“We need to locate my uncle,” Monty said just before the door to the pub exploded.
FOURTEEN
IT WASN’T JUST the door. The entire wall that held the door exploded inward and was reduced to rubble.
“Where are you, mage?” Bellowed a voice from outside the pub. “Come out and greet your death.”
It was the demon from the circle.
“I’m going to suggest you decline the invite.” I pulled out Grim Whisper. “So much for having it contained. I hope you know some way to send it home.”
“I don’t understand,” Thomas muttered as Monty pulled him to the side. “The containment runes should have kept it restrained underground. How did it get out?”
“It’s quite possible that either you underestimated its strength, or overestimated the efficacy of your riftrunes.” Monty moved to the side of the door. “In any case, it’s here. How did it track you?”
“My riftrunes work,” Thomas said under his breath. “I tested them. It should have been contained. They absolutely work.”
“Thomas, focus! How did it find you?”
“My energy signature from the circle,” Thomas said. “It must have locked onto that.”
“How did it find you before it broke through the circle?” I asked. “Looks like someone needs you out of the way—why? Why are you a threat?”
“I’m getting too close to the truth,” Thomas said. “They can’t afford to have me stop the summoning or restore access to the ley-lines.”
I slid to the doorframe separating the back room from the rest of the pub, and peeked at the entrance. The demon stood outside, smoldering—as in covered in smoke and flames—not upset. I noticed flames dropped off it and fall to the ground, burning the cobblestone street.
“That thing’s a hot mess,” I said. “Why doesn’t it come inside? Doesn’t like the décor?”
“The runes that make this place impossible to find must be causing interference,” Thomas gestured and sent white runes into the ground. “Oh, this is bad.”
“Worse than the demon waiting for you outside to violently introduce you to death?”
Thomas nodded. “There’s a rift open under the Cathedral. It must have happened when he escaped,” Thomas muttered, still gesturing. “Once the demons realize there’s a way in, they’ll flood the rift. I have to close it.”
“London will become Demon City,” Monty added. “First we deal with this, then we close that rift.”
“But we can’t get down there,” Thomas said. “The whole level is collapsed and sealed off.”
“If he got out, there’s a path in,” Monty said, and walked out of the back room. “Let’s use diplomacy first.”
“With a demon? Are you insane?” Thomas hissed. “There’s no reasoning with them.”
“I think you want to stay back here,” I said as I followed Monty out. “I have a feeling this is going to be a short conversation. Peaches, keep him safe.”
Peaches stepped over to Thomas and sat on his haunches. He gave me a low rumble and shook his body before assuming the protect-and-shred stance.
The demon stood outside what used to be the entrance of Cool Cats & Blokes. It looked like a man on fire, except that the fire didn’t consume him. It blazed, sputtered, and rekindled. Smoke rose from different parts of its body. The face was mostly indistinguishable, being covered in flame. I figured it was stronger than the first demon we met, but weaker than Cinder. It made me wonder why Thomas couldn’t runeject this one but had been able to handle Cinder easily. Something was off.
“Monty, something feels off here,” I said as I stood next to him. “Didn’t Cinder feel more powerful than tall-and-flamey here?”
“Appearances can be deceiving,” Monty replied, tugging on his cuffs as he approached the door. “It is possible this demon is stronger than Cinder.”
“Doesn’t feel that way, and Thomas hit him with some runes and erased him.”
“What are you trying to say?” Monty glanced at me. “I’ve known Thomas for decades. He may be eccentric and unorthodox, but I have no reason to distrust him.”
Peaches rumbled next to me and nudged my leg.
“I thought I told you to stay near Thomas.”
“That’s because you overdid it,” I said, looking down at him. He was shivering, and his tongue lolled to one side. I crouched down, held his head, and looked into his eyes. “How much did you eat?”
“He won’t suffer, much.” Thomas stood in the doorway to the back room. “I had to make sure he wouldn’t attack. You can’t imagine what it took to devise and then disguise the poison. Hellhounds can eat almost anything—and usually do.”
