Malevolenci Page 12

  Joe, who’d been waiting on the sidelines, now approached Esme. “Sorry to hear about your alt-selves.” His face contorted for a second, clearly reliving his own loss.

  He loved my sixth alterni, thought Owen with long-held guilt. I once thought this guy used his nymph abilities to seduce any pretty… But he really did love her. I know a little something about how much it sucked to meet new Esmes after loving one of them.

  He looked at his current version of Esme.

  Gods, I can’t lose her.

  Esme kindly put a hand on Joe’s arm, though keeping a platonic distance. “Thank you, Joe. I’m so sorry we didn’t tell you about all this sooner.”

  Owen nodded his agreement. “You’ve been nothing but loyal.”

  Even when I’ve acted like a jealous jackass.

  Joe smiled in appreciation, but his smile faded as he lowered his voice to Owen. “Once this war is over, the races’ squabbles will be a problem again. The paranormals don’t forget. Some of these complaints have been festering for centuries.”

  “I know. Working together in the days ahead will smooth out a few things, but I’m not delusional. Keep your ears open for trouble, will you? It’ll be the end of us if anyone destroys this alliance.”

  “Aye.” Joe bowed his head to the king, smiled at Esme and Mirth, and headed for the door.

  He’s a good guy. Once you get over the smell of pine.

  Owen turned to his mother, who was standing with her hands calmly clasped in front of her. He grinned. “Things got intense back there. My heart was pounding when Brun threw that plate. You weren’t afraid?”

  Mirth chuckled. “Once you have a child, you get used to temper tantrums.” She smiled up at him. “I’m very proud of how you handled this.”

  “Thanks. We might be in Meramec all day tomorrow, so would you mind helping Hakim draft an official statement that explains things to the Order? You guys can send it to me–”

  “Uh…Owen.”

  He turned to see Esme sway left, like she was bobbing in a current. Her eyes glazed over, and she looked as if she was going to be sick.

  Rift-gravity!

  Owen caught her as she tottered. He called back to his mother, “She’s sensed a rift opening. Quick, run out and see if the others are still–”

  “On it!” Mirth sprinted to the door.

  Esme shook her head and looked up at Owen as he held her. “It’s close. It’s big. We need to hurry.”

  So much for getting through a night without a battle.

  Owen nodded and continued to support Esme as they hurried to the exit.

  An empty parking lot at a baseball stadium seems like an endless field of concrete when you run from one end to the other, and Esme was winded by the time she returned. A felicox had broken through the cavali lines, and she’d used alterni endi Devon’s jumping spell to launch herself at incredible speeds after it. She’d turned the demon to ash before it reached the street, then raced back to the stadium. But the jumping spell was unsteady, so she’d chosen to run back.

  Owen will be pissed I went off on my own, but I was the only one who could catch that felicox. What’s happened while I was gone? I closed the rift, but we know how the malevolenci work now – once I close a rift, they know I’m here and attack even harder. If another rift opened…

  Pushing through the unmanned security gates, Esme ran into the dark, curved space lined with closed memorabilia shops and restaurants. Thankfully it was the off-season, so there was no need for illuso spells to hide this battle. But it was too dark to see, so she used a castorca to create a ball of fire to light her way.

  Weird place to open a rift. Maybe the malevolenci were trying to catch us off guard. They haven’t opened a rift in this area for months.

  Really, the cavali team had lucked out with this ill-planned attack. The malevolenci invading from the rift down on the field were easier to contain with the stadium surrounding their entry point. As Esme ran along the curving hall now, she didn’t see any malevolenci that had made it topside. That was good. It meant the cavali had them contained on the field.

  Esme reached the stairs leading down to the stadium seating, and she got a look at the field below.

  Oh, shit.

  An enormous rift had opened in center field. In the moonlight, she saw smoke billowing out before flaking onto the blanket that covered the field for winter. Lightning lit up the stadium, revealing scores of malevolenci on the field. Cavali chased and shot after them, and flurries of movement were everywhere.

