03 Atavism of the Ifrit Read online

  “Recommendation?” Ethan inquired with crossed arms.

  “Well… I believe he will be in control after embarrassing himself earlier in front of his team leader and the rest of us.” She gestured to all of them with an alabaster hand. “I suggest he and Kyoko are never isolated in the same room, but Kira is going to be sure to rarely leave his side while we are staying here and acting as your guard. My recommendation is to let him stay on with his position with Magnus and Kira when out in the field and when here, set aside one hour each day with Dress for counseling.”

  “Good idea. Dress likely would know everything simmering in Baldr’s head.” Blake told them since Baldr was an excellent swordsman and defender, renowned for skill as a Norse God in myth. “Just as he knows all our deepest secrets and shortcomings, but it is not my decision. Ethan?”

  A great sigh came like a heat wave from a desert and Kanade brushed slender fingers against a toned bicep. Attention turned upon her and she nodded. “You’re right.” He said, confusing the others who weren’t privy to the mental conference. Red irises tuned in the other direction to the other couple sitting alone with their heads close together. Lips tightened and a sharp whistle emanated from him. It was so loud it made everyone jump, including Ethan. Fingers went down ear canals along with grumbling. “Sorry! Sorry! Damn, I’ve got to really be more careful.”

  “Boyo! That hurt!” Kira rubbed her ears as she and her man approached.

  An embarrassed flush crept in his neck and continued up into his ears. “Give me a break. It isn’t easy suddenly becoming so strong so fast. Control is a bitch.”

  “I feel like a dog who just did something bad and am about to have my nose rubbed in it.” Baldr said with a hint of a smirk when they stopped several feet away.

  Grumbling minimized after another Ethan blunder, but they listened to him say “Now look here, Baldr, Nell’s recommendation is that you can handle and control your emotions. I’m not going to sit you and Kyoko down and make you two sort your grievances. Ogres are damn stubborn and Yuki-onna are ruthless in a cold way. She would apologize to me as I’m stronger, but not to you. As of right now, she is the fourth strongest here while you are third to last. Trust me, she doesn’t care if you like her or not.” The snow woman calmly watched on, revealing no emotion. Clearly bolstering his words. “But right now I don’t need any more stress or conflict. You and Kyoko are my guests here. And you can keep your grudge, but don’t forget that as a guest you are obligated to leave your issues outside. For the next two weeks I’ll be nearly indestructible, but afterwards my powers will be weakened so I’ll need your help to survive. I’ll be keeping a close watch and if you can’t handle it, you will leave. And if you try murdering Kyoko and she defends herself before anyone intervenes, I’ll make sure your soul is given to proper hands. Is that clear.”

  Steely silver eyes still had redness of a near berserk state, but Baldr said “And if she decided to kill us while you are elsewhere occupied?”

  “I’ll eat her.”

  “Wait, you’ll eat…” Kyoko’s expression paled further than its normal snowy pallor as her eyes widened. The table also was startled at his calm response.

  “Yes, I spoke with Zagan last night and he showed me the part of my mind where I have an organ that must consume a humanoid being once every month if I’m to not waste away. I already had a Succubus and a Lamia courtesy of Sheedan so I’m good for a few months, but I’m a humanoid consumer or a human eater for simpler terms. I don’t like it, but it is what it is. I won’t eat often, but when I do, it’ll be some form of being.” His arms crossed, pointedly holding everyone’s undivided attention. “So don’t worry. Kyoko isn’t suicidal. She wants something big and whatever it is, she will want to live to see it. If she harms any one of you for no good reason, I’ll eat her pure and simple. Since I’m now a demon prince, I’ve got to uphold Demon World’s most basic law. Eat or be eaten.”

  Baldr chuckled as he stared at Kyoko trying to pull herself back together. “I think the terms are good since you made her piss in her pants. That just made my day.”

  “Girlfriend, is he serious?” Floa asked, greener than usual.

