Loyalty Oath

by Edmund Hughes

  Her hand was down his pants, and the grip she had on him didn’t feel like it should have been possible with just a palm and some fingers. It was hot and wet, swirling and sucking. A vortex of pleasure designed to get him off as fast as possible.

  “Make a deal… with you?” muttered Jack.

  “Yes.” Adana grinned. “It’s so simple. I’ll make you feel… so very good.”

  She leaned forward to kiss him again. Jack ran his thumb across her lips, kissed her cheek once, and then sank his fangs into her neck with all the force he could muster.

  Adana let out a soundless scream as he penetrated her with his teeth. Her blood tasted unpleasant, like sweetened gasoline, but it made his body hum with a strange, dark power. Of course, it wasn’t her blood that he cared about.

  He only took a few sips off her before pulling back. Adana fell to her knees and covered her chest, looking far more vulnerable than a demon should have been able to.

  “Stand up,” said Jack.

  Adana blinked, and then stood up.

  “You—you just—” She shook her head, her mouth hanging open with obvious horror. “You enthralled me? How can this be?”

  “That was going to be my next question,” said Jack. “You’d think that an ancient, supernatural demon would have some kind of defense against such a straightforward mode of attack. Then again, I’m guessing you don’t encounter many vampires in this place.”

  “I can’t believe it,” said Adana. She brought a hand up to her neck and rubbed at the spot he’d bitten. “And… I don’t even mind it. The sensation of your fangs is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. How queer.”

  “Release my friends,” said Jack.

  Adana waved a hand and the burning cages disappeared. Jack hurried over to Ryoko and Mira, who were still watching Adana carefully.

  “It’s okay,” he said. “I enthralled her.”

  “You… what?” Mira’s lips turned up into a slow smile. “My sweet Jack. You’ve come such a long way. Well done!”

  “I guess if it was the only way,” said Ryoko. “I’m not sure I like the idea of you doing that frequently, sir.”

  “Trust me, I have no intention of making a habit of it,” he said. “But having a demon at my beck and call might come in handy if I’m going up against another demon.”

  He walked past Adana, summoning his Spectral Sword, and found the point where his chain was connected to the pillar. He didn’t hesitate, immediately slicing downward into the link at the origin. It let out a satisfying shriek of metal as his sword snapped through it, and instantly, Jack felt a psychic pressure that he’d long since gotten used to fading completely.

  “I’m free…” He blinked, almost unable to believe it. Mira and Ryoko came to his side, both of them pulling him into a tight hug.

  “Now,” said Mira. “Let us not spend a minute longer here than need be. Call out to Xepher, so we can be rid of this place.”

  “Hold on.” Jack had a sudden, intriguing thought. “Adana. Do all of these chains lead to people who have been forced to serve Mezolak?”

  “…Yes,” said Adana, with a sigh. “Some of them are ancient, and those the chains led to have long since passed on.”

  “Is there one here that… leads to my father?” he asked.

  Adana shook her head. “There was, for a time. But Mezolak fully controls his body now. Such methods are unnecessary.”

  Jack scowled, unable to keep the disappointment from showing on his face. He had another idea, however, and it seemed reasonable enough.

  “What about a woman named Reese?” asked Jack. “Can you find her chain?”

  “Perhaps,” said Adana. “Allow me to attempt this for you, mortal.”

  “Reese?” asked Ryoko.

  “She was my partner for a short while,” said Jack. “She was also forced to swear loyalty to Mezolak. I’m not sure how much of her choices have been because of it, but if we can free her, we’ll have at least one more small advantage in the coming battle.”

  He smiled. Despite how she’d betrayed him, he still felt a fair amount of fondness for her.

  “Here,” said Adana, pointing to a tan-colored chain several over from where Jack’s had been attached.

  He didn’t hesitate, severing the first link with a single slash of his sword. A plan was coming together in his mind. He wouldn’t play into Mezolak’s hands, this time. He had a chance to do more than just save Lestaron Island.

