A Sacred Pact

by Michael Todd

  Juntto walked to Katie and sat down on the bench. “Hope it’s the last, though.”

  Katie chuckled. “What are you doing?”

  Juntto cracked his knuckles. “The general called me. I’m taking side jobs with him.”

  Angie hurried into the room carrying an armful of gear. She dumped it next to Juntto. “Here. You would forget your head if it weren’t attached.”

  Juntto kissed Angie on the cheek. “The true angel.”

  Pandora zipped up the front of her spandex suit and pulled a holster around her waist. “So Big Boy Leviathan is working with Brushwood. How did that happen?”

  Juntto shrugged, taking his clothes off. “He needed help, and all the good soldiers are down. He is making me Juntto-sized weapons.”

  Pandora snarled her lip. “What does that even mean?”

  Joshua came rushing through the door, rolling a cart with a large black case on it. “It means a whole lot of metal, a huge cast, and working as fast as we could. Juntto, this is the first of many.”

  Juntto morphed into his frost giant form and lumbered over to Joshua, his head close to the ceiling. “What do you have, weapons man?”

  “I’m working on some things for you, but I have a friend who put together a prototype in New York. It’s actually a modified anti-aircraft gun from a battleship. Anyway, we’re going to airlift it to you in Toronto. But in the meantime?”

  Juntto helped Joshua pull the case off the cart and unlatch the large catches holding it shut. He opened the lid, and Juntto gave an appreciative grunt. Joshua put his hands on his hips proudly. “This is a giant war-spear completely constructed out of special metal. I wouldn’t accidentally brush it against Katie or Pandora since it would hurt like a bitch.”

  Pandora walked up next to Joshua and put her arm on his shoulder. “Look at you, getting all badass with your weapon making. Good job, Joshua. Now all we have to do is get you a woman, and you’ll be the bee’s knees.”

  Joshua chuckled nervously. “I’m good, thanks.”

  Pandora shrugged. “Suit yourself. All right, gang, you ready?”

  Katie slammed Tom into his holster. Juntto kissed Angie again, this time nearly knocking her over. “Be safe. Kick ass.”

  Juntto gave her a big blue thumbs-up.

  Pandora slashed her hands and opened a large portal. Katie flinched as the heat hit her like a punch. Pandora waved them through. “In and out, no lingering in hell.”

  Juntto snorted as he stepped through and found himself next to a lava mountain. “Yes, because I long for a hot, hellish vacation.”

  Pandora jumped back into Katie, which allowed her body to tolerate the heat of hell. Katie raised her hand, and it became Pandora’s as she opened a portal—only nothing happened.

  Uh, Pandora?

  Shut up, I’m concentrating. Pandora waved her hand again, and a tiny portal opened.

  Juntto frowned at it. “My left nut wouldn’t fit through that.”

  Tell the blue popsicle to piss up a rope, Pandora growled and slashed her hand down, ripping the portal open wide. There we go. Sorry.

  You okay?

  I’m great! Let’s get the fuck out of here, how about that?

  This time instead of intense heat hitting them, frigid cold air blasted their faces. Katie and Juntto stepped through and the portal snapped closed behind them.

  Pandora came forward just to chatter Katie’s teeth. “Santa’s nutsack, it’s fucking cold here.”

  Steam rose off Juntto’s body. He breathed the cold air in through his nose and let it out with a sigh. “I miss cold, snowy weather. Fantastic.” He roared and shook his spear in the air. “The cold makes us strong!”

  Katie rolled her eyes.

  Down the street was the hockey stadium the Toronto Maple Leafs called home. Shrieks and screams echoed from inside. Juntto raised his eyebrows. “Hope you brought your pads, because it looks like this incursion is on ice.”

  Katie turned her head toward Juntto. “Great. Not just demons but angry hockey demons. I feel like that could be more dangerous than Moloch was.”

  Pandora sniffed. They’re definitely in there. Come on, let’s get this over with so I can defrost. My nipples could cut diamond right now.

