Authors: Kate Douglas
Crystalfire (31 page)
She turned and held her hands high, and the room above the stage was filled with misty shapes, spinning and circling. Alton recognized them—they were the spirits of fallen warriors. As they spun and danced, a wall of purest crystal began to grow, like a huge, shimmering window across the entire back of the stage.
Artigos watched for a moment, and then turned and faced the crowd, which had continued to increase as more and more citizens made it from their apartments to the great plaza. “Many of you are probably wondering why we don’t take a force of soldiers and meet the demon in battle. Surely we would have the strength to stop one demon, right?” He shook his head. “The portals are closed. We are trapped here, for however long. The battle will take place without our intervention, without interference of any kind. However, with Crystal’s magic and the grace of the gods, we should be able to watch this final battle as it takes place.”
He stepped back, and waved his hand toward the huge sheet of crystal behind him. “I have no idea what is happening, who we will see, or what the status of the combatants is. All we know is that we will be allowed to watch as our fate unfolds.”
The huge cavern grew dark. Crystal joined Artigos. He took her hand and walked her down the steps to seats that had been saved for them near Alton and Ginny, where they could easily see the massive screen.
For that, Alton realized, was exactly what Crystal and her spirits had built—the Lemurian version of a movie screen, essentially turning the great plaza into a huge theater.
As the citizens of Lemuria watched, the snow-covered flank of Mount Shasta came into view. Clouds boiled about the upper reaches. Jagged bursts of lightning shot out of the clouds and thunder rumbled, so real and lifelike that it echoed within the huge cavern. And there, standing at the portal that was now closed, was Eddy’s father. Or what had once been Eddy’s father.
“No!” Eddy screamed and burst into sobs as the broken and bloody figure of Ed Marks turned and gazed out of demonic eyes at whatever lens transmitted this image.
Dax caught Eddy in his arms and held her close. She pressed her face into his shirt, muffling her sobs against his broad chest.
Ginny went absolutely still beside Alton. He took her hand and held on tight. “Poor Ed.” Ginny slowly shook her head back and forth, in obvious denial of what they watched. “Is he still alive?”
Alton couldn’t tell. But he held Ginny close, and his heart stuttered in his chest as he watched the screen and wondered when Taron would appear.
Chapter 24
“If we can trap him in the middle, between your blue sparkles and my swordfire, we should have a better chance of separating the demon from Ed.”
Taron slipped down behind the fallen log where he and Willow had taken cover. The demon was still at the closed portal, cursing the unresponsive boulder that he’d hoped to pass through, oblivious to anyone watching him.
Willow nodded. “I think Bumper and I can get to that pile of rocks just on the other side. If we go down and circle behind him ...”
Taron shook his head. “Why don’t you slip behind that boulder ...” He pointed to a large rock just a couple hundred feet beyond the spot where they were now, “and I’ll make it over to the pile.”
She leaned over and kissed him. “Quit trying to protect me. It’s easier for me. I’m smaller and lighter on my feet. I can move more quietly than you and blend in to the shadows better. Plus, I’ve got Bumper to keep an eye on things. You’ll be all by yourself.”
He glared at her. She just grinned and kissed the end of his nose. He was still trying to figure out how to convince Willow to take the safer hiding spot when she slipped out from behind their cover and totally disappeared into the shadows.
Headed for the tumble of boulders on the far side of the demon.
Nine hells and then some ... deliver me from hard-headed women.
But he couldn’t help but appreciate her speed and stealth as she silently raced along the hillside below the demon. She literally disappeared into the shadows.
Nine hells and then some ... deliver me from hard-headed women.
But he couldn’t help but appreciate her speed and stealth as she silently raced along the hillside below the demon. She literally disappeared into the shadows.
A few minutes later, her voice tripped confidently into his mind.
I’m here. I’ve got a really good shot at him. Let me know as soon as you get into position.
I’m here. I’ve got a really good shot at him. Let me know as soon as you get into position.
He hadn’t realized she could move that quickly. Then he wondered if he could get to his spot as quietly as Willow. Holding CrystalFire, Taron crawled over the log and inched his way across the open hillside to the large boulder just this side of the demon.
He wished he could tell what the creature was doing. It stayed put, right in front of the massive rock where the portal had been, and he wasn’t sure if the damned thing was trying to open a new gateway or just venting his frustration on the situation in general.
Suddenly the demon paused. Taron ducked low and hit the ground hard, but he did it without a sound and didn’t move. He had no idea how good the demon’s night vision was—the creature was working within the limitations of a human body, but those glowing demon orbs behind Ed’s human eyes might have perfect demon night-vision, for all he knew.
