03 Atavism of the Ifrit Read online

  “Do we get to go fishing then?” Baldr chuckled when Kyoko glared at him. It was clear she would not allow her fish collection to be disturbed.

  Ethan though stopped and watched her fidget with concern and the heavy tension among the women Baldr tried breaking. “Angel?”

  She looked quickly at him, flushed and then to the women said “Can we discuss this when we return… please?”

  “Fine. I’ll let you think on it, but my words stand.” Floa said in a stern, motherly tone. The other women all seemed to follow her lead, including Kyoko and Dallare.

  Ethan said “Before we get the show on the road I need to tell you what your suits are capable of. First is this one.” His black, Dragon and metal gauntlets touched a symbol under his own leather suit’s left bicep they all had. “Deflects incoming weapons faster than a soft throw. This one…” and so on he went explaining.

  It took twenty minutes, but right afterwards Kyoko and Dallare led them to Translocate to Japan for sightseeing at night, when the best sights were more amazing.

  Chapter 6

  “Thanks but no thanks!” Baldr declined first as they returned to Kyoko’s rebuilt traditional Japanese castle. They stood outside in the ice garden fixed with frozen sculptures of honored demons. The Kitsune that had given his life in Russia when Ethan and the team first came to the rescue was placed alongside others who also served her honorably to be remembered in death. It was still dark, but the lights made the frozen dead sparkle like diamonds. “My boat is plenty to sleep in rather than staying here to have our throats slit in our sleep.”

  Kyoko’s demons stood shoulder to shoulder in their finest armor along the walls began growling or snarling. It wasn’t a great idea to speak so dishonorably to the Demon Lord princess after being asked to stay the night. Ethan especially didn’t fear staying, but only because he knew not one among her guard had the power to even put a scratch on him, but the others of his team were not so invulnerable. It was like plump chickens being asked to stay in the den of starving wolves. Before Baldr’s blunder could cause mayhem, Ethan came forward and said “The offer is very kind, Kyoko, but the island is neutral ground. I’m tempted to try out your customs and hospitality, but we’ll return tomorrow night. You may stay if you want to.”

  “Shigure-chan is more than capable of handling my affairs.” Kyoko said and the Succubus in revealing leather lazily smiled at the compliment. “It was merely an offer or I would not have had made a place to stay with you.”

  “Then we’re done for the night?” Floa asked as she stood beside Kanade with the rest of the team surrounding them in a ring with Ellen, Panther and Vitalli in the back, Kira and Nell in front of them, Baldr and Magnus to either side and Blake and Reevy up front.

  “Yes, it is all I had my minions devise for today tour.” The snow princess stated.

  “Then hold on tight.” Floa touched the part of her armor at her left hip, it made a slight spark and then she clapped.

  The castle disappeared and in its place was a beach where it was in the final moments of twilight. The stars sparkled with a slight grayness dimming every moment on the western horizon. The air was much warmer rather than on a mountainside and in a frozen front yard. The smell of forest and industry was back to fresh and untainted salty sea breeze in a single breath.

  Kyoko whispered in Dallare’s ear and she disappeared before looking up to ask “I would like to hear your opinion, Ethan-sama and Kanade-chan.”

  A deep rumbling laugh came after Kanade said “It was lovely. I enjoyed it all.”

  “We got to ride on a black Dragon!” Ethan slapped his leg as he laughed. “We got a tour of Tokyo on a Dragon. I never believed how good the veil is on the humans. I touched their minds and all they saw was a large Semi. They didn’t see any of us or notice a driver. A bit too crowded for my taste, but it is an amazing place. Thanks, Kyoko. I can’t wait to see how you plan to outdo yourself tomorrow.” Her pale cheeks turned a light shade of blue, but not as dark as her lips.

  “What I love is this!” Floa flicked a small metal charm dangling on her wrist. She wore a constant wide and cheeky grin after the only brush of danger Panther took care of before anyone else took notice.

