Demonfire (36 page)

Willow took a position on the
headboard. Blue sparkles still rained down over Dax, but even with Willow’s
energy, his skin felt hot. Sweat beaded his upper lip and glistened across his
chest. The tattoo gleamed, but it was just a tattoo—for now.

Eddy glared at the thing. Then
she went into the bathroom and found a clean washcloth, rinsed it out in cool
water, and used it to bathe the sweat and blood from Dax’s face and chest. “I
feel so helpless,” she said, running the cool cloth over his shoulder. “What
kind of poison comes from a cursed tattoo? How do you fight it?”

“With love.”

Alton’s soft words brought her
to a stop. “What do you mean?”

“He’s breathing easier. His
color is already better. Even the place where you slashed through the puncture
wounds with the razor has begun to heal.” He grinned and gazed up at Willow,
sitting on the headboard. “Of course, some of that could be due to Willow and
her marvelous blue sparkles, but Eddy, everything you do for him, you do
because you love him. Evil can’t fight that. It’s a powerful weapon, and you
wield it well.”

She sat down beside Dax. He
did seem to be breathing better. She touched his forehead. His skin felt cool
beneath her palm. “Alton, I sure hope you’re right. I didn’t even think of the
snake when both of you went outside. All I could think was maybe now you guys
could beat the gargoyle at his own game.”

She raised her head and looked
at the tall Lemurian. “Purely selfish, on my part. I wanted Dax all to myself
tomorrow. I don’t want him fighting the gargoyle on his last day on Earth. I
want him with me.”

Alton swept his hand over her
hair and brushed it back from her eyes. “I know. I feel the same way. I don’t
want to lose him. Not tonight. Not tomorrow. He’s become a very dear friend in
a very short time. Only Taron and I are this close. When Dax is gone, I will
have lost a brother.”

Dax reached up and wrapped his
hand around Alton’s wrist. “You haven’t lost me yet, my friend.”

“Dax!” Eddy covered her mouth
with her hand to bite back a cry. “I’ve been so worried!”

“What happened? I was fighting
the gargoyle and the tattoo at the same time. Something bit me, I think, but…”

“The snake bit you.” Eddy
traced her fingers over his throat. The puncture wounds were no more than tiny
pinpricks now. The razor slash was a narrow pink line, connecting the dots. “I
think I got the poison out, but I was so scared.”

“How?” Dax planted his hands
on the bed and carefully shoved himself upright. He leaned against the
headboard and gazed from Eddy to Alton and back at Eddy. “What did you do?”

“She played lady vamp.” Alton
grinned at Eddy. “Pretty impressive, actually.”

Dax frowned. Obviously he
didn’t get the reference. Eddy shrugged and said, “I used a razor to open up
the puncture wounds and sucked the poison out.”

“Well, that’s gross.” Dax
gazed steadily at her for such a long time, Eddy blushed. “You really did that?
Sucked blood and poison out of my neck?”

“Well, it’s not like I could
ask anyone else to do it.” Eddy stood up and planted her hands on her hips.
“What else did you expect?”

“Only you would do something
so courageous.”

He reached for her hand. She
took his and squeezed. “It wasn’t brave. I was terrified you might die. Your
neck was swollen where it bit you, and you were having trouble breathing.”

He stared at her a moment
longer. Then he tugged, and she tumbled to the bed beside him. “So, what
happened to the gargoyle?”

She glanced at Alton. “Alton
sliced off a big chunk of its wing. It fell in the rose garden, but it didn’t
keep the gargoyle from flying away.”

“Your fire and ice slowed it
down, but it still escaped.” Alton patted Bumper’s curly head. “Bumper got it
by one wing, but as soon as she bit through and got a mouthful of that
corrosive blood, she let go.”

Eddy reached down and rubbed
Bumper’s head. “I don’t blame you, girl. I would’ve let go too.” She tried to
part Bumper’s jaws without any luck. “Did she get any burns on her mouth?”

“No. She’s okay. I checked. No
burns.” Ed eased himself into a chair next to the bed. “I found the piece of
gargoyle wing. It’s now a big, delta-shaped slab of stone. It smashed my Peace
rose.”