“You fuck!” I drew Grim Whisper and fired. My rounds hit a white lattice of energy with no effect. “I will find you and end you.”
“You should have never come here, Tristan.” Thomas gestured, and I saw the white runes fall from his hands. “Why did you come back? I didn’t want to hurt you. I really didn’t.”
“Thomas.” Monty turned and held up his hands. “Whatever it is you’ve done or are involved in, we can help you.”
“You can’t!” he yelled. “Don’t you see? It’s too late. You’ll never understand—you’ve never understood. It’s too late.”
He thrust both arms forward and unleashed a torrent of runes. I pressed the main bead on my mala, raising the shield. Monty gestured, casting another shield. The impact of energy catapulted us outside of the pub. I landed in a roll and ran back to the demolished wall. I bounced off another lattice of energy, which re-introduced me to the ground—hard. Monty stood slowly but remained where he was.
Thomas came up to the edge but remained inside the pub, behind the lattice wall. He looked at me with a sad smile and shook his head. I looked in his eyes, the rage threatening to blind me. I got shakily to my feet, acutely aware of the demon behind us.
“You killed Nigel.” Monty dusted off his sleeves. “It was no accident.”
“He was beginning to grow suspicious.” Thomas looked at the demon behind us. “I couldn’t have him exposing my work. When I offered him a position with us, offered him power beyond imagination, the fool refused. I didn’t kill him—he killed himself. Just like you did.”
“Wait, I don’t recall you making us an offer.” I moved my coat to make sure I could access Ebonsoul. “Why didn’t we get a chance at ‘power beyond imagination’?”
“Because he knew what I would say,” Monty answered. “Nigel was ambitious, but he resisted when he discovered the source of the power.”
“Nigel had a sudden case of conscience at the last moment. It proved to be fatal.” Thomas shrugged. “You were always too righteous for your own good, Tristan. I knew you would never join us.”
“You’re harvesting demons for energy.” Monty stepped close to the ruined wall. “Are you insane?”
“You always were pompous and arrogant. The Elders favored you while dismissing me. I hated you for it. Consider this my dish served cold. You wronged me, and I shall have my revenge.”
“Did he just bard you?” I asked, surprised. “You really have to teach me how to make friends.” I glanced at Monty. “Mine are mostly jerks, but this one’s a world-class asshole.”
“He’s not my friend.” Monty gestured and released an orb at the lattice with no effect. “He’s just a frustrated little mage prick, who will be made to bleed.”
“Make sure nothing is left of them,” Thomas said angrily to the demon. “If you do a good job, I’ll let you have the hellhound for a snack. It’s still mostly alive.”
“Yes, master,” the demon said, and licked its lips. “No remains.”
“Thomas, try not to die before I get to you,” I said. “I’m going to enjoy putting you out of your misery, you son-of-a-bitch.”
I drew Ebonsoul and aimed Grim Whisper at the approaching demon as I stepped back.
“Goodbye, Tristan.” Thomas gestured and opened a ri
ft. “I’d make sure your body received a proper burial, but you’ll only be an unpleasant memory. There won’t be any body left to bury.”
He disappeared through the rift, and the demon charged.
FIFTEEN
I ROLLED OUT of the way and fired. Entropy rounds had no effect on the demon.
“Hold on, Peaches,” I said under my breath. I could see him lying on his side in the pub. “Monty, I don’t care what you have to cast—get me in there.”
Monty gestured, and I saw white runes appear from his fingertips. They slammed into the demon, slowing it down. The light spread out and formed a large spherical cage. The demon pounded against the cage and roared.
“Where did you learn those?” I asked between gasps.
“Thomas isn’t the only observant one,” he said with a grunt and a final gesture. “This can only hold it for a short while. If we’re going to be fighting demons, I need a seraph.”
