Wicked War of Mine (Overworld Chronicles Book 9) (3 page)

I flipped backward to avoid another claw smash, turned, and ran to give myself some distance. As I sprinted, I reached inside for my inner demon and let it surge free from its cage. Muscles coiled around my arms, my legs, bulking me to preposterous proportions. I grew taller and felt a tail pressing against the Templar armor. The cloth grew to accommodate the extra appendage. My feet widened and the boots grew longer to allow for claws forming where my toenails had once been. I touched the seams of the armor at my ankles and wrists. The armor retracted from my feet and hands, revealing blue, scaly skin and black claws.

Piercing pain exploded in my forehead as my horns formed. Flames flickered into my eyesight. My inner demon reached the boundary between completely losing myself and retaining control. I slammed a wall of will between my remaining consciousness and the infernal spirit vying for everything I had.

Fire coursed through my veins. I spun around and faced the giant scorp. A claw lunged for me. I leapt, landed on top of it, and ran up its arm. Its other claw snapped at me. I jumped straight up, splaying out my legs to avoid losing any tender bits. The scorp's claw crunched into the chitin on its other arm, sending green gunk splashing on the ground. The creature shrieked. I landed on the other claw. The flexible feeding tube shot out from its underside. I gripped it and held the tooth-lined orifice away from me as it made sick sucking sounds. Squeezing with all my might, I crushed the semi-rigid tube and tied the end in a knot.

The scorp let out an ear-piercing screech. I jumped from the claw. Swung on the feeding tube like a vine. It took me under the belly of the beast and between two of its many legs. When I reached the apex of the swing, I flipped backwards and landed on the scorp's back. It scuttled in a circle, one claw snapping at me, but its arm was too short to reach me. Unfortunately, its exoskeleton was slick and I went down on my side. I heard a whoosh of air and rolled to the side just as the scorp's tail lashed at me. It crunched hard into the creature's own back.

Gripping a seam between the plates of chitin on its back, I managed to hang on. Rolled over. With an effort of will, I channeled a beam of destruction at the base of the tail.

"Dodge this, you bastard!" I shouted as a sudden surge of malicious glee raced through my veins. The energy sliced through the chitin. Green blood bubbled like lava from the wound. The scorp's tail lashed at me again, but the damage was done. With a satisfying crackle, the tail toppled like a felled tree and slammed into the ground. The scorp retaliated by spinning in a dizzying circle. My hand slipped until I was only holding on by my fingers. For some reason, laughter burst from me.

I think I just seriously pissed it off.
My inner demon seemed amused.

There had to be a way to bring this thing down faster than cutting off its limbs one at a time. The scorp didn't exactly have a head or a brain, but if it had a vulnerable spot, it probably had something to do with the awful face on the front. Holding on with one hand, I used the other to blow chunks from the scorp's armor with spheres of destruction. Using the divots in the armor as handholds, I dragged myself closer to the dome of its head.

Even with all the noise from the scorp, Kassallandra's screams still rose above the fray. I glanced toward her and saw the infernal black arms still grasping at her body, drawing her closer and closer to the inky pond. I'd seen a lot in my short time as an incubus, but I'd never seen anything like what Aerianas was doing to her.

I reached the dome of the monster's body and gripped another chink in its armor. I saw the huge face pressing against the chitin, its mouth peeled back in a rictus of pain. Squeezing my knees tight against holes I'd burned in the armor, I pressed both of my hands together and took aim.

"Did somebody call bug control?" I shouted. Summoning all my effort, I channeled a thick beam of Brilliance right into the gaping mouth. Ecstasy flooded my senses. I felt as though I could take on an army of giant scorps.

The scorp's shrieks turned to gurgles and its body shuddered violently. I jerked back to reality. Things were about to get really messy. I turned. Ran down the thing's back. Leapt from the side. My demon-sized feet thudded into the ground but I didn't stop running.

I looked over my shoulder and watched the corpse of the giant scorp implode. It slammed to the ground hard enough to shake it. Green guts fountained across the courtyard.

Aerianas, who'd, up to this point, been so consumed with whatever she was doing to Kassallandra, looked up in alarm and saw me running at her. I had to stop her.

Or do I?

