Doomsday Magic

by Linsey Hall

  “It’s rare that I get such fine entertainment down here.” He played with the heavy golden necklace at his throat. “Though my gold is usually entertainment enough. And I would also like you to get those cats out of here. I quite like where my gold is currently stored. With me.”

  Muffin gave a toothy grin. I won’t touch a single ounce.

  “Thank you for any assistance,” Lachlan said.

  Muffin looked at me. See, that guy knows how to be polite.

  A smile emerged on Plutus’s face. He held out his arm, palm up. A golden sword appeared in his hand, and he held it out to Lachlan.

  I couldn’t help the grin that tugged up at the corner of my mouth. Lachlan was polite, so he got the golden sword. I liked that, to be honest. It gave a sense of order and rightness to this crazy place.

  “This will help you on level five,” Plutus said. “It is the only thing that will work against the fighters in the River Styx.”

  “What does that mean, exactly?” I asked.

  Plutus smiled, but it was grim. “Oh, you will see.”

  “Oh, by the way. Have two Fates come through here? Roman ones.”

  He shook his head. “Not that I have seen or heard, and I see all in my level.”

  He sounded just like Aurius, Muffin’s friend from level two. Hell wasn’t short of confident men.

  He pointed to a cluster of golden boulders about twenty yards away. “Now, begone with you. There’s a long way left for you to travel, and I am a very busy man.”

  Busy with what, I had no idea, but I should be keeping my mouth shut in this realm. Of that, I was certain.

  Thank you, your godliness. Muffin bowed his head.

  Plutus waved his hand in a gesture that clearly said yes, do go on about my awesomeness.

  I got the clue. I could be a bit thick sometimes, but I wasn’t totally stupid. “Yes, thank you so much, Your Royal Eminence.”

  Plutus frowned. “Not royalty.”

  “Godly Eminence,” I corrected.

  He smiled. “Better.”

  “Thank you for the sword,” Lachlan said.

  Plutus waved it off. We departed, leaving him to gaze at the boulders that continued to crash behind us.

  Muffin flew by my head. That sword will be very helpful.

  “Good,” I said. “I think we’re going to need all the help we can get.”

  Bojangles trotted confidently up to a crack in the boulders, then slipped through the narrow space. Princess Snowflake III followed, and Muffin brought up the rear. Lachlan and I squeezed in behind them, entering a tiny open space between the boulders. I was no longer impressed by the splendor of so much wealth. It didn’t mean anything down here. There was no way to spend it, so it was just a deadly yellow rock.

  There was a hole in the middle of the space that was about four feet wide. The sides were made of smooth gold.

  I crouched down and peered into it, taking in the smooth sides that sloped away. “It’s a slide.”

  A fun one, too. Straight to level seven.

  I looked at the sword that Lachlan had been given. “Are we skipping level five?”

  The shortcuts are strange. Level four goes to level seven which goes to level five. Then to the bottom of hell.

  “Thank fates we’ve got you as our guide,” I said.

  He preened, then turned back to the golden slide.

  With a delighted meow, Bojangles leapt into the hole and was whisked away. Princess followed, stepping regally off onto the slide and then zipping away.

  No dawdling. Muffin flew into my back as hard as he could, and I lost my balance and tumbled down the slide. He cackled as I slid downward so fast my eyes watered.

  Wind tore at my hair as I slid down and down, farther and farther. I picked up speed with every meter, praying that it would be a soft landing.

  The slide spit me out into a forest. I skidded across the ground, disturbing the leaves and twigs until I finally slowed to a halt.

  Dizzy, I sat up next to Princess Snowflake III and Bojangles, both of whom looked like they’d had their brains rattled a bit. I probably looked the same.

  Lachlan slid out next, somehow managing to rise gracefully to his feet. Muffin came last, laughing a weird, hissing cat laugh.

  Slowly, I stood, taking in our surroundings. Above, lightning struck, thunder vibrating in the sky. It lit up the forest around us, which consisted of gnarled trees with no leaves. They were creepy fairytale-looking trees, and the ground was scattered with thousands of dead leaves.

