03 Atavism of the Ifrit Read online

  “It will be done, My King.” Rhinehart bowed and shifted back to wolf form alongside his mate and they sped off in great loping speeds.

  Behind them followed other lesser kings and queens who partook of the blood covenant and got their orders. Most demons were common and the most powerful of their kind. Only one stood out the most. The Sky King was for all intensive purposes a great falcon somewhere between the size of a Dragon and a Titan. He and his mate were both majestic and beautiful and lived in the heart of the Windswept Mountains, but their power was over the wind and they were the true masters of the element and after everyone filed out, Ethan and the Sky King discovered that his flames were enhanced as the demonic energies worked together. Before, Ethan’s powers couldn’t be enhanced by wind, but with the great demon falcons using their control over wind his power doubled in intensity. Taking the initiative, Ethan gave them free guest rooms beside his team’s and they eagerly accepted since neither had ever partook of eating a soul so neither felt need to leave the palace.

  Hours later Ethan finished learning about the other great rulers below him. Not all were happy, but he did gain a great deal of respect and readied for multiple contingencies that was sure to be faced in the coming months.

  The most respect came when Ethan surprised the five Seer Monks and beat them into submission by cursing them in front of the other royalty so that they could never betray him like they had Zagan in the past. For all their power of foresight, they didn’t See that possibility before it was too late and he owned them now and they knew it and hated him. Now they couldn’t remove the curse nor allow any future problems be allowed to do any damage to their new ruler.

  That night Gaia laughed so hard she cried every time she remembered how mad they were and could do nothing to remove the curse. Even cutting off a limb didn’t negate the curse. It was bound to their life force. Only in death could it be removed. Death or Ethan being the one who released them.

  The remainder of alone time was the queens all making sure they pleased their king and he was ready as soon as the dresses flew off.

  Chapter 16

  Seventeen days after becoming king Villiken arrived with news. Ethan currently laid on the large bed/throne frame made of more diamond and lined with big fluffy pillows and sheets in the spacious room where his queens lounged on and over him completely naked under the sheet. It was hard for the queens to wear clothes as they were always aroused and no longer cared to hide the fact they ruined more clothes than they dared to admit so a trunk off to the side held their clothes safe whenever they needed to leave. Inhibitions had flown out the window five days after becoming king and queens when Flajeen got on her knees and gave Ethan a blowjob while dealing with an issue between two land disputes. The surprise was gladly given in to and after drinking him she and the other women got so horny they decided to get down and dirty at every whim. Kanade especially who was tired of hiding her true sexual nature. She made it a private law between her wives to have sex whenever the mood struck an ninety percent of all waking hours was dedicated to carnal exercise. Nell was all too happy to see Kanade relishing in being all natural and slapped her naked ass while catching her getting the shaft on day five when she stumbled upon them going at it.

  Currently on the seventeenth day there were no further citizens in need of their king’s time so Kanade was on top of his dick panting, on lockdown as if he didn’t pull out after a few seconds, her pussy would naturally clamp and not let go. Fire dimmed around her and the others. The other seven queens were happily content beneath the throne bed sheets and let Kanade keep him in.

  Kanade no longer cared others saw her naked and she had really taken to her role as queen, issuing fair orders in the buff while getting fucked by her man or women. Demons didn’t care. It was Chaos. On Chaos denizens thrived. Her initiative gave her subjects pride and honor to listen regardless of who she belonged to or title.

  Change is inevitable and sexuality isn’t frowned upon.

  It’s embraced.

  Panther had only to act personally once when the gem in his forehead warned of imminent threat two weeks ago and was directed by a vision by the Seer Monks to kill assassins bent on poisoning Ethan for making enforcing the no soul rule in the planetary palace. There were riots and many lost their lives, but the palace guards obeyed their king and all confiscated souls were sent to Spirit World and anyone caught smuggling were executed publically to show what would await. It wasn’t the most popular law, but examples were not forgotten. Billions had left the palace in search of souls, most leaving Demon World to hunt. Quite a few would never return since they didn’t know their king forewarned all mortal realm royalty throughout the universe of his stance on stealing and consuming souls and they were ready.

