Crimson Sword Stalker

by Morgan Blayde

  The bodies—those not ripped, splattered, and baked by lightning—were piled high. The remaining werejackals scrambled over their dead to keep attacking us. Osamu slid away from various attacks, slashing as went, letting his demon blade eat souls that would never make it back to Anubis.

  Kain and Gloria paused their rush, giving the enemy time to slide down the hill of corpses and regain momentum.

  Selene stopped, too, but only to blast the hill of corpses liberally so the resurrecting zombies were further mangled.

  I turned in the air, passing over my guys. “Pull back. Let the Pride get its licks in.”

  Kain stared up at me, his eyes red with bloodlust and battle rage. I thought he’d argue, but he nodded and retreated—if slowly. Gloria followed his example.

  I landed next to Selene and patted her tummy. “Don’t overdo it, Mother. You’re carrying our son.”

  The red haze of madness left her red crystal eyes. The red jags of electrical fire wreathing her sword died down and faded. She looked at me, her hand covering mine. “I expect you to rub my feet later.”

  I thought of all the lightning spilled across the battlefield, and all the Kentucky-fried werejackals and werejackal zombies. “I’m getting off light.” I took her hand and tugged her back toward Granny’s dock. She must have seen enough of the battle to realize she had other places to be. She was gone and so was her shotgun. Ringo was back in human form, sitting naked in her chair, thumbing through an abandoned copy of Moby Dick.

  I motioned at the next dock where he’d left his clothes. “Go get your stuff; we’ll have to bale soon.” We followed him. Ringo found his abandoned clothes and dressed. Kain and Gloria joined us last. There was a gap between my guys and the enemy.

  I called out, “Fall back to the kraken. He’s up soon, then we can portal out and leave the werebears and vampires to muddle through. Kain, I recommend letting your wayward vamps get a little bloody, then you can swoop in heroically and save them from their folly.”

  He grinned, baring fangs. “And won’t that be fun.”

  “Don’t forget to give them the I’m-very-disappointed-in-you speech. Kids hate getting that from parents.”

  He gave me a thumb’s up and dissolved himself in mist—which only a few, ancient-as-dirt vampires can do.

  Yeah, big deal. Try turning into a dragon some time.

  EIGHTEEN

  “Not everything we ask for is good for us.”

  —Caine Deathwalker

  “Eeek! They’re so scary!” I yelled. “Everyone, run away.”

  Dragon wings fluttering, I ran screaming like a little girl. That was my plan. Emboldened, the werejackals and zombie versions came on even faster.

  Gloria rolled her eyes at me as we retreated past the cabins, taking up a new position by the dock to the Pride’s cabin.

  Selene floated along a few inches off the ground, hands empty. She’d banished her red crystal sword for the moment.

  I looked out at the water. The boat sat there, ready to cue the kraken hiding in the water. Grim-faced, Craig kept a sharp look out, appraising the horde rounding the beach. This was the moment for which he’d trained.

  Next to him, Vivian relaxed, knowing better than to get kinked up before time to act. A slayer slays best who’s relaxed and fluid.

  Sixteen years old Colt now only had eyes for Vivian, admiring the dangerous curves of her skintight catsuit. Definitely my son, though a late bloomer; I’d managed to get laid by the time I was eleven. I doubted Colt would know what to do with a woman if he got his paws on one.

  Maybe a man-to-man talk might help. Someone should tell him that wanting to jump every hot woman you see is natural. And sometimes disastrous. I have been stabbed.

  The werecats came down to the water, slinking low, mostly human in form, but with claws, fur, ears on top of their heads, and tails out that whipped with attitude. Teeth were bared. Hate gleamed in their eyes.

  Dogs and cats do have a history.

  All massive muscles and rumbling death, Joshua led the Pride into the soft flank of the werejackals and werejackal zombies. The zombies were much fewer than last time because we’d concentrated on head full-throated shots and decapitation to start off with, but the zombies gave the best response, turning instinctively to fight for the brains they craved. The obsessed werejackals took longer to turn and face the new threat.

