03 Atavism of the Ifrit Read online

  So Kanade held the Queen of Ice’s gaze without any wavering as she bowed. “we are at war!”

  “You don’t have neither the numbers or territory. I’ll crush you.” Xandril sneered, her perfect face warping to cruel and vindictive.

  “Quality over quantity.” Kanade straightened up. “And I’m gonna be the one to take your head. Count on it, Bitch.”

  Xandril screamed in pain as Kanade cut the strands sent to kill her. The Yuki-onna fell to the ground of her floating ice fortress over the Frozen Tundra and shook having been bested. She vowed to see Kanade dead.

  Back in the hall Kanade smiled with smug satisfaction, having never done that before. In the corner of her eye she found Ellen proudly giving her a thumbs up in private, as her arms were crossed.

  The crowd was speechless and in awe of their new queen. Never to anyone’s knowledge had a group, let alone individual, withstood a mental attack by Xandril. And each and every one had felt it to varying degrees. Her singlehanded counterattack gave new hope to the greater demons who came to see the fallen king that the war could be won rather than slowly chipped away.

  Ethan regained attention and quieted the murmuring. “Yes, it just happened, but for today forget about Xandril and her petty ways. Today we feast in the name of my father Zagan. Tomorrow we plan to unseat Xandril and stomp out her tyranny.” A great cheer rose up and shook the whole palace. “Let the feast begin!”

  Hours after the feast Ethan lay on his throne with all his women cuddling close, fully dressed as the room was filled with millions of the most powerful demons under his rule. His voice carried. “The war Xandril started, we will finish. Each and every one of you now has a soul. My two generals” He gestured to Vilorogue and Panther. “will relay orders to you and you direct those below you. This will be a war won by Transcendent beings like all of us. My first order is to evacuate the front lines and get the lesser demons far away. You are all capable of holding Xandril at bay with no need to withdraw to replenish your energies. Her forces still have that weakness. But we won’t crush her just yet. We will make her suffer just like she likes to do to others.”

  Evil grins and popping knuckles spoke of how eagerly the room wanted to go let loose their newfound strength.

  “Our number one priorities are to evacuate and stop her from taking any more of our lands. Any deserters will be cursed by our Shaman so she doesn’t sneak in anymore assassins. As of right now my Balam took care of that issue. All of you willingly took my curse so make sure you do the same so you don’t get stabbed in the back.

  “Hold the lines for six months. I need it to prepare for the great push. Just two things more. If the Ice Dragon Zandri is spotted contact General Vilorogue for I promised him he could play with her.” Vilorogue rumbled merrily just thinking about it. “And contact General Panther if you see this Elf.” Ethan crafted a great illusion of the target. “He dared to kill your Queen Kyoko and helped torture me.” Angry primal sounds just made sure that that Elf wouldn’t be let go. “And be sure to light fires all along the border between fire and ice’s territory. I’ll be monitoring through them in areas that are difficult to plug since our forces will be spread out. Be careful and have some fun.”

  A loud cheer sounded for a half a minute as the demons psyched themselves into a frenzy before the battle and then disappeared to do as their king commanded.

  “My King, why is it I feel we will win with minimal casualties?” Asked Vilorogue.

  “Because Ethan might assume a lot, but when it comes to leading he’s never been defeated.” Magnus said with Nell and one of his new Succubus bride’s on a knee.

  “Yeah, it’s his knack. I would feel sorry for the bitch if I didn’t see she’d stab us in the back just to get laid.” Baldr said in complete seriousness. “Kanade, I like this ruthless side of you. I knew there was more than some timid little woman beneath that exterior you’ve got.”

  “Maybe if she had remorse I wouldn’t want to kill her. But she’s never loved or I’d be able to get in her head. She’s closed off to me. Only someone completely self centered could bar me.” Kanade sat up. “The way she looked at Zagan’s body coupled with tellin’ me to learn my place… I’ve never felt someone so vile.”

  “Must be the chamber pot.” Baldr nodded as if it made all the sense in the world. “Yeah, she’s so backed up and full of it not even Gaia’s toilet could flush it all down.”

  “Hey!” The Titan pretended the comment wounded.

  Everyone just laughed.

  “Baldr I’ve got a mission for you. I need you to disable a certain factory.”

  He pulled the sword out. “Breaking shit is my specialty.”

  “Exactly!” Ethan grinned and relayed the details which had Baldr practically salivating.

  “Darlin’, you go finish your projects. I’ll keep givin’ our warriors souls. The more military presence we got the less we need to worry.” Kanade kissed his cheek.

  “Alrighty then. See you soon.”

  “Not too soon. Blake’s goin’ to help me in practical use of my weapons.”

  “Don’t get hurt.”

  “I won’t.”

  “I was talking to Blake.” Ethan chuckled and Blake smiled widely with all his small sharp teeth.

  Six months had passed in a blink of an eye with so much to do. Kira’s potion had original poor results in the first attempt, but she persevered in the secondary theory where rats, that survived the initial forced enhancement, waited a month before adding demonic energy and the success rate after the month was a hundred percent. Even for those pregnant. So it was with no hesitation the team all gained demonic sides, but didn’t change appearance.

  The war had more than a fair share of close calls and dire situations in the line buckling, but as the fight prolonged demons with souls didn’t tire out and pushed the invading force far back time and time again.

