Dr. Wolf, the Fae Rift Series Book 2- Demon Spiral (15 page)

As if Dr. Worthen read it on his face, the doctor caught up to him. “Let me walk with you. We have something to talk about.”

Aleric was grateful when the doctor ducked under his good arm and assisted him down the hallway at an easy pace.

“You know, you’ve shown a lot of bravery these past couple of days. I’m not sure if you have to put your life on the line again,” the doctor said.

“No one else knows how to handle demons,” Aleric replied.

“And you do?” Dr. Worthen asked, giving him a pointed look.

Aleric cracked a smile. “As good as the next werewolf, I suppose.”

The doctor grew quiet when they neared the back door. He paused before opening it, forcing Aleric to do the same.

“What the demon said about your feelings for my daughter—”

Aleric ducked out from under his arm, cutting the doctor off. “He was just saying things. You know how demons are. They like to get a rise out of you.”

“I saw the look on your face,” Dr. Worthen replied.

Aleric fell silent.

Dr. Worthen watched him closely. “Nurse Eastwick said you spoke to her for only a few minutes in the hallway.”

Aleric lowered his gaze. He didn’t know what to say. Whenever he thought of Lilian, his heart sped up. Things he saw reminded him of her, the night sky with its twinkling stars made him think of her eyes and the way they had sparkled when she teased him; the quiet echo of her heartbeat followed him when he searched for goblins to save her life; the shallow rise and fall of her chest as she struggled for breath in the bed made him feel as if he, too, was suffocating.

“I can’t explain it,” he said quietly.

“The Archdemon called it ‘werewolves and their petty infatuations’,” Dr. Worthen recalled.

Aleric shook his head. “It’s not like that at all. It’s different. It’s deeper.” He didn’t know what else to say. The words felt too insignificant, especially considering the short time he had known Lilian.

“You know, ever since you showed up, I’ve been reading about wolves. We don’t have werewolves, so I figured if I learned about the wolf side of your heritage, perhaps I could understand you better.”

Aleric stared at the doctor, surprised.

“Wolves generally choose a mate for life,” Dr. Worthen continued. “They seem to have a very strong sense of family. Their packs are made up of their families. Lone wolves are rare; I imagine it’s the same for werewolves, am I right?”

Aleric thought of the pack groups in Blays. Families stuck together, at least those whose mother didn’t die and father tried to sell them out of anger and guilt. He had jumped from pack to pack in Drake City, but had never found one that felt quite like home.

He nodded. “I suppose so.”

“Maybe that’s what you’re doing here,” Dr. Worthen said, his tone musing. “Maybe you’re building your pack around you.”

Aleric opened his mouth to argue, but Dr. Worthen held up a hand.

“If you consider me part of your pack, I’m honored,” the doctor said, his eyes crinkling at the corners with his fatherly smile. “I’ve never been a part of a pack before. It would probably be good for me. I know you’ve made close friends with Dartan, Gregory, and Therese. Nurse Eastwick treats you the same way I’ve seen her treat her boy, Harrison. I suppose, if you think about it like that, we are sort of a family.” A smile touched his lips. “And I never really saw it like that until you came around.”

“Dr. Worthen, I—”

The doctor held up a hand again, cutting him off once more. “Now son, if you are considering adding my Lilian to your pack, which it appears you already have whether you realize it fully or not, I’ll warn you that she is a very independent young woman with goals and dreams.” He paused, considering, then said, “She’s about as stubborn as you are.”

“Sir, I don’t intend to add her to my pack, as you say,” Aleric replied. He felt his cheeks heat and wondered why he was blushing. He never blushed. It wasn’t manly or wolfish. If Dartan saw him, the vampire would probably die laughing, except for the fact that he was already dead. Aleric cleared his throat. “I just want her to get better, that’s all.”

Dr. Worthen nodded, but there was a knowing cast to his gaze and the whisper of a smile touched his mouth when he said, “I’m glad to hear it.”

