Blood for the Spilling

by TJ Nichols

  “Iktan might have a map.” Wek dropped a fresh kill nearby. It would be their dinner.

  Saka stared at the tent and the map of Demonside. He nodded. Iktan might be able to expand Saka’s knowledge. “I think it is time to go back.”

  Wek didn’t look convinced, but she skinned the animal and got it cooking while Saka finished working on his map. When the fire was crackling and the meat was cooking, Wek finally spoke. “Do you still believe Vinland can be stopped?”

  He wanted to say yes, but he didn’t know anymore. “Perhaps it’s too late.” Did he want to spend his last heartbeats fighting the inevitable? “If Vinland can’t be stopped, what do we do? Surrender?”

  He’d spend what was left with Angus. Perhaps it would be better to live for a time on Humanside. Let the magic pour out of him instead of wilting slowly like the golden mage. He hadn’t thought about how he wanted to die, but no option appealed.

  “We kill as many warlocks as we can and die in battle.”

  Saka smiled at her. There was a certain appeal to that. “I will contact Iktan and see if we can go back. There’s nothing more to learn out here.” And he didn’t want to spend more time away from Angus. His life might be too short to waste even another day.

  Iktan didn’t respond immediately. When night embraced the jungle with the darkest of purple, Saka tried to will sleep to come. The night was too still and humid to sleep in the tent so, as he had so many times before, he made his bed on the ground and watched the stars appear in the darkness. He was resolved to start the walk back to Iktan’s tribe in the morning, no matter what. But he was unwilling to accept that getting a priest as an anchor was the only way forward.

  What had happened to Terrance?

  By not responding to Angus and by cutting himself off from the tribe, he was blind in one eye. The lack of knowledge worried at him.

  As sleep started to creep closer, his telestone called to him. He felt a hum in his bones and a physical craving to touch it, but he didn’t answer immediately. It felt like defeat to go back and accept what Cadmael had planned for him. He was a mage, not an apprentice. But he had nowhere else to go, and he didn’t want to die alone, swallowed by the sand. He wanted to be able to talk to Angus, to hold him. He missed him.

  Saka reached out and placed a hand over the stone. He wished he could talk to Angus as easily. He’d never spent so long without him, even though he’d probably spent too much time with him, treated him too much like a demon… like a lover.

  Mage Iktan. Saka went with the formal option, since he was going to have to beg for a place.

  Mage Saka. Iktan inclined his head. I have good news. Angus has sent word.

  Saka ignored the hiccup of his heart. How had he sent word? What did he say?

  He wants to see you. You are far enough away that he will come to you, not to the doorway.

  How will he get back? He didn’t want Angus to be stuck here again.

  You can return to the village with him.

  And once I return? Why was it this easy to come back? He’d expected that Iktan would no longer want him around.

  We can talk about it when you are here. Iktan hesitated. When you return I will not be able to stop Cadmael from forcing the bond with an anchor.

  I know, and I accept that. That was the price he’d have to pay to have Angus. I have learned nothing good.

  But you have still learned, and others will want to know what you have discovered in your time away.

  So that was the mistruth that had been told—that he had been learning, not running away. Lying was dishonorable among mages, and yet it seemed to be coming more easily. I hope my absence did not cause you trouble.

  Cadmael was not happy, but I stressed that mages have work to do here. We do not exist for a priest’s pleasure. Do you wish to send a message to Angus?

  There were so many things he wanted to say, but he wanted to say most of it in person. I await your arrival.

  That was the bone-deep truth. He craved Angus in a way he’d never wanted anything before. He didn’t want to hold tightly to the hope that Angus would be with him soon, but he couldn’t stop the flutter of need that followed.

  And I await yours, Iktan said.

  The connection broke, and Saka was alone with his thoughts. He folded his hands on his belly and stared at the stars. The stars would still be there, even if Demonside died. Perhaps there were other demons on other worlds. Perhaps something would survive.