  They made their way to the stadium and broke in through the service entrance, then climbed into the stands and looked out over the rink. Below was a mixture of strange demons, crazy demon creatures, and infected hockey players. Half the demons were scrambling around on the ice, falling down and sliding into walls. The hockey players were faring a bit better. They held their sticks firmly as they circled the rink. Their eyes were blood-red. The thud of Juntto pounding his spear on the floor echoed through the stands. The creatures turned to him and snarled, then clattered over and scratched at the glass partition furiously.

  Katie shook her head. “Calm down, assholes. You won’t have to wait long for me to kick your asses.”

  She closed her eyes and summoned her angelic armor. The gold armor shone as it appeared. Katie’s eyes flashed blue as she reached back and pulled the sword from its sheath. She nodded to Juntto, and the frost giant grabbed Katie and tossed her up and over the partition. She spread her wings and floated to the ice, flapping them as she landed. They helped her get traction.

  Pandora snarled and growled. I hate fucking hockey. Fuck this. I want to fight.

  Katie didn’t have a chance to say a word before Pandora leaped from her body in a skin-tight bodysuit and skates, tackling one of the hockey players and yanking the demon from his chest. She pushed his body out of the way and jumped back to her feet. “Time to kick some ass. Hoo, boy. This is gonna be fun.”

  Katie rolled her eyes. She spun around and slammed an approaching demon in the chin with her fist. She swung her sword brutally and sliced the demon’s head off its shoulders. Another demon was already charging her, lowering its shoulder to hit her hard in the chest. She grunted but gripped the demon’s head. His massive strength pushed her across the ice into the glass partition. She struggled to raise her sword, then jammed it into his gut. The demon squealed loudly and turned to dust, freeing her weapon.

  Across the rink, Pandora hummed a light tune as she sped along, turning and twisting like a professional skater. She picked up speed and jumped, spinning three times with one blade extended. It slashed the throats of the demons surrounding her. They hit the ice and turned to dust before she even landed. She came to a stop and took a bow. “Triple axel, bitches. Gold medal.”

  A demon snapped at her from one side, and she frowned and grabbed it by the throat. With a grunt, she ripped its head off its shoulders. “Don’t rain on my parade, you fucking piece of shit.”

  Juntto slipped wildly on the ice and groaned, knowing he was going down. Several demons screamed as his huge form connected with them, imprinting their bodies into the rink floor. His huge spear clattered across the ice.

  Pandora cackled. “Isn’t ice your element, you big blue bitch?”

  Juntto roared, “My time with the humans has made me weak! Don’t worry, I got this.”

  Juntto shook it off and jumped up. Ice skates formed on the soles of his feet, and he sped around the rink throwing Damned into the walls. He picked one up and looked at Pandora.

  Pandora grinned and squatted, putting her hands out like a catcher. He tossed the Damned hockey player at her and she leaped up, grabbed him, and shoved her claw into his chest. She ripped the demon from his body and threw it toward the ceiling. It writhed and screamed before exploding. Pandora’s eyes flashed blue as she lowered the unconscious hockey player. She put him in the penalty box for safekeeping, then ran back into the crowd of demons.

  Juntto found his spear and threw it through the crowd. It impaled at least seven demons before it stuck in the wall on the other side of the rink.

  Juntto nodded. “Juntto-sized weapons will get you every time. I am so much more productive!”

  He raced over on his skates, the ice cracking below him from his massive weight.
He yanked out his spear, backhanding a snarling demon while he was at it. The demon flew and Pandora caught it, ripping the snarling beast’s head off. “Yeah, teamwork, bitches!”

  Juntto threw his spear again, this time taking down three demons and two hockey players. Katie pointed her sword at the demon shish kabob. “Juntto-sized weapons. I get it now.”

  She turned back around to fight just as one of the Damned slugged her in the face. She fell back but quickly regained her balance. Her eyes flashed blue and her wings spread wide, lifting her just off the ice. The hockey player snarled and dove at her, slamming into her armor. The hit knocked the air out of her lungs, and the sword fell from her hand. Her wings folded over the two of them as they tumbled across the ice and into a wall.

  The Damned straddled her, snarling and drooling, and pulled back to slash her with his new claws. As he leaned back, Katie thrust her arm into his chest. She growled and pulled the demon out of him, and the hockey player’s eyes went wide. His whole body froze for a moment, then he shuddered and passed out, falling to the ice.