  Kanade nodded solemnly. “Yes. It’s true. My angel may retain a soul, but his body is entirely Ifrit now. As are its needs. He can eat things to balance his diet, but to survive he needs humans or humanoid meat. If his hunger grows, Kyoko already promised Cultivated Humans or have serial murderers ready for his needs. Ethan already heavily decided the most evil and callous murderers who enjoy killin’ will get eliminated and turned into what they really are. Shit.”

  “Then what do you want so badly that could tame you?” Nell wanted to know.

  Kyoko sat regally again. “That is my business. Speaking of… I must check with Dallare-chan before we depart.”

  “Where are we going?” Reevy asked, her tail drawling in the beach sand.

  “By the noon hour here will be close to eight at night in Tokyo. Ethan-sama will visit my territory first to see the best I have to offer. Preparations were nearly complete as I left for here. My minions know where I am to show and guide. For the next five days my territory will be home to Ethan-sama’s journey. Next we go to Gaia-chan’s, then Methrom-san’s, Sarimee-chan’s and lastly Dileep-san’s.” She stood and said “Dallare-chan, bring me to your side so I may ready.” And in an instant the woman vanished.

  “I don’t like knowing she’s planning something.” Reevy commented and was supported by many nods from the team of friends.

  Kanade forced herself to at least admit “It’s nothin’ bad. Trust me on this. It is somethin’ between me and her… alright. And please don’t pry. Just trust me please.”

  Silence held the table till Kira said “Not a problem. You I can trust, not her. Not after what Baldr told me all she did to him. If you got something on the frigid woman, be sure to exploit it.” Kanade flushed. “Just be sure not to turn your back on her. She’s still a powerful Demon Lord.”

  “This I cannot forget.” She mumbled.

  “Since Frosty the Snowwoman is away what are we doing? You can’t mean to really be traveling under so many threats?” Magus said, itching to use Zaxis again.

  Kanade nodded for her husband who was too distracted to hear. “Yes we do. Ya’ll deserve to hear the truth.” Again silence permeated, broken only by the warm breeze of the salty sea. “The Accords are absolute. Ethan could singlehandedly break it, but then most of you will remember life as it was before they were invoked.” Blake and Reevy pointedly looked to each other. Before, it was constant war. “Ethan knows if humans lose its protection, demons will be allowed to hunt, kill and consume their souls on a global scale. They will use their bombs and kill themselves out of ignorance. And already he and I feel the pressure of the Accords weighin’ upon our chests.”

  “What do you mean?” Nell asked.

  “It’s hard to explain.” Kanade tapped her bottom lip. “It’s like we’re in water and sinkin’ deeper and deeper. It isn’t physical exactly. Earth is trying to get rid of us like a hound keepin’ out a hungry fox from the chicken coop. The spells set up to protect Earth’s population sense our power and are forcin’ us to leave. Kira, you are the most sensitive. What did you feel two days ago?”

  Kira’s fair complexion flushed. “I fainted… like many of us Witches. Wizards held on better, but it was a power I cannot even begin to comprehend… Like trying to explain colors to a person born completely blind. Boyo’s power was beyond anything I’ve ever experienced… terrifying to tell the truth.” Mossy irises turned to his enormity. “What is he doing?”

  “Spells mostly. His mind is makin’ spells I cannot even begin to understand. It is like they are evolvin’ in his mind. I see why the Spirit King feared his comin’. My angel is learnin’ at an exponential rate. I can’t follow where he is goin’, but I’ll be here so he can return. He’s already learned every language ever spoken or written and every aspect of the Accords and universal laws. This is why I
asked you what you felt, Kira. What you sensed is nothin’ compared to his evolvin’ mind.” She smiled at Kira’s dumbfounded expression. “But the spells on this world affect our bodies and want us gone. It’ll kill us in a year.”

  “It’ll kill you?” Vitalli asked in shock. “Tis must be a false sense.”

  “It’s not.” Floa revealed. “Magic of the Accords are imbued with spells from Order and Chaos so that both sides are equally affected. Transcendent beings cannot come entirely as they are onto a planet without consequences. Ethan may be the one of prophecy, but even he has both energies. As such, the spells are in a sense squeezing him out like a pimple.”