  “Well, aren’t you an arse-faced old bag.” A crotchety voice sounded from behind me, and I spun, searching for the person.

  I saw no one. Just a bunch of old trees. “Who the hell said that?”

  “The hippo’s ball sack wants to know who spoke!”

  Hippo’s ball sack? I grimaced. Gross.

  I squinted into the darkness, finally catching sight of the gleam of eyes.

  “It’s a tree,” Lachlan murmured.

  He was right. There was a face right in the tree, about midway up the trunk, and it was glaring at me.

  Slowly, I approached the tree. “What climbed up your roots?”

  The face made of bark twisted, and a surprised laugh burst out of it, sounding rusty and rarely used. “Climbed up my roots?” The tree slapped the ground with a limb, as if he were slapping his knee. “Never heard that one before.”

  “I don’t imagine you get out much,” I said.

  The tree laughed again.

  Muffin shot me an appraising look. You’re on a roll. He likes you.

  “I wouldn’t go that far, cat.” The tree glared at him, then turned his gaze back to me. He whipped out a limb toward me, smacking me in the shoulder.

  Pain flared, and I slapped my hand to the injury. “Ouch!”

  The tree’s bark-brows rose. “That’s a nice jacket. My limb should have cut right through it.”

  I frowned at him. “You were going to cut me? I didn’t do anything to you. And now you’re complimenting my jacket?”

  What a weirdo.

  I knew better than to speak those words out loud, though.

  “Someone powerful must favor you if you have that jacket.” The tree moved a branch to the hem of my jacket and rubbed the material.

  I stepped back. “No touching. And yes, someone powerful did favor me with this jacket.”

  The tree’s gaze moved to Lachlan, glued to the golden blade that hung from his hand. “And that sword! Plutus gave that to you.”

  “Aye, he did.”

  A crafty gleam entered the tree’s eyes. “I like the powerful.”

  A screech sounded in the trees, loud and sharp. I winced at the sound, pain shooting through my eardrums. The tree winced, too, an annoyed look of wariness entering his eyes as he raised his gaze to the sky.

  “Death flies above.” Dread echoed in his voice.

  11

  I followed his gaze, catching sight of a figure hovering high in the air. Massive wings were silhouetted by the moon, attached to the figure of a person. Well, maybe a person. I squinted up into the sky.

  What the hell was that? A demon?

  "Curses, it's a harpy." The tree scowled up at the sky.

  The harpy dived, her powerful wings carrying her down toward the tree. Up close, I could spot her beak, and the evil glint in her beady black eyes. She raised a blade of black metal and struck out at the tree’s branches.

  The tree deflected her blade with a limb, but a grimace flashed across his face. He struck out with another branch, driving her back up into the sky.

  I frowned. “Why is she attacking you? You did nothing to her.”

  “It keeps her entertained." The tree scowled up at the harpy and waved his branches in a threatening manner. “Be gone, fowl wench!”

  Okay, maybe that’s why she was attacking. I didn’t want to be called a foul wench either. Or did he mean fowl, like birds? She did have wings. And she had started it. She should just hurl insults back, no
t lead with the sword.

  "That’s hardly fair, considering you’re stuck here on the ground," Lachlan said.

  "I hold my own.” The tree turned a considering gaze toward us. “Hmmm. If you will get rid of that harpy for me, I will help you with the next level of hell."

  That was an interesting offer. I could probably handle a harpy, but I didn’t know what was coming next in hell. Probably something terrible.

  I looked at Muffin, who nodded. Though honestly, I didn't really need the bribe. The tree might be a miserable bastard, but it wasn't fair for the harpy to attack like this.

  And just for entertainment? Nope, I didn't like that. "Okay, we’ll help you."

  “Aye, don't like the unfairness of it." Lachlan scowled at the harpy above.

  My gaze followed his, drawn to the sight of gleaming black wings. Something tugged in my chest, a sense of knowing. A sense of familiarity.

  Mine.

  "I'll drive her away with a storm,” Lachlan said.

