“S’il vous plaît, I believe your lady friend is in danger and will need a hasty retreat.”
The man looked at his wife, her eyes pleading with him. He left the carriage and moved back to the gate, speaking to the guard. The guard opened the gate just as the mistress was running from the house. She pushed past the guard, and the man from the carriage escorted her to the waiting footman. He looked for me, but I had already disappeared.
The guard finally came to his senses and started yelling for them to stop. Still hidden, I pulled the wind to shut the gate as the master of the house came running out. I held the gate closed with all my strength. Both guards were on the outside, and the master was inside, all of them trying to move it. The carriage hurried off into the night. I slowly backed down the street, until I was in the shadow of a nearby building. I released the gate and fell to my knees, trying to hold on to my illusion, the effort of holding both exhausting me. I watched as the two guards fell into the gate when the pressure released, ramming it into their master. He released his fury on the guards, and I was certain he killed one of them before he stormed back into the house. I would have to be more careful the next time I came. The guards would be more diligent after tonight. I rested in the alley for several more minutes before I traveled back to the safe house. When I arrived, I found myself checking the wardrobe and under the bed, just as Adalina had, and I smiled.
When I was satisfied that no one had been in the room, I removed some dried meat from my bag and chewed on it, thinking about what I had experienced today. The city was still unsettled from the recent Revolution, and many were not happy with the government that had replaced the king. There was still underlying fear from the Reign of Terror a few years ago because of the number of people that were lost. I began to wonder if some of them were taken by the Csökkent. Disappearances went unnoticed during times of war; it would be easy to take people for their sacrifices. The abandonment of religion during the Revolution could also be explained by the Csökkent. The Catholic Church was plagued by corruption, so it wouldn’t take much to turn the people away. I thought of my own experience as an Austrian citizen and victim of Napoleon’s army. I despised the French, but realized the people here were also victims. They had probably suffered more than I had within the last decade.
None of that helped me to get our target in an isolated position though. I sat in thought, losing track of time. I was jerked from my thoughts by Mikel arriving in my room. I jumped at his sudden appearance.
“You’re early!” I exclaimed.
“I know, but I could wait no longer,” he replied. “Is there a way for us to get to the man we’re looking for?”
I told him about the day’s events and the discussion between this strange man and his mistress. Mikel was silent for several minutes, standing completely still.
“Can you take us to the balcony and conceal us both?” he asked with a stern expression that I’d come to expect from him.
“Yes, but I’m not certain how much help I’ll be removing and then killing this demon,” I replied.
“Your ability to keep us hidden until the last moment is all that’s needed,” Mikel explained. “I will kill the demon, but I may need you to restrain the man after the demon is removed.”
“Shouldn’t we have Adalina with us?” I asked.
“She cannot go into a fight without drawing everyone into the fight.” He sighed. “I think you and I are the best option. Hopefully, no one will know we were even there.”
“Then let’s go.” I took his arm, wrapped my illusion around both of us, and traveled to the balcony. When we arrived, I motioned for him to remain still. I looked in the window and saw the man speaking to someone. I crouched back down and barely whispered to Mikel what I saw. He peered through the window for several seconds then crouched down next me, motioning that we would wait. He closed his eyes, and I suspected he was looking into the room with his mind. After what felt like forty-five minutes, the other man finally left.
We stood together, and I pushed open the door to the balcony. The man looked up, but I still held on to the illusion and was certain he could not see us. He stood from his desk and moved towards the balcony with a confused expression on his face. Mikel and I moved into the room, and as he passed by us, his eyes flashed red and he stopped. I quickly realized that Mikel had immobilized him. There was a black, smoky film being drawn from the man, and his body started convulsing. Within thirty seconds, the demon was separated from the man, who collapsed on the floor in front of us. I was startled by the appearance of the demon. I had expected a large, horned creature much like the others I had seen, but the demon standing before us almost looked human. Its thin, wiry frame and gaunt appearance defied its demonic nature, but its fiery red eyes revealed its true identity. I stared at Mikel in astonishment as a bright white sword shot from his hand and decapitated the demon. Just as quickly as it appeared, the sword vanished. I knew I was staring, my mouth gaping open.
Mikel looked at me and grinned. “It has that effect on everyone.”
The man started to stir, his body shaking uncontrollably. He rolled over, and I stepped back in disgust. His face and hands had shriveled, as if he’d aged fifty years. His voice cracked and stuttered as soon as he saw the decapitated demon. He looked up at us with hate in his eyes.
“You are too late,” he croaked. “You cannot stop the master’s plan.” His breathing was ragged and painful, and blood started dripping from his nose.
Mikel turned away from the man, disgust washing over his features. “If I lift the body of the demon, and this man when he expires, can you incinerate them without burning any other part of the room?”
I thought about the practice sessions with Raphael and was certain I could. “Yes.”
The man was dead by the time Mikel levitated the demon, so he put them both together. I focused on compressing the air around them, then added fire. I compressed it further until it was a fury of intense heat, then surrounded it with the moisture from the air to snuff it out. I was tired, but satisfied with the small pile of ash that was left behind. I looked over at Mikel and saw him smiling as well—a rare deviation from his usual demeanor.