I actually hesitated. Kassallandra's death might save my father from the farce of a marriage she was forcing on him. Even so, there was no guarantee her successor would join in the fight against Daelissa. A part of me really wanted the problem to just go away. That part of me wanted to give Aerianas a thumbs-up.

Shut-up, evil Justin.

Fortunately for Kassallandra, that part of me was small.

"Stop what you're doing," I shouted in my deep demonic basso.

"Who are you?" the woman screamed.

"Justin Slade," I said. "Looks like I'm Justin time to kick your ass."

Nobody laughed.

Aerianas's face went crimson. "You're the one who captured my father. You're the reason Kassallandra was able to kill him!" The tar pit of hands bubbled down to a simmer and vanished. Kassallandra stopped screaming and fell to the ground in a heap as Aerianas turned her wrathful gaze on me.

Her thin figure burst into full demonic form within an instant. Her black dress shredded and hung from her, leaving nothing to the imagination. Aerianas's skin was smooth, purple, and devoid of scales. She easily towered over me. Black wings, like those of a bat, spread from behind her back, each joint boasting razor-sharp talons. With a flash of brilliant white fangs, she spoke in a voice like a banshee. "I will kill you, boy!"

I remembered with horror when I'd fought her father, Vadaemos. He and I had both spawned to demon form. He'd kicked my ass so hard, I hadn't known which way was up. There was absolutely no question in my mind he'd taught his daughter everything he knew. Even with all my improvements, this fight would be tough.

Aerianas blurred toward me. I resisted the urge to run and stood my ground, calling upon every ninja move Elyssa had taught me. I'd actually beaten my girlfriend in a few sparring matches and prayed to the almighty she hadn't just let me win.

Please let me have actual skill.

I twisted away from Aerianas's attack. Spun. Slammed a kick into her back. Aerianas grunted and flew forward. She face-planted with a thud and slid a good twenty feet.

"That's my boy!" I heard my father shout.

"Destroy the generator!" I heard Elyssa scream.

I turned toward the building some thirty yards away and aimed at it. My guts slammed into my ribs as something huge butted me. Sharp pain dug into my back. I tumbled along the ground and hit the shield barrier with my back. Through a haze, I saw Aerianas gloating.

Rage boiled through my veins. I leapt to my feet and braced for impact as she charged. I dodged right and tried to clothesline her with my arm. She anticipated my move, grabbed my arm, and twisted. I planted a foot into her stomach. Rolled backward and vaulted her over me. I twisted around and saw her wings catch the air. She glided to the ground and slammed her fist to the stone. The earth came alive around me. A stone hand erupted, spewing rock and dirt. It gripped my body and squeezed. Air exploded from my lungs. Rough grit tore at my flesh.

Aerianas threw her head back and laughed. "No Daemos can best me."

I struggled in the stone grip. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't move. The hand squeezed and I heard my bones creaking.
This might be it.

"Justin!" Elyssa screamed. "Fight!"

"Get off the ground," my father shouted.

How the hell was I supposed to get off the ground with a ton of earth holding me captive? My legs were still free. I bent them and tried to leap. I heard the groan and crackle of stone, but didn't budge an inch. My legs flailed in desperation as I tried again and again to leg-press free. My oxygen dwindled. My lungs burned. Spots danced before my eyes.

Mom's voice cut through Aerianas's laughter. "Use a shield, Justin!"

I didn't know how a shield was supposed to protect me from something already holding me, but one last desperate idea came into my head. Channeling Murk, I willed it to flow from every inch of my skin. Ultraviolet energy shimmered before my eyes. The rough stone grip left my flesh. I willed it to push outward.

My brain felt as though it were being squeezed by all the force pressing against my barrier. The weight against my chest suddenly loosened. I sucked in a breath of sweet air and roared with effort. I felt the barrier expand. Heard the cracking of rock. I added Brilliance to my channeling and pushed again.

My inner demon suddenly surged with joy as if I'd just fed it puppies and kittens for breakfast. I felt heady with power. I felt indestructible. As if I could melt the world. I channeled more Brilliance and my demon side surged.
Burn! Kill! Destroy!

Aerianas stopped laughing. I saw sweat pouring down her purple skin. Her expression of victory morphed to uncertainty. I flexed my muscles and with it, the barrier around me. With a great snapping sound, rock exploded and sprayed across the ground. Aerianas gasped and naked fear showed on her face.