  “Adana,” he said. “How much can you affect the mortal world?”

  The demoness sighed, managing to look pleasant and annoyed at the same time.

  “Very little,” she said. “Now that you’ve enthralled me, I can manifest to offer you my wisdom, or… other things, if you so choose.”

  She winked at him. Jack remembered the sensation of her hand from earlier, and couldn’t help but be a little curious. It felt wrong to take advantage of a thrall, under normal circumstances, but she was literally an evil demoness. He shook the thought from his mind, at least for the time being.

  “Mezolak is a demon possessing a mortal body,” said Jack. “If I got close to him, is there anything you could do through me to affect him?”

  “I know what you’re asking, mortal,” said Adana. “You wish to know if there’s another way to free your father from his grasp.”

  “Is there?” asked Jack.

  Adana shrugged. “I can promise nothing. If you were to physically touch Mezolak, perhaps I could manifest through you to attempt to wrench him from the body he currently inhabits. There is no guarantee that it would work, however.”

  Jack nodded slowly. He tried to keep his hope from running too far ahead of his expectations.

  “Worth trying,” he said. “Alright, let’s get out of here. Xepher?”

  He waited for a few seconds with Mira and Ryoko. Nothing happened, and the moment stretched on for long enough to make him start to worry.

  And then the portal opened.

  CHAPTER 43

  Jack, Mira, and Ryoko stepped through the circular gateway, emerging back in the temple, safe and sound. Katie was waiting for them, looking markedly less exhausted than she had when they’d left.

  “Did it work?” she asked. “Did you break his hold on you?”

  Jack grinned at her. “Yeah.”

  She pulled him into a fierce hug, squeezing so tightly that he could feel the pressure on his ribs. Jack let out a genuine, hearty laugh as Mira and Ryoko joined in the embrace.

  “This isn’t the end yet,” said Jack. “We still have to save Lestaron Island. And I have a plan to do it. Sort of.”

  “Such confidence,” said Mira in a dry tone.

  “At the very least, we stand more of a chance now than we did before,” said Jack. “It’s still going to be dangerous. I won’t ask any of you to come with me.”

  “You don’t have to ask us,” said Katie. “You already know what our answers would be, you dolt.”

  Jack nodded slowly, though he still felt a little anxious at the thought of exposing them to more danger. Xepher stood apart from his group, and he frowned slightly as he met Jack’s eye.

  “I’m afraid I know what you’re about to ask, and I must decline,” said Xepher. “Opening these portals for you has exhausted what little energy I have left. I cannot assist you any further.”

  “That’s fine,” said Jack. “The only thing we need is to head through your basement, back to our boat.”

  “That much, I can provide,” said Xepher.

  Jack took a slow breath as he looked at his companions. The situation was still serious, and the small victory he’d already won over Mezolak seemed like a minor thing as he considered how many people on Lestaron Island might already be dying or dead.

  “We don’t have much time,” said Jack. “I freed Reese from Mezolak’s hold over her. She might be able to help us, but he’s going to figure out that he can’t control her sooner rather than later. We need to get back to Lestaron Island as quickly as
we can.”

  “I can help with that,” said Ryoko. “It shouldn’t take any longer than it did for us to get out here, sir.”

  Jack nodded. “Good. Unless anyone has an objection, I think we should leave immediately.”

  None of them did. Jack walked alongside Xepher as they headed out of the temple and toward the lift that had taken them up from the basement. It was early evening, and the setting sun seemed to mark the end of their time in the reclusive warlock’s hidden valley.

  "Any advice?” asked Jack. “I get the sense that you might have some insight on how to approach this situation the best.”

  Xepher gave him a sad smile and let out a tired sigh.

  “Jack,” he said. “The only piece of advice I can give you is to expect this to end badly.”

  “I don’t think it necessarily has to end badly,” said Jack. “We have the element of surprise on our side.”