  It was moments after the Translocation Floa made and would have been rather dangerous had Floa not been wearing her new full body armor. The transfer brought her within an inch of a demon bug, a three eyed, four winged dragonfly-like creature with a tail that hangs down, has a stinger tip and was the size of a crow. The bugs are harmless to all creatures, except Pixies. It is venom to them and results in an incurable, painful death. Demon bugs are a Pixies natural predator. To anyone else the sting causes minor disorientation or headaches as a result of its feeding habits. As soon as it caught her scent the bug tried stinging her, but Panther’s backhand made it explode in a nasty spray.

  Immediately after, Ethan pinched off a piece of meal from a nearby shopping sign, melted it into a disc and threw together two spells, one planted to either side. Then gave it to her. The first spell would alter along with her size, but the other masked her Pixie scent that lured every bug like a bee to a flower. It was effective in that for the remainder of the night, thousands of bugs flew right on by her without any harassment. Floa loved it.

  She said “You need to make more. Many more. Now I don’t need to bathe in the potion that makes my wings itch. When I tell my daughters and Princess Chille about this charm that is a foolproof bug repellent, you’ll be an even greater hero. This is better than the armor.”

  Everyone else seemed to agree.

  “It’s a shame only I can make the spell.”

  “Ethan-sama, actually I took the liberty of having one of my male shamans go to the First House with the drawling that protects her. Since you are male with both Spirit and Demon Energy, it stands to reason a Wizard and a male Shaman could combine to blend and craft what you invented.”

  “How thoughtful.” Kanade said.

  “Won’t be easy.” Ethan revealed. “You’re trying to take opposing energies and force them to work together. I’m not saying it’s impossible… I don’t know if it is. I swear. But I’m unique. It would be great, but not easy. I don’t know if something catastrophic will happen. Better put Merlin on it. That bat-crap crazy Wizard might be your best chance to pull off a miracle.”

  “What I wouldn’t give to watch that fool screw around with spells.” Baldr chuckled. “He’s a riot most of the time.”

  Everyone was humored except Ethan. “Yeah, funny. That’s why I went to Kira’s dad a few times. Merlin’s spells aren’t fun and games. Last time I was near him his spell meant for Morgane instead made me tear the clothe off every woman in sight before Tattoo and Odin managed to choke me out.”

  “It sure was a surprise.” Nell laughed at the memory, being one of the women he tore clothes off of.

  “Well I say we should turn in for the evening since none of us got any sleep last night.” Voiced Vitalli while stroking his thick brown beard.

  “Before that…” Began Floa looking up into her new daughter’s face. “What is your answer?”

  “I…um… uh…”

  “Make more sense of your words, Girlfriend. I’ve got to return to my husband and your little sister soon.”

  “Sister? What’s going on?” Rumbled a suddenly irritable Ethan.

  Floa waved away in his direction, not breaking eye contact. “I made Kanade my daughter earlier. Case closed. Now, what are you going to do? I gave you time. Hours went by. That’s like centuries for the rest of us. Do you want to be poked in the eye again?”

  All the men were in a similar state of confusion, but all the women clearly were not. The fairer sex just watched the determined Floa and the anxious Kanade.

  “Someone better talk right now.” Came a deep reverberating growl from the largest of them all who’s patience was wearing thin after such a good time was killed in a few words. He hated it when Kanade looked scared and backed into a corner. His tone though was a
ll authority. Heat coming off him punctuated that fact and the sparks around his horns swirled with more of a violent quality.

  It was overkill, but it broke the silent tension. Fright turned to sad recognition in those molten gold irises when they met ruby slits. Kanade seemed to swallow a cat since her size would make the frog analogy seem diminutive. Softly came “Darlin’, we need to talk… alone.” And she walked away from the group without looking back. In her hands already were her stiletto high heels.

  Long strides for a two story tall man made it effortless to catch up and they made distance rather quickly. Behind them, the women told their men what was happening. When out of earshot, Kanade turned around, dropped her shoes and took both of his hands in hers. “Darlin’, you know I’ve been hidin’ somethin’ from you.”

  “Yeah. It’s been eating you up inside, but you keep shutting me out of that part of your mind. Just tell me what the hell is going on so we can deal with it. Get it, We. Not YOU. I respect a need for privacy, but we’ve always shared everything. I know you enough to see you aren’t thrilled about any of this. You’re my angel like I’m yours. How can I help if you’re not trusting me with everything.”