"What sort of perversion are you?" she shrieked. "Monster!"

The urge to gloat was almost irresistible. I wanted to laugh in her face as I burned off her appendages one by one.
Immolate her! Char her to ash!
What the hell was wrong with me? I fought back, reasserting my will.

"Aerianas, you have betrayed Eden by fighting for Daelissa," my demon voice boomed. "Give yourself up or face annihilation."
Kill. Kill! KILL!
I felt warmth blossom in my palms, looked down and saw spheres of Brilliance growing.

"She told me I could have my vengeance!" The Daemas wailed. "Kassallandra took everything I loved from this world!"

Images of Aerianas screaming as white flames consumed her flashed through my mind. I saw myself picking her up by her throat and squeezing the life from her. I gritted my teeth and fought my demon for control. "I don't condone what she did to your mother," I said with great effort, "but your father devoured the souls of the innocent and turned you into his accomplice." I felt my arms rising. Saw the glow of destruction in each palm. Somehow my demon was controlling me. I roared and fought back.

Aerianas screamed. "I yield! I yield!"

Ecstatic joy flooded me. White flames danced in my vision. The glow around my hands surged. A scream of terror tore through Aerianas's throat. With all my effort, I jerked my arms slightly to the left just as twin spheres of destruction streaked from my hands. The energy slammed into the building with the shield generator. The brick wall turned to molten slag and an explosion sent bricks and debris scattering. A wave of sparkling magical energy cascaded into the air, signaling the destruction of the aether generator inside.

Aerianas huddled in a fetal position whimpering. Her demon form melted away, leaving the thin woman huddled in the rags of her dress. She looked up at me with tear-stained eyes. "You are a monster." Her body shook with sobs as a crowd of Daemos surrounded her.

Chapter 3

Bodyguards secured Aerianas with unbreakable diamond fiber rope.

I felt Brilliance coursing into my body and wrenched control from my demon. I snuffed out the destructive energy and shoved my demon side into the back seat once again. Seeing the mob of Daemos surrounding Aerianas, I suddenly felt protective of the thin woman. "Spare her life."

The Daemos looked at each other uncertainly.

"Do as he says," said a weak voice. Kassallandra stood at the altar, her face white as a sheet, hands clinging to the sides as if to support her.

"Holy guacamole, kiddo!" Dad stood to the side looking up at my tall demon form. He wrapped an arm around Mom. "They sure grow up fast, don't they?"

"I don't even know what to say," Mom replied, her face pale and uncertain.

Ivy laughed. "I want to grow horns and a tail, too!"

Unwilling to settle back to my human form just yet, I walked over to Kassallandra. "I believe you owe me one." My guttural voice rumbled in my throat.

Kassallandra's lips peeled back from her teeth. "This must be a very proud moment for you." Despite her weak appearance after her ordeal, her eyes turned fiery. "You have seen me humbled at my own wedding," she hissed.

"Your agony gave me no pleasure," I said, only partially lying. "I'm sorry Aerianas decided to take out her vendetta on your special day."

Kassallandra seemed torn between a desire to punch me and something else. A growl of frustration rose in her throat as she stared daggers at me. Her shoulders abruptly slumped. "You know nothing of Daemos social order, do you?"

I shook my head. "Not much."

Her red eyes locked onto mine. "You have saved more than my life, boy. You've saved my soul. Aerianas intended to banish me to the Abyss itself."

"I could have just let her finish the job." I flattened my lips as a smile threatened to break free.

"I know." She shuddered. "You've forced me into a very tenuous situation."

"I forced you?" I managed to keep my voice low. "Aerianas did this, not me."

Kassallandra looked away. "You're right." She took a deep breath and stiffened her back before looking at me. "What do you wish of me, son of Daevadius Slade?"

Finally, an easy question.
I wanted to smile as the words came from my mouth, but I knew better than to risk this chance to have what I wanted. The original plan had been to challenge Kassallandra to a duel for control of her house. Although I'd still had to fight a raging Daemas, this version of events might prevent a mutiny from House Assad. "I want your loyalty without a marriage to my father. I want House Assad firmly behind me."