  “Thanks for the vivid imagery.” Kanade’s nose wrinkled.

  Floa tinkled a laugh. “Glad to help.”

  Baldr said without a trace of humor “Magnus, what she’s trying to say is once she and Ethan leave for Demon World, neither will ever come back. These few weeks they have left will be their last. To save us from themselves and the threat of war from breaking the veil, they are leaving forever. Ethan didn’t stop Sheedan just to do exactly what she wanted.”

  “That isn’t fair!” Nell yelled and hit the table with her fist.

  “Life isn’t.” Baldr reminded, not happy about any of it either.

  “Look ya’ll, it doesn’t matter. I have my angel and we’ll be together.” Kanade wove her arm around his left and his distant gaze returned to her with a sad smile. “That is all I truly care about. And yes, we won’t be comin’ back. Ethan wants to see all the sights one time before we leave where he was born. Me too since I was raised here too. I’ve seen the world as a Spirit Guide, but not as a tourist. We have twenty six days. Not very much so we’ll be crammin’ in quite a bit in a short time.”

  “Logistically that is a problem since we are to be your guard detail.” Reevy let known. “I do not like knowing so little information.”

  Panther silently stepped up from behind Ethan. Burning blue eyes claimed the smaller beings. “As of this moment all Demon Lords here are loyal to the Fire King and his rule. And they in turn are loyal to my master. If there were any threats to my master on this small planet I would kill them. And the Lords know that if their minions threaten or show dishonor to my master, I will prey upon them. And no new enemy Lords will arrive to try and take claim of fresh territory within the time my master has remaining. Coming from Demon World is much more difficult than going to.”

  “And for the next fortnight my flames and spells will be stronger than anything this world can throw at us. My skin will remain nigh impenetrable, but I’ve already made armor with spells the likes you will love.” Ethan said and snapped his fingers.

  Dropping down onto the table was leathers. But in that same instant everyone other than Ethan and Kanade became naked. Their armor had vanished, but not weapons or sheathes. Only Vitalli and Ellen got angry, very angry in fact. Most of the leather was black. Nell, Floa, Kira and Baldr laughed, not in the least concerned to be ashamed of being naked. Only two sets of leather were changed in color. One was a dark evergreen and the other was a crimson. Ellen had pranced behind Vitally, arms crossed over her ample bosom while her stallion drew both claymores from their homes. But before he could strike Panther appeared right in front with a hand around his scruffy throat, glaring with promise should he dare choose to attack.

  “Enough.” Ethan said calmly, not needing to raise his voice. “It is my fault. Panther, let him go.” The Balam returned to his master’s side. The Ifrit remained seated saying “I am sorry, Vitalli, Ellen. I’m still not used to my mind processing things so much, so fast or as powerfully. In my head I thought I already explained I made everyone new armor, but I guess I didn’t. And you all seemed uncomfortable since you had to put on your armor after swimming. I commissioned Dress to make fresh leather for all of you and impregnated them with spells of my making.” He reached and lifted the largest wrapping of leather and said “Ellen, catch.”

  “Uh, better let me.” Blake said as he sat closest and stood. “Who knows what will happen if you throw it. Likely it will leave the atmosphere.”

  “Ah, good point.” Embarrassed and grateful, he passed it to the naked Naga. Blake tossed it, but Vitalli caught it and used his large body to block his mare and hand it to her. “Ellen, just touch the large starburst looking symbol after rinsing the salt from your body. I’ve keyed it to your voice and don’t be surprised when it automatically fits itself to you. Simply say ‘Equip’ and it will. There is a stream over there.”

  As she used the material to modestly cover her beasts and galloped away almost in tears Kira got to her feet and lifted her potion belt to say “I better go see her. Which one is mine, Boyo?”

  “Red. It is the same for you too. Say ‘Equip’ and it will. Nell has the green. Floa has the smallest set…” leather passed to their intended owner.

