Starfire (27 page)
Authors: Kate Douglas
Tags: #Romance, #Man-Woman Relationships, #Fiction, #General, #Paranormal, #Demonology, #Revenge, #Paranormal Romance Stories
The plates were passed and food consumed, but everyone’s attention remained focused on the news. After a few minutes, Eddy frowned at her father. “Nothing. No reports of strange happenings, possessed creatures or wandering statues, nothing. Are the demons coming here, focusing on this house and nowhere else? What’s going on?”
“I think it’s my fault.”
“Mari? Why you?” Gaia reached across the table and covered Mari’s hand. “You’re making spells to weaken them, not call them. Why would you think such a thing?”
Mari glanced at Darius.
He leaned over, kissed her softly, and sighed, but he was nodding his head in agreement. “Last week,” he said, “when Mari chased off the demons that were invading her mom’s shop and attacking Leland, Matthias, and me, a ruby geode exploded in the midst of her spell. We didn’t realize until then that something about the ruby crystals in the geode had been calling the demons to the shop. We don’t know why they were attracted to it. When the geode exploded, one of the crystals lodged in Mari’s heart. It’s still there.” He covered Mari’s hand with his. “The crystal in her heart gives her immortality, but it might also be giving off a signal, one that attracts demons to her.”
Mari gave Eddy a rueful smile. “Sort of a good news, bad news thing. The good news is I’m immortal. The bad is the fact that demons are drawn to me, no matter where I am or what I’m doing. Because of that magical crystal, I’ve become a magnet for them, a veritable lodestone for demonkind. If they’re at all near, they’re going to come looking for me, first.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“Dawson? Nine hells, man, I never thought I’d see you again! I thought you were dead!” Alton thrust his sword through a mass of approaching demons, but he flashed a speculative glance at Daws. “What happened?”
Dawson held up his sword. “My sword brought me back.” He tightened his grasp on Selyn’s hand. “My sword and Selyn. What’s going on?”
“Chaos,” Ginny said. She took a deep breath. “Absolute chaos.”
Dawson focused on a group of familiar faces. Roland and his band were protecting a small pack of Lemurians huddling in shocked silence beside the dais at the head of the plaza. All about them, the ground was littered with sparkling bits of crystal. “What’s happened to their swords?”
“Shattered. They’re cowards, all,” Alton said. He swung his blade again and more sparks flew. “They finally drew their swords when they realized there weren’t enough of us with crystal to protect them, but their blades shattered.”
He paused, thrust his blade through another stinking demon. “The problem is, the citizens don’t trust us. Drago’s been speaking out, rallying them against us, telling them we’re possessed by demonkind. He’s got the idiots convinced I was the one to open the portal to Abyss and allow the wraiths entry.”
“Bastard.” Dawson glanced about the huge plaza, but saw only a few dozen Lemurians. “Where is everyone?”
“Hiding in their quarters,” Taron said. “They scattered quickly, once demons broke through. At least, so far, anyway, there’s no sign of the demon king. Alton said he’s the one who seems best able to get the others organized.”
Shouts and the clash of steel erupted from a passage behind them. Alton glanced at Ginny and raised his sword. “Do you think it’s him?”
Dawson frowned. “Who? The demon king?” He glanced at Selyn.
“No,” she said. “His grandfather. Come.”
The five of them slipped into the passage in time to see Artigos the Just with his army of former slaves and once-possessed guards engaging in battle with a squadron of Lemurian guardsmen. Steel clashed with crystal, but the Lemurian guardsmen were vastly outnumbered.
“Enough!” Alton leapt to the top of a table and raised his sword. “As Chancellor pro tem and head of the Council of Nine, I demand you lay down your arms.”
The soldiers pulled apart, but no one disarmed. They did, however, stop fighting and turn their attention to Alton. Alton pointed to his grandfather, a man he barely remembered. “Do you not recognize the true leader of Lemuria? You raise your swords against Artigos the Just, who has been held prisoner these long years since the great move.”
Some among the guardsmen seemed to recognize their former leader. Dawson could hear them mumbling among themselves, but he had no idea what they said. Finally, one of the men stepped forward and bowed, showing Alton the proper courtesy due his position.
“We know not these men, Chancellor, dressed in their strange uniforms. They are, and yet are not, of the Lemurian guard. They are guardsmen who bear crystal, and yet we are not so armed. And who are the women? They’re not the women warriors of legend, and yet they bear crystal as well.”
