A Demon's Work Is Never Done: Latter Day Demons, Book 2 (30 page)

Kory, are you ready? I'll be instructing Lexsi to land right behind you, so be careful
where you set your feet, all right?
Zaria said.
The lava path is almost as narrow as that
ledge
.

I'm ready
, Kory confirmed.

Good. Below the ledge where you're standing, and four feet from the edge of the lava, is the lava path. It's four feet wide
.
There, the lava is only eight feet deep. The path
is wide enough for you to walk it, as long as you don't stray from the path. If you land on it properly, you'll see the cave entrance across the lake of lava
.
Wait for Lexsi to catch
up
to you before going through the cave entrance
.

Don't worry. I want her as close behind me as she can get
, he said.

What he wasn't saying was that I'd just scared the hell out of him. I'd scared the hell out of myself and my passengers, too. He knew not to yell.

I was grateful.

Do you have the spot targeted?
Zaria asked him.

I do
.

Then go—and be careful
.

Kory let several seconds pass as he made sure of his grip on the cage he held. My breath caught as he leapt from his narrow perch and landed in the lava below.

He teetered on one leg for two seconds before setting both feet firmly on the path beneath the bubbling lava.

I'm good
, he announced.
I have room on both sides
.

Lexsi, set down right behind him
, Zaria breathed into my mind.
Push away from the
wall, open your wings and glide towards his back
.
Don't knock into him, just set down
gently
.

All right
. I gazed down at the cage I now held in both arms—for a while, it had hung precariously as I gripped it in the crook of my right arm while clawing into the rock wall at my back with my left hand.

Crouching down as well as I could, I leapt away from the wall and snapped my wings open before gliding toward Kory. At the last moment, I flapped upward and circled, before coming in above and behind, then folding my wings and dropping into place behind Kory's broad back.

I didn't even teeter when I did it.

You're getting the hang of this
, Kory said.
Come on, onion. We have a cave entrance
to find
.

Several minutes passed as Kory and I, holding our cages higher so as not to expose them to the lava bubbling about us, walked across an invisible bridge beneath our feet. It took those minutes for our eyes to adjust to the brightness and find a darker darkness above melted rock—the cave entrance.

I wanted to ask Zaria about the door wardens. Instead, I shifted my grip on the cage in my arms, refused to look at Anita and the others inside and followed in Kory's wake.

* * *

Peru

Laurel Rome

"We've destroyed a warship off the coast of Colombia," Berke crowed as he took the chaise next to mine at the pool.

That's when the woman in the pool pulled her head above the water right in front of us. She settled her arms on the flagstones at the edge and glared at us. If V'ili hadn't told me to leave her alone, I'd have thrown my chair at her.

"I hope you all rot in hell," she snapped and dived into the water, her tail thrashing angrily as she swam from one end of the huge pool to the other.

"I didn't realize those machines could hit something so far away," I said, ignoring the mermaid.

"It took three acting together to do enough damage to sink it. What's funny is that the ship didn't have a target to return fire. Dervil is still laughing."

"What about V'ili and the others? Where are they?" I asked. "They should be celebrating with Dervil on this."

"Morgett arrived and said they had an errand to run. Didn't say what it was, but I heard Deris say that they'd spotted the enemy somewhere, and that they'd played right into our hands."

"The enemy isn't hard to spot," I snorted. "They're lined up across the border."

"I got the idea this wasn't about the military," Berke said, reaching out to take my hand. He lifted it to his lips and kissed my palm. "My dearest, when this is over, we'll own the entire planet. I shall enjoy giving you whatever you want from its wealth."

My breath caught.

Morgett. The treasure he wanted. I couldn't say it, but I knew that's what he and Deris meant about the enemy playing into their hands.

They'd gone to collect it.

I wanted it. Why should they have it all? Surely it was enough to share. I opened my mouth to tell Berke what I wanted. No words came. Silently I cursed V'ili for perhaps the hundredth time.

* * *

Lexsi

I had no idea what Zaria meant by a door warden. When we passed through the cave entrance, I saw nothing except rock walls. An icy blast hit us as we stepped through, shocking me immediately. It was contrary to what should have been—we'd just waded through a quarter mile of molten lava. The severe cold at the cave's entrance was a weapon in itself.

