by Cheree Alsop
“The team sees movement inside,” Aleric heard a police officer report.
He reached the edge of the alley in time to see Commissioner Oaks nod. “Tell them to move in closer. We need a confirmed visual.”
“Don’t have them move in,” Aleric said.
Both officers turned. The surprise on the Commissioner’s face would have been humorous if it wasn’t for their dire situation.
“What are you doing out here?”
“You need me,” Aleric replied.
The Commissioner’s gaze narrowed. “Given how you look, I’d like to argue that, but we’re at a standstill here. I’m afraid that if we wait until nightfall to confront the demons, they’ll tear our city apart.”
“You’re right about that,” Aleric agreed. He leaned against a police car. “They’re at their weakest now. It’s our best chance to negotiate.”
“After seeing what they did to the citizens that got in their way, we’ve hesitated to send anyone in to negotiate.” The Commissioner’s tone told how deeply the loss of the citizens affected him. “I don’t know what else to do. I have a team inside to give us the demons’ location, but other than that, I’ve told them not to engage.”
“Good call,” Aleric replied. “I’ll go in.”
The Commissioner gave him a skeptical look. “You sure you should do that?”
“We really don’t have another choice,” Aleric replied. “If I can’t negotiate, the city’s in for a rough ride.”
The Commissioner nodded. “That’s for sure. Our guns barely affected them last night. I’m willing to try anything at this point. We’re getting desperate, and that’s not a good situation for Edge City.” He let out a breath as if coming to a decision. “Fine. Officer Stark, escort Dr. Wolf to the main entrance and arrange for him to meet up with Officer Ling. They’ve worked together before.”
“Yes, Commissioner,” Officer Stark replied.
Chapter Fifteen
At the Commissioner’s orders, a path between the rows of officers and federal agents cleared so that Aleric and Officer Stark could pass through. The pounding of the helicopters’ blades matched the thunder of Aleric’s heartbeat as they neared the stairs.
“Stay safe in there, Dr. Wolf,” an officer said when they passed by.
“Be careful, Doc,” another told him.
“We’ll be rooting for you,” a woman said.
Aleric recognized her voice and turned to see Officer Teri standing near the steps.
“If the demons come out of there without me, tell everyone to run,” he told her.
“Will do,” she replied. “But we have faith in you.”
Aleric reached the stairs. He noticed Officer Stark’s hesitation.
“Thanks for the escort,” he told the officer. “I’ll meet up with Officer Ling’s team inside.”
“You sure you’re going to be okay?” Officer Stark asked.
Aleric nodded. “Sure. There’s just a few demons. Piece of fairy confectionary, right?”
At the officer’s uncertain look, Aleric grinned and pulled the door open.
His bravado vanished as soon as the door shut behind him. The building was old and run down. The odor of dust and rodent droppings filled his nose along with the overwhelming ash and pepper scent of demons, the musky reptile smell of ogres, and the sour lemon and mud scent of goblins. Together, it made for a very unsettling stench.
Aleric could see the tracks in the dust where the demons had followed Archdemon Pravus to the long steps leading downward. It made sense that the demon would seek lower ground. Even the faint light filtering through the grimy windows would be painful to him. Demons like Forsythe could stand short jaunts in the sunlight, but to the powerful Archdemon, the sun would hurt as bad as it did for Dartan.
The faint trail of the officers followed the demons down. Aleric tried to keep his steps silent on the stairs, but the wood was old and creaked beneath his feet. He wished he had brought more than the tranquilizer gun, though he knew weapons weren’t going to do much damage against the Archdemon. Being armed with only his wit and persuasion tactics made him feel extremely vulnerable. Werewolves hated vulnerability. He was going to have to think quickly to beat Pravus.
“Commissioner Oaks says they need a visual,” a voice whispered in the dark.
The officers had cut across one of the basement floors to the emergency stairwell. Aleric gave them credit for avoiding the main stairs the demons were probably watching. He followed in silence and found four officers on the last landing. A glance up showed the zig-zagged staircase reaching high above. The sight of the rickety old stairs was dizzying.