He folded his arms across his chest, pointedly turning his back on the rest of the men and women, focusing his attention on Alton.
And Alton focused on the soldier. He’d stated his questions clearly, without malice, but the man had to be confused. Who in the hell was the enemy?
“These are the daughters of the warrior women. The guardsmen were their wardens, holding them enslaved for all these years, but the men were possessed, each of them ruled by demonkind until my grandfather, Artigos the Just, freed them.”
Alton glanced at his grandfather and then looked down at his friends. Dawson flashed him a wink.
Going good so far,
he said, using his newfound telepathy.
No one’s trying to kill anyone else.
Going good so far,
he said, using his newfound telepathy.
No one’s trying to kill anyone else.
For now.
Alton held his sword high. “Demonkind is invading Lemuria. The only way to stop them is with crystal.” He faced the soldiers carrying steel and spoke quickly, his voice urgent, his expression one of firm resolve. “Swear allegiance to our world, to Lemuria, and you shall carry crystal as well. Drago is possessed by demonkind, as was my father. We can only prevail against this evil scourge if we work together. Not for me, not for Artigos the Just. For Lemuria.”
Alton held his sword high. “Demonkind is invading Lemuria. The only way to stop them is with crystal.” He faced the soldiers carrying steel and spoke quickly, his voice urgent, his expression one of firm resolve. “Swear allegiance to our world, to Lemuria, and you shall carry crystal as well. Drago is possessed by demonkind, as was my father. We can only prevail against this evil scourge if we work together. Not for me, not for Artigos the Just. For Lemuria.”
Before anyone could answer, a sudden chill swept over them. Dawson grabbed Selyn’s hand and pulled her out of the way. A seething cloud of demons shot from the great plaza, heading directly at the soldiers in a whirlwind of sulfuric stench.
Those armed with steel ran for cover. The Forgotten Ones and their guards leapt into battle. The air filled with the stink of demons and their terrible banshee screams, with the cries of warriors fighting strong and true.
Dawson whirled out of the reach of a huge demon, one he’d not seen before. It had shape and form, and rather than attack, it hovered just before him, its multi-jointed arms tipped with deadly talons and its shimmering scales reflecting the ambient light in the broad passage.
This was no formless wraith, yet when Dawson thrust his sword through the creature, it merely screamed a shout of triumph and lunged forward.
Daws rolled out of the way, barely ahead of the slashing talons.
Alton’s shout rang in his ears as he scrambled to his feet. “The demon king! Ginny, we need you.”
Ginny raced toward them, holding DarkFire high. The massive demon turned and shrieked, growing in size until it towered over even the tallest of the Lemurians. Ginny looked like a child, standing before the huge creature, but she was fearless in her attack.
Alton stood beside her, with Dawson and Selyn on either side, but the demon backed away, shrieked again, and suddenly collapsed in upon itself, formed a tiny tornado of pure, dark energy, and flashed back toward the great plaza.
Absolute silence followed in its wake. Silence punctuated by the sound of heavy breathing and the soft murmurs of warriors.
Alton took a deep breath, glanced at Dawson, and nodded. Then he turned to face the assembled group. Those armed with steel had rejoined them, but their expressions had gone from confident and self-assured to humble.
It was impossible to deny the power in Artigos the Just’s army, standing here in a room filled with the sulfuric stench and blackened soot of dead demons.
Alton looked to that group of warriors first. “Are you willing to share the power of your crystal blades with men who truly are not your enemies?”
There was no hesitation at all. Those bearing crystal—men and women alike—walked forward, joining the men carrying steel. Holding crystal to steel, they quickly replicated each of the crystal swords. As light flashed and crystal flared to life, Dawson watched the expression on Alton’s face turn to one of hope.
Their army had just grown considerably.
Artigos the Just walked through the crowd of warriors and stood beside the table where Alton once more held court. “You’ve done well, grandson. I’m proud of the man you’ve become.”
The shimmer in Alton’s eyes matched the glow of his sword.
Selyn squeezed Dawson’s hand.
It’s been a long time coming,
she said.
Ginny’s told me of his father’s cruelty.
It’s been a long time coming,
she said.
Ginny’s told me of his father’s cruelty.
But his father has been possessed by demonkind,
Dawson said.
There may be resolution there, as well.
