A little shiver ran through Talon when Conryu opened the heaven portal. The energy of Heaven didn’t agree with his undead essence and he felt it even through the protective magics his human friend had cast. Though he’d never been tempted, he suspected stepping through one of those portals would end him instantly. What would become of the soul of a vampire who tried to live a good life despite his nature?
He didn’t know and since death wasn’t something he often worried about, he hadn’t given it much thought. But since the Pale Princess showed up, he couldn’t deny that the thought of dying had been very much front and center in his mind. Perhaps he should have Conryu ask some of his friends in high places.
Talon smiled a fraction. The fate of one soul no doubt mattered very little in the grand scheme of things.
The portal closed and he forced his morbid thoughts aside. What would be, would be. Hopefully he’d survive this crisis, rendering the question moot—at least for him.
He flexed his arm and nodded. The Cloak of Darkness allowed him to function in daylight even if not at full strength. It would be enough to collect the orb.
Talon turned to his silently waiting companions. “I’ll retrieve the Solar Orb. You hunt and bring me back something, preferably a couple plump grouse, but I won’t quibble.”
“Is it wise to give such a weapon to a human, even one we trust?” Ionus asked. “He might wipe us out just to be safe.”
Talon shook his head. “Conryu gave us the orb in the first place. Besides, if we have to fight our way through the others, many will certainly be slain. If we start doubting one of our few allies, then she’s already beaten us. Go on, our minds will be clearer once we slake our thirst.”
Though he felt Ionus’s lingering hesitation through their psychic link, no one spoke further against the plan. His companions vanished at high—though not as high as usual—speed, leaving Talon alone in front of his ancestral home.
He walked up the stone steps and ran a hand over the rough arch that marked the entrance to the manor’s garden. Memories of his youth came flooding back when he stepped through, as clear as when he lived them nearly two thousand years ago.
Father had been a nobleman of considerable wealth and privilege and Talon, as the youngest son of his primary wife, wanted for nothing. Father had been kind in a distant way. Most of his time went to Talon’s elder brother who stood to inherit his land and title.
Talon blew out a sigh and put the memories aside. They were all long dead and buried. Even his family name had died out long ago. Best to let the memories go with them. He had a new family now and he needed to focus on protecting them.
A short walk brought him to the partially collapsed main house. He turned into mist and floated inside. A small gap in the floorboards allowed him to sink into the basement. From there he flew to the right rear corner where a door far too new and modern for the rest of the house waited. He built the safe room by himself shortly after receiving the orb. None of the others knew where he took the artifact and Talon preferred to keep it that way.
He solidified and took the final step to the locked door. Being out of the direct sun felt wonderful though his power remained muted. The dial of a combination lock sat in the front of the door. Three spins later he pulled the door open.
Inside was a simple wooden pillar with a velvet pillow sitting on it. The pillow was empty, but a black envelope had been nailed to the pillar. With a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, Talon pulled the envelope free and ripped it open. Written in antique, looping script, it said:
Talon,
If you’re reading this, then you have successfully evaded my attempt to enslave you. I also assume I’ve succeeded in claiming the rest of your people as my own. No doubt you’re wondering how I knew about the orb since you went to so much trouble to hide it.
The answer is simple. I’ve been studying you for some time. You didn’t see me, but I read all your most secret thoughts. Remarkably banal considering how long you’ve been alive. The orb was in my possession before we met face-to-face. I knew you’d want a way to stop your fellows without hurting them. Perhaps you’ll find another way, though I doubt it.
What will you do, Talon? Surrender and be my slave or slaughter the creatures that look to you for leadership? I understand it’s a difficult decision.
And don’t think I took your toy without leaving you something in exchange. Should you survive, I’m sure we’ll see each other again.
Your future mistress,
The Pale Princess
He crumpled up the note and tossed it aside. Of all the unmitigated arrogance. Somehow, if it was the last thing he did, he’d find a way to rip the brat’s head off.
A crash from behind him prompted Talon to spin, crouched and ready for battle. Four…things, he had no better word for them, had emerged from under the floor. They weren’t vampires, thank goodness. In fact they didn’t even look human. Each one stood about seven feet tall, with six arms and two heads, broad-shouldered but so gaunt, they looked like skeletons with skin stretched over them. Each finger ended with a three-inch bone blade that dripped with black flames.
