Demon Magic (Dragon's Gift: The Seeker Book 2)

by Linsey Hall

  We hurried around the building to the back. It butted up right to the woods. In the distance, the mountain glowered.

  I almost groaned.

  I’d bet big money that we’d be climbing that mountain before the day was over. I chucked my empty paper cup in the rubbish bin near the distillery’s back door and set off toward the woods.

  Roarke and I searched through the trees and bushes, our eyes glued to the ground. Finally, I caught sight of a burnished orange color. I leaned closer.

  “I found it!” I poked the old iron track with my toe.

  Roarke came to my side, and I pointed into the woods. “It leads that way. The map says it joins the Lake-So-Deep.”

  “Oh, good. Doesn’t sound ominous at all.”

  I laughed, and we set off down the tracks, having to push our way through the bush occasionally. I could hear the chattering of the pixies in the forest around us, a high-pitched noise that was almost pleasant but wasn’t. Warily, I reached up and held on to my hat. Tiny glowing eyes peered at me from the trees.

  “I sure hope these are friendly pixies,” I said.

  “I’ll scare ‘em off.” Roarke glowered at them, giving them his best scary face.

  I laughed. “That was terrifying!”

  We stepped through the trees a half second later to see something that actually was pretty terrifying. A mirror black lake with the black mountain looming behind it.

  “Oh boy,” I breathed. “You were right. It is ominous.”

  We made our way quickly across the clearing to the edge of the lake and looked out at the water. Snow began to fall, white and pure until it was swallowed by the lake, which looked a heck of a lot like oil. A hazy gray mist rose from the surface, floating high into the air.

  I pulled the map from my pocket and peered at it.

  “It says that a boat will take us across.” I looked up, searching for a boat of any kind.

  Roarke did the same. “I see nothing.”

  “It would have been seventy years ago. Or longer. It looks like we’re too late.”

  On the other side of the lake, massive piles of discarded slate slid off the mountain, cutting off access to the strip of shore we needed. Walking around the lake and crossing the discarded slate would be too dangerous—there could be a rockslide. I didn’t want to be crushed.

  The mountain possessed the strangest topography I’d ever seen. Quarrying activities had turned it into a huge step pyramid, each level several hundred feet high. It was almost entirely black because the earth had been quarried straight down to the slate. Much of it had just been tossed aside, unused garbage. The only path up the mountain was between the two enormous piles of discarded slate, and the only way to get there was to cross the water somehow.

  “I could fly us over,” Roarke said.

  “No.” I glanced down at the map to confirm, then back at the lake, taking note of the black mist rising off of it. Birds circled the lake, but never flew over. Just like the map said. “We have to take a boat. There’s a warning on the map. The lake is enchanted. The black mist that comes off the surface keeps anything from flying over. Look at the birds. Whatever is at the top of the mountain, they’re determined to make you follow the map’s directions to get there. No shortcuts.”

  Which was probably the real reason my dragon sense didn’t work. Magic blocked it.

  Roarke craned his neck, eventually finding the birds that I pointed to. None of them flew over the lake.

  “There was more than just a slate quarry on that mountain,” Roarke said.

  I peered into the dark water of the lake. “And more than just fish in that water.”

  We needed a boat. I’d raised one before. I could do it again. If there was one in there. “I’ve got an idea. Give me a sec.”

  I shoved the map back in my pocket and closed my eyes. I didn’t know what period of boat might be sunk in that lake, but I hoped it didn’t matter. With a deep breath, I called upon my magic, trying to ignore the block that was supposed to be placed upon my mind. I couldn’t feel it, but the knowledge that it was there was unpleasant.

  I could totally do this. Practice, practice, practice, like Draka had said in my dream. Just because it was unreliable didn’t mean it was impossible.

  Magic sparked inside of me, a bright light that I tried to reach. I strained, desperate to catch it, as I envisioned a boat rising from the depths of the black lake. Power vibrated on the air. My power.

