Edge of Light (Armor of Magic Book 3) Read online

  Charlotte’s eyes registered delight when she saw me next to the general. He immediately waved her over and forced the blonde out of the way.

  “This’ll do,” he told the man in the top hat.

  “As you wish, sir,” he said, pulling the curtain around the booth closed.

  The general grinned wickedly at each of us, licking his full lips. He was going to devour all three of us. I couldn’t let that happen.

  He gripped Charlotte’s neck and pulled her face next to his, then he pressed his mouth against hers, ramming his tongue between her lips. The temperature around us rose about twenty degrees. The demon glowed red as he lifted Charlotte up and threw her onto the table. He gripped her neck and pressed her face against the marble top as he began to unbuckle his pants.

  Oh, hell fucking no.

  I called on my sword, not giving a shit if I set off any alarms. I wasn’t about to let that grotesque demon defile my best friend. He glanced over his shoulder as the glow from my sword lit up the interior of the booth. Jerking around, he swung his fist at me, but it careened right into my sword. Dark, red blood oozed from his palm and he released a growl. Charlotte took the belt of her toga off and wrapped it around his neck and together with the blonde, she attempted to strangle the beast.

  He swung again, knocking me backward against the granite wall. My helmet protected me, but still the shock of pain rang through my skull. I jabbed my sword at him as he choked for air. Reaching behind his back, he yanked the blonde over his shoulder and splayed her on the table, ripping through her stomach and tearing out her guts. Blood gushed everywhere, spraying across the booth.

  Hackett laughed, his black eyes gleaming. Then he reached up and grabbed Charlotte’s wrists, swinging her forward and pummeling her into me. I jumped up on the booth, shoving her behind me, then I called on my shield. The demon batted at us, only to be repelled with a great force. He tore off his shirt, revealing his broad chest; mounds of muscles rippled and pulsated. His skin shifted from white to burgundy in an instant as he morphed into his true demonic form.

  Slathering at the mouth, he released another growl, ready to lunge forward and tear both Charlotte and me to pieces. Before he had a chance to do that, I opened my mouth and released one of my infamous roars. The kind that shatters glass and punctures eardrums.

  Hackett covered his ears as the curtain around the booth lifted from the gust of wind I was creating. Blood oozed from between his fingers. I kept going, even though Charlotte was tugging on my dress. I didn’t want to stop until the demon’s head exploded.

  I pushed out one more breath with all of my strength. The room lit up with a blast of white light, and the only sound I heard was my thunderous roar. Everything else seemed to stand still. Except for the demon. His black eyes bulged, the dark skin holding his face together stretched, then his head burst into a thousand fragments. Blood and demon matter splattered across my sequined dress. General Hackett’s headless body slumped forward.

  “Fiona!” Charlotte’s wailing reached my eardrums.

  I looked around the room. The human women that were being used as pleasure slaves stood frozen. I had stopped the time continuum just like in New York. Time hadn’t stopped for the evil VIPs in the room, but their defenses had been immobilized. They stood around, covering their ears and howling as blood dripped between their fingers. I sprang out from the booth and raced through the place, hacking off every single high-level head. After I had slain each and every one of the despicable creatures, I stood next to Charlotte, feeling somewhat accomplished.

  “You realize we’re probably fucked,” she said.

  “Better than the alternative. That demon was going to … Ugh. Never mind. Let’s get the hell out of here. Is there a back door?”

  One of the women stepped forward. “I know a way out,” she said, removing her veil.

  It was Soraya.

  twenty-three

  When Soraya stepped forward and revealed herself, I ran over and gave her a hug. The Protector was alive and well.

  “I thought for sure they caught you,” I said.

  “My seal alerted security, but they worked it out. Said they could use someone of my ‘ilk’ to help out with servicing the VIPs. It’s been a rather demoralizing day.” She held up the diaphanous material of her toga, shaking her head, then added, “I’m so glad you got here before I had to do any actual servicing.”

  Charlotte hugged me. “Yeah, me too.”