  I called to the boat. “Colt, stay there and prepare to raise the kraken. Vivian, Craig, if you want some action, go to it.”

  Vivian said something to Colt. His quick reflexes in lifting his head kept her from seeing him staring at her ass. He jumped up in the air and stayed there, floating high. Vivian leaped to the controls. The idling rumble of the boat’s motor changed to a full-throated roar. The boat surged away from the dock, turning away from shore at first, then coming around. The boat hit shore and kept going, leaving the water, plowing through the enemy column as Craig hung on tight.

  “That boy’s getting trained old school. Thrown into battle to live or die,” I said.

  Gloria smirked. “At least he isn’t crying like a girl as he runs away.”

  I glowered back. “Hey, it worked, didn’t it?”

  Vivian and Craig were out of the boat, swords hacking. Loped-off heads flew high. As the Pride swept by, Kat and Josh took some of the pressure off the slayers, not that they needed much help.

  I turned away and stared down the beach at the distant office. A large crowd of vamps starting to come this way. I checked the cabins, looking for werebears and rogues. There they were, coming past Granny’s place. Despite all the dead werejackals and werejackal zombies, Anubis had a deep reserves of foot soldiers; a second wave was on its way.

  Time for a strategic retreat.

  “Selene, we need a portal on the dock here.”

  “To where?”

  “Far side of the lake. We’ll see where all these dog-boys are kenneled, maybe catch Anubis with his pants down.” I willed my sword away for the moment. It vanished from my hand.

  She said, “He’ll see the portal’s crimson light and know we’re coming.”

  “Fine, I’ll do it.” I stared across the lake, picking a spot. I poured shadow into the air, formed a portal, and sank golden dragon magic into the darkness to activate it. I yelled. “Vivian, Josh, come here. It’s time to go stomp Anubis.”

  They fought free of werejackals, Osamu stepping in to cut down anyone dogging their steps. The were-dogs seemed to have developed a healthy fear of the demon sword, sensing it would sever their links to Anubis forever. They showed no interest in trying to swarm my combat butler.

  The Pride came running, Josh bringing up the rear. Those who’d circled Osamu to get in showed hesitation where the fully changed wereliger was concerned. About the size of three tigers, Josh roared and swiped with his bad, 1600-pound self, and jackal snarls became crimson ruin. Zombies were crushed to the sand. Anubis’ warriors were set flying en mass.

  The pride poured through my shadow gate. Josh and Kat went through last.

  I couldn’t see Kain, but I knew my stalker was somewhere close; I could see the occasional flashes of his ghost-cameras. I yelled, “Kain, take over here.”

  I shot Selene a look. “Our turn!”

  She grabbed me and we ran together into the darkness. We emerged across the lake near a thicket of trees. The Pride members were knotted together, waiting for instructions. Ringo came last. There were a few werejackals on his ass. Selene pulled her red-crystal sword out of nowhere and slashed the enemy to bloody pieces before they could howl a warning to those on this side of the lake.

  I listened a moment and heard no sign of alarm over the skirmish.

  No voices. No movement. All is well—so far.

  I whispered to Selene. “Can you tell if we’re close to Anubis?”

  She whispered back. “He’s shielding himself from me, the same way I’m shielding from him, but his werejackals radiate killing intent.” She pointed. “A hundred feet that way
.”

  I let the shadow portal unmake itself and willed it into a shapeless shadow mist to shield us. I shot Selene a glance. “Tell Colt to release the kraken, if he hasn’t done so already.”

  Her eyes went distant, then refocused on me. “Done. The werebears mauled Anubis’ men. The vamps stood around, wondering who they ought to kill, then the werejackals spotted them.” She smiled brightly. “All is degenerating into bloody chaos.”

  “The best kind,” Ringo said.

  We didn’t have Osamu, but I felt good about him hanging back to keep an eye on Colt.

  My shadow mist rose four feet off the ground. We could to be hidden, or advance, looking over the top of it. My dragon eyes enabled me to see our forces in the dark. The Pride could see like—well, cats. Vivian had dhampyr eyes; darkness didn’t hinder her much either. Only Craig strapped on some kind of military night-vision gear.