  Katie stood and tossed the demon in the air, where it burst. Katie caught her breath. She was feeling the strain of the fight. Without Pandora inside her she wasn’t healing quite as fast as she normally did. Still, she had to keep going. It was going to take all three of them to clean up this demonic mess. She sheathed her sword and pulled out Tom and Harry. Katie ran forward and her wings unfolded, lifting her gently from the ice. She glided along inches from the ice, blasting at the oncoming demons. Bullets whizzed through the crowd, finding targets and turning them to ash. She came to a soft landing on the other side of the rink, quickly reloaded, and blasted another Damned in the head.

  The guy flew back, his skin pulling on his bones as the demon scratched and writhed to get out. His mouth fell open, and a deafening scream echoed from his throat. Katie winced, putting the heels of her hands to her ears. She watched as something attempted to claw its way out of the hockey player’s body, stretching his skin like taffy, then fell still. Katie carefully walked up to the demon, pointing Harry at his head. As her shoulders began to relax, the hockey player’s eyes opened wide and he bared his teeth. The dead man leaped up.

  Katie jumped, then pulled the trigger and turned him to dust. “Fuck, dude. You can’t fucking roll at people like that! Shit!”

  Katie put her guns back in their holsters, ready to pull her sword again. As she reached up, a demon grabbed her from behind and threw her. She slammed into the glass partition and groaned as she fell to the ice. Breathing heavily, she scratched her fingers into the ice, her eyes flashing a bright blue. Her entire body began to tremble as she rose. As she spread her wings, a blue glow emanated from her body and she screamed. Her hair blew back, and a wave of energy burst from her entire being. The blue flame slashed the demons in its path, and they squealed and turned to ash. She had a moment to breathe.

  Pandora saw the blue fire come from Katie and dove into the penalty box. Juntto frowned as the blue wave passed through him, but he barely felt it.

  Pandora peeked from the box. “What the fuck was that?”

  Katie chuckled. “Sorry. I was getting my ass kicked.”

  A demon popped up next to Pandora. It was in the penalty box with her. That made her jump and she screamed, grabbed the demon by the face, and ripped half of it off. The demon stumbled and ran out onto the ice. Pandora stood up and followed the wounded creature onto the ice. She wagged a finger at Katie. “Hey, would you try not to eviscerate me? Some of us demons are on the side of the angels.”

  Katie waved her hands. “Yeah, my bad.”

  Pandora did a double-take at the demon running around with half its jaw missing. She sighed and grabbed it by the top of its head. “At least you’re fucking quiet.”

  She twisted the demon’s head off with ease and tossed it behind her. Black blood splattered the ice beneath her feet. The sound of choppers overhead caught their attention. Through the glass tiles in the dome, they could see several Army choppers hovering. Pandora called to Juntto, “Bro, I think they’re here for you.”

  Juntto shook his head. He jumped up, smashing into the ceiling with one huge fist. Chunks of glass and concrete and steel fell around him, plummeting to the ice. “Watch out, they’re dropping weapons.”

  Pandora lifted an eyebrow. “Why would we have to watch out? It’s just going to be a few crates of rifles.”

  A case the size of an SUV dropped from one of the choppers. The huge thing slammed into the ice, which flew everywhere. Demons scattered in all directions. Juntto slid his spear into a sheath on his back. He ripped open the case and lifted a launcher that looked like it should have been mounted to the deck of a battleship. “Juntto-sized weapons.”

  Pandora pursed her lips. “Right. Didn’t think that one through. Go to town, buddy. Just don’t shoot Katie or me!”

  Katie peered at the thing. “Is that a rail gun?”

  Juntto nodded enthusiastically. “Prototype. Badass.”

  He pointed the huge barrel at the center of the rink and Katie’s eyes grew wide. “Uh oh.”

  She flew out of the rink and hovered up in the stands. Pandora gave her a look. Katie dropped down and grabbed Pandora from the ice just as Juntto pressed the trigger. A rocket shot out of the barrel and slammed into the center of the rink. Ice and demons exploded into tiny bits, and debris flew everywhere. Pandora rolled her eyes.

