On the way out of the town, they moved at a slow trot but the moment they got a few dozen feet out they started running. Not hard enough to stress out the horses but it was a comfortable gait. Isaac looked up at the sky and saw the stars twinkling to life above and the moon not quite full yet.
The ground before had been a sparse grasslands and hard ground. As they rode though he started noticing the ground get a little inconsistent. As he looked down he noticed the grass was starting to turn to sand in some places or the ground dry in others.
Stroking his fingers across Soot’s mane he leaned further forward. Urging her forward she sped up and came up beside Shin. “I’ve got a question. About my condition.”
Shin glanced at him and nodded. “First time you’ve questioned about being a lich since I made you.”
“Yes, well it wasn’t something I dwelled on immensely,” glancing at his hand he frowned. “But I’ve been getting some comments that have got me wondering-”
“I guess you’re wondering about your appearance,” Shin cut him off and Isaac was left with his mouth hanging for a moment then nodded. “It’s the side effects of your change. They’ll be slow over time. You’re occupying a dead body. The magic is keeping you alive but the body is going to cause some trouble.”
“Trouble? What kind of trouble? What does that mean?” Isaac asked speeding up. He moved in front of Coal and she skidded to a stop and Isaac glared at Shin. “What don’t I know about this?”
Shin stared at Isaac and the angry look upon his face. For a moment his other eye glowed and he thought about subduing him to force him to move but held that urge back. Instead he took a deep breath and brought his hand up. It glowed purple quickly and the crystal in Isaac’s chest glowed to life.
The light illuminated his face and Shin saw it for himself. He looked malnourished for a normal person. Not sickly but like he needed a meal sometime soon. But his skin was losing its color, what color it did have from before. His eyes caught the purple light well but they were fixed in a glare at the necromancer.
Shin was going to speak when the air shuddered. He heard a cry that sounded like it should have been faint. But it echoed in his ears like he was in a cave. Shuddering he slumped forward and dug his fingers into Coal’s mane. Pressing his forehead against her neck he grunted and grit his teeth together tightly.
“Dammit. I was hoping we would be able to avoid one of them. We don’t have time for this now Isaac. We’re running! Now!”
When he looked up Isaac was staring past him. His gaze was in the distance and Shin shook his head slowly. Turning to follow his gaze he saw it swooping from the sky. Large wings that glowed with florescent green and bright purple eyes. Shin couldn’t shape it perfectly but he heard another caw echo through his mind and he clutched his head.
“Run Coal!” he shouted and the horse reared before darting past. Isaac turned Soot and ran after him. The horses broke into a full out sprint kicking up clouds of dust. He could feel Soot’s panicked breathing though he was sure even the horse didn’t know what was going on.
Throwing a glance at Shin, Isaac focused on the empty space in front of them. “Great Father what is that?!”
“That! Is a demon!” he said gripping the reins of his horse. “A piece of left over from the last Calamity and it’s going to try and devour us as soon as it gets the chance!”
“What is it doing out here?”
“They roam the plains trying to eat what they can. Normally its unlucky travelers getting caught traveling at night. And that’s what we are right now.”
“Weren’t you the one who wanted to travel at night?”
“Yes because I have some ways around it,” he said then grunted loud as it screeched again. “But this thing is outside of my wheel house!”
“What are you talking about?”
Before he could respond they could both felt the air ripple. The demon swept over them and the air behind its gust was so intense that both of the horses stumbled and nearly lost their footing. The wing beat was like a miniature thunder clap and it whirled around to face them.
Its wing span was at least twenty feet per wing. Instead of feathers it was covered in scales that glittered under the moonlight. Its face was huge with a large sharpened beak and a pair of large yellow eyes. It had two large feet with talons on them but were jointed more like hands. It’s tail feathers flexed as it floated and landed on the ground and it screeched at them.
Isaac covered his face from the sound and the air itself felt like lightning was traveling across it. The gust of the wind sped up as it cawed again the electricity manifesting and striking the ground. Isaac felt Soot vibrating beneath him and he knew she was a second away from bolting.