  Where once he’d believed that everything had a time and place and that he’d happily give his life for his people, Saka knew he wouldn’t be able to die with the dignity of the golden mage. All he had left was his life, and he would fight until the last breath was torn from him and his heart ceased to beat.

  Chapter 17

  TERRANCE’S WIN had two immediate effects, aside from getting him within touching distance of Angus. The first change was that people on the street recognized Terrance and either smiled and nodded at him or called him something that sounded like Vinnish pig. Angus wasn’t sure the jade earring translated that properly.

  The second effect was that Lizzie worked out where to find them. Any player who got the ball through the hoop was moved to the Training Temple. She approached Terrance and Angus on their way to the entertainment quarter to meet up with the demon who’d taken the message to Saka.

  Angus hugged her hard and didn’t want to let her go. “You survived the clean sweep.”

  “Of course I did. I knew something wasn’t right and took shelter.” She grinned.

  Angus hadn’t. He’d watched the roiling sky like an idiot and had barely survived.

  “You have been a hard man to find,” she said to Angus. Then she nodded at Terrance. “Fortunately he can’t stay away from fame and glory.”

  “That’s why I’m here—to make a name for myself as I save the world.” Terrance spoke with a smile, but there was a bite to his words. “Have you seen the others?”

  “Where have you been staying?” Angus wanted to be able to find her again.

  “I was told my magic was insignificant, and then I was placed in a boarding house until I could decide what to do with my life.” She shrugged. “I have no idea where Reece and Emma are.”

  “Shit. I was hoping you’d all be together.” Once they were reunited, Angus still didn’t know what they were going to do.

  “That would be too easy. I’d been hoping they were with you.” Her smile fell away. “Maybe they didn’t survive.”

  That killed the mood. He should be used to being disappointed and to having things snatched away, but he wasn’t ready to believe that Reece and Emma were dead. “We need to find them. It can’t be that hard.”

  “Trust me, it is.” She crossed her arms. “So where are you going?”

  “The entertainment quarter. Hopefully to get a response from Saka.”

  Lizzie frowned, and as they made their way to the entertainment quarter on the tram, Angus told her what had happened with the clean sweep and about the anchor requirement.

  It was still light when they got off the tram, but the air had cooled and the insects were attempting to bite exposed skin. The bells around his ankle chimed as he walked. Their familiar sound was a comfort.

  People glanced at the three of them. Their fair skin made them stand out, even though Terrance and Lizzie both had dark hair—or Terrance would have when it grew back—right then it was little more than stubble. Distrust was evident on the Mayans’ faces. They were the enemy.

  Angus wanted to tell them that it wasn’t his fault and that he was trying to fix it… but he wasn’t.

  They slipped through the market, and Lizzie marveled at the demons strolling around. “Can you imagine what they’d say about this at home?”

  “Nothing good.” Many people were brought up believing demons were killers, only after human blood… which they were now, because they were trying to save their world. “Did you want to come in?”

  Lizzie and Terrance both sai
d yes. Angus didn’t warn them about what was inside, but Terrance blushed, and Lizzie’s eyes went wide.

  “I should be shocked that you’d find a place like this, but I’m not,” Terrance said.

  “I didn’t find it. My helpful guide brought me here because he thought any demon would do.” He half expected to see Kabil following them at a discreet distance.

  Lizzie smirked.

  The furred demon that Angus had seen last time walked over. “I’m glad you came back.”

  Angus nodded, and Lizzie bit her lip trying not to laugh. Angus knew what it looked like, but it was better if it looked like he was following his skitun tendencies than passing secret messages. Besides, no one here was skitun. The Mayans didn’t have a slur for people who fucked demons. It was allowed and people enjoyed it.

  Angus followed the demon into the small room. “You got a response from Saka?”

  “I gave the message to my head Mage, Iktan.”

  Angus groaned. That meant Cadmael knew.

  “He passed it to Saka. Iktan said to let you know Saka awaits your arrival.” The demon lowered his voice. “He isn’t near a doorway.”