He’d landed belly-first in snow, and it was damned cold, but he didn’t budge. Rocks clattered nearby as the demon moved away from the dead portal, and from the sounds he heard, Taron knew the creature came closer to him with each step. The stench of sulfur was almost suffocating, the shuffling scrape of Ed’s labored steps growing louder by the second, but Taron couldn’t see a thing from this position, had no idea if the demon knew he was there or if the creature was just blindly wandering.
“Hey, demon. Whatcha doin’ over there? Come ’n get me, if you can!”
Holy nine hells, Willow. What kind of stunt are you pulling?
Saving your butt, sweetheart. He’s almost on top of you. Don’t move.
Stones rolled by him as the demon quickly turned and headed toward Willow. Taron leapt to his feet with CrystalFire drawn, but the creature moved quickly, considering Ed’s condition. He looked like hell, but he was headed straight for Willow.
Racing across the snow-covered hillside just below the demon, Taron ran past him, dodging behind what small bits of cover he could find. He hoped the rumble of thunder would mask whatever sounds he made.
He sensed Willow moving nearby and ducked around a waist-high boulder. She waited on the other side, crouched down low, eyes sparkling and hands ready. He felt the energy pulling close around her and knew she’d been drawing what she could from the charged atmosphere.
He wondered if the electrical storm, growing closer by the second, added to the energy Willow was drawing, but now probably wasn’t a good time to ask. He heard the demon, breath rasping in Ed’s lungs, feet stumbling over the loose shale covering the mountain. It was heading right for them.
Thunder rumbled, closer this time. Lightning flashed, throwing everything in stark relief. More thunder, and this time the lightning struck close enough to send shards of broken rock flying in Taron and Willow’s direction.
Duck, Willow. Oooh ... I hate thunderstorms. Hide, Willow. They’re scary!
Calm down, Bumper. We don’t have time for this. Taron? I think the demon’s calling the lightning. Don’t let him see you.
Crap. I thought it was getting awfully close.
Follow me.
Willow bent low and raced along the hillside, keeping to the shadows. Taron stayed right behind her. When had she taken charge of this operation? She moved like a well-trained warrior as they slipped from rock to fallen tree, to burned out stump, to rock, using whatever they could find for cover.
Willow bent low and raced along the hillside, keeping to the shadows. Taron stayed right behind her. When had she taken charge of this operation? She moved like a well-trained warrior as they slipped from rock to fallen tree, to burned out stump, to rock, using whatever they could find for cover.
Taron realized he had no problem following Willow’s lead. She made her decisions with confidence, without any need to argue both sides of a situation.
Unlike his own manner of handling things. He would do well to pay attention.
Besides, following Willow kept him close, within striking distance, so he could be there to protect her. By the gods, she was beautiful, brash, and brave as any warrior, moving like quicksilver across the rugged hillside, each step so carefully planted she flew like a soundless wraith, her body a lithe shadow slipping from cover to cover.
He could do far worse than follow one like Willow.
The demon stood above them, searching the darkness. Thunder pounded all around. It was continuous now, a steady drumbeat vibrating deep inside Taron’s skull. He spotted a boulder just above the demon and pointed it out to Willow. She nodded, and they took off, slipping around to the demon’s left while he stared off to the right where the two of them had been hiding only moments before.
Taron scrabbled about in the loose rock, grabbed a piece of shale shaped like a large dinner plate and flung it toward their last hiding place. The spinning disk disappeared in the darkness. It traveled even farther than he’d expected and actually hit the target he’d aimed for, crashing and clattering off the boulder where they’d last hidden. The demon screamed and shoved his fists into the air, shouted a curse in his own demonic language and pointed at the rock.
Thunder exploded all about. A massive bolt of lightning ripped the air and struck the boulder with a resounding crack. The huge black rock split into pieces and splinters of stone flew in all directions. One massive chunk of boulder rolled down the mountainside, gathering speed and disappearing into the darkness.
The demon raced for the pile of broken rock and screamed again when it was obvious his targets had already fled.
He turned and walked steadily up the hill, moving ever closer to the place where Willow and Taron hid. Taron glanced at Willow. “You ready? Be careful. We can’t kill Ed.”
“No kidding. He doesn’t need any more power than he’s already got.” She let out a shaky breath and nodded. “Let’s go!”
Together they leapt to their feet. Willow pointed at the startled demon and shot a wall of blue sparkles his way. Taron aimed CrystalFire and a brilliant blast of flames met Willow’s sparkles—the two streams of energy combined and flowed around the demon, tapping and teasing him with flashes and tiny explosions. He screamed and hunched over, batting at the swarming energy as if he fought a thousand stinging bees.
Then he stood, wavering back and forth on unsteady legs. Willow pointed her fingers. Taron raised his blade. The demon held up one hand, palm out, as if to hold them back.
“Stop!” Willow shoved CrystalFire down. “It’s Ed.”
