Shadow Demon

by Judith Post

  “She’s right.” Whitey finished shuffling and dealt more cards. “You just don’t want to admit it.”

  Andre glared. “This is a shit hand.”

  “So bite me.” Whitey smiled. “I don’t like being put on the sidelines either, but we’ll do more harm than good if we face Nen.”

  Reece watched different expressions play over Andre’s handsome face. Finally, he said, “I get it. I’ll sit here and twiddle my thumbs.”

  “And wear your ring.” Hecate discarded.

  “What for? I’m only a cheerleader." Andre picked up the card, rearranged his hand, laid it down, and said, “Gin.”

  Hecate sighed. Whitey grimaced.

  Before Hecate could deal another round, thunder clouds sounded in the distance. She pushed the cards toward Whitey and got to her feet.

  Reece closed her spell book and enchanted it, so that if an enemy opened it, the pages would burst into flames.

  Damian landed on the patio, furled his wings against his back, and came to them. “Nen’s alone. He parked at the front of Wedge’s property. He’s walking down the gravel drive, and he’s in a foul mood.”

  Luna reached for her staff. “So are we.”

  They walked to the gravel parking area a short distance from the house. "If we battle here, Wedge's lodge might survive,” Hecate said.

  Reece caught movement overhead and glanced up to see Damian flying to the trees on the far side of the drive. What was he doing? Just like Hecate and Sylwan, she could concentrate better if she knew he was safe.

  A wind blasted between the tunnel of trees that lined the drive. It nearly knocked them off their feet, but Reece pressed her heels against the earth and asked it to hold her. Sylwan heard the chant and repeated it. Hecate, Luna, and Aidann did the same. Banafrit simply raised her hand, and the winds died.

  Black clouds rumbled and clashed. Forks of lightning darted to earth. The witches sang together, and the sun burned off the storm.

  Nen strode toward them. His black hair, as dark as his mother’s, was merely a stubble. His chest and legs were bare. Folds of golden fabric fell to his upper thighs. Gold bands circled his upper arms and wrists. His thick, golden collar blinked in the sunlight, the crocodile motif clear to see. An onyx eye glared at them. Ruby teeth threatened to devour them. Nen held a staff in his right hand. Amulets flowed from its top. Carvings covered every inch of it. A grim smile pulled at his lips. His dark eyes blazed with anger.

  He stopped to study them. “Only six of you? Like gnats, you’ve managed to be quite annoying with your puny powers.”

  Banafrit spoke. “Welcome, my son. If you’d care to leave peacefully, we won’t harm you.”

  Nen threw back his head and laughed. “Mother, you always made a practice of being kind, but I came for your blood today.” His gaze shifted to Hecate. “And I came for your body. I intend to have both.”

  “Things don’t always work as expected.” Banafrit stood, shoulder to shoulder, with her friends.

  Nen looked at each of the other witches. “Luna. Aidann. Haven’t you suffered enough defeat?” His lips curled down when he saw Sylwan. “If you leave now, I promise you no harm. A warlock's bond. If I break it, I die. I’ll take my mother and Hecate and go.”

  “No.” Reece surprised herself by the sound of her voice. She’d been angry before in her life, but never as much as now.

  Nen's brows furrowed into a scowl. “I've sworn not to hurt you. Save yourselves and leave.”

  "You'll just send someone else to do your dirty work." Reece gripped her staff more tightly.

  Nen sighed. “You seem to be a bit too clever for your own good.” In one swift movement, he whirled his staff and a blast of energy shot toward Banafrit.

  Reece jammed her staff forward and diverted it. More volleys came. It took all of her skill to deflect them.

  A deluge of white, hot balls shot from the staffs of each of her friends.

  Nen mumbled a spell and a shield formed. His movements were so fast, so sure, Reece had trouble keeping up. In one, elegant swoop, he knelt to one knee, seized his staff in both hands, and hurled a bolt of power, like lightning, at them.