Dark magic didn’t overly concern Talon. As an undead himself, most spells of that sort washed over him without doing any damage. Though far from an expert in magic, he knew enough to understand that getting cut with those blades, resistant or not, would be bad for his continued existence.
He dissolved into a mist and flew up and out of the basement. If he had to fight, he preferred to have some room to maneuver, sunlight be damned. He solidified in the garden and an instant later the four creatures appeared as well, one at each of the cardinal directions.
They weren’t mindless, more’s the pity. Surrounding him showed at least some ability to strategize.
Time to see if they were tough as well.
He charged the one in front of him at full speed and swung a fist with all his might. Given Talon’s strength, even reduced as it was, all his might equaled getting hit with a wrecking ball.
The monster went flying, crashed into a dilapidated outbuilding, and smashed it to splinters.
Its companions showed no sign of letting Talon enjoy his success.
The remaining three charged in.
They moved nearly as fast as Talon himself. It took all his strength and experience to avoid getting ripped to shreds.
Three incoming claws forced him to turn into mist again.
He solidified a moment later, just in time to see the one he sent flying stand up, seeming no worse for the blow.
Talon grimaced. Even at his best, raw physical strength wouldn’t be enough to win this fight. Those things had to be demons, which no doubt meant that only magic would kill them. Despite his many talents, Talon had no gift for magic.
Once again he turned to mist. Galling as it was, he’d have to flee. There was nothing left that he needed, though he hated leaving those things in his ancestral home.
Talon tried to fly away only to run into an invisible barrier that prevented him from leaving the courtyard.
More of the demons’ magic no doubt.
He’d have to hope that Conryu made it back before his spell ran out. If he didn’t, Talon was doomed.
Conryu took a deep lungful of heavenly air and sighed. This place always soothed him. The diffused light, floating clouds, and lack of anyone trying to kill him combined to put him, at least momentarily, at ease. Basically the exact opposite of the effect it had on Prime.
About a hundred yards away he spotted the golden gates of Heaven. Hopefully the Goddess would sense his arrival since he didn’t want to have to knock on the front door. He willed himself over beside the golden lions and looked up at the righthand one. It lowered its head and Conryu obliged by scratching behind its ear. The guardian spirit purred like a bike engine.
“One of these days you’re going to lose a hand,” Prime said.
“Don’t be that way,” Conryu said. “These aren’t demon lions after all. And even demon lions wouldn’t bite the hand of the Reaper’s Chosen. It’s you they dislike, not me.”
Prime snorted and fell silent. A moment later a golden glow appeared to his left and transformed into the beautiful, winged form of the Goddess.
Conryu gave the lion a final pat and turned his full attention on her.
“Welcome. I didn’t expect you back so soon,” she said.
“That makes two of us. Sorry I didn’t stop to visit last time, but I wanted to get everyone back to the mortal realm as quickly as possible.”
She smiled her radiant smile. “Much as I enjoy our visits, I also have many things to occupy my time. Your Earth isn’t the only world I oversee after all. So, what can I do for you?”
“I need to bring a bunch of humans through Heaven to get them out of the way of some vampires. I figure you know what’s happening in the Land of the Night Princes. I want to portal them straight from their villages to a distant city without them noticing that they’re transitioning through Heaven. Is that doable?”
“Certainly. Most things are when magic is involved. You need to mark your exit point with a divine rune.” A golden symbol appeared in the air in front of her. “Then, when you open your heaven portal it will create a tunnel instead. All the villagers will see is a flash of white light.”
“That’s perfect, thank you so much. I’ll try my best not to bother you again for a while.”
Her laugh reminded him of little kids’, so open and unembarrassed. “You’re no bother. What you see is only a tiny aspect of my awareness. I have many hundreds of them all carrying out different tasks throughout reality. This one is permanently assigned to your world and since no one else really comes to visit the gates of Heaven, she’s pretty much all yours. I hope you can save them all.”
“Me too. Far too many innocents have died lately.”
The golden glow appeared again, he blinked, and she was gone.
“Okay, back to the real world.”
“Finally,” Prime muttered.
Conryu appeared on Earth for an instant before opening a hell portal and rejoining Kai and Kanna. “Anything interesting happen while I was gone?”
