by Tom Keller
"I can kill them as well," Zeke said, speaking up.
I glanced over at him and watched as a burning sword appeared in his right hand.
"He's an Angel," Michael said, leaning over to whisper in my ear.
Now I realized what made the glimpse of his wings I'd seen earlier look strange, they really did have feathers. First Ghosts, and now Angels. I really needed to find that Fae for Dummies book now more than ever!
"OK," I said, nodding at Zeke. "They're also fond of conjuring up Demons. I've encountered two. One was a regular Demon and the other was a Fire Demon. I can’t speak for the Fire Demon but the other had been summoned and bewitched. Once I killed the Mage that brought him here he was released from the spell and stopped fighting. So use caution but don't get yourself killed trying to be too nice.
"There may also be a Dragon. She's possibly a Were as well. Leave her to me. She's probably going to be collared so if we can release her that would be preferable to killing her. But we'll do what we have to if need be. Any questions?"
"If there is a Weredragon, I would see her freed as well," Martin said in a disgusted tone just before he and his crew shifted. "We can guess she has not been treated kindly if they have harvested her teeth for such magic."
No one else spoke up so I nodded to Siegfried.
We started off through the lot with him in the lead, The Weres brought up the rear with two breaking off and coming up each side of us. As we marched down the roadway I had a feeling of déjà vu. It's not what you might think. It's just that it reminded me of back when I had been working in Narcotics and we were going to hit a dope house with a search warrant. There were a lot of similarities here, albeit I can't recall ever doing so dressed like Robin Hood.
We'd stage at a nearby location, usually the back of a strip shopping mall. Everyone would put on their gear, flak vests, helmets, badges around their neck, and then we'd jump into a few cars and head for the target. Just down the street from the place everyone would get out and form up. Door banger in the lead, supervisor in the rear, then quickstep on single file to the house and after a knock, down went the door and in we came, guns drawn.
I was interrupted in my musings when Charlie turned around and went to the rear of the column, just at where the roadway had ended and we'd started down the packed earth path. Siegfried signaled everyone to stop and I looked behind to see what was up. I'll be damned. There really was a ghost out here. It looked like a woman, as Mal had reported. She was translucent and had a faint glow, some type of greenish yellow that reminded me of… well, let's just say it wasn't pleasant.
She was stopped a few yards behind Charlie, gesturing wildly. We couldn’t understand the words but it sure seemed like she was trying to get our attention. I saw Michael give a nod to Zeke who stepped out of the line and walked back to her. As he got closer, his wings appeared, and then he stepped right up to her. She continued to flail her harms around for a second and then dropped to her knees. Zeke grabbed her by the chin and just stood there for a moment before turning around and marching back to our line. He spoke briefly with one of the other's on his team who then handed him something before walking back to her.
"What’s going on?" I asked Michael, who was just behind me in line.
"Holy water," he replied. "He's going to release her."
"I'm not sure what you mean," I replied.
"Very few Ghosts are wicked. Most are just souls that got trapped here after death," he explained. "Usually it's because their deaths were violent or meaningless. They get so lost in the moment that they miss their opportunity to pass on. That's what we get in the hotel a lot. Folks that died after a drinking and gambling binge, maybe a heart attack with a prostitute, that kind of thing. Dying in a hotel room can be chaotic to the soul. They forget where they are and it's easy for them to get confused.
"Zeke is going to douse her with holy water and help her move forward. That's probably what she's been trying to get across, she was lost and just needed help. Any human seeing her wouldn't understand what she was doing."
"So what happens if a ghost doesn't want to pass on?" I asked, amazed that this kind of thing was actually real. Which probably makes no sense at all since here I was in my Fae persona dressed like a Merman warlord surrounded by Vampires, Werewolves, and other Fae. Ok, so the Lilin aren’t exactly Vampires, but you get my point.
"That’s what his sword is for," Michael replied.
By now, Zeke was finished with whatever he was doing and I watched as he stepped back and she began to glow with a white light. She rose up into the air a few feet and then, without a sound, the light shrank into itself and she disappeared.
"Let's move on," Siegfried said as Charlie ran back to my side.
We continued down the dirt path another eighth of a mile or so and stopped again where the brush hid us near the bridge. We knelt as he nodded at Delia.
She stood and looked around for a moment, then picking up an unbroken bottle laying among the assorted bits of trash, she sauntered across the bridge, bottle in hand and humming a tune. Staggering now and then to appear tipsy.
I watched as she crossed the bridge and continued walking down the path where a tent was laid out. I could also see the shimmering magic that covered the field. The tent was just outside the field and nearby I could see a portion of the magic that glowed slightly off kilter. That had to be the door. There was no way to get to it without passing the tent.
As Delia got closer two figures emerged and closed in on her. I could hear her laughing as they approached. She put her arms around both and faster than I could have thought possible, leaned in toward each figures' neck. Before they could react they were down. She turned and waved and then dragged both into the tent they had come out of.