  Esme heard spindlox shrieks and looked to her left to see a group of cavali fighting the spider-demons while jumping over seats and running along the rows. A louder, tiger-like roar burst from a felicox somewhere to her right, and Tank growled back at the beast before shooting his guns. A few chiroptorx circled overhead in the night sky, but many more lay dead on the blanket-covered field. Cavali ran around the field, shooting up into the air and bringing down the rest of the flock.

  Esme reached the bottom row of seats and grabbed the railing, swung her legs over the side, and jumped onto the track along third base.

  “Get your ass over here, alterni!” Owen called.

  Esme followed his voice and spotted him in the outfield. Owen was shooting a swarm of spindlox trying to climb up the left field wall. The demons were again not interested in attacking Owen and went out of their way to avoid him, but he shot them without remorse regardless of their lack of aggression.

  Esme ran to join him and waved her castorcas, creating shockwaves that shoved the spindlox hard against the wall. Owen fired on the periphery of her spell, exploding demon bodies, while Esme took care of the majority. Soon the swarm lay in a pile of fleshy chunks and detached, bony legs.

  Owen kept his gun ready but motioned with his head toward center field, where the giant rift spat flashes of lightning and flaking smoke. “Mind closing that thing?”

  Esme gave him a nod and ran with him over the field’s protective winter blanket. It wasn’t the sturdiest footing, and Esme had a hard time watching her step while also scanning for danger. Owen shot three chiroptorx that dove at Esme, but soon they stood in front of the rift.

  “I’ll cover you! Get to it!”

  Esme stood back to back with Owen and lifted her dominant hand to begin drawing the termino. Pulling magic into her castorca, she narrowed her fingers and aimed up at the hanging cloud of smoke and lightning.

  Be quick. Who knows what–

  Then she heard it. Over the shrieks of the spindlox, the gunfire, and the crackle of lightning, enormous wings beat the air with slow, rhythmic down-gusts.

  Another bentaforx? No, that can’t be possible!

  At the same moment, Esme found herself standing under more shadows as the remaining chiroptorx collected to circle overhead.

  Owen shot one of these flying demons and shouted over his shoulder at Esme. “Quick!”

  She focused on the rift again and used her castorca to draw a line of sparking magic across the opening. She’d made three more lines, a swirling curve, and a slash mark before a chiroptorx dove into her path and streaked a line of the symbol. Another demon flew into a swirl of her spell and broke it entirely.

  You little dicks!

  Sweat on the back of her neck, Esme kept her castorca up but turned her head to shout at Owen. “They’re trying to stop me! Shoot them clear so I can finish the symbol!”

  Owen swung around to stand beside her, and he shot at the chiroptorx attacking the termino. Four fell dead to the field. Owen continued to fire at those flying into the symbol, but there were too many.

  “Over here!” yelled Loukas.

  Esme looked over and saw the big man running to join them. He fired up at the chiroptorx, and more and more cavali arrived to do the same. Soon every team that had come to this battle fired at the chiroptorx to clear the space between Esme and the rift.

  I have to hurry. If that is a bentaforx up there…

  Esme held the image of the termino s
ymbol in her mind and swung her arm this way and that, pointing a trail of magic to finish the drawing. Chiroptorx again and again broke through the gunfire, but as soon as they fell Esme fixed the damaged lines. Soon the whole symbol was complete, and she lifted both castorcas to activate the spell.

  The powerful beating of wings was closer now, but Esme still couldn’t see anything through the rift’s smoke. She swirled her arms faster and faster, but every chiroptorx left started dive-bombing her so that she had to stop and shoot spells at the demons. The cavali and Owen also shot at the diving beasts, but Esme had to defend herself from chiroptorx too close for the cavali to shoot.

  This distraction was enough.

  To her horror, a taloned claw shot out of the collapsing rift and broke the activated termino. Immediately the whole symbol sparked. As the scaly arm attached to the claw swung back and forth, the symbol broke apart. Once the rift was open again, the demon inside reached its other arm through the smoke. Clawing into the sides of the rift, the gigantic demon began to pull itself through.

  Despite her wish for this not to be real, Esme felt herself pale.

  Oh, no. No. No. No.

  “Bentaforx!” Owen shouted.

  Loukas fired at the last chiroptorx. “Shoot in the rift! Shoot in the rift!”

