Ashes of night, p.13
Ashes of Night, page 13
part #5 of Haunted High Series Series
“What’s going on?” Rhett asked from further up the stairs the moment my howl stopped. Several other werewolves poked their heads out from behind him.
“The demons are here. We need to act now!” I told them.
Rhett looked behind him. “Round up the rest of the students. Meet Finn in the corridor.”
Werewolves took off running.
Out of habit, I reached back to shut the door to our room and saw my cellphone flashing. I picked it up and glanced at the message.
HOW’D THE TRAINING GO? WHEN IS THE SPELL BEING CAST? I CAN HELP.- VICKEN
I wrote back quickly. THINGS ARE FINE. GET BETTER.- FINN
I tossed the phone down and ran out of the room. The last thing Vicken needed during his recovery was to worry about our team in trouble. I rushed down the stairs with the thought that at least he and Kiyah would be safe.
Professor Briggs burst through the unicorn painting the moment I reached the corridor. He shoved the picture shut again and leaned against it.
“The demons are coming,” he said, his face pale and chest heaving. “We need to perform the ceremony.”
“Dara told me.” I put my shoulder against the photograph. “The students are coming. Where’s the Headmistress?”
“In her office,” Briggs replied.
Headmistress Wrengold appeared in the hallway. “I’m right here.”
“Where are we going to do this?” I asked.
The Headmistress gestured toward the corridor in which we stood. “Here. We need the room, and it’s defendable.”
Professors hurried from the hallway. Headmistress Wrengold began giving out orders. “Bamenda, shield the windows.”
Mrs. Hassleton lifted her hand and the windows that lined one side of the great corridor immediately darkened.
“Mr. Smalls, seal the doors so the demons don’t catch us by surprise,” the Headmistress continued.
Brack motioned with one hand. I heard the lock click on the massive front doors followed by the doors in the long hallway.
Other students were beginning to arrive. By the controlled terror on their faces, I guessed that the werewolves had told them what we were up against. Fortunately, no one appeared to be panicking, yet.
Dara ran down the stairs followed by Lyris.
“Let’s begin the binding,” the Headmistress instructed.
At her motion, Brack grabbed a marble-topped end table and carried it over as though it weighed nothing. Headmistress Wrengold set the three boxes on top. Professor Briggs left me at the picture frame to carry over the one containing the moonstone. The demons scrabbled against the unicorn picture. My feet began to slide backwards despite my werewolf strength.
“Brack, a little help here?” I called out.
The huge warlock looked at me. When he saw my predicament, he lifted a hand. I felt the frame stop moving.
“I’ve got it,” Brack called.
I took a hesitant step backwards. When the picture frame stayed put despite the yowling and protests of the demons beyond, I let out a sigh of relief.
The Headmistress opened the three boxes, revealing the pieces of Chutka’s heart.
“Conrad,” she instructed as she opened the one with the moonstone. Careful not to touch the stone, the Headmistress tipped the box and let it fall in the middle of the table.
My uncle gave her a worried look. “Are you sure you want me to do this?”
She nodded. “Let’s finish what you started.”
The fear in Conrad’s eyes was unmistakable. “Alright, but once I begin, I won’t be able to stop.” He swallowed. “Trust me. I tried last time.”
His reference to the slaughter that had ensued sent tension through the air.
I had to give the Headmistress credit for how steady her voice was when she said, “Begin.”
My uncle sucked in a shaky breath and began to chant in a language I didn’t recognize. The darkness of the words sent a chill down my spine. My instincts told me to distance myself from him, but I pushed down the feeling. Instead, I crossed closer to the table as the other students formed their circle. My werewolf pack came up behind me. I could feel their presence without looking at them.
A hand touched my arm. I felt Dara’s reassuring presence.
“Let’s finish this,” she said quietly.
I nodded. “It’s time.”
“Begin the shield,” Lyris said at my words.
The students behind us repeated the witch’s chant. Brack’s deep voice followed along with the other warlocks. The air shimmered and a shield glowed, ready to solidify at my command.
