Crimson Bone (Kouzlo Saga Book 2)

by L. L. McNeil

  Blinking away her blurred vision, Seila glanced up to see a Stinger collapse in front of her. And Tej was there, kicking it away with a boot and crouching down to give her his hand. ‘Get up!’

  His face swam, and Tress’s weight pressed down on Seila’s shoulders.

  ‘Seila!’ Tej yelled. He thrust his crossbow at a particularly bold Stinger and sent it flying. ‘Come on! You have to move!’

  She reached forward, missed his hand, and almost toppled over again.

  Tej grabbed her with both hands, his crossbow forgotten. Carefully, he pulled her to her feet.

  Seila fluttered her wings and hoisted Tress up a little higher.

  ‘Let me take her,’ Tej said.

  ‘Grab your crossbow. I have her.’ Every breath hurt, every blink threw sparks dancing across her vision. But she had to do this. She didn’t want the shame of being helped by a human.

  To make her point clear, Seila flapped her wings, crouched, and leapt back into the air. She was unsteady, and wobbled, but she managed to hold her balance and make her way out of the throng of demons.

  Below her, a Marauder lunged forward.

  Tej’s cry of pain almost dropped her from the sky.

  Seila heard a sickening crunch that cut off his scream. She struggled to turn around and look, but when she managed it, she saw Tej pinned on the floor below the Marauder’s talons.

  Seila didn’t have the strength to go back to him—not while carrying an unconscious Tress—so she headed for the exit. If she could leave Tress with Ashante, she could go back for Tej.

  But as she continued across the warehouse, a blaze of fire scored the room. She didn’t need to look to know that the fire had slammed into the Marauder, and relief swept through her when she heard Tej’s feet carrying him away from the demon.

  She saw Damon near the entrance, arms lifted, flames licking his fingers. He breathed heavily, his face contorted into fierce determination.

  ‘Go! Go!’ she called.

  Damon and Tej looked up at her, and Seila could see a fine sheen of sweat on Tej’s brow. Both of them sprinted for all they were worth. By the time Seila exited the warehouse, they were already deep in the path through the shipping containers, Ashante with them.

  Seila could fly a little faster than they could run, but she was already losing strength. She couldn’t hold Tress too tightly, but also couldn’t staunch the flow of blood. And she could hear the demons’ claws turning up the ground as they chased after them.

  Her torso was wet with Tress’s blood, which continued to ooze from the assassin and onto her clothes. ‘She’s bleeding a lot!’ Seila called out.

  Tej darted around the corner and was lost from view. Damon and Ashante were only a few steps behind him. Seila powered on as quickly as she could. The car seemed a very long way away.

  As she flew around the corner, she saw Ashante stood with her arms to the sky, her fingertips engulfed in purple light. Seila didn’t have time to stop and ask. She flew past the Enchantress, trying to catch up to Damon and Tej.

  She chanced a look over her shoulder, saw Ashante’s arms drop, then the Enchantress was running towards them, leaving the glowing beacon of swirling light where she had been standing.

  And then the Prowler pounced.

  Seila hadn’t even seen it—it had been crouched in the shadows atop one of the containers. She cursed herself that she’d forgotten about it in the chaos of the rescue.

  But the Prowler didn’t pounce on Ashante—it pounced on the light. Seila watched as it snapped at the light, its tail lashing, almost blocking the whole path with its long body.

  When the pursuing demons came around the corner, the Prowler let out a roar that Seila felt even from a distance. The Lesser Demons hesitated before the might of the predator, and the Prowler lunged for the nearest one, grabbing a Stinger by the middle of its body and snapping it in two.

  Seila didn’t look after that.

  ‘Seila!’ Tej called. His eyes flickered, vision unfocused, and his face had paled only in the minute or two that had passed since their escape. Damon shoved him forward, hurrying everyone to the car.

  Seila joined the others as they raced away from the demon horde.

  15

  Seila wanted to make sure she was in the room when Tress awoke. She didn’t want to miss anything the assassin said or did. She wanted explanations more than anything else, and refused to let Tress give her the slip. The infirmary of Caramond House stretched along the length of the building, and was home to twenty separate beds. Seila wondered how many Kouzlo had been nursed back to health over the years, and how bad the war on demons had been to warrant this many beds.

