Chapter Eighteen
Quint
I'd been training Astrid for a month and she'd taken to it easily. There was still a lot of nuance and finer points we needed to work out, but overall, she was doing really well. The biggest lesson – and the one that eased the burden on my mind – was that she'd finally learned to call up her power without running the risk of turning herself into a human time bomb.
Every once in a while, she had a flare-up of disbelief and would go crazy for a little while, but in the end, she always came back around. She couldn't deny the things I was showing her – the things she was doing.
No, Astrid was different from most all other people. Slowly, but surely, she was beginning to accept that. It wasn't going to be sunshine and roses every day. I knew there would be days where she had a complete meltdown about one thing or the other.
But, it came with the territory. Eventually, we'd be able to smooth out all the rough spots and let her be the person she was meant to be.
It had been a month and there hadn't been another sign of the Shongtal. They were obviously laying low and doing everything they could to avoid attracting notice.
Truth be told, the quiet made me nervous. I knew they were out there, planning and plotting. But I had no idea what they were up to. Were they going to try to make another grab at Astrid? Smart money said yes, but when and where?
I walked around my apartment, unable to shake the feeling that something wasn't right. I looked at the clock and saw that it was nearing five. With this feeling making my gut churn, I wasn't going to let Astrid be alone.
I pulled out my phone and shot her a text message telling her that I'd be by to pick her up and to not leave her shop for anything. She sent a reply a minute later letting me know that she'd gotten my message and would be waiting.
“Zyn,” I called to the man standing beside the elevator. “Go grab the car, please. We need to go retrieve Astrid.”
The large man nodded and took the elevator down to the garage. A few minutes later, I was in the car heading for her, that feeling of foreboding only growing within me. I had no idea what it was, but I just had the feeling that the Shongtal were going to make themselves known once more.
As the car made its way through the streets, I racked my brain, trying to figure out what the Shongtal were up to. With a feeling in my gut this strong, I had to believe that something was about to happen. And given their obsession with Astrid and sealing the Doors, I had to believe it had something to do with her.
Zyn pulled to the curb outside of Astrid's store and I jumped out, scanning the street around us but seeing nothing and nobody. But that feeling in my gut persisted. Astrid came out and I escorted her to the car, putting her in first before climbing in after her.
She looked at me and smiled. “You seem tense,” she said. “Everything okay?”
“Just concerned,” I said. “It's been a month and we've heard or seen nothing from the Shongtal.”
“Shouldn't we consider that a win?”
“I wish it were that simple with them,” I said. “When they're this quiet, it usually means they've got something in the works.”
Astrid flashed me that smile that usually melted my heart. But I was still a little too tense and on edge. She took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before bringing it to her mouth and placing a soft kiss on the back.
“Ever think that maybe you're just being a little paranoid?” she asked.
Honestly, I didn't think I could ever be too paranoid or cautious when it came to dealing with the Shongtal. Especially not when there was so much hanging in the balance – Astrid's life, the fate of Chondelai, as well as the world of man. It was my job as the Warden of this area to be vigilant at all times.
“It's a beautiful night,” she said. “How about we go out for a drive and have a little fun. We've been on lockdown for weeks now and I'd love to have just a night out.”
Zyn looked at me in the rear-view, waiting for my decision. I looked over at her and smiled. It probably wasn't a good thing, but I found that I couldn't deny Astrid anything. Besides, getting out for a bit might help clear my head. Help me focus, perhaps.
“Zyn,” I said. “Let's go out to Santa Monica.”
He nodded and started the car, pulling away from the curb, and zipped off into traffic. Astrid squeezed my hand and squealed. It took us about half an hour, before the lights of the pier came into view. Zyn dropped us off and went to look for a spot where he could wait for us to call him to be picked up.
Hand-in-hand, Astrid and I walked through the crowds on the pier. The cool ocean air was refreshing and filled with the sound of laughter – not to mention a thousand different foods. We stopped at a stand selling Churros and I ordered a couple, handing one over to her.
We snacked and talked as we strolled along the pier. On a silly whim, we rode the roller coaster and played a few carnival-type games. I had to admit, it was a fun evening and by the time we were walking back out to the street, my belly was full and I was feeling slightly better about things.
As usual, traffic on the street was thick and I knew it would take Zyn forever to get to us. So, I pulled out my phone and shot him a text message, asking where he'd parked. His reply came a minute later, letting me know that he was a couple of blocks over in a lot behind a hotel.
