03 Atavism of the Ifrit Read online

The red soul figuratively turned. “Vil? What has happened? Why do I feel so strange?” Viloroge explained everything since Armid’s arrival. “I’m a soul huh? Then we best leave, My Hearts. I do not want you to be eaten. Son…”

  “Don’t worry, Old man. I’ve already gotten everyone to swear none of this happened. You died, nothing more. Go find peace with Binah and enjoy your afterlife. I’ve got this.”

  “Come.” Armid held his hand.

  Zagan said on the way “Why did you do this?”

  “I never liked you, Zagan, but it doesn’t me a didn’t respect you all these many eons. A king knows the burden of rule and sacrifice. Just take comfort you’ll never have to see me and can spend eternity with your soul mate undisturbed if it is wished. You have a soul now. And a soul mate.”

  “So I do… a soul mate. What do you say, Woman?”

  “I say we’ve got seven hundred years of sex to catch up on.”

  “I wonder if souls get sore? I guess I’ll do my best to try and make you scream my name again till you are hoarse.”

  Binah giggled as they rushed in Armid’s toga.

  The great king of Spirit World turned away. “Before you go, Armid. How the hell did you sneak into my palace?”

  “When I find a way to remove your curse you’ll find out before I take your head. My daughter in law, Death, though wanted me to say thanks for giving us all the souls back. I thank you, but I’ll still try finding ways to kill you with my own two hands. Fair warning.” Armid then let loose his form and vanished like a mirage or smoke blown away.

  “We should have killed him, Master.” Vilorogue stated.

  “Not at this time.” Ethan lowered his weapons and hung them on his hips. “He saved the old man. Zagan finally got his happily ever after.”

  “That he did, Darlin’.” Kanade said as she and everyone returned to the room.

  Gaia returned to her smaller size and privately thought “I had a feeling something sad and wonderful would happen, but nothing like this was part of my visions… still, he reunited with his love and will never be separated again. As a soul, Armid isn’t threatened anymore and will leave them alone.”

  “I’m so happy for them!” Catnis thought to everyone as well, wiping her eyes and sniffling.

  “What do we do now?” Benilliminia wondered aloud as everyone was greatly confused.

  Ethan said “No one other than all of us knew Armid showed up. I’ve just scanned the palace and they are all quiet and waiting on news of my father’s death. We agree what just happened can’t reach a certain someone’s ears or she’ll make Zagan’s and Binah’s life a living hell.” Meaning the Queen of Ice Xandril.

  Heads nodded the truth of that without needing to read his mind.

  The sole surviving Ifrit approached the lavish coffin and grabbed the cover to lay over the now dead face. Ethan then snapped his fingers and they sparked an instant before a clear dome appeared and Ethan placed the lid over the coffin, touched the rune of his own making which took all the air out and sealed it from this point on. He tilted his head up as it felt right. “Have fun, Old Man.”

  To the ones watching him he said “No one is allowed to say any more than to say they came here to bid final farewell and watchd as he died. Seal what happened here in your minds so as no one knows my father, your friend, still lives in a way. He would do no less if it had happened to you.”

  “Of course, My King.” Vilorogue said loudest of everyone nodding and vowing secrecy.

  “Thanks. Now appear sad as you leave. I’m making the announcement as I speak.” As his trillions of thoughts connected to every King, queen and royal caste throughout the palace and galaxies away at the same time. “This is your king. Know this, as of five minutes ago Zagan, the Fire King and my ancestral father has died in peace. From this day forth let it be known that today we celebrate the life he lived. Mourn today. Viewing will begin in two hours for all who wish to come. Tomorrow we celebrate in his memory. Any who wish to come, may feast in his honor. None will be turned away if you are loyal to my crown. Take a moment of silence to remember him and his deeds.” And he withdrew.

  “Villiken, are the preparations ready?” The new king asked.

  “Yes, your highness. Our stores are capable to feed our whole nation for tomorrow.”

  “Thank you. Retrieve the pallbearers and place my father in the great hall for people to come and view him.”

  Minutes later a single Fortress Beetle and it’s driver appeared. The beetle stopped and the coffin was loaded on its back as everyone climbed up large stairs cut into the thick exoskeleton. The only one not allowed to go was Ethan. It was customary in the death of someone important for the closest family member to not stand at viewings to be allowed to grieve, which suited Ethan just fine.