“It may be flesh and blood,
but it still reverts to stone. It’s not entirely alive.” Dax looked at Alton.
“Where do you think the gargoyle is now?”

“Holed up someplace where he
can heal. After I sliced that piece of wing off, the bleeding stopped almost
immediately, so it’s definitely stronger and healing faster. Your flame burned
it, but not enough to stop the damned thing.”

Dax sighed. “And it knows
where Ed and Eddy live.” He turned his focus on Alton. “No matter what, we need
to kill it, but we have to find it first. Any idea where it’s gone?”

Alton shook his head. “Have
you thought about sending Willow out to scout for us? She can sense the demon.
She might have better luck.”

Dax shook his head. “I can’t
risk her like that.” He looked up at Willow, sitting atop the headboard. “She’s
too important to all of us.”

Willow fluttered blue sparkles
over the pillows, but she’d helped Dax heal from the serpent’s bite. Eddy
figured she could afford to celebrate a bit.

Ed stood up. “I’ve got a pot
roast in the Crock-Pot that’s probably cooked itself into soup by now. Dax? Are
you okay to come out to the kitchen for a meal?”

“I actually feel pretty good,
thanks to Eddy.” He swung his legs over the side of the bed and grabbed her
hand.

Alton stood up and grabbed his
sword. It didn’t react to Dax at all. “I wonder if I’ll ever figure this thing
out?” He shook his head. “Ed, save me something for dinner. I want to go out
and check the area before I eat. You guys go ahead.”

In the kitchen, Eddy watched
Alton slip into the harness that held his scabbard. He carefully sheathed the
sword. “I’ll be back in a while,” he said. Then he quietly walked out the door
and left them to their dinner.

Alton walked swiftly through
the quiet neighborhoods, alert to the sounds of the night. He made a point of going
by Ginny’s house, but the shades were drawn, the lights out.

With luck, she’d be in Sedona
by now, well away from whatever chaos occurred here in Evergreen. He gazed
about, absorbing the sense of peace in the quiet streets and darkened homes.
Homes filled with families, with mothers and children and fathers, older
couples enjoying the later years of their lives, expecting a peaceful old age.

What if he and Dax failed?
What if the gargoyle prevailed? What would happen if demonkind took over this
peaceful town? If they eventually ruled this world? If the tipping point were
reached in spite of everything they did to stop the creature?

What would happen to Lemuria?
He might be an outcast there, but he still loved his people, his world. He’d
expected to hear from Taron by now, but his friend’s continued silence didn’t
bode well. Of course, with the elders capable of discussing even the simplest
of questions for millennia, it was probably asking far too much to expect a
decision on such a weighty topic in less than a week.

He heard a sound, as if
someone walked through dry grass. Drawing his sword, Alton slowly turned to
face the enemy.

He looked into the dark eyes
of a large doe. Her speckled fawn stood beside her. Sighing Alton turned away
and headed back to Ed’s house. His sword glowed brightly, showing him the way.

Glowed but did not speak.
Maybe it was all a myth, nothing more than mere legend. Maybe the swords had
never spoken and he expected the impossible.

Or maybe, just maybe, he’d
already failed. Maybe he didn’t have what it took to be a warrior, to help Dax
and Eddy save Earth from demonkind.

He paused and stared into the
glowing crystal, but there were no answers in its shimmering depths. With a
soft curse of pure disgust, Alton sheathed his sword. Then he walked swiftly
through the darkness along the quiet road to Ed’s house.

Eddy awoke with the unfamiliar
sense that she was alone in the bed. She’d fallen asleep wrapped tightly in
Dax’s arms, well aware this was their last night together. Even more aware he
was still not feeling a hundred percent after the attack by that damn serpent
tattoo. She wondered if they’d have a chance to make love at least one more
time before he was gone.

Then she wondered how it would
happen. Would he just disappear? Would the body die and Dax’s spirit go on to
Eden? She hadn’t even thought to ask him. Didn’t really want to know.

She sat up in bed and glanced
around the dark room. He wasn’t in the bathroom. She got up, wrapped her robe
around her light gown, and went down the hall toward the kitchen. The back door
stood open to the cool night air.

