At least I knew that Lord Kenan’s hounds were down to two. Conor and one other. It wasn’t Governor Boggs, I knew that for sure. I also knew it was most likely not one I’d met before, since I’d managed to kill pretty much all of the hounds I’d interacted with, apart from Omar, Alexander, and Conor.
Abel grabbed my arm, startling me, pulling me back into the thicket. He took out a duffel bag he’d hidden there when I’d been contacting everyone for the meeting. Inside it was a very familiar-looking machete, which he handed to me. I couldn’t help the grin that crossed my face. This was seriously my favorite weapon of all time. It had helped me so much when I’d been at the Temple of Flames, fighting the ifrit.
“How did you get this?” I asked. “Is it the actual one?”
Abel smiled. “I didn’t get it for you—Hamza brought it.” He whistled, and two men stepped around the thicket, big smiles on their faces.
“Hamza!” I squealed. “You really did come!”
He shrugged. “Once I knew you had ifrits on your side, I couldn’t help it. I wouldn’t miss this battle for the world.” His expression sobered. “I didn’t think you had a chance to win. I’d just barely gotten my family back and wasn’t willing to destroy their happiness. But knowing you have ifrits changed a lot of things. You actually have a chance.”
I tried not to feel offended, especially since he was right. The ifrits would probably change the course of the fight. At least, I hoped they would.
Abel tapped me on the shoulder, and before I ended my conversation with Hamza, I said, “The other Aretes here can help you know what’s going on.”
“They already have—Martin and I are prepared.”
Abel gave me a bunch of guns, knives, and magazines, which I strapped to various appendages, hiding them under my hoodie and in the big front pockets. I would be well armed. He similarly outfitted the others, though Austin and Coolidge both gave him a smirk, obviously thinking they were too powerful to need weapons.
“Hey, you never know if you’ll need backup when your magic wears out,” I said. “And I’ve seen both of you hit your threshold multiple times. One of these weapons just might save you.”
That wiped the smirks off their faces.
Now fully armed, we turned to face the oncoming army.
Our little team was ready.
43
We didn’t have long to wait. Either the vampires were tiring or they were getting wiped out because soon, Kenan’s army started rushing through without really being stopped. From what I could tell, there were a few hundred left. How big had it been at the start, when Nicole’s traps were catching them?
I searched the army for Lord Kenan, wondering where he was. Probably at the back, like a coward.
The army rushed at us, and I stepped forward to meet them, but Abel pulled me back.
“Don’t even think about it,” he said. “You are not to fight these grunts.”
He then motioned to the beast the ifrits had created. Flaming eyes had opened, and the monster spotted his enemies. He deftly stepped over the ifrits. In one hand, he held a massive club, and in the other, a heavy stick with a sword attached at the end of it.
I’d have to ask Abel what that latter one was, if I remembered.
He only needed to take three giant steps before he reached Lord Kenan’s army and began his attack, swiping and flinging demons everywhere. Battle cries started up in earnest as the demons converged on the massive ifrit, hacking at his ankles and calves, dodging the swipes of his weapons.
Austin, Dave, Coolidge, Martin, and Hamza stepped forward.
“Our turn,” Coolidge said, a wicked grin on his face.
The ground rumbled beneath us, the earth turning over on itself and burying the demons. Undeterred, more demons rushed forward, trampling the freshly turned earth.
The Aretes continued attacking, using the elements. Tornadoes rushed through the demons, flinging them in all directions. More dirt piled on top of other enemies. Fire scorched them until they were screaming and writhing on the ground.
Gradually, the army got closer, and Abel turned to me.
“Be safe,” he said. “Hide yourself.”
And then he kissed me on the cheek before jumping into the battle. I shrieked, watching him get swallowed up by Lord Kenan’s demons.
There was no way he would get out of there unscathed. I felt panic bubble up inside as I considered the chances of him getting killed. They were so high.
Please be okay.
Then I turned my thoughts to the amulet, commanding it to hide me. My body tingled, and I breathed deeply, forcing my attention back to the battle as a whole, watching and waiting for my turn to come. The sun had nearly cleared the mountain, and dawn was now fully on us. If I hadn’t been so stressed, I probably would have admired the beautiful sunrise. As it was, I could barely tear my attention away from the action before me.
Mist built and whisked in and out as the vampires continued attacking. I marveled at their ability to stay energized. But then I noticed several creatures fall to the ground, quickly shriveling up before getting burned to a crisp. The vampires were obviously getting the strength they needed from those they attacked.
Only moments later, Mr. and Mrs. Russell joined the battle. I couldn’t see them. They’d gone invisible—one of their greatest strengths—but two empty spots soon appeared, moving around, enemies falling swiftly wherever those empty spots paused.
Now was the best time for me to find Lord Kenan and Conor.
Hide me.
I already am. I won’t have much power with the sun coming, though.
That’s fine. Do your best and let me know when it’s about to run out.
I will.
And then I walked through the thicket, observing, searching the crowds of enemies, staying well enough away from the action not to become a part of it accidentally.