In front of Conrad, the stones began to pulse. Darkness flowed outward from them in a thick, snaking mist. The pieces of Chutka the Shambler’s heart vibrated in their open boxes. Dark power surged outward in beckoning waves. I heard Uncle Conrad groan. His hands reached toward the heart pieces. The tendrils of mist snaked down his arms.
“The moonstone,” I said.
Conrad ignored me. His gaze was on the black heart pieces. I could see the reflection of the pulsing power in his gaze. My chest tightened at the thought that we were about to see history repeat itself. If Conrad allowed Chutka to take over his body the way the Darkest Warlock had done, there was no way I could stop him. Already, I could feel the Demon Prince’s power growing. If he gained a form he could control, we would all be lost.
I closed my eyes, but fear pressed against me. I had seen what Conrad did the first time. Briggs, Headmistress Wrengold, my mother, and so many of the students and professors at the Academy had suffered as a result. I didn’t want my friends, my pack, or my team to go through the same thing.
A hand slipped into mine. Before I could question whose it was, my fears faded and calm reassurance filled me. I knew what to do and how I could help. I opened my eyes and shot Dara a grateful look. She nodded.
With a calming breath, I pushed a command at Conrad. “Bind the moonstone.”
The werewolf glanced at me. I pushed the command again. “Bind the moonstone, now.”
My uncle’s eyes widened. He looked from the heart pieces to the moonstone that lay in the middle of the table. Uncle Conrad’s jaw clenched. He picked up the first box and turned it over so that the heart piece rolled to a stop beside the moonstone. He tossed the ironwood box to the floor. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he did the same to the second and then the third boxes.
“Begin the spell,” the Headmistress said.
On her command, the professors around her read from the pieces of paper they held. The mythics in charge of Haunted High began the spell tentatively. They hadn’t had much time to practice; I was impressed they had found the spell in the first place. Fortunately, as they read, their recitation became stronger. With Professor Mellon’s clear voice leading the group, the professors repeated the spell over and over in time to the chants Lyris and Brack lead.
The heart pieces drew closer to the moonstone as though it was a magnet. The darkness that snaked through the air circled the moonstone but didn’t touch it. I watched breathlessly as the stones first touched and then enveloped the moonstone. The mist circled faster. Uncle Conrad’s dark words became a crude counterbalance to the lyrical chants that flowed around the room. The darkness of the stones intensified, first shrouding the moonstone and then cutting off its light entirely.
The moment the pieces joined to form a complete circle, a giant crack appeared in front of Conrad. It looked as though a knife had been drawn across the air on the other side of the table. Gasps sounded through the corridor when a huge, pale, clawed hand reached through. A second hand appeared. The claws grabbed the edges of the crack. A tearing sound followed as the claws forced the crack wider. Students held their ears and others cried at the echoing, screeching noise. It felt as though the sound came from inside of my head as well as outside.
Horns, another set of clawed hands, and then a snout of needle-like teeth followed.
I could only stare as Chutka the Shambler forced the crack wide open and then stepped into our world.
Massive black hooves bigger than my head met the marble floor in a shower of sparks. My eyes moved up to a long, lashing tail that sliced through the air with the hiss of a whip. Massive, thick black leathery wings dragged against the floor. The Demon Prince wore the darkness around him like a cloak. It writhed and moved as though it was a living creature. Curled horns swept back from a pale forehead that looked as though it had never seen the light of day. Eyes set deep above the dragon-like snout searched the room before landing on my uncle.
A snort of amusement escaped Chutka the Shambler. The Demon Prince straightened up to his full height so that he towered far above Uncle Conrad.
“I didn’t think you had it in you to bring me here.” Chutka’s voice felt like claws inside my ears. “I underestimated your loyalty.”
When he chuckled, I reached up and was amazed to find that my ears weren’t bleeding.
Chutka’s eyes shifted from Uncle Conrad to the students and professors surrounding him.