Keep going—just a little farther
, Zaria instructed.
Then you can put the cages down
.

Kory jumped when light illuminated the cave a hundred yards in. I stifled a scream at the same time and almost dropped my passengers.

Set the cages down here
, Zaria said.
We're past the door warden's eyes
.

* * *

Ecuador

Tungurahua

V'ili

Morgett's information proved true—every step of the way. He said we'd need to ally with High Demons. He'd managed to corrupt many.

High Demons in Full Thifilathi flew us toward the center of the volcano, where lava boiled and bubbled.

The one carrying me was stupid and beneath me, but I didn't voice my opinion aloud.
It will require them to carry us past the cave entrance
, Morgett had warned us.
Any
use of power, for even the most mundane of reasons, will result in our deaths
.

It wasn't difficult to see where the enemy had traveled—their wake was marked by a brighter, more molten path in the lava.

The cave lies at the end of this path
, Morgett sent mindspeech. Deris and Daris, nephew and niece to Morgett, worshipped him and what he'd been able to do for them. They'd supplied the plans for the N'il Mo'erti; he'd arranged everything else, including our alliance with Dervil to hide our tracks and true purpose.

"All will be ours, not just the Earth," Morgett had promised. "If we can collect this treasure."

I understood the treasure held power. If we held that power, we held everything. My High Demon conveyance grunted as he settled onto the path. He stood waist-high in burning lava while the stench assailed my nostrils.

Hurry
, Morgett snapped at the High Demons in mindspeech.
We cannot hold our
breaths for long
.

Four High Demons quickened their pace while Morgett, Deris, Daris and I rested in their arms. Behind us, eight more High Demons, carrying only themselves, waded through molten rock as if it were water on a sunny day.

* * *

Lexsi

However Zaria and Yoff had designed the cages and spells to make them smaller, they melted away of their own accord and all our passengers stretched to their full height.

No use of power and silence is a must
, Zaria warned as she came to stand beside me.
Lexsi, you have to take the lead, now
.

She directed me forward, but after a while, the cave branched into four choices.
Take the one on the left
, Zaria said when I hesitated.

I think I read this in a book, once
, Kory joked.

Kory, please save it for later
, I begged. Every step I took was filled with dread. I felt as if the cave were watching us. Judging us. Waiting to strike against us.

We're with you, onion
, Kory soothed.
Keep moving. That's all we can do for now
.

I turned my head to glance back at him. He was at the rear of our party, with all but Zaria between us.

I could see they were uncomfortable, too. Watson looked as if he wanted to turn to wolf and run. Thomas, Jorden and Davis kept a close watch on him, probably for that very reason. Kell and Klancy kept an eye on Anita, Tibby and Mason.

That's when the cave shook around us, and rock and dust dropped from the roughly-hewn ceiling overhead.

Somebody activated the door warden
, Zaria's mindspeech was a bare whisper.
They're here
.

Chapter 17

Lexsi

Who?
I asked.

The ones who want us dead
, Zaria replied.
This has been their objective all along.
We have to draw them in. I need to see their faces
.

Why?
I didn't understand at all.

They know where the N'il Mo'erti are positioned. I need that information to destroy
them—after we face off against what's following us
.

Wh-what's following us?

Don't worry about that now—keep going. They're far enough behind us that we'll
reach our destination before they do
.

I felt as if I'd been drawn into a trap of someone else's construction. Zaria—I'd trusted her. Was she intending to get us killed?

Yes, Kory and I knew that much—that we could die in this. I just didn't want someone else deliberately planning my death in a situation from which there was no escape.

Lexsi, if there is any way
, Zaria began.

She knew what I was thinking.

Save it
, I snapped.
We live or die—together
.

* * *

Tungurahua

V'ili

Two High Demons who thought to growl in surprise as they passed the cave's icy entrance were introduced to—I couldn't explain it.

The cave's walls moved. Living rock peeled away from the entrance; between the two terrifying creatures that manifested, two High Demons were crushed to death as if they were nothing. They didn't have time to attempt to skip away, the attack was so sudden.

Keep moving
, Morgett's voice growled in my mind. He didn't voice my concern; that we were down two soldiers in our small army.

