Demon Apocalypse Part 14

"Don't be ridiculous," he snorts. "My father was a lesser demon. I tracked him down many centuries ago. I killed the beast and relieved him of his head. Used the skull as a bedpan for a time." He jerks his thumb at the monolith. "Now that we've had the sordid family history, can we move on?"

"I'm not going," I tell him. "I'm staying here with Dervish and Bec."

Beranabus shrugs. "If that's what you want."

"Don't say it like that. I've done my part. I stopped the demons from breaking through. I killed my brother and saved the world. What more do you want from me?" I scream.

Beranabus doesn't blink. "It's not what I want-it's what the universe wants. And what I've learned from my long years is the universe only ever wants more. more. It doesn't care about sacrifice and best efforts. It needs us to keep fighting. As far as the universe is concerned, there's no rest for either the good or the wicked. I doubt it even understands the concept." It doesn't care about sacrifice and best efforts. It needs us to keep fighting. As far as the universe is concerned, there's no rest for either the good or the wicked. I doubt it even understands the concept."

"Well, the universe can go stick its head where the sun don't shine!" I yell. "I'm through. I did what I had to and now I want out, like Bec."

"It's not within my power to let you go or keep you," Beranabus says softly. "Your conscience will guide you. There's no point shrieking at me. It's yourself you should be angry with. If you were selfish, didn't care about the world, or were a tenth of the coward you believe you are, you'd go back inside, return to school, live out a long, happy, simple human life. Which you're fully ent.i.tled to."

He takes a step closer, shaking his head. "But you can't, can you? You saw the shadow monster in the cave, the one that almost broke through-their leader."

"It was huge," I whisper. "Powerful. Evil."

"All demons are evil," Beranabus says. "This was different. I'm not sure how exactly, but I intend to find out. I'll track it down, even if I have to visit a thousand worlds and kill a million demons. Normally, Kernel could lead me to it-he's a marvel at finding rogue monsters-but I'm not sure he can pull his weight anymore."

"I might not be able to pull my weight," Kernel growls, "but I can punch your lights out, old man." He bares his teeth. "Or should I say old demon. demon."

Beranabus laughs briefly. "Whether or not Kernel can work his magic, I'll find and kill that beast before it discovers another way to open a tunnel between universes. And you'll help me. I know it, Kernel knows it-and you you know it. That's why you're angry. You don't have a choice because your conscience is directing you. Even after all that's happened-the grief you're going through, the guilt, the fear-you have to do this. You couldn't live with yourself if you didn't." know it. That's why you're angry. You don't have a choice because your conscience is directing you. Even after all that's happened-the grief you're going through, the guilt, the fear-you have to do this. You couldn't live with yourself if you didn't."

"Can't we wait?" I cry. "Leave it a few days at least, so I can mourn Bill-E and be with Dervish?"

"The Demonata won't wait," Beranabus says, then smiles faintly. "It's hard for all of us. Kernel needs medical aid. We can build a new pair of eyes for him in the universe of magic but they'll only work in that demonic realm. When he returns to this world, the eyes will soon dissolve. The pain will be awful and will worsen every time he comes back. He can no longer think of Earth as home.

"I want to sit down with Bec, tell her all that's happened in the past thousand and a half years, discuss old times, get to know her again, guide her through the ways of this new and frightening world. Retire and enjoy a few years of peace in her company before my exhausted old spirit pa.s.ses on.

"But Kernel's ruined eyes don't matter a d.a.m.n. My pitiful wishes matter even less. We're p.a.w.ns of the universe. We go where we're needed, do what we must. All else takes second place to that."

"I know." I sigh. "I understand. But Dervish . . . Bill-E . . ."

"Look at it this way," Kernel says softly. "You can mourn your brother here and wait for the world to end-or you can mourn him in the Demonata's universe while you kick seven shades of demon a.r.s.e all the way to h.e.l.l." He pushes himself up and walks to the monolith, wincing from the pain, hands outstretched. He touches the dark face of the window, pauses, and lifts his head as though trying to see the sky one last time, even without his eyes and through the layers of bandages. Then, with a soft groan, he steps forward and vanishes.

"I want to say goodbye to Dervish," I mutter.

"No," Beranabus replies, "you don't. That would mean more pain. Better to slip away while he's asleep. He won't like it, but he'll accept it."

