by John Corwin
The historian clenched a fist. "If you hold a firecracker tight in your hand, it could blow your hand off. If you hold it in the palm of your hand"—he opened his hand—"it'll hurt when it explodes, but it won't destroy your hand."
"Holy crap in a donut box," Shelton said, eyes distant. "He's right. If that thing explodes inside the shield, it could create a shockwave that might take out more than Queens Gate. It might collapse the way station cave and cause half of London to sink into the ground."
"Technically, the explosion will be more concentrated," Cinder said. "I do not think half of London would be destroyed. Perhaps only a quarter of it."
"Okay, I get it," I said, waving my hands in surrender. "We're screwed. There's no way inside the shield, and nothing short of a big explosion can take it out."
"That's not technically true," Vallaena said in a quiet voice.
The room went absolutely still.
"And?" I said, implying ellipses at the end of the word.
"It is possible we could summon a hellhound on the other side of the shield."
"What good would that do us?" I imagined the poor dog running in circles on the other side, and drooling on the floor.
She pursed her lips. "If you give me the demon name, I may be able to summon a hellhound on the other side of the barrier and imprint the name on it. It could then morph into human shape, and speak the demon name."
"Are you certain?" I asked.
"Of course not, but we can try."
I tried to speak the demon name, but my tongue got in the way. I saw the name emblazoned in my thoughts, the intricate pattern and the associated sounds clear as day, but I couldn't form them with my lips.
"I can't say it," I said. I tried again, and made a horrible gurgling noise.
"The name has been sealed to you," she said. "You can only send it to the demon, or imprint it on your own summoned demon."
"You're saying I can imprint it on a hellhound, but I can't give you the name to do that?"
"That is exactly what I'm saying." She frowned. "It means I have no choice but to teach you how to summon a hellhound."
"I don't like the sound of that," Elyssa muttered, giving me a worried look.
I didn't like it any better than she did.
Chapter 44
"Summon a hellhound?" I regarded Vallaena warily. I checked the date and time on my phone. "We have two days until kabloom." I projected a huge holographic timer above the table with my phone. "Forty-eight hours, people. That's it. This is our last chance." If raising a hellhound was the answer, then, by god, I would learn how to do so.
Adam exchanged a knowing look with Shelton.
I raised an eyebrow. "You have any other bright ideas, Adam?"
He shrugged. "Even if you banish the guardian, we still need to get inside the barrier, and lower the shield on the arch." He nodded at Shelton. "Remember how we used to lower the forest shield to let out spider bats?"
"Shelton's only mentioned it a dozen times," I said.
"You think we can decode the cipher spell on this shield?" Shelton said, ignoring my jibe.
"Anything is possible," Adam said.
Shelton shrugged. "You're the genius."
"What about the other end of the arch?" Bella said. "Did we ever find out where it is?"
Zagg shook his head. "No. We didn't think it was important. Besides, what's to guarantee a similar shield isn't around the chamber on that end?"
After the meeting, we had a somber meal of pizza. I still craved chicken wings and wondered if I'd get to have them again before the vampling curse took me.
"I don't like this," Elyssa said as I changed into workout clothes for my hellhound lessons with Vallaena. "Summoning demons of any kind is risky."
"Banishing the guardian isn't something I'm looking forward to either," I replied.
She ran a finger up my skin, her eyes troubled by the darkness in my veins. "How much longer, do you think?" she asked, her voice a whisper.
I shook my head slowly. "I don't know, baby. But, I'm glad you're here, no matter what happens." I'd taken more of the potion, what little Meghan had left, but it seemed to have lost its potency.
Elyssa squeezed her eyes tight, but tears leaked out. "I've got to find your sister. I've got to convince her—"
"You can't, babe." I stroked her hair. "It's too late for that."
"It's never too late," she said, violet eyes blazing with determination. "While you're off practicing, I'm going to find her."
