Jaime Rush - Dragon Awakened

Darren wasn’t Mr. Smith. Which meant Mr. Smith was still alive. Still out there hunting Ruby. Cyn called out, “I have to go,” as he ran to his car. He tried Ruby’s number, but he didn’t expect her to answer if she knew it was him.

He jumped in his car and tore away to the Yard.

Something was forming on the page of the open book in the female Crescent’s living room. The demon watched for a moment, feeling the magick in the book prickle across its skin. A three-headed monster appeared line by line. Very small stick figures were next, standing in front of the looming monster.

Selwig closed the book and searched the living space. It liked going through her things. What joy, tormenting Crescents by moving their things around, punching them in their sleep and creating mystery bruises. But it was not here to have innocent fun; its mission was even more exciting. The demon didn’t like Dragons, having seen his comrades slaughtered by them over the years. Now, fittingly, this demon had been freed from prison to kill one.

A song began to play. Selwig followed the sound to a flat square sitting on the table. The screen read CYN. The song ended. It followed the scent of the woman to the open doorway. She lay sprawled on the bed, naked.

A demon of sin would do other things to her. Being a harbinger was much better, with the ability to take any kind of physical form.

A fire Elemental tried to dart past, but Selwig stomped its foot and stopped the pesky creature. Its gaze flitted to the woman’s sleeping form. Ah, so it meant to warn her. The demon bared its fangs. The Elemental did, too, but it recognized it was way outpowered and backed away.

The woman stirred and rolled to her side. A second later, her eyelashes fluttered open. Selwig took form and approached her.

Purcell walked into Captain Fernandez’s office, once again without knocking. He pasted on a pleasant expression, even though the dark-haired man scowled at the sight of him.

“Captain,” Purcell said in greeting, closing the door behind him and strolling behind his desk to look out the window.

Fernandez bristled at the invasion of his territory. “What do you want now?”

“Have you noticed that a lot of Crescents are feeling under the weather? You’ve no doubt seen that several of the secretaries’ desks are vacant this morning. Due to the same bug that your wife no doubt has.”

The captain’s desperation and fear was clear. “How did you—”

“Only it’s not a bug. It’s a disruption of the Deus Vis .” Purcell turned, seeing that the man’s hostility was replaced by interest. And fear.

“Already? But we’re just seeing the effects of the smaller flares. We aren’t supposed to feel the big storm they’ve been hyping up on the news for another day or so. The Concilium advised the Guard and our medical staff that Crescents might feel more than the usual ruffle of the Deus Vis , but nothing severe.”

“That’s what they’re telling you. I am willing to share the truth under the confidentiality of the Guard’s Silence Credo.”

“You’re not Guard.”

“Details.” Purcell smiled. “Call in your secretary. I overheard her telling one of the other ladies that she was going home after lunch.”

While he did, Purcell pulled out a cloth from his pocket that held the small prototype.

Marie came in, her complexion pale, eyes dull. Hardly a flame flickered in her eyes. “Yes, sir,” she said, her voice lackluster, too.

Purcell flicked on the reactor and took her hand in his. “Dear, you look positively ill.”

“Oh, you shouldn’t touch me. I’m…” She blinked. “Sick. Or was sick. That’s weird. I feel better.” The color was returning to her face. “You’re a healer?”

“In a manner of speaking,” Purcell said.

She squeezed his hand. “Thank you. Thank you so much.” She turned to Fernandez. “The open cases summary is almost done. I’ll start working on the expense reports.” She spun and left, closing the door behind her.

“Your wife could feel better, too, just that fast,” Purcell said, reaching into Fernandez’s mind and feeling his profound relief at that thought.

“What do I need to do?”

A sound. Her phone ringing. Ruby rose slowly to consciousness. Who would be calling? The clock indicated she’d only been asleep for a short time. Not long enough. The ringing stopped. She closed her eyes again. Whoever had called could wait. Probably Nevin, who was no doubt dying of curiosity.

Her Dragon clawed at her, like an insistent dog needing to go out. She groaned, rubbing her tattoo. “Don’t tell me I have to let you out to pee.”

It nudged her. “Later,” she said, then grimaced at the word. Something small landed on the bed, like a drop of rain. Then another. She opened her eyes when one landed an inch from her nose. A red M&M.

She jerked to a sitting position and searched her room. The Elemental stood in the doorway holding a bag of M&M’s. “Fergus, what are you doing?”

A cat jumped on the bed.

She sighed out loud. “Oh, just one of the kitties.”

Except the kitties were freaked out by her now. And the reason they were freaked out pushed hard against her, urging her to Catalyze.

So she did.

And the kitty turned into a demon.

“Holy hell.”

She was pretty sure it was a demon, though it looked like a man. Sort of. Its skin stretched unnaturally across its cheeks, and its eyes were solid black with a white retina. That he wore clothing, baggy jeans and a white T-shirt made it seem more surreal. And oddly, even creepier than the subhuman demons. Now she saw the shadow Cyn had mentioned. A harbinger then.

“No. This is supposed to be over ,” she said.

It giggled. “Nope, not over, dearie. Play with me. My name is Selwig.”

Was Magda behind this? But Dragons couldn’t summon demons.

Selwig reached toward her in some kind of weird gallant gesture, and she bit its hand. It hissed at her, or maybe it smiled and air leaked out between its rubbery lips. Either way it sent chills scurrying across her scales.

“Ooh, playing hard to get, are you?” it said, now definitely smiling.

“Very hard to get.” She shot out a stream of fire spikes.

It ducked out of the way, but the skin on its arm bubbled in the heat. “Thanks, dearie. I needed a tan.”

“Then allow me to oblige.” She Breathed out again, obliterating the demon in a fireburst. When the flames cleared, its entire body was charcoal.

Selwig surveyed itself. “I bet you’re a terrible cook.” It disintegrated into a pile of ash that re-formed into a creature that just plain looked demonic. “Maybe you’ll like me better this way.”

“Dark green skin, bald head, and those mesmerizing eyes. How can I resist?” She Breathed flames again, but he danced out of the stream.

“Think I’ll go rare this time.” God, it was having fun, giggling, moving its hips back and forth as it taunted her. A moving target.

She narrowed her eyes and sent another blast, singeing its arm. It blew on the smoking skin in quick bursts. Before she could nail it again, Fergus jumped on its back. “No!” she shouted, as its small but razor-sharp talons sank into the demon’s shoulder. Selwig reached back with a growl, but Fergus jumped off in the nick of time. Before she could send another Breath, the demon flew at her, clamping onto her neck and sinking its teeth into her.

She tried to wrench it off, but it grew spikes that lanced her hands. Blood dripped from her palms and fingers when she jerked them back. She had to get this thing off her. Its fangs pierced through her scales and into her muscle, close to the kill spot Cyn had described. Pain shot from the puncture right up to her head. She thrashed, smashing it against the wall again and again until the leech fell onto her dresser. It leaped to the chair. She banged her fist down on it, cracking the chair but missing the demon that had jumped away.