  King Rhinehart of the wolf Shifters had come through. Yesterday Ethan and his team tracked down the sixteen most fanatical murderers that eluded Zagan and took them out, but discovered they had smuggled many rare potion ingredients and live specimens. Kira confiscated them and was ecstatic. Especially rescuing a school of Mermaids, numbering a thousand, and they all gladly took Ethan up on coming to stay in a recently vacant great lake Sirens and Kelpie lived, but had all died in the riot for souls that was ended swift and decisive. Kira and Nell spent many hours a day trying to rehabilitate the Mermaids and men who had been held captive for hundreds of years by the sixteen murderers who collected many valuable things with magical applications. Ethan had wanted to help the merpeople, but also wanted them to use their natural powers to make Mermaid Water. It would take a decade to change the whole lake, but they would be safe in the palace.

  When the great palace riot was ended, those still standing saw a massive difference. The palace might have been quieter and more solemn, but beneath that there was a peaceful sigh as if most of the evil had been purged.

  In the absence of so many deaths there was two benefits. Food and opportunity that wasn’t there before. Most dead rioters fed the starving and oppressed peoples could come out and get more power. With the dust and smoke cleared, demons praised their new Silver King for freeing them and giving a chance to grow.

  Kanade began thinking logically again, sitting reverse cowgirl, rubbed her taut abdomen filled with her man and his seed and caressed her hard nipples covered in different colored blood. Kyoko’s blue and Ivonniq’s Lamia green mixed with crimson of the others covering her naked perfection. She looked down past the diminishing flame from her angel’s latest orgasm that heated her womb to say “What is it, Villiken?”

  Hearing her address the Elf, the other women turned and sat up. Ethan’s arms wrapped under Kanade’s breasts as he too sat up and looked around her wings.

  “My queen, General Vilorogue just sent me to tell you King Zagan’s condition is but hours away from failing completely. He’s gone into a coma.”

  “No…” all of them more or less whispered sitting up.

  “I’m afraid it’s true, My Queens and King.” The Elf’s sadness was great.

  Kanade took initiative and forcibly had her lockdown ease, which wasn’t easy even with her powerful mind, but she moved and pulled him out whimpering softly and got to her feet. “Give us a minute to wash up. Gather Zagan and those closest per his wishes in here to be together for his passin’.”

  “At once, My Queen.” Villiken left.

  Ethan and everyone threw off the covers and jumped into the lake behind their lavish throne and cleaned themselves of blood and sweat, not saying anything as each was saddened and didn’t need to say anything. This day was long coming, but still Catnis cried alongside Benilliminia. They took it hardest even though everyone knew it would happed either today, tomorrow or the day after.

  Daily reports told of the deteriorations speeding up.

  Two days ago Zagan’s stomach stopped growling and shaking the whole of his territory. It showed his organs were failing. By then he could no longer talk and his mind was gradually shutting down too. He made it clear he’d not take intravenous fluids
to prolong the inevitable. All he would allow was Sarimee growing a plant that’s oily skin worked like morphine. His pain greatly eased, but he’d gotten everyone’s word to let him die strong and to not take advantage.

  Vilorogue almost never left his friend’s side, even in sleep. The old Dragon wouldn’t till the last moment so he wouldn’t die alone. Villiken, Dallare and Amandale took turns with Vilorogue to act if anything happened and now it had.

  Ethan dried everyone to steam the water off their skin, hair, scale and wing. They all hurried to the trunk beside the throne to get dressed in solemn silence.

  Panther and all the newly renamed Queens Guard Balam appeared as Ivonniq fixed her breasts inside her dress.

  Dozens of Elves flashed in hundreds of Zagan’s close friends from all over Demon World and those called back from the mortal ones too. Among them both Dileep and Methrom arrived. Other royal demons became Demon Lords all loyal to Ethan and were sent to govern the territories left behind so Earth wasn’t threatened by the enemy. No one said anything upon arrival, but they all bowed to the Silver King and his queens.

