Battle With Fire (Demon Days & Vampire Nights)

Give ’em hell, Archion, I thought.

He flew down the center of the open space between the elves and the demons, roaring. Coppelia and Saphira joined us, their cacophony merging, reverberating through the grounds and echoing off the castle walls. We’d worked hard to control our reactions to the dragons’ roars, but this one was amplified somehow. Much more intense. Fear blistered through my body and nearly stopped my heart.

We’d always thought that effect was a tall tale until we started to practice at the shifters’ private estate, Archion thought, clearly happy with himself. We had endless time to practice.

It was two months. Give me a break. It wasn’t endless.

The non-dragon fliers froze up. Several of them fell to the ground like dead weights. The smaller dragons careened into the troops below, fire erupting from some and scorching whoever was unlucky enough to be in the way. The larger dragons lost height, struggling against the blast.

Our three roared again, their sounds intermingling to create that heart-shaking boost.

Demons hovered off their dragons, including my father. His hands came out to stabilize Tatsu in the air.

Thanks for the warning, I thought to Archion.

Surprise.

I sent a tidal wave of fire and ice at the elves, a blast of air chased by flame. I flattened their first troops as the roars wore off. Archion veered toward them and opened fire. Romulus had said the elves depended on organized warfare—or at least they had once upon a time. Since the same leadership was still in effect, he’d figured they still would, and those orderly ranks suggested he was right. They also would’ve heard that we’d be here as attempted peacekeepers. Crushing part of their army might seem counterintuitive, but the goal now was to blow their minds, get them scrambling, and then prepare for the onslaught from my father, who would want to take advantage of the melee. And who also might think I’d joined his side.

Romulus seemed very good at strategy. We’d see if he was right.

Coppelia and Saphira came after us, blowing fire down on the scrambling troops below. The elves’ fliers were slow to rise, and it was clear some had broken limbs or necks in the fall. I slammed down with air, not allowing them to climb back up.

A blistering spell zipped past the line of elves and to the castle beyond. It slammed against the (very new looking) closed front doors and exploded, like a bomb going off. The wood blew off the hinges and tumbled out of the way. Stone rained down from a pockmarked and scarred surface, as though someone had done that previously. Probably Lucifer’s way of knocking when he’d come to collect me.

Another spell, just like the first, followed it, this time flying into the open crevice.

This wasn’t part of the plan, I said, throwing my magic around before taking a moment to stitch this portion of the sky into the scenery.

This is probably part of Penny’s plan, Archion said, turning away from the castle and setting fire to another catapult. Saphira has said Penny has a lot of anger to work through.

Now is not the time, though.

We may not get another one.

He had a point.

Change of plans.

Archion tilted his great wings before I even finished that thought. We followed Saphira closer to the castle.

I’d meant to send a swell of magic after hers. I’d meant to summon hellfire and cut at least part of that place down. I’d meant to do a lot of things.

But then I saw them. The king and queen, pushed back from their people, standing on a dais with telescopes to either side of them in case they wanted to look more closely at a battle they had caused. While I led this force, and Lucifer led his people, these cowardly bastards had hung back to let someone else die for them. I was putting my neck on the line to save most of their people, and they couldn’t even stand at the last row of their troops.

There, I said to Archion, my focus razor sharp, my vision tinged red. Being the bigger person was all well and good, and very adultlike, but it turned out I just couldn’t get over it. I might not wipe out the whole damn force of elves, but I would at least kill those assholes. Those two there.

Are they the same person?

They certainly look like it. Head there.

Archion put on a burst of speed.

Get lower to the ground, I thought. When you feel their magic—and you will—veer right into that field behind them. Once the magic lifts, we’ll need to split up. Help the others with Romulus’s plan. I’ll take these dickheads down on my own.

I won’t leave you.

You will do our duty, since I am too much of an asshole to do it with you.

When you’re done, hover high and I’ll pick you up.