“The angel?” I asked, looking around. “I guess we could try St. Paul’s again, but I don’t think they hang out in the churches.”
“The blade,” he said with a look. “They’re created to fight demons.”
“Perfect. Which means we won’t find one in Tesco.”
“Not likely, no. We need to find an artifact dealer—but first things first. Let’s save your creature.” Monty approached the lattice wall. “This will take some time. The lattice is an energy entanglement designed to implode if dismantled without a harmonic stabilizer.”
“Oh, really? And that means?”
“If I try to burst through, the building collapses.” He began gesturing. “Keep an eye on the demon, and let me know when it starts to get free.”
“Don’t you mean ‘if’ it gets free?”
“No.” White runes flowed from his fingers into the lattice, landing on certain areas of the wall but avoiding others. “That cage isn’t going to hold it forever. I still haven’t studied the casting thoroughly.”
I wondered when he found the time to study the casting at all. He approached the lattice wall, and I kept an eye on the caged demon. It had stopped pounding and was testing each individual part of the cage.
“If it gets loose, I could always unleash my Incantation of Light orb at it. Or was Thomas lying about that too, and just working another angle?”
“The incantation orbs are real.” Monty released another set of runes. “He was probably trying to gauge what kind of magical threat you were. I’ve seen incantation orbs punch through solid rock with ease.”
“Mine would barely get through toilet paper,” I muttered, as he kept gesturing.
“It takes years of practice,” he said, and stepped back. “That should do it.”
The lattice wall dropped, and I made to step into the pub. Monty grabbed me by the arm and shook his head.
“What? The wall is down.”
“But not the defenses—hold on.” He placed his hands on the ground, and a covering of runes appeared in front of us. “These will be easier to disable.”
“Mage, release me!” the demon demanded from behind us. “It’s clear you are powerful. I can give you more power.”
“Ignore it,” Monty said working on the runes. “It’s all lies and deceit, until it’s too late.”
“I speak truth.” The demon pressed against the cage. “My power can be yours.”
Monty raised a hand and made a fist. The rune cage began to shrink around the demon.
“Half-truths,” Monty said without turning, as he unraveled the lattice of runes on the ground. “The price your kind exacts is too high, and always has been.”
“There is always a cost, mage.” The demon bowed. “This is the way. Some, like your friend Thomas, are willing to pay the price. I can help ascend you to Arch Mage.”
“Shut it,” Monty answered.
Monty put his hand on the ground again, and rotated his palm counter-clockwise. The symbols on the floor inside the pub disappeared. I ran in to Peaches.
“Hey, boy,” I said, placing my hand on the side of his body. His breathing was shallow, and he struggled to look at me. “I’m here.”
“From now on, you don’t eat meat from strangers.” I looked at Monty. “I know you’re not a healer, but could you—?”
“I have an idea, but we’re going to need your flask.”
I reached in my pocket and gave him the Valhalla Java flask. It glowed in the night, the blue skulls grinning at me with power as I uncapped it.
“It did help Quan, but I don’t know if it will work on a hellhound,” I said, nervously. I didn’t want to make a bad situation worse.
“We have no precedent, and the only person who could help is an ocean away,” he said quietly. “Pour some into your hand and ask him what it smells like.”
I did as Monty asked and held my palm in front of Peaches’ nose.
“Hey, boy,” I said, gently rubbing his side. His breathing was becoming ragged. “Can you tell me what that smells like?”
“No, you black hole,” I said, holding back a smile. “He says it smells like pastrami.”
Monty nodded. “I thought as much. Whatever that liquid is, it operates on the principle of transmogrification—becoming what the drinker enjoys the most.”
“Will it work?” I asked quietly. “Can we save him?”
“Without knowing what Thomas gave him, it’s dangerous,” Monty replied. “We could make it worse and accelerate the poison. I honestly don’t know.”
“We can’t let him die, Monty.” The words were ash in my mouth.