  “Please… just don’t hate me or do something foolish.” She whispered and opened up the sealed off portions of her mind.

  It happened in an instant, too fast for him to make any expression. He saw her memories, thoughts, anger, jealousy, fright and logical reasoning. He said lowly “Hell no. I won’t do it. No fucking way.”

  This of all things made Kanade smile and make her love him even more deeply. His tight grip didn’t hurt her, but would have turned diamond to dust. “You do not realize how happy that makes me, Darlin. But that’s not all.”

  “Nothing will change my mind. You are all I want… will ever want. Since we’ve got eternity, I plan to keep it that way. I want to have kids with you alone.”

  She pulled out of his grip, stepped closer, cupped his cheeks and gave him a gentle, loving kiss. “Yes, but what we want isn’t what is needed. Just listen to this and judge Kyoko after.” Again she shared all she learned from the Yuki-onna who shared every piece of her long life. Good, bad and horrifying. Just as Kanade knew about Kyoko without a shred of secrecy, now Ethan did too, and what she was willing to do to secure her position in their circle of trust.

  “Holy shit… Really?” He asked and shook his head. “No, I can’t… not to you…”

  Kanade cupped his cheeks so she had his full attention. “Floa knew she couldn’t do it with you because she understands demon hierarchy better than I ever knew… as a prince and future king, it would not be allowed… but as a woman, I can do it. Demons who side with Order and fall in love often do it… and Kyoko is puttin’ her own life in my hands. She’s pledgin’ her existence in my happiness. I’ve never had such a person other than you want to do somethin’ so bindin’. You felt her emotions when she looks at me. It is more than blind lust like a Nymph or Pixie. She wants to find love again after her own angel died and left her forever for Spirit World. It is a void she has never truly filled again and she has kept her promise to him all this time to never eat a single soul, not even of a plant. She will guide me. Think about all she has given already. Few demons are so generous. I think it is time to return some to her.”

  Closing his eyes, he nuzzled into her soft hand, inhaling her cinnamon flavor that calmed and drove him wild. Most of his mind drew back, leaving just enough to never sever and leave her alone again, but he quickly spent his massive consciousness deciding. What would have taken months and years to decide happened in a moment. It all came down to one question.

  What would he do for the women he loved?

  And the answer is always:

  Anything!

  Emotional, but set catlike eyes opened along with his mouth. “Are you sure about this? Just because she is being bound isn’t a one way street. You’ll belong to her forever as well.”

  “We agree then?” he nodded. She gave him another quick kiss, but out of gratitude.

  Together they returned and only two minutes passed in the darkness. Only Kira and the Ogres seemed to have difficulty in the dark seeing. Dallare though had returned to her mistress’ side. Floa, in small form, flitted around and asked “And the decision is?”

  Ethan though created a bonfire in his hand and threw it over to a stack of logs Panther made happed quickly after a silent order. The logs took and silver flames turned orange and red as his power stopped. Kira, Baldr and Magnus were grateful by their soft smiles.

  Kanade though said “Yes… if Kyoko’s willin’ to do it, so am I.”

  Floa seemed to swallow something bitter, but had made the stipulation and stood by her word. “Kyoko, are you ready right now?”

  “I am. Dallare knows the curses and has performed them many times.” Kyoko said in her normal calm tone like the feeling after a blizzard passed. Quiet and serene.

  “Okay. Kira, do this sequence each time I look at you. It must be done exactly the same time as Dallare’s. It will bind a demon to a spirit being.” Floa grew large and pulled out a sheet of paper from pocket. Though she couldn’t do them, she knew them.

  Kira Penbrooke moved over to the fire to look over the short paragraph long spell. Her brow furrowed in concentration, growing increasingly concerned as he began to picture the effects of the combination till she looked away and yelled “Nay, I’ll not place this curse. Kanade, no. Floa, this will have an unbreakable backlash if your words are even the slightest bit vague.”