“Please tell me you have a plan,” he said to Shin but he could vaguely hear the necromancer saying an incantation. “Good. Because I don’t have a plan.”
“Oh, don’t get it wrong Isaac. Right now. You are the plan,” he said his eye starting to glow brightly. Raising both hands, they glowed and that glow enveloped Shin for a second. Grabbing his shovel, the entirety of the tool glowed along lines and symbols that Isaac had seen numerous times. Then he broke away and lowered the shovel ready.
Before Isaac could ask again the demon lunged at him beak first. Isaac jumped forward suddenly full of energy and managed to catch the beak in hand. It drove him into the ground and his feet barely kept before he slid across the ground.
Both wings beat hard and it lifted its head up throwing him into the sky. With a shout of surprise, he tried to flip around and get his balance but as he came down the demon had its mouth open ready to eat him. Reaching to his hip he dragged the sword out and wrenched it into its mouth.
Grunting he scowled under the pressure of it and planted both his feet on the edge of the beaks. It struggled against him finally opening its mouth wider and Isaac jumped to the side. Landing on the ground he rolled quickly and whirled around brandishing his sword. The bird stomped around to face him screeching.
He’d pissed it off at this point, he was sure of that. It took off from the ground floating higher and higher into the air. Flying around in a slow circle it turned and dove at him like a torpedo. Eyes widened he tried to sprint away but it was coming on top him too quickly. Shutting his eyes, he really put some effort into it and suddenly he was moving at the speed of almost a blur like he had the first night.
The demon screeched again and Isaac felt the air ripple. Glancing over his shoulder he watched as lightning arced from the demon’s wings aimed straight at him. Pumping his arms, he dove forward. The ground exploded and he was blown even further forward sliding across the ground.
The smoke clogged his lungs and the sudden dryness got him coughing. Eyes watering for a second he looked up and the demon crashed into the ground in front of him. Staring at his impending death he whipped the sword forward defensively.
He thrust the sword forward and once again its beak closed around the sword. Unlike the first time it didn’t mind the pain as it dove even further forcing Isaac to the ground. Eyes going wide he jabbed his other hand forward and for a second his hand flashed. Slapping his hand against its head, it jerked backwards stunned. Isaac stumbled backward leaving the sword behind.
The demon regained some level of composure spitting the sword out and swung one of its wings at him. He jumped and it swept under him. Landing atop the wing he stumbled for balance then ran along its surface. His nearly slid off and thrust his hand into the wing for balance.Iit pierced through it like a small blade. Its head turned to face him and it screeched sending a bolt of lightning at him.
Smoting him in the chest he flew backwards the hostile magic coursing through him. Slamming into the ground he bounced twice and landed on his back unable to move again. His chest burned and he jolted and shook against the ground. The demon tried to take off but one of the wings wasn’t responding.
The demon’s eyes crackled as it readied to send another bolt of lightning at him. But Isaac felt the ground rumbling suddenly and recognized the sound of horse hoofs against the ground. Casting his gaze slightly upward he saw the black shape of Shin riding past wielding the shovel.
Shin’s eye was glowing and so was the shovel, like a beacon in the darkness. He leaned to the side and holding the blade of the shovel over the ground leaving a bright line behind him. He urged the dark horse to keep running despite the obvious fear he felt in her. Keeping his head down his mouth moved quickly as he created the incantation on the go.
The demon faced them and sent a bolt of lightning at them but he ducked low and urged the horse to the side. It just barely missed as they continued. They were almost done when the demon swung its good wing at them. Coal let out a sound of panic but leaped without Shin’s command.
The wing sailed underneath them and Coal landed with a slight stumbled but caught her stride and kept going. When the circle was complete Shin directed her away from the demon and swung the shovel in front of himself. Raising his free hand, he finished the incantation and closed his hand.