Quietly, she slipped through
the open door. Dax sat on top of the picnic table, staring into the darkness.
His legs were folded, and his elbows rested on his knees. He wore nothing but a
pair of boxer shorts against the cool air.

“Dax? Are you okay?” She slid
her hands over his shoulders and leaned against his muscular back. He tilted
his head back and smiled at her.

“I’m fine,” he said. “Just
needed a little time to think.”

“About what?” She sat beside
him on the edge of the table.

“You. Me. Tomorrow.” He gazed
off into the darkness and spoke softly. “Nothing has happened the way I
expected. I didn’t expect the demon to catch me unprepared. Didn’t expect the
spirit of the soldier who first owned this body to still be hanging around.” He
grinned and leaned against her shoulder. “Now that’s an experience I’m still
getting used to. I’m sensing him more every day. Maybe he wants his body back.”

“Maybe he just wants to help?”
She kissed his cheek.

“Actually, I think you’re
right, and I’ve grown to depend on his presence, and that of another as well. I
didn’t realize I’d still have part of my demon self to contend with, but he
occasionally rears his head, especially when we make love.”

He smiled into Eddy’s
wide-eyed look of surprise. “It’s true. I’ve managed to keep him under control,
but I don’t stop him entirely.” He leaned close and kissed her lips and trailed
kisses along her jaw. “He’s a much better lover than I am.”

“I find that hard to believe.”
She tilted her throat to give him better access.

Dax kissed her again. “I
didn’t expect Alton or your dad, or Bumper. Didn’t realize how fond I would
become of Willow. When the Edenites first came to me, I figured this would be a
simple job. A lot more exciting than mere existence in the void. I thought I’d
come in, clean out the demons, and get my ticket straight to Paradise. It
hasn’t worked at all the way I planned.”

“You’ll get him tomorrow, Dax.
I know you will.”

He shook his head. “Eddy, he
knows where you live. When I’m gone tomorrow, I can only hope and pray that
Alton will stay here to protect you. I can’t imagine Paradise as anything more
than hell if I’m there and you’re here—especially if you’re in danger. Of all
the surprises, you are the biggest one of all. I love you. I never understood
what love was, and now all of a sudden it’s the most important emotion I never
had before. It’s more important than doing my job, than spending eternity in
Paradise. You’re more important, but you’re not one of the choices they’ve
given me.”

She ran her fingers through
his dark hair. “No chance to choose what’s behind door number three?”

Dax frowned. “I don’t
understand.”

“Stupid game show on
television.” One more thing he’d never understand because he wouldn’t be here
long enough. She felt the tears threatening to choke her and swallowed them
back. She wasn’t going to cry. He didn’t deserve the burden of her tears. Not
on his last night and day of life on Earth.

She held his face in her
hands. “Dax, I love you too. Don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine. You’ve done
the best job you can, and you’ve still got tomorrow. You’ll find the demon, and
you’ll get rid of him. I know you will.”

She stood up and took his
hand. “Come to bed. Make love to me. Let’s spend what time we can doing things
that will give us good memories to last.” She tugged.

He gazed down at their
entwined fingers and sighed. Then he untangled his long legs, slid off the
table, and stood up. Eddy wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her
cheek to his chest, well aware it rested against the serpent.

One more day. He was going to
be gone in one more day.

But we
still have tonight.
Eddy pulled slowly out of his embrace and, still
holding his hand, led Dax to her bedroom.

Memories. It was all about
making memories at this point, and she refused to think about tomorrow.

Saturday morning—day seven

The sun was high in the sky
when Eddy awoke. Dax slept so soundly beside her that she had a moment of
panic. Had they miscalculated his time left? Was his spirit already gone? She
leaned over him to see if he still breathed.

His eyes popped open. She bit
back a scream. “You’re still here.”

He frowned. “It’s Saturday,
isn’t it? What time is it?” He sat up and leaned against the headboard,
blinking himself awake.

Eddy snuggled against his
side. “It’s almost eight. We slept in.”

He gave her a drowsy kiss.
“That’s because we had a busy night.”