  They chanted a shield of their own—so strong and flexible, it absorbed the lightning, leaving only a sizzling noise behind.

  Nen sprang forward and whirled his staff in a circle. A whirlwind leapt to life and started toward them.

  Reece blew gentle breaths, dissolving it into bits and pieces that drifted away.

  Nen slammed the tip of his staff to the ground. The earth split open, the chasm widening as it approached them. Reece moved her staff in a zigzag fashion. The others did the same, sewing the seam back together.

  Nen raised an eyebrow. “This is new to me. You act as one.” He looked at their necklaces and shook his head. He focused on their thumb rings, and his eyes fastened on Reece. “Clever, clever witch. My mother and Hecate never wore those.”

  He raised a hand to blast her, and Damian dropped to the earth behind him. Before Nen could react, Damian gripped his crocodile collar, broke its clasp, and flew off with it.

  Nen’s face blazed crimson with fury. He pointed his staff to blast Damian. Reece shot light to bump his arm. The energy meant to kill Damian only burned a hole in the center of his wing. Her gargoyle tumbled from the air. Branches snapped as he tangled in the top of a distant tree. Damaged, but safe.

  “You!” Nen spun on Reece. This time, white, hot power poured from his staff toward her.

  Reece met it in the middle—too strong to control. Aidann shot energy to join hers. Hecate did, too, along with Sylwan’s, Luna’s, and Banafrit’s staffs. They poured every ounce of power they could into moving Nen’s magic backward. They could only manage to hold it at bay.

  Reece dug her heels into the earth and called for more strength, but no matter how hard she tried, Nen’s power equaled hers. Her shoulders ached. She looked sideways at Sylwan. The girl’s forehead was covered with sweat. Luna’s lips were white from exertion, and Aidann’s arms shook with his effort. Nen didn’t tire.

  They couldn’t defeat him. Even if they survived, they’d have to run. Reece’s necklace and ankle bracelet burst with light. Another idea. Reece moved her staff, so that its tip met Luna’s and formed one, heavy beam.

  Aidann joined his energy with theirs on the other side of Luna. Sylwan stepped forward to do the same. So did Hecate and Banafrit.

  Nen staggered backward as the one beam hit his, but he held his staff firm. The two powers struggled against each other for an anxious few minutes. When theirs began to inch forward, Nen invoked a dark force that Reece vaguely remembered from one of the spell books. A black aura seeped from his very pores and blanketed him like a cloud. It shrouded his staff in shadows and renewed his strength. They were evenly matched once more.

  Reece’s mind whirred frantically, trying to think of something…anything…that would help them. Suddenly, her thumb ring burned her skin. It glowed so brightly, it looked like gold instead of birch. The magic wasn’t coming from her, but one of the others.

  Banafrit stepped slightly forward and cried, “My son, my blood is your blood. I gave you life.” She reached under her tunic. When her left hand emerged, she held the long, sharp butcher’s knife she’d used to slice mangoes.

  Words formed a steady mantra as Banafrit chanted. Reece strained to hear her spell. The buzz of energy made it impossible. Could Banafrit hurl the knife into their beam and direct it at her son? Would a drop of blood make a difference? Unite them somehow? Nen's mother repeated the words over and over again until Reece’s finger blistered beneath her circlet of birch. What was Banafrit building to?

  Banafrit’s arm jerked skyward and Reece understood.

  “No!” Her cry was lost in the sizzle of power that hummed and snapped around them.

  Banafrit didn’t hesitate. Her arm slashed downward. The knife plunged into her chest. “I sacrifice my blood to my friends.”

  The energy from her staff turned red.
The magic bled into their beam. It formed a crimson streak. The streak raced toward Nen.

  Nen’s gaze jerked toward his mother.

  “I bore you, and now I take you!” she cried.

  The scarlet whip of power lashed toward him. It exploded his staff, stained his fingers, then crept up his arms. Nen screamed. His torso turned blood-red, then his legs, neck, and finally his face. He roared in wrath. His fingers curled into fists. Puddles of crimson streamed from his body. He slumped to his knees.