"Please don't," I whispered. "It's too dangerous. Jeremiah—"
"Can suck the business end of my sword, Justin." She pressed a finger over my lips. "Life isn't worth living without you. I don't care what the risk is. I will find her and even ask nicely."
I sighed. I knew it was useless talking to her when she got all determined like this. I just had to hope she didn't get anywhere near Ivy.
Vallaena led me to our usual practice place and started the lessons.
"Do you know what it feels like to summon your inner demon spirit?" she asked.
"Yeah, like opening a cage, and unleashing a monster."
She nodded. "An apt description for a male. It is different for females, but that is of no concern. When you reach for your inner demon, you are bringing that side of you from the demon plane into your body."
I crinkled my forehead. "But it's always there, isn't it? A part of me."
"Yes and no. Your mortal soul and demon spirit are tethered in both planes simultaneously." She held her hand flat. "This is the barrier between our worlds. There is always a slight crack in the barrier which allows your soul to remain whole. If this barrier were to close completely, your soul would be severed, and your body would lose access to your incubus abilities. Even though your body has certain supernatural qualities, you would become almost mortal."
I shuddered. "Someone could do that to me?"
She shook her head. "Not that I am aware of. This is not something we share outside our race for obvious reasons, however. A skilled Arcane summoner could possibly contrive an exploit, and we do not wish that to happen."
I nodded. "Our secret is safe." I shuddered again. "That's freaky."
"Using this same split in the barrier, we can also summon other creatures from the demon plane and project the opening just about anywhere in our line of sight."
"But if the crack in the barrier is inside us, how can you project the opening somewhere else?"
She pursed her lips. "The barrier is not physical. It does not recognize the boundaries of this world. I honestly do not know why it works as it does, but just accept if you look at an area and focus on whatever you are summoning, it will emerge there."
"Like those black oily lakes," I said, thinking back to how the hellhounds she'd summoned against me came into being.
"Yes. They use whatever materials are available to form their physical shell."
"What if I do it in concrete?"
She blinked. "They will still emerge as flesh, not concrete. Although hellhounds will conform to the original shape you give them, their spirits differ. Some will be larger or smaller, and they each have different personalities."
"I could give them horns?"
Vallaena simply stared at me for a long moment. "Was I mistaken in my understanding that this place is in imminent danger, and yet you are asking insignificant questions which serve only to waste time?"
I looked away from her, a bit ashamed. "Sorry. It's how I cope with imminent death."
"I understand." She placed an arm on my shoulder. "I am proud of you, nephew. You are a brave, capable Daemos, and I have full confidence you will not allow us all to die."
A sad laugh burst from my throat. "Thank you, my dear, sweet aunt."
She laughed. "Perhaps your humor is something of a balm. I must admit I am rather nervous."
I gave her a pained look. "I really wish you hadn't just told me that."
"While you were preparing for our lessons, I went with the MacL
ean character down to the shielded area. I was able to summon a hellhound on the other side of the barrier."
I felt my eyes widen. "That's great! That means the plan will work, right?"
She returned an uncertain look. "Provided you can imprint the demon name on the hellhound, yes."
I rubbed my hands together, buoyed by sudden optimism. "Let's get to work."
She nodded. "To summon from the demon plane, you must first be able to sense it. Bring forth your incubus senses, but redirect them inside and through you rather than out."
I did as she said, closing my eyes, and allowing my demonic essence to emerge. Rather than extend my tendrils to the outside world, I sent them flowing inside me. Unfortunately, all they did was go through my body, and come out the other side. I kept practicing, and listening to Vallaena explain how it felt to stop thinking of them as physical projections, and how I could turn them inside out which would project my senses through the barrier, and into the demon realm.
Over the next few hours, I did just that. The problem was, seeing past my own self was pretty difficult. My demon side was a complete asshole, and just when I thought I'd managed to turn my sense inside out, he would make a break for the opening, and try to manifest me into a killer beast.