Siegfried was already up and I grabbed the squirt gun as we moved forward toward the field. I took the lead and when I reached the portion that I could tell was the doorway, began squirting water at it. The shimmer subsided as Milagre's potion was applied and when it was gone, I signaled to the others and took up a position inside the now open doorway. I waited as each team member entered. I would follow after Delia and Charlie passed through. Calling Sendy, I sent her in, telling her what I was going to need her to do and to try and stay safe in the meantime. Then I stepped into the field, the doorway collapsing behind me.
In front of me stood a dilapidated wooden building similar in appearance to the old rooming house on the other side of the flood channel. Next to that was what looked like an old barn, two or three stories high that was all shuttered up. A few dead trees and scruffy looking vegetation stood out around the parched desert landscape. There was no one around and the buildings appeared deserted. Everyone fanned out and took a position around the buildings as the feeling of magic in the air intensified. Then all hell broke loose. Mages starting running out of the building at various exits, some blasting with wands and others throwing dragon's teeth as Spartoi began popping up all over the place. A few were armed with bows as arrows began to fly from now open windows.
So much for stealth, I thought to myself as I took out two of the sown men before they could get their bearings. Shots starting ringing out and blasts of blue energy, arrows and bullets, crisscrossed the grounds as Siegfried's team and the Mages began to exchange fire. It looked like Zeke was doing a good job with the Spartoi and with the discipline Siegfried's folks were showing, I figured it was time to find a Dragon. I headed in the direction of the barn, using my sword as a shield a time or two, arcs of electricity sparking as it blocked the Mages attacks.
I was about fifteen feet from the barn when I saw a Were take down one of the Spartoi. Seconds later his coat burst into flames from a hit by a Mage's bolt of magic. Charlie and I changed direction and tackled him as he began to yelp. I rolled him in the sand to try and extinguish the flames. The Spartoi grabbed at me so I twisted, slashing at his head with my sword as Charlie pulled him off of me. Before I could get back to the Were a voice rang out. It was Michael.
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"I got this," he said, dousing the Wolf with some liquid.
I’d thought about doing that with the squirt gun I carried but couldn’t risk using it not knowing what the potion would do. I started to reply but the barn's front side suddenly exploded outward and the Dragon appeared. I jumped up and knocked Michael out of the way, just missing being singed by its hellfire as its eyes fell on me. My magic kicked in high gear and I stood to face it, blocking its next spew of flame with my sword, its blue arcs of energy radiating outward, pushing back the flames.
There was a momentary stand off as we sized each other up. The Dragon was almost 25 feet tall, not counting the tail, so I was guessing it had to be the Were I was looking for. Of course, the collar around its neck was my best clue. It was just links of thick, dark metal, like a large chain, wound so tight it had cut into the space between her scales. As to the dragon itself, its wings rose up behind it, but they were ragged and her scales were dull. She'd been mistreated, and badly. No wonder it was pissed. Just when I thought she would attack, her head turned and she changed direction, moving toward the old house where others were fighting.
I looked in that direction and saw a Mage on his knees. I couldn’t tell for sure but he looked familiar. He might even have been the same one I chased in the alley. As he stood something formed before him, a grey, smoky mist developing. A moment later, a Fire Demon emerged. The Mage stepped back and I lost sight of him as the mist expanded and he and the Demon ran toward the others. Seconds later, yellow flames joined the Mages blue beams as they took on the concentrated firepower of a group of Siegfried's men. The Dragon was not far behind, belching fire as she moved. Eyeing Zeke as he cut down another of the Spartoi, Charlie and I ran towards him.
"We need to take out those two," I yelled at him over the din, pointing at the Mage and Demon through the smoke. "If you can do that or at least keep them busy, I can try and eliminate the threat from the Dragon."
"A Fire Demon. Now that's a challenge," he said as his flaming sword sliced through another Spartoi. He looked to where I was pointing. "Do what you have to do. I'll keep them out of your hair."
Bullets and bolts of magic were flying as battles were being fought all around me. Mages and Spartoi squared off with Wolves and other Fae, but I had to stay focused. We ran toward the Dragon as I watched another Werewolf burst into flames from the Dragon's fire stream. Without thinking, I pointed my sword and shot a beam of blue lightning at her, the electricity enveloping her legs, causing her to stumble. I had heard that Dragons were immune to flame but the arcs of current from the sword of Zeus and Cronus had the desired effect. She gave out a roar and started towards us. Knowing I had only seconds I called out to Sendy.
"Tell Siegfried we need to take out the Mage that summoned the Demon, he's the leader," I yelled. "Then get back here and be ready."
As Charlie nipped at her legs I traded shots with the Dragon as flames of yellow and blue crisscrossed the space between us. I had just blocked a flame when the Dragon twisted and the next thing I knew, I was flying through the air. Damn, I'd forgotten about her tail. I crashed into something and saw Delia run up beside me with her sword, stabbing forward at the Mage I'd landed on.
"Thanks for the help," she said, pulling me up.
"No problem," I replied, trying to get my bearings.
The tail had propelled me some 30 feet and I could now see that the battle was going our way. Only a few mages were left, and of the Spartoi there were only a few still moving, and they were mostly just parts. Siegfried, Zeke, and a few of the others had partially encircled the Mage and Demon who were still putting up a good fight. The Mage had some kind of shield up and the house behind them was burning. The way the barn blazed I half expected it to fall at any time. Then I spotted the Dragon.