“Pets, attack,” the Demon Prince said casually.
A tearing sound heralded the demons as they burst through the unicorn painting. Students screamed and professors moved to bar their path. The demons’ grins showed their anticipation at the slaughter. Green fire bubbled from their jaws and spilled onto the ground. The cries of fear the students gave made the demons even more excited. They surged forward.
A crash sounded from the hall of many doors. I glanced over my shoulder just as a purple and black form streaked past my face, followed by an orange and black one, a yellow and green one, and then a hundred more so fast they were a blur. But my eyes stayed with the black and purple form.
Sparrow fanned her wings backwards just before she reached the first demon. A puff of blue flame spouted from her muzzle toward the creature. When it hit the demon’s face, the creature’s flame sputtered and went out. The demon yelped and back peddled. Sparrow let out a hiss. The other sylph dragons attacked, swarming the demons like a rush of angry hornets. The demons yelped and scrambled over each other in an effort to get away. The dragons pursued them through the torn photograph. Yowls and cries of pain followed the dragons’ flight.
My relief at seeing Sparrow safe vanished at the sound of the Demon Prince’s voice.
“Pests,” Chutka growled. “Vermin!” He lifted his hands and grew bigger as we watched, towering above all of the students in the room. Around me, students cringed and cowered away from the Demon Prince. Their chanting became sporadic and the shield that protected them faltered.
“The shield!” Alden said before I could tell them. “Don’t let it fall!”
At the Grim’s command, the students’ chants increased, echoing from the ceiling and the walls. The shield between us and Chutka solidified into a golden, iridescent wall.
“I see you found my heart,” Chutka said with a toothy grin. He picked up the black lump from the table in front of Conrad. It appeared small in his massive pale hand, but I could feel the dark power that wafted from it. “I should thank you,” he continued in his defiling voice. “But I knew you were spineless. You had to finish what you started. That’s why I chose you.”
“For the power,” Uncle Conrad said.
I had to give him credit for keeping his voice steady.
“Yes,” Chutka replied with a pleased, terrifying grin. “Your greed is my gain.” He looked at those behind Conrad; the students and professors backed up when his gaze met theirs. “And you’ve brought followers.” He nodded. “All in due time. First, this.”
He drove one of his claws into his chest. Black blood leaked from the wound as he drew the claw down. Opening the cavity wide, he revealed a dark, throbbing mass. Toward the top, a chunk was missing. The black blood that flowed around the misshapen heart leaked down the sides and spilled into the cavity, coloring the pale skin in a dark, angry bruise.
Chutka shoved the piece he held into the cavity.
“Yes,” He breathed with a rumbling groan that made the ceiling shake. “Complete at last.”
When he took his hand away, the gaping wound in his chest closed. The skin sealed together as though it had never been torn. The black blood that marred his pale skin lifted into the swirling darkness that surrounded him. Chutka gave a sigh of pleasure as he looked down at Conrad once more.
“My turn.” His massive claws reached for my uncle.
Chapter Twelve
“Now!” I yelled.
Mrs. Hassleton snapped her fingers and the shielding over the windows vanished. Moonlight streamed onto Chutka’s shoulders. His head jerked back and he stared up at the windows in surprise. The place where he had put the missing piece of his heart started to glow. One massive hand grabbed his chest. A grimace of pain rippled across his face.
“No,” he snarled. He glared at Conrad. “What have you done?”
Green froth bubbled from the Demon Prince’s mouth and down his chest. Before my uncle could react, the froth ignited into green fire.
“You’ll pay for this,” Chutka growled.
The flames ran down his body to the floor where it spilled hungrily toward my uncle. Conrad’s eyes were wide and fear showed in every line of his body, but he made no move to get away.
“Run!” I shouted and pushed toward the werewolf.
Green fire sprang up in front of me, blocking me from reaching him. The flames were repelled by the shield wall Lyris and the other students held fast with their chanting. The glow of the wall intensified with their strength.
Chutka’s eyes narrowed as he looked from my uncle to me.
