Ethan ran a finger like she did and it couldn’t slice his skin at all. “This is amazing, Reevy. Thank you. It is still hard to believe it’s been two months.”
“Try it on. I tried to make the forearm straps work with your left gauntlet. I do not like guessing your measurements, but without you to come by I did what I could.”
Sliding his arm through the straps he cinched the straps snugly to his arm so the edge of the scale shield laid just behind his wrist and all the way to the edge of the black gauntlet. He held it over his chest and did a quick punch that whistled in the air and nodded. “This’ll do good. Thanks, Reevy.”
Kanade touched it and said “It’s looks like pure ruby. It matches your eyes well, Darlin’.”
He smiled and looked at all the eager faces. “Everyone, thank you for doing all you could to help me. I’m sorry about recent inconveniences and hope to make up for them some day. But right now I need to go away for a little while.”
“Not before you’re checked out.” Morgane said as she glided forward in a blue dress that really made her red hair look aflame.
“I’m fine, really.” He whined and then heard snickering erupt around them. He knew what was coming when Morgane used that tone.
“Nonsense. You’ll go nowhere until I say you can.” Morgane turned and walked away. “You too, Kanade. I need to check your levels after what you also suffered.”
“Let’s just go, Darlin’. We can keep up the charade. And she’s right. Your bones might not have set right after being broken.” Kanade thought as she took his hand.
It wasn’t long before they were up in the exam room and Ethan had to use a reinforced and magically sharpened needle to pierce his hide for a small blood sample and heard the High Witch say “Blake told us a little of what you said you endured. I just want you checked out. Go ahead and strip. You know the drill.”
Kanade also did her blood sample and sat down petting Panther in her lap. She wasn’t talkative, not that Morgane noticed as she was focused on her tablet again, reading reports. Soon though Kanade was under the scanning dome and out before she knew it.
Then they sat side by side and Morgane sat her computer down, stood, her green eyes calm and curious simultaneously. She reached out and brushed the hair he let lay over his temples back. “So horns, eh? That’s new and didn’t show up on scans last time.”
“Yeah. Is there a problem?” He asked calmly while both he and Kanade were internally scared.
“Not really.” Morgane said as she sat down again. “Well everything is relatively normal all things considering. I found a few old fractures and new bone growth in the hand you had cut off. Your hips are still healing from the pair, that horrid bloody torture device. But your rapid healing and immune system certainly saved you from many diseases found in the cell you were said to be confined in.” She went no further after seeing his fingers curl in a fist to withstand flashbacks of that place. “You’ve grown to fifteen feet one inch. Aside from the horns, everything is normal. Same with you Kanade.” Morgane turned to the Enchantress. “You’re fourteen three. Hormone levels are a little high, but that is expected after your instincts took over so recently. My only advice to you both is to find a place to relax where it is peaceful and have lots of sex to further release tension.”
“I plan to.” Kanade smiled sweetly.
“And when you are ready, hold council with Dress. He is great with the psyche, by far the best marriage and trauma psychiatrist there has ever been. Go to him and he will give exercises to return you to a healthy functioning person. You won’t be like you were, not by a long shot, but you will get better. Trust me. But if you find anything different in your vacation, return here at once to be checked out.”
“We promise.” He did.
Afterwards they flew home to meet with Celestia who sat outside sipping on some drink and was fussed over like a mother hen. They spent a few minutes and she told them to come back when they were ready, not before. Only he checked his new workshop and was highly impressed before gathering a few comics, Kanade grabbed a few movies, her portable DVD player and they met up with Floa who sent them away, with Panther tagging along.
Chapter 15
“Damn, I can’t get enough, Darlin’.” Kanade panted as she lay exhausted in the sand after another hip numbing romp with the one she loved. They stopped counting days after the first week of doing nothing except eating, sleeping and taking pleasure in one another.
