Thief Trap

by Jonathan Moeller

  “Now!” said Nicholas.

  Morelli’s pistol turned towards me, and Corbisher started casting a spell.

  Chapter 13: Sky Hammer

  Everything happened at once.

  Russell ducked behind one of the frozen golems, using it as cover, and swept his AK-47 towards Corbisher. Nicholas leaped around the computer terminal, blurring and swelling into the form of the armored panther creature. Murdo whirled towards Morelli, his gun coming up.

  Morelli was faster, and he pulled the trigger twice.

  I thought he was aiming at me, and I dodged, but he was aiming at Murdo. Both his shots hit Murdo, and I saw blood explode from the impacts. Murdo stumbled back and fell to the ground, and I screamed in rage, focusing my will on Morelli to blast him to ashes where he stood. But Russell started shooting from behind the steel golem, and Morelli moved like a snake, dodging the shots and vaulting over one of the tables of scientific machinery to take cover behind it.

  By then, I had problems of my own.

  Nicholas, or the creature that Nicholas had become, sprang towards me, jaws yawning wide.

  His mouth could open wide enough to cover my entire head, and I cast one of the spells Arvalaeon had taught me, covering my hands in gauntlets of invisible force. I just had time to wonder if the telekinetic force would be enough to overcome the power of Nicholas’s Dark One, and I punched. My fist, sheathed in invisible force, caught Nicholas below the jaw, and the armored panther flipped head over heels and slammed into the bronze machine with a clang.

  That wouldn’t slow him down for long.

  But before I could attack, Corbisher struck. He hurled a lightning globe at me, and I reacted on instinct, spinning to face him and casting the Shield spell. A Shield of flickering blue-white light appeared in front of me, and Corbisher’s globe slammed into it. He didn’t hit nearly as hard as many of the other opponents I had faced, and I bared my teeth in a snarl as I cast a spell of my own. A howling blast of fire leaped from my hand and exploded at Corbisher’s feet, engulfing Corbisher and three of the steel golems near him. Shadow fire exploded around Corbisher, wrapping him in a haze of darkness that drank the energy of my elemental flames.

  I could tell that the entirety of his strength went to holding the fire at bay, and I summoned my power to kill him.

  But from the corner of my eye, I saw Morelli draw a bead on me, and I cast a Shield spell charged with kinetic force at the last minute. His bullets slammed into my Shield and started ricocheting into the floor and ceiling. With my other hand, I gathered power for another spell, intending to kill Morelli, but Russell started shooting at him, forcing Morelli to duck for cover.

  That was just as well, because Nicholas had gotten back up, and the black shape charged at me again. I cast the ice spike spell, and the lance of glittering ice went right through Nicholas. I mean, actually through him, out one side and the other. Nicholas staggered back, his claws rasping against the floor, black slime spurting from the wound.

  “Take her!” he roared, his voice inhuman and distorted in his panther-form.

  Why had he shouted that? They were already trying to kill me.

  My elemental fire winked out around Corbisher, and he scrambled backward, throwing himself over the table just in time to avoid three bullets that sparked off the concrete. I risked a quick glance to the side and saw that Murdo had rolled to one knee, pistol in hand. His face was a grimace of pain, but his eyes had turned solid black.

  Yeah. Murdo was a Shadow Hunter, all right. Which meant that unless Morelli’s bullets found his head or his heart, he could probably heal himself.

  I started to cast the fireball spell, intending to blast the table where Morelli was hiding so Russell and Murdo could focus on dealing with Corbisher. Then I would hold Nicholas at bay until Corbisher was dead, and then together we would find a way to deal with Nicholas.

  The golems shivered.

  In a horrified instant, I realized that I had just made a serious mistake.

  Nicholas hadn’t been shouting at Morelli and Corbisher. He had been shouting at the golems. His data rod hadn’t shut down the golems.

  It had just rebooted them…and when they woke up, he was in command of them.

  “Kill her!” shouted Nicholas again, and the golems around Russell started to move.

  I reacted in a panic, and cast the lightning globe spell, stunning the nearest golems.

  But the rest of them started to advance on us, and there was no way the three of us could hold eleven steel golems at bay.

  “Run!” I shouted.

  Murdo and Russell sprinted towards me, and the golems pursued. I joined them as we rushed towards the other end of the laboratory. The golems surged after us, and I cast the ice wall spell as I ran, sealing off the aisle between the tables with a thick wall of magical ice. I doubted it would slow down the golems, but I intended it to keep Morelli from shooting us. It worked, too, because I heard Morelli fire, heard the bullets crack off the ice wall.

  The ice wall exploded as the steel golems charged through it. The wall hadn’t slowed them down at all. It was like watching a snowplow go through a snowbank at full speed.

  We couldn’t stand and fight. The golems would annihilate us. God, we couldn’t even run. We had traversed miles of tunnels to get down here, and the golems would not slow, would not give up, would not stop. Not even Murdo’s Shadowmorph blade could cut through that much steel at once. Sooner or later the golems would catch up, and when they did, we would die. I couldn’t even open a rift way to escape.