  Only the king, queens and their guard were left behind as the Fortress Beetle lifted its shell, stretched gargantuan gossamer wings and they blurred to lift off and propel its mountain sized body away. Hurricane force winds blew everything away as it flew. It soon disappeared to the great hall in the heart of the palace where billions of billions could come to see.

  Alone with a few Elf aids and all ninety one bodyguard Balam Ethan rounded on his truest love. “Angel, tell me you got it.”

  Kanade’s bright white teeth were dazzling. “How could I not when you told me why?”

  “What are you two going on about?” Sarimee had her hands on her hips.

  “Oh, Ethan’s going to give us all souls. That’s all.” Smirked Gaia as she sheathed her swords and looked at her nails as if she said nothing.

  “WHAT!” The Kitsune shrieked with bulging amber eyes.

  Kanade nodded. “Yup. Our husband couldn’t see what the Spirit King was doin’ and couldn’t risk Zagan bein’ hurt as his mind was closed off, but ya’ll know I can slip in and out without anyone knowin’ I was in their heads so long as they had ever been changed by love. I’m Love so I use my domain to bypass his defenses and found he’s been holdin’ out on us. Turn out End and Time’s prophecy about lookin’ to an enemy for a treasure was true.”

  “How so?” Catnis asked, coming closer.

  “He’s been hidin’ runes no one else knows about.” Kanade crossed her arms, her mind racing with newfound knowledge. Catnis snapped her fingers quickly and loudly so Kanade came back to reality. “Sorry… this changes everythin’.”

  “Take your time.” Ethan allowed.

  “Amandale, go fetch Kira and Fluffy.”

  “Yes, My Queen.”

  Silence for nearly a minute followed the Elf’s absence. Finally Kanade said “Darlin, that ignorant ass of a king has hidden runes not even his wife Dream knows. There aren’t just ninety eight runes, there are a hundred and thirteen.” No one knew and it shocked them all. “The remainin’ fifteen are powerful. Very powerful. It’s how no one knew a demon could be given a soul. He didn’t want his enemies to ever be able to be revived or lose dependence on Spirit Energy. He’s been hoardin’ them only because he’s afraid of losin’ his place as king. He can’t seem to grasp he’s the only one who is worried we’re plannin’ to go to war on Spirit World.”

  “He’s always been a paranoid fool.” Commented Panther.

  “Ya think?” Kanade said dryly. “But these spells do more than make demons self sufficient, they are true curse removers and ultimate defenses. It’s how he entered our home. Here look.”

  Ethan assimilated the fifteen new spells and already his mind integrated them and they evolved and mutated with Chaos’ runes. Giving millions of new combinations. “I see… Wait, Kanade… Those four…”

  She nodded quickly in excitement. “It’s why I need Kira. You can use Fluffy to show everyone how to give him a soul.”

  Gaia laughed “Armid just gave us the tools to win without realizing it. I no longer see our death coming on Kanade’s decision next week. The Queen of Ice can no longer win.”

  “Really?” Flajeen’s wing’s shook.

  “Kanade discovered
a path hidden to me until a moment ago. We’ve already won.”

  “Darlin’, do you think?”

  Ethan rubbed his chin and nodded in consideration. “Yeah, I do. End and Time’s prophecy can only apply to this. One path of the destroyer. One path of flourishing for all races. And one path that if you find harmony and balance it hasn’t been seen since the First… thanks to a most unforgiving enemy’s aid.”

  “Can anyone follow what is happening? I’m confused.” Admitted Ivonniq as she coiled around and sat on her own tail.

  Amandale chose that moment to bring Kira in a lovely forest green dress that matched her eyes and beside the Elf stood Fluffy.

  Fluffy’s name was kind of a joke for in fact he was quite literally a Hellhound. He was coal black, had the head and body of a pit-bull, was surrounded in dark orange flames like a Phoenix and was ten feet tall in the shoulder. He had the mental capacity of a normal fighting breed of dog and was vicious to everyone who would do harm to himself or his master. King Rinehart gifted the Hellhound to Kanade and she put her energy in a special plate that was fed to Fluffy which bound him to her as the most loyal pet and guard dog there could be. Fluffy was a lover to anyone who was affectionate, but knew the intention of anyone who would do harm like all dogs who has great instincts that knows a threat in the moment.