  I could fly up and scratch her. Muffin raised a paw, nails glinting.

  Both were good ideas, and I tried to focus on them. But my mind was drawn to the harpy, and I couldn't stop staring at her wings. My back began to ache, as if something should grow from it.

  I blinked. That was weird.

  Lachlan raised his hands, his magic surging on the air. The scent of the forest swelled, making this dead place suddenly feel more alive.

  Normally, I would suck the scent into my lungs, but right now, I could only focus on the strange feeling inside my chest. On my obsession with the harpy’s wings.

  Frankly, I had the strongest desire to shift, and transform into something else.

  That was freaking weird.

  I wasn’t a shifter.

  The dream I’d had flashed in my mind.

  I am a crow.

  Magic exploded within me, an earthquake that shook my very being. I nearly fell to my knees as it surged through me. Rain began to fall in the clearing, Lachlan's magic beginning to create a storm.

  But I couldn't focus on that. All I could focus on was the vision of a crow in my mind. Black feathers, strong claws, sharp beak.

  Suddenly, I was flying.

  I was above the ground.

  Holy fates, I was in the freaking air.

  Holy tuna! Muffin’s exclamation barely penetrated my consciousness.

  The world looked different from here. I had better vision. Clearer vision. I looked down to see Lachlan staring up at me, shock in his eyes.

  I opened my mouth to speak, but the only thing that came out was a loud screech.

  "Terrible and great.” The tree’s words echoed up toward me.

  Terrible and great.

  The words rang a bell, but I ignored them, looking away from my friends below and turning my gaze up to the sky, searching for the harpy. She flew above, silhouetted by the moon.

  She shrieked, a battle cry of pure rage, and dived toward me.

  I moved my wings, awkward at first, but gaining strength and coordination as I rose higher in the sky.

  I flew through the trees, the branches scraping at my wings. I ignored them, the thrill of flying carrying me up toward the harpy.

  Up close, I could see that she wore a breast plate made of scales and had long claws and fangs. Her sword was made of some kind of strange black metal, and she raised it as she neared me.

  I flew toward her, opening my beak to screech a battle cry.

  This felt so natural. Every second, I grew stronger and more coordinated. Fighting in the air was like breathing. Flying was like breathing.

  Joy surged in my chest, a lightness of being that was at odds with battle.

  Or was it?

  I didn’t care. All I cared about was the fight.

  I will win.

  The harpy swung her blade for me, but I deflected with my talons, forcing the sword away. I snapped my beak at the harpy’s wings, but she was too fast, jerking them away.

  The harpy darted back, wheeling on the wind, then returning to me, faster than ever. We clashed again, my talons digging into her thigh as her sword swiped across my chest.

  The harpy shrieked, the noise so harsh and loud that my ears felt like they were bleeding. It hurt so badly that I almost didn't feel the pain in my chest as blood poured from my wound.

  I darted away from her, using my wings to carry me a few yards away.

  The harpy charged me again, and I flew to meet her, clashing in a tumble of claws and beaks. I swiped at her blade with my claws, knocking it away. The black metal fell through the air, disappearing below.

  The harpy struck out with her own claws, slicing them across my wing.

  Pain flared, but I ignored it, aiming a bite at her wing. This time, my beak made contact, and I crunched down on her wing. She shrieked again, and the sound nearly sent me falling from the sky. I released my bite on her wing.

  I ignored the pain as best I could and kicked her with my feet. She tumbled away, falling through the air until her wings managed to get her upright. She glared at me, her black eyes full of evil, and hissed a curse that I didn't recognize. Then she turned and flew off into the night.

  I took in my surroundings, my wings now keeping me effortlessly aloft. Flying was becoming more natural. The wind in my feathers felt like a homecoming.

  Holy fates, I was really the Morrigan. The Battle Crow.

  I was terrible and great. The tree had said so, and somehow, those words had registered deep within my soul.

  I looked down at the trees below, catching sight of my companions staring up at me. Lachlan seemed impressed, and so did Princess Snowflake III. Bojangles looked bored, and Muffin’s gaze was scanning the surroundings, no doubt scouting for danger.

