by M. R. Forbes
“Thanks, Ash,” I said. “I owe you one.”
“You owe me two, brother.”
“Where do you get two from?”
“I saved your life.”
“I saved yours before you were born. That made us even.”
“I can’t owe you for something if I haven’t even been born yet.”
“That’s not what you were saying yesterday.”
“Do we have to do this now?” Dannie asked.
Ash and I looked at one another. His mouth opened in what I assume passed as a dragon smile.
“We have to clear this area first. There’s no magic here except death magic. Kipiezl, show us the way out.”
The wisp rose from his side, landing on his snout. “Gladly, my Lord. Then you will give me my sparkly?”
“Yes,” Ash said.
I had no idea how he planned to honor that agreement, but now wasn’t the time to ask.
“This way, my Lord,” Kipiezl said, zipping off ahead of him.
The other wisps rose from his body, circling one another and then joining their Queen. They licked at their hands and fingers, and then at one another’s bodies, tasting the material they had scraped from Ash’s scales.
“I don’t know whether to be disgusted or aroused,” Amos said, watching them. “I’m kind of in-between right now.”
“I’m going with disgusted,” Frank said. “It’s like if they dipped their fingers in my pustules and then ate it.”
Amos made a sick sound. “Okay, you got me. I’m going with disgusted.”
“If you were a dragon, you would understand the benefits,” Ash said.
“Whatever makes you feel better, pal,” Amos said.
42
Once in a lifetime.
“We’ll meet up with you in Brasilia,” I said. “Stick together, keep an eye out for trouble. Also, check the news.”
“Will do, Boss,” Frank said.
“Have a nice flight,” Amos said.
“Conor,” Dannie said. She paused and then shook her head.
I put my hand on her shoulder. “Dannie, I.”
It was my turn to hesitate. I didn’t know what to say to her, especially now. We had to assume Death could hear every word we said through her, and no matter how hard I searched for the magic that was keeping her upright, I couldn’t find it. I had no idea how Death had brought her back, or where he had found a body that looked just like hers.
The more I learned, the less I seemed to understand.
“We can talk later,” she said.
“Okay,” I agreed. Even though we couldn’t. Not really.
Ashiira spread his wings wide, leaving them hovering over the three of them. I could sense the flow of magic from him to them, and a moment later they disappeared.
“I hope Amos doesn’t get in too much trouble while they’re waiting for us,” Ash said.
“He can take care of himself,” I said.
“That’s what worries me.”
“You are leaving us, my Lord?” Kipiezl said.
“Yes. It’s time for us to go. I appreciate your service.”
“You will give me the sparkly, my Lord?”
He nodded. “Conor, climb on, I guess.”
He lowered himself on his haunches. I wasn’t quite sure how to get onto his back, but I managed to pull myself up by grabbing one of the ridged scales. I hung my legs on either side of him, unsure what to grab onto for purchase. I couldn’t believe I was really about to do this.
“You’re heavier than you look,” Ash said.
“Are you kidding?” I replied. I wasn’t more than eighty pounds soaking wet.
He huffed out a laugh. Then he lifted his front left claw, turning it over. The illusionary diamond was in it.
“The sparkly,” Kipiezl said, eyes lighting up at the sight of it.
“Go and get it,” he said. Then he tossed it, sending the illusion forward. It went a good fifty yards and landed in the brush.
“It is mine,” Kipiezl shouted, zipping off after it.
The other wisps angled for it as well, each hoping to lay claim to the non-existent bauble.
“I told you they’re stupid,” Ash said.
“Where do they think you even produced that from? You’re naked.”
“Who knows. Hang on.”
His wings started beating in long, powerful strokes.
“Hang on to what?”
He sighed. “Slide forward, put your arm around my neck.”
I did as he instructed, finding a better hold there. His wings continued to gain speed, and he started walking forward.
The wisps emerged from where he had thrown the fake diamond. They were buzzing around one another like a fleet of hornets, their anger at the deception obvious.
“Uh, Ash?” I said.
“I see them,” he replied.
Kipiezl bared her teeth, darting toward him. He gave one last pump of his wings, lifting his body into the air and using his forward claw to slap her away. She tumbled through the air before righting herself. The other wisps circled her, and then they all attacked.
“Uh, Ash,” I said again.
“I see them,” he said. “I could use some help.”
I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. We were rising higher into the air, approaching the top of the foliage ahead of us. I tightened my grip when I looked down, realizing that I had made a mistake. I fucking hated heights.
The wisps neared his tail, and it swung back and forth, swatting them away and causing them to scatter. One of them managed to get ahead of the rest, and she came up beside me, her mouth open wide, revealing the rows of tiny, razor-sharp teeth. I kicked out at her, catching her with my foot and knocking her away.
“Why did you drop the illusion so soon?” I asked.
“I didn’t. I think you negated it.”
“So this is my fault?”
“It’s always your fault, brother. Hold on.”
