by ML Guida
She furrowed her brows. “Why?”
“Because I love you.”
“Now isn’t that sweet?”
William bristled at the sarcastic tone. He looked over Mariah’s dark head and met Zuto’s sardonic red eyes. The demon strolled out of the jungle. His long dark shadow blanketed William, and spidery tingles swept down his spine. Every hair on his body stood at attention, and his heart quickened.
Zuto didn’t possess any weapons and only wore his loin cloth.
But William wasn’t fooled. Zuto possessed the power to materialize any weapon he chose and could kill them with a mere gesture of his hand.
“Zuto.” Fear resonated in Mariah’s voice.
William slowly shielded her behind him. “Why did you summon us?”
Zuto cast his gaze over him. The demon’s height never failed to amaze William. With his large stance, Zuto was a Goliath, taller than Amadi who towered over most men.
Zuto shrugged. “To make a deal, of course.”
William wasn’t fooled by those whimsical words and dread dropped to his toes. “What kind of deal?”
“One you can’t refuse, dragon.”
William sneered. “I’m waiting.”
Zuto narrowed his eyes. “Careful. I’ve had enough insolence from humans.”
Mariah squeezed his arm, and William kept his mouth shut. If the demon made a move to hurt or take her, he’d attack.
“Take her and run fool,” Drakon screamed. “Mariah didn’t utter the words back to you. The love isn’t strong enough. Not yet.”
Terror wedged into William’s gut. Drakon was never frightened. Contemptuous, aye. Sarcastic, aye. Bold, aye. But never fearful.
Zuto raised his eyebrow. “Don’t worry, dragon. I’ve no intentions of killing or maiming you. At least not now.”
“What is it that you want?” Mariah tilted her chin in defiance, but William could hear the tremor in her voice.
“I need a dragon and a witch’s help.”
William’s muscles knotted. “Our help?”
“I will give you Hannah and her insufferable father on one condition.”
Deep scratches, some fresh, some healed, marred the demon’s chest. Who had done that to him? Someone more powerful than Zuto. Lark? No, a warlock couldn’t be more powerful than Zuto.
William rubbed his chin. “What?”
Zuto strolled around them, and William couldn’t help but notice it wasn’t scratches that marked his body. Lashes covered his broad back and thighs. He glanced at the jungle’s tree line. What lurked in there that could punish a demon? He shifted Mariah away from Zuto, keeping her beyond the demon’s reach, and moved her down the beach.
“You must go back to Coaybay,” Zuto said. “and seize the soul catcher. ’Tis merely a black stone, and ’tis inside Maketabori’s altar.”
William found his courage. “Face the god of the Underworld? Violate his temple? Why would we do this?”
“I didn’t say you would face him. I said you would steal the stone. It contains Lark’s soul. With it, you’ll be able to change him back to a witch. And then I will free Drakon from being trapped inside you, O’Brien.”
In William’s mind, Drakon shook and flapped his wings. “Freedom!”
“Drakon, do you think he’s telling the truth about making you whole again?”
Drakon stopped flying and hung his head. “I don’t know. But what choice do we have?”
Mariah slipped around William and rushed over to Zuto. “What do you want with my brother’s soul?”
“Damn it, Mariah.” William yanked her away.
Zuto folded his arms across his massive chest. “I have no intention of keeping his soul, if that’s what you’re worried about, witch.”
William didn’t like this, not one bit. The demon was luring them into a trap. “How will the soul catcher free Drakon?”
“I can suck his soul out of you, which will allow me to give him his body back. I can’t do it with him trapped inside you.”
Uneasiness sunk into William’s toes. He studied Zuto, but the demon gave nothing away in his stoic face. “Then why—”
“My reasons are my own.”
William narrowed his eyes and thought about breathing fire onto the bastard. “What if we refuse?”
Zuto gave him an evil smile. The wind blew harder, the waves crashed against the beach, and clouds covered the sun. William staggered backward, and Mariah clasped his arms.
Zuto’s eyes brightened and his face grew darker. “Then you die.”