  “We should probably get out of here. I’m pretty sure security has been alerted.”

  Soraya chuckled softly. “That was quite a sound.”

  “Fiona has always had a big mouth,” Charlotte teased.

  “Okay, we really need to get out of here. Soraya, you’re leading the way.”

  Time unfroze and one of the human women stepped away from the wall she and the others had been pressed against. Their eyes were wild with shock from the display of blood, gore, and severed heads. Most humans had never experienced supernatural occurrences, so the place probably looked like a murder scene.

  “What happened?” the woman asked, spinning around and taking in the bloody mess. “Did you kill them?”

  I approached her with caution. “These were bad guys. Like really bad guys.”

  “That doesn’t give you the right to kill them,” she protested. “They were going to take care of us. Provide us with comfortable rooms and luxuries. Now we’ll probably be sent to the labor camp to be slaves!”

  I shook my head, astonished. “Are you serious? You were already slaves. Sex slaves for evil men.”

  She grabbed a bottle of Sapphire and smashed it against a table, aiming the jagged edges at me. “You’re the one who’s evil. Look at what you did. I mean, who cuts off heads? You’re the very evil our leader Cagliostro has warned us about!”

  Edging back, for her safety not mine, I told her, “You’ve got it upside down. These are the bad guys. Demons. Vampires. I’m sure some were shifters. Warlocks for sure.” I surveyed the floor with the heaps of dead bodies strewn about. At least thirty of them, which was a good head count for just one Protector. My Armor had grown stronger. Maybe it had something to do with that spire reaching into the clouds.

  The frantic woman turned around to the others who were still staring with their mouths agape. “Ladies, help me get them! We can’t let them get away with this!”

  Like beautiful zombies, the women stepped away from the wall and began coming our way. I could’ve easily taken out all of them, but I didn’t want to kill humans. My job was to protect them. They grabbed bottles from the bar and smashed them for weapons.

  I elbowed Soraya, backing up. “Any time you wanna show us the way out.”

  “We can’t leave them here,” Charlotte said.

  “I’m not sure they’re interested in being saved,” I said.

  Soraya shook her head. “It’s too late for them. They’re under heavy mind control. Come on, this way.” She pivoted and dashed through the curtain, using the magical speed of her boots.

  The group of ladies gasped. The head zombie turned toward them. “See! They’re evil! Get them!”

  “Come on, Char. It’s just a momentary sacrifice.” I grabbed her hand and we darted away, following Soraya.

  ***

  According to the clock on the burner phone, I had five minutes to get to Somer Barrett’s office to meet Asher and Rocco. No texts had been sent, which made sense since I ended up finding both Charlotte and Soraya. A windfall that seemed a little too coincidental. Nevertheless, at least I had accomplished something. But I still didn’t have any information on the Scrolls, the Protectors or Cagliostro’s plan. Maybe Rocco had better luck.

  Soraya stopped when I turned down a path leading directly to The Spire. “Where are we going?”

  “The tower,” I explained.

  “That doesn’t seem safe. We need to get out of view and hide somewhere,” she said.

  “No way. There’s no time to hide. I have to meet Asher
and Rocco at midnight. And we have less than five minutes, so come on.”

  Soraya bit one of her fingernails and glanced around nervously. “I don’t think that’s smart.”

  I laughed. “Look, if we don’t go now, we’ll have to use our Armor to get there and that definitely won’t be smart. Trust me, okay?”

  She grudgingly nodded, then followed a few yards behind Charlotte and me. Why was she acting so bizarrely? The three of us stayed quiet as we power-walked to the tower. My purse started vibrating. I pulled out the phone. A text from Asher.

  Where are you? It’s midnight.

  I replied: Almost there. Have Char and Soraya. Don’t have any more potion. Need assistance getting inside.

  He told me to wait by the fountain on the north side of The Spire, and that he and Rocco would be down in a minute.

  “We’re good,” I told the ladies.

  Charlotte smiled with relief, but Soraya’s brows furrowed.

  “What’s up?” I asked her.