  The special projects Ethan had been working tirelessly on in the forge was new weapons and armor for all his queens and elite forces.

  But a lot of things had greatly changed after learning Armid’s hidden spells. Old friends from the First House started coming to join the fight in droves due to Kanade talking many into help in reinforcements. Many eagerly wanted to come be with family they believed never to see again and kick ass with a boost from Demon Energy. Celestia was one of the first to cross over and received the key to permanent Transcending and they worked together like old times, but she had grown greatly as had her mate, each three stories tall. Ethan and Celestia cranked out dozens of weapons daily. And she sometimes pecked him in the head for old times sake.

  Magnus and Nell were so happy the day Vina was returned and they could be together again. Mother and daughter especially were near inseparable. Vina especially loved all her new Succubae mothers and Incubi fathers.

  The war then was in earnest engaged as Ethan often led the charge deep into the Frozen Tundra with all his women in full armor.

  The fight was long, lasting ten whole years, but couldn’t be stopped. Kira had already given birth to two half Ogre Witches who made Baldr’s life a living hell, but he loved them greatly.

  In a surprise visit one day within the decade of war was Tokala returning holding the hand of the woman who had protected and loved him. An accident triggered her soul’s ability and she could now shift into any creature from a flea to the most powerful Titans, but their relationship changed and it was no longer mother and son, but husband and wife. As soon as she got Ethan’s spell to fully use both energies she and Tokala were by far the best spies at his disposal. Tokala could break into anything as the best thief of all Kitsune and she could go unnoticed to gain invaluable intel that saved many lives over the years.

  In the final days of battle Ethan, Vilorogue and the Sky King melted Xandril’s ice barrier and brought her great ice fortress out of the sky. Vilorogue made sure Zandri paid for her many crimes and eventually ate her. The Elf had fled, but died long after when Ethan sent a Drone that pursue
d the sneaky Elf relentlessly till ge just gave up.

  A decade later, Kanade in full armor, fulfilled her promise and lifted Xandril’s severed head to the masses that no longer quarreled because despite physical traits, Ethan’s very existence brought together peoples and set aside old grievances. Burning at her side was Fluffy along with everyone else cheering. Barriers were torn down and prosperity the likes never before seen brought forth an entirely new future under the Silver King’s rule and supported entirely by Kanade, Kyoko, Gaia, Sarimee, Flajeen, Ivonniq, Catnis and Benalliminia.

  Epilogue

  Sixty three years had passed since the Queen of Ice’s tyranny was ended and Ethan sat alone on his throne, untouched by age. In his hand was the latest electronic reader from Earth that generated its own power by touch alone. In it he read the newest and latest comics still going strong though his favorite creators had long since passed on. It often brought back memories of Ol Fred as just before he died of old age Ethan sent the friend of his past the beautiful images of the diamond palace, his own Fortress of Solitude. Fred, even now in Spirit World, would never forget the last great thing he saw in his life.

  Turning the page with a brush of a finger across the touchpad, he smiled softly as what always happens when his queens suddenly arrive. He sat the reader/computer down and said “Good evening my loves. Can I know what you’ve all been hiding from me all day?”

  “Go on.” Said an overexcited Sarimee.

  “Hurry!” Catnis cried slightly.

  Kanade was pushed forward with her hands behind her back, blushing greatly. Even not in her mind, he could feel her joy and happiness. “Darlin’, it happened.”

  “What did?” He asked, completely clueless, but still loved her accent she hadn’t lost in all these years.

  Happy tears fell down Kanade’s cheeks as she very carefully bought around a snow-white object covered in a thin layer of silver fire.

  Off to the side stood many friends and Baldr had to put a restraining hand on his youngest daughter as she said “Mine.” The bluish-pink skin blushed and her small horn suddenly seemed to shine.

  “Angel, is that…” Ethan couldn’t bring himself to say it.

  She practically bounced in place. “Darlin’, I just laid our first egg!”

  “We’ve a baby?” He asked, afraid it was a hoax.

  “Yes. It’s why we stayed home. The others were there as I delivered our son’s egg. Smell, it has your scent. We’ve at last become parents.”

  Ethan lifted the large egg that contained his firstborn son with fatherly care and reverence. He smelled and sure enough he knew his son’s scent immediately. “My son.” As he spoke those gentle words the flames around it flickered.

  “He knows his daddy already.” Kanade delicately ran her finger over the smooth shell and said “Darlin’, now we got a new story to add in our eternal lives.”

  “And the most dangerous force we’ll ever face. Parenthood.”

  The End

  Be sure to read other books by this author:

  Balancer’s Cycle

  Balancer’s Soul

  Changer’s Blood

  Keeper’s Knowledge

  Harmonizer’s Evolution

  The Item Trilogy

  Untamed Gift

  Furion’s Trials

  Ra’van

  Death Incarnate Saga

  The Grin of Prophecy

  Familiar’s Ancient Throne

  Laugh of Destruction

  Ascension of the Warlock

  Empress’s Endgame

  Spirit Guide Saga

  Forgemaster

  Wrath of Flames

  Atavism of the Ifrit

  Star Pirate Legends (Coming Fall of 2015)

  Cutlass Sharpened

  Void’s Psionics

  Evolution’s Essence

  Last Nova

  The Fey Files (Coming Fall of 2016)

  Harsh Realms (Coming Fall on 2017)

  Contact me:

  http://facebook.com/h.leemorgan

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Epilogue