“Mikel, why was that man so desecrated when you removed the demon from him?” I asked. “I thought we would be able to save him when the demon was destroyed.”
“He accepted the demon willingly,” Mikel explained. “And by doing so, gave his entire being to it. With nothing to fight against it, the demon consumed him.”
“That’s gruesome,” I said with disgust. “Why would anyone willingly allow that?”
“I have no idea,” Mikel replied with the same disgust. “The demon probably didn’t tell his host that we could separate them, nor what would happen when we did.”
I looked at the small pile of ash on the floor with confusion.
“What else concerns you, Darian?” Mikel asked, seeing my expression.
“That demon looked different than the others,” I replied. “What was it?”
“It is not a soldier,” Mikel replied as he wandered through the room, stopping at the desk. “Its sole purpose is to possess others, hence its small stature. Can you imagine one of the soldier demons trying to merge its huge body with a human?” Mikel asked, turning towards me.
“No, I can’t,” I replied.
“Let’s get back to Santuario. I need to talk to Raphael.” He looked at me purposefully. “I have a plan.”
Chapter 9
I found myself in Mikel’s office again, accompanied by Raphael, Aneera, Adalina, Juana, and Eli. Mikel had just finished describing our confrontation in Paris. Adalina was furious that she was left behind. Mikel silently listened to her tirade.
When she finished, he looked at her very calmly. “Do you think that our method was ineffective? Do you really think we should have stormed the estate and killed everyone there?”
“You know I do not,” she retorted. “I am only trying to point out all of the unnecessary risk
s. What if the man had been able to fight back? Or what if the demon had been too powerful for you to contain on your own?”
“Are you questioning my strength or my wisdom?” he asked with authority. “Don’t be so eager to enter the fight. You know very well that there will always be a battle.” She remained silent, sulking at the open reprimand.
Mikel continued, “Darian and I will continue to remove these demons as silently as possible, whenever they become known to us. But more importantly, we need to devise a plan to take the key from the castle in Hungary.”
“Do we know who this creature is that was waiting for Darian with the book?” Juana asked.
“I believe it is Zar’Asur,” Mikel replied. “If I’m correct, he has spent many years hiding from us, placing his demons in positions of power throughout the world’s kingdoms and governments. Only now that there is sufficient chaos, he’s chosen to reveal himself. There is much I don’t understand, but Aneera’s vision was clear. We need to remove the key from his possession.”
“Eli and I believe that we can take it from him,” Juana offered. “We understand the risk, but we also understand the consequence if we fail.”
“Darian indicated that they did not have any protection around the castle, but since his discovery, that may have changed,” Mikel began. “We need to confirm whether or not that’s still true. That will determine our next course of action. We also need to confirm whether or not the book is still at the castle.” Mikel looked at me. “Do you think you would be able to feel the book from outside the castle?”
“I can try,” I replied. “But I fear that as soon as it recognizes me, they’ll know I’m there.”
Mikel sat quietly for a few moments. “Charles also knows where the castle is, correct?” he asked, and I nodded in agreement. “He and a few others should go to the valley outside the castle to see if they have bolstered their defenses. That would be the first indication that they are expecting us to come back. I will make a decision based on what they report.”
He then looked at Adalina. “Go with Charles and find out what we’re facing, and return as quickly as possible.” She nodded her agreement and left.
I worried about his decision to send Adalina. Was she capable of going without getting in a fight? I would not question Mikel’s decision, but it seemed careless to me.
“I expect that they’ll hide their numbers and try to lure us in,” Mikel continued after Adalina left. “Zar’Asur’s reaction to Darian seems to imply that he’s trying to find someone capable of using the book without dying. I can’t see a way to get to the book without losing some of our own. I think—”
Mikel was interrupted by a shrill scream from Aneera. She was sitting in the chair next to Juana, who reached for her and cradled Aneera’s head in her arms. Mikel rushed to her side, boiling over with anxiety. Aneera’s eyes rolled back, and she fell limp in Juana’s arms. Juana continued to hold her, brushing back the strands of hair that fell across her face.
“Is she okay?” I asked, panic seeping into my voice.
“Yes, she’s having a vision,” Juana answered. “We’ll wait for her to wake up to find out what she saw.”
I looked at the people around me; worry painted their faces as we all waited for Aneera to wake. It only took a few minutes before she sat up, her face turning red with embarrassment. Mikel knelt in front of her and took her hand with a tender gesture that surprised me.
“They have somehow summoned a huge monster,” she began looking directly at Mikel. “It resembles a demon, but is taller than our homes, with large black wings. Adalina thought about engaging it, and I saw her death.” She shivered violently but continued. “It picked her up and squeezed the life from her. She was unable to pierce its hide with her axe.”
“Will this really happen?” I asked.
“I don’t think so. It was only one possibility if Adalina chose to engage it,” Aneera replied, turning her gaze to me for a moment. “But I don’t believe she will make that decision.”
Everyone sighed in relief, knowing we could not lose Adalina. Despite her brash carelessness, she was an amazing leader and formidable fighter.
