Crystalfire (13 page)
Authors: Kate Douglas
She kissed him back. The moment their lips met, her body seemed to melt against his, her arms wrapped around his shoulders, and the kiss went from simple congratulations to absolute combustion.
Taron’s mouth moved over hers with a practiced ease that totally shocked him. He’d never kissed a woman until Willow, and now it felt like the most natural thing in the world to taste her lips, to tangle his tongue with hers, to groan into her mouth when she nipped his lower lip with her sharp teeth.
He lost himself in the feel of her mouth on his, the taste and texture of lips and tongue and teeth. He could have stood here on the sidewalk, kissing, for the rest of the night.
It was Willow who came to her senses first. She ended it slowly, teasingly, and it was all Taron could do not to whimper.
Then he realized exactly what the two of them had just accomplished ... and he wasn’t thinking of the kiss. Grabbing her hand, he held it up with her fingers spread wide.
“How did you know that would work? Where did the sparkles come from, and why did they run the demon out of the avatar?” He pressed his forehead to hers, breathing fast and trying really hard to regain control. Talking helped. It had to.
“I didn’t.” She curled her fingers around his. “I hoped it would. Your sword said that together we would have the power to destroy the demon king. I couldn’t imagine what kind of power I might have, and then I remembered my sparkles.”
Taron held up their linked hands and stared at her fingertips. “But what do they do? Where do they come from?”
Laughing, she shook her head. “I have no idea. They just sort of tickled and buzzed in my fingertips and then there they were. I don’t think they hurt anything. They just made the demons really mad. Did you see how they came right at us?”
“I did. It was amazing.” Taron glanced over his shoulder and checked the glamour on his sword. It was well disguised. “So your sparkles and my sword are all that stand between us and the demon king?”
Willow nodded.
“Why does that give me so little confidence?”
Willow tugged his hand and pulled him along the sidewalk. “Maybe because you’re a logical mathematician, and none of this adds up?”
He laughed. What else could he do? “Ya think?”
One thing definitely added up. He’d just discovered that, logical mathematician or not, it was difficult to walk with a full-blown erection in tight pants.
Willow shrugged and kept walking, but she was smiling. The tension between them had eased. He’d kissed her and they’d both enjoyed it and yet they’d still stopped in time.
At least Willow had stopped them. Taron wasn’t so certain he could have ended that on his own. At least his arousal was beginning to subside. Now they just needed to worry about the demons. And the demon king. And saving Ed Marks, and not letting Eddy find out her father was possessed, and keeping Dax away from all of this.
Impossible? Damn, but he hoped not.
But he was holding Willow’s hand and they were walking along a quiet street in a beautiful little town in Earth’s dimension, and at this moment, all things felt possible. The stars were coming out and he’d never felt so free in his life.
He wasn’t about to consider those other feelings thrumming in his veins, filling his heart to bursting. No. One thing at a time, and the most important thing now was fighting demons.
He put his other concerns aside. It was the Lemurian way, after all. He would work on his argument, consider all the facts, and deal with it when he was ready.
If only he could be like Willow. She merely accepted, dealt, and moved on. He glanced at their hands, at the perfect way their fingers linked, and knew that moving on was already impossible.
He had a feeling he was going to pay for that unimaginable joy he’d experienced all throughout the day, that he felt even now. He didn’t mind, as long as he was the one who paid. No matter what, he had to protect Willow. If that meant leaving her when this battle was over, he would do exactly that, but he refused to put her life at risk.
Already he knew that he could endure any pain, except one that hurt her. She squeezed his fingers and glanced at him. There was a question in her eyes, and he knew she must sense his worry. Carefully he locked his concerns inside.
And then he swore, to any and all gods who listened, that he would keep her safe.
Chapter 10
No one said a word as Dawson drove away from Boynton Canyon. Everyone seemed a little bit numb after that wild fight outside the vortex. Now, though, shadows stretched across the desert landscape. If not for the tension radiating from everyone in the vehicle, Selyn would have thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
She’d never imagined seeing any of this—not after a lifetime of captivity deep in the Lemurian crystal mines. The Arizona desert was breathtaking, though she hoped that Dawson would one day be able to follow through on his promise to show her the ocean.
She’d heard about it from her mother so many years ago, and the concept of water stretching for as far as the eye could see, of dolphins dancing, and sunlight sparkling off the waves was well beyond her imagination.
For now, the beauty of the desert would have to do. She wasn’t sure if she loved dawning or nightfall best, but already the colors were beginning to change with the coming of night. The sky had lost its brilliant blue and was shifting to shades of peach and orange, and the shadows gave the huge, red rock formations a ghostly appearance.
If only she didn’t view this natural perfection through the dark threat of demonkind hanging over all of it. That was more than enough to ruin anyone’s day.