“Good thing I’m not human anymore.” He laughed as he stared into the sky, between the cracks of shady coconut trees. He too was tired as he sensed the mild weather beginning to change, but wouldn’t get bad till much later.
“Me too.” She finally admitted as she turned her lovely naked body over to clean his penis with her tongue and grinned as she wrapped his tail around her hand. “And this evil little cretin make’s you fuckin’ me go crazy. Or that rough tongue. I was happy when you were human, very happy, but truthfully I love you like this more. It’s like you have two huge cocks to drive me wild.”
“And you have made all this change so much easier. I’m glad I’ve got a woman with a strong stomach.”
“And a tight pussy.” She grinned evilly and gave him a quick lower kiss before crawling up and sitting on his stomach to kiss him deeply while brushing her finger over his horns that still continued to slowly grow and were smooth as glass. “All for you. Now and forever.” She hummed as she laid herself down on him.
“As I’m all for you, Angel.”
She sat up and brushed his scruffy cheek with her fingertips and smiled. “Darlin’, I think I’m finally ready to talk.”
“Are you sure? I’m not going to force this.” He said carefully, gauging her reaction in the sunlight that played with her glittery skin and the sandy blood covering her naked perfection as they lounged on the beach.
She bit her bottom lip out of nervous habit and slowly brought her head up and down. “Yes… it’s too real to not be spoken of… and we can’t be overheard on our paradise with the incredible power of the spells you put in place. No one can eavesdrop or appear without us allowin’ it and I’m finally in a good move after my tenth orgasm since we woke up an hour ago from our swim… and that Zagan knows us means we can say his name since he doesn’t want us dead or talked to us since means he doesn’t care… and I think I avoided Panther long enough. And we are in the cove where Dress can’t see us from the cabin… can you have him come?”
Ethan nodded. “Do you want him to see you naked?”
“It’s nothin’ he’s not seen before.” Kanade rolled her eyes. “And I’ve had my legs wrapped around you practically all day and night long. We just need a quick rinse.”
He agreed and got up, carrying her in his arms out into the gentle and quiet cove where they rinsed off the bloodied sand and sweat. They went back up into the shade, hand in hand and Ethan looked at the cliff which blocked Dress’s line of sight. They moved under the trees and Kanade heard “Klei, Panther. Mol lim neritl bliirq volkannei crullev.” And she felt a tiny pulse of Demon Energy from on the far side of the mountain over a mile away and not three seconds later saw a nine foot tall shadow step out between trees. She knew Balam were fast and silent, but not to that extent.
Panther stood naked since he left his clothes back outside the First House perimeter. His soft coat seemed to have an indigo quality and he was well endowed himself, but he had no shame, no Balam did. Kanade though straightened with fear as this was truly the first time seeing a real Balam face to face.
Kanade said carefully “Panther, the tales of your kind being deadly beautiful wasn’t exaggerated.”
“I’m grateful for the kind words, Mistress.” He put a hand over his chest and bowed graciously. “Master, you said you wished to talk?”
“We’re alone, Panther. Call me by my name.” Ethan gently pushed.
The jaguar face of the Demon smiled slightly. “Habits are difficult to bend, Ethan. What will you have of me?”
Ethan looked at her since she was who asked in the first place. She swallowed, knowing much about the General’s bloody history and what he was capable of, but his mildly glowing sky blue eyes were calm and pleasant. “I’m not sure if you are aware, but Zagan spoke to us.”
This was news to the cat-man, but he only twitched his whiskers. “This is unexpected. When?”
“After you left us when I guessed your identity. I knew Balam can take the form of a housecat and realized you weren’t exactly normal… lookin’ back. We were thinkin’ in private so as to not draw attention or be overheard by other powers, but we thought his name and he took over our bodies so we could have a chat. I guess I want to know why you were sent and not another. Did you choose to go or were you ordered?”