"Argh!" I shouted, pounding a fist into my palm, as the demon played spoiler yet again. "I can't do it. My freaking demon side won't let me."
"The demon side is part of you," she said. "You must make it do as you wish."
"Easier said than done." I took a deep breath. Gritted my teeth, closed my eyes, and directed my senses inward again. For some reason, swallowing helped me invert my senses. I did so, and felt the strange sensation of seeing inside myself. I sensed like I never had before, the other presence inside me, almost like a split personality. That side of me had no sense of responsibility. It wanted everything. It was ravenous for food, sex, anything, and it didn't give a damn how it fulfilled itself. It was like a spoiled child.
The moment I sensed this part of me again, it was as if we were looking at each other face-to-face. I could practically see a slow greedy smile spread across a cruel face as it darted for control.
Stop! I roared inside my head. I am the boss of you, and you will stop!
Almost like a choker leash on an unruly dog, my demon side jerked back. An image formed in my mind, gathering solidity and clarity, and formed into a black void. I stood in the void, the darkness beneath my feet solid as stone flooring. Despite the pitch, the area around me was illuminated in a dim white light. A figure emerged from the darkness. He was my height and build. And he looked—I gasped. He looked identical to me. Well, except for the long spiraling horns sprouting from his forehead.
"You are not the boss of me," he said, his voice just like mine, but more guttural and deep.
"Yes I am," I said, my voice sounding tiny.
He strode closer, seeming to tower over me despite our similar heights. Fear gripped me, and I backed up a step. As I did, he seemed to grow taller. "I am in control," he said. "Mine."
"No." I tried to yell at him, but my throat locked up, and I trembled.
His lips peeled back from serrated teeth, and black claws grew from his hands. His body swelled a little, gaining height. "You are weak. I am strong. I will take what is mine as it should be."
What the hell was happening to me? I clenched my fists, but they felt so weak, as if I were in a nightmare, and if I tried to punch him, nothing would happen. He would knock me out in one punch.
"Yes," he said, muscles bulking on his shoulders, his arms, his claws growing longer. "I knew you were weak. I am the boss of you. I will take everything. Nothing will stand in my way. Your people will be mine. Your life will be mine."
"No!" I said, my shout sounding muffled and pathetic. "You will destroy everything!"
"I do what I want. It is all mine." His eyes glowed bright, and he smiled. "Elyssa will be mine." His eyes turned to slits, and a forked tongue licked across his blue lips. "She will be delicious."
Rage burned hot inside me. No. Not Elyssa. He can't have her. "You will not touch her," I said.
"I will have her," he said, his greedy smile widening.
A volcanic blast of pure rage ignited my soul. I launched myself at him. "Never!" I roared. My hand locked around his throat.
He roared back and gripped my arms, pulling my hands off his neck. "You are weak!"
Clawed hands dug into my flesh. Blood welled, and pain shot up my arms. His grip tightened, and I felt my bones cracking from his grip.
If he wins, everyone will die. If he defeats me, Elyssa is his.
No. I couldn't let it happen. We could still stop it. Vallaena's plan was crazy, but it offered something I thought we had lost after the latest disaster. It gave all of us something we could hold onto and draw strength from.
Hope.
"We," I said, pushing my hands toward his neck. "Will"—I clenched my teeth so hard I could feel them cracking—"win!" I believed we had a chance. I believed this plan could work. And most of all, I believed this stupid bastard wasn't about to have his way with the love of my life.
Fear suddenly lit in his eyes. Without warning, strength seemed to flee from him, and flowed into me. I gripped his throat and throttled him. I picked him up by the neck and held him above the ground, choking the life out of him.
"Who's the boss?" I roared, my voice echoing in the void.
He gave me a furious look, and snarled.
I squeezed harder. Blue blood ran between my fingers, trickled down my arm. He thrashed like a wild animal, clawing at me, but his attempts did nothing to harm me.
"Who's your boss, you effing moron?" I shook him like a rag doll. "Submit to me or I will crush you to pulp."