  Unless…

  I felt the weight of the crystal rod in the pocket of my coat. I couldn’t get to the machine that controlled the golems. If I tried, the golems would rip me apart. Or Nicholas and Corbisher would attack, and the golems would rip me apart as I defended myself from their spells.

  But I could still get to the Seal machine that powered the block against the rift ways.

  “Run!” I shouted. “Go, go, go! I’ve got an idea!”

  Neither Russell nor Murdo hesitated. Russell was sweating, and Murdo’s face was tight with pain, but they sprinted to the far side of the laboratory and into the round chamber holding the huge Seal machine. I whirled, cast the ice wall spell across the entrance, and then ran after them.

  We circled the machine and came to a stop before the computer terminal outside the metal circle, the blue lightning throwing wild shadows around us. I yanked the rod from inside my coat and stabbed it into the slot.

  The terminal whirred and clicked.

  The ice wall shattered, the chunks of ice ringing against the floor.

  The huge machine shuddered and went silent, and the blue image of the Seal vanished from overhead.

  The golems’ footsteps rang against the floor.

  “We’re getting out of here!” I said, and I cast the rift way spell.

  This time it worked. A curtain of gray mist rolled up before me, pale light spilling from within it, and I saw the hazy image of a bleak, barren plain.

  “Go!” I screamed.

  Murdo and Russell ran through the rift way as the golems raced around the circumference of the huge machine, moving faster than a man could run, concrete dust rising from their hammer-like footfalls.

  The golems drew back their metal fists to kill me.

  I leaped through the rift way after Murdo and Russell, and it snapped shut behind me.

  THE END

  Thank you for reading CLOAK GAMES: LAST JUDGE!

  Look for Nadia Moran's final adventure CLOAK GAMES: SKY HAMMER, coming in summer 2018.

  If you liked the book, please consider leaving a review at your ebook site of choice. To receive immediate notification of new releases, sign up for my newsletter, or watch for news on my Facebook page.

  Other books by the author

  The Demonsouled Saga

  MAZAEL CRAVENLOCK is a wandering knight, fearless in battle and masterful with a sword.

  Yet he has a dark secret. He is Demonsouled, the
son of the ancient and cruel Old Demon, and his tainted blood grants him superhuman strength and speed. Yet with the power comes terrible, inhuman rage, and Mazael must struggle to keep the fury from devouring him.

  But he dare not turn aside from the strength of his blood, for he will need it to face terrible foes.

  The priests of the San-keth plot and scheme in the shadows, pulling lords and kingdoms upon their strings. The serpent priests desire to overthrow the realms of men and enslave humanity. Unless Mazael stops them, they shall force all nations to bow before the serpent god.

  The Malrag hordes are coming, vast armies of terrible, inhuman beasts, filled with a lust for cruelty and torment. The Malrags care nothing for conquest or treasure, only slaughter. And the human realms are ripe for the harvest. Only a warrior of Mazael’s power can hope to defeat them.

  The Dominiar Order and the Justiciar Order were once noble and respected, dedicated to fighting the powers of dark magic. Now they are corrupt and cynical, and scheme only for power and glory. They will kill anyone who stands in their way.

  To defeat these foes, Mazael will need all the strength of his Demonsouled blood.

  Yet he faces a far more terrible foe.

  For centuries the Old Demon has manipulated kings and lords. Now he shall seize the power of the Demonsouled for himself, and become the a god of torment and tyranny.

  Unless Mazael can stop him.

  Read Demonsouled for free. Mazael's adventures continue in Soul of Tyrants, Soul of Serpents, Soul of Dragons, Soul of Sorcery, Soul of Skulls, and Soul of Swords, along with the short stories The Wandering Knight, The Tournament Knight, and The Dragon's Shadow. Get the first three books bundled together in Demonsouled Omnibus One.

  The Ghosts Series

  Once CAINA AMALAS was the shy daughter of a minor nobleman, content to spend her days in her father’s library.

  Then sorcery and murder and her mother’s treachery tore her life apart.

  Now she is a nightfighter of the Ghosts, an elite agent of the spies and assassins of the Emperor of Nighmar. She is a master of disguise and infiltration, of stealth and the shadows.

  And she will need all those skills to defend the Empire and stay alive.

  Corrupt lords scheme and plot in the shadows, desiring to pull down the Emperor and rule the Empire for their own profit and glory. Slave traders lurk on the fringes of the Empire, ready to seize unwary commoners and sell them into servitude in distant lands. Yet both slave traders and cruel lords must beware the Ghosts.

  The Magisterium, the Imperial brotherhood of sorcerers, believe themselves the rightful masters of the Empire. With their arcane sciences, they plan to overthrow the Empire and enslave the commoners, ruling all of mankind for their own benefit. Only the Ghosts stand in the path of their sinister plans.

  And the Moroaica, the ancient sorceress of legend and terror, waits in the shadows, preparing to launch a war upon the gods themselves. She will make the gods pay for the suffering of mankind...even if she must destroy the world to do it.