  Angus bit his lip and frowned. Away from the doorway. He knew that the doorway limited travel to protect the demons from humans arriving everywhere. But if Saka was away from the doorway would Angus arrive where Saka was?

  “Thank you. I hope you won’t get into trouble.”

  The demon looked at him. “Why does Saka not come here if he wants to see you and you want to see him? Not using a doorway is dangerous.”

  “It’s… it’s not that easy.” Though he wished it were. Saka would stand out too much among the furred and feathered demons.

  “Best of luck.” The demon walked out of the room, leaving Angus to follow.

  Lizzie and Terrance were waiting outside the building.

  “That was quick.” Terrance grinned.

  “Got what I needed.”

  Lizzie gave a strangled laugh.

  “You two are terrible. I’m trying to do something useful, and you’re carrying on.” He stalked off, but they caught up.

  “We’re having fun. It’s in short supply,” Lizzie said. “I didn’t think I’d ever get to see you again.”

  Angus stopped and turned. “You wanted to?” After everything that had happened?

  “Yes. They want to keep us separate, but I want to make sure we don’t get lost. Mostly because I know you’ll come up with some stupid idea that will stop the warlocks.”

  Angus stared at the ground.

  “You are thinking of something?” The worry in Lizzie’s voice was clear.

  “Like what? Bombs are being dropped on Vinland. The warlocks are using a weapon that sucks magic back to them and kills those with magic. What can I do?”

  Terrance put his hand on Angus’s back. “You were outside and survived. That’s something.”

  It wasn’t enough. He wasn’t even sure how he’d done it, and no one else thought it was worth talking about. “Luck.”

  “Then you must be the luckiest man alive.” Terrance kissed his cheek.

  “I’m sure others have survived.” They must have.

  Lizzie stared at him. “I’m not sure they have.”

  Maybe no one else had survived a clean sweep, but he couldn’t worry about that. He had to get to Saka. “Saka wants to see me, so I need to find somewhere to get across.” He needed time to open the void without being detected.

  “Just go through at the temple,” Terrance said.

  Angus shook his head. “That’s fixed to the doorway in Demonside, and Saka isn’t there.”

  “Will you get in trouble if you just go?” Lizzie’s eyebrows drew together.

  Angus didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. They all knew the answer.

  “What if you get stuck there?” Terrance held him a little closer.

  “I won’t, because you will open the void to summon Saka. You will be the anchor.”

  Cadmael was never going to allow it, so they had to act before the priest made it impossible.

  THE PITZ court in the park was empty. It seemed like as good a place as any. There was a residue of excitement and angst there—not enough, but better than nothing. There was no point in waiting another day or thinking through details that would only give way to worry.

  Angus hugged Lizzie. “Find the others.”

  She nodded. “Cadmael will have your blood.”

  Angus forced a smile. “Probably.” He faced Terrance. “I’m leaving you too soon.”

  He was always leaving Terrance. For a moment he considered not going. But that would mean admitting the Empire could be home and that he was willing to share Saka with just anyone. But he didn’t want to do that. He wanted to stop the warlocks and go home to Vinland—with Terrance. Saka, could then go back to Lifeblood, and everything would be right. Angus held Terrance tightly and kissed him hard.

  “This time I know how to get you back. I’ll give you one day or until Cadmael starts breaking my fingers or whatever they like to do here.”

  He was putting Terrance in danger again, but as usual, Terrance wouldn’t step aside. Angus didn’t deserve such loyalty or love from anyone. “You’re really all right with this?”

  “I don’t have another plan. Lizzie?”

  “I’ve got nothing. I think I need to get a demon. Then at least I’ll be moved to the Temple with you two. Ask Wek if she’ll have me? I know I’m not Norah, but maybe she wouldn’t mind.”

  Lizzie, who never wanted to be a warlock, was now ready to cross that line. Wek had been devastated after losing Norah, her trainee. Was she ready for another human?

