More wraiths poured through the passageway. The black cloud of demonkind grew, and the temperature around her dropped. She stared into the mass, terrified by the glimpses she caught of teeth and eyes, of long, sharp claws and scaled bodies.
Insubstantial as air and cold as ice, yet still they came, streaming into the cavern, filling it with their loathsome presence. Then the temperature dropped even more, and her breath hissed out from between her lips, visible as a white fog against the darkness.
A long-fingered hand slipped out of the portal. A scaled arm stretched out, then another arm and another, each with long, sharp talons that wrapped themselves around the stone edges of the portal, finding purchase on the roughhewn rock. Four multi-jointed arms pulled something yet unseen forward, as if it aided its own birth from a dark and hideous womb.
It was mist, and yet not, this new creature entering the cavern. Isra trembled against the wall as slowly, carefully, the thing reformed amid the swirling mass of demon wraiths.
Reformed and stood upright, looking about with a visage that could only have come from Isra’s worst nightmares. With one set of multi-jointed arms, it swept through the mass of demons, dividing them into three groups. Then, with a loud banshee cry, it sent one roiling mass of darkness toward another portal, a passage that swirled in shades of green. The second group shot out of the cavern and down a narrow tunnel that must lead to another portal.
At this point, Isra didn’t care. She only knew she had to get back to Lemuria and warn someone—anyone. She’d never imagined anything so monstrous. Not this. Not demonkind poised to attack her world. She watched, wide-eyed, as the rest of the evil creatures formed into the shape of a spear, hovered for a moment as if gathering strength, and then shot down the passage to Lemuria.
Horror-struck, Isra covered her mouth with her hand, holding back a scream of terror. She did not want to draw attention to herself. The huge demon remained. It stood, still as death, not five feet away from her—watching her.
Red light from the portal glowed dimly through its body, lighting the evil creature from within. For a long moment, the thing stared at her, almost as if it memorized her features.
Then it, too, turned into mist and followed the final group of demonkind to Lemuria.
Chapter Nineteen
Selyn clutched Dawson’s hand so hard her nails dug into his flesh. “I’ve reached Artigos the Just,” she said. “They’re still a few levels below us, but moving fast. He said they’re all ready to fight. We need to get back up there.”
Dawson nodded. “I hope it’s not too hard to find the prison cells. We have to free Alton and Ginny. With any luck, they’ll know where Roland and Taron are.” He glanced at the ruby sword in his hand. “It’s not actually speaking, but somehow we’re communicating. Hopefully our blades can lead us.”
Selyn stuck her head through the portal for just a second. Then she was back. “Now,” she said. “It’s clear. Let’s go.” She stepped through the portal and raced up the flight of stairs.
Dawson ran behind her, though they paced themselves as best they could. In mere minutes they’d reached the level where the free folk lived. Dawson stepped through the portal with Selyn on his heels, expecting a quiet corridor and finding chaos.
Men and women in white robes raced along the passageway. Some were scratched and bleeding. All of them appeared terrified, panic-stricken, and out of control. Dawson grabbed one man by the arm and forced him to a halt.
“What’s going on here? What’s happening?”
The Lemurian didn’t even notice that he spoke to a human. “Demonkind! Demons everywhere.” Eyes wide, he struggled to break free of Dawson’s grasp.
Dawson glanced at the sword strapped to the man’s back. “Didn’t you stay to fight? Why haven’t you drawn your sword?”
The Lemurian looked at him as if he were absolutely nuts. “Fight demons? No. The soldiers will fight. I’m not a warrior.”
“Then why do you carry crystal? Pull your blade, man. Defend your world!”
A woman screamed. Selyn grabbed Dawson’s arm. “We have to hurry. Forget him.”
Dawson shook his head. “We’re going to need all the soldiers we can find, or demonkind will win. Draw your sword, damn you!”
Blinking wildly, the aristocrat drew his sword. The blade had no more glow than dark glass, and his arm trembled so badly he almost dropped the thing.
The crystal sparked a brilliant blue, and then it shattered. The man threw the useless pommel to the ground, ripped free of Dawson’s grasp, and ran. Dawson stared at the tiny shards of glass littering the tunnel as a fresh wave of terrified Lemurians raced by. A soul had once resided in that blade. He wondered briefly what happened to the brave warrior who had been paired with a useless coward.
Then Selyn tugged his arm once again, and he followed her against the tide of Lemurians. He took the lead after a few steps. Dawson wasn’t sure how he knew where to go, what turns to take, what portals to pass through, but somehow he led Selyn with unerring accuracy through the dark passages circumventing the main living areas of the free folk.