  She’d ended up waiting for two days, which was less time than she’d thought, but still a frustratingly long period of time considering Gorath continued to roam the countryside unchecked.

  Ashante’s trick to turn the Prowler’s attention on the demons and not them had been a life-saving one, giving them all enough time to reach Tej’s car and get away.

  Lady Tress had been as pale as ash by the time they’d reached Caramond House. Fallow hadn’t asked any questions, hadn’t made any demands or accusations. She’d simply taken Tress to the infirmary, where she’d remained under frequent observation.

  Tej sat up in the bed beside Tress, thumbing through the news feed on his phone, his right arm in a sling. Seila had never understood the need for such technological gadgets, but since Tej had been laid up, he’d hardly come off it.

  Fallow had attempted to persuade him off his phone by bringing him various books from her vast library. But Tej had shown disgust more than anything else at the array of classics. Seila read the covers as Fallow brought them down, but whether the Enchantress offered him Tolstoy or Dostoyevski, The Great Gatsby, 1984, or Jane Austen, Tej turned up his nose at every one.

  Seila found it amusing. Fallow never gave up, always returning a few hours later with another selection, and returning the refused books back to her collection. Eventually, the Enchantress had to get on with her other duties of running the Kouzlo, recruiting, and keeping an eye on any new demons approaching their territory. Fallow hadn’t ruled out Gorath trying to breach the walls of Caramond House a second time, and she had spent several hours strengthening her enchantments, and reinforcing the Kouzlo’s defences.

  Seila had taken a seat between Tej and Tress’s beds. After sleep, she’d mostly recovered from the blood loss from the Dragora, and she hadn’t taken any significant injuries from the fight. So, she felt fit and ready to go again from the very next morning.

  ‘I know demon hunting is dangerous but I never thought I’d actually get hurt,’ Tej said.

  Seila held back a snort of laughter. Tej approached life as though he were invincible. As if nothing could ever touch him. It probably went some way to explain some of his more reckless and foolhardy decisions. At least Damon had a healthy dose of caution. Tej was bold, fearless, and stupid. ‘You’re lucky it wasn’t worse.’

  ‘I know, I know,’ Tej said. He looked down at his arm. ‘Could be my whole arm was broken. Or leg.’

  Or back, Seila thought, considering he’d been caught by a Marauder.

  ‘I’m glad Fallow’s finally stopped,’ Tej said, shifting his position in bed. He’d been propped up by several thick cushions so he was sitting upright. He wore a sling to help his collarbone heal, and wanted to get out and about. Fallow hadn’t been convinced he wouldn’t try to do something stupid, so ordered him to stay in the infirmary for a full week at the minimum. He’d also been ordered to not so much as touch his crossbow for at least two weeks, and while Tej had outwardly agreed, Seila shared Fallow’s lack of confidence in the man’s restraint.

  ‘Glad Fallow’s stopped what?’ Seila asked, her attention mostly on Tress. She was certain the woman’s eyelids had twitched.

  ‘Bringing me books.’ Tej sighed, leaned back, and winced. ‘I just wanna be out of this.’ He gestured to the sling.

  Seila gave him a cu
rsory glance. ‘It’s there to heal you. You can move your arm, or weren’t you listening to what Fallow said?’

  He huffed. ‘I know that. I’d just like it to be healed faster. Fallow’s a walking pipe of magic. I would have thought she could do something to help. She’s healed you loads of times.’

  ‘That’s different.’

  ‘I don’t see how.’ He went back to his phone, despite having put it down a few seconds earlier.

  ‘I need energy. Demonic energy keeps me alive. Fallow just gave it a helping hand. She didn’t actually heal my wounds.’

  But Tej wasn’t listening. He grunted and opened a video, his attention focussed on the small screen in front of him.

  Damon had been down a handful of times, but Claes had him working harder than ever before. If it wasn’t runes, it was their theory. If it wasn’t theory, it was working on improving his control over his Elemental abilities. Seila could tell that Tej didn’t enjoy being left out, but there wasn’t a great deal that could be done about that right now.