  I wasn’t going to let some damned curse stop me. I didn’t want to live like this—only able to use my magic occasionally and if I got lucky.

  “Whoa.” Roarke’s soft exhalation made me open my eyes.

  A dirty wooden boat was rising out of the water, its decks covered in seaweed. The middle was broken apart, the wood splintered. I envisioned the timbers knitting themselves back together and the weeds sinking back below the surface of the lake.

  Slowly, the boat did as I requested, then floated toward the shore. When it beached, the air over the deck began to shimmer. A man’s hazy outline formed.

  Shit.

  I didn’t want to have to deal with some miner from 1910.

  I reeled my magic in, shoving it back inside of me. The man’s outline disappeared, leaving only the boat.

  “Not bad,” Roarke said.

  “Let’s just hope it lasts.”

  I approached the boat, which was about twenty feet long with a wide, flat deck. Perfect for stacking cargo. A ragged sail hung from the mast, but four massive paddles were stacked against the side of the hull. For low-wind situations. Or for when you brought the ship up from the bottom of the lake and the sail was still in crap condition.

  I climbed aboard, my feet squishing on the wood, which was still partially water-logged. Weeds scattered the deck here and there. “Not exactly in mint condition.”

  Roarke stepped aboard. “It’s got a bit of Davy Jones clinging to it, but it’ll do.”

  “I don’t think that sail is going to pick up any wind.” I eyed the massive holes in the fabric, then went and picked up two of the heavy paddles. I handed one to Roarke. “This might take a while.”

  The lake was pretty wide. At least four hundred yards across.

  We took up position on either side of the boat and began to paddle. There was no sun because of the snow clouds, but the water gleamed all the same. It was eerie.

  The going was slow, and by the time we were halfway across, my muscles ached. I was glad he was here. I’d never have managed to row across by myself.

  I stopped rowing and wheezed, “Break time.”

  Roarke stopped paddling, and we sat dead still on the lake as I heaved to catch my breath.

  Around us, the black water began to ripple, little waves that popped up out of nowhere. Magic sparked on the air, smelling like dead seaweed.

  Roarke eyed the waves. “There’s no wind.”

  “Yeah.” I plunged my oar back into the water, my heart starting to pound from more than just exhaustion. “This is weird. Let’s go.”

  We’d barely taken a stroke before something massive plunged into the side of the boat. I stumbled, falling to my knees.

  “Del! Look—” Roarke’s shout was cut off by another massive crash.

  Something pushed the boat from underneath, flipping it up and over.

  I crashed into the water, the freezing cold stealing my breath and sending an icepick of pain through my head. I flailed, trying to determine up and down. I opened my eyes, only able to see the tiniest glow of light. I followed the bubbles that escaped my mouth, kicking upward and stretching for the surface, only to crash into the wooden boat above.

  It had capsized and was sinking! The heavy wood pushed me deeper into the water. Frantic, I kicked to the side, trying to escape the heavy press of the boat. I’d nearly reached the edge when something grabbed my ankle and pulled me deeper.

  Water monster!

  I screamed, losing the last of my precious air. The grip tightened as I kicked and thrash
ed. At best, I had a minute before I lost consciousness.

  Fighting instinct kicked in, driving away the panic. I called on my Phantom form. No icy chill raced through me like it usually did. The water made me too cold for that. But my skin turned blue and transparent, lighting up the water with a glow.

  A bubbly shrieking sound tore through the water, and the grip on my ankle loosened. The water monster was affected by my Phantom touch!

  But my lungs still burned from lack of air. Even as a Phantom, I needed to breathe. Weakening, I kicked for the surface, wishing I was a fish shifter or something.

  I’d only made it a few feet when the monster grabbed me again. It hissed, but held on, clearly desperate for this catch if he was willing to grab me.

  I kicked and fought for the surface, but its grip was too strong. Panic squeezed my throat as I reached for the sword strapped to my back. The smooth, familiar grip of the hilt calmed me as I yanked it free and doubled over.