It had to be the sword. Without words, without any overt communication, it somehow led him through unfamiliar territory to a dark passage. A passage Dawson was certain led directly down to the prison cells.
He glanced toward Selyn. She nodded. “I think this is it. My sword isn’t actually speaking, but how else could we have both known to come here?”
“Let’s go.” He started off along the main passage. Selyn grabbed his arm and pointed to another tunnel. “Wait. This is the way I have to go. I think the swords are this way.”
“Go, then.” He wrapped his fingers around the back of her neck and pulled her close, kissed her hard and fast. “Be careful, Selyn. I can’t lose you. Not when I’ve finally found you.”
She stared at him for a long moment, unblinking. “You too, Daws. I love you.”
Then she spun away and raced along the passage, into the shadows and out of sight.
Dawson watched until she was gone. Then he tightened his grasp on his ruby sword and ran toward the flickering light reflecting off the walls at the end of the long, dark tunnel.
The cries and screams, the banshee howls, and the thick stench of sulfur faded into the background.
Eddy wiped the sweat off her forehead and glanced toward Artigos. They’d fought demonkind throughout the long night and the older man was breathing hard, leaning on his glimmering citrine sword, but he had a grin on his face that practically stretched ear to ear. Gaia was giving him hell about something, but she was fighting a smile as well, and if Eddy didn’t know for a fact that the demons outside the door were massing for another attack, she’d have thought they were all having a gay old time.
“Here. I brought you some cold water.”
She glanced up as Dax handed her the chilled glass, took it without a word, and drank deeply. She drained the glass and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Thank you. How’s Dad doing? I couldn’t believe it when the damned creatures drew blood.”
Dax sighed as he took the empty glass from her. “We’ve known from the beginning that demons are continuing to evolve. I think we need to be ready for anything at this point, but your dad is fine. Spirit has him bandaged.” Even Dax’s smile looked tired. “He’s enjoying the attention. He and Freedom are in there bonding over their war wounds.”
Eddy nodded, too tired to answer. At least Freedom’s scratches were small. She’d been afraid he might hurt himself again, especially since he was finally recovering from the surgery that had brought Mari home in the first place.
Eddy lifted the curtain and glanced out the window. Mari stood outside in the fresh snow with her arms raised. She and Darius had surrounded the house with salt to slow the demons, and now she was casting a spell, one that would hopefully draw away the creatures’ strength.
Darius stood beside her, sword at the ready. Black soot covered the snow from the many demons he’d already killed. Eddy, Dax, and Artigos had slaughtered hundreds more, both inside and out of the house, but there was a bit of a lull now, and, hopefully, time for Mari to use her developing magic to weaken the onslaught of demonkind.
Spirit stepped up beside Eddy and peered out the window. “So many of them. Is there no end? You’ve killed thousands.”
Eddy slowly shook her head. “There must be a new portal on the mountain, but damn! I hate this not knowing. That’s the only explanation. I wish we knew what Alton and Ginny were doing. I can’t understand why we haven’t heard from anyone. I was sure Dawson would contact us by now.”
She glanced at Spirit, and felt the anxiety pouring off of Mari’s mom in waves. When Eddy and Mari had been little, Spirit’s long hair had been a brilliant red. Now it hung in long, gray waves down her back.
She wondered if, now that Mari was a full-blown witch, Spirit’s hair would finally turn snow-white from worry. She’d blamed the girls for every gray hair when they were teens.
She was still a beautiful woman, albeit—right now—a worried mother. Eddy couldn’t blame her. Mari’d insisted on going outside in the storm with only Darius to protect her. Now she chanted something Eddy couldn’t hear, standing like an ancient priestess with her arms raised to the gray predawn sky and her head thrown back, her blond hair cascading down her back. Snow swirled around her, clinging to her long-sleeved top and her flowing skirts. Light from a Coleman lantern turned the big flakes of snow into glittering gold and silver coins.
Darius lunged forward and slashed his blade through the falling snow, and another demon flickered and burst into flame. Mari didn’t even flinch. Her arms stretched higher, and as Eddy watched, the snow appeared to part overhead and fall to either side of the witch and her Lemurian warrior.
It swirled about with dark forms all around. In spite of Mari’s chant, the sense of evil grew stronger, the feeling that there was nothing to stop the tide of demons circling about the house. The salt appeared to be holding as a line of protection for now, but it felt like such a fragile barrier against the constant attack of demonkind.
Bumper trotted across the room, stood on her hind legs, and looked out the window, growling, but Willow remained silent.