“I’ll take the main floor. You two cut around. Manx, guard our retreat,” Officer Ling told them. “Whatever you do, don’t open fire. We don’t want to get trapped down here. You saw what they were doing to citizens.”
“I’ll go,” Aleric said.
The officers startled at his voice. They stared at him over their shoulders with fear on their faces. Officer Ling looked relieved to see him.
“You really need to make some noise,” the officer told him.
An older officer nodded. “You could give a man a heart attack sneaking up like that. Especially when we know what’s out there.”
“Sorry,” Aleric said. “Force of habit.”
“A good one to have, considering,” Officer Manx said. She gave Aleric a relieved smile. “Glad to have you here.”
“Thanks,” he told her. “I need to go have a discussion with the Archdemon. Will you guys watch my back?”
“Definitely,” Officer Ling told him. “Be careful.”
“Will do,” Aleric replied. He met the officer’s gaze. “If things get tricky, I want you to get your officers out of here.”
Ling shook his head. “We won’t leave you with them.”
“If it gets to that point, I won’t be getting out of there, but I don’t want any other human casualties if I can prevent it. Alright?”
Officer Ling nodded, but it was obvious by his expression that he didn’t want to.
Aleric pulled open the door. He stepped inside and a thought occurred to him. He removed the tranquilizer gun from his waist.
“For shooting goblins. They’ll run if anything happens with the Archdemon. I need as many stunned and brought to the hospital as possible,” he whispered to Officer Ling.
“Will do,” the officer replied.
Aleric felt the demons’ presence before he saw them. Their lava-patterned skin made an eerie contrast to the darkness of the huge room in which they waited. There were grumbles and sharp words as they debated with their leader. The demons must have been upset; they never argued with an Archdemon. Usually those who did in Blays were never heard from again.
Aleric could hear the shuffling of the ogres’ big feet and the skittering of goblins along the walls. The thought of going into the windowless room set him on edge. He could find a light, but he didn’t want to put the demons into fury mode; they would be impossible to deal with if that happened.
Aleric motioned for the officers to wait for him at the door. As silently as he could, he made his way between the huge, hulking ogres and cloak-shrouded demons. The feeling of them behind him sent chills down his spine. Those he passed grew quiet until he reached the base of a low dais with complete silence pressing against his back.
Black, red, orange, and yellow ran across the skin of the massive Archdemon in front of him. Pravus’ flame-filled eyes were on one of the other demons.
“…if we don’t wait, we’ll be shot to pieces. We don’t heal in the sunlight, Master. Going up there is a death sentence,” a demon argued; fear warred with determination in his voice.
Pravus’ answering words sent a rush of adrenaline through Aleric’s limbs. “If we don’t kill them now, their forces will be too great by nightfall. It’s the only choice we have.”
“But, Master—”
“Not if you listen to me,” Aleric said.
Pravus’ eyes widened a
nd he looked down at Aleric, noticing his presence for the first time.
“Who let you in here?” he demanded. His claws reached for the silver spikes at his sides. “I’ll finish you like I should have in front of your pathetic hospital.”
“If you do that, your demons will die,” Aleric replied. He kept his voice level; it was difficult considering the growls and mutters of the demons and ogres at his back.
“We’ll suck the lives out of them,” Archdemon Pravus retorted. “We are the lords here.”
“Really?” Aleric said with doubt in his voice. He waved a hand to indicate the room. “Because it seems like you’re the prisoners.”
The Archdemon caught Aleric so quickly the werewolf didn’t have a chance to react. He bit off a yell at the pain in his shoulder as the demon lifted him up in one massive hand.
“Look, mutt,” Pravus spat. “I don’t have time to deal with you. This city is ours and we will do what we must to take it.”
Aleric didn’t squirm or show any sign that the demon’s grip was crushing him. He held the Archdemon’s gaze. “Even if that means losing more than half of your people by sending them into the sunlight? And perhaps yourself? Are you prepared for such a sacrifice?”