Gregory pulled the car up outside. Aleric put a hand on the door, anxious to be away from the confusing, embarrassing conversation. He had the door halfway open when Dr. Worthen said, “You know, if that was your intentions, you would have my blessing.”

Aleric looked at him over his shoulder. The doctor’s frank words caught him off guard. Had Dr. Worthen really just given him permission to court his daughter? Aleric barely knew Lilian. The thought was ridiculous. Yet he couldn’t deny the way his chest ached at the thought of her injured and trying to survive the goblin’s venom. He pushed the thought away with the reminder that there were other more serious matters that needed his attention, the first of which was a raging Archdemon angry enough to destroy the entire city.

“I’ve got to go,” Aleric said.

He pushed through the door, holding his injured arm against his chest as he made his way to the car.

Nurse Eastwick hurried out of the door Dr. Worthen held open.

“I’m glad you’re still here,” she said, breathing hard. “I don’t know whose idea it was to store these upstairs instead of with the rest of the medical equipment, but I found one.” She held out what looked like a mesh sack with straps.

“Nurse Tarli told me to move them because she needed the space for the boxes of catheters,” Gregory said.

Nurse Eastwick rolled her eyes. “It’s not her job to be rearranging things. I’ll have a talk with her about it.” She held out the object to Aleric.

He gave it a skeptical look. “What is it?”

“A sling,” she said. “Here.”

She helped him put it around his neck and gently settled his arm into the mesh pouch. She then adjusted the straps so that the sling helped ease the weight from his injured shoulder.

Aleric opened and closed his hand, suddenly realizing that the stitched gash across his palm hurt. He hadn’t felt it with the throbbing of his shoulder. The white bandages around his palm pulled at the motion.

“How’s that?” the nurse asked.

“Much better,” Aleric replied. “Thank you.”

Nurse Eastwick hesitated, then surprised him by giving him a gentle hug. “You take care of yourself and come right back, you hear me?” she asked.

Her motherly tone brought a smile to Aleric’s face. “I will.”

His gaze flickered to Dr. Worthen who waited at the door. “Your pack,” the doctor said.

Nurse Eastwick gave the head doctor a puzzled look. Aleric shook his head and ducked inside the car.

“What was that all about?” Gregory asked as he pulled out of the parking lot.

“I have no idea,” Aleric replied, putting off the conversation he didn’t want to go into. He watched the hospital until they turned the corner. A part of him wondered if he would survive his encounter with the Archdemon. He wanted to come back. There was a small whisper in the back of his mind when he looked at the building. It said the word ‘home.’

Aleric turned to face forward. Silence filled the vehicle. He could feel the nervous tension from Gregory and Therese. Gregory held out his hand and Therese’s slipped into his. Their fingers intertwined with a familiarity that said the action was second-nature.

“I want you to drop me off a few blocks away,” Aleric told them.

“No way,” Gregory denied. “You’re not going in there alone.”

“You’re not coming with me,” Aleric told the red-head.

Gregory met his gaze in the rearview mirror. “There’s no way we’re leaving you to face that demon by yourself.”

“I’m going to have a conversation with him,” Aleric replied. “I’m not planning to fight him.”

“He didn’t converse well before,” Therese said, looking back at Aleric. “Why would he now? He seemed very stubborn.”

“I can be stubborn, too,” Aleric replied. “I want you both to stay safely out of his reach, especially after last time.”

Gregory gave a visible shudder. “That was the worst feeling I’ve ever felt in my life.”

Therese nodded. “Me, too.” Her hand tightened in Gregory’s, gripping it as though it was her lifeline. “I couldn’t stop it, either.”

Gregory pulled to the side of the road.

“That’s why I don’t want you to come with me,” Aleric pointed out. “Dr. Worthen would never have let you drive me if he thought you wanted to go face the demon. You have too much here.” He put his good hand on Gregory’s shoulder. “You need to take care of Therese.”