Panther stood tall and proud as he put his hands behind his back like a soldier at ease. “My master ordered me. Personally, I didn’t wish to go. Master Zagan is not only my eldest friend, but we’ve never been separated more than a month. I miss him dearly, but he had reasons to send me. He clearly couldn’t send Vilorogue.” His blue eyes laid upon her. “I was ordered to observe and protect Master Ethan should his life be in peril. At first I didn’t like you, Mistress, since your kind was made specifically to kill his, but I played my role as your pet cat and came to understand you were very young and not tainted by the Spirit King’s biased influence. It helps that your soul and his were destined to be together, but I had to be sure you were no threat either.”
“What’s he talking about?” Ethan asked. “I knew Fate made seventy original Spirit Guides and Enforcers, but not why. What am I?”
Her eyes showed a difficult struggle before admitting “Darlin’, what he says is true. Out of all Demons in all of Demon World, one species is by far the most dangerous and powerful. My kind was made specifically to resist and combat yours.” She looked down. “The type Zagan is… is known as the… Ifrit.”
“Ifrit? You mean like Final Fantasy ten, Yuna’s fire summoning?”
She and Panther couldn’t hold back a smirk at his innocent upbringing. “Do you look like some wolf with claws? No, not like the videogame you showed me. Ifrit are actually the ones who religion twisted into the image of Lucifer and his fallen brethren.”
“So the devil’s portrayal was after Zagan and these… E-freet?” he sounded it out, trying to see if it would fit.
“Pretty much. Fate made my kind to oppose your ancestor’s people. They controlled fire and had use of the strongest magics. Long ago there was a war between Ifrit and Enforcers.”
“Try two and a half billion years ago and lasted nine hundred and fifty three thousand years.” Panther picked up, now that his oaths were no longer binding. “Fate created her kind to be just as powerful as the Ifrit. Skin stronger than stone, wings to give chase, raw strength to topple mountains in a single blow, power to combat magic and lances of pure energy made to destroy Ifrit. The battle was long and I too fought in it. Ifrit were indeed the most powerful clan, but many lost themselves to their wrath and fed indiscriminately. Needless to say, those were picked off. Enforcers and Ifrit are near impossible to kill when fully mature, it is why that war lasted so long. Eventually Order’s tactics whittled down your ancestors, Ethan. And unlike other, lesser demons, Ifrit were slow to procreate, slower than even Mistress Kanade’s.”
“So how many are there?” He asked.
Panther looked down and Kanade slowly answered “Besides you… only Zagan is the sole remaining Ifrit still known to be alive.”
“Hold on! Zagan and I are all that carry this blood? Enforcers hunted Ifrit with genocidal intentions?”
“From stories… if they weren’t stopped…”
“Just know, mature Ifrit had anger issues that could destroy whole solar systems right after puberty.” Panther rescued her. “Master Zagan survived not only due to his unparalleled power and age, but also his cunning. They easily got drunk on their own power and thought themselves invincible. Ultimately that is what killed off most of the Ifrit. Over time, Master Zagan killed other Ifrit who got out of line to halt another war like that one from ever happening again. Others killed each other too over petty squabbles. Now it is down to two.” Ethan caught a hint of sadness in that last sentence that didn’t have anything to do with the war from long ago. But he didn’t say anything.
“So Kanade and I were made to be mortal enemies?”
“What do you think husbands and wives are, Darlin’?”
“Merlin said the same thing actually.” Ethan laughed somewhat. “Now I’ve got a question. Panther, you said most spells don’t work on you. Does my fire?”
The Balam General smiled and shook his head. “Not directly. I get burned if a surface it hot and I’m not wearing my armor, but direct flames are useless and is what makes me your best protection. You can try singing my whiskers, but you needn’t fear harming me if you get irritated and regret it one day.”
“So you’re like me?” Kanade asked.
“Only my resistance is natural, but yes. Ethan’s blood running through you keeps you safe, Mistress Kanade.”
“What does Zagan want with me?” Ethan asked.