She ran closer but kept a large boulder between herself and Eddy’s dad. “Ed? It’s me, Willow. Can you force the demon out? We can’t kill him if he’s in you.”
Breathing in harsh, jagged gasps, Ed shook his head. “Kill me. It’s the only way. Too strong. Must die so the demon will go.”
Willow shook her head, and reached out, pleading with Ed. “Ed, we can’t. It’s not just because we love you. If we kill you, the demon will steal what’s left of your life force. It’ll make him even stronger. You have to force him out. It’s up to you. Fight him, Ed. If he wins, we lose everything. You have to fight him!”
Ed’s eyes went demon-red and he shrieked. Raising his hands to the clouds, he screamed out a strange sentence that even Taron’s Lemurian language skills couldn’t decipher.
But the clouds knew. Whatever he shouted brought the storm even closer. Dark clouds boiled and churned. Thunder echoed off the mountainside.
“Willow! Move!” Taron rolled behind a boulder in the opposite direction of Willow. She dove over another pile of rocks and ducked down behind them as lightning blasted the spot where she’d just been standing.
Steam sizzled from melting snow and the demon called yet another bolt, and another. The sky was alight with fire and the afterburn that left eyes blinded, but Willow was staying just out of reach. So was Taron.
He shot another blast toward Ed. He was confident the sword wouldn’t harm the man, but swordfire appeared at least to rattle the demon. Willow popped up from behind her cover of tumbled rock and blasted a thick stream of blue sparkles. The air was filled with the stink of sulfur and the thick bite of ozone.
Shrieking and screaming, with spittle flying from his bleeding lips, the demon swung his head from side to side in total frustration, forced back another step with each blast of swordfire and sparkles. CrystalFire glowed as brilliantly as the lightning, and Willow pulled even more energy from the powerful storm.
Attacking together, they finally backed the demon against a wall of solid stone—the site of the now closed portal. Willow pushed even harder and so did Taron, but it wasn’t enough to force the demon out of Ed.
Lightning blasted nearby. CrystalFire shouted a warning and Taron dove out of the way of the strike. Willow shot another blast of sparkles; Taron aimed the sword at the rock just above Ed and blasted that with swordfire, showering the demon with shards of stone. They kept it up for what felt like hours, attacking from both sides until the sky was as bright as daylight and energy crackled all around them.
But it wasn’t enough.
Not nearly enough.
Willow was beginning to tire. Taron could see it in the size of her blasts, the fact that her attacks were becoming sluggish, her escapes even slower. He feared for her life, for the moment when she couldn’t escape in time, but they couldn’t quit. Their lives meant nothing—not when worlds were at stake.
Again the demon called the lightning. A massive bolt shot straight at Willow.
She screamed. Taron’s heart turned to lead. “Willow!”
Silence. Even the thunder stilled.
I’m down, but I’m okay. My foot’s trapped. Maybe he’ll think I’m dead.
Taron raced across the open space between them, holding CrystalFire in his left hand, blasting swordfire at the demon the entire time. He jumped over the pile of boulders and landed almost on top of Willow.
She lay there with her leg caught between two boulders. A huge slab of rock had fallen over the top, effectively caging her, holding her prisoner.
Taron heard the demon’s shuffling footsteps, the clatter of rocks as the creature drew closer, but he set his blade aside and grabbed the piece of rock covering Willow’s thigh. Wrapping his hands beneath the rough edge, he pulled at the massive plate of stone until he thought his bones might break and tendons snap. He put everything he had into moving the damned thing off of her. When that wasn’t enough strength, he dug deeper and found more.
Finally the huge stone shifted. Willow scrambled backwards, freed her leg and rolled to one side just as Ed leaned over the boulder and stared at her with demonic eyes.
Taron cursed, grabbed his sword and pointed CrystalFire. Ed backed off, snarling and growling like a wild animal, but in that brief instant, Taron realized the demon’s eyes were flashing, changing from glowing red to chocolate brown and back to red. Ed was fighting the demon!
Sword in hand, Taron leapt over the boulder and faced the demon. Eyes the same chocolate brown as Eddy’s looked back at him. Ed held his arms wide, silently begging Taron to strike him with CrystalFire. Instead, Willow stepped out from behind the boulder and stood beside Taron, held her hands out and blasted him with blue sparkles. Taron had no idea what the sparkles were or how they did what they did, but this time, instead of batting them away as the demon had done, Ed seemed to gain strength from the tiny lights as they circled his body, glowing like tiny blue fireworks all around.
He drew them in, absorbing them into his skin. Then Ed turned and gazed at Willow with eyes as clear and as brown as his daughter’s. His face was ravaged with all he’d been through, his voice almost impossible to understand, but he held out a hand as if begging for release.
“Tell Eddy I love her.”
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