  I flew back down to them, nimbly avoiding the tree branches that had scratched me before. As I neared the grounds, I felt compelled to change back into my human form. The desire fueled me, more than just a rational need to become human and speak my thoughts again. It was like I needed to be human if I stood on the ground. As I neared the earth, the magic surged within me once again. By the time I reached the forest floor, I was human. The transition was seamless.

  I reached up to check the wound at my chest, but it was gone. The harpy’s blade had definitely cut me, but the wound had disappeared.

  Did shifting make it disappear?

  If so, that was a sweet perk.

  Even better, I wasn’t naked. It was good to know that I retained my clothes and possessions after shifting. It would be seriously inconvenient to end up naked after every battle.

  Lachlan looked at me, questions in his eyes, but he kept his mouth shut about the change. So did I. We didn't need to show any weakness in front of the tree, and suddenly changing into an entirely new species for the first time was kind of a weakness.

  I turned to the tree and crossed my arms. "Well, I took care of the harpy."

  The tree gave me an appraising glance. "I can't say that I expected that. But you did do the job." He lowered a branch again, and I stiffened, expecting him to whip it out at me. I was not in the mood to get another hit. Instead, he used another branch to break off a piece and handed me the slender limb of the tree. It was no more than a quarter inch thick and six feet long. "That will help you at the River Styx.”

  I looked down the branch. "How will it help?"

  "Oh, you will see."

  I looked up, frowning. That was exactly what Plutus had said, and it was freaking annoying.

  “Have two Fates come through here?” Lachlan asked.

  “Roman Fates?” The tree frowned. “No. Not that I have seen. And I—”

  “See all in your realm?” I finished for him.

  He scowled. “Exactly.” Then he closed his eyes, and the face disappeared. It just looked like a regular tree now.

  That's it. He's done. Might as well get a move on. Muffin turned and flew away.

  “Damn.” I shrugged and met Lachlan's gaze. “At least we know we are probably
ahead of the Fates. That’s three levels we haven’t seen them on.”

  He nodded, and we turned to follow Muffin. Princess Snowflake III and Bojangles kept pace with us as we walked through the creepy forest. I was certain that I heard whispers as we walked, and they no doubt came from the trees themselves, but none of them spoke directly to us.

  The screech of harpies sounded in the sky high above, and occasionally I caught sight of something dark streaking past the moon. This whole place was eerie. A true nightmare forest.

  Even Princess Snowflake III didn't seem to like it. The white fur on her back stood straight up as she trotted along. As usual, Bojangles didn't seem to notice. But that was just Bojangles.

  My mind raced with the memory of turning into the Battle Crow.

  Lachlan shifted to walk closer to me and spoke in a low voice. "Was that the first time you’ve turned into a giant crow?"

  "Yeah. It’s part of my transition to the Morrigan, but I have no idea how I made it happen.”

  "Well, it was impressive.”

  This is it. Muffin landed on the ground and stared at a pool of black oil.

  I stopped at the edge of the pool, which was about ten feet across and gleamed with a dark light. "Oh, gross. Are we supposed to jump in that?"

  You bet your tuna we’re jumping in that.

  Princess Snowflake III looked at the black pool in despair. Clearly she had been here before. I couldn't blame her. It would be a pain to clean myself off. But with her white fur? She was definitely going to be spending a long time in the bath.

  Might as well jump in. Muffin followed his words with action and leapt into the black oily pool. He disappeared half a second later, his head sinking below the surface.

  I sucked in a bracing breath and jumped in after him, not wanting to wait. It was going to suck, so I might as well get it over with.

  Just before the black oil sucked me down, I pinched my nose, shut my mouth, and closed my eyes. I gripped the branch tightly, not wanting to lose the tree’s gift, even though I didn’t know what it was capable of.

  The oil closed around me, slick and cold. My heart thudded, claustrophobia gripping me, a feeling that I almost never had. But the oil was quick, sucking me down and whooshing me away. I spilled out into another realm, one that was lit with a blood-red sky.