Hellion, p.29
Hellion, page 29
My gaze went back to Alaron, who was painstakingly creating more symbols in what was clearly an inner summoning circle. I didn’t know how long it took to set up a summoning site, but my gut told me I didn’t want to be here when this one was complete. I had a sinking feeling that Hamid and I were not brought here to be spectators.
Jordan?
I’m here. I looked down at Hamid, and his eyelids flickered and slowly blinked open. He looked up at me, and his blue eyes were the most beautiful sight I’d ever beheld. He opened his mouth to speak, but I placed a finger over it to stop him. We’re not alone.
His eyes stared past me at the cave ceiling. Where are we?
I don’t know. Somewhere in the Mojave, I think.
The others?
I pressed my lips together. I haven’t seen them.
A wave of reassurance came through the bond. Okay. Let’s just focus on the immediate situation. Tell me what you know.
I told him about Alaron, the vampires, and the magic infusing our shackles. It was a relief to be able to share it all with him. He’d been in a lot of tight situations before, and if anyone could figure out how to get us out of here, it was him.
I can’t do this lying down. He sat up and leaned against the cave wall beside me, taking one of my hands in his.
Alaron looked up from his drawing. “Ah, you’re awake. I’ve been waiting for you to join us.”
“Maybe you should not have knocked us out,” Hamid replied without an ounce of fear. “Why have you brought us here?”
“Right to the point. I like that.” The demon studied his work before looking at the vampires, who watched him silently. “Leave us.”
He waited until the last one had left to speak again. “Vamhir are useful soldiers, but they’ve gotten too far above their station since they came here. I’ll set that to rights as soon as I’m restored to my body.”
“If you are restored,” I wanted to say, but I didn’t think it would be smart to anger an archdemon in close quarters.
Dipping his fingers in the bucket of blood, he resumed his drawing. “You two have proven to be a… What do you call it? A pain in the ass. Always showing up and interrupting my work. I’ve spent hours entertaining myself with what I’d do to you when I caught you.”
I tried to block out the thoughts of what horrors an archdemon could inflict on a body. My body would give out, but Hamid was strong. He would endure days or weeks of torture before Alaron finally tired of him.
“I can’t tell you how annoyed I was when you found that farm and ruined a perfectly good lair,” Alaron said without looking up from his work. “And then you didn’t die from my spell, which should have turned you into ash. That sent me into a bit of a rage. At first, I blamed the warlocks. I thought they were shielding you from me. It wasn’t until our last meeting that I started to put it all together.”
He stood, wiping his bloody fingers on his robe. His black eyes regarded us, but it was hard to make out his expression with his face rotting off.
“You were there at the school when I opened the barrier. I would have finished what I set out to do if you and the warlock hadn’t interfered. He was more powerful than I expected, but my magic would have soon overwhelmed his. Or so I thought.”
Fury blazed in his eyes. “I was so close that night. I finally had the spell right, and I could feel my body on the other side, waiting to come to me. And then something happened to tip the balance of power away from me, and it was as if the spell was no longer mine.”
He started to pace, his steps growing more agitated with each pass. “After that, none of my spells to open the barrier worked. I could manage a small hole, but nothing the size of what I need. As time passed, it got more difficult to breach the barrier. I couldn’t understand why my spells were failing. Nothing I tried worked.
“And then you showed up at the wrakk, and once again, my spells had no effect on you. What was more, you appeared to know you were shielded from my magic. It wasn’t until later that day that it all made sense to me.”
I clenched Hamid’s hand tighter, and his thumb stroked my palm soothingly.
“I don’t know why I didn’t see it sooner. The only way my spells wouldn’t work against you was if you were already protected by my magic. But there is no way I would have cast a protective spell on you.”
Alaron stopped pacing to look at us with a triumphant gleam in his eyes. “It took me a while to make the connection to the first time I saw you at the school. You two fell between the warlock and me, and you got hit by our spells. Somehow, you caused the spell to change, and it created a protection around you. I don’t know how you did it, but that’s not important. All that matters is I know what I need to do to open the barrier.”
I couldn’t stop myself, I had to ask. “What?”
The archdemon attempted a smile, and his left ear fell off. He didn’t seem to notice it as he answered me. “I designed a new spell to undo the one I created in the school and to open the barrier. And you will bear witness to the greatest moment in the history of this world.”
“You mean the destruction of this world,” Hamid said coldly. “Once the barrier comes down, there will be nothing left of this place.”
Alaron shook his head. “I am not going to destroy the barrier. This world is teeming with life, and I don’t plan to share it with anyone. Once I have my body, I will rule this realm and the humans will be my slaves – and my food.”
I swallowed back the bile rising in my throat. “The angels came the last time demons threatened this world. What makes you think they won’t come after you?”
“Angels,” Alaron spat as if the word left a bad taste in his mouth. “Have you seen what the humans do to each other and to this place? Why would the angels want to save the likes of them? They’ll probably thank me for taking care of the problem for them.”
My heart felt like it was made of lead when I thought of the lost angel blade. The odds of us being able to get close enough to Alaron’s body with the knife had been slim, but at least there’d been a chance. It had given us hope that we could defeat him.