  Last to arrive in the open space was a grand bed made of ruby, opal, sapphire, emerald, diamond and topaz depicting scenes like a stained-glass window. It was to be a coffin. Sleeping in the softest bedding and covered in the finest silks lay Zagan barely showing his skeletal face, hiding the rest of his emaciated body. In the silence was the wheezing struggle to breathe. Not many had seen just how bad he looked and judging by the varied expressions, they were in disbelief it was the same man they knew for so many millions, or more, years. Once vibrant red hair and flawless pale skin now lay ashen and gaunt. Violet sparks around his horns were no longer noticeable except in fleeting pinhead dots.

  Ethan then looked at the sadness crushing in the eyes of Vilorogue and his mistresses who were closest of all to the dying king.

  The new king stepped close to the old as Amandale and Dallare arrived levitating the priceless tombstone Kyoko and the women had been working on. Ethan dropped to his knee as tears ran uninhibited down his cheek and soaked into his short beard. He ran a gentle knuckle across the cheek and said “Hey, Old Man, I know you can’t hear me, but know that all your dearest living friends you made are here. Every single one of them.” He choked out. He stood up and said “Say your final farewells, but do not touch his mind. I almost killed him just checking if he could hear. He can’t, but he knows we’re all here. Talk, it’s keeping him calm. And he’s not in pain. The Ulette leaves are making sure he feels no discomfort.”

  Vilorogue said nothing, but none could move him from the top of the coffin, protecting his friend till the end and beyond as he promised to guard the tomb forever after.

  One by one the most ancient demons that still lived came up to take no more than three minutes apiece. Women cried greatly, most found it hard to speak and the men said mostly how great a friend and king he was.

  As the hours passed Zagan’s breathing grew more labored than the previous one. Kanade and Kyoko cried into Ethan’s shoulder as the final moments were coming.

  Out of nowhere came an intruder’s power.

  Outraged Vilorogue roared “Who Dares!”

  “I come unarmed and in peace!” said a deep voice of a man the size of a small mountain wearing a white toga. Heads snapped to the muscular man with miniature yellow suns for eyes, had a thick white beard and wore sandals.

  Immediately Ethan demanded “Armid, you are not welcome here! Any one of us can and will kill you if you take another step.” Every Balam had their claws fully extended and laced with so much Demon Energy they were red as if already bloodied. Gaia summoned four swords and her armor after taking off her circlet to assume her true size among the three other Titans in the room. Kyoko and the other Yuki-onna were armored in ice while everyone readied for confrontation, just waiting for their king’s command. “Leave now before I reconsider killing you.”

  The Spirit King of Spirit World didn’t move another step. He did say “I’m alone and unarmed.” He twisted his hip to show the sun sword was not sheathed there. “If you want to kill me, I won’t stop you, but I have a promise to keep.”

  “If he makes one move we will destroy him.” Ethan said and his minions crouched and were ready. “Armid, my father is dying and has minutes left. You chose the wrong fucking time to show your face. You won’t get the pleasure of killing him like this.”

  “I’m not here to kill him you abomination. I’m here to give him one last gift.”

  “What gift?” Ethan’s maces itched to pulp the bastard’s skull.

  “Before he’s lost forever, I have a secret spell which will extract Zagan’s essence and turn his life energy into a soul.”

  “He speaks true!” said a feminine voice. “He is giving me my husband back!”

  “Who said that? I thought you were alone?”

  “Master, I smell a raw soul nearby.” Panther said and is all that restrained the attack.

  Flitting out of the toga was a bright blue and white fireball that left Armid’s space.

  “He’s right, Darlin’.” Seconded Kanade as she too smelled the soul and made sure it wasn’t a trick or trap.

  Ethan signaled to let the soul pass and it came right over the coffin and whimpered “Husband, what have you done to yourself? Can you hear me? It’s your woman, Binah. I’ve at last been freed to be with you again. We’ve been given our own cave so we can share it together forever. Can’t you hear me, Husband?”