Charlie was running in and out between its legs as it belched fire at him. Each time, just missing, as he ran circles around her. She roared as she moved to follow and in that instant her back was turned to me.
"Sendy, now!" I yelled and the Faery grabbed me and lifted me up in the air, depositing me on the Dragon's back.
She roared and bucked, throwing back her head to snap at me. I held on for all I was worth, looking every bit the twisted rodeo star out of some fantasy novel. As she reared up on her legs I grabbed the chain. Luckily the links were large enough to get a hand through, even as tightly encrusted into her neck as they were. There was no way to do this that wouldn’t hurt her, but I had no choice. I pulled back and swung, my glowing blade severing the links as I pulled on the chain. There was no sound, just a bubble as the air seemed to rush out. Then I was falling.
I landed on a girl, well at least she looked like a girl. She didn’t look much older than 20, with singed blonde hair. As I rolled off I saw that she was badly hurt. She was also filthy and looked as mistreated as she had in Dragon form. I made sure she was still breathing and called Sendy.
"Get her to my place," I said. "Elithia will be waiting."
Sendy acknowledged my command and knelt down beside her, she put her arms around the girl and then the two of them vanished.
Most of the fires had burned out as Charlie and I headed to the front of the old house where the Mage and Demon still stood. A shield of magic blocking shots as the Mage protected them both. As we got closer Lucius suddenly ran toward the Mage as the shield fell and he reached into his cloak. Lucius leapt forward, sword in hand, and as the two of them collided, he ran him through. Zeke had his flaming sword at the Fire Demons neck by the time they went down. When we got there the Mage was dead and Lucius wasn't moving. Delia ran to him. She rolled him over revealing a black blade buried in his neck. Delia stood as I reached her and looked at me.
"He's dead," she cried.
I wanted to see for myself but the Fire Demon began to smoke. I turned and saw it fall to its knees, Zeke still poised with sword raised. As quickly as it had fallen it jumped up, its own flaming sword high, as it looked at him.
"Stand down," I yelled and approached the Demon.
"No need," Zeke replied. Dropping his sword to his waist, he began to talk to the Demon in a language I couldn't understand. The Demon stepped back as they continued their conversation. After a moment, Zeke looked over at me.
"You said you'd encountered his kind before. What happened?"
"I fought him in my own lands. His fire extinguished by the earth," I replied.
"Did you strike him down with your sword?"
"No. But I encased him in roots deep under the ground so that his fire could no longer burn."
"Then he may still live," he remarked and began talking to the Demon again.
Still alive? I hadn't considered that when the trees swallowed him and pulled him down.
"The Demon agrees to surrender if you will free his kin," Zeke finally said.
"Do you trust him?"
"I have fought these Demons before," he replied after a moment. "They have no love for my kind, and even less for those that would enslave them, but I have always found them to be honorable warriors."
"Good enough," I replied. A different tune than Siegfried had sung but he was an Angel. He'd have to know a lot about demons, after all. "I have no way to know if the other still lives but if he will give up I will take him there when our work here is finished."
The Demon must have understood what we said because he lowered his sword and his flames faded away, leaving behind a red and black scaled creature. He… it… was maybe five feet tall with small, vestigial wings. Reptilian, as had been the other Demon I'd fought, he was nonetheless smaller and less intimidating than that one had been, at least when not on fire. He looked directly at me and nodded, then got on his knees in a sitting positon and placed his sword at his feet. As Siegfried went to check on a few of his injured team, Michael called out to me.
"You need to see this," he said as he came out of the still smoking house.
As he gestured to me I headed towards the front door, Charlie still at my side. Mourning Luci
us' death would have to wait. The first floor was a burned out mess, I noted, stepping over trash and smoldering wreckage as I followed him through the doorway and into a hall.
"It's down here," he said, pointing to a trapdoor in a back bedroom. "Where's your Sky Fae?"
"She's transporting the girl to a Fae healer I had standing by. Why?" I asked.
"I don’t think you're going to want her to see this," he answered. Then we started down the hidden stairway.
I followed him down into what had once probably been some kind of basement. The first thing that hit me was the stench. Even with enhanced senses the smoke and smells of battle had hidden it until I was about halfway down. Going the rest of the way I saw that this was no basement, it was a dungeon. As we crossed the floor I saw several tables. One held nasty looking devices of unknown metals, and another, beakers and potions with small tubs containing things I was sure I didn’t want to know. The back of the place was all bars and doors. A few stood open, small cells to hold prisoners. Michael led me to cell with a heavy wooden door.
"We found them like this," he said, pulling the door open. "They've been dead a while."
I looked inside and saw three small bodies, all wearing chains and restraints. Upon closer examination I saw that they were all female. They were Aurae and their wings had been hacked off their backs. From the look of the bodies, it hadn’t been done gently. I could only guess that these were the sister's Sendy had been searching for.
"Why kind of monster would do this?" I asked, angrily.