  Reece dropped her staff and hurried to Banafrit.

  “Is he dead?”

  Reece glanced at Nen, drained of all color, maybe drained of all blood, face down in the dirt. “Yes.”

  Banafrit smiled. “I knew the rings' purpose the minute you spoke of them.”

  “But…” That hadn't been Reece's intention.

  Banafrit’s eyes closed. Slowly, almost too quietly to hear, she said, “I’m happy.”

  Reece’s entire body trembled. She put her hands on the ground to steady herself.

  Aidann dropped to his knees beside her. “Would you die to protect your Joseph or Jenny?”

  “Yes.”

  “Banafrit died to end her son’s evil. In some ways, it’s the same.”

  Strong hands gripped Reece’s shoulders. They lifted her up. Damian—a mess—bruised and scratched, one wing drooping—stood before her. She threw herself against his chest, and he hugged her close.

  Andre and Whitey rushed from the house. Andre swept Hecate to him. Whitey hovered near Sylwan, anxious to comfort her. Aidann and Luna sagged against each other. They all stood, silently. They’d won, but the battle had been too close, too hard. At the moment, it didn’t feel like a victory.

  Chapter 30

  Reece carried a platter of beef tenderloins to the two tables Damian had pushed together to make room for their friends. Andre followed with plates of grilled vegetables. Hecate passed bruschetta to Joseph, who was sitting beside her. Jenny reached for a slice of cantaloupe wrapped in prosciutto. Home again. In Reece's condo. Safe.

  “When do your classes start again?” Reece’s mother asked, taking a sip of red wine.

  “Tomorrow. I can’t believe it. First, we had to see Luna and Aidann off, then vacation was over.”

  Jenny grinned. “Ours lasted a long time.”

  “But we never want you in that much trouble again,” Joseph hurried to say, “even if it was fun for us.” Spoken as a typical boy.

  Reece waved away his worry. “I think this was a once in a lifetime event. I’m glad you got to enjoy it.”

  Wedge gave a quick knock and hurried inside. He brought a platter of fruits and cheeses, along with crusty breads. “Sorry we’re late, but Maggie insisted we wait for Whitey.” He threw his wife a fond glance.

  Whitey and Sylwan followed them into the apartment. Sylwan carried a tray of small tarts. “It took me longer to make these than I thought.”

  “We’re just starting. Grab a chair.” Damian pulled one out for her. Whitey sat beside her.

  Wedge and Maggie settled across the table from them.

  “Where’s Eugene?” Andre asked. The Were despised her step-father, Reece knew, but he was trying to be polite.

  “He’s playing golf with Irwin, then they’re going out drinking.” At Reece’s raised eyebrow, her mother hurried to add. “No worries, Eugene and I have an understanding. There should be no problems anymore.”

  Reece sighed. The kids were growing up. Joseph had already informed her that they couldn’t spend the night this weekend, because their school was camping out at the children’s museum. Reece was only glad she’d been too busy to be a chaperone. She couldn’t imagine anything worse than trying to get twenty-some kids, who were excited, to settle for the night.

  Andre rose to his feet and made a toast. “To friends! Eat, drink, and be merry!”

  They were eating and talking when there was a scratching noise at the door. Reece looked at Damian and frowned. A rogue? A stray Were? He got up to see who—or what—it was. He opened the door, made a small surprised sound, then pulled it wider.

  Two cats sauntered into the apartment, looked around, then started toward the table.

  Andre’s eyes went round with surprise. Reece’s mother stared. The cat on the right, as black as midnight, padded straight to Reece. The cat on the left, a sleek, orange tabby with emerald eyes, went to Hecate.

  Joseph’s mouth dropped open, then he cheered. “Are they what I think they are?”

  Hecate’s voice was dry. “Everyone here knows that we’re witches.”

  “Are they familiars?” Joseph persisted.

  “My last cat was a gray tiger,” Hecate fussed.