“So, you brought us here just to be witnesses?” I asked bitterly. “Excuse me if I don’t cheer.”
The demon laughed, and the sound made my skin crawl. “Not exactly. The new spell won’t work without part of the original spell, which is where you come in.” He pointed at Hamid. “Actually, where he comes in.”
My heart began to thud painfully. “What do you mean?”
“The spell requires living blood. You are too weak to survive long enough for the spell to finish, so I will use him instead.”
“No,” I shouted. I tried to stand, but Hamid’s arm came around my waist, holding me back.
Stop, he ordered gently. You can do nothing now but anger him.
“Don’t be distressed,” Alaron said with mock kindness. “You will have your part in all of this.” His black tongue came out to lick his teeth. “My body will be hungry after the joining, and you’ll make a good meal.”
Hamid let me go and lunged forward with a vicious snarl. The chain stopped him before he could close a quarter of the distance between him and Alaron. He strained against his shackle like a wild animal caught in a trap, which only served to amuse the demon more.
“You Mohiri males are a protective bunch. I shouldn’t be surprised, though. Mori are ridiculously possessive of their mates. Looks like that hasn’t changed here.”
Hamid growled something unintelligible in a voice that didn’t sound like his. I went to him and stood behind him with my arms around his waist. “I need my warrior back. I can’t do this without you.”
A shudder went through him. He spun and hugged me so tightly I felt my bones creak. I rubbed his back and whispered soothing words to him until he calmed enough to loosen his hold.
“How touching,” Alaron mocked. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a ceremony to prepare for.”
Hamid led me back to our spot at the wall. He sat and pulled me down to sit on his lap, encircling me with his strong arms. His movements were calmer, but his eyes still had some of the crazed look. At least, when he spoke to me in my mind, it was his own voice.
I have to get you out of here, he said desperately.
I stroked his hard jaw. Even if I could escape, I’m not leaving without you.
He gritted his teeth. Don’t fight me on this. I can face my death if I know you will live.
Fury rose in me, and I slapped his face. Don’t you ever talk like that again. We either leave here together, or we die together. Where you go, I go.
And where you go, I go. He watched me with tortured eyes, and I leaned in to kiss the red spot I’d made on his cheek.
“I love you,” I whispered, needing to say the words aloud because I didn’t know how many more times I would get to say them.
He brushed a kiss across my lips. “And I love you.”
We sat like that for a long moment until Hamid lifted his head to sweep his gaze around the cave.
What are you looking for? I asked.
Anything we can use to escape. There’s still time. He stared at something at the back of the cave where there were no torches, and I could sense his sudden excitement.
What do you see?
He narrowed his gaze. Our weapons and coats and…Orias. He’s bound and gagged, but I think he’s alive.
I didn’t know what to be more excited about, the presence of Orias or our coats. If Hamid’s coat was here, there was a chance the angel blade was still tucked away in the inside pocket. The knife was small, and it might have been overlooked when they were disarming us.
Do you see Charlotte and Marie? I asked hopefully.
Only Orias. I don’t see his satchel, and I don’t think he will be much help without his demon.
I sagged, deflated. Warlocks had natural magic, but their real power came from the demons they summoned. Without his demon, Orias was as powerful as a hedge witch.
We were on our own, which meant nothing had changed. But if we could somehow get to the coats and find the knife, it could tip the odds in our favor.
“You two are awfully quiet all of a sudden,” Alaron said, his black gaze fixed on us. “You wouldn’t be plotting something, would you?”
Play along. Hamid’s hand squeezed my arm. “My mate is afraid, and I am comforting her.”
“Afraid? That one?” Alaron abandoned his work to walk over to us. “Are you frightened, female?”
His amused tone made me want to tell him to go to hell, and I glared at him before I could stop myself.
He laughed. “That’s what I thought. I can’t have you trying anything foolish and disrupting my work.” Raising the hand that wasn’t covered in blood, he started speaking in demon tongue.
I wasn’t prepared when the same paralyzing spell hit me, choking the air from my lungs again. Panic rose in me, but it wasn’t out of fear of dying. If we were knocked out, there’d be no way for us to get to the angel blade before Alaron carried out his plan. I’d be forced to sit here and watch Hamid die.
Hamid, I called. I was in his arms, but I could no longer feel his touch.
I’m with you, he said as the blackness came once more.
* * *
I awoke to the feel of the cold stone floor under me instead of Hamid’s warm body. I bolted upright and frantically looked for him. I was in the same spot as before, but Hamid was gone.
Hamid! I called to him over and over until his weak voice spoke in my mind.
I’m still here.
I scrambled to my feet. Where are you?
I found him before he could answer me. My hand flew up to cover my mouth when I saw him chained on his back a dozen feet from me. His clothes were gone, and there were shackles on his arms and feet, as well as a band of metal over his torso to hold him down. His left arm was resting above a groove that had been cut into the rock, and there was a shallow furrow in the floor that ran from the groove to the center of the now complete summoning circle.
“Oh, God.” I ran toward him, but my chain wouldn’t let me go far.
