03 Atavism of the Ifrit Read online

  But Panther stood in front of his master to say “It was all a trap and Dileep is cleared of any involvement.”

  “Tell me everything you discovered.”

  Panther did exactly that. “It was all a trap perpetrated by our dear friend General Zandri.”

  “Her again?” He asked with a raise of a lone eyebrow. He knew that Ice Dragon all too well. “She must specialize in traps. This it twice she got the drop on me and my team.”

  “Laying in wait is what she is most known for.” Panther continued. “She’s been back in Demon World for weeks and made plans as soon as word reached the Demon Lords were escorting you around the world. This one is but one of a dozen she deemed a likely place of travel. She knew Dileep would love to show off his prized galloping plains and laid the ambush where he most likely would appear at. She even knew I would be at your side and attack any threats. She also knew you were physically vulnerable to a true death at the hands of lesser warriors and spells. The fire part of the spell was designed to kill everyone other than you and me. You’d be heartbroken with everyone dead while I’d be bent on vengeance and hunt them down, allowing the Slipper’s constructs to pummel and overwhelm you in my absence.

  “Each one I interrogated had a grudge against you for foiling their plans at domination of this world and it was exploited. They were all that remained of Michael Zing’s most loyal followers, not Shedan’s as I originally assumed. The she-Elf didn’t know the other locations, but the plan was sound.

  “If you had somehow survived the lightning Zandri knew you’d send me to capture or kill. She had the initial attack set up within ten to fifteen miles of where Dileep took us. It would take me less than a second to apprehend, but we fell for it. While I was away multiple portals were anchored where we arrived to surround you and let a Slipper take advantage of my absence.”

  “What is a Slipper exactly?”

  “The weakest of all demons, even parasites. They can’t take physical form and even the slightest form of energy not eaten would kill them on contact. They usually hide deep underground and are easily frightened. They appear like a living mummy without the wrapping and are slow. Like wrinkled leathered skin on bones. They can hardly move. But what they do is literally slip a part of themselves into inanimate objects and can control them with their mind. If the piece he put in, let’s say a clipping of hair, remains intact, the object will repair itself and do its bidding forever.”

  “That’s why your Sirens were so effective.” Ethan acknowledged the small group by their master. “Your screams must have obliterated what my blows couldn’t. And if he wrapped it in fire resistant material, no wonder my flames were useless. Go on.”

  Panther did so. “General Zandri must not have knows about the armor we wear. It is all that gave enough time for us to win this battle. They did not believe we would achieve victory. They thought using the sun would blind us as well and go unnoticed till it was too late. Not even I noticed it right away.”

  “How long will the traps she made remain? I mean, if someone innocent appears and it is sprung… how long would you wait, General?”

  “I would not linger in event of what we did. Soon she will learn we continue to live when they do no check in. For me, I would leave no traces of other traps with the same trigger. Likely, so shall she. She would change not just location, but tactics and come at a different angle… now that our guard is up and on the lookout.”

  “And she’ll be desperate knowing just seven days lay between my weakest days and getting it all back would diminish once I make it to the palace.” Panther merely nodded. “Desperation is a double edged sword. On one side she could misstep and fall right in our hands or she’ll throw every remaining asset at me and hope one gets through and succeeds.”

  “My thoughts as well, Master.”

  Kanade put a hand on her soul mate’s shoulder. “Darlin’, play it safe. We all could have died today if we hadn’t made preparations weeks ago. Someone could have died…” Her eyes glanced at the six mutilated bodies no longer moving. “I mean someone important.”

  “You’re right. I did what I always dreamed of anyway. Except ski the alps. I can live with that at least… We’ll make one last trip tomorrow and stay on our island till we’re set to pass.” She smiled with relieved serenity. “Dileep, sorry about cutting our time short and thinking you set me up. I…”

  “It was an honor to fight alongside you, Young Master.” Dileep bowed and cut him short. “Know that I will honor you from here if we do not speak again. But before you depart, what shall we do with the mess?”