  I whispered, “Josh, Kat, Ringo.” My words drew their attention. I pointed. “Enemy is a hundred feet that way; take the rest of the Pride in. Move with the shadow mist. Vivian, take Craig around through the woods. See if you can sneak up on them. Selene, give us time to get close, then go dragon and rampage. While you draw Anubis’ attention skyward, we’ll hit him head on.”

  I got nods in return.

  I gave Selene a kiss and whispered. “For luck.”

  She drifted up into the sky, with plenty of darkness to hide in.

  I sent the dark mist rolling out. Ringo and the Pride went with it, leaving me to bring up the rear. It didn’t feel like I was lagging; as the roiling mist traveled, slicking the ground ahead, it carried my senses in search of enemies. I advanced. My mist provided cover as the trees thinned out.

  Off to the side, I saw the lights of upper class homes. No dogs barked. I think Anubis had them in thrall. Though separated, the cat Pride and I moved easy, one wave of darkness following another. We could take our time. Vivian and Craig were the ones having to hustle to get there through the trees, to be in position first.

  Anubis was old, powerful. But had he been challenged in centuries? Might he have gotten soft? I hoped so. That would make it easier. My strength was my unpredictability. When they wanted to fight me with magic, I went to guns. When they used guns, I went with my dragon. Against monsters, I used magic. And when they were ready for all that, I went kung-fu on their asses. Rock. Paper. Scissors. There’s always a change-up that trumps something else.

  It was a lesson I’d learned when I was thirteen, when I’d gotten my first tatt—demon wings. One of the last real tatts I still had that wasn’t made of shadow, the others having all been stripped away. Funny, thinking of that pivot-point after all this time. I remembered; I hadn’t been alone. I’d had friends. Not imaginary ones either, though they often tried to make me believe that’s what they were. I could almost see past the blurs, to their faces…but not quite. They’d taken my memories when they were done with my thirteen-year-old self. But there were hints that lingered, occasionally troubling my sleep.

  My slick of darkness found guards posted in our direction. What my darkness caressed was fed to me. I whispered ahead, “Josh.”

  He stopped and looked back.

  I held up two fingers. I then pointed ahead to where the guards were. I expected Joshua to go silently take them down, one by one, but Kat ghosted in instead.

  Well, she is much smaller, harder to see. If she’s fast enough, and instantly lethal…

  I felt her running on dark-slicked ground, steps of a dancer, barely touching down, full of immense power. One body went down, dead, a lost doggy breath sighing into my shadow. A moment later, a second guard went down and died.

  Good girl.

  This was why Kat led her Pride. A motherly love that never flinched from harsh necessities. It had made her a great choice for Mistress of Sacramento. It made her a great choice for taking over here, too. I doubted she could go back to Sacramento, having run, and not trusted her city to defend her.

  They might not ever believe that she’d run to save them, as well as herself.

  Impatient, Josh stared at me, waiting for some sign. I waved ahead; Move! They ran, catching up to Kat.

  I lifted my eyes to scan the deepening night. There was no hint of sunset left. The moon was mostly dark, a waxing crescent—nearly a new moon. The sky was dark blue velvet, jeweled with diamond chips. And there, the beat of giant wings—Selene about to attack.

  I pointed her out to the Pride members. Their faces lifted. Kat and Josh turned their cat’s eyes my way. They nodded. They knew we needed to wait until the first outcry went up from the werejackals. That would be our moment to strike.

  I extended my hand, a thought breached the ether, sweeping up my sword, bringing it to me. The titanium katana appeared in my fist’s tight grip. The straight blade was dark, hidden by my shadow mist. Though some distance ahead, several of the cats jumped as the sword materialized.

  Scaredy cats.

  I watched Selene plunge from the sky, mouth open, pouring a torrent of red flame down upon the enemy camp. The flames engulfed a huge tent, no doubt set up for the comfort of an arrogant god that couldn’t imagine anyone sneaking up on him. The fire made running, shrieking torches out of a number of werejackals that soon fell over, and rose again as burning, staggering zombies.