“I told you to flee. Now we are trapped.”
“Damn you.” William’s voice shuddered.
“Is that a no?”
“Looks like we’ve little choice,” William grumbled.
Zuto waved his hand, and the crushing waves returned to normal. The sun shone through the clouds, and the wind ceased. “No, you do not.”
He snapped his fingers, and a small pearl appeared in his palm. “The solid black granite altar is on the tallest mountain that looks over all of Coaybay. Marble steps lead up to it. ’Tis guarded by two white obelisks on either side. At this time of day, Maketabori will be elsewhere attending his duties. Once you reach the altar, say Ciba. The soul catcher will appear. I want you to replace it with this pearl.”
Mariah edged around William. “’Tis filled with magic. I can feel it. What is it?”
“Nothing that concerns you. Maketabori will recognize it, and that’s all that matters.”
Something was wrong. Every instinct told William to run.
“I don’t like this. How the hell are we going to get past Maketabori and return with the soul catcher alive?”
Zuto motioned toward the sky. “Before sun down.”
William’s fingers itched to throttle the demon. The sun already hung lower over the horizon. “That’s less than two hours.”
“And?”
William glared. “This task is impossible.”
Zuto rolled his eyes. “’Tis not impossible. Use your head. You’re a dragon. By now even you, must have discovered some of your powers.”
William seethed at the demon’s superior tone. “I’ve discovered them.”
“Name them.”
“Excuse me?”
Zuto seized William by the hair and lifted him off the sand. “I said to name them.”
Sharp pain tore at William’s scalp, but he refused to cry out or plead with the demon. He forced himself to remain calm. Fear or panic led to mistakes. Mistakes he could not make with a crafty demon.
“No, please do not hurt him.” Mariah covered her mouth with her hands. “He can turn invisible and turn those around him invisible. He can exhale a fog that blinds others.”
Zuto released him, and William stumbled. He landed on one knee, and Mariah wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
“Fool, you’ve not discovered all of your powers,” Zuto clenched his teeth. “Now listen carefully. You also have the ability to control the elements. You’re an elemental being and can control the wind, rain, and sun. Not only can you turn invisible, but you can blend into the environment, blinding people to your presence.”
“What good will those powers do in Coaybay?” William stood on his shaky legs and Mariah molded her trembling body against him.
“This means you can hide from Maketabori. He will feel power, but if you blend into the landscape, it will take him longer to find you.”
William gave him a hard stare. “But he will be able to find us?”
“Certainly. He’s a god. So, I suggest when you get there you hurry. And don’t make any mistakes.” He didn’t have to finish what would happen. “If we do this—” William tilted his head toward the jungle “—what about the others?”
“Your brother has not found Natasa or Lark yet. They are waiting for sundown when Kane and his brethren can turn into vampires. Natasa wants a battle with lots of blood.”
Mariah held her elbows against her side. “And Hannah? How do we know she
is alive?”
“Aye, this could be a trick,” William agreed.
“You doubt me?” Zuto looked between them. “How shocking?”
William braced himself for more pain and edged himself in front of Mariah, determined to take the brunt of it.
To his surprise, Zuto laughed. “Since you are doing me this small service, I’ll grant you your wish.”
He waved his arm. Palm trees swayed, and the dense foliage rustled in the jungle. Twigs broke. Someone walked between the trees. William held his breath, hoping it wasn’t a trick. Hoping his brother’s soul would heal and he wouldn’t have to live with the pain like William had with Sharon.
Hands bound, a petite slender form slipped out of the darkness. The trousers were too long and ballooned around her legs. Sand and dirt covered her torn shirt. Tangled brown hair hid her face. Hannah stumbled onto the sand and knelt next to Zuto.
“Hannah!” Mariah darted away from William.
“Mariah, no!” He reached for her, but she slipped out of his grasp. “It could be trick.” He ran after her.
Mariah sunk into the sand and wrapped her arms around Hannah. “Hannah, Hannah, are you well? Answer me. S’il vous plaît.” She swept hair out of Hannah’s face, and vacant eyes stared out. William sucked in his gut. Sharon. She’d had the same dead eyes.