  I couldn’t kill the thing while touching it. I didn’t want to inherit a water monster’s power. What if I developed an unquenchable desire to drown people? But I could try to wound it until it let me go.

  My blue Phantom glow lit up the water below, shining upon the horrifying, gilled face of the water monster that had grabbed me. It was vaguely human shaped, with spindly limbs and a face like some kind of fish. Weeds waved in the water behind the monster, right in front of the gaping black mouth of a cave.

  We were almost to its lair.

  I swallowed my panic and swept out with my blade, my strike slow because of the water. I aimed for the arm that grabbed me. Just before the blade connected with the monster, I turned corporeal, allowing the blade to connect. The water turned dark without the blue glow of my Phantom form, but I felt the steel slice through flesh.

  The grip on my ankle loosened.

  I kicked for the surface, but it grabbed me again. With my lungs burning, I returned to Phantom form. Though my glow lit the water, blackness crept in at the edges of my vision.

  I was nearly out of air.

  Only seconds left.

  I called upon my ice magic, praying it would work, and sent an icicle spear at the monster’s stomach. Magic sparked in the water as it shot forth and pierced the monster. The grip around my ankle loosened, and I kicked for the surface.

  But I was too weak. The water felt like quicksand. No matter how hard I tried, my lungs and muscles burning, I only sank deeper into the water. When I hit the hard, flat bottom of the lake, my vision was almost entirely blacked out.

  Chapter Ten

  With the last of my strength, I turned my head to see if I’d gotten the damned monster. It was floating in the water, the ice spear through its middle. Not dead yet, but eventually.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of the flat wooden deck of the boat. Hope flared.

  I wasn’t on the bottom of the lake! The hard surface beneath me was the boat.

  Though I had no physical strength left, I had my magic. I called upon it, more desperate than I’d ever been in my entire life. If I couldn’t make it work, I was dead.

  Or something.

  How many lives could I have? I’d probably go back to the Underworld, and I didn’t want to do that.

  My magic sparked within me as I attempted to bring the boat back to life, allowing it to float again.

  My magic resisted, too weak. Or I was too weak, unable to control it. I envisioned Draka, her comforting hand on my shoulder as she told me to believe in myself.

  I didn’t realize it was working until the water began to flow by my face and a brighter glow appeared above me. We were rising! The boat was heading toward the surface with me aboard.

  By the time the boat broke through, I was so desperate for air that I sucked it in too early, taking a mouthful of lake water. I coughed, rolling over and retching, until I could gasp the cold, clear air into my lungs. My vision cleared and strength returned to my muscles, though I shivered with such ferocity that it felt like my bones might snap. Snow still fluttered down, sticking to my wet clothes and hair.

  As soon as I could move, I scrambled to my feet and shoved my blade back into the holster that was still clinging to my back. I spun in a circle, searching for Roarke.

  “Roarke!” I choked out, my throat still raw from retching.

  About ten yards away, the water splashed as two figures thrashed. I could just make out Roarke’s dark head and the slimy green figure of another lake monster. Roarke broke the thing’s neck, then flung it away from him. Another water monster’s body floated nearby. He’d killed two, so that made at least three. I hoped there were no more.

  “Over here!” I waved my arms.

  He spun to face me, his head bobbing above the black surface, then kicked his way toward me, swimming with powerful strokes. He climbed aboard, shivering as hard as I was. His dark hair was plastered to his scalp, and his skin was the color of flour. The black of his eyes stood out starkly.

  “This is a problem.” He shuddered hard.

  I sat hard on the deck, so cold that my muscles were unable to hold me.

  “Yeah,” I said. We could freeze to death out here. Why hadn’t I stolen a fire demon’s power?

  Roarke sat next to me, wrapping a long arm around my shoulders. The faintest bit of warmth flowed from him to me, but he was just as much of an ice block as I was.

  “I really don’t want to have to go back and get warm clothes,” I said, unsure of whether or not we’d even make it back.

  I looked around the boat, searching for the paddles. We had to get a move on, either way.