Lord Kenan’s forces fought much harder than I expected them to. Even regular Aretes who were fighting on his side didn’t seem to be using their powers normally. Unfortunately for Lord Kenan, though, he didn’t have very many Silvers on his side, and Austin and the others seemed to find and dispatch them fast.
By that point, Kenan’s Aretes had probably grown so exhausted from using their magic that it wouldn’t have been hard to stop them anyway, despite whatever he was doing to strengthen them. It had been a long night for them all.
Staying in the trees, occasionally clawing my way through scrub oak, I finally reached the trail and saw Lord Kenan up it a bit, standing motionless, eyes closed. Two hounds flanked him, guarding him and warily looking around them.
I recognized one as Conor, in his regular dog form. I’d seen him enough now to know him anywhere. I didn’t recognize the other.
Lord Kenan was unscathed. Fresh. He didn’t look tired or exhausted in any way.
What to do now? How to attack? How to get Conor to shift into his elevated form? How to remove a spike and stab Lord Kenan with it?
Too many questions. I started panicking again.
Can you help me ignore my emotions? Keep a clear mind?
I can try. I haven’t done that before.
I felt two things happen at once—my stress and fear melted away, and the amulet started losing the power to hide me. The sun was too bright now, and I only had moments left before the hounds spotted me.
I had to do something drastic and unexpected. There was no way I would survive if I didn’t. Trusting that Kenan wanted me alive more than dead at that moment, I stepped out into the sunshine, asking the amulet to reveal me. I was only twenty feet from Kenan. He immediately opened his eyes, his hands resting on the heads of the growling dogs on either side of him.
“Lizzie,” he said.
The sound of my name on his lips stirred my heart and made me remember the last time I’d been this close to him.
I felt as his magic tentatively washed over me. He was testing out the waters, trying to see if he could seduce me again.
Putting aside my tension, I casually put the machete in a sheath on my back. “I need to understand something,” I said, unable to keep my eyes off his still-very-attractive face. “Why do you want me to join you?”
Lord Kenan stayed where he was. His face was blank. I had no idea what he was thinking.
“It should be obvious to you, my dear. We could be quite powerful together.”
I felt as his powers washed over me again. I took a step in his direction.
“It is not obvious to me. I don’t have hundreds of years of experience behind me to understand the strategies and tactics powerful rulers like you employ.”
If what I said flattered him, he didn’t let on. I hoped it did.
“I’d much rather discuss it with you in more pleasant circumstances.” His hands didn’t leave the heads of the dogs.
I ignored them completely. I was starting to figure something out. I would need to kill him temporarily before I could do anything with the hounds. Conor probably wouldn’t shift into his elevated form unless he thought Lord Kenan was dead.
I took a step toward him and glanced at my feet, scowling, hoping he would buy my ruse, that he would think I didn’t have full control over myself.
“Here is as good as anywhere, Kenan. Our last discussion took place in a graveyard, for crying out loud.”
“Excellent point, Lizzie,” he said.
I felt as he pushed his magic over me again. What was he doing? Was he really trying to seduce me? I mean, I knew he was, but didn’t he realize I would be immune to it now? Or was he cocky enough to believe I couldn’t ever fully resist him?
If that was the case, oh, boy. This guy was in for a big surprise.
Instead of letting on, though, I glanced down and again acted surprised to see my feet stepping toward him.
“I . . . I don’t want to join you.”
He finally smiled. “I think you do.”
Another wave of his magic passed over me, and I took a few more steps in his direction.
“Stop trying to seduce me,” I said. “It won’t work.”
“Are you sure?”
I dropped my voice to a whisper. “No. I’m not.” I looked at my feet again, then up at him, meeting his gaze.
He really hit me with his powers.
The blast was so heavy and so strong, I could barely think through it. This time, without any permission from me, my feet brought me to him, stopping only a pace away. Was I about to fall under his powers again? Wasn’t I strong enough to resist?
I yearned to hold him, to kiss him, to caress his face and run my fingers through his hair. Was it possible for me to be seduced again? Had Vincent been wrong? Were Lord Kenan’s powers different on me because of my calling and who I was?
I nearly began panicking before realizing my hormones weren’t raging out of control this time. Yes, I longed to touch him, but it wasn’t so all-consuming as it had been before. I could actually think this time.
Kenan reached forward, putting his hand on my cheek. “Such a pretty woman. I have not seen this level of beauty in centuries.”
I forced myself to maintain eye contact with him. I knew if I didn’t, he would figure out his powers weren’t working on me. But by doing so, I ran the risk of him actually succeeding in his wishes.
As I’d already figured out, though, my hormones were just fine this time. I had hope I wouldn’t fall for him again because my mind and my heart were still free.
Staring into his eyes, I took a step toward him, raising my hand to rest on his cheek. I remembered all the thoughts that had rushed through my mind while he’d been exercising his power over me last time. I decided the best way to proceed now would be to voice those thoughts now.
“Your perfect lips are mine,” I said.
I dropped my eyes to them, then met his gaze again, giving him a teasing smile. I put my hand around his neck and pulled him closer.
Without waiting to see what he would do, I pressed my lips against his. Memories of the last time we kissed flooded into me, and it wasn’t hard for me to pretend to experience the same passion I felt before. He drew me close.