He rolled to the side, changing direction. I tightened my grip on his neck, feeling my body begin to slide on his back. “Not so sharp,” I shouted.
He grumbled, straightening out. “I need to turn around,” he said.
“Why?”
His wings stopped moving, tucking in. His back-end drooped. I screamed like a girl while his body turned to face the wisps. His mouth opened, releasing a heavy stream of flame.
The wisps shrieked and turned aside.
“You cheated us, my Lord,” Kipiezl said. “You promised the sparkly.”
“I gave you what I promised you,” Ash said. “I never promised it was real.”
“You tricked us, my Lord,” she said. “You tricked us.”
“That is my right and my way,” he replied. “Be grateful for what you have.”
“We will kill you, my Lord.”
He spit flame at them again. Again they backed away.
Ash pumped his wings hard, rising and turning us back around. This time, the wisps didn’t follow.
“They won’t forget this, brother,” he said.
“It won’t matter, will it? You have no reason to ever go back there.”
“That’s easy for you to say, your lifespan is limited. Who knows what my needs might be in a thousand years. Ten thousand years.”
“You’re saying I owe you another one?”
“You would, but you won’t be around long enough for me to collect.”
Ouch. “I get the feeling you’re mad at me.”
“I am slightly perturbed.”
“It has to do with the spell, doesn’t it? The portal spell.”
He didn’t respond.
“You saw something in it. What?”
His head shifted, his left eye glaring back at me. “I didn’t want to mention it in front of the others.”
“Mention what?” I asked.
“The spell requires a blood sacrifice.”
“You’re fucking kidding me?”
“No. There is more. The size of the
portal is determined by the magical energy released by the sacrifice.”
“The portal in the city was the size of my finger,” I said.
“The sacrifice was small. A user, maybe a minor wizard. To make a portal large enough to drag Samedi into, you will need something much more powerful.”
“Like an immortal?”
“Yes.”
“Great. Number one, where the hell am I going to get an immortal? Number two, how the fuck am I supposed to kill them?”
“You have to kill them with death magic,” Ash said. “It is a death magic spell, after all.”
“Okay. I still don’t know where I’m going to get an immortal from. There’s Samedi, but he can’t be killed with death magic. There’s Death, but he also can’t be killed with death magic. There’s the Morrigan, but I assume I would need to kill all three of them for it to count? And then there’s-”
I froze. The chill went all the way down my spine and into my toes.
“Me,” Ash said.
“No,” I said. “That’s not going to happen.”
“You might not have a choice.”
“And you would let me sacrifice you to open the portal?”
“I don’t know.”
“If you didn’t, I would have to fight you for it.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want to do that.”
“Neither do I, but as you said; fate of the world.”
“I don’t think I could take you.”
“I don’t either.”
“So where does that leave us?”
“It leaves me perturbed. It is a choice we shouldn’t have to make.”
“I agree. Maybe there’s some other immortal we can scrounge up and murder.”
He huffed a laugh. “I don’t know where this road is heading, Conor. But know that whatever happens, I will always consider you my brood-brother.”
“Same here,” I said.
We both fell silent. The landscape passed beneath us as we soared high above the Earth. I wish I could have enjoyed it more. It was a once in a lifetime experience.
I barely even noticed.
43
Leader of the pack.
There was nowhere a dragon could go in Brasilia that it wouldn’t be noticed, even a dragon Ash’s size. Tarakona had given him the human form, and while Macha had been able to toggle him off and on, he didn’t have enough control of the magic to do it himself.
As it was, we had to be careful in our approach, angling in from the south toward a poorer section of the city, where both lights and the presence of Control were minimal.
He touched down smoothly in a dark street, tucking his wings beside me and jogging into a dark alley. It was only then that he crouched enough for me to slide off before turning and tucking himself against the side of one of the buildings. The smell of urine and garbage was strong, and I felt just as guilty to have to leave him there as I did about the portal spell. We hadn’t discussed it on the way, and I refused to talk about it again. If it was a choice between the end of the world and killing Ash? I couldn’t commit. Not until that hypothetical became real.
“Thanks for the ride,” I said. “And for the translation.”
I hadn’t been able to write it in the spellbook. There was no time, and no easy way to get it done. I had been forced to memorize it instead, guided through the process over and over until I got it right. Ash had seen it once. Show off.
“You don’t have to wait here,” I said.
“I know,” he replied. “But I will remain. If you get into trouble, you know how to contact me.”
I nodded. He had already told me how I could reach him through the bond if I needed him. I was determined not to need him. I would rather take on all three sisters that composed the Morrigan. Dannie’s situation had revealed that Macha had never been on my side, anyway. To Death, I was nothing more than a tool. A means to an end.
“You aren’t worried about being spotted?”
“By who? Winos and hobos?” His body sank into the shadows, disappearing from view and leaving only his golden eyes. When he blinked, he vanished completely. “They won’t be a problem.”
“Okay,” I said, lingering.
“Conor,” Ash said. “You don’t need to worry about me.”