  “I will.” Angus drew in a breath. “Let’s break some rules. Unless you’d rather start walking away and pretending not to know me?”

  Terrance kissed him. His lips felt warm and desperate. “While safer, that would be infinitely less exciting.” With a last taste, Terrance pulled away. “Go.”

  Terrance and Lizzie took several steps back, and Angus closed his eyes. The last time he opened the void, he almost died in the desert. His skin prickled with anticipation, and his stomach knotted. This wasn’t even close to his previous dumb ideas. This was dangerous, banned, and possibly deadly. Cadmael could arrest Terrance and Lizzie and leave him in Demonside to die.

  Angus glanced over his shoulder. His friends were leaving him, and Saka was waiting. Without his demon, Angus was nothing but a wannabe warlock/mage/priest without enough skills to do much more than save his own skin.

  With barely a blink, he tore open the void, but no sirens sounded to announce the breach. Cool air rushed toward him, and the darkness beckoned. The familiar scents of Demonside mixed with the unfamiliar notes of the different vegetation of the jungle tribes.

  He swallowed hard and stepped through, not sure where Saka would be. He had to trust Terrance would get him within a day. Angus blinked and tried to work out where he was. The jungle was bathed in starlight and shadows. A tent covered in markings was pitched near what could only be described as a hole in the ground that looked like it had no bottom. A few paces to his left, and he’d have been over the hole. He shivered.

  The void closed, and he was once again in Demonside. For a moment he breathed easily. It was like coming home.

  Saka stepped around the tent, his horns gleaming in the starlight and his metallic skin shimmering. He was very much alive. The tension that had knotted Angus’s stomach eased so he could breathe again, but in that same heartbeat, he had to wall himself up so Demonside didn’t suck the magic from his body and leave him nothing but a broken husk.

  The time when he had enjoyed letting go and being part of something bigger had slid through his fingers. He missed rebalancing the way it had been in Saka’s bed.

  “I wasn’t sure it was actually you who sent the message,” Saka said.

  “But you replied anyway.” He never doubted that the message had come from Saka.

  Saka gave a single nod. “And y
ou came.”

  Angus took a couple of paces toward his demon. “Where are we this time?” He recognized the jungle, but he didn’t know how far it spread or how close they were to the demon village that was connected to Uxmal.

  “Several days walk from the village and the doorway that you would know. There is a smaller settlement two days away.”

  “Not that far, yet Iktan hasn’t dragged you back.”

  “We have an agreement. I will be returning, so you can return through the doorway.” Saka moved closer.

  “Terrance plans to open the void tomorrow, if you respond to him.” Or if Saka didn’t want to, he’d walk back to the town with him. Cadmael would force a bond with a priest, and it wouldn’t be Kabil. There would be no more stalling or wriggling out of it, and Angus was sure Cadmael would find some way of forcing Saka to accept the bond instead of turning it away.

  “He is alive? He played?”

  “Yes and yes.” Angus wanted to tell Saka about the game and the ritual and the emotions the blood had soaked up.

  But Saka’s face became serious. “Terrance being the anchor is not approved.”

  “No. I’m not very good at following rules.”

  “I’ve noticed.” Saka took his hands. His skin was warm and rough, and a shiver traced over Angus’s skin even though the night was warm.

  Magic and lust coiled through him. He wanted nothing more than to rebalance and enjoy the time he had with Saka without thinking about the death of Demonside. But that was impossible. All magic was tied to Demonside, and its use had to be paid for. He enjoyed the paying far too much and didn’t understand Cadmael’s warning not to get entangled with Saka when it was clear there was no ban on human-demon relations.

  But he’d also seen that there was much more to rebalancing. They needed to think bigger.

  “So we have a day before Terrance wants you back.”

  “Not just me.” Had Saka not been serious in the desert? “Didn’t you want to see what you could do if you had two humans to rebalance with?” He hadn’t forgotten. And he’d thought too much about it while he was alone and missing his lovers. Magic pushed against his skin, following Saka’s thumb as he rubbed in small circles.