  Seila knew Damon’s training was necessary. But she felt quite sad for Tej as he sat in bed, uncomfortable, only with unwanted books as company. Tej and Damon were inseparable, and Tej definitely wasn’t one for sitting around all day doing nothing.

  Tej and Damon had both lost family to demons, both had the means to fight back. Tej had leaped into it with arms and eyes wide open, embracing his abilities with hardly a look back. Damon, on the other hand, had repressed his memories and abilities through fear and guilt. And now he was playing catch up.

  Seila didn’t understand Damon—why wouldn’t he want to burn demons? In some way, he’d be avenging his parents, would be protecting himself and Amber, protecting those of Fernhampton and beyond.

  But she supposed demons were terrifying to most. They were the stuff of nightmares. Creatures who haunted the night and stole away children and adults both. It wasn’t easy for anyone to just fight back, even when they had the means to.

  Humans were fodder.

  ‘Anyway, what are you doing down here all the time?’ Tej asked. Evidently his video had finished, or hadn’t been able to hold his attention for very long.

  ‘Waiting for Tress to wake up.’

  Tej frowned. ‘Why? You’re healthy. You can fly. Why stay inside?’

  Seila didn’t bother to reply. She had her own reasons for wanting to see Lady Tress when she regained consciousness, and she didn’t need to explain them to anyone. She crossed her legs, folded her arms, and continued to wait.

  Fallow hadn’t given them much of an idea as to when Tress would wake up. The assassin wasn’t of this world, and had different physiology to Tej. She would wake when she would wake.

  And if there was one thing Seila had in abundance, it was patience. Tress’s stunt with Gorath had probably bought them some time—she had injured his wing, after all, and they’d all taken down several demons—but the Elite would definitely be after revenge. With Fallow back, Caramond House would be safe enough for the time being.

  But that was to say nothing of other towns and villages in the south. While they were out of Fallow’s territory, they didn’t need to worry. Her Kouzlo couldn’t cover the entire country. But it did mean that many people would be vulnerable to attack while Gorath was on the warpath.

  And Seila couldn’t forget Sekki’s threat at becoming the next Demon King. While she didn’t know exactly what that process entailed, she had to assume that Gorath’s goal was the same. A new Demon King meant the end of the world.

  It was something she couldn’t allow.

  And if Tress’s stupid, suicidal attack had forced Gorath’s hand, made him more desperate to achieve his goal more quickly, then Seila was going to blame her utterly and completely.

  She was going to enjoy that. Perhaps it would even be enough to bring Tress’s arrogance down to a tolerable level.

  Tress groaned and rolled over in bed, her foot poking out from the bottom of the sheets.

  Seila saw a black tattoo snaking around her ankle and up her calf. She couldn’t quite make it out, but presumed it was some sort of dragon motif. ‘Tress. Are you back with us?’

  Tress coughed twice, wrinkled her nose, then her eyes fluttered open. They immediately looked at Seila, who stood up and smiled.

  ‘The princess awakens.’

  ‘Where’s Gorath?’ Tress asked, her voice thin and reedy.

  ‘Still where you left him,’ Seila said. ‘We had to make a quick escape after your little stunt.’

  Tress coughed again and pushed herself up. Her eyes swam in and out of focus, and Seila frowned. ‘Do you remember?’

  Tress’s head lolled for a moment, then she jerked forward. She looked around as though she was seeing the room for the first time. She briefly glanced over to Tej, and her eyes lingered on Seila. They narrowed. ‘Phantom.’

  Seila sighed. ‘Welcome back, Tress.’

  Tress opened her mouth to speak, then shut it again. She blinked several times and squinted as though trying to recall something. ‘Where…?’

  ‘Caramond House. Infirmary. You’ve been asleep two days. Gorath almost killed you.’ Seila kept as impassive as possible, and stuck with facts over her own biases. She nodded at Tress. ‘You lost a lot of blood. I carried you back to the car.’

  Tress’s arms went to her chest. She peeled off the blanket and looked down at herself.

  Seila couldn’t see, but she knew Tress had been wrapped with so much bandaging that Ashante had commented she looked like a mummy. ‘Thanks to Ashante, Fallow, and the doctors, you’ll be fine.’