  “Come to mama!” Kanade cooed and Fluffy barked, wagged his flaming tail and leapt up on her to lick her face. Kanade loved big dogs and fire now. Fluffy was her pet and belonged mostly to her. The other women each had their own Hellhound, but Fluffy was alpha. “Good boy!” Kanade hugged the big dog and put him down. “Sit.” He did, tongue lolling to the side and tail wagging on the floor.

  Kira laughed and said “I wish I was fireproof and had one like him.”

  “Ain’t he just adorable.”

  “Me or your dog?” Chuckled Ethan.

  “Both.” She laughed.

  “So what do you need me for, Kanade? You don’t seem sad Zagan’s dead and that’s just odd.”

  “Here.” Ethan pushed his thoughts and a moment later Kira’s hand covered her mouth.

  “Truly?” He nodded. “Good for him and when should I do it?”

  “Hold.” Panther spoke up, siding with Ivonniq’s confusion. “What is happening?”

  “I can’t currently use the runes I just found as I am.” Kanade spoke up as she scratched between the cropped ears of the flaming Fluffy who seemed to be in heaven. “Kira can remove a burden I’ve carried since before I hatched. She can use curse removers. The Spirit King couldn’t remove Ethan’s curses, because he is unique. Kira though can use Order runes, some of which are denied to me because of lethality.”

  Kira’s long strawberry hair bounced as she nodded. “I can lift the curse her own mother put on her with these.”

  “It means if I need to kill to defend myself I’ll finally be able.” Kanade looked to the most powerful Witch in the entire universe. “Do it.”

  Kira uncrossed her arms and lifted a fist at her closest friend, and like Armid, her fist turned blindingly bright white. When she finished writing her fist ceased giving off light and hovering in front was a complex curse removal spell all in white. She snapped manicured fingers and the lines collapsed into a large orb. Kira grabbed it and threw it right at Kanade’s forehead.

  Ethan raised a hand, stopping the guards from surrounding and put their own bodies in front to shield their queen from all dangers.

  Closing her eyes slowly with a smile all watched the ball of magic pass through her forehead. Yellow strings thin as fishing line and woven like a net slipped out from around Kanade’s brain. It was clearly Valande’s color and power being extracted. As soon as Kira’s counter curse pulled the last strand is when everyone heard an audible ‘SNAP!’ as if a guitar string broke under great tension.

  Kanade sighed and shuddered at the same time. Her eyes opened and the lazy look reminded Ethan of when she comes off having an orgasm.

  Then she snapped her fingers and suddenly a blue energy javelin appeared in her left hand and a blue light sword was held in the right.

  Clearly it worked as Kanade could never summon an Enforcer’s most lethal weapons. Especially in that color. No longer was Kanade bound to a spell that prevented from doing harm to others. She was now free to make the choice. She could use the most lethal curses and make potions like any unbound Witch. For the first time in almost three decades of life was a release of burden. Kanade did a complex fighting pattern away from others and was poetry in motion. Ethan above everyone was amazed by the change. Her smile was infectious and she was always breathtaking, but now she was so much more. It was also good to see the weapons as blue as her irises currently were rather than settling for an Enforcer’s white. It was a reminder she was greater than any Enforcer and the spear and sword was unique to her alone.

  With another snap the weapons disappeared and her irises returned to the lovely gold. “Now I no longer must stay behind while those I love are put in danger. I can fight.”

  Ethan said nothing. Already he knew that determined look. Nothing he or anyone could say would stop her from being unable to offer another weapon.

  Kira clapped her hands. “Bravo! Where did you learn to move like that?”

  “I grew up around warriors. So is my angel. I’ve spent over a year watchin’ him move his body in battle. Obviously you pick these things up. Besides, I’ve firsthand experience being on the receivin’ end of Ifrit slayin’ Enforcers. Now I can protect those I love more than with defensive spells.”