He clenched his fist. “You bastard. You said she wasn’t dead.”
“She’s not dead. Only in a trance.”
Mariah looped her arms through Hannah’s. “Come on, Hannah. You need to come with us. We will take you some place safe.”
Hannah didn’t move and stared straight ahead.
Zuto shook his finger. “No. She stays with me.”
William tilted his chin and challenged Zuto. “Why?”
“Because you don’t trust me, and I don’t trust you.”
Mariah released Hannah and glanced down. “William, she’s got a yari around her wrists.”
“Don’t look at me, dragon.” Zuto shoved William and William fell on his arse. “I didn’t bind her.”
William clamored to stand, refusing to be treated like a naughty little boy in trouble. “Then who?”
“Why, the witch’s loving brother.”
William pointed. “Unbind her.”
“Do not order me, dragon. The sun continues to sink lower and lower. I suggest you get to Coaybay and back before ’tis too late.”
William wanted to slam his fist into Zuto’s mouth, but he’d only condemn them all to death. He dragged Mariah away from Hannah. Hannah’s limp hands slipped out of hers.
“Release me.” Mariah pounded on William’s hand. “We cannot leave her here.”
“Aye, we can.” William pushed the guilt settling in his dry throat. Kane would never forgive him for not fighting to save Hannah.
Zuto moved his palms into a circle. “Change, dragon. Now.”
William clenched his fists. “How do we get back once we steal the soul catcher?”
“Once you steal it, a portal will open for you.”
It sounded too easy. And nothing with Zuto was ever easy. William hated being treated like a pet dog. He wanted to grab Mariah’s hand, walk away, and tell Zuto to fetch the damn soul catcher himself. But Hannah would remain in a trance and would be taken to Coaybay. Kane and the crew would face another bloody death. His options gone, he stripped out of his clothes and reluctantly gave into the demon’s command. “Dragon, come forth.”
He shifted into the dragon and breathed out fire, singeing the edge of Zuto’s white loin cloth.
Zuto raised his eyebrow. The fire diminished, and the cloth was restored to its regular white luster. “Do it again, and you’ll regret the day you were born.”
The air swirled around, wind wailed, and grit lifted into the air, flying into their eyes. William blocked Mariah from the stinging sand that scratched against his dragon’s scales. Hannah, unmoving, remained on her knees, oblivious to the dust and bits of dirt and shells slashing her skin and face. Lord, was she a living corpse?
“Fly into it,” Zuto yelled.
William shook his head. How could Mariah hang onto him? She’d be killed.
“Now.” Zuto’s hands shook. “I can’t keep it open much longer.”
Mariah jumped onto William’s back and clung to his neck.
Zuto kicked sand at William. “Now, you idiot dragon.”
William growled and breathed fire onto Zuto before he jumped into the swirling sand.
Zuto’s muffled curse brought a smile to William’s lips. His triumph died as he burst through the sand storm and flew into a red sky. Below them, volcanoes erupted and black smoke filled the air with noxious fumes. He choked on sulfur, and his eyes burned.
Coaybay.
Chapter 29
William flew them through a thick black fog. Or were they clouds? He inhaled and choked on putrid fumes. The heat was suffocating. Sweat and tears blurred his vision, and he gasped for breath. The stench of sulfur and coal turned his stomach. Clean air. He needed clean air. How could anything live here?
He glanced over his shoulder. Mariah wiped her sleeve on her forehead and smeared sweat. Her legs clutched him tight, and he wanted to reassure her that he wouldn’t let her fall.
He swept down lower, and the wet fog faded. A jagged, rocky mountain loomed over the landscape, and his heart stilled. Zuto had said Maketabori’s altar was on the tallest mountain. Was that it?
Huge black birds of prey soared toward them, their wingspan as long as the Phoenix. They stretched out their long talons and screamed. Terror surged through William’s veins, and his thumping heart threatened to jump out of his chest. The anguished shrieks sounded much like the final cries of men dying on a battlefield.