  ‘Where’s Fallow?’ Tress asked, more nervous than before.

  ‘She and Ashante are still busy looking for Gorath’s Mirage. If there was any doubt we needed it sealed before, that’s beyond question now. And, thanks to your decisions, both you and Tej are out of action for the immediate future. When we take him on, we’ll be down two people.’

  ‘What? No...Gorath is mine!’

  Seila shook her head. Tried to keep the smile off her face. ‘I’m afraid not. We can’t have Gorath and his demons tearing up the countryside. Fallow’s been asked to do something. There’s no Kouzlo where Gorath is, and we’re the nearest. We don’t have time to wait around anymore, not now.’

  ‘But...but Gorath…’

  ‘He was near the coast, doing his own thing. Not causing that much destruction. But you’ve riled him up now. What did Ashante say? “Poked the hornet’s nest,” I think was the phrase? And he’s moving from town to town, attacking anything in his path.’

  Tress swallowed. Her face paled, and Seila wasn’t sure if that was because of her news or because she’d just woken up after two days’ sleep. Tress looked across to Tej again, who was busy on his phone and trying desperately to look like he couldn’t hear their conversation.

  Seila followed her gaze, and spoke again, ‘Broken collarbone. Sustained during our attempts to keep Gorath’s demons off you.’ She knew she was being cruel, that she was rubbing salt in the wound. But Tress had been throwing her weight and status around since the moment she’d arrived in Caramond House. Fallow constantly went on about working as a team, and yet Tress deliberately did her own thing without thought of consequence.

  And now they were weakened because of it.

  It was ironic that she, the Phantom, was talking to Tress about teamwork.

  ‘I’ll be okay,’ Tej added, softening the blow.

  Tress swallowed again. ‘I feel fine.’

  ‘Fallow can be the judge of that.’

  Soto meowed from his spot at the end of one of the vacant beds. Seila knew all too well that meant Fallow was now aware of Tress’s awakening. Seila wasn’t sure if Fallow’s Familiars could only pass on visual messages of what they saw, or if they could pass on actual messages of things they’d heard, too. But she wouldn’t take back a single word that she’d said to Tress.

  It was about time she knew she wasn’t the damned princess of Earth, and none of them needed t
o bow down to her. Especially when she ran off and did her own thing.

  Tress shook her head, her brow furrowing. Her voice strengthened. ‘I never told you to help! I used my power to get to Gorath’s demons so you wouldn’t follow! I never wanted help. Never asked for it! If you’d have listened to me, he’d be fine!’

  Seila took a step back at Tress’s sudden fury. Anger rose up in her, burning hot like fire.

  How could Tress be so stubborn, so stupid? If she hadn’t run off, Tej wouldn’t have broken his collarbone. She wouldn’t have been drained by a Dragora. Gorath wouldn’t be fighting harder to his victory.

  ‘The Kouzlo are stronger as a team.’ Fallow’s voice suddenly cut through the building tension like a knife. The Enchantress carried another armful of books, but her attention was on Seila and Tress, and not Tej—whom the books were presumably for. ‘I’ve told you this time and time again. Shown you this. And you still refuse to understand.’

  Seila held her tongue. She didn’t want to interject and draw the Enchantress’s attention onto her while she was giving Tress a dressing down. Her eyes darted to Tress, who’d kept her face impassive in Fallow’s presence.

  ‘But Gorath,’ Tress began.

  Fallow held up a hand to stop her. ‘He’s on the move. After your efforts, we can’t face him now. He’s far too strong. Ashante hopes to find his Mirage.’

  ‘She had no luck before,’ Tress said, sullen.

  Fallow smiled. ‘She has an extra bit of help. Your boots were covered with Gorath’s blood. She’s using that as a conduit. I have faith in Ashante’s ability. I’ve not known any tracker better than her in over a century.’

  The casual phrase reminded Seila just how old and powerful Fallow was in her own right. It was a shame she was limited so much to Caramond House.

  Tress, however, didn’t seem to be in awe. ‘If she can find the Mirage and you seal it, then that’ll help. But it will take her months to locate it.’

  ‘Have a little faith.’

  ‘I have faith in what I’ve seen. What’s been done before. And what hasn’t been done.’