Eddy leaned forward. “Daws, why don’t you head toward the vortex at Red Rock Crossing? I know there’s no doorway to Abyss there and it’s out of the way, but I’ve got a weird feeling about it. Besides, we can check Bell Rock from there and then move on to the one by the airport.”
“Works for me.” Daws glanced at Selyn and smiled.
You okay, sweetheart? You’re awfully quiet.
You okay, sweetheart? You’re awfully quiet.
As long as I’m with you.
She settled back in her seat and watched the red rocks speed by. It was still beautiful.
She settled back in her seat and watched the red rocks speed by. It was still beautiful.
Even the threat of demonkind couldn’t change that.
Eddy tried calling her dad again, and once again the answering machine picked up. She’d even tried his cell phone, but since he rarely remembered to carry the damned thing, she wasn’t surprised to get the recorded message.
It wasn’t even turned on. Fat lot of good that did. She was edgy and uncomfortable and her brain wouldn’t stop buzzing. Something was going on but she couldn’t tell what. She had a weird feeling, like a bubble was about to burst, as if there was just a bit too much pressure all around, and something had to give.
Ginny had fallen asleep the minute she and Alton got in the car. All of them were hanging by a thread. Even Dax was quieter than usual, but the fight they’d just waged at Boynton Canyon had been beyond anything any of them had ever seen.
There’d been no end to the possessed birds. An unbelievable barrage of every kind of bird imaginable coming at them in a mindless attack—but for what purpose? The demons had died, the birds had survived, and then, as suddenly as the attack began, it had ended.
The sky had been full of circling, diving birds of every species native to the area. Then nothing. Where had they gone, and why? What had the attack accomplished?
She glanced about her, at Alton and Ginny in the back, Dax beside her and Dawson and Selyn in front. They all looked like hell. Was that the goal? To wear them down to the point where they couldn’t fight back? The number of demons appeared to be endless—was this fight going to be one of attrition?
And where the hell was her father? Shivers ran along Eddy’s spine. Dax wrapped an arm around her and hugged her close, sharing his warmth.
Sharing strength. She hoped they had enough to last. So many things felt terribly wrong, Eddy wasn’t sure what to worry about next.
“We’re here.”
Dawson pulled into the parking lot at Red Rock Crossing. There was still enough light to see the trail, and their swords would show them the way if they returned after dark.
Eddy climbed slowly out of the SUV. Ginny was yawning, Alton got out and stretched, and even Dax looked a bit haggard. Of course, they’d gone almost nonstop for a month, now, ever since the night she’d found Dax in her potting shed.
Had it only been a month?
Dax leaned close and kissed the top of her head. “It has,” he said. “It’s been exactly a month since you found me.”
“You’re snooping in my head.” She kissed him. As much as she’d felt it would be weird to share thoughts, Eddy realized it was wonderful to have someone who understood what was spinning around in her brain. Especially someone who loved her as much as Dax.
“I am,” he said. “I do.” He kissed her again. “I love what happens in there, especially when it concerns me. C’mon.”
He took her hand and they followed the others. Dawson and Selyn led the way with Alton and Ginny right behind. Shadows spilled across the red cliffs and the sky had taken on a dark blue color tinged with pale shades of peach and yellow.
As beautiful as sunsets usually were, this one seemed off, as if the sunlight were filtered through a dark lens. Eddy shook off the sense of something out of sync and concentrated on the rocky trail. They reached the portal. Ginny and Alton were the first to step through.
Ginny had drawn DarkFire—her blade was the only one that would show the demons’ true shapes, which made it hard for the foul things to hide in the shadows. The strange light shining from Ginny’s blade meant Eddy and Dax stepped into a cave that reminded her of a cheesy bar with black lights overhead.
DarkFire’s odd amethyst light had everything glowing—but there was no sign of demonkind. Eddy and Dax scouted the small cavern. It looked fine, but Eddy couldn’t ignore the strange tingling sensation that wouldn’t leave her alone.
“Eddy?”
She turned at Selyn’s soft question. “What? Do you see something?”
“It’s what I don’t see. Isn’t there supposed to be a portal here? I thought this vortex had one that led to the council chambers in Lemuria, but I can’t find it.”
“What?” Eddy spun around and stared at the wall. It was shadowed and dark, and there was no sign of the swirling energy that signified a portal. She drew DemonSlayer and held the blade aloft. Light spilled over the wall, illuminating melted stone.
“Shit. It’s gone.” She stepped close to the wall and ran her fingers over the cold, smooth rock. “Someone’s sealed it. But who?”
Alton ran his fingers over the rock. “It wasn’t done with one of our swords. The rock melts differently when we close them with swordfire. This is almost as if it caught a single but powerful blast.”
Dawson stared over Eddy’s shoulder. “Could demons do this?”
“Possibly a very powerful demon.” Alton kept running his fingers over the rock, as if rubbing it might somehow bring the portal back. “But why?”