"How's he going to explain Bill-E's disappearance to the police, his teachers, everyone who knew him?"

"He'll cook up a good story. He was always adept at making fiction fit the facts." Beranabus extends a hand toward me.

"What about the cave?" I ask, stalling for time. "We have to block the entrance again or the Demonata might -"

"I've already taken care of that," Beranabus says curtly, losing patience. "I've cast spells of warning again, and Dervish will ensure the entrance is filled in as swiftly as possible."

"Your spells didn't work last time," I remind him.

"Because of the Kah-Gash," he snaps. "That has the power to override any spell of mine or any other's. But with you and Kernel by my side, I won't have to worry about that happening again. If demons make another move on the cave, I'll know. Now, are you coming or not? And before you answer, don't forget the Lambs are still after you."

I sneer. "They frightened me once-not any longer."

"Aye. Because you have a more powerful enemy to face now."

I nod slowly, reluctantly, then take the ancient magician's hand. "I'm scared," I whisper. "More scared than I've ever been, and that's saying a lot."

"I know," he replies quietly. "You probably always will be. If it's any comfort, I'm scared too, even after all these centuries."

"How do you deal with the fear?" I ask.

He shrugs. "I fight."

"Is that enough?"

"It has to be."

And on that dubious, dark note, we walk to the monolith, the magician and his a.s.sistant, saviors of the world, slaves of the universe. We lay our hands on the smooth black slab. There's a surge of magic. Our heads tilt back like Kernel's did, for one final look at a beautiful, twinkling, star-studded sky. I think of Dervish, Bill-E, all I have to leave behind. The battles to come, the loneliness and pain. I want to run away from it all and hide. But I can't. No-I won't. won't.

Beranabus tugs gently. I take a breath, hold it, then willingly step forward with him to face my destiny in the universe of all things foul and demonic.

The horrifying adventures continue in.

DEATH'S SHADOW.

Book 7 in THE DEMONATA seriesComing October 2008.

THE door to the study crashes open. A wild-eyed Meera bursts into the room. She slips, but grabs the handle and keeps her feet. "We're under attack!" she screams. door to the study crashes open. A wild-eyed Meera bursts into the room. She slips, but grabs the handle and keeps her feet. "We're under attack!" she screams.

Dervish and I stare at her wordlessly.

"We're surrounded!" she yells.

Dervish's face clouds over. "Demons?" he growls, stepping out of his seat, fingers bunching into fists.

"No," Meera gasps. A howl fills the corridor behind her. "Werewolves!"

There's a moment of total, frozen disbelief. Then Dervish grabs a sword from the wall and pushes past Meera. I follow close behind. While Meera hurries to get a weapon of her own, I step into the corridor after Dervish, working on a spell, not sure if it will work-there's so little magic in the air to draw on.

I hear panting. It comes from the far end of the corridor. Something growls and something else yaps angrily in reply. No sight of them yet.

Meera steps out behind us, swinging a mace. She's stuck a knife in her belt. No trace of the gentle woman who was applying makeup a mere matter of minutes ago. She's all warrior now.

"How many?" Dervish asks without looking back.

"At least three. They entered through the kitchen. I'd been snacking. I was just leaving, so I was able to jam the door and stall them. If they'd burst in when I was at the table . . ." She shakes her head, angry and scared.

The first of the creatures sticks its head around the corner. Recognizably human, but twisted out of normal shape. It has unnatural yellow eyes. Dark hair sprouts from its face, and its teeth have lengthened into fangs. They look too large for its mouth-it must have great difficulty eating.

It skulks into the corridor, growling. Long, sharp fingernails. More muscular than any human. Hunched over. Covered in stiff hair. A male. Another two creatures appear behind the first, a male and female. The second male is larger than the first, but follows his lead. His left eye is a gooey, scarred mess. Maybe that's why he's not the dominant member.

As the once-human beasts advance, I step ahead of Dervish and Meera. I try draining magic from the air but there's virtually nothing to tap into. In my own time, these creatures would have been simple to deal with. Here, it's going to be difficult.

The lead werewolf snaps at the female. With a howl, she leaps. I unleash the spell as she jumps. It's a choking spell. If it doesn't work, I won't know much about it-she'll be on me in a second, and I'm defenseless.