  “You must be ready,” said Xepher. “Your friends might die. You might see people you care about from your home who’ve already fallen or must be sacrificed. Most importantly… you have to be willing to kill the demon.”

  “I am willing,” said Jack. “But I might not have to.”

  Xepher nodded slowly, but Jack could see the doubt in his expression.

  “You should be prepared to,” said Xepher. “When the time comes, you must strike the finishing blow. Even if it hurts to do it.”

  Xepher passed Peter’s staff back to Jack. He’d fitted it with a cloth strap that made it easy to wear the gnarled weapon across the shoulders, and Jack immediately pulled it on. Xepher then gestured for him and his companions to climb onto the lift.

  “The traps are disabled,” said Xepher. “It should be a quick walk back to the beach once you’re down there.”

  “Thank you,” said Jack. “For everything.”

  Xepher nodded, and then the lift burst into motion. It was cooler in the wine cellar by far than it was up in the valley. They retraced their steps, heading through the room where the constructs had been, and then the spear room, both of which were much less exciting with the basement’s defenses disabled.

  The imp let out a cackle as they emerged into the storage room. Jack smiled at the tiny creature as it zipped through the air and settled into the cleavage of Mira’s blouse. She cleared her throat deliberately, but the imp ignored her completely, taking a huge whiff with its nose buried in between her breasts.

  “You are a disgusting wretch,” said Mira as she knocked it away.

  “I mean, I can understand the impulse,” said Jack.

  Ryoko and Katie glared at him. Mira just rolled her eyes and smiled.

  “New faces!” cried the imp. “New faces, from above! You must free me! I’m trapped.”

  “We’ve actually met before,” said Jack. “And don’t worry, you’re free to go, now.”

  Jack opened the door, and the imp instantly shot out.

  “Freedom!” it screamed, at the top of its tiny lungs. “Freedom, at last!”

  Jack chuckled. He could understand that impulse, too.

  “Come on,” he said to his companions. “We shouldn’t waste any time.”

  They grabbed the remainder of their supplies and began wading out to load them onto the boat. Jack stepped out of the shallows onto the beach and was a little surprised to see Adana waiting for him. She looked as out of place as anything could, her beautiful, black and red body an obvious contrast to the peaceful, natural beach.

  “I’m just observing, mortal,” said Adana. “I’ll have a better idea of how to help you when it comes time if I get to know you a little better.”

  “Interesting,” said Jack. “Alright. I don’t have a problem with it, as long as you’re still enthralled.”

  “You could always give me an order, to find out,” said Adana, in a flirtatious voice. “I’m sure you could think of a few things you could… use me for.”

  “Jack!” shouted Katie. “What are you doing?”

  “Just making sure we grabbed everything,” he said.

  They loaded on to the boat, getting wet enough in the process to bring an edge to the night chill. Ryoko stood at the bow, preparing herself to dive into the water and use her magic to propel the small craft forward.

  “I’m a little scared of what we’ll find when we get back to the island,” she said.

  Katie moved to stand next to her, squeezing Ryoko’s hand. “It’s our home. We’re going to save it, no matter what.”

  Jack joined with them, pulling each of the girls against his side and sharing the moment. Lestaron Island was the only home he’d ever really loved. Katie was right. They would save it, regardless of the cost.

  Mira had been waiting on the other side of the boat, and she finally darted forward and gave Jack a quick, passionate kiss.

  “Sorry,” said Mira. “I was feeling a little left out.”

  She winked at him, and Jack couldn’t help but smile.

  “We need to get moving,” he said. “Ryoko. What’s the fastest you can get this boat up to?”

  Ryoko furrowed her brow and ran a finger across her lips. “I can make it go fast. But you’ll all want to keep your heads down, to avoid being blown away by the wind.”

  Jack would have assumed that the remark was a joke, had it come from anyone else. He nodded to Ryoko, who pulled her sundress off and then dove into the water in only her bikini.

  She made the boat go fast, as promised. Fast enough to make it go airborne a couple of times upon hitting large waves. Fast enough to make Jack wonder if the hulls of speedboats ever spontaneously shattered under stress.