Monty set his jaw and nodded. “Open your hand. This is going to be unpleasant for you. I’m going to channel energy through your bond.”
“Excuse me?”
“When I tell you, pour about a vial’s worth into his mouth.” He started gesturing and violet trails followed his fingers. “I’m going to attempt to infuse the liquid with energy from your bond. Hopefully that can jumpstart his regenerative process and destroy the poison.”
“And if this goes wrong?” I asked, placing Peaches’ head in my lap and turning it so he could drink. “Just want to know what might happen.”
“Damn it, Simon. I’m a mage, not a vet! Not that your creature qualifies as a dog,” he said, his voice grim. “This is uncharted territory for me. In my calculations, he either gets well as his body takes over and heals him—he has been thrown through walls, exploded, and exposed to a void vortex with no ill-effects—or the poison takes over, and catastrophic failure follows, and we lose him.”
I nodded. “Thanks for being honest.”
A roar from outside diverted my focus. I turned to see the cage of the demon had shrunk to the point that it was curled into a fetal position.
Monty stopped the violet trails and gestured again, sending more white runes over to the cage holding the demon. The runes joined and formed another cage outside the existing one.
“It will buy some time, but not much,” he said, starting the violet trails again. “The pub won’t keep us safe once it breaks free, since the defenses are gone. Let’s focus on the task at hand, shall we? Ready?”
“Do it.”
He formed a violet orb of energy, and clasped my hand while still holding the orb. My arm instantly felt on fire. I looked down to make sure flames weren’t consuming me. The roar of waves filled my ears, and my vision tunneled in.
“Give it to him, now!”
I poured a small amount of liquid into Peaches’ mouth. He weakly swallowed it, and the flames in my body intensified. Tears streamed down my cheeks as the pain ratcheted up a few more notches into rip-my-nails-out-with-pliers territory.
He rumbled and growled as his body spasmed. I tried to hold him down, but failed as he thrashed on the floor. I managed to regain control and hold on to his head. For the first time, I felt my connection to Peaches as a physical sensation. The bond we shared was
strong, and right now, he was dying. I poured more liquid into his mouth.
“Simon, no!” Monty’s voice was a muffled sound in the distance. “It’s too much. The bond is too strong. You have to let him go.”
“Get back, Monty.” I realized the tears streaming down my face were made of blood, as I looked down at the stained floor. I was grabbing Peaches by the scruff, and I could feel the surge of power growing within us. “I can’t let go.”
He made a move to grab my arm, and the backlash of energy shoved him back across the floor. He began gesturing as the surge erupted, and I was flung to the other side of the pub, across the bar, and into the wall.
SIXTEEN
I WAS DIZZY from the impact as Monty came to my side. He grabbed me by the shoulder and shook me quickly.
“You need to get your wits about you,” he hissed. “And quickly.”
“Is he okay?” I asked, looking around. “Did it work?”
“I’d like to say yes, but I’m not sure,” Monty said quietly next to me. “There was one outcome I didn’t foresee.”
My heart sank. “No. What happened?” I asked. “I gave him too much, but he was dying. I didn’t know what else to do. I killed him.”
“Don’t be daft,” Monty said, keeping his voice low. “We wouldn’t be hiding behind the bar if your creature were dead.”
“We’re hiding?” I asked, confused. “Why are we hiding?”
“See for yourself,” he said, and pointed over the bar.
I was about to stand when he held me down. “What is it?”
“Use this,” he said, and handed me a piece of the mirror I shattered when I slammed into it. “Slowly.”
I lifted the shard over the edge of the bar and looked into the reflection of the center of the pub. Sitting in the middle of the floor was a large creature with glowing red eyes.
“That thing ate Peaches?” I asked in shock. “What the hell is that creature?”
“Look again. It didn’t eat your creature.”
Silver Clouds Dirty Sky A Montague and Strong Detective Novel (Montague & Strong Case Files Book 4) Page 7