  There was no way Esme could draw the termino over the rift with the bentaforx emerging, so she shifted her full attention to the monster. She lifted both castorcas and flicked her fingers at the center of the rift. Fire shot from both hands, and an angry roar erupted within the rift. Then Esme saw the smoke clearing, and something lunged forward.

  The team would never be able to jump clear, so Esme spread her arms and clapped her hands together between herself and Owen. This caused a massive shockwave that tossed them and the surrounding cavali in opposite directions. Esme landed on the field with a thud, but adrenaline overpowered the pain. She rolled, then jumped to her feet and looked back.

  The bentaforx’s snake-like, skeletal head had shot out of the rift to snap at her, and the demon turned its red-hot eyes to glare at Esme where she now stood. Its massive tongue flicked in her direction.

  Esme’s blood froze as the monster opened its jaws and spoke in the throaty, clicking language of the bentaforx.

  “Ticka-ticka-ticka. Vatic-vatic-vatic. Kich!”

  After another tug against the edge of the rift, it pulled its muscular torso into this world. With a ground-shaking thud, the bentaforx’s legs hit the field and tore into the covering meant to protect the grass. Then the beast stretched its wings wide, roaring into the dark sky.

  Owen stood on the far side of the demon where her spell had thrown him. “Fire!”

  The cavali collected themselves quickly. Esme watched as dozens of guns swung up into the air, and the teams fired a volley of bullets at the towering bentaforx. A few shots pierced the demon’s exposed flesh, but most ricocheted off the thick scales covering the bentaforx’s vital organs. The demon flinched from the shots, but it ignored the cavali and tilted its head to find Esme.

  Oh, shit. Of course it’s here for me!

  Esme knelt and drew an illuso in front of her. She pulled a ball of magic through her castorca and flicked it into the symbol, and the illuso sparked with light as it activated. A warbled wall of magic rose before her. Then Esme held still.

  The bentaforx’s red eyes swung right over her, but the spell had done its job. Even a few cavali closest to her position obviously didn’t see her as they ran between her and the demon. Their fire distracted the bentaforx from its Esme-hunt, and it lowered its head to bite and shake its horns in retaliation.

  Be smart. I have to make sure the bentaforx loses me. If I attack it head-on when it’s focused on me, it’ll rip me to shreds! The last one maybe didn’t realize I was the alterni endi. This one–

  A dead cavali landed a few yards away, and Esme swallowed as she watched the fighting demon and scrambling men.

  I’ve seen this before. If this bentaforx is anything like the last one, it won’t even get tired before it kills most of them. I can’t wait long to make my move. Can I draw the termino right on its body like I did with the last one? It should be easier now with two castorcas, but I won’t have much time.

  The demon whipped its tail and speared a cavali. It spun and jabbed the spikes on its wings into the dirt, narrowly missing an elf cavali as he shot off an ice spell.

  Esme stayed on her knees behind her illuso, but she threw a ball of magic to catch the elf’s spell and strengthen it. The ice shooting toward the bentaforx’s face lengthened into sharp icicles, and the monster had to pull its head back to protect its eyes.

  A barrage of bullets hit the bentaforx’s neck, and it seemed the demon had had enough. With a roar, it raised its wings to lift into the air.

  “No!” Loukas shouted. He fired up at the demon’s wings and waved for his men’s attention. “Shoot the wings! We can’t let it take off!”

  It’s not going to take off. It’s here to kill me, right? If the damn thing would turn around, I’d have time to draw the termino!

  The cavali obeyed and fired at the bentaforx’s open wings. Multiple holes appeared in the thin membrane, and a few of the better shots hit where the wings connected to the monster’s body. Black blood dripped onto the field’s covering, leaving oily puddles. Cavali kept stepping in them as they shifted position, but none noticed as they continued firing at the demon. Soon one entire wing snapped off as the bentaforx twisted to lash at its attackers.

  The detached wing fell right in front of Esme, blocking her from the bentaforx’s sightline.

  A few cavali cheered, but all kept firing.

  Right as Esme prepared to move, the demon roared and whipped its tail. Esme’s heart leapt to her throat as she saw the intended targets were Tank and Benja. Before either could jump to safety, the tail smacked into them. Even from across the field, Esme heard their cries of pain and alarm, and she watched as her friends were thrown toward the dugout.