  Katie dropped her back on the ice. “Don’t you have wings?”

  “Sorry. It’s been so long since I used them that I forgot.”

  Katie flapped over to Juntto. “I think maybe that one is best used outdoors.”

  Juntto nodded feverishly. “I’ll use the other.”

  He picked up another gun that looked like a tommy gun for giants. Or frost giants. He spun and pulled the trigger, spraying special bullets around the rink. The gun was pretty accurate for something so big. At least a dozen demons turned to dust. Pandora was impressed. “That’s what I’m talking about.”

  Korbin handed a box of ammo to one of the soldiers helping him load the plane. He looked at the side of the airstrip, where Timothy was hugging Stephanie tightly. He let go and jogged toward the plane. Korbin nodded as he passed. “I’ll be there in a few. Get comfortable. I think there is lunch on board.”

  Timothy pursed his lips. “Uh, duh. ‘Cause I ordered it, silly. Go give smooches so we can hit the road, Jack.”

  Korbin took a deep breath. “It’s going to be a long few months.”

  When he reached Stephanie, she smiled and slid her arms around his neck. Standing on her tiptoes, she kissed his lips gently. “I can’t believe you are going to be gone so long. We aren’t usually apart like this.”

  Korbin groaned. “I know. It’s the hardest part about the whole thing. But when we’re done, hopefully, I will be here more. These fortifications should cut down on the number of fights the mercs are needed for, not to mention the hundreds or thousands of lives they will save.”

  “I’m so proud of you. Always looking out for everyone else. You are my hero.”

  Korbin snorted, lifting Stephanie from the ground. “I just want to keep you safe, warm, and in my bed.”

  Stephanie smirked. “Mmm, I’ll be waiting for you to return.”

  Korbin kissed her again and set her down. “Hold the fort, and try not to worry about me. I’ll have my phone, and Timothy will have his. You can also communicate through the program with Timothy. Unless we are sleeping, there will always be a way to get hold of us. Besides, we are not going to be in combat. This is a building and security mission, that’s it. It’s not public knowledge yet.”

  Stephanie raised an eyebrow. “That’s positive thinking at its best. Just don’t let your guard down. You know the moment you do, some snarling bastard of a demon will come at you. And keep Timothy safe, please. He doesn’t have a demon anymore so he won’t have the strength or healing powers he did before. That could be a death sentence for him.”

  Korbin
squeezed her hand. “I promise to watch after Twinkle Toes. Not sure if I’ll survive this, though. I might end up feeding him to the wild animals out there.”

  Stephanie giggled. “Oh, stop it. He brightens up every situation. Use his positivity.”

  The plane’s engines hummed behind him, and Korbin kissed Stephanie one last time. “I gotta get out of here. I’ll call you when we land in Romania. I love you.”

  Stephanie blew him a kiss as he boarded the plane. “Please be safe out there.”

  The flight attendant smiled as Korbin climbed into the plane. “We are ready for takeoff.” She secured the door before slipping off to the back. Korbin took a seat and buckled his belt, letting out a deep breath. He waved at Stephanie, who looked more worried than he had anticipated. Korbin didn’t blame her, though. He was nervous about leaving her on her own, too.

  When the plane had taken off and reached cruising altitude, Timothy turned on his iPad. “I figured this would be a good time to talk about intel. That way we can just enjoy the peace and quiet of the flight afterward.”

  Korbin nodded. “Sounds like a perfect idea.”

  Timothy showed Korbin the screen. “Okay, so this is the same town we pulled Brock and the team from—a small Romanian village surrounded by lush forests and flanked by an extensive mountainous arena. There is lava filling every single street, and many of the buildings burned down during the last incursion. From what I’ve been told, the fires are all out.”

  Korbin accepted a soda from the attendant. “Good. I’ve had enough fire for one lifetime.”

  “The thing is, when I’ve monitored this Romanian town, it looks like it is a place of constant incursion. Despite the military’s reports that all portals have been closed, it looks on the map like there is one open. I can’t seem to figure out what these readings mean. From the pictures, I expected to walk into a crowd of demons thicker than a Cher concert during Pride Week, but that’s not the case. When I talk to the boots on the ground, they say that the area is clear.”