* * *

Lexsi

We began to pass pools of water; my Thifilatha could smell it. The springs smelled fresh. Natural. I wanted a drink.

No
, Zaria warned.
Don't even touch the water
.

An image of another unsettling inside the cave was sent to me—and then of people dying.

The waters are full of bones
, Zaria informed us.
Of those who succumbed to
their thirst
.

Good to know
, Kory sent back.

Keep moving
, Opal instructed.
Your thirst may pass after we clear this section of the
caves
.

How much farther?
Anita asked.

Perhaps a mile—maybe more. It depends on the mood of the library
, Zaria replied.

Great. The library has moods
, Kory grumped inside my head.

Kory, I'm scared
, I said.
Nobody told us about any of this before we started
.
I'm not sure we're going to Peru any longer
.

I know. Just keep moving, onion. We'll either get out or we won't
.

Another mile to go—if we were lucky. If we weren't, how much farther than that would it be?

This library—what did it hold that was so important the enemy wanted it? Why were they willing to kill to get a clear path to it?

Surely it wasn't to sell—I couldn't imagine going to all this trouble for printed pages of gold or information embedded in crystal.

Information.

I chewed my lower lip. The library held information so important it could make lives of no consequence to obtain it.

But—what information could that be?

I had no idea.

The next test the cave tossed at us I was completely unprepared for.

* * *

Tungurahua

V'ili

Don't touch the water—I don't care how thirsty you are
, Morgett ordered.
It will kill
you
.

At least three High Demons blew smoke in Morgett's direction, but after the attack at the cave's entrance, they were more willing to listen.

Like I said—stupid. All of them.

I considered the levels of their stupidity until it hit me.

The waters sang a song to me—to change and swim in their depths. They sang of untold wonders if I sank into their bliss and allowed them to caress my body.

Focus!
Morgett barked at me.

Tearing myself away from the visions the waters offered, I plodded behind Morgett and the High Demon he'd placed at the head of our small army.

* * *

Lexsi

I blinked and refused to walk any farther. Ahead, I saw it—the strangest sight anyone could expect inside a cave.

As if it had been planted there, waiting for Kory and me to pass.

Yes, our humanoid companions could get through it with no trouble. The sharp, crystal spikes lined the cave ahead of us, placed in such a way that the razor-like tips would scrape into our scales if we attempted to walk through them.

Can we change?
Kory asked. He wanted to be smaller, just as I did, so we could pass this section intact.

No
, Zaria sighed mentally.
You have to allow the spikes to take your blood
.

* * *

Washington, D.C.

Notes—Colonel Hunter

"Baby, we're officially at war with Peru," I sighed into my cell phone. Laci, my wife, had called to ask what our status was.

"But they're showing planes being shot down on every news network," Laci said. She was close to tears; I could hear it in her voice.

"I know," I said. "This wasn't my choice, but they weren't willing to listen to anything I had to say. Want me to come get you and take you to your sister's place? That way you won't be by yourself when you watch those blasted reports."

"Would you? I want to go, but I didn't want to drive. I'm too shaky," she admitted.

"I'll come get you," I said. "Right now. They're all warmongering at the moment and won't miss me if I'm gone for a couple of hours."

"I love you," Laci said, her voice cracking. "I'm just so scared about all this."

"Yeah. Me, too, baby."

* * *

Kordevik

Not only was Zaria saying we had to walk through that land mine of sharp, pointed crystals shaped like giant elephant tusks, but that Lexsi had to walk through it first.

Those spikes, unless I missed my guess, would pierce a High Demon's scales easily. They were spaced too far apart to touch anything humanoid, but a High Demon would be scraped in several places when they passed through it.

Why didn't you fucking tell us?
I sent to Zaria.
Why won't you let me go through
first?

It has to be Lexsi going through first
, Zaria snapped at me.

Why?

Because of the rules. The most innocent among us has to pass through—and offer blood
, she replied.

Is this where that fucking myth of tossing virgins into volcanoes originated?
I demanded.

As a matter of fact, yes
, Zaria turned toward me and shrugged.

Fucking bloody hell
, I sent. Ahead, Lexsi stood, gazing at the spikes before her with shivering uncertainty. I didn't blame her.