Panther’s smile faltered. “I’m not privy to that information. I think it was to protect you if Order learned and came to slay you… should your heritage ever be revealed. Even on this world, news of a living Ifrit will cause mass panic. That in particular will raise suspicion of those who will want you dead.”
“Point taken. Kanade, you have more questions than me. I’m going to go think on all this. You and Panther play nice.” He walked away.
She mentally thanked him and said to the general “Let’s sit. I want to get to know you since I’m also apparently your boss. We can talk freely if you’re willin’. Ethan doesn’t fully comprehend everythin’ like me. Since we both love him, let’s put aside old grudges.”
“I would like that, Mistress. Again, you are still impressing me by your willingness to do what few of your kind even dare think.”
“My angel is more important than a war I wasn’t even part of. I need to ask if Zagan is really d…”
Meanwhile in Spirit World the two suns high above began to descend and spiral around one another. It was rare to watch, but as they began to approach the endless realm of light, they shrunk. Stars all around the galaxy began to sparkle more than normal as these two powers came lower and lower to the infinite world of souls. The suns slowly stopped spinning as coming into a physical form from nothing was a small mountainous body of a man in sparkling white robes. The peaceful realm cheered as the form distinctly became clear. It became a strong-faced man over three hundred feet tall with a short, shock white beard and long white hair that lay straight down his back, pulled together at the nape by a long string. Bronze skin stretched over taut muscle. In all appearances he looked like a giant human man with a huge sword over a hundred and fifty feet long hung at his hip, but his eyes burned with the power of the two suns that no longer stood high above, but Spirit World didn’t darken without them. It glowed all on its own as well from the golden trees to the purple mountains.
This was the physical form of the Spirit King.
Armid the Lightbringer.
Armid landed with a slight shudder outside the crystal palace of his son, Fate. Ogres lined up like ants, bowing and far away from his massive, sandaled feet. Enforcers flew around him like eagles soaring around a monolithic mountain. Bulky muscles rippled as it wasn’t often Armid took physical shape. But this wasn’t a social visit, never was for the unbending Spirit King. All Ogre administers were safely aside as it was already scheduled for his arrival. But since they held spirit form, even if stepped on, they wouldn’t die. It would still hurt for a time though. Spirit King refrained from speaking due to the strength of his voice. It could rip the very space before him and damage all the spirits around his bulk.
The toga-like skirt swirled as he brought one leg forward and stepped into the crystal castle that sparkled much brighter where hi
s sunny gaze turned. His Enforcers followed his entrance down the mile wide hall. Depicted histories imprinted into tapestries lined the long entrance. Some only he and other transcendent beings of old understood anymore. His left hand lay comfortably on the solid golden hilt of his sword while the other swung as he walked. The ground shook like an earthquake with each and every step. The tapestries returned old memories, fond and not. But Armid showed no expression. Mere thoughts had consequences let alone emotions.
Spirit King found his way to the great stairwell of Spirit World and he took the time to climb and feel what it was like to retain mortal shape. He climbed miles, but to him was more like a tall business office. Eventually making it to the top floor, hung a left and approached the giant double doors.
Without knocking, Spirit King used both hands to push the doors in to find his son sitting in one of the two soft chairs fit for their natural size. The Enforcers landed on either side of the hall in long lines and stood at full attention like a runway with their flaming helmets and lances of light. Then the door shut with a resounding ‘boom’.
Fate didn’t assume his teenage look to be underestimated. He looked almost like his father, but with long blonde hair that brushed the shoulders, clean shaven and roughly thirty years old, much like his father. His eyes didn’t glow like two miniature suns, his glowed like swirling blue whirlpools. Fate did though continue to wear a more modern black tailored business suit and tie. “Greetings, Father.” Fate’s voice shook the huge room sparkling with facets of every being he was watching and meddling over.
Armid’s deeper voice was just as powerful, but monotone. “And to you, Son.”
02 Wrath of Flames Page 56