Artigos and Gaia joined Eddy, Dax, and Spirit at the window.
Artigos gave Spirit a quick hug. “She is truly a warrior, your daughter. Fearless and of strong will.” When Spirit nodded, as if unable to speak, Artigos glanced at Eddy and added softly, “As is my son. I have much to atone for, when this is over. I pray to the gods he will forgive me.”
Eddy glanced at Alton’s father, a man she’d wanted to throttle just a few days ago. Much had changed in just a few hours. From a horrible and cruel man possessed by a demon, he’d awakened with the mind of a small and trusting child. He’d not stayed that way for long. His transformation had continued, until Eddy wondered if this was the man Gaia had fallen in love with. There was much of Alton in this version of the man they were getting to know without his demon.
He was proving himself to be charming and good-natured, with a sharp wit. He’d fought bravely with his citrine sword, and many demons had died. Though his face bore bloody scratches from talons and fangs, he’d not wanted to take the time to see to his wounds.
Eddy couldn’t wait for Alton to meet this new and improved version of his father. She rested her fingers on his arm and smiled at him. “I imagine Alton will be more than willing to forgive, once we’re back in Lemuria. Once demonkind is finally destroyed. He’s going to be thrilled to have his real father back.”
Light flickered outside. At first, Eddy thought the lantern had gone out.
Spirit screamed. Freedom and Ed raced in from the kitchen. Eddy and Dax lunged for the door with Artigos right behind.
Dax flung open the door, and the three of them ran into the storm with swords drawn. There was no sign of Mari.
“Where the hell did she go?” Eddy screamed at Dax over the banshee cries and wailing shrieks of demons.
“She’s here. Quickly! Help us!” Darius’s strained and breathless voice came from within a seething, shrieking cloud of demons.
Mari’s chant was barely audible against the sound of demonkind. The only thing that marked her presence was the spark of flames from Darius’s sword, and the stench of demons dying.
Calling on DemonSlayer, Eddy dove into the fight.
Alton stared at the energy flowing between them and freedom, and he wanted to rip the impenetrable bars of light right out of the walls. He glanced helplessly at Ginny, then toward Taron and Roland. “What if we concentrate our energy on the controls? Do you think, working together, we can shut this thing off?”
Ginny leapt to her feet. “We don’t have to. There’s Dawson!”
“Alton! Ginny? Thank goodness. We’ve been trying to find you guys. Shit.” Daws skidded to a stop in front of their cell. “How do I shut this off?”
“Controls are there, just beside the opening.” Alton gestured toward his right.
Dawson pulled a lever, and the bars disappeared. “What happened?”
Alton raced out of the open cell and headed down the passage. “Possessed guards from the slaves’ level. C’mon. We’ve got more guys locked up.” He flipped the lever holding Balti and the others inside the next cell. “Any idea where our swords are?”
“Selyn’s gone after them. She headed down another passage. Follow me.” Dawson took off running.
Alton grabbed Ginny’s hand, and the others followed. He heard the distant sound of shrieks and demonic cries. “What the nine hells is going on up there?”
Dawson glanced back as he rounded a corner. “Demons have invaded Lemuria. I have no idea where they’re coming from, but the people are retreating in panic. One guy drew his sword after I ordered him to fight, and the damned thing shattered. It’s chaos up there.”
“Dawson? Hurry. They’re here.”
Selyn’s voice came from the end of the passage. Alton’s longer stride took him past Dawson, and he was the first to reach Selyn. She was dragging the bundled swords out of a cabinet. The lock was melted, the door bent.
Her sword glowed brilliantly.
Alton and Ginny grabbed their swords. The others found theirs, going unerringly to the right ones. It appeared all of them were linked to their weapons, sentient or not.
“What now?” Dawson leaned close and gave Selyn a quick, possessive kiss.
Alton had no control over the grin he flashed at Ginny. It appeared their veterinarian had made excellent use of his time. “What of the women? And my grandfather?” Alton strapped on his scabbard and reached for HellFire.
Selyn answered. “They’re almost here. They were only a couple of levels behind us, all armed with crystal. It appears the sentience within the swords has imparted battle knowledge to all of us.” She grinned. “I actually know how to use this thing! Did you see what we did to that lock?”
“I did. Damn.” Alton glanced down the long passage. “We need to shut that portal once again. I think one of the council members is opening it. Drago, most likely. Balti says he’s been spending time in the vortex chamber.”
Roland nodded in agreement as he checked his scabbard and sword. “Someone’s opening it. I’ve not been able to keep the blasted thing closed, but I’ve never caught anyone down there working it.”