Mikel stood and reluctantly released her hands. “This adds a new layer of difficulties to our task. Did they summon one or more?”
“I only saw one,” Aneera replied. “But that’s not a guarantee that there aren’t more.”
Mikel ran his hands through his hair. “I wish we knew more about this book.” He looked over at Raphael. “Is there nothing in our library that references magical tomes?”
“I’ve been looking and have found references to several, but nothing like the one Darian describes,” Raphael replied. “I’ve asked a couple of the apprentices to keep looking. Maybe we’ll get lucky and they’ll find something soon.”
Juana cleared her throat and everyone looked at her. “I think Charles should take Eli and I to the castle. He would be expecting Darian, not us, so we may be able to get to the book if it’s still there.”
“If it’s not there, we’ll come back and make a new plan,” Eli added. “But at least we’ll know whether or not he moved it.”
Mikel looked at them thoughtfully, struggling with the decision. “Let’s wait for Adalina to return and report what she saw. I don’t like the thought of sending you two in blind, not knowing whether or not you even have a chance to succeed.”
“I understand your concerns, Mikel,” Eli began, “but I don’t think we can wait for him to make the next move. It feels like he’s baiting us, waiting for us to make a mistake so he can pounce.”
“I worry that if you get into the castle, he will not let you out,” Mikel said. “I’m sure he already knows who you are. Do you really think he would let our most powerful partners escape his grasp?”
Juana replied to his question, “Isn’t that our destiny, Mikel, to confront the most powerful? What other reason would God have for uniting us?”
Mikel let out a long, sad sigh. I was confused by what they said. What did it mean that they were united by God?
“I know you’re right, I just can’t imagine trying to fight this battle without your bond,” Mikel replied.
“Maybe it’s time for a new bond,” Eli suggested, glancing towards me. “His abilities are much like Juana’s. Could he be the next Watcher?”
“I considered that when he returned from absorbing the power of that book,” Mikel replied and looked at me as well. “He is able to control an enormous amount of power. With more training, I can only imagine what he’ll accomplish.”
“Will someone please tell me what you’re talking about?” I asked, not even trying to hide my frustration. “You have pulled me into a war I don’t understand, against an enemy that seems to be unbeatable, and you’ve shown me powers that I can only imagine. I have more questions than I can possibly put voice to, and what do you do? Drop yet another mystery into my lap. How can you expect me to accept all of this and not go insane?”
Juana gave me a compassionate smile. “I’m what we call a Watcher. God came to me years ago and told me that I was destined to wait until I found Eli, who would be my Sentinel. Only together would we be strong enough to prevent the world’s destruction. He and I are destined to fight the most powerful evil that the world has to face.” She paused in her explanation. “If you are to be the next Watcher, you will have a similar experience. Don’t ever forget that God never makes a mistake regarding those he chooses.”
None of it was any clearer to me, but her passion and faith moved me to silence.
Just as Mikel was about to speak, the door to his office flew open and Adalina stormed in.
“We have got to put a portal inside the tower!” she bellowed. “Running here from the gate wastes so much time.”
“I’m glad you made it back safely,” Mikel said, ignoring her outburst. “Tell us what you saw.”
“They have summoned a monstrous demon,” she replied. “It stands as tall as a two-story building, with a black
, scaly hide and huge wings. It looked like it emerged from the ground, like a damned daisy popping up at the first sign of spring.”
“Were there any others, or just one?” Mikel asked.
“Just one,” Adalina replied. “I hope there aren’t any others. Fighting one of those things will be hard enough.”
“I’m assuming everyone made it back safely?” Mikel asked, and Adalina nodded in agreement. “Good. We need to refine our plan for getting that book. This newest foe will only make it that much more difficult.”
“I still think Charles should take us to where we know the book was last,” said Eli. “We can easily travel back to Santuario if it’s not there. By doing so, we avoid a fight with this monster.”
Mikel frowned as he sat in thought for several minutes. “I don’t feel good about this, but I can’t think of a better option. Make your preparations. We’ll be waiting for you at the gate when you return.”
Chapter 10
Juana followed Eli through the courtyard to find Charles and explain their plan. After they packed a small bag, the group met in the courtyard.
“Be safe and come right back,” Mikel said.
Juana gave him a nod.
“Charles, take us to a safe place outside the castle first,” Juana requested, then she looked over at Mikel. “We’ll see you within the hour,” she said. Charles took both their arms and they disappeared.
They kneeled in the snow, just inside a group of thick pines. Charles pointed towards the far side of the castle.
“Darian and I entered through the door at the back of the castle,” Charles explained. “We passed through the kitchen and followed the servants’ hall to the bedrooms, where we found the book.”
Juana closed her eyes and pushed her mind sight towards the castle, finding the back door and following Charles’ directions to the bedrooms. It was obvious when she reached the room with book. Its power pulsed down the hallway towards her. It felt like it was drawing her to it. She cautiously pressed her mind through the door and immediately flinched. In her mind sight, the book appeared to be alive with a thick pulsing shadow surrounding it, drawing everything towards its malevolence. She retreated back to her body.
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