Astrid and I made our way along the street and I spotted the hotel Zyn had directed me to. It was under construction and was currently abandoned. The sign announced some shiny new upgrades to the facilities were less than a year away.
We walked around to the parking lot at back of the building and immediately the warning bells in my head started to sound. I looked over at Astrid and saw that she too, was feeling what I was feeling.
“So much for paranoia,” I said quietly.
The lights in the parking lot had been broken and the area was dim and gloomy. Only the ambient lights from the city and the moon above lit our way. We got to the car and I opened the door. Zyn's limp, lifeless body spilled out onto the pavement with a meaty thud.
“Great,” I muttered.
“Warden,” came a voice from the darkness.
I turned toward the sound of the voice, using my body to shield Astrid. Coming out of the gloom was a tall man with a shaved head and a long, bushy goatee. He was muscle bound and had an imposing air about him. Behind him came half a dozen more husks in support. But it was clear that the big man was the leader of the group.
They stopped about fifteen feet from us, their faces angry and full of bad intentions. Behind them in the dark, I saw dozens of pairs of glittering silver eyes – Shongtal who were not in a husk. It was curious why husk-less demons would be in attendance. But I could deal with them just as effectively as those who were walking and talking in human shells.
“And you are?” I called.
“My name is Poa,” he said. “And you have something that belongs to me.”
“I do? And what might that be?”
“The girl,” he said. “She belongs to me.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Belongs to you? How do you figure that?”
“I claimed her,” he said simply.
“Well, I'm afraid you're going to have to get used to disappointment.”
“There's something different about him,” Astrid whispered from behind me. “He's not normal.”
I looked closer, extending my senses out. She was right, there was something different about Poa, but I didn't know what it was exactly. He was Shongtal, that I could see clearly enough. But was he somehow more than that? And if so, what?
“Hand her over, Warden,” Poa said.
“That's not going to happen.”
“So be it.”
The six husks behind him rushed me at once. I summoned the fire within me and released a thick column, which temporarily kept them at bay.
“Get behind the car,” I hissed at Astrid. “And remember what you've learned if it comes to that.”
She ducked down behind the rear of the car as I withdrew my curved daggers. A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth as I watched the six husks coming at me. It probably wasn't a good thing, but I did enjoy a good fight. I enjoyed a challenge. And six on one was a pretty good challenge.
I darted forward, my blades a whirling blur. I'd cut through the first husk and had gotten behind the other five before they even knew what happened. They pivoted as a group and charged at me again. I waited until they got in close before dropping down and sweeping the legs out from two of them. They hit the pavement with a grunt and I was on them, quickly driving the point of my dagger into their hearts and just as quickly dancing away.
Red light flared from the eyes of the two corpses and then they went dark forever.
“Three down, Poa,” I grinned. “You guys really don't train very well do you.”
Poa looked at me with the same hatred in his eyes he had when he'd first walked up. The guy's expression never changed. If he was upset about me cutting through his foot soldiers, he didn't show it. He simply stood there, taking in the action without any sort of reaction to it whatsoever.
The remaining three husks circled me, the edges of their swords glinting in what little light the night had to offer. One darted in, but it was just a feint, trying to draw my attention from the second one sweeping in from behind. I dropped to a knee a split second before a heavy broadsword cut through the air my head had just been occupying. Getting to my feet quickly, I plunged both daggers into the husk and yanked them back out again, keeping a wary eye on the two who were still circling me.
“You know this won't end well for either one of you, don't you?” I asked.
Neither of them said anything, but I saw them exchange a brief look. They were nervous – and with good reason. They'd just seen me cut down four of their own without breaking a sweat. They were the last two left standing.
“Enough!”
Poa's voice echoed around the darkened, vacant lot. When I looked over at him, I saw his face was contorted into a mask of pure rage. His eyes glowed red – something I'd never seen from a Shongtal before. At least, not until they were dying.
The two who'd been circling me backed away as Poa stepped forward. A malevolent energy seemed to crackle off him as he moved and the air was saturated with the promise of violence and bloodshed.
“You carry no blade,” I said.
“I don't need one.”
Poa raised his hand and pointed a finger at me. A bolt of blue energy shot out of that finger and hit me square in the chest with the force of a truck hitting me. I was blown backward and hit the ground with a pained grunt, the breath being driven from my lungs.