  This turn of events threw everyone through a loop.

  Oddly it was Queen Flajeen who spoke “Armid, is what you say true?”

  “Yes. I will turn what remains of my enemy into a soul and allow them to be together. It was all part of my plans. I could never allow a demon of his power to bond with a spirit being physically, but it was too late when I discovered the lines had already merged.

  “When he came begging to return her I did agree mostly as a test of his dedication, but not once did I believe he would resist all these years the temptations to feed. It is not often I’m wrong, but even I can be surprised. Zagan was willing to kill himself just so he would not sadden that single, near insignificant soul. The Accords were partially my trap, but he did not fall once for it. He also didn’t know I added one exception he never discovered.” Armid looked like he bit into a sour lemon by what he said next. “If he had eaten a single soul or partook of flesh after I returned her as she was, the Accords would eradicate him, but should he be on the last moments of starvation’s death I would be forced to give him a soul. Even had I given Binah a new body and returned him, eating flesh anytime after would kill him. I just never expected the bastard to sacrifice that much.”

  “Armid, prove it. Bring the Accords here and spill your blood on it to show us all it’s true.” Ethan said, knowing all about the laws now.

  The Spirit King’s grimace turned to surprise, but he held out his hand and summoned the keystone of the Accords. It simply looked like an unassuming granite boulder. But Armid focused his eyes on his other free hand and a jet of solar flame cut his own flesh so rich golden blood dropped onto the stone. The Accords flared to life and millions upon millions of runes filled the room. Runes binding the written word for both sides. Armid spoke softly and the room of runes disappeared except for a series of golden lines that were hidden beneath everything so that only one who made the draft could find it. In the first written language Ethan read it twice just to make sure it wasn’t false. Bound by his own blood, Armid trapped himself to fulfill the obligation or risk death as the Accords had power enough to do it if anything is neglected.

  Finally Ethan said “Clear the room. I want only Vilorogue and Panther here.”

  Kanade gave him a suddenly surprised look, but gathered around Amandale as the king’s command would not be disputed. All that smoothed it out is Ethan connecting to each of their minds at the same time so nothing would happen behind the doors without being observed telepathically.

  The ro
om was cleared and was quiet.

  The two old generals moved behind their kings as Ethan said “Make it quick. Zagan’s time grows short.”

  Armid sent the Accords away and approached, shaking the ground like a stampede of Titans as only four strides closed the distance.

  Binah’s soul suddenly moved away from the coffin and stopped in front of Ethan. “You look a lot like my husband. I’m so glad my greatest grandchild turned out so handsome. I’ve gotten to visit your mother and grandparents as the Spirit King readied to come here to give me my man back after seven long centuries all alone. Be good or I’ll throw stones.”

  Of all the thing to say. Ethan thought to himself. And on this sad day Ethan found she made him chuckle. “Yes, Ma’am. It is a pleasure to finally meet my greatest grandmother.”

  Binah giggled, literally giggled. Then her orb kissed his cheek and moved away.

  Armid eventually stopped and made his fist turn bright white, aiming at the coffin. The difference in size was too great, but as whatever spell Armid was creating, it was too bright to see and take for himself since he would give demons souls. That thought did pass, but it was too bright even for Ethan’s eyes. It is lightly where he got the surname, Lightbringer.

  Humming in the air grew to the eerie buzz of cicadas.

  Then it died along with the light.

  Hovering above the corpse was a vibrant red soul twice the size of any Ethan had ever seen before.

  “HUSBAND!!!” Binah yelled and her soul flew and smacked right into the large red like a lover’s hug after being separated forever.

  A disoriented, disembodied voice said “Whaaa…I know that voice… Bi… Binah?” The disorientation focused. “Binah? Is that you, My Hearts? Has my death left me dreaming?”

  “No, Dearest. I return to where I belong.” She more gently squeezed her soul with his.

  “My Friend?” Vilorogue spoke with disbelief as he heard his companion’s voice once again.