What happens to the rest of us?
I thought to ask.

If Lexsi passes the test, the rest of us are allowed through.

Fucking. Bloody. Hell
.

* * *

Lexsi

Make your way through the best you can. Don't worry if some of the spikes scrape
your scales
, Zaria said.
We'll be right behind you
.

The sharp points glittered on the spikes that emanated from the ceiling and walls of the cave, then curved this way and that for thirty feet or more.

Don't worry if some of them scrape your scales
, she'd said. As if she expected them to scrape my scales.

Well, it was a given. To get my Thifilatha through, some of them
would
pierce my scales.

I hoped they weren't sharp enough to draw blood. I didn't want to be bleeding all over the place after walking through that piece of torturous ground.

Go on
, Zaria urged.

I'd forgotten that we had unwelcome followers. She didn't say it, but we needed to hurry. Drawing a breath and letting it out slowly, I took a step toward the spikes.
You can do
this. You can do this
, I kept reminding myself.

* * *

Kordevik

When the first spike pierced Lexsi's scaled left arm, I held my breath. She hesitated for barely a second before taking another step while the spike ripped into her scaled skin and left a bloody slice behind.

She didn't see it; her eyes were pointed ahead as another spike pierced her right upper arm.

The first spike retracted silently behind her. Once she was past the second spike, it did the same.

The third spike touched her left leg; the fourth, her right thigh. Lexsi was bloodied in four places already when one hanging low from the ceiling touched her head.

I wanted to kill something—or someone—when dark-red blood stained her snow-white hair.
Keep going, you're doing fine
, Zaria sent to her.

It took two minutes, perhaps, for Lexsi to walk through this section. Once she was through, all spikes withdrew into the walls and ceiling to allow the rest of us to pass. Zaria let out a heavy sigh and motioned for the rest of us to move forward.

We were nearing the one-mile mark when a light appeared ahead.

Last test
, Zaria informed us.

* * *

Tungurahua

V'ili

The young High Demon that Morgett insisted we bring with us was brought to the fore. He quailed at the sight of crystal spikes extending from a long portion of the cave. His Thifilathi was bound to touch several as he passed through.

Don't be a coward
, Morgett hissed mentally at him.
It'll draw some blood. I doubt it
will be fatal. Now get going. We have to catch up
.

This was another test—like the rest of it. I considered asking Morgett why a younger High Demon was necessary. I didn't. Morgett watched intently, his eyes never leaving the High Demon as he made his way through the spikes. He stopped still the moment the first spike drew blood.

Keep moving
, Morgett insisted.
Don't stop again or you'll be sorry
.

* * *

Lexsi

The light ahead beckoned; I focused on that instead of the pain on my scalp, arms and legs.

Was there more of the same? The cave was testing us; I would swear to it. The light was perhaps a quarter mile away, maybe less. I lengthened my stride to keep the image of bloody hair from my mind.

Uncle Sal always said scalp wounds bled profusely, even when they were less than serious. I assumed that's what my wound was—bleeding and not serious in nature.

Zaria had to trot to catch up to me. I slowed down, once I noticed her struggle to keep up. Behind her, Opal was now walking, with the others still between Kory and me.

I hoped the light meant the end of our journey. Fear and stress had taken its toll and I felt weary. I wanted nothing more than to rush back to Kory and let him hold me.

As if cued by a movie director, the image in my head was splashed across the cave's dark walls. There I was, buried in Kory's arms while he stroked my hair. Then, he lifted my chin and kissed me.

I dropped to my knees and wept silent tears.

* * *

Kordevik

When Lexsi's thoughts were splattered all over the cave wall for everyone to see, I wanted to burst into flame and melt the walls.

No, my brother
, Tibby's voice—a mental voice—came from far away.

Someone had given him mindspeech.

We have made it this far
, he went on.
We know your pain, and Lexsi's, too
.
Let us stand with you. There is very little time. I hear heavy footsteps behind us
, he added.

Lexsi, baby
, I sent while my eyes misted over.
Get up, hala avilepha. We must move on. They're coming up behind us
.

* * *

Lexsi

He'd spoken the High Demon words for
my heart's love
. It stopped my tears for a moment as I realized he'd never said those words before.