I started to rise, only to be hit with another bolt of that energy. I gritted my teeth and let out an animalistic growl as the pain tore through my body. I tried to shift into my dragon form but found that I was somehow blocked from doing so. Maybe the pain – maybe the shaft of energy shooting out from Poa's finger. I didn't know.
All I knew was that I was stuck in human form and I was being roasted alive. My body felt like it was being torn in two and despite my best efforts not to, I cried out in pain. Poa took a step closer, a malevolent smile on his face. I had no idea where this was coming from or how he'd acquired the power to do what he was doing. The Shongtal never had that ability before.
I growled again in agony. I didn't know how much more I could take. I felt like my insides were literally being roasted.
“Stop!”
Poa stopped and turned at the sound of Astrid's voice. I rolled onto my side, writhing in agony and looked to her.
“Run, Astrid,” I wheezed. “Run.”
Poa looked over his shoulder at me and gave me a predatory grin. He raised his hand again, preparing to continue his torment when a ball of blue white energy struck him in the chest. He flew backwards ten feet and hit the fencing that surrounded the building under construction. Bouncing off it, he fell face first onto the pavement and stayed still for a moment.
I was beginning to wonder if he was dead when he stirred and started to rise. I tried to get up, but couldn't. My arms and legs refused to cooperate with me. I was a useless lump of meat on the ground.
“Run, Astrid,” I called again through gritted teeth, my voice hoarse. “Run.”
She looked at me, terror for me in her eyes. “No,” she said firmly. “This ends right now.”
Poa was back on his feet, his eyes glowing red and a smoking hole in his chest. I hadn't taught Astrid how to throw lightning balls – that was outside my area of expertise – but somehow, she'd managed it. To great effect.
Poa grunted and took a step forward and started to raise his hand. I feared for Astrid. She'd never been in a fight before, let alone a life and death struggle. The only thing she had going for her was that they wouldn't kill her. Couldn't kill her. They needed her alive – at least, for now.
I was transfixed by Poa, watching the hulking man lurch toward her. It was only when I heard Astrid scream that I realized the danger she was in. The two husks that had backed off when Poa engaged me had come back – and they were holding Astrid by the arms.
“No!” I shouted as loudly as I could.
Poa kicked me in the face as he walked by, rocking my head backward so hard, I thought my neck might break. Darkness was creeping in at the edge of my vision, but I fought to stay conscious. The two husks were still holding her, but Astrid was putting up quite the fight.
But then Poa was standing before her. He reached up and stroked her hair gently – almost lovingly. And I saw her shudder. She turned her eyes to him and spit in his face. Poa laughed and grabbed her by the throat, nearly lifting her off the ground.
I heard Astrid scream – but not in pain. It was in rage. The next thing I knew, a bubble of bright, blue and white light surrounded them all. The glare was so intense, I had to shield my eyes. And when that bubble of light and energy broke, it sounded like a violent clap of thunder.
My heart was in my throat and my stomach was in knots. Because of the glare, I was having trouble seeing at all. I had no idea what had happened within that sphere of light. No idea what had happened when it burst. I feared that Astrid had forgotten how to keep herself from exploding with energy. Feared that she was gone. Forever.
But when my eyes finally adjusted, relief flooded my body. Standing there – alone – was Astrid. She was looking at her hands, a perplexed look on her face. And when she looked at me, she cocked her head as if she were confused by what had just happened. And maybe she was.
Poa and the two Shongtal fighters were gone. At her feet on the pavement were nothing more than piles of ash. I couldn't believe my eyes. Couldn't believe what I was seeing. But somehow, Astrid had used the abilities she had to – vaporize – the three of them.
She rushed over to me and fell to her knees, concern etched into her features.
“Are you okay?” she asked, her voice near to panic.
“I'm alive,” I groaned. “I'll heal. I just need time to rest.”
She planted a soft kiss on my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. I saw fear in her eyes, though I wasn't sure what was scaring her at the moment – the violent and destructive abilities she possessed perhaps?
“How did you do that?” I asked softly. “How did you – you know.”
She shook her head. “I don't know. I really don't know,” she whispered. “I guess there's a lot I still have to learn.”
I grimaced in pain as I sat up and looked deeply into her eyes, doing my best to give her a gentle smile. “We'll do it together.”