Chapter 506: More Danger
I'd heard that before. And wasn't about to let some low-ranking rebel leader succeed where so many others had failed. Not when I was in full possession of my powers and able to defend myself.
It was almost comical their reactions to my sudden power flare, multi-hued magic rippling around me as I grinned, my demon's need to fight almost taking over. "Who's first?"
I wish I could say they turned coward and ran, not because I didn't want to fight or was afraid, but because I really didn't want to hurt anyone. Despite the fear on their faces, the bulk of the demons obeyed their orders and rushed me as a unit.
Only to fly back, tossed by a blast of air magic in a lovely arc, landing in a heap on top of Luprimustica.
"Nice technique," Ram snarled in my ear, hand wrapped around my arm again, "but we don't have time to play."
I tried to pull free, but he had already turned and ran in the opposite direction, taking me with him. I could easily have fought him off, taken on all the rebels as far as that went. But the sound of a siren's screech behind us told me why he wanted to flee.
I guess I agreed with his motivations.
A glance over my shoulder showed Guards flooding the alley, the fallen demons struggling to rise and fight them off. One of the oversized soldiers spotted us and pointed our way just as Ram dragged me bodily around a corner and out of sight.
"Guards," I gasped as we ran, my hunger and thirst making it hard to drum up energy.
"No kidding," he shot back. "Your little display probably alerted most of the city."
Oops.
"Well, if you hadn't brought me into this stupid situation in the first place," I snapped as we rounded another corner and down a flight of stairs, "I wouldn't have been forced to fight."
"Shh!" He pinned me against the cold, stone wall at the bottom of the steps, an elaborately shaped metal railing above us offering a slim view of street level. Ram spun and snapped a tight crack of magic, shattering a round globe of magic hovering above us, plunging our hiding place into darkness just before booted feet pounded into view.
"Shield." Ram scowled at me. Like I needed the reminder. I stuck my tongue out at him, my wards already in place, tucking him inside as the first set of boots halted above us.
"Search this whole area." The deep Guard's voice reminded me of the sound of crushing glass. "I want those two rebels found."
Ram pressed me firmly into the wall with his whole body, lowering his face close to mine. "Close your eyes," he whispered. "They're glowing."
I did as I was told with a sharp remark ready to fire off, forced to hone it to a razor edge in my head, knowing talking-in this case, snarking-would make it more likely we were found. Instead, I clenched my jaw over and over as Ram's cheek settled against mine, my magic shielding us from the probing magic above.
It wasn't my intention to put you in danger. His mental voice hummed in my head, a bare whisper of sound. I'm sorry.
I'm sure you are. The slicing comment I'd been honing died a quick death as I softened. Are you sure this rebellion you're part of is what you expected?
He didn't comment for a moment as a second sweep of magic pressed against the shields, only to disappear again as the Guards moved on. In one way, their means of finding criminals was far better than normals at home. Magic as powerful as theirs could probably locate 99% of all they sought. But for a fugitive like me, they had no chance. In their arrogance, they moved on without a physical search.
Worked for me.
I felt the Guards pass us by at the same instant my demon purred and reached out her power to embrace Ram. His face turned, open mouth breathing hot air on my cheek, the warmth of his body suddenly acutely apparent as were the hard muscles under his clothes and the bubbling desire my demon welcomed and fed with her energy.
I caught myself as my head turned by her choice, Ram's lips hovering over mine, descending.
Perhaps another time, my vampire said. Dryly. Parching.
Both of my hands pressed firmly to Ram's chest and shoved him back as I snapped at my demon who retreated with a moan of frustration.
"If you don't mind," I said, proud of myself I kept my voice down, "we're a little busy without this kind of complication."
"You reached for me." Oh. My. Swearword. I hated his smirk. Wanted to claw it from his face. Was about to when I felt the touch of magic I knew. Not because I reached for it. But because the presence of it punched me in the stomach.
Gasping, feeling the desperate need and hate from Ahbi's power flare to life, I spun and looked out through the railing. At first, there was nothing, just a street with a few nervous pedestrians hurrying along, the odd slim transport.
When I spotted her, my entire body went rigid. Did I look that much like myself here? I didn't think so. However Ameline managed to take demon form, she still had the same face. I watched her cross the street with a young demon girl in tow, the child pulling weakly against her as though knowing it wouldn't do any good as the pair moved out of sight.
I scrambled up the stairs, searching for them again, while Ram hovered next to me.
"What is it?"
"The one I seek," I said, feeling Ahbi's spirit speak through me. "Stay out of my way."
I ran before he could answer, spotting Ameline and the girl rounding a corner two blocks away, putting on more speed, calling up Ahbi's power already hovering, ready and waiting to kill the girl who had murdered her.
Not thinking, hyper-focused on my quarry, I raced around the corner and right into a group of waiting Guards. They roared at me, magic lashing out to rebound from Ahbi's mighty power, sending them tumbling back. One look over their struggling bodies showed me Ameline, an angry smile on her demon face, the crying girl firmly in her grasp as she saluted me before running off.
My roar echoed from the walls, the surge of power taking over so strong I felt massive, as though I'd grown a hundred feet tall with muscles like a possessed body builder, ready to crush my opposition and go after her.
A flash of magic over my shoulder was enough of a distraction to snap me out of my delusion of goddessness. I turned to see Ram firing power at the Guards who were starting to recover. Grim and furious, his mind lashed against mine.
Another time and place. We have to leave!
I wasn't leaving. I had a job to do. Until the now-familiar squeal of a Guard siren warned me otherwise. More Guards were coming from up ahead. If I went after Ameline now, I'd be running straight into a battle I wasn't sure I could win.
Snarling in savage frustration, I whip-cracked a lash of power through the Guards before me, sending them screaming to the ground again, before spinning and following Ram out into the city.
***