  Kanade answered. “Vitalli and Blake are gonna bring the Necromancers and tell all that happened to the First House. Floa will Translocate this ship for inspection and decide on how to use it later. The portals thankfully are Shaman in origin and have no backlash effects. They didn’t plan we’d take the ship. Dallare is turnin’ them off by smashin’ on the ground. If you want to go back I’ll tell her to keep one up.”

  “Not necessary. I’m going to my underwater lair to heal. Be well, First Mistress, and I hope one day we will see one another again.” He bowed and Kanade raised her chin slightly as she was taught. To his minions, specifically the Elf, he decided “Return us.”

  Dileep and others disappeared.

  Floa whistled and both Nell and Baldr quickly met up with the rest as there was a breaking of crystal and near the bow a portal snapped closed. Kanade mentally connected to the four down below breaking each crystal connecting to a portal to Floa’s words “Listen up. We’re getting the hell out of the area. Since we all know where we’re heading tomorrow you’ve got a choice. Come with me or go to the island.”

  “I’ll stick to the island.” Baldr said as he sheathed his sword within a sheathe built within the shield. Then slung the shield across his back.

  “We’ll go home.” Nell said after looking at her husband with an underlying intention. “I need to replenish my quiver.” He agreed.

  Kanade said “Kira and Reevy are coming to the island. That just leaves you, Ellen.”

  The mare centaur replied “I’ll return to the First House.”

  A minute later four heads came up on deck and hurried over. Kira took her man’s hand as Dallare looked at those she’d transfer back to Blue Angel Isle and instantly traveled there. Floa clapped her hands a moment after and the freighter vanished. Crashing waves filled the void left in the giant ship’s disappearance.

  Back in safety Ethan fell back with relief and the ground slightly shook. Baldr chuckled and Kira asked “You alright, Boyo?”

  “Mentally drained.” Came the admittance.

  “I had fun.” Baldr chuckled. “No one was seriously hurt and we all survived. No other team on mission could have survived that. Cheer up, Kid. You got more than luck on your side.”

  “Yeah. Your ego.”

  Baldr laughed, slapping his leg. “Got that right! It just solidifies my decision.”

  “What decision?” He asked.

  “Uh…” He glanced at Kira who seemed just as surprised.

  “He doesn’t mean anything, Boyo. We’ll be leaving.”

  Panther stepped forward, holding the arm of the charred and mangled Elf he planned on eating. “What are you plotting?”

  “It is not a plot, Puss. It’s our business. Butt out.” The Ogre said with a smirk. “Babe, you want to go for a romp. That fight made me very virile.”

  “Glad I’m not the only one.” She giggled and ran down the beach with him in hot pursuit.

  “Let them go.” He said to the irritated general.

  “Master, it could be a threat.”

  “Could being the operative word, but I don’t think so. It is their business, but it is not just them. The entire team has been hiding something. It’s been subtle. Glances to one another. Concern whenever we’re around. But not in a bad way. I’m positive it has something to do with what Floa said a few weeks ago about gaining permission from their leaders. Remember how Blake qu
ickly changed the subject after commenting about his father, Crait?”

  “I do.”

  “How many times did I try bringing the subject up again and they blew me off and changed the topic?”

  “Eight times in the last two weeks. They all grew tense.” Panther had observed it all.

  “I wonder what it could be.” Kanade said as she took a seat by Ethan and let the warm afternoon sun beat down and the breeze cooled.

  “I do not believe there is danger.” Kyoko said as she decided to crawl in Kanade’s lap and rest her head between her breasts. “You surround yourselves with honest people. They are cursed to not allow others to hurt you and neither can they do so. I would suggest simply believing in them and trust they will tell you when they are ready. Have patience.”

  “You’re right, Sweetheart.” Kanade kissed the top of Kyoko’s head.

  “Dallare-chan, you may do as you like for the remainder of the day.” Kyoko said with a sigh and closed her eyes to the sun and let it beat down on her pale face.

  “Ditto to you as well, Panther. Enjoy your meal.”

  “Thank you, Master.” He said after Dallare’s bow and disappearance. He walked away and ate in privacy.