My mind flitted to my task. To what was expected of me. I knew, as I pushed my attention back to kissing him, that whatever I did, I would have to do it quickly and without a lot of premeditation. Last time, he’d known before I tried that I was about to snuff his flame.
I groaned, pulling away from him, away from his lips before trailing kisses along his jawline and to his ear.
“I want you,” I whispered in his ear.
“And I you, my Lizzie.”
Despite my control, my heart stirred again at the possessive tone he used. This man was good. I stepped closer to him, pressing my body against his, trailing a hand down his arm to where he’d placed his hand on my back. I put my own over his.
“But not here,” I said. “Not in the open.”
Lord Kenan’s eyebrow quirked. “Are you sure? Usually women I . . . interact with like an audience.”
I scowled. “I’m different.”
“So it seems.”
Gently, so as not to let him think that I’d changed my mind, I took his hand and held it between the two of us.
Help me, I asked the amulet.
Help you do what?
The amulet seemed to know I didn’t want to seek out his flame. It had learned from last time as well.
Help me be swift and sure, and for him not to notice my actions.
I pressed his hand against my back again and placed my lips on his once more. I kissed him with passion, distracting him from noticing at first that I’d reached beyond his hand to where I kept my stakes. As I pulled one out, he stiffened and grabbed my hand.
It was easy enough to tell he’d been expecting that. His actions were quick and decided. He yanked my hand out from behind my back, holding it far away from us.
He didn’t have the amulet, though.
I did.
And I’d already grabbed his flame mentally while he’d yanked my hand away.
Kill?
Kill.
Lord Kenan’s flame died.
It was almost a pity, considering how hard I’d worked to get it.
Lord Kenan tried to throw me away from himself, but I clutched onto his robes, my feet flying out from underneath me. With the help of the amulet, I righted myself and stabbed him in the heart with the stake.
I knew it wouldn’t kill him, but hopefully it would slow him down. And it did—he dropped to the ground, his face going slack.
The hounds jumped straight for my throat. The weaker one, the one Lord Kenan hadn’t given the elevated form, got close enough for me to snuff its flame, and I twirled, dodging its attack as I destroyed it. But the bigger one—Conor—lunged at me, knocking me to my stomach, grinding my face into the dirt. He bit at the back of my neck, but his teeth got caught in my hoodie and he didn’t injure me.
I wrestled out from under him, sensing as the amulet helped me, and jumped to my feet, pulling my gun.
Conor lunged at me again, but I pounded him full of lead.
I loved doing that to him.
And then I shot Lord Kenan as he struggled to his feet. He fell down the hill, over the side of the trail, tumbling to a stop twenty feet below. I pounded several more bullets into Conor, then scrambled to where Lord Kenan had come to rest. I hadn’t really expected bullets to stop him, but they stopped other fire vampires, and that was what he was. They just wouldn’t kill him.
I wouldn’t repeat the mistakes of nearly everyone who’d previously tried to stop him. Instead of shooting him again, I pulled the machete out from its sheath on my back and beheaded him.
Oh, gosh. Oh, gross. So much blood.
For good measure, I took out another stake and stabbed him, again through the heart. In most folklore, stabbing a vampire through the heart made them disappear or burn up or crumble into dust. But this was Lord Kenan. There was a reason he’d been imprisoned and his flame taken away and separated i
nto seven. He would definitely come back, and quickly, if I didn’t get that spike.
For all I knew, removing his head would only cause two more to grow. Disgusted at the idea, I picked his head up by the hair and held it away from myself as I carried it up the hill, back to where I’d left Conor. I’d come to understand something. Maybe it was intuition, maybe the amulet had somehow planted the idea in my mind, but if Lord Kenan was dead—physically, not permanently, since that would require a hound stake through the heart—I should be able to snuff Conor’s flame, thereby allowing me access to his spike.
The hound wasn’t there anymore. How had he healed that quickly? I turned around to survey the area, trying to decide which direction to go.
“He left,” a ghost said to me. “And are we free to go now? We’ve done all you commanded. We’re spent and have nothing left to give.”
“Yes, that’s fine.” I was fairly preoccupied, but I hoped I wouldn’t regret dismissing the ghosts later.
Where did he go? I asked my amulet.
Left.
He’d gone the way I’d come. I jogged in that direction, following the amulet’s directions. It guided me through the thicket where my friends and I had hidden earlier, and then back to where the battle was still raging. Many of Lord Kenan’s most devout demons pressed onward, and I saw several fire vampires, Aretes, and the ifrit demon still battling.
He’s in there.
I felt the amulet guide my attention to where the ifrits were still chanting. A ring of fire surrounded them, going thirty feet into the air.
Hounds aren’t immune to fire, are they?
No.
He was relying on his ability to heal, hoping I wouldn’t find him before then. Deadly risk to take.
I stepped through the flames, unafraid, knowing they wouldn’t hurt me. Magical fires didn’t.
Conor was huddled in the middle of the ifrits, who either ignored him or weren’t aware he was there. The hair and skin on his hide had been melted. His eyes were crazed. I could only imagine the amount of pain he was in.
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