“Nothing, Chosen,” Kai said. “The hellpriest is just walking around that empty village. If she has a purpose beyond waiting for sunset, I have not figured out what it might be.”
He felt certain she must have something in mind, but what that might be he couldn’t guess.
“Kanna, how goes the mission?”
“We are nearly done, Chosen. There are fourteen villages and one fair-sized town within the range Talon specified. There are also a number of scattered farms, but I prioritized the larger areas.”
Conryu grimaced, but nodded. They had to save as many as they could. If time remained, they could search for stragglers. “Good. I need to find a city well out of her range to serve as their destination, then we can get started.”
“Forgive me for asking, Chosen,” Kanna said. “But what will keep the rulers of this city from turning the refugees away?”
“Not a damn thing, but at least they’ll be alive to search for a better option. One problem at a time, Kanna.”
She lowered her gaze. “Apologies, Chosen. I did not intend to add to your stress.”
Conryu smiled. “I know. And don’t worry, you and the others are a huge help. You eliminate far more stress than you create. Now, let’s get started.”
Before he had a chance to climb up on Cerberus’s back, Kai said, “Chosen, something is happening.”
“What is it?” He eased over beside Kai and frowned at the glow starting to form in the earth.
“That glow traces exactly the path she’s been walking,” Kai said. “As to its purpose, I haven’t the least idea.”
“It’s a giant portal,” Prime said. “The spell is a little different than the one I know, but it’s close enough. She’s building up a massive charge. Assuming she keeps going until the vampires wake, she could end up taking them anywhere.”
“Shit! She’s not even going to have them attack the local villages. She’ll probably take them to a city and murder thousands.”
“What do we do, Chosen?” Kai asked.
“We stop her. First, we need to get the locals out of range. If I ruin her spell, they might decide to make do with a smaller target. How long has she been working on that thing?”
“Hours,” Kai said.
“Good. That must have used up a lot of power and even hellpriests have limits. If anything changes, get word to me. Kanna, let’s go.” He whistled and Cerberus came trotting up. “Take us to the nearest gathering of more than five thousand humans.”
He flew up on Cerberus’s back and Kanna joined him, holding on to his middle for dear life. He found it oddly comforting to know that something discomfited the grandmaster. As soon as they were in place, Cerberus took off like a rocket.
The run lasted only seconds and they were off again. Conryu opened a viewing portal and sure enough they’d ended up just outside a modest city. Granted, it was little bigger than a suburb of Central, but it would suit his purposes perfectly.
About half a mile from the city center he found a park that had plenty of open space. He drew the Goddess’s rune and filled it with light energy. Thankfully no one noticed him and he was back in Hell in less than a minute.
“Okay, part one down. Now for the villagers.”
“They may not believe you or wish to leave their homes,” Kanna said.
“I’m sure they won’t. That’s what compulsion magic is for. I hate using it, but I hate it less than letting innocent people die.”
He willed them to the nearest ninja marking a village. She bowed and said, “The locals have finished their day’s work and are making their way to their homes. I saw no sign of armed security, though many individuals carry pistols or shotguns.”
“Perfect, thanks. I’ll be focusing on magic, so you two need to watch my back. I always keep a Stone Skin spell active, but better not to take chances. Don’t kill anyone, just destroy their weapons. Okay?”
They both bowed again and Kanna said, “As you command, Chosen.”
With the orders given, he opened a portal and stepped out. First, dark magic gathered around his staff and he released an augmented fear spell. Panicked people were less likely to resist his compulsion.
When wide-eyed people came running out of the houses he opened the heaven portal, linked it to the rune, and added light magic to his voice. “Through the portal! It’s safe on the other side.”
Like a stampede, they charged through until he sensed no one else. After closing the portal he returned to Hell.
“That went well.” His voice sounded strong and thankfully the spells didn’t take too much out of him. Using the staff made his task much easier. Of course, he might feel differently after he repeated the process a dozen or so more times.
In village after village he cast the same spells over and over, the people fled in panic, and he moved on to the next. It might have gotten boring if not for the stakes.
After the last village, the sun hung low in the sky. Soon enough the vampires would wake. He needed to dispel the Pale Princess’s portal before then. If he didn’t, heaven only knew what damage they might do.