help,” I shot back. “How’s the concussion?”

“I’m fine. Thank you, Erik.” That sounded sincere enough.

“So
, what do you want?” I asked.

Her
face was an ice sculpture. “I need to determine whether you’re a danger to society. I saw your change – that is dangerous power. Mephisto tells me you wielded Life Magic.”

Figures. My sister never sends backup
for free. There’s always a catch, always a price.

“And who gave you authority to judge me?” I held out my hand before she could answer. “Yeah
, let me guess – some secret society whose name you can’t even utter aloud. Makes me question their legitimacy.”

Gil folded her arms and huffed. “This has nothing to do with that. This area is my responsibility and I don’t want someone with your destructive record running around with powers that are beyond his control.”

“I have plenty of control.”

“You destroy everything you touch.”

“No, I don’t.”

And just as I said that, there was a loud crunch. The tanker was a good distance from the pier but still visible. It was already battered, even before the battle that took place on it. The ship crunched and bent and actually folded down the middle before gently sinking in a midst of water sprouts.

Great timing, Universe.

“I – that. . . ” I saw Gil raise her eyes and heard Amaymon chuckle. “That’s an accident.”

“Nice save, dude,” muttered the demon.

“Shut up!”

Gil cleared her throat.

“Current demonstrations aside, you have power that you do not understand. Can you guarantee that you won’t go on a rampage?”

“How the hell should I know?” I yelled exasperatedly. “You’re the genius in the family. So, how about you tell me what the hell is going on with me?”

Amaymon let out a low whistle.

Gil’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Tell me all you know about your power. When did you get it? Under which circumstances? I want to know everything.”

We glared at each other for a second. Do I spill the beans here and now? I mean, she could probably figure it out, but I wasn’t sure I wanted Mephisto and Jehudiel to hear this. Who knows what I could reveal – and how they might use that against me.
I might be giving them my Achilles’ Heel on a silver platter without even knowing it. And, trust me, you do not want to have your strings pulled by either one.

I weighed the pros and cons and felt my brain melting. Then
, I made my decision the only way I know how.

“Ah
, fuck it.” And I told her everything.

*****

“This is . . . unique.”

Mistress of understatement. Gil must have noticed my expression because she folder her arms defensively.

“There is very little I know about the subject,” she said.

“I have a ton of magic I cannot use, because of a curse,” I said, counting off on one finger. Then
, I began counting off all the others factors. “I can heal from almost anything due to the magic being trapped inside of me. Which means I am constantly charged with magic.”

“A gross oversimplification
, but go on,” she interjected.

“Now
, I find out I can use Life Magic. I don’t know how or why, but he says I can,” I said, pointing at Jehudiel, “so, I’m gonna take his word for it. Oh, and let’s not forget the Anima particles he shoved inside me.”

“That sounds kinda gross man,” quipped Amaymon.

I ignored him. “Remember when Dad tried to kill us?”

Gil’s eyes darkened. “How can I ever forget?”

“Our bloodline is cursed and he wanted to kill us to keep all of his power,” I continued. “I guess it was only a matter of time before our inherited power manifested.”

Mephisto cleared his throat. I didn’t know dogs could do that. Then again, this is Mephisto we’re talking about.

“If you remember our talk correctly, I explained how your bloodline curse sucks power from the current Head of Household and gives it to the next, with each having both their own power and that of their ancestors available to them. In your case, that vast power was split in two. It was that trauma, as well as other circumstances which now we may never discover, that changed your father into the man he became.”

“You mean a killer who tried to sacrifice his own children?” I spat.

“Yes. Now that you have both matured enough, you will begin to access your powers.” He turned his snout at my direction. “Your first experience with this power was when you forcefully claimed your portion to fight against your father.”