Battle With Fire (Demon Days & Vampire Nights)

“Let’s go, show over,” I yelled, waving my arm in the air.

He is worried about you, Archion said as we ran their way.

Who? I asked as I took a running leap and hovered onto his back.

“That’s not fair,” Penny called. “How can I get style points when I can’t hover?”

“Not my problem,” I yelled.

Lucifer, Archion said, lifting off. The vampire. The shifter—take your pick. They are cutting the elves’ forces down, trying to get to you.

I grimaced. I’d totally get in trouble for this.

In fairness, they’d known something like this was liable to happen. I couldn’t be trusted to follow a plan. Everyone knew that. In fact, hadn’t most of my friends encouraged me to go rogue?

The others are working with Lucifer? I asked.

Not exactly. But they have a common cause right now.

I’d definitely get in trouble.

“Let’s fight back the demons,” I yelled at the others. “I doubt the elves think of us as friendlies after killing their monarchs, so don’t get killed in the process.”

Eighteen

We flew over the line of elves, now completely scattered. Fliers swarmed the sky now, healed from our efforts, beating back the demons as the rows of elves waved their hands in the air, using their magic to target the dragons and dragon riders. The front line clashed with shifters and demons alike as the vampires on our side tried to cut a path through the elves’ army. Darius was trying to get to me, just as Archion had said.

Tatsu bellowed, the effect sliding off me, and pushed up higher into the sky. My father sat atop her, and he noticed me immediately, relief washing over his face. My heart glowed at this show of genuine emotion, but I pushed that away. I could feel affectionate toward him later. Right now, I had to beat him back.

I swelled my magic and shoved with air, putting everything into it. It shoved away demons and dragons, both on the ground and in the sky, creating some space. A few from the elves’ side were caught up in the blast of air, but they’d just have to be collateral damage.

We dove down to the troops, and I layered the friendlies with cold while Archion blew fire across the demon side in a smooth line. Some demons burned and writhed. Trolls caught fire or turned to run. A cluster of gross little goblins was caught in the blast. Those behind pushed back even more, scurrying away.

A lone wolf howl floated up to us. A big gray wolf—probably Roger, though I couldn’t really tell from this height—turned from the elves. He ran forward, joined immediately by shifters and fae. Definitely Roger. Spells changed direction, once aimed at the elves and now swinging toward the demons.

But the elves didn’t suddenly decide to stop fighting. They pushed forward, emboldened by our people’s altered focus. Swords swung and magic blasted, yelps of pain and shouts erupting. The demons slammed into our forces on the other side, too, led by those most resistant to fire.

Tatsu flew over our people and went directly for the elves, raining down fire as Lucifer pummeled them with air spears. Other dragons blasted fire at our people, catching a shifter before I could cover them with protection. I threw down knives at the demons as Archion turned to go after Lucifer. Lucifer’s team of dragons followed his lead, attacking the line of elves. Our dragons went to lend aid, the only fliers we had. We were severely outgunned in the air.

Flame went up behind me, and I turned to see a demon spear a mage with it. I gritted my teeth, sending my own air spear to take it out. I hadn’t been there in time for that mage, though, not to mention there was a whole sea of demons pushing forward with the same sort of magic. I wouldn’t be able to protect everyone. I had to turn my attentions to where I could do the most good.

A thought curled through my mind, unbidden. How does this end?

It was a good question. Lucifer had thousands. We wouldn’t be able to hold them off forever. They’d shove us forward until we were basically fighting side by side with the elves…except the elves would kill us right along with the demons. We’d be trapped in the middle, a position Lucifer had always known I’d end up in if I didn’t join him. A position he planned to pull me from, leaving everyone else behind. Which wasn’t going to happen, obviously.

There had to be another way, and Lucifer was the key. He could call this off. We’d taken out the monarchs—the elf leadership would be vulnerable. They’d be ready to compromise, they had to be, especially if they knew he’d take it all if they didn’t.

To Lucifer, I thought, and Archion rushed forward. The way to make my father see reason was to force his hand, and everyone had always known that would be my job. I was the only one that could.