  Alone, the three lounged. Silence broke as he said “Kyoko, how are you feeling?”

  “Wonderful actually.” She stretched. “I’m glad I’ve got the two of you in my life now.”

  “So it’s not just about fuckin’ me every night.” Laughed Kanade.

  Kyoko laughed and turned sidesaddle to look at them both, but stayed on Kanade’s lap. “I enjoy more than physical pleasure you know. Besides, you’ve become a master with that long tongue of yours. It’s bigger than most cocks I’ve had and it does this…”

  “Amazing twisting thing.” Ethan finished with a grin. “Yeah, she really can make your head spin huh. She wraps it around mine like a rope and bobs. The first time she did it I never realized how different from a human woman she was. Her tongue is twice as long.”

  “Floa taught me how to give a blow-job on a cucumber after I realized you were my angel.” She revealed to Kyoko since Ethan already knew. “I just modified what I do when I eat you out.”

  “Seems the battle aroused you like them.” Kyoko pointed to the Ogre and Witch running around the bend in the beach to disappear.

  “Sweetheart, you’ve been in my head. Here, take a look and see I can’t get hornier than I always am.”

  Kyoko invaded the private sanctuary and giggled like a girl. She had clearly changed these weeks in a less formal environment. “So it is. But you realize what that did to me don’t you?” She smiled wryly.

  Kanade sniffed and detected her wetness. “I was hopin’ for it.”

  “I’ll take that as my cue to go for a swim.” Ethan got up, removed his gauntlets, shield, jacket and peeled off his pants to show blue and white striped boxers.

  “Ethan-sama, you can watch.”

  He chuckled. “We tried that once already and I nearly killed Dallare. Seeing you two make love is hot, which is bad for the health of everyone around me. You saw I was about to penetrate you, but Kanade stopped me when she saw. I would have killed you and I still will.”

  “Is that concern for my safety I hear in your voice?” She taunted, noticing the popped tent in his boxers.

  “Better believe it. Kanade sees you as her wife and that makes you my wife too. I’ll do anything to keep the women I love alive and happy.”

  Kyoko choked. It was the first time he said it. “Did I just hear you say you love me?”

  He knelt, smiled and with upmost care reached out and brushed the side of her face with his fingertips. “Isn’t it obvious by now that I do? You’ve seen Kanade’s mind and know she loves you a lot. I’m in her mind constantly and she influences me. I more than simply like you, just like her. Though I don’t love you like I do her, you’ve found a permanent place in my heart. A place unique and loved. Let me show you.” He dropped his mental shield for her and tentatively he felt her access him for the first time.

  Kyoko’s mind dropped at the same time as her jaw. She clearly noticed Kanade there too at his side and found he wasn’t lying. Her vision blurred with moisture. “You mean it… you really do.”

  “Don’t cry, Sweetheart.” Kanade hugged her to her breast.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever been as happy as I am now.” She choked on emotion. She only managed to shed a single tear before regaining control. It fell into the sand as a new pearl. “I love you both so much too.” She felt a stronger pressure and knew without seeing Ethan had hugged them together. As he pulled back he noticed a second and plucked both. One out of the sand and another off Kanade’s dress.

  “Looks like I should have not waited till not to tell you so you wouldn’t have been caught completely off guard. Here” He held the tears out in his giant hand.

  Kyoko looked first at them, then Kanade’s cleavage. “Ethan-sama, keep them. I shed for you this time. Make a necklace or…”

  “Darlin’, your bracelets. Set them there with the others. You can wear our lover gifts from both of us.”

  “Agreed.” Kyoko seconded.

  “I can do that.” He aimed a fist and made it the focal point for his inner energy to gather as he opened the spell that blocks all damage. Then a small section in the white gold began to glow with heat, slightly larger than the tear. The crystallized tear then was gently pressed in and solidified forever in place. The spell was reapplied.

  The second bracelet was done the same way.

  “See you ladies in a little while.” He got up and headed to the water hearing Kanade and Kyoko’s clothes being taken of and kissing passionately. He used the ocean to keep him from combusting and diving under to not see them going at it.