  High strung, the Pride leaped ahead, eager to take vengeance on the ones who’d been stalking them. Though faster, I was a dozen steps behind when a small disk of sour green light appeared like a will-of-the-wisp, taking the length of my sword into some other dimension.

  A mini-portal. Magic. Fuck, that hurts.

  I knew where my sword had gone. I could see the darkness, and fell its hardness, as it ran through my spine and out my stomach. A green glow from behind matched the green glow of the little disk hovering in front of me. The twin lights tinted the shadow mist around my legs. That mist and my strength of will was all that kept me upright.

  Someone—Anubis of course—had used a pair of mini-portals to make sure I stabbed myself with my own sword. Bastard had done a good job; I couldn’t feel my legs.

  I willed all the raw golden dragon magic flowing through my body to go to the injury site to start rapid healing. Full recovery might come in days. I condensed shadow magic like an internal cast to immobile the severed bone and spinal cord, holding me together. The shock of the injury unleashed endorphins. That didn’t even touch the pain of the wound. The only thing I could count on from my half-dragon and half-Villager physiology was about ten or fifteen minutes of hyper-clarity and functionality. After that, pain from the waist up would be a hell of a distraction. Until then…

  Go shock!

  I willed my sword to vanish, returning to my armory. No way would I give Anubis my Villager sword. He’d just have to wait until I had an opportunity to summon the Sword of Light and lop off his fool head. This was not the time.

  He stepped up beside me, looking down at the hole in my stomach. Without a sword there to plug me, blood, bile, and spinal fluid spurted. I figured the leak would stop in a couple minutes.

  Anubis didn’t seem to know that; he pressed a field bandage over the wound and put my hand over the bandage. He whispered. “Better hold that. You don’t want to die too soon.”

  Oooo! Doggy breath.

  Wanting me alive to use against Kain, he wound bandages around my torso, pressing something against my spine. The pain kicked up. I figured he was patching the back as well as front, and—as a shinigami, a god of death—maybe he could keep me alive by simply not letting me pass.

  Well, I’d wanted to be captured, to track Anubis back to his home dimension and steal back my Mustang.

  I guess I’ve got my wish. Too bad we couldn’t stomp him a little first.

  A sour green energy seeped out of his body, shimmering over a black business suit with a matching green tie. The tie was loose, the white shirt’s collar open, giving extra room to his over-large jackal head. He had eyes like rubies. They glinted as he gave me a bestia
l smile. “Time to go,” Anubis said.

  His sour green light spread to me, washing away the world, and we were gone!

  And still, I didn’t know: How the hell had he found me first?

  NINTEEN

  “People lie; there is no dignity in death.”

  —Caine Deathwalker

  The bile-green mystical energy fled away.

  I sort of stood in a dusty courtyard, supported by a black mist of shadow magic since my legs no longer received nervous impulses. If I hadn’t already been moving in the mist, the spinal injury would have caused a collapse. That would have damaged knee tendons and ligaments. And that would have left me with even more to heal.

  Bad luck is sometimes better than none at all.

  Anubis stood with me, looking over the bandages he’d just applied to keep me from bleeding out. I figured he wanted me in better condition before handing me over to the royal tortures. My dragon hearing picked up the breathing and movements of a third person, someone hanging back.

  A guard?

  I took a moment to see what I could. A courtyard. Buff colored, tinged orange by dancing flames rising from scattered, black iron braziers. Two of them guarded the matte black maw of an obsidian temple. The temple itself had a high gloss sheen that caught light, turning it into artistic displays. I looked left and right at obelisks that pricked a putrid green sky with yellow whirls of galaxies, and a few singular stars in between. The temple itself was a huge block capped with a pyramid roof. I suspected that out there in the surrounding desert, there would be more pyramids and maybe a few sphinxes with jackal heads on them.

  Anubis smiled, baring white canine teeth. With an arm, he lent support, acting with great solace that I didn’t believe for a moment. “Come this way. I have a place of great honor awaiting you.”