“Leave now and I won’t kill you.”
“Such brave words from a trapped rat.” Armageddon chuckles, his voice low and smug.
“The last time I was a trapped rat, my father sliced off your arm and skewered your hip, so watch your mouth.”
“And you’ll pay for that.” Armageddon pats his empty shoulder socket and snarls. “And to make good on my promise, I have brought along a friend.”
Next to Armageddon, another amber figure rises. The intruder has a potbelly, receding hairline, and a turned-up nose.
Aldred is here. Unholy Hell.
My heart pounds so hard, the whoosh of blood sounds in my ears. It’s one thing to suspect that one of your ex-subjects is in league with the King of Hell, but it’s another to see him standing side-by-side with Armageddon. Maxon whimpers and grips my robes in his tiny fists. I clutch my baby more tightly to my chest.
Pulling two gleaming daggers from her waistband, Hildy places herself in the center of our prison, making her body a human barrier between us and Armageddon. Her lips move silently as she casts spell after spell. More bursts of purple light and mist shoot from her palms, this time heading toward Armageddon’s head. All of them fizzle and disappear before they get anywhere near their intended target.
With my right hand, I pull my baculum from my waistband, holding Maxon to me with my tail and left arm.
Armageddon touching my baby? Over my dead body.
The King of Hell’s mouth stretches into an impossibly large smile. “Now that we’re all here, you may speak the words, Aldred.”
My brain races. Aldred needs to ‘speak the words.’ Nefer’s warning echoes through my mind as well. Aldred has something of value for Armageddon. So, what of value needs words? Incantations are based in language. Same with passwords, directions, and family secrets. But how could any of those help Armageddon?
Aldred offers Armageddon a simpering grin. “Once I say the words, you’ll keep your side of the bargain. Right, my Lord?”
The King of Hell sets his bony hand on the place where his heart would be. “You have my promise.”
“And you won’t hurt the boy, either?” asks Aldred. “I don’t want the nobility to think—”
“It’s a little late to worry about your legacy,” snarls Armageddon. “Speak.”
Aldred bows low. “I grant the rights from Sakura to you, My King.”
Sakura? What in blazes is a Sakura?
Leaning forward, I pull on Hildy’s arm. “Lincoln said something about black magic. Is that what they’re talking about?”
“I’ve heard rumors that some of the lesser houses dabble in black magic.” Hildy’s heavily-lined eyes dart wildly about as she tries to remember something useful. “Nothing this powerful, though.”
Aldred bows deeply. “I did as we agreed, my King. Now, keep your side of the bargain. Set my soul free.”
Armageddon chuckles, his voice deep and evil. “Set you free? So you can do what, exactly? Haunt castles and rattle chains?”
“That’s not your concern. You promised if I did this, you’d let me go.”
“Did I?” Armageddon purses his thin lips. “Well, now I’ve decided to imprison you for all eternity. Go.” The King of Hell snaps his fingers and Aldred melts back into the ground.
With Aldred gone, Armageddon rounds on me, a red light shining in his amber eyes. “Where were we, then?”
Hildy’s hands become wrapped in purple mist as she casts spell after spell. Nothing works.
“Get behind me, baby.” I move Maxon to cling to my back while igniting my baculum as a longbow. I summon an angelfire arrow into my weapon, and shoot it straight toward Armageddon’s chest. The projectile bounces right off his rib cage.
Armageddon strides toward me, his good arm swinging to slap Hildy out of his path. His fist glances off at the last second, like it’s hit an invisible barrier. The King of Hell groans in disgust. “It seems the magic I wield here is powerful but limited. Unfortunately, there’ll be no killing or casting for either of us.” He steps around Hildy and moves closer to me.
“No!” screams Hildy. She tries to attack Armageddon from behind, but can’t get anywhere near him. It’s like the invisible barrier now surrounds me, Maxon and Armageddon.
The King of Hell steps closer.
I change my baculum into a long-sword and swipe the blade at Armageddon’s skull. The weapon ricochets harmlessly off its target. The force of my failed blow sends my baculum tumbling from my hands.
No, no, no!
Maxon sobs behind me. Crouching down, I grip his trembling body against my torso. “It’ll be alright, baby. Hold on to Mommy.” My boy weeps into my shoulder; every cry cracks my heart more deeply.
Armageddon grins. “I’ll take what’s mine and leave, thank you very much.”