  Caina Amalas of the Ghosts opposes these mighty enemies, but the cost might be more than she can bear.

  Read Child of the Ghosts for free. Caina's adventures continue in Ghost in the Flames, Ghost in the Blood, Ghost in the Storm, Ghost in the Stone, Ghost in the Forge, Ghost in the Ashes, Ghost in the Mask, and Ghost in the Surge, along with the short stories Ghost Aria, Ghost Claws, Ghost Omens, The Fall of Kyrace, Ghost Thorns, Ghost Undying, Ghost Light, and Ghost Dagger, and the prequel novels Blade of the Ghosts and Champion of the Ghosts. Get the first three books bundled together in The Ghosts Omnibus One.

  The Ghost Exile Series

  Caina Amalas was a nightfighter of the Ghosts, the spies and assassins of the Emperor of Nighmar, and through her boldness and cunning saved the Empire and the world from sorcerous annihilation.

  But the victory cost her everything.

  Now she is exiled and alone in the city of Istarinmul, far from her home and friends. Yet a centuries-old darkness now stirs in Istarinmul, eager to devour the city and the world itself.

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  Read Ghost in the Cowl, Ghost in the Maze, Ghost in the Hunt, Ghost in the Razor, Ghost in the Inferno, Ghost in the Seal, Ghost in the Throne, Ghost in the Pact, and Ghost in the Winds along with the short stories Ghost Sword, Ghost Price, Ghost Relics, Ghost Keeper, Ghost Nails, Ghost Lock, Ghost Arts, Ghost Vigil, Ghost Mimic, and Ghost Vessel, and read the combined short stories in Exile of the Ghosts.

  The Ghost Night Series

  Caina Amalas was once a deadly Ghost nightfighter, a spy and agent of the Emperor of Nighmar. Now she only wishes to live quietly with her husband.

  But civil war grips the Empire, and Caina's skills are needed against the cruel sorcerers of the malevolent Umbarian Order.

  And Caina has a dangerous connection to the Umbarians.

  For Caina's mother had many deadly secrets, secrets that might yet kill Caina herself...

  Read Ghost in the Ring and Ghost in the Glass.

  The Third Soul

  RACHAELIS MORULAN is an Initiate of the Conclave, the powerful order of mighty mages. But to become a full Adept of the Conclave, she must first survive the Testing. Those who survive the Testing never speak of the trials they endured.

  Those who fail the Testing are never seen again.

  And now the Magisters of the Conclave have come to take Rachaelis to undertake the Testing. And there she shall face perils to both her body and her sanity.

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  Read The Testing for free. Rachelis's trials continue in The Assassins, The Blood Shaman, The High Demon, The Burning Child, The Outlaw Adept, The Black Paladin, and The Tomb of Baligant. Read the entire series in The Third Soul Omnibus One and The Third Soul Omnibus Two.

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  CALLIANDE awakens in the darkness, her memories gone, and creatures of terrible power hunting her.

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  The secret of the Frostborn.

  Read Frostborn: The First Quest, followed by Frostborn: The Gray Knight, Frostborn: The Eightfold Knife, Frostborn: The Undying Wizard, Frostborn: The Master Thief, Frostborn: The Iron Tower, Frostborn: The Dark Warden, Frostborn: The Gorgon Spirit, Frostborn: The Broken Mage, Frostborn: The World Gate, Frostborn: The High Lords, Frostborn: The False King, Frostborn: The Dwarven Prince, Frostborn: Excalibur, Frostborn: The Dragon Knight, and Frostborn: The Shadow Prison, and the prequel novels Frostborn: The Knight Quests and Frostborn: The Bone Quest along with the short stories The Orc's Tale, The Mage's Tale, The Thief's Tale, The Assassin's Tale, The Paladins's Tale, The Knight's Tale, The Soldier's Tale, and The Soldier's Tale. Read the first three books combined in Frostborn Omnibus One.

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  Read Sevenfold Sword: Champion, Sevenfold Sword: Swordbearer, Sevenfold Sword: Warlord, and Sevenfold Sword: Necromancer, and Sevenfold Sword: Shadow, and the prequel novellas Shield Knight: Ghost Orcs, Shield Knight: Third's Tale, Shield Knight: Calliande's Tale, and Shield Knight: Ridmark's Tale.

  Mask of the Demonsouled Trilogy

  MAZAEL CRAVENLOCK has prevailed over terrible foes and now rules the Grim Marches with firm justice. Yet ancient evils are stirring in the shadows, freed at last by Mazael's own hand. Unless Mazael fights with all his strength, the world will fall.

  SIGALDRA is the last holdmistress of the Jutai nation, the final defender of her people. Now the darkness comes to devour the final remnant of Sigaldra's home and family. Even Sigaldra's courage may not be enough to turn aside the darkness.

  Read Mask of Swords, Mask of Dragons, and Mask of Spells along with the short stories The Ransom Knight, The Bronze Knight, The Serpent Knight, and The Rune Knight.

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