  “I’m just worried about my daughter, Hayden. Do you think we’ll actually find where he’s hiding them?”

  “I have no doubt,” I assured her. “We still have a little time. He can’t do anything yet. We just have to recover the Scrolls, then we can get your daughter and the others.”

  “What if he captures you before that happens?” she asked.

  “If that happens, then you can start worrying.”

  We sat on a bench near the fountain, waiting for Asher and Rocco, hiding in plain sight. Had anyone been strolling the grounds that late, they probably would’ve thought we were stragglers from the gala event. I was surprised there wasn’t a curfew over the city. Cagliostro must’ve known his stronghold over everyone would keep the residents—human and otherwise—in check.

  A few minutes later, two guards approached the bench. My heart lurched forward and began thumping.

  “Just let me do the talking,” I whispered.

  “Ladies,” one of the guards said. “No loitering in the quad after midnight.”

  I stood up and smiled. “Sorry, Officer. My friend drank too much at the big gala over at the Semiramis Palace. We just needed to take a break. We’ll be on our way.”

  The man took my arm and a pleasant jolt of electricity tingled through me. I’d know that touch anywhere. “You had me, Asher!” I playfully punched his chest.

  He winked, then said, “You should still play along. No idea who’s watching.”

  “Sure thing, Officer,” I joked. “Did you guys happen to find out anything on the Scrolls?”

  “Not yet,” Rocco said. “But my sonar’s pickin’ up something, so we need to get movin’.”

  “Oh, yeah. You didn’t hear? I just took out a shit-ton of VIPs. We should probably take cover in Somer’s office.” I started walking toward the tower, but Asher stopped me.

  “Somer directed us to go to a safe house and wait for more information.”

  I was about to ask where we were going when a flash of orange flames ignited in our path. From it, a group of enormous demons appeared.

  twenty-four

  The demons began lobbing fireballs in our direction, leaving us no other option but to use our Armor. I pulled up my shield, deflecting the first round of flaming balls. Rocco lifted his and marched forward, wielding his sword.

  “Rocco! Stay with us!” I shouted.

  But he was determined to put the demons in their place. He lunged forward, stabbing one in the chest. The creature combusted, spraying orange gunk everywhere. This enraged the other demons and they charged forward. I shoved Charlotte behind me. Asher took out his transference rod and extended it. If we could get to the fountain, he could transport us somewhere safe. Instead he lifted it, aimed at a demon and shot a jagged streak of lightning, frying the beast to a crisp.

  “Whoa!” I said. “Never seen that before.”

  “Watch out!” Asher yelled.

  One of the warlocks shot a bright blue orb across the quad, aiming straight for Soraya. She didn’t pull up her shield fast enough and the orb crashed into her chest, blowing her off her feet. She was out cold.

  “Go heal her,” I told Charlotte.

  “I’m not leaving your side!” she argued.

  “You’re right. Sorry. Let’s go together.”

  I held up my shield, creating a force field around us as Charlotte placed her hands over Soraya. The pink healing light flickered in and out. It wasn’t working.

  “Can’t you do that scream thing you do?” Charlotte asked.

  I opened my mouth, hoping to expel a thunderous roar, but nothing came out.

  “It doesn’t always work. Especially if I just used it. Just get her back and we can use the Logos.”

  More of the fire demons were showing up, along with more of the electric-orb-flinging warlocks. Rocco was slinging his sword, slicing and dicing through the pack. Asher used his wand to bat away some of the blue orbs. I needed to get over there and help, but I couldn’t leave Charlotte.

  “Rocco! Let’s use the Logos!” I yelled over the blistering sound of battle.

  I began shouting out the ancient words, and Rocco joined in.

  “Your Darkness has no authority. We stand with the power of the Light. The Light binds the dark. The Light binds the dark.”

  The demons detested the words, cringing as they tried to keep charging forward. The louder Rocco and I shouted, the weaker they became. Then they began backing away. But not because of us.