“God has left the building,” Alaron taunted as he approached Hamid, carrying a knife. He stopped to smile at me. “You joined us just in time for the main event.”
“Leave him alone,” I shouted at the demon. “Use me instead. I’m strong enough.”
“No,” Hamid bit out.
Alaron knelt beside Hamid and unceremoniously slashed the inside of his left elbow. Blood poured from the cut and into the groove. Within seconds, a stream of blood began to flow along the furrow toward the circle.
“No!” My scream echoed off the cave walls. I strained futilely against my shackle as Alaron stood and walked to the inner circle. The cave was empty, except for the three of us. He must have sent all his vampires outside while he did the spell.
Facing away from us, he raised his hands and began to speak in demon tongue. One by one the torches along the walls went out until the cave was plunged into darkness.
Hamid, I called, feeling real bloodcurdling terror for the first time in my life. Not even when I’d nearly been beaten to death by Gulaks did I feel this level of fear. My mate, the other half of my soul, was alone in the dark, bleeding to death, and I could do nothing to help him. I couldn’t even hold him and let him know he wasn’t alone.
Shhh, he said gently as the crystals around the summoning circles began to emit a soft glow. The light grew stronger until I could see Hamid’s face. He had his head turned toward me, and his eyes were fixed on mine. His face looked paler, and I didn’t know if it was because of the light or from blood loss.
He smiled regretfully. I’m sorry. If I had listened to the Council and taken you to a secure location, you would not be here now.
I wouldn’t have stayed there, and you know it, I argued. None of this is your fault.
Alaron’s deep voice rose, and his tempo increased. The air in the cave felt charged with static electricity, making the hair on my head lift. The crystals glowed ever brighter until it hurt my eyes to look at them.
The demon bent and dipped his hands in a pool of blood at his feet. My stomach lurched at the sight of his hands dripping with Hamid’s blood.
He straightened and lifted his bloody hands in the air. A pit opened in my stomach because I knew what came next.
I couldn’t let this happen. If I didn’t do everything I could to stop this horror from being unleashed on the world, I’d carry that stain on my soul for the rest of this life and into the next.
Turning, I scanned the floor of the cave near me, looking for anything I could use to try to break the shackle. Maybe if Alaron used all his magic to open the barrier, it would weaken the magic on my shackle. It was a slim possibility, but I had to try.
What are you doing? Hamid asked when I sat and picked up a fist-sized rock. His voice was fainter now, and it terrified me.
Trying to get out of this thing. I gritted my teeth and brought the rock down on the shackle. It barely scratched the metal.
Alaron didn’t even glance in my direction as I struck the shackle with the rock over and over until I was panting from the effort.
I hung my head. It’s no use.
Don’t give up. Look for a bigger rock.
The last thing I would do was let him see me give in to my despair. I could be strong for the both of us.
Crawling, I felt along the floor and wall, but the pickings were slim. I made my way over to where Hamid had been chained earlier and found a larger rock near the wall. Holding it in both hands, I smashed it against the shackle again and again, but all I managed to do was bruise my ankle.
Above me, a purplish glow filled the cave, and a pulse of magic hit me, knocking me backward and sending needles of pain through me. Gasping for air, I could only lie there for a minute before I forced myself to sit up and grab the rock again. I would not give up. I’d tear off my own foot to get to Hamid.
Raising my hands above my head, I brought the rock down on the metal with all my might. There was a grinding sound, and I stared in shock at the shackle lying open on the floor.
Precious seconds passed before my brain registered that I was free. I looked at Alaron, but he was too busy shouting and gesturing at the far wall of the cave to pay attention to me. He must have focused so much of his magic into his spell to open the barrier that it had weakened the magic on the shackle.
Jordan, Hamid called as a crackling sound reached my ears. I lifted my head to see a tear forming in the air on the far side of the cave. Ice formed in my gut. It was starting.
I’m coming. I picked up the rock and crawled over to where he lay.
I had to swallow back a cry when I saw him. His skin was ashen and covered in a sheen of sweat, and his eyes were dull. Even his lips had lost all their color.
You’re free? Surprise and joy filled his voice in my mind.
I wiped the moisture from his brow and kissed him tenderly. It will take more than an archdemon to keep me from you.
I ripped the bottom from my shirt and wrapped it tightly around his bleeding arm. He’d already lost a lot of blood, but his Mori could regenerate it as long as he didn’t lose more.
I need to get you out of these shackles. I moved to one of his feet and struck the metal hard with the rock. I expected the shackle to fall open like mine had, but nothing happened. I hit it three more times, the knot of fear in my stomach growing bigger with each unsuccessful blow.
It’s not working. I crawled back to his head. I need to find something else to get them open.
No. His eyes pleaded with me. You can get out of here while he’s distracted.
Forget it. Anger blazed through me. How could he think I would abandon him to save my own life?
I sat up and scanned the cave for something to use on the shackles. My gaze landed on the shadows at the back of the cave, and I sharpened my sight until I could make out the pile of coats. What if the angel blade was still in Hamid’s coat? Did I have a prayer of using it against the demon? Maybe if I could wake Orias, he’d be able to hold Alaron off long enough for me to go after Alaron’s body.