The demon bared his black teeth. “I will do whatever it takes.”
Aleric didn’t look away. “Even if it means your death? We both know what drives you. Demons fear their own mortality, and that’s what the grims showed you. Your death is certain if you stay in Edge City. You need to go back to Blays. It’s the only hope for you and your people.” He lifted his voice at the last part to ensure that the other demons heard.
“How are you so certain they’re telling the truth?” the Archdemon shot back.
“Grims don’t lie,” Aleric replied, his tone level. “Remember Grula and Clegalin? They killed the grims’ parents hoping it would rid them of the telling, but it didn’t. Your best hope is to leave Edge City and go back to Blays; perhaps your death is only certain if you stay in the world of humans.”
Pravus glared at him. “You would like that, wouldn’t you? For all I know, you put the grims up to it to save your hide.” He brought Aleric closer to his face and snarled, “I don’t trust werewolves.”
Aleric made a face. “And I don’t trust demons whose breath smells like they’re already dead. You should get that checked out. Halitosis can be fatal for others.”
The Archdemon did exactly what Aleric hoped. With his injured shoulder, he couldn’t get free of the demon’s tight grip, but at the insult, Archdemon Pravus threw him across the room with a roar that made the walls shake. Aleric hit the door and fell to a seated position against it. He met Officer Ling’s gaze through the other side.
“Things just got worse. Run!” he commanded. The officers took off.
“You brought the police here!” Archdemon Pravus shouted. “I’ll kill them all; I’ll suck the lives from their bodies and watch their drained corpses fall to the floor. I’ll laugh at their deaths and use their souls as fuel to destroy this city.” He stormed through the demons toward Aleric. The demons parted to make him a path; those closest to Aleric kept back.
“There’s a way to return to Blays,” Aleric said, pushing to his feet and holding his injured shoulder. “Go back home where you’re safe and where your death hasn’t been announced by the grims. Return to Blays and leave this world where you don’t belong.”
“I’ll tear your arms off, cur,” the Archdemon threatened, his eyes whirling with a crazed light. Pravus picked up an ogre that was too slow to get out of his way and threw the creature against the wall. The ogre fell in a heap on the floor. “I’ll eat your heart and devour your soul.”
Aleric looked around at the demons. There was uncertainty on their face. Perhaps he had a chance.
“Pravus is tainted by the grims’ telling,” he shouted. “Don’t follow an Archdemon who doesn’t have your true interests in mind. He is here because of greed. Don’t let his intentions taint you or else his telling will become yours as well.”
The Archdemon swiped at Aleric with his silver spikes. Aleric ducked and the spikes tore through the door, leaving it hanging in splinters from the hinges. Aleric took off up the stairs. He could hear the swift steps of the Archdemon coming after him. The sound filled him with adrenaline. He ran faster, pushing his exhausted body to the edge of his strength.
“You can go back, Pravus,” he shouted, hearing the words echo along the stairwell. He looked down to see that the demon was only a landing behind. The steps shook with the Dark fae’s steps. “You can return to Blays.”
“Never,” the roar of the Archdemon made the stairs rattle beneath Aleric’s feet. “I’ll kill you and then I’ll kill the grims. I’ll end this,” the demon threatened.
“It doesn’t work that way,” Aleric shouted back. He ran as fast as he could; he lost count of the landings until he was sure they were high above the rest of the city.
Aleric heard a crash and felt the steps give way. He jumped forward and reached the next landing just as the demon pulled the stairs down. Aleric’s legs dangled in space. If his hands slipped, he would fall back to the basement far below. Aleric had to scramble to drag himself up. Slipping his arm out of his sling, he let out a roar of pain as he used both hands to get a grip on the wooden floor. He pulled up far enough and rolled onto his side to safety.
“What’s the matter, mutt?” a voice purred.
Aleric looked over to see the Archdemon crawling along the wall like a spider. His serrated black fingernails sunk deep into the brick and his cloak flowed from his shoulders as though it was made of shadows. The effect was terrifying.