Eddy glanced at Dax and then turned to Dawson. “Well, it does close off an escape route. We need to get to Bell Rock and see what’s going on there. There aren’t any new portals to Abyss here, are there?”
“I’m still checking.” Ginny held DarkFire high and went over the walls and ceiling. “Doesn’t look like it, though DarkFire says she senses the stench of demonkind here. It must be really faint. I can’t smell it at all.”
The sense of something about to blow had Eddy almost running down the tunnel for the portal to Bell Rock. “C’mon. I don’t have a good feeling about this at all.”
They slipped through the portal and entered the large cavern that marked the Bell Rock vortex. This was the Grand Central Station of Arizona portals, as far as Eddy could tell.
Or it had been. “What’s going on?” She checked the portal to Mount Shasta, but it was nothing more than melted rock.
“The main entry to Lemuria’s been closed, too. It almost appears to have been done by swordfire. I’m not really sure, but that doesn’t make any sense at all.” Alton looked up from the far side of the cavern. “Is anything else open?”
“You know what this means, don’t you?” Ginny pointed DarkFire to all parts of the cavern, illuminating every crevice, crook, and cranny. “We’re trapped here. We can still move around within Sedona, but everything else has been sealed. Can you tell who did it?”
Alton studied the walls while Eddy went to the main portal that opened to the outside. She stepped through, noticed nothing amiss, and returned. The other five were gathered in the center of the cavern. “What’s going on?”
Alton shook his head. “The portal to Lemuria was closed in a manner I can’t determine, which leads me to believe it was done by a demon, but HellFire says the one between here and Mount Shasta was closed by crystal. He’s not sure who, though. I don’t understand it.”
Eddy rubbed her arms. The sense of evil, of foreboding had grown stronger. “I can’t reach my dad. I’ve been trying to call him for a couple of hours, but there’s no one there. We can’t even go there and check on him. Not with all the portals shut.”
Dax slipped an arm around her waist. “He’s got to be okay, Eddy. He’s probably out in the workshop. You know he spends hours out there, and if the trains are running, he won’t hear the phone.”
“I know. I’m still worried, Dax. Something just feels wrong.” She glanced at the others and caught Selyn studying her with an odd expression. Eddy frowned.
Selyn sighed, as if she wasn’t sure she should say what she was thinking. “I know I’ve never met your father, and I am very new to this business of hunting demons, but I can’t imagine your father being out of touch with you on purpose. In the short time I’ve known you, he’s always maintained close contact. Does he have any friends you can call, someone who can tell you if he’s okay?”
“He does. I’ll see if I can get hold of Mari and Darius, or even Mari’s parents. If not, there’s always the grump across the street.” Lordy, but she hated the idea of asking Mr. Puccini for anything, but desperate times and all that. “Thanks, Selyn. That’s an excellent idea. I can get the numbers I need once we’re back at Daw’s house.”
“Good.” Alton sheathed his sword. “We have to check on the vortex at the airport, and then all of us need a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow I’ll start working on reopening the portal to Shasta. I don’t like feeling trapped here. We can’t access Lemuria, either. If we could, I might be able to connect with Taron. He could at least let us know what’s going on.”
They stood in the darkness outside the vortex near the airport. Alton glanced at Ginny. She had a look of pure determination on her face, but he could tell that, especially after the last battle, she was running on little more than nerves alone.
The sense of demonkind was strong here, the air thick with the stench of sulfur, though they’d not seen any actual demons while walking between the parking area and the portal.
Of course, after dark the damned things were difficult to see. Black mist had a way of disappearing much too easily into dark shadows.
“How should we do this?” He addressed all of them, but Alton’s eyes were on Ginny. DarkFire’s unique power had made Ginny the natural leader of their group. She’d taken the responsibility without regard to her own safety. It was what she was destined to do, and none of them questioned her decisions.
“This portal is really too small for all of us to go in at once if we have to fight, but DarkFire can show us where the demons are hiding and if there are any others hanging out inside, so I’ll go in first.” She sighed and wiped her hand over her eyes. “Damn it all, but I’m positive this sucker’s going to be full of demons. It’s obvious the portal to Abyss has been reopened.”
“No shit, Sherlock.”
The moment the words left her mouth, Eddy glanced up and caught Ginny’s eye. They both exploded in giggles.
The others looked at one another and then at the two women as if they were absolutely nuts. Alton bit back a grin and folded his arms across his chest. He focused his most superior expression on Eddy. “Eddy, that really doesn’t sound like the sort of thing a warrior with a crystal sword would say.”
She glanced his way, bit her lips, and then lost it again.
Selyn frowned and nudged Dawson. “Who is this Sherlock?”
Dawson looked at Ginny, who was laughing so hard she was practically doubled over. “Our exalted leader’s going to have to explain that one in detail, but essentially it means that what Ginny said was more than obvious.”
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