“I know you,” he said. Realization dawned on his face. “You’re behind this. You’re behind all of this!”
“You’re finished, Chutka,” I shouted past the roar of the flames. “You have no more power here!”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” the Demon Prince replied.
He lifted his hand and the flames surrounded my uncle. Conrad let out a shout of pain.
“No!” I cried.
I shoved my hand through the wall. The green flames licked at my skin. I knew the fire could only hurt me if I gave into my fear. The healed burn across my palm throbbed. Pain shot up my arm. I leaned into the flame, reaching for my uncle. I held back a scream as the fire rushed up my shoulder. I couldn’t let it break down my walls. It wouldn’t have any power if I kept strong. But the fire was so much hotter than it had been with the regular demons. The Demon Prince would win. I would be covered in scars like Professor Briggs, or worse, burned to a pile of smoldering ash.
Just as my walls began to falter and the pain became real, a hand grabbed my shoulder. The pain diminished enough that I could breathe. I latched onto Uncle Conrad’s arm and pulled backwards in an attempt to drag him through the shield.
“He’s mine,” Chutka growled.
At his motion, the flames rose higher, engulfing both my uncle and me. Conrad let out a bloodcurdling scream. I pulled back in an attempt to draw his pain, but mine was so great I could barely think.
The pain cleared. It was startling enough that I glanced backwards to see what was happening. Rhett had taken Dara’s other hand. His eyes were closed and beads of sweat showed on his forehead. Star had his other hand, followed by Gimmick and the others. The entire wolf pack that had come back with me from the Den held hands and shared my pain. Tears broke from my eyes and immediately went up in steam. I pulled backwards, drawing Uncle Conrad with me.
“No!” Chutka yelled.
“You’re finished,” my uncle said through gritted teeth. His clothes were a mess of soot and ash and his face was twisted in pain. Despite his burns, he began the chant again.
The crack behind Chutka widened. The wound in his chest burst open and light appeared. A grating, harsh howl sounded from the Demon Prince.
“You will pay for this, werewolf scum!” Chutka said, his words thick with pain.
Before I could react, the Demon Prince shoved his claws through Conrad’s chest.
“No!” I shouted.
Chutka yanked his claws free and my uncle fell to the floor. Chutka raised his hand to finish the job. I crouched over Conrad in the flames, fully expecting to feel the Demon Prince’s claws. Time seemed to slow. My breath rattled in my ears. I heard demons scream in the basement as they battled the sylph dragons. I hoped Sparrow was safe. Students cried out in fear and the sound of someone screaming came above the roar of the green flames that surrounded me. My heart pounded.
I heard Chutka’s claws slice through the air. I tensed, expecting to be torn in half. Instead, a form shoved between me and the Demon Prince. I looked up to see Professor Briggs above me. He held his walking stick in both hands. His face twisted at the strain of holding Chutka’s huge claws at bay. The wood of the stick began to crack.
“You couldn’t protect the girl you loved,” Chutka said in a voice that was filled with both pain and mocking laughter. “What makes you think you can protect the boy?”
“I failed once,” Briggs replied in a growl. “I won’t fail again!”
“You can’t stop me!” Chutka said. He lifted his arms, growing larger. “I am too strong for you!”
A black and white form flew past my head. The Headmistress in her night owl form flapped her wings once and surged through the windows above us, shattering them. Moonlight spilled unhindered onto Chutka the Shambler. The hole in the Demon Prince’s chest opened wider. He let out a bloodcurdling scream. The crack behind him tore into a massive hole. Chutka grabbed Professor Briggs and shoved him toward the crack. Off-balance, Briggs fell against the hole. He tried to push free, but he was sucked into the darkness.
“Professor!” I shouted.
Chutka the Shambler turned to face me.
“I told you I would destroy everything you care about,” he said in a voice that grated through my mind with the pain of a thousand claws.
On the other side of the flames, I saw students cringe at the sound. The flames rose higher. Only the steadying hand on my arm kept me centered.