Gregory was quiet for a moment. He and Therese looked at each other as though having a silent conversation. There was pleading in the young woman’s eyes along with fear. Aleric hoped Gregory’s sense to protect her would win out over his bravado.

“Fine,” the orderly finally said. “We’ll stay. But I want you to take this.” He fumbled inside his glove box and pulled something out. He handed it to Aleric. “It’s a walkie-talkie. I have the other one. If you need us, just call.”

“I will,” Aleric said, touched by the gesture. “Thank you.”

He pushed the door open and slid out. A glance in the sky showed helicopters about two blocks over. It wasn’t a far reach to guess that they surveyed the building where the Archdemon had taken shelter.

Aleric walked around the car and headed across the street toward the alley between two apartment buildings. He could hear televisions on inside the apartments reporting about the demons; on some balconies, he saw people straining to catch a glimpse of the helicopters.

“Testing, testing,” Gregory’s voice said over the walkie-talkie.

Aleric fought back a smile and brought up the one he held. “I can hear you.”

“You’re supposed to say ‘over’ when you’re done talking,” Gregory instructed. “Over.”

Aleric let out a sigh and said, “I can hear you, over.”

“Good, over.”

Aleric clipped the walkie-talkie to his pants and made it through the alley when Gregory’s voice asked, “How’s it looking? Over.”

He pulled the walkie-talkie free. “I haven’t gotten anywhere yet, but I’m worried that if I’m sneaking up on them and you call me on this thing, they might just eat me.” He paused, then remembered to say, “Over.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” Gregory replied. “I’ll keep silent, over.”

Aleric grinned and said, “Thank you, over.”

He clipped the walkie-talkie back where it was before and made his way around a pile of garbage in the alley. He couldn’t help the memories of Drake City that warned about gremlins or imps, or even lacuda, the giant snakes that hid in the darkest alleys and devoured children whole. He had only seen one once, and it was enough to make him walk around any alley that smelled remotely of the musky scent of a snake.

He gave the pile a large berth and was relieved when he passed the garbage without it moving, groaning, or growling. It felt strange to think that the garbage was merely that, just a stinking pile of refuse.

“The team sees movement inside,” Aleric heard a police officer report.

He reached the edge of the alley in time to see Commissioner Oaks nod. “Tell them to move in closer. We need a confirmed visual.”

“Don’t have them move in,” Aleric said.

Both officers turned. The surprise on the Commissioner’s face would have been humorous if it wasn’t for their dire situation.

“What are you doing out here?”

“You need me,” Aleric replied.

The Commissioner’s gaze narrowed. “Given how you look, I’d like to argue that, but we’re at a standstill here. I’m afraid that if we wait until nightfall to confront the demons, they’ll tear our city apart.”

“You’re right about that,” Aleric agreed. He leaned against a police car. “They’re at their weakest now. It’s our best chance to negotiate.”

“After seeing what they did to the citizens that got in their way, we’ve hesitated to send anyone in to negotiate.” The Commissioner’s tone told how deeply the loss of the citizens affected him. “I don’t know what else to do. I have a team inside to give us the demons’ location, but other than that, I’ve told them not to engage.”

“Good call,” Aleric replied. “I’ll go in.”

The Commissioner gave him a skeptical look. “You sure you should do that?”

“We really don’t have another choice,” Aleric replied. “If I can’t negotiate, the city’s in for a rough ride.”

The Commissioner nodded. “That’s for sure. Our guns barely affected them last night. I’m willing to try anything at this point. We’re getting desperate, and that’s not a good situation for Edge City.” He let out a breath as if coming to a decision. “Fine. Officer Stark, escort Dr. Wolf to the main entrance and arrange for him to meet up with Officer Ling. They’ve worked together before.”

“Yes, Commissioner,” Officer Stark replied.

Chapter Fifteen

At the Commissioner’s orders, a path between the rows of officers and federal agents cleared so that Aleric and Officer Stark could pass through. The pounding of the helicopters’ blades matched the thunder of Aleric’s heartbeat as they neared the stairs.