  “Especially when I give you Demon Energy like me.” Ethan said and Kanade rounded on him like a deer caught in headlights. “Yes, I’ve discovered a way to give everyone a soul as well as Spirit Energy too. Or if they were born with a soul I can grant Demon Energy. No longer will I sit back and keep the two energies separated so people can be bigots… I’m not going to be the only one now. Here, watch.”

  Turning on Fluffy, Ethan’s hand brightened with black and white swirling over and around his bare fist. It never did that before, but was cool to watch. Almost like those black and white spinners hypnotists use. A large combination rune blended and was by far the largest anyone had ever seen him do and the power output was immense. Order rune swirls and curves were in white while black lines and corners of Chaos connected to white. As soon as he finished writing, the two opposing colors blended gray and slammed into the Hellhound that didn’t flinch. The only outward change came as his flames turned a lighter orange. “Have a taste.” He told his feline general.

  Panther opened his mouth and as soon as energy left Fluffy the Balam swallowed in astonishment. “It is true. I taste energies somewhat like yours, Master.”

  “Good, this will give us a greater advantage. If you don’t weaken your energy using it, having a soul to feed you constantly will allow you to fight harder and longer.” Ethan grinned almost manically at all the newfound possibilities. “Kanade, let me give you Demon Energy and you’ll be able to do magic like me. You’ve seen what I can do. Imagine what the feminine side spells can accomplish.”

  Kanade stepped right up eagerly and got a different spell since she already had a soul. Hers had more dark lines than white and the size was half that used on her pet.

  Just as soon as the spell made contact Kanade’s wings didn’t just glow anymore, they twinkled like millions of sparkling tiny blue stars. But that change was nothing as her inner power skyrocketed when her soul produced copious amounts of both Spirit and Demon Energy. Her power shot above all except her angel. It was so much she shook in delight, almost like getting a massive jolt of adrenaline. As a man is stronger than a women, her own aura was nearly impossible to distinguish from his. To prove that point she grabbed and lifted one mace off his hip, something she had been unable to do. It was heavy, but her smile was greater than she imagined. Then her other fist turned purple, not spirit blue. But now her mind automatically began melding the two classes of spells on their own and intuitively told how it
worked without need to study, much like his and she had to sit down. Like breathing, it just happened without need to think. Kyoko went to help, but said “I’m alright, Sweetheart. It’s a lot to take in… We’ll all be the same now. We’ll all have similar energies.”

  “But what if we get souls and you aren’t our soul mate? I couldn’t bare a soul if I lose you in the process. I love you like I never loved anyone before.” Kyoko said, feeling very vulnerable. “I don’t want to chance being repulsed like Kira-chan and Nell-chan are.”

  The other queens hadn’t thought about that, but now they were and were now terrified of the possibility. They’d rather stay as they were than lose each other. Even Gaia wasn’t sure it would work and she struggled with the future changing by the moment.

  “A valid point.” Kanade chewed her bottom lip with worry and couldn’t see a solution. “Darlin’?”

  “Working on it already. I’m figuring out how yours and my souls were able to link inseparably the moment we kissed…” he began mumbling aloud. “My angel’s immortal insanity didn’t kick in till we kissed… tingling that happens when we touch… how when linking our minds it feels too good and not unsettling like theirs… it’s not chemical… it’s a subtle energy our souls have that’s the same… I almost… GOT IT!” Red eyes snapped into focus when the separate parts locked together in place. “My Queens, form a circle and hold each other’s hands. Kanade, touch my skin and let me keep a free arm to write.” They all gathered close, Kanade holding tight onto a wing while his left hand grabbed Sarimee’s.

  Stretching an arm up over himself he created seven separate, hovering soul and Spirit Energy designs over each of his wives. All were identical. “Alright, before I activate it we all need to pull out from each other’s mind completely. Gaia, I don’t know how the strand of mine stuck in yours will affect…”

  “Do not fear, Husband. The nine of us will be souls mates. I can See it clearly now.” The currently small Titan in armor admitted.

  Hovering spells activated and every demon queen got a soul and was just as powerful as Kanade now was. His hand in Sarimee’s instantly tingled with similar intensity as Kanade’s light hold on his naked wing. The women looked to each other, but as soon as they did they rushed, slamming into each other, kissing and humping frantically as their new souls had found a mate and took over rational thought. Ethan and Kanade were immune since they were born with one.