"You cannot kill me," he said. Tears of blood streaked from the corners of his eyes. "I am part of you."
"Then I will keep you in torment," I said, taking my other hand, and gripping one of his horns. I pulled the horn, and he screamed in pure agony.
"Stop!" he cried.
"Who's the boss?" I said in a low growl.
All the fight went out of him. He sagged. "You are," he said in a whimper.
"I didn't hear you."
He looked at me, expression bleak, like a child denied candy on Halloween. "You are the boss of me."
I grunted. Set him down. "Good."
The void shattered, and suddenly I was looking into Vallaena's blue eyes. "Ah!" I shouted, startled.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I had a discussion with my inner self."
She cocked her head like a curious dog. "You talked to yourself?"
"I took control."
She cocked her head like a curious puppy. "How troubling, and yet interesting. Very well, try to sense the other side now."
I repeated my swallowing ritual, and felt my senses turn inward. This time, my demonic side surrendered, and the world suddenly felt a whole lot bigger. I sensed beings—countless beings. Some brushed past my senses without stopping. Some were so minute as to be almost unnoticeable. Others felt strangely human. I let my senses drift, and felt something truly gargantuan pass by. I felt like a dingy in the wake of a cruise ship at its passing, and felt my physical body stagger.
"You have just sensed a very powerful being," Vallaena said. "They will usually pay you no mind, Justin, but you must take care not to draw their attention. Without their name, you would be as easy to squash to them as an ant."
"I can see that," I said in a weak voice, still keeping my eyes shut so I wouldn't ruin my concentration. "How do I know which ones are hellhounds?"
"Remain passive. You will eventually gain a sense of what is what. This is the part that takes time."
I did as she asked, eyes closed in concentration, my senses extended into the demon world. I sensed all kinds of things. Some sent cold chills down my spines, their presence like insatiable hunger. Vallaena told me they were crawlers—creatures which devoured the essence of mortals until they were not
hing but brittle husks. I remembered Shelton's story about Hooch, and hoped I didn't find any more of the creatures.
"Does everything live in the same place" I asked her some time later. "So many seem to pass by whatever spot I'm sensing."
"Although you think you are remaining still, your senses are actually moving. The demon plane operates much differently than here."
"Well, my feet really hurt," I said. I'd remained standing for much of the duration since it was hard to sit down while maintaining my connection to the spirit world.
I suddenly felt something approaching. It grew closer. I wished I could actually see the demon plane, but apparently that wasn't possible, according to Vallaena. I felt a bit exposed, like a man sticking his arm down a tree stump to feel inside at the risk of being stung by an alien scorpion creature with poison that would drive him mad and make him beg for death.
The presence stopped. It actually seemed to sniff my presence and then stopped nearby.
"Um, I think I found a dog," I said, and described the sensation. I hoped it didn't try to sniff my demonic butt.
"Yes," Vallaena said, her hand gripping mine. "Now, envelop it with your senses, open your eyes, and will it to manifest before you."
It sounded easy enough, so I did as she asked. The being in the demon world seemed to sense something was up, and tried to make a run for it, but I—for lack of a better word—lassoed it with my tendril, opened my eyes, and thought, Manifest.
The ground turned murky black. The presence in my senses began to slip away. As it did, a form took shape in the oily pool, struggling to free itself. It squirmed, and fought, and a tarred shape took form. A head pushed free of the muck, followed by a body. Trembling legs quivered and unglued from the earth. To my utter amazement, a hellhound stepped forth.
Vallaena looked at the hellhound as it wagged its tail and ran circles around me. She burst into genuine laughter, picked up my hellhound, and kissed it on the nose. "It's so cute!" she said, sounding like a little girl.
I buried my face in a palm. Just great. My first hellhound wasn't big and scary. In fact, it might have trouble scaring a cat.
Great job, Justin.
My first hellhound looked like a freaking miniature poodle.