“Stay safe in there, Dr. Wolf,” an officer said when they passed by.

“Be careful, Doc,” another told him.

“We’ll be rooting for you,” a woman said.

Aleric recognized her voice and turned to see Officer Teri standing near the steps.

“If the demons come out of there without me, tell everyone to run,” he told her.

“Will do,” she replied. “But we have faith in you.”

Aleric reached the stairs. He noticed Officer Stark’s hesitation.

“Thanks for the escort,” he told the officer. “I’ll meet up with Officer Ling’s team inside.”

“You sure you’re going to be okay?” Officer Stark asked.

Aleric nodded. “Sure. There’s just a few demons. Piece of fairy confectionary, right?”

At the officer’s uncertain look, Aleric grinned and pulled the door open.

His bravado vanished as soon as the door shut behind him. The building was old and run down. The odor of dust and rodent droppings filled his nose along with the overwhelming ash and pepper scent of demons, the musky reptile smell of ogres, and the sour lemon and mud scent of goblins. Together, it made for a very unsettling stench.

Aleric could see the tracks in the dust where the demons had followed Archdemon Pravus to the long steps leading downward. It made sense that the demon would seek lower ground. Even the faint light filtering through the grimy windows would be painful to him. Demons like Forsythe could stand short jaunts in the sunlight, but to the powerful Archdemon, the sun would hurt as bad as it did for Dartan.

The faint trail of the officers followed the demons down. Aleric tried to keep his steps silent on the stairs, but the wood was old and creaked beneath his feet. He wished he had brought more than the tranquilizer gun, though he knew weapons weren’t going to do much damage against the Archdemon. Being armed with only his wit and persuasion tactics made him feel extremely vulnerable. Werewolves hated vulnerability. He was going to have to think quickly to beat Pravus.

“Commissioner Oaks says they need a visual,” a voice whispered in the dark.

The officers had cut across one of the basement floors to the emergency stairwell. Aleric gave them credit for avoiding the main stairs the demons were probably watching. He followed in silence and found four officers on the last landing. A glance up showed the zig-zagged staircase reaching high above. The sight of the rickety old stairs was dizzying.

“I’ll take the main floor. You two cut around. Manx, guard our retreat,” Officer Ling told them. “Whatever you do, don’t open fire. We don’t want to get trapped down here. You saw what they were doing to citizens.”

“I’ll go,” Aleric said.

The officers startled at his voice. They stared at him over their shoulders with fear on their faces. Officer Ling looked relieved to see him.

“You really need to make some noise,” the officer told him.

An older officer nodded. “You could give a man a heart attack sneaking up like that. Especially when we know what’s out there.”

“Sorry,” Aleric said. “Force of habit.”

“A good one to have, considering,” Officer Manx said. She gave Aleric a relieved smile. “Glad to have you here.”

“Thanks,” he told her. “I need to go have a discussion with the Archdemon. Will you guys watch my back?”

“Definitely,” Officer Ling told him. “Be careful.”

“Will do,” Aleric replied. He met the officer’s gaze. “If things get tricky, I want you to get your officers out of here.”

Ling shook his head. “We won’t leave you with them.”

“If it gets to that point, I won’t be getting out of there, but I don’t want any other human casualties if I can prevent it. Alright?”

Officer Ling nodded, but it was obvious by his expression that he didn’t want to.

Aleric pulled open the door. He stepped inside and a thought occurred to him. He removed the tranquilizer gun from his waist.

“For shooting goblins. They’ll run if anything happens with the Archdemon. I need as many stunned and brought to the hospital as possible,” he whispered to Officer Ling.

“Will do,” the officer replied.

Aleric felt the demons’ presence before he saw them. Their lava-patterned skin made an eerie contrast to the darkness of the huge room in which they waited. There were grumbles and sharp words as they debated with their leader. The demons must have been upset; they never argued with an Archdemon. Usually those who did in Blays were never heard from again.