  “Then you needed something new.” The tabby cocked its head to stare at Andre.

  “You know I’m a Were?”

  The cat raised its paw and showed Andre its claws.

  He laughed. “You think little points like that will scare me?”

  The cat jumped on his lap, stretched toward the table, and punctured a pear with the tip of its claw. The fruit turned brown and withered.

  Andre stared. “You came especially equipped to deal with Weres, didn’t you?”

  The cat curled on his lap and purred.

  Andre patted its head. “We’ll call you Marmalade.”

  Reece looked down at the inky black cat beside her chair. “You’re mine?”

  Golden eyes studied her, unblinking.

  “He looks like Mom’s ring,” Jenny said.

  Reece glanced at the ring on her mother’s right hand. “Onyx. That’s a good name. Do you like it?”

  The cat stretched itself and let her pick him up, then placed his front paws on the table and nabbed a piece of tenderloin from her plate.

  Reece blinked, surprised. “Can you discipline familiars?”

  “Mine’s fine." Hecate laughed. "It’s yours that has attitude.”

  “That’s not an answer.” Onyx rubbed his cheek against Reece’s arm, then took another piece of beef.

  Damian couldn’t help it. He laughed. “You got the right cat. It reminds me of you.”

  “Off!” Reece told it.

  Onyx jumped to the ground, stretched beneath her chair, and began to clean himself.

  “You’ve met your match, witch.” Wedge glanced at his wife. “Believe me. The back and forth can be fun.”

  The kids didn’t care one way or another. Joseph and Jenny were on the floor, petting and fussing over the beasts.

  The adults finished their meal, and both cats waited for scraps during cleanup. Then everyone moved to the patio to enjoy the view and fresh air.

  When the sun sank, Jenny sagged against her mother. It was getting late, close to her bedtime. She touched the slice of moonstone on her necklace and smiled up at Reece. “It’s a good thing Onyx came. He’s not afraid of vampires.”

  Reece gaped. “Did you have a vision when you touched your necklace?” Vampires weren't real, were they?

  “They’re nice ones,” Jenny mumbled, then shut her eyes.

  Damian glanced at Wedge. “Have you ever had to worry about vampires in Bay City?"

  “Not for long." Wedge stood and reached for Maggie. "It's getting late. We have a long drive home."

  Whitey and Sylwan followed them to the door. Andre scooped Marmalade into his arms to carry home. Cat and Were both looked content.

  Damian helped Reece's mom carry Jenny to her car and buckle Joseph in the back seat. When he returned to their condo, Reece was pacing.

  “We’re going to face vampires, aren't we?”

  Onyx came to thread himself around her ankles.

  “Your cat isn’t worried. Jenny said they’d be nice. We shouldn’t worry either.”

  "Have you fought vampires before?"

  Damian shrugged. "A few times. They don't like gargoyles. They don't like Weres or witches either. I doubt they're coming to Bay City to wage war."

  Then why come? But Reece let it drop. She had a feeli
ng she wasn’t going to like the answer to her question, but no need to worry now. They’d face that problem when it got here.

  THE END

  Other Titles by Judith Post

  Shadow Demon is the sequel to Wolf's Bane.

  If you liked Shadow Demon, you might also enjoy these titles.

  Babet/Prosper Novella Series

  One Less Warlock

  Magrat's Dagger

  A Different Undead

  Bad Juju

  Beware the Bogeyman

  Celt Secrets

  Ally/Dante Novella Series

  Flesh & Stone

  Gargoyle, Missing

  Samuel Meets His Match

  A Natural Affinity

  Christian/Brina Novella Series

  Uncommon Allies

  Keeper of Dragons

  Lone Drifter

  Death & Loralei Novella Series

  Destiny with Death

  Death & Felice

  All Hallow’s Eve

  The Death & Loralei Collection

  (featuring an exclusive novella, Spirit Bound)

  Novels by Judith Post

  Fabric of Life

  Fallen Angels

  Blood Battles

  Empty Altars