  Kira, Nell, Floa and Reevy hurried after Ellen while Kanade told Vitally where another stream was to wash up and the men followed the Centaur.

  “Can’t I do anything right?” Ethan said while shaking his head as Panther touched his new armor reverently and spoke the command. Panther seemed to glow with pride from his master’s gift.

  “You do me and I never complain” Kanade thought sinfully with a smirk.

  Over by the stream of fresh water they all bathed in, Ellen grumbled “He did it on purpose.”

  “You know he didn’t.” Nell said casually as she laid down and let the stream flow and caress her nakedness.

  “Yeah, cut the kid a break.” Floa said. Then smirked. “Ooo, Shiny.” She said to her new and highly polished leathers sewn with gold thread.

  “Tis stained my honor that another stallion disrobed me.” Ellen stewed further.

  “Come off it.” Kira said as she used sand to scrub her arms. “He is Ethan and he warned us. We don’t know what he’s going through. I for one can see how difficult it is to be distracted changing so much.”

  “I agree.” Hissed Reevy washing her scaly face. “He is having a rough go. Rougher than any of us who have lived a long time. Ellen, I believe him. We’ve all had thoughts we believed we explained, but found others were oblivious. The mind of a Transcendent, especially so new as he, isn’t mastered in a day. I’ve read that Journey, from my home world, is still trying to master his mind and it has been nine millennia since he Transcended. And I’m not sure you noticed, but he didn’t make our armor and underclothes simply vanish, he vaporized them into nothing. Our enchantments didn’t stand a chance. Kira, can you sense any power coming from the leather?”

  “Aye.” She shivered. “Witches, Wizards and Shamans will be able to sense us from at least three miles away. The protective spells are like nothing I’ve felt before. And some of the symbols I barely recognize and are the most difficult to pull off. He placed automatic spells on them.”

  “Automatic!” Nell sat up quickly. “You mean he actually…”

  “Aye.” Kira nodded. “We needn’t say or gesture anything to be safe. Even High Wizard Merlin cannot make automatic spells able to defend. Yes, mundane movement. Not defend. And I have the feeling these spells can defend against incoming spells. I won’t need to waste time and energy working defensive curses wearing this. Even if a mountain fell on us I bet we wouldn’t get squished. I think he made them mostly to keep us safe from him.”

  “Equip.” Ellen was the first to say. “Yeegads!” she yelled and reared as the leather came alive and slapped to her. The Centaur went to pull it off till she stopped and realized the material and all its straps stopped moving and crawling around like some huge octopus grabbing on. Ellen’s front hooves slammed into the wet sand as she looked over herself. “Tis covers all of me.” All except her hands, head, white tail and hooves.

  “I’ve never seen armor do that!” Floa stared hard. “May I?” She said, wanting to approach. Ellen nodded as she rubbed her covered arms, then her breasts that were supported perfectly, telling of Dressor’s hand in this.

  Reev
y also approached to run her claws along the material commenting “Not one weakness or seam for a blade to slip through.”

  Floa let known “This style is of ancient battle armor from your home world, Ellen.”

  “My world? Why do I not know of it?”

  “Yes. You wouldn’t know it because it was impractical, heavy and reserved for the Royal Line Breakers. One set of armor like this took more than a day and six hands to put on and would cost a kingdom for your ancestors. To be made out of leather alone was not strong for them. Imagine your full steel plates and chainmail armor, only doubled in weight. That metal would be fused to the leather and spelled by an Enchanter of the twenty sixth class. It was said that if not for the weight, Royal Line Breakers said it was like wearing nothing at all.”

  “Tis true, aside for the support of my breasts. I feel naked.”

  “Isn’t it hot?” Nell asked, also just as amazed.

  “Not at all. Air seems to flow through it.”

  “It does. Enchanted tubes run throughout it to keep you cool and siphon off any extra sweat. Dress would be the only person on this world to recreate this armor and only Ethan could make automatic spells that require no metal to weigh you down and take a long time to be applied.” Floa explained. “I just can’t believe it.”

  “But how did Ethan know about it if I didn’t know and it is from my world.”