Aleric could hear the shuffling of the ogres’ big feet and the skittering of goblins along the walls. The thought of going into the windowless room set him on edge. He could find a light, but he didn’t want to put the demons into fury mode; they would be impossible to deal with if that happened.

Aleric motioned for the officers to wait for him at the door. As silently as he could, he made his way between the huge, hulking ogres and cloak-shrouded demons. The feeling of them behind him sent chills down his spine. Those he passed grew quiet until he reached the base of a low dais with complete silence pressing against his back.

Black, red, orange, and yellow ran across the skin of the massive Archdemon in front of him. Pravus’ flame-filled eyes were on one of the other demons.

“…if we don’t wait, we’ll be shot to pieces. We don’t heal in the sunlight, Master. Going up there is a death sentence,” a demon argued; fear warred with determination in his voice.

Pravus’ answering words sent a rush of adrenaline through Aleric’s limbs. “If we don’t kill them now, their forces will be too great by nightfall. It’s the only choice we have.”

“But, Master—”

“Not if you listen to me,” Aleric said.

Pravus’ eyes widened and he looked down at Aleric, noticing his presence for the first time.

“Who let you in here?” he demanded. His claws reached for the silver spikes at his sides. “I’ll finish you like I should have in front of your pathetic hospital.”

“If you do that, your demons will die,” Aleric replied. He kept his voice level; it was difficult considering the growls and mutters of the demons and ogres at his back.

“We’ll suck the lives out of them,” Archdemon Pravus retorted. “We are the lords here.”

“Really?” Aleric said with doubt in his voice. He waved a hand to indicate the room. “Because it seems like you’re the prisoners.”

The Archdemon caught Aleric so quickly the werewolf didn’t have a chance to react. He bit off a yell at the pain in his shoulder as the demon lifted him up in one massive hand.

“Look, mutt,” Pravus spat. “I don’t have time to deal with you. This city is ours and we will do what we must to take it.”

Aleric didn’t squirm or show any sign that the demon’s grip was crushing him. He held the Archdemon’s gaze. “Even if that means losing more than half of your people by sending them into the sunlight? And perhaps yourself? Are you prepared for such a sacrifice?”

The demon bared his black teeth. “I will do whatever it takes.”

Aleric didn’t look away. “Even if it means your death? We both know what drives you. Demons fear their own mortality, and that’s what the grims showed you. Your death is certain if you stay in Edge City. You need to go back to Blays. It’s the only hope for you and your people.” He lifted his voice at the last part to ensure that the other demons heard.

“How are you so certain they’re telling the truth?” the Archdemon shot back.

“Grims don’t lie,” Aleric replied, his tone level. “Remember Grula and Clegalin? They killed the grims’ parents hoping it would rid them of the telling, but it didn’t. Your best hope is to leave Edge City and go back to Blays; perhaps your death is only certain if you stay in the world of humans.”

Pravus glared at him. “You would like that, wouldn’t you? For all I know, you put the grims up to it to save your hide.” He brought Aleric closer to his face and snarled, “I don’t trust werewolves.”

Aleric made a face. “And I don’t trust demons whose breath smells like they’re already dead. You should get that checked out. Halitosis can be fatal for others.”

The Archdemon did exactly what Aleric hoped. With his injured shoulder, he couldn’t get free of the demon’s tight grip, but at the insult, Archdemon Pravus threw him across the room with a roar that made the walls shake. Aleric hit the door and fell to a seated position against it. He met Officer Ling’s gaze through the other side.

“Things just got worse. Run!” he commanded. The officers took off.

“You brought the police here!” Archdemon Pravus shouted. “I’ll kill them all; I’ll suck the lives from their bodies and watch their drained corpses fall to the floor. I’ll laugh at their deaths and use their souls as fuel to destroy this city.” He stormed through the demons toward Aleric. The demons parted to make him a path; those closest to Aleric kept back.

