Demon Storm: Belador book 5 (22 page)

“Really? What’re you doing about it?”

Quinn’s temper boiled for a moment at the insinuation that he hadn’t been performing his duty, but now that he understood where the aggression was originating, he forced himself to settle down. “You don’t understand. The Medb have actually been helping out.”  He took in Tzader’s shock and nodded. “Now you’re getting an idea of what’s going on. We have Medb running around at the same time that someone has dumped at least eight demons here. Those are only the
reported
demon sightings. I’m betting there are more.”

“Macha was called to a major coalition meeting and she thought it was about them booting us from VIPER, but–”

That brought Quinn to his feet. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah, she thinks VIPER wants to cut the Beladors loose because we’re becoming dead weight that’s drawing the attention of everything evil. I’m thinking maybe it’s about this Medb outbreak of witches and warlocks. She left me in charge of Treoir with orders that she did not want an issue with VIPER right now while the Beladors are in a crisis.”

Quinn had bad news for Tzader, because he’d already caused an issue with VIPER. Once he shared that incident, Tzader would understand why Quinn might just be the worst choice for acting Maistir. He quipped, “If that’s the case, Macha will probably go postal when she hears about Medb saving humans from demons.”

“A postal goddess. Just what this clusterfuck needs. What do you mean saving humans? Did the Medb show up at the wrong place and time then the demons went after them?”

“No, I mean the Medb are actively hunting demons and making kills, clearly before a demon can touch a human.”

“That makes no sense,” Tzader muttered. “Got any idea who the demons belong to?”

“I can’t get close enough to one to determine an origin and, from what I’ve heard, neither has any other Belador. The Nightstalkers are hidden, probably terrified by so much dark activity in the city. The minute a demon shows its face in public, there’s no Belador close enough to deal with it, but out of the blue a Medb witch or warlock shows up, nukes the demon then disappears. They have to be using a cloaking spell because humans are not noticing, but there are always plenty of nonhuman witnesses to vouch for what happened.”

“What the hell is going on?”

“I don’t know, but Sen is getting testy with me.”

Tzader didn’t snap at him this time. His silence was more damning, because Quinn knew his friend was biting his tongue to keep from making things worse. Quinn owed him the truth. “My control is in tatters. I managed to not kill a troll that was stalking a human, but I screwed up the mind of a Medb.”

“That doesn’t sound like a problem.”

“Depends on how you look at the final outcome. I should have killed the troll, but I was starting to wonder just how dangerous it was to leave me in your position.”  Quinn cast a glance at Tzader who remained motionless so Quinn continued. “I grabbed the troll before he got close to the human, did some creative therapy and sent him on his way. He shouldn’t harm anything worse than a fish or frog at this point since that’s what he now believes his favorite meals are, but neither will he be able to carry on a conversation with other trolls.”

“Still not seeing the downside.”

That was Tzader, Quinn’s friend all the way to the bloody end of the world. Quinn had to make him understand just how desperate the Beladors were if they left him as acting Maistir. He explained, “I caught a Medb warlock and intended to bring him in for questioning. I was going to charge him with having knowledge of who dropped the demons in Atlanta, plus I recognized him from a raid we did in Charleston.”

“The one where those filthy warlocks were using that young girl’s body to cook a Noirre aphrodisiac spell?”

“Yes.”

“Fuck him then. Hope you killed him.”

“I did, in a way. The arrest was going fine until he started yelling that it wasn’t his fault. He’d been
compelled
.”

Tzader slapped a hand over his eyes. “Ah, shit.”

“That pretty much covers what happened. I heard
that
word and all I could see was Kizira dying in my arms because that whore Flaevynn had compelled her daughter not to use her own healing skills. I. Lost. It. I grabbed the warlock’s mind and clutched it so hard with mine his brain literally exploded inside his head.”

“I’m having a hard time digging up any remorse for a warlock. Compelled or not, that prick deserved to die.”

“He wandered around in a circle while I tried to pull myself back under control. I looked up just as a MARTA bus hit him.”

Tzader frowned and looked around.