“William, those things can see us!”
Mother of Mercy! What an eejit he was. He should have used his power to cloak them. Tingles swept over him, and he turned his head to ensure that Mariah disappeared and was grateful he only saw blue sky. Relief rushed through him at feeling Mariah’s legs pressed against his ribs and her arms around his neck. But the birds did not veer off. Shite. They could still see them.
How could he fight them with Mariah on his back? Damn Zuto. Any minute, those monsters would rip Mariah off his back, and with two, he’d be powerless to stop them.
“William.” Mariah’s voice shook. “You have to trust Zuto. Control the elements, or we are dead.”
The vultures closed the distance between them, their foul breath hissing in William’s ears. Astride his back, Mariah trembled and clutched him tighter. “Do something now!”
The birds shrieked again, their cries promising pain.
William glanced behind them and the birds talons were inches from his tail.
“William!” Mariah shouted. “They are right behind us.”
He hissed and dove lower, but the demon vultures changed their path. The birds shrieked and fear stabbed his thumping heart. They were bigger than what William had first thought, bigger than him. They were ugly. Featherless heads. Foul red eyes. Round sharp beaks. It would be a deadly fight. How could he keep Mariah safe?
“Drakon! Do I have the power to call upon the elements?”
Drakon puffed out his scaled chest, and smugness flickered in his large gold eyes. “Aye, you do.”
“Then tell me how, damn it, before we’re ripped to pieces.”
Drakon shook his large head. “You’ll not be able to wield the elements with fear flowing through your veins.”
“We’re in Coaybay and giant birds are pursuing us and you want me to remain calm?”
The dragon gnashed his teeth, and his gold eyes changed to a burning red. “Do you want to die?”
William cursed and glanced over his shoulder. One of the birds snapped at his tail, and he jerked it away just in time. He dove back into a black cloud and gagged on the fumes, escaping the predators. Mariah coughed. Bloody hell! How the devil could he remain calm?
Annoyance flared in Drakon’s eyes. “C
lose your eyes, buffoon.”
“I won’t be able to see.”
“Fine. Don’t.” Drakon actually turned around and flattened his wings against his back as if he were pouting. “Those birds will feast upon you and Mariah for hours.”
“I could burn them.”
Drakon snorted. “Fire won’t hurt them. They are Maketabori’s pets. Immune to fire.”
“Pets?”
Drakon peered over his shoulder. “Close your eyes, damn it”.
William pushed back his doubt and obeyed. Air swept over him.
Drakon slowly faced William. Hope rang in his guttural voice. “Think of air, not fire. Inhale deeply. We’re going to try to control the wind. Turn around and fight.”
“This is foolish. I can only blow fire.”
Drakon stared at William. Desperation flickered in his eyes and clung to his voice. “You’re an elemental being and can exhale wind or fire.”
“You are going to get Mariah killed.”
“Do it now.” Drakon lowered his voice to a tiny plea.
William hissed but turned around and faced the flying monsters, hoping to God he wasn’t opting for the worst choice of his life.
“Exhale.”
A shriek chilled his blood.
William did as Drakon said, but only exhaled a puff of air.
“William—” Mariah’s voice faded. She trembled and oozed with fear.
“Concentrate. Think of an angry squall on the open sea. Believe in it. Now. Exhale.”
He sped away from the vultures, trying to think. He thought of the last thunderstorm on the ocean and how the wind had howled and whipped the Phoenix’s sails. The ship had rocked violently. Water splashed onto the deck, and men grappled with lines to keep from being swept out to sea. He whirled around, took a deep breath, and blew.
He could see the pupils in the vultures’ eyes and smelled their foul breath. He blew harder and harder, hoping the smoke and gust of wind bursting through his lips would be enough to slow them down. His lungs burned.
Thankfully, the wretched birds lessened their pace, and their direction seemed to deviate. Ignoring the pain in his chest, he inhaled and exhaled again, determined to keep Mariah safe.