Aleric jumped back. Two of the foot-long silver spikes stabbed into the landing where he had lain. He jumped to the right and another spike embedded deep into the bricks where his head had been.
“Hold still for just a moment,” the Archdemon said, his eyes rolling crazily.
Aleric ran through the door from the landing. The hallway beyond was divided into rooms. He darted inside the closest one. Sunlight streamed through the window. Aleric backed up so that it fell on his back and shoulders like a life-giving cloak. He never thought he would be so grateful to see the sunlight. A glance outside showed the rest of the city spread out far below.
“Where did you….” A wide smile spread across Pravus’ face at the sight of Aleric in the light. “Two can play this game,” the Archdemon said, his voice as smooth as silk. He hit the closest beam and the wall shook.
“Pravus, don’t do it,” Aleric warned.
“Afraid, Aleric Bayne?” Pravus asked. He hit another beam and it cracked in two. Part of the ceiling fell in. “I’ve won, don’t you see?” He hit the wall again and the ceiling collapsed, bringing down the wall of windows with it.
Aleric ran through the debris to the next room. Every step sent agony from his shoulder across his chest and back. He held his arm tight to his body as he ducked through the next door.
“You win if you go home,” Aleric said. “Go back to Blays. Beat the grims by not being where they predicted you will die. It makes sense!”
“Sense?” the Archdemon growled. He poked his head through the door and grinned upon seeing Aleric in the light once more. “The only thing that makes sense,” he hit a beam, “Is for me to suck the soul,” he hit another one, “Out of your body and watch your corpse,” he hit a third, “Fall lifelessly to the ground.” He hit the final beam with such force that the entire ceiling fell, showering them both with debris.
Aleric was trapped beneath a pile of bricks and wood. He tried to push himself free. He could hear the Archdemon work out from beneath the wall. A deep laugh sounded. Fear pulsed through Aleric’s body. The heavy tread of the demon’s feet drew closer.
“What’s wrong, little werewolf?” Pravus taunted. “Did your plan backfire?”
The demon lifted the largest beam. Aleric leaped out at the Archdemon in wolf form. Pravus stumbled backwards in surprise. Aleric latched onto
the demon’s throat. Pravus tried to knock him free, but Aleric knew that if he let go, it would be last thing he ever did.
“You really think that’s…smart?” the Archdemon asked, his voice tight as Aleric’s fangs tightened on his windpipe.
Cold ran through Aleric. He glanced up and saw the mist of his soul rising from him. The Archdemon’s eyes were closed and his mouth was twisted in a half-smile, half-grimace. Aleric felt the deadening sensation, desires and ambition leaving, love fading, want dwindling until he couldn’t remember why he held onto the Archdemon in the first place.
But instinct bade him not to let go. If the Archdemon escaped, everyone in Edge City would be at his mercy.
At his mercy.
Aleric repeated the words over and over, forcing his mind to focus.
At his mercy.
If he let go and the Archdemon killed him, everyone at the hospital would die.
At his mercy.
The ironic part was that the Archdemon had no mercy. That much had been proven when Pravus tried to pull the life out of Gregory and Therese, and by the bodies he had left in his wake on his way to take shelter in the building. Those had been mothers, fathers, and siblings, humans who would no longer go home to those who cared about them.
Aleric bit deeper. He felt a cold chill race along his spine. He didn’t know if he could choke the demon out before his soul was gone. He closed his eyes and held on as tight as he was able.
“I’ll…finish…you,” the Archdemon forced out.
Shots rang through the air. Aleric felt the demon stumble back. The pull to the werewolf’s soul released. He bit down harder. There was a falling sensation as the Archdemon crashed through the broken window. Aleric hit the edge of the floor just before he was pulled off the side of the building. He braced his paws against the bricks. The sudden weight of the demon’s body in his jaws nearly pulled him over. The force to his injured shoulder made spots dance in Aleric’s vision.
His grip had shifted in the fall so that he held onto the Archdemon by the cloak that fastened around his neck.
Aleric could feel his fangs tearing through the fabric.