  It only took them a couple of hours to make it back. When Ryoko’s magic relented, Jack waited until the boat had burned off the remainder of its momentum before taking the risk of standing upright.

  It was hard to see much in the dark, but he could make out Lestaron Island a few miles in the distance. He could also make out Margaret’s ship, the S.S. Demeter, anchored between them and the docks.

  CHAPTER 44

  “They’re probably here because of the attack,” said Katie.

  “It doesn’t matter why they’re here,” said Mira. “They haven’t seen us yet. We have the option of bypassing them completely.”

  “They could help us,” said Katie.

  “Do you honestly think so?” Mira scoffed. “Perhaps you haven’t noticed who you’ve chosen to keep company with? Or perhaps you’ve forgotten how your last interaction with them went?”

  “Margaret is nothing if not practical,” said Katie. “Trust me. This could make the difference between us saving the island and getting destroyed.”

  She looked at Jack as she spoke the last sentence, and he gave a slow nod.

  “Katie’s right,” he said. “Mezolak is going to have incarnates. Lots of them, far more than we lost to on the beach. We’ll need backup, and the Order might be able to provide it.”

  Ryoko had poked her head out of the water to listen to their conversation, and she began gliding their boat across the water, toward the S.S. Demeter. The size difference between the two vessels was immense, and it was hard for Jack to feel completely confident about Katie’s suggestion as he considered his last experience on board the bigger ship.

  Katie waved her arms overhead, drawing the attention of one of the deckhands. A minute or two went by, and then a rope ladder running down the length of the hull was thrown overboard. Ryoko veered their boat in close enough for everyone else to make the jump to it without getting wet, and then they were on board.

  Margaret was waiting for them on deck, looking rather worse for wear. She had a white bandage wrapped around her forehead that was stained red with blood and limped slightly as she walked toward Jack.

  One of the other Order agents standing behind her had his arm in a sling, and another was on crutches. The fact that they were still on duty, regardless of the injuries, made Jack wonder about how much help the Order would actually be able to lend them, assuming they would lend
any.

  “Margaret,” said Jack. “Good to see you again.”

  “Jack Masterson,” said Margaret. “I’m sure you’re just dying to say I told you so, but know this. We suffered these injuries trying to save your island.”

  Jack furrowed his brow and nodded. “I figured as much. That’s why we’ve come. I was hoping this time we could actually find a way to see eye to eye.”

  Katie had been hovering near the back of the group, out of direct line of sight. She chose that moment to step forward. Margaret’s eyes narrowed into a glare as she noticed her, but then the redheaded woman’s expression softened.

  “Katherine,” said Margaret.

  “Margaret,” said Katie. “Look, we’re here to help. We might have found a way to end this without having to fight the incarnates directly.”

  “That would be optimal.” Margaret grimaced and shook her head. “We fought three of them, which is just a small portion of the total that Mezolak has on the island. This… is the result.”

  “Do you know how many incarnates Mezolak has in total?” asked Jack.

  Margaret gave a small nod. “Twelve, as far as our intelligence shows.”

  Jack was a little surprised that Mezolak hadn’t brought more with him, given the number of corpses he’d seen in the freezer back in Arc City. After fighting the Mira and Volandar incarnates and seeing how powerful they were firsthand, however, the difference between twelve and a hundred only seemed to be in how quickly the fight would be over.

  “How many men do you have left under your command?” asked Jack.

  “Fifteen,” said Margaret. “Maybe sixteen. That’s out of thirty, to start with.”

  Cold fury burned in her eyes as she spoke the words. Jack saw the way she looked out toward Lestaron Island, and he sensed that she would have allied with the devil himself if it meant getting revenge. With him, even.

  “They had different abilities,” said Margaret. “One of them was super strong, a regenerator, wouldn’t go down to our spells. There was a shape-shifter, too. And one with telekinesis powerful enough to wipe houses off the street.”