“You’re still a child.”
“I appreciate your concern, brother, but I’m also a fledgling wizard. I can handle myself.”
“Okay. Well.” I paused, looking at him. “See you around.”
His eyes dipped. “Good hunting, brother.”
I put my hand out, touching the end of his snout. He didn’t flinch. I kept it there for a second, and then pulled it away and started walking.
Fuck Death.
I was done being afraid of him. I was done being afraid of the other side. I had seen it, touched it, heard it. If that was my fate? It wasn’t the fate I would have chosen, but if it meant wiping that stupid smug smile off Hades’ face, and sending Samedi to the beyond where he belonged? I would take it and be satisfied.
I didn’t know Brasilia all that well, but I knew it wasn’t the kind of place anyone should wander around at night. Most places weren’t. I felt exposed out on the street. Not threatened, I had enough death magic at my disposal there wasn’t much that could threaten me, but I didn’t want the attention.
I had to make my way from the outer city limits of the central district to the hotel where the others were staying. We had picked a global brand just to be sure there would be one in the city, and other than that I would have to check the places in search of them.
I wasn’t worried about it. I was glad to have the break, to have some time alone to think. It was the four of us against three immortals. Five, technically speaking. I had no idea how we were going to pull that off. I figured Death would help with Samedi. He wanted the lich out of the picture so he would be free to act on his motives without the competition. But would he let me kill Macha to open the portal? He had probably been hoping I would bring Ash with me. Too fucking bad. I had a feeling he would sacrifice her to get rid of Samedi if it came to that.
But what if we did get rid of Samedi? What if I did go through the portal and get trapped on the other side? What then? What would happen to Dannie and Frank and Amos? What was Death planning to do as the freshly minted most powerful wizard in the world? What was his endgame?
That was the part that bugged me the most. I could almost accept his manipulation to the point that he wanted to deal with Samedi. He had lied about Dannie, sure, but in all honesty, would I have agreed to this job any other way? It was doubtful. But not knowing his intentions, I couldn’t accept letting him off the hook. He had admitted he was evil. Less evil than Samedi, but still on the wrong side of the spectrum. He wanted power. He wanted control. Wasn’t that what all evil bastards wanted?
In this case, would it be that bad to let him have it?
And what about Dannie? I didn’t know how to deal with her. Between knowing she was a window for Death to spy on us through and knowing she had decided in her second life that she loved me as more than a friend, I was left angry and confused and feeling more alone than I had when she was dead. I wanted to honor her, especially considering the way I had defiled her. I wanted to find a resolution that left her back at whole and healthy and happy, the way I thought she was when I opened the door and found her standing there. The problem was that every outcome I could think of ended with either Death or me snapping the link that was keeping her here. She didn’t deserve that end, just like she hadn’t deserved her first end.
The whole thing had grown overly complicated, like a Rube Goldberg machine of chaos and ugliness. I had so many questions, but no solid answers. I couldn’t guess what was going to happen in the next few seconds, never mind formulate a plan to go to war with an immortal. I was out here, going through the motions, but I no longer believed anything could work out the way I wanted it to.
Then again, when had it ever?
I wa
s lost in thought as I made my way through the city on foot. There were no cars out here, not this late. It was already past curfew, when only the most daring of civilians and a contingent of Ghosts might be wandering the streets.
If had been paying attention, I might have noticed the gangbangers materializing around me before they had the chance to get bold. As it was, I nearly walked right into their leader, a fourteen-foot ogre with a broken incisor.
“Mira adonde vas, idiota,” he said, causing me to stop in my tracks.
I looked up and then kept looking up, until I made eye contact with him.
“No hable español,” I said, probably wrong.
“I said, watch where you’re going, idiot,” he repeated in English. “It’s bad enough you’re walking on my street without my permission, but have some respect.”
The other goons filled in around us, leaving me feeling more weary than I already did.
“Look, amigo,” I said. “I’m not having a very good day. How about you let me go on my way.”
He put his big hand out, keeping me from moving.
“How about you let us search you? We take what we want, and then you go on your way.”
“I’m not in the mood,” I said.
He laughed, shoving me with a large hand. He was strong, and I wasn’t. I stumbled and fell onto my ass.
He laughed again while his goons circled me.
“Pick him up,” he said in bad English.
They did, grabbing me and bringing me back to my feet.
“It could have been easy for you,” he said. “I guess you don’t like easy.”
I coughed up some blood, spitting it on the ground in front of him.
“I guess you don’t like living,” I said.
I was already pissed, and this bullshit wasn’t helping. Maybe the death magic was corrosive, but so what? I was dead here and now without it. I couldn’t survive a beating.
That doesn’t mean I didn’t let them beat me. I did. I stood there and took it when he hit me in the gut, cracking a rib or two. I didn’t fight back when he hit me in the face, leaving a deep gash in it from a ring on his middle finger. I let him slam me five or six times, adding injury to his insult, and bringing me closer to the edge.