  In a blink, Esme used one of Regan’s tricks from the Chronicle of Alterni Endi. She lifted a castorca, drew a sparking barrio in the air, and flung the spell at her tumbling friends. She tossed a burst of magic after the flying symbol to strengthen the spell just as the barrio flew into Tank’s back. The symbol burned into his cavali shirt, and a ripple of protective magic encircled the troll as he fell into the dugout with Benja.

  Did it cocoon Benja too? Damn it, I couldn’t see!

  Another roar drew her attention back to the bentaforx. The demon’s balance was off because of its lost wing, and it folded the other wing against its body before whipping around to snap its teeth at a cavali. The monster took an unsteady step and had to catch itself with one of its front legs.

  Esme looked at the enormous wing where it lay in a pool of black blood.

  That won’t help us for long. These assholes regenerate. But it’s weaker for the moment. I have to move!

  Esme pointed her fingers at the illuso and spread them wide, which dissolved the spell to a pile of ash. In a crouching run, she scurried to hide behind the edge of the disgusting wing and peek around it. The bentaforx’s back was finally to her as it fought the cavali. With a quick step, she came around the wing and aimed both castorcas at the bentaforx’s back.

  Breathe. You can do this.

  Pulling magic into her castorcas, Esme kept her eyes on the demon and imagined the termino symbol superimposed on its scales. With both hands, she traced this image with streaks of sparking magic.

  The bentaforx let out a painful roar as the magic burned lines into its back. With another whip of its tail at the cavali, it spun and tilted its head to find Esme.

  “Keep firing!” Owen yelled from somewhere to her left.

  Another burst of shots hit the bentaforx, but it focused on its biggest threat and took a step in Esme’s direction. Its whole back was lit up with lines and curves, and now that it faced her she kept drawing on its torso, careful to not make a mistake.

 
Almost done.

  The bentaforx spotted her, and its red eyes narrowed. The monster ignored the firing cavali and lashed out its tail to shove aside its own fallen wing. Esme had hoped to use this for cover, but she jumped clear and stood in the open to continue drawing curves and spirals onto the demon’s chest.

  The bentaforx stopped and looked down where its scales were lit by her sparking symbol. Breathing hard, the demon turned to the smoking rift and opened its mouth. Esme assumed it would try to escape, but the bentaforx only extended its long neck toward the rift and worked its jaw as if trying to speak. A throaty gurgle came out, then a few clicks.

  What the hell?

  “Aa…” The bentaforx hacked the noise like it was dry heaving, then tried again in a louder voice. “Alt…er…ni. En…di.”

  She froze in horror.

  The monster still held its head toward the rift, and its throaty shout shook the air. “Kich! Derererererer. Kee! Kee! Derererer. Alt…er…ni. En…di!”

  Oh, no, she realized with a chill. It’s talking to those inside the rift! It’s telling the malevolenci I’m here!

  When the bentaforx was finished, it rose on hind legs and curved its neck to lock Esme in its sight. Its amputated wing was already growing back, and it spread its other wing wide with an echoing roar.

  It’s going to pounce. No! I need more time!

  Esme drew a sparking curve up into the bentaforx’s less-damaged wing.

  “Fire! Fire! Draw it back!” Loukas shouted.

  It was no use. The bentaforx ignored the shots blasting into its scales and flesh. Black blood poured from wounds, but the demonic dragon had eyes only for Esme.

  It’s here to kill me. It’s not even trying to get away… This might’ve been a suicide mission. Whoever’s giving orders on the other side of the rift…

  The bentaforx did nothing to protect itself, not even against Esme’s symbol as she burned another line into its chest. The demon opened its mouth and pulled its head back to strike.

  Oh, shit.

  Esme drew another curve but knew she was out of time.

  Something flew in front of the demon’s face. A dazzling burst of white-hot light shot into the bentaforx’s face like fireworks, and the beast recoiled. Whatever was flying around the bentaforx’s head shot another burst of light, then another, and the bentaforx shook its head to escape the flashes. One scaly arm swatted at the pest, but the flying attacker dodged and shot off another burst of magic.