  My heart dropped. “The paddles are gone. They must have fallen off when the boat capsized.”

  “Shit.” Roarke rubbed his forehead.

  We were stuck in the middle of the lake, two hundred meters from shore in either direction, and Roarke couldn’t even fly us out of here.

  The water splashed off the bow and I stiffened.

  “Another monster?” Roarke stood.

  “I’ll beg your pardon!” An offended feminine voice sounded from the water.

  I glanced toward it just as a beautiful woman climbed aboard. She wore a sparkling white dress and pearls in her long, dark hair. Without a doubt, she was the most gorgeous person I’d ever seen in my life.

  And she was out for a swim?

  I stood. “Who are you?”

  “Morwena. I am a Morgen.” She roamed the boat, inspecting it.

  I searched my mind for any memory of a Morgen. Were they some kind of water sprite?

  “Normally I would kill you for daring to trespass on my lake,” she said. “But you’ve assisted me greatly by killing the Afanc.”

  “Is that what those sea monsters were?”

  “Yes.” She turned to face us, her green eyes blazing. “They’ve been a nuisance for fifty years. The lake is well rid of them.”

  I shivered hard, hoping she would get to the point. We needed to get out of here. Somehow.

  She stepped forward, holding out a hand. Her magic surged on the air, smelling like a rainstorm. Warmth radiated from her palm, drying my clothes immediately and sinking into my muscles and bones. They turned to jelly right away, the most amazing feeling in the world. I almost plopped down on my butt. It took all my strength to keep standing. One glance at Roarke showed that he was dry, too, his color no longer deadly pale.

  “Thank you,” I said.

  “You humans are so fragile about the cold,” she said. “Why are you upon my lake? No one has ventured here in decades.”

  I pointed to the other side. “We need to go there.”

  “Whatever for? There is nothing there anymore.”

  “We need to get to the top.”

  Her brows rose. “Are you sure you want to do that?”

  Her tone made me nervous. “Why? What’s up there?”

  She shrugged. “Nothing…lately.”

  I waited for her to elaborate, but she didn’t. “Can you tell us more about wha
t was up there?”

  “No. But I can give you advice.”

  “We’ll take it.” I nodded encouragingly.

  She pointed to the strip of land that we wanted to reach. The mountain rose up steeply behind it. There were at least ten massive land steps where the mountain rose up, then leveled off. Then rose and leveled, rose and leveled.

  “Do you see the stone ramps between each flat level?” she asked.

  I squinted, finally able to make out the huge ramps made of slate. They were black, like the rest of the mountain, and hard to distinguish, but they were there. One ramp connected each of the flat areas of land, upon which sat old buildings. It looked like you could climb up the mountain by sticking to the ramps, getting higher with every level.

  “I see them,” I said.

  “Those ramps were built for the tram system that transported the slate and the workers. There are railroad tracks built onto them that would carry the mining carts. They lead all the way up the mountain. Follow the tracks. Do not deviate, or you will anger the Coblynau.”

  “Coblynau?”

  “Mining goblins. They used to assist the miners. Since operations have been shut down, they have been…bored. You do not want to provide them with a diversion, because I promise you will not like it. They can kill you with a touch, if they so choose.”

  “With a touch?” I asked.

  “Yes. Even you.” Her gaze was knowing. “Phantom.”

  She must’ve seen me shift in the water.

  “But nothing can kill me in Phantom form.”

  “There, you are wrong,” she said. “The Coblynau’s touch is deadly to all. And you must not kill them. They will only multiply and become enraged.”

  Kill me with a touch? Multiply? Yikes.

  “Thank you,” Roarke said.

  “Thank you for killing the Afanc.” She turned to the stern of the boat and waved her hand at the water. It surged, pushing the boat forward.

  “That’s awesome,” I said.

  She smiled as she directed us closer to our destination. “It is, rather.”

  As the mountain loomed ever closer, the sheer size of the place became more apparent. The ramps were longer than football fields and at least twenty meters wide. The buildings on each of the flat portions of land looked long abandoned.