He leaned close and kissed Selyn, but the moment was bittersweet. He knew all about resolution. He’d never found it with his own father. No, but he’d found something even more powerful, more important with the woman holding tightly to his hand.
Dawson said.
There may be resolution there, as well.
He leaned close and kissed Selyn, but the moment was bittersweet. He knew all about resolution. He’d never found it with his own father. No, but he’d found something even more powerful, more important with the woman holding tightly to his hand.
He’d found love.
Isra heard the sound of fighting long before she reached what must be the great plaza. She saw huddled groups of unarmed Lemurian men, and many soldiers bearing crystal. Her sisters fought in a number of areas, battling the black wraiths she’d first seen at the portal.
But where was that big one? The one that had paused and practically taunted her with his strength and fierce power?
A scream caught her attention. Nica! Little Nica fought alone, swinging her crystal sword against a swirling mass of darkness. Isra raced across the open area. How in the hell did one fight demons? She’d only had this crystal blade for a few short minutes.
And yet, she knew exactly what to do. Thrusting the tip into the stinking, shrieking mass, she felt a huge pulse of power and blinked at the shower of sparks as demons exploded at the barest touch of crystal.
“Isra!” Nica shot her a huge grin. “We couldn’t find you anywhere, and you’ve got crystal! I’m so glad you’re alive. I was worried. Thank you.” She took a deep gulp of air, and then another. “There are so many.” She held up her scratched and bloodied arm. “Don’t let them get close. They may look like mist, but they’ve got sharp teeth and claws. I got separated from the others. Stay with me, please?”
Isra nodded. Nica showed no animosity toward her at all, even after a lifetime of cruelty and harassment? Amazing. “Of course I’ll fight with you, but I must find Selyn or Artigos. Either one. I have terrible news and must warn them.”
Nica grabbed her hand. “This way. I saw Alton, Artigos’s grandson. He’s the one you need to tell.”
Fighting raged around them. Her sisters and the guards, fighting together, battling an endless army of demons. For the most part, it appeared the Lemurian aristocrats had either gone into hiding or cowered in corners, terrified of both the Forgotten Ones and the demons.
Cowards, all. Once again, Isra wondered why she bothered, but then she remembered—this fight wasn’t for those foolish free folk. This was for her world.
For Lemuria. She turned to Nica. “Alton?”
“Yes. There. The one with blond hair who fights beside Taron.” Nica pointed toward the two men and the tall, dark woman who fought between them. Their swords flashed and demons died, and yet, for each that died, two others took its place.
Isra had to speak to him now. She knew where all these creatures were coming from. Somehow, he had to close the portal. Isra raised her hand, hoping to gain his attention, but a sudden chill stopped her before she could call his name.
She turned, and found herself looking into the eyes of that same, huge, hideous demon. He stood not six feet away, watching her as he’d studied her before, in the chamber where the portals pulsed and swirled. Caught in his diabolical stare, she could neither move nor scream.
His lips parted in a parody of a grin, and, as Isra stood, frozen in place, he flexed very solid looking talons and slowly walked toward her.
Selyn heard what could only be Nica’s scream. She turned loose of Dawson’s hand and raced toward the sound. “Dawson! He’s here.” The demon king had materialized not a hundred yards from where they’d seen him last, only now he stalked Isra.
Isra with crystal? But how?
And Nica! Little Nica protecting the one who had tormented her for most of her life. So many questions, but the time for answers would have to wait.
Nica swung her sword, but the crystal passed through the demon king’s body without visible effect. The massive beast turned and swung two of his huge arms, batting Nica away as if she were nothing more than a small irritant.
“Nica!” Isra pivoted out of the demon king’s reach.
Nica cried out, hit the ground hard, and lay silent. The demon turned on Isra once again, but she stood her ground. Dawson raced past Selyn and stood beside Isra with his sword drawn. Selyn went to Nica. Slowly she knelt beside her friend.
Nica’s head was bloodied, but her eyes were open. Long scratches ran across her neck and shoulder. “I’m okay,” she said. “Help Isra. She has important news for Chancellor Alton.”
“Take care, my friend.” Selyn helped prop Nica against the wall, away from the fighting. Then she grabbed up her sword once more. Dawson and Isra slashed at the demon king, but all they seemed to do was infuriate the beast. Their crystal had no obvious effect. Was Ginny’s DarkFire the only sword capable of harming the creature?
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