“It wasn’t here. It was over by Centennial Park. Had to call in Sen to clean it up and deal with anyone who saw it since there was no chance of getting someone with Atlanta PD who was Belador.” 

“What you did was ...”

“Unacceptable,” Quinn finished for him. “Sen’s furious. He keeps hearing how the Medb are dealing with the demons and the Beladors are crippled power-wise. He reminded me that as acting Maistir I’m supposed to contain a situation and he threatened to take me before the Tribunal if I caused another public scene like that.”

Tzader studied Quinn for several seconds. “What’d you do?”

“I didn’t try to kill Sen, if that’s what you mean.” Quinn gave him a half-serious smile. “I was actually starting to get a grip after I released that warlock. That might be the only thing that saved one of us.”  With the rumor mill purporting Sen to have powers akin to a god or demi-god, Quinn had a reasonable idea of who would have won that short battle.

“Man, I hate doing this to you,” Tzader admitted.

“It’s okay. I’m just disappointed in not performing better.”

“Give me a break, Quinn. You just lost the woman you love and you haven’t even had time to grieve her.”  Tzader paused. “Have you decided where to bury her yet?”

“No. I took Kizira to a friend of mine who deals with our kind and told him I’d be back soon. I ... wanted a little more time before I took that last step.”

“I understand. Tell me when you’re ready and I’ll be there.”

Quinn swallowed the thick lump in his throat. He wanted to tell Tzader about Phoedra now that Quinn could carry a decent conversation, but he didn’t think he could say her name without breaking down. He said, “I know you’ll be there when I ask. Now, is anything else going on with Treoir?”

“First, can you continue standing in for me?”

“Yes. I’m okay for now.” That tasted like a lie, but Tzader needed to hear those words.

“Thanks. I hate asking this of you, but you’re the only one I trust to be Maistir in my place. I’ll take over as soon as I can, which might be sooner than I expected.”

Quinn stood to face Tzader. “Why? Has something happened to Brina ... or Lanna?”

The weight bearing down on Tzader’s shoulders showed in his face. “Not a word on either one yet, but I’m not leaving until we get them both back or ...”

“I understand. Just tell me what you need.”

“That’s why I projected my hologram to reach you. I don’t know what all Evalle is doing, but I couldn’t risk going to her and interrupting anything she had in the works that might lead to Storm. I need her to find him like yesterday, because our oldest druids have no idea what to do. We’re running short on time.”

“I thought she had two days left.”

“That was an estimate based on how often a piece of the hologram disappeared. But parts are starting to vanish faster.”

“Bloody hell. What can I do?”

Tzader’s smile was sad and tired. “You’re doing it, old friend, and I will never forget this, but I need you to have Trey locate Evalle since I don’t think she has a cell phone unless you gave her one.”

“No, my head was too far up my ass to think about anyone else when we got back to Atlanta,” Quinn muttered. “I’ll call Trey right away. How do I get word back to you?”

“It’s not good news if I come back to Atlanta before Evalle and Storm arrive at Treoir. Just have Sen teleport those two as soon as you can. If Sen threatens you again–”

Quinn held up his hand. “I won’t allow that to happen. I’ll make nice with every Medb if that’s what it takes to keep peace with Sen until Brina and Lanna are safe at the castle.” 

“Once that happens, the Belador power will be a force to reckon with once again and anyone who has taken advantage of this vulnerable time will pay dearly.”  Tzader’s eyebrow lifted with a thought. “You know what, part of the problem you’re having with your control may be due to Brina being out of the castle.”

“I had considered that. I hope you’re right.”

“I need to go. I’ve never risked projecting my body unless I was locked in my car, and it’s warded. Everyone should be outside protecting the castle, but that prick Allyn keeps coming by to check on the hologram.”

“Do you really think Brina was going to marry him?”

“No.” Tzader shook his head and made a sound of disgust. “That was all a ploy. Macha was behind it.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“It was Macha’s idea of motivating us to figure it out. Tell you more later.”

“Very well. I hope not to see you again until you have news of their return.”

Tzader disappeared.