The circle he drew blazed to life going high into the air then ceased to exist but the ground continued to blaze like an angry fire. The demon slammed a wing forward but it hit something invisible and solid. Shin moved the horse forward slowly as he looked at the demon.
It was battered and bruised but it still tried to break out. Flexing its other wing it watched as it made sure it worked before taking off the ground. It ascended a few dozen feet before hitting something solid at the top. With a crack the demon crashed back against the ground and screech. The sound was muffled from within its cage.
Shin tapped the shovel against the circle and grinned. “Never thought I could see one this close in the flesh. This big and alive. Let alone flying. So powerful,” he said shaking his head slowly. The demon lunged at him quickly slamming into the wall. It let out a blast of lightning but the cage absorbed it as well.
Isaac grunted as he rolled to his side. Hand scrabbling against the dirt he sucked in a breath and the burning in his chest mixed with the jitteriness of the leftover lightning and he started coughing again. But he got one hand to the ground and pushed himself up right. He felt a pressure on his back and glanced over his shoulder.
Soot was standing over him, her mouth pushing him. He sat up slowly with her pushing him ever so slightly. He absently reached toward her neck and pulled himself up slowly.
Shin walked over to him, Coal following behind at a few feet away. He glared at Shin whose eye was still glowing. Shivering he took a slow step forward and then reached up and touched his crystal. The crystal was just as sensitive as before and but it didn’t hurt. So whatever he had gone through didn’t hurt him that badly.
“You used me as bait didn’t you?”
“You weren’t bait exactly,” Shin said. “I didn’t lie to you. I really couldn’t handle one that could fly.”
Isaac pointed at the trapped demon that was still screeching. “What is that?”
“That is a trap. A trap that wouldn’t have worked if that thing was in the air,” he said tapping the ground with his shovel. “And thanks to you. You forced it to land and I was able to trap it. Now we can figure out what to do with it next.”
“Why can’t I believe that you didn’t plan this out?”
“Trust me. I can’t control that much,” he crouched down and picked up his hand staring at it. “I didn’t think you manifested that power so soon. But you seem to know how to use it.”
“You mean the thing with my hand?” Isaac looked at it as well and then shook his head. “I don’t know what that was. I just kinda Used it on instinct. And it worked out.”
Shin nodded slowly. “I guess that means the army training did you some good. That power is the paralyzing touch of a lich. One touch and you can stun most living things. It’s usually pretty instant. I guess on a demon it doesn’t always work unless you hit the head.”
“Are there any other powers I should know about developing?” he asked grunting.
Shin looked at him and shrugged. “I don’t know. I know you can paralyze with a touch and I know eventually you’ll be able to manipulate emotions of people. Make them feel fear and unease with a glance. I don’t know how quickly you’ll develop those powers.”
Standing he sighed and shook his head. Putting his hands on his hips Shin looked toward the sky then looked back at him and his face was conflicted but he met Isaac’s eyes. “In regards to your question before this thing attacked us. Your body is going to keep decaying. The crystal in your chest keeps you alive but not healthy. It’s binding your soul to that. Your body is going to decay but your soul will live on.”
Isaac made an uneasy looking face and stared down frowning. “Is there any way to stop it?”
“I don’t take it you’re a mage in any capacity?” Shin asked with a snort. Not waiting for him to answer he kept going. “Illusionary magic is one way to try and change your face to look the old way. Other than that I have some ideas but you’ll find them repulsive so I won’t waste my breath.”
“How do you know?”
“You’re really asking me that?” Shin asked staring at him. “Anger problems aside you’re a kindhearted person. And the things you’d have to do would break that moral compass of yours.”
Isaac glanced down and nodded slowly lightly touching his face. “How do I look?”
“Not bad. But you may in the future. Though we may be able to combine our interest right now,” Shin rubbed his jaw and turned to face the trapped demon. It had stopped trying to break out physically and snorted a bolt of lightning in their direction.
Isaac looked at it as well and took a step back apprehensive. “Are you sure that’s going to hold?”