“There’s a way to return to Blays,” Aleric said, pushing to his feet and holding his injured shoulder. “Go back home where you’re safe and where your death hasn’t been announced by the grims. Return to Blays and leave this world where you don’t belong.”

“I’ll tear your arms off, cur,” the Archdemon threatened, his eyes whirling with a crazed light. Pravus picked up an ogre that was too slow to get out of his way and threw the creature against the wall. The ogre fell in a heap on the floor. “I’ll eat your heart and devour your soul.”

Aleric looked around at the demons. There was uncertainty on their face. Perhaps he had a chance.

“Pravus is tainted by the grims’ telling,” he shouted. “Don’t follow an Archdemon who doesn’t have your true interests in mind. He is here because of greed. Don’t let his intentions taint you or else his telling will become yours as well.”

The Archdemon swiped at Aleric with his silver spikes. Aleric ducked and the spikes tore through the door, leaving it hanging in splinters from the hinges. Aleric took off up the stairs. He could hear the swift steps of the Archdemon coming after him. The sound filled him with adrenaline. He ran faster, pushing his exhausted body to the edge of his strength.

“You can go back, Pravus,” he shouted, hearing the words echo along the stairwell. He looked down to see that the demon was only a landing behind. The steps shook with the Dark fae’s steps. “You can return to Blays.”

“Never,” the roar of the Archdemon made the stairs rattle beneath Aleric’s feet. “I’ll kill you and then I’ll kill the grims. I’ll end this,” the demon threatened.

“It doesn’t work that way,” Aleric shouted back. He ran as fast as he could; he lost count of the landings until he was sure they were high above the rest of the city.

Aleric heard a crash and felt the steps give way. He jumped forward and reached the next landing just as the demon pulled the stairs down. Aleric’s legs dangled in space. If his hands slipped, he would fall back to the basement far below. Aleric had to scramble to drag himself up. Slipping his arm out of his sling, he let out a roar of pain as he used both hands to get a grip on the wooden floor. He pulled up far enough and rolled onto his side to safety.

“What’s the matter, mutt?” a voice purred.

Aleric looked over to see the Archdemon crawling along the wall like a spider. His serrated black fingernails sunk deep into the brick and his cloak flowed from his shoulders as though it was made of shadows. The effect was terrifying.

Aleric jumped back. Two of the foot-long silver spikes stabbed into the landing where he had lain. He jumped to the right and another spike embedded deep into the bricks where his head had been.

“Hold still for just a moment,” the Archdemon said, his eyes rolling crazily.

Aleric ran through the door from the landing. The hallway beyond was divided into rooms. He darted inside the closest one. Sunlight streamed through the window. Aleric backed up so that it fell on his back and shoulders like a life-giving cloak. He never thought he would be so grateful to see the sunlight. A glance outside showed the rest of the city spread out far below.

“Where did you….” A wide smile spread across Pravus’ face at the sight of Aleric in the light. “Two can play this game,” the Archdemon said, his voice as smooth as silk. He hit the closest beam and the wall shook.

“Pravus, don’t do it,” Aleric warned.

“Afraid, Aleric Bayne?” Pravus asked. He hit another beam and it cracked in two. Part of the ceiling fell in. “I’ve won, don’t you see?” He hit the wall again and the ceiling collapsed, bringing down the wall of windows with it.

Aleric ran through the debris to the next room. Every step sent agony from his shoulder across his chest and back. He held his arm tight to his body as he ducked through the next door.

“You win if you go home,” Aleric said. “Go back to Blays. Beat the grims by not being where they predicted you will die. It makes sense!”

“Sense?” the Archdemon growled. He poked his head through the door and grinned upon seeing Aleric in the light once more. “The only thing that makes sense,” he hit a beam, “Is for me to suck the soul,” he hit another one, “Out of your body and watch your corpse,” he hit a third, “Fall lifelessly to the ground.” He hit the final beam with such force that the entire ceiling fell, showering them both with debris.