  Nevertheless he smiled knowing even after another deadly experience that love still remained the ultimate remedy to overcome the worst parts of the universe.

  Chapter 8

  “So what is the most terrifyin’ thing you can think of?” Kanade made small talk early the next morning with everyone while twirling her cobalt hair around a finger while checking her dress again nervously.

  Kira’s auburn hair hung down across her leathers just in case of an attack, but Baldr went with khaki shorts, sandals and a Hawaiian flower shirt. It was as casual as one could get and he didn’t carry his sword or shield. Kyoko donned her most regal Kimono and had her hair styled immaculately. Dallare too looked ready for a formal engagement. Panther, like Ethan, also wore black leather armor. Ethan’s beard was trimmed short and brushed smooth. His shoulder length hair laid tucked under to highlight his horns and they all sat together inside the cabin trying to pass the time till Floa came for retrieval.

  Kira smiled and said “Having Da walk in on me and Baldr when we are naked and at it.”

  “Parents will be more embarrassed. Believe me.” Kyoko laughed and knew what she talked about. “My more terrified thought is getting captured in a Veritheen.”

  “What’s that?” Kira asked, never hearing that word.

  “A deadly demon tree that grows in a bog near the Bottomless Ocean.” Panther told. “It gives its prey whatever it most desires, but only in the mind. You do not even know you’ve been caught as it feeds on you. And no one can pull you from the tree’s influence even after being cut out. It burrows and reproduces from the host. You feel nothing. It is the most strictly regulated plant in all of Demon World and none are immune. The only thing it doesn’t eat are other plants. Even Kitsune fear it.”

  “Yikes.” Kira gulped.

  Dallare piped “My fear is never living long enough to Transcend to royalty. I’ve got another four million years thereabouts. Elves are slower than many common demons… but we have the most Shamans. Competition is deadly and the struggle is long.”

  Kanade said “Mine is losin’ ya’ll. Losin’ family is hard.”

  Ethan squeezed her hand. “I don’t know about you, but my comic book collection catching fire is frightening.�
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  “Oh, come on. I’ve got you all beat.” Stated the Ogre.

  “By all means, Master Frightener, do your worst.” Ethan taunted.

  “Gladly.” Baldr made sure all attention was locked on him, hunched his inhumanly wide shoulders forward and almost whispered. “Think about it. What would bring on the apocalypse? The answer is simple… Getting locked in a room with my brother Loki and Merlin.”

  A shiver left no one untouched in the warm room.

  “Holy shit you’re right!” Ethan’s wings shuddered again just imagining it. “You win. Damn… You most definitely win.”

  “True terror if ever there was one.” Kanade smiled awkwardly. “Baldr, where did you come up with that?”

  “Experience.” He didn’t smile as it was the truth. He was uncomfortable. “Loki and Merlin are both insane High Wizards and one day, a century back, Father thought it would be fun putting the three of us together just to see what would happen… when he opened the door just five minutes later he found that they transformed me into a badger with my dick put on my forehead, rather than where it was supposed to be… don’t ask where they put my balls. Only that wasn’t the first thing they experimented on me.”

  “Poor baby.” Kira consoled. “Did you get revenge?”

  This brought the grin back. “Better believe it. With Morgane’s help I induced a group of Amazons into an early heat and locked them in separate magic canceling rooms.” Everyone laughed at retribution. “Both had fractured pelvises from repeated blows by those women. They had to wear crotch casts for two months and I made sure they looked like diapers that made them waddle as if they rode an ornery horse all day long. It was sweet sweet lovemaking they’ll never forget.”

  Giggles and chuckles sped around the room at the imagery.

  Conversations bounced around for another ten minutes till a portal opened up right in front of the open front door. It simultaneously drew their attention from Floa’s well known clap and that of a different light spilling into the room. Standing front and center was said Pixie lowering her hands. The group got to their feet and noticed through the opening in space more than just her. Behind Floa were the thirteen leaders of the First House with the head standing right behind her.