“It’ll hold long enough. Long enough for us to kill it. Or better yet. For you to kill it.”
“Me? How am I going to kill that?”
Shin grabbed his hand and pointed at the demon. “You can kill it with the touch. And once it’s dead it’s going to be mine.”
“This is why I can’t believe you didn’t plan this out,” Isaac took his hand back but the pair walked toward the demon. Soot followed behind Isaac slowly but a few feet away. It turned out despite her willingness to help him when he was hurt she was still apprehensive.
When they got close to the demon, It looked at Isaac and let out a fresh screech of frustration. He didn’t flinch away though he did grimace at the noise. Shin walked around the cage slowly and tapped it with his shovel in places and spiraling something from a pouch of his.
“What are you doing?”
“Setting up the precautions,” he said and walked to come back to stand aside him. Turning the shovel around he gripped it with both hands and stamped it into the ground. Lines sprouted forward from the cage and converged on the shovel itself. The weapon glowed and then chains shot out from the walls of the cage spearing the chest and wings.
“Are those? Bones?” Isaac asked looking at the lines and then the chains.
“What do you think?” Shin asked smirking.
The walls slowly descended to the ground and dragged the demon with it pinning it to the ground. The chains wrapped around the head keeping the mouth away from them. “This will hold it for as long as I hold it down. It’s your turn to finish it off,” he instructed.
“How? It spat my sword away.”
“Have you paid no attention? Your hand is a weapon. Use it and finish it off. Remember the feelings you felt when it attacked and it’ll come flooding back.”
Isaac glanced at him and looked down at his hand. Flexing his fingers he tried to remember the fight against the demon. The frustration, the pain, the feeling of his back against the wall and something trying to kill him. Gritting his teeth together he made a fist sharply and felt the magic suddenly surge through him.
The crystal poured power into his body and the dark glow appeared. But not like a proper glow, like it was sucking the light out of the area around him. Swinging his arm around quickly almost like it were a sword he shuddered. He knew it could slash through steel and armor in one go. Why he knew, he didn’t know. He just felt sure of it.
Whipping his arm down he stared at the demon and scowled. Walking forward his eyes narrowed and he felt hatred toward the demon. It was a spawn of the calamity. All it could do was devour and destroy. Slowing he reached the line in the ground and the demon let out a muffled screech.
Standing in front of the head he glanced it up and down. The feathers lined the head and chest of the creature like armor. He wasn’t even sure it wasn’t going to be metallic to the touch. But the creature’s power radiated off it. Walking forward he put a foot to its head and braced his back foot against the ground. Holding his arm back he took a slow breath and positioned his hand like it were his sword.
The demon’s head vibrated underneath him and he felt the charge of its magic. Glaring at it he leaned forward and thrust the blade into its head. His arm dug deep into it and the flesh didn’t feel like an animal or person he’d ever stabbed. It felt hollow. Almost like stabbing a vase full of sand. The demon shuddered underneath him and he felt it struggling but he pushed his arm deeper until the thing finally went still.
The wings slumped against the ground and the body went slack. Taking a slow breath, he waited. He’d killed enough men to know that sometimes when you believed an enemy was dead they could play possum and surprise you. As he breathed he felt something within it. The same sensation as the magic that surged from the crystal but the direction was going the opposite way. Instead of pumping to his hand to power him he felt it flow to the crystal in his chest.
After several seconds he gasped and took a step back. His chest burned like a tiny coal but it wasn’t painful. Just hot. His hand had ceased it’s glowing but he felt stronger. Stumbling backwards he stepped into Shin who kept him upright and nodded slowly. “Well done,” he said slowly. “Now it’s my turn.”
His shovel glowed stronger than before and his eye was focused on the demon. Grasping the shovel, he dug the blade of the shovel into the demon’s head. His voice came out harsh and rough, rougher than his Norian accent as spoke the words. The words thundered in Isaac’s mind and he took a slow step back pressing a hand to his forehead.