  “It can have no room for interpretation.” Floa coolly corrected. “I had to do it with three of my daughters… well four now. Two are still married to their demon partner. Without the ultimate commitment, I’ll not let Kanade go to bed blind of someone capable of killing her. Women stronger than she is will come to do what Kyoko wants. I do it to make Kyoko and Kanade a team. Together they have a better chance. And if Kyoko fails her vows tomorrow or till the end of time, I will know Kanade is safe from at least one person. Kira either you do this or I’ll snatch your mother or another Class thirteen or above Witch.”

  “Kanade, don’t do this!” Kira pleaded. “You know what will happen if you break the covenant to Kyoko.”

  “Yes. I’ll never be able to have a child, nor will I be able to see another face, hear or speak to anyone until my demise. I’ll be trapped within my own mind.”

  “Please don’t make me curse you.”

  “Please don’t make me ask a stranger.” Kanade countered. It was as if Kira was slapped. “Please, Kira. As my friend.”

  Baldr lost his smile when Kira began crying and turned to the fire to not be seen. He hugged her and whispered, but her sobs were clearly heard “I can’t curse someone so good. She forgave me after I raped him. And… and to make her barren. No. She loves babies and wants so many. One angry move will take all the possibilities away. Baldr…” He whispered further and Kira cried even more. After a minute he let go and a red eyed Kira said “Kanade, this is more binding than marriage. Stronger than the blood of siblings. Don’t let Floa pressure you into this.”

  “She cares, but I’m not doin’ it for her. I read Kyoko. She is sure about this and might not look it, but is rather eager.”

  Kyoko raised an eyebrow. “Kanade-chan, it is not polite to tell others how another feels. That was private.”

  “Sorry.” She blushed brightly.

  The Yuki-onna said “Kira-chan, it would be best for you to do it as you have deep affection for my bride. It will make the spell stronger and hold deeper meaning, just as Dallare’s for me will do the same. It is an honor to bind us. You dishonor yourself denying a close friend’s request she is prepared for. Know this, I too am serious. I will not share my reasons, but trust that we both consent with full understanding of the consequences should we dishonor each other from this moment on.”

  “Boyo?”

  “Kira, trust this isn’t taken lightly. I can’t since those are feminine curse spells and I’m clearly
no Witch. Mine lay mostly in offensive and illusions. Either do it as a friend or step back.”

  Pause. Then sadly “Let’s not waste anymore bloody time.”

  The team circled around to witness the union, Ethan stood rigidly between Panther and Blake. Kanade gracefully lowered herself to her knees and sat on her heels, glowing blue wings adjusting to the change and held out both hands. Kyoko took off her sneakers and came up, holding Kanade’s index and middle finger mostly since her hands were more like a young child’s. Floa came, ducked under and stood between the held hands of both women. Dallare came up to one side and Kira the other. Dallare held Kira’s gaze without blinking, which was disconcerting to say the least. Her right Elvin yellow index finger was aglow, crimson. Kira followed and held up one of deep yellow, the color for an intended powerful curse. Floa, dead center reached one arm up high to touch Kanade’s warmly flushed cheek and more easily reached Kyoko’s chilly one as if she was out in the cold for a long time. Still Kanade and Kyoko looked only to each other. “Now we begin. Kyoko and Kanade, you agreed to invoke the unyielding union to bridge yourselves together. At the end all you two must say together is ‘I swear it all to you.’” Floa opened her eyes and pointedly looked at Kira. Kira’s finger traced in the air simultaneously with Dallare. One yellow and one red symbol appeared to hang in the air, but Dallare kept a finger at the end of hers since Chaos runes join in a continuous sequence that builds upon one another. Order runes are written from left to right in paragraph form, always having fifteen symbols per line before dropping down.

  “Do both of you swear to be joined forevermore until such a time that all ends in End’s maw? To love, yell, fight, despise, anger, upset, make happy, have children, share children, teach them, protect your children, protect each other from all danger in any form… even from danger that comes from themselves. Sacrifice who you are to be what the other needs at all times. To make love without regret or malice. To” Again Floa opened her eyes and the spell continued. “uplift when the other is down. To praise and be happy for achievements. To constructively criticize when needed. To not allow others to separate you without vengeance and swear upon ultimate and righteous justice…”