Quinn used his cell phone to call Trey and gave him the message to pass along to Evalle.

Trey said, “I’ll let you know as soon as I hear from her. It might take a few tries, but I should be able to connect to her mind. I was able to speak to her telepathically earlier and she was able to reply. She’s impacted less than full-blooded Beladors.”

“Very well. Keep me informed.”

Quinn had closed his phone when he caught sight of two suspicious characters a block away. They were dressed as tourists in casual clothes, but didn’t move with the easy strides of humans.

He might have dismissed that until one of them glanced around, giving Quinn a chance to see the yellow eyes of a Medb.

Had the Medb released the demons?

If so, the fastest way to find out who had dumped killers into the city would be through those warlocks. Either way, catching that pair would be quite useful if Quinn could show a little restraint this time.

E
valle’s heart thumped what sounded like a frantic SOS message.

Nadina moved into an open spot in the musty-smelling living room of the haunted house she’d invaded in Stone Mountain.

Adrianna remained several steps away in the dining room.

With arms raised out to each side, Nadina’s voice turned husky with a guttural chant that sounded dark and twisted. She waited for Evalle to repeat it, which she did.

Nadina moved her hands in front of her, and power exploded in a high arch between Nadina’s palms. She moved her hands forward and down, allowing the blazing yellow-orange arch to slide from her fingertips to the hardwood floor.

Giving Evalle a look of challenge, Nadina said, “This is your last chance to change your mind. Once we cross through this arch, we enter Mitnal. You may return without me, but you may not enjoy the passing.”

What did that mean?

“Save your scary stories for Halloween,” Evalle told her and waved a hand. “Lead the way.”

Nadina’s eyes lit with hidden thoughts, but she vanished through the archway before Evalle could question her.

Adrianna said, “You may or may not exit that bolthole here. If you come back here, the spirits will allow you to pass. I can’t say the same for Nadina so don’t stand too close to her when you return.”

“Got it.”  Evalle blew out a breath and stepped through the blazing opening and into a frosty haze that surrounded her. In the next instant, she could feel the opening suck closed behind her.

Cold struck her skin and started wrapping around and around like a bandage of ice. It dredged up memories of artic training she’d gone through at eighteen as a new Belador warrior five years ago. But this was different than suffering the sub-freezing temps that would punish any exposed skin. A freezing paint coated her skin, but her insides had turned into a roaring furnace of heat.

One sensation should alleviate the discomfort of the other, but no. It just hurt from both directions.

While she had the feeling that she would not freeze to death or combust, the opposing temperatures were irritating the hell out of her within seconds.

What was it doing to demons kept here forever?

What’s it doing to Storm?

Now she understood the vision she’d had back in Storm’s bedroom. He’d been blue with cold in this realm of the dead. A bitter smell stung her nose. It could be incense if someone had decided to create one from a mix of sulfur and badly burned habaneros.

The haze cleared and she froze.

Demons surrounded her. She stood in the middle of the ones she’d seen when she visited Mitnal during her earlier out-of-body visit.

She’d had no idea how much nicer that was than an in-body experience.

Hundreds of demons covered surfaces in every direction. Some curled up on the ground and others draped over ledges. Was that all they did during the day? Rest?

That and attack Storm, because as she took in this horde of demons, none appeared battered and bruised as he had.

Now that she had a chance to take in the entire place from a standing position, she tilted her head back. This place could house a four-story building that covered a city block. Dark holes appeared at different levels. Were those recessed areas similar to the den where she’d found Storm?

Was he still in the same place?

In fact, where was Nadina?

Turning her head slowly even though the demons appeared oblivious to her presence, Evalle finally spotted the witch doctor leaning against a rock wall with arms crossed. Her cloaking fell over her from head to toe like sheer red netting.

Nadina arched a taunting eyebrow at her and smiled to emphasize that she was not required to help Evalle find her way through a sea of snoozing demons.

Keep thinking you’re too sexy for your skin and I’ll turn a Sterling witch loose on you again.

Evalle carefully turned the palm of her hand to face the floor and pushed down to see how far her kinetics would lift her.