Groaning he grit his teeth again and like a thunderclap he was thrown into the air. Blowing backwards he skidded backwards and finally fell to his knees. Jerking his head forward he stared as the demon began to stand. Spreading both wings, it flapped hard and sent another gust back throwing his hair and clothes around. He heard the horses panic slightly but he only had eyes for the demon.
It flexed its massive wings and its eyes glowed with a purple energy. Crouching low it hissed and stared at Shin who stared back up at it. His shovel’s glow was dying down and he seemed to wobble slightly. Leaning onto the shovel for support he took a gasping breath and Isaac walked over to him slowly.
The pair stood and stared at the demon and then at each other. “So. That thing is under your control now?” Isaac asked and Shin nodded still catching his breath and then just broke into laughter. He laughed throwing his head back and finally stumbled back and just fell into the grass with a sigh and shook his head.
“I never thought I could do it. I’ve read books. I’ve created theories on how to capture one, kill it and ensnare it. I crafted spells and thought they were a waste of time but here I am.” Sitting up slowly he swung his hand and stared into the sky. “You called me a fool and a waste of time for doing this mother. Well look at me now!”
Isaac stared at him and he’d never seen Shin express so much emotion at once. He looked up at the demon which was crouching on its wings and staring at the pair of them. He saw the scar he left in its head and despite the purple glow of its eyes he still didn’t trust it.
“So what do we do with that thing? Are we going to fly on it?”
Shin shook his head and got to his feet. “No. At least not now. It’ll be much better for us to keep with the horses.”
Coal as if on cue, wondered over slowly. She looked at Shin and hesitantly looked toward the demon. It didn’t make any move toward her but the horse was smart enough to recognize danger. Isaac looked over his shoulder and Soot was a ways away. Isaac motioned for her to come over to him but she wasn’t budging yet.
“If we’re not going to ride it what’s the point of it?”
Shin pointed above them and then pointed to his eye. “It’s going to be our, well my, eye in the sky. Scout ahead and warn of us danger both Norian and other demons. There’s not going to be a lot of safety between here and at best reaching the Free City if we can even find it.”
“I thought there were towns and villages along the way.”
“Some are. Some are dead and abandoned. And we don’t want to be in those places,” he said shaking his head. “No. We need to find the Free City and when we do we’ll know we’re halfway to our goal.”
Gripping the shovel, he tapped the ground and the demon stood spreading its wings. Shin pointed the shovel to the sky, “Go! Watch and survey. And guard us from threats.”
The demon nodded screeched, with a heavy down beat of its wings it leaped into the air. Isaac watched it go and was able to keep track of it for a time but after a while it disappeared into the clouds. Without its massive presence around the desert felt empty again.
Turning around Soot finally came toward Isaac. She bumped her head against his shoulder and he stroked her neck slowly. He saw her eyes and they were half closed and she seemed less stressed than before but he could feel the nervous energy. Stroking her mane slowly he sighed and turned toward Shin.
He had climbed on the back of Coal and they paced around in a circle. Isaac road up to his side. Isaac gripped his other arm and squeezed it lightly. “I think I did something to that demon when I killed it.”
“Like what?” Shin asked and his face looked on the edge of annoyance again.
“I drained something. Like the crystal in my chest felt energized or something like that,” he said and shrugged. “I don’t know how to explain it.”
“You drained something from it,” Shin said and covered his mouth looking down as he thought. “Another power I didn’t think you’d develop this fast. Nor did I think it would work on a demon. Fascinating. So much more to learn.”
“What does that mean?” Isaac asked. “You keep talking in riddles.”
Shin shook his head. “When I have a proper answer, you’ll hear it. Now come on before another demon shows up.”
His horse took off and Isaac watched him for a moment before urging Soot forward and they took off. Leaning forward he held the reins tightly but he felt the power throbbing in his arm. A new energy that was just waiting to be unleashed again.
The Harlequin Library 