  From the clouds came an ear-splitting clap, like the night sky was cracking open. Out of the blackness, a glorious ray of white light beamed directly at us. I jerked around to Asher, who was holding the wand over his head as he gazed upwards. The stream of glistening light shot down and tapped directly into the wand Asher held. In a burst of exploding radiance, a ringing pulse echoed all through the city.

  Then, absolute silence.

  When I looked over to Asher, he was gone.

  Blackness clouded my vision. I sank to the ground. Where was Asher? What happened? Too stunned to move or even speak, I just sat like a lump, letting the silence envelop me.

  Rocco shook my shoulders. “Farrow, snap out of it!” He pulled me to my feet. “We gotta get outta here!”

  I looked around in a daze with bile burning in my throat. How could Asher be gone? Charlotte helped Soraya to her feet and carried her as we sprinted down one of the paths. Rocco was leading us to the safe house Somer had mentioned, where we’d wait for more information.

  twenty-five

  We stopped in front of a chrome residence that resembled a tool shed. The tiny unit was wedged among hundreds of other pint-sized houses. Thousands of them. The neighborhood looked like a prison camp and smelled like a garbage dump.

  “Where are we?” I asked Rocco, holding back a gag.

  “This is what Somer calls the ‘shitty part’ of town.”

  “Fitting.” Charlotte plugged her nose with one hand and balanced Soraya with the other.

  Rocco walked up to the front door. “Let’s get inside the safe house. Someone will be coming by to help us.”

  I couldn’t move. I just stayed quiet and obsessively ruminated on that moment when the sky split open and bolts of lightning spewed down, taking Asher away. It couldn’t have been Cagliostro. The light looked too pure, and my instincts told me otherwise.

  Charlotte stood at the entrance. “You coming, Fiona?”

  “It had to be the Monarchy,” I said to myself.

  “Just get inside and we can figure it out together,” she told me.

  The inside of the safe “house” had enough room for a twin mattress, a toilet and a shower stall. There wasn’t a single place to sit with Soraya sprawled out on the bed. The chrome walls were bare and there was not a single window. A florescent light hung overhead, giving off a greenish hue. It looked more like a prison cell than living quarters.

  “Pretty grim,” I said.

  Rocco made himself comfortable on the floor, leaning his head
against the side of the bed. “Yeah, well, we’re in a slave camp. Whaddya expect?”

  “Actually, I expect nothing more from that demon mage.” I knocked the toilet lid down with my foot and sat. The sequins of my blush-colored dress sparkled along the chrome wall.

  Soraya woke up and slowly scanned the room. “Where are we?” Her voice was stilted and breathy as she returned to the living.

  “Safe. For now,” Rocco said.

  Charlotte sat on the bed next to Soraya, resting her head back against the wall and closing her eyes. “I’m not feeling entirely hopeful about this situation.”

  “Of all the situations, this might be the suckiest,” I grumbled. “I don’t know what happened back there, but I’m pretty sure the Monarchy just body-snatched Asher. Why would they do that?” I looked at Rocco for an answer—anything to assuage the anger percolating inside.

  “My guess is they need him. If Cagliostro pulls this off and reaches the Monarchy, they’ll need all hands on deck.”

  A slight tap at the door ignited a wave of panic that bounced off each of us. Whoever it was didn’t wait for an invite. The door opened and in stepped an elderly woman. Her grayish-white hair was pulled back into a loose bun, and frizzy wisps haloed her face. Dark wrinkles spidered her skin like a cracked desert floor. She hobbled over to the bed and sat.

  “I’m Geneva. Somer told me you’d be here.” Her voice quivered; the product of worn out vocal cords from years of use.

  “I’m Fiona,” I said, then pointed to the others. “Charlotte, Soraya and Rocco.”

  “Supernaturals,” she murmured.

  We glanced back and forth at each other.

  “Yeah,” I said. “Three Protectors and a healer.”

  Her watery eyes perked up. “A healer?”

  Charlotte smiled and nodded.

  “Haven’t seen one of you in a long time. Anything you could do about this pain in my hip?” She smiled, patting Charlotte’s arm to let her know she was teasing.