Eddy blushed. They’d
definitely been busy. As proof, her body ached in places she wasn’t normally
all that aware of. Then reality came tumbling down, and she sighed. Would she
ever awaken again with this marvelous sense of having been so well loved? She
gazed at Dax, at the dark shadow covering his jaw, the sleepy smile on his
face, and couldn’t imagine ever loving anyone the way she loved him.

And there wasn’t a damned
thing she could do to change that. She kissed him hard. Then she spun around,
and her feet hit the floor. “I need a shower,” she said. She glanced over her
shoulder. “Want to join me?”

He nodded, still smiling at
her. Then he followed her into the bathroom.

Alton greeted them when they
walked into the kitchen a little while later. He sat with the Sacramento
newspaper and a cup of steaming coffee. Dax poured himself a cup and one for
Eddy and joined them at the table. “Where’s Ed?”

Alton glanced at the clock.
“He’s in the tub. It helped him yesterday so he’s soaking again this morning.”
He folded the newspaper and set it aside. “Still nothing in the
Bee
.” He frowned and gazed around the room. “Where’s
Willow?”

Dax glanced up. “Isn’t she
with you?”

Alton shook his head. “No. She
didn’t sleep in my room last night. I just figured she’d chosen to stay with
you for your last night. She didn’t?”

Dax shook his head and turned
to Eddy.

“I haven’t seen her.” She
whistled for Bumper. The dog trotted into the kitchen. “Bumper? Where’s Willow?
Have you seen Willow?”

Bumper whined. Alton turned to
Dax and said, “You don’t really think the dog understands her, do you?”

“She does when Willow’s around
to help her. Willow? Are you here?” Dax shoved his chair back. He hadn’t
thought of her once during the night. He’d only thought of Eddy, of how much he
loved her. How much he was going to miss her. Now where the hell was Willow?

He went to the back door and
opened it. There was no way she could have gotten outside. Even with all her
abilities, she still needed an open door or window to get in and out of the
house.

He glanced up at one of Ed’s
decorative birdhouses that was nailed to the back porch. Willow’s tiny blond
head appeared in the round opening. She slipped out and sat on the perch in
front of the house. There were no blue sparkles, and her tiny wings drooped.

“Willow!” Dax reached up and
held out his hand. She crawled into his palm and curled up as if she was
totally exhausted. Frowning, Dax carried her into the kitchen. “She must have
gotten locked out last night, but how?” He sat down at the table with Willow
cradled in his palm. “Willow? What happened.”

Slowly, she roused herself and
stood up. Dax heard her musical voice in his head.

I searched
for the demon most of the night. I should have told you, but you probably
wouldn’t have let me go.

“You’re right. Willow, you’re
exhausted!”

I’ll be
okay with a little rest.
She held her chin up and planted her hands on
her hips. A very pale blue glow outlined her tiny figure.
I
found him. His wing is completely healed. He’s up on the mountain, inside,
working on a passageway to Abyss. He needs more demons if he’s to grow
stronger, but he won’t be able to complete the portal until late tonight or
early tomorrow. That is where you’ll find him.

“How long do you need to rest,
little one? I never would have thought to hunt him there. You’ve done a very
brave thing.”

Blue pulsed brighter around
her.
A few hours
, she said. Then she zipped off of
his hand and found her favorite spot in a nest of blond curls on Bumper’s head.

Dax turned to Eddy. “Did you
hear what Willow said?”

“I did. I can’t believe that
little thing flew all that way alone. What are we going to do?”

With a thoughtful look on his
face, Alton watched Willow settle herself. “We need a plan,” he said. “One that
will not fail.” He gazed at Dax and then at Eddy. “This is our last chance to
go after the creature with a united front. We can’t afford failure.”

Ed stepped into the kitchen,
walking carefully but without his cane. “What’s up?” He poured himself a cup of
coffee.

Dax explained. Then he asked,
“Do you think you can drive?”

Ed nodded. “I do. I’m sore,
but nothing like I was yesterday. I doubt I can hike very far, though.”

“Not necessary,” Dax said.
“You’ve got a weapon—a shotgun, I think it’s called. I want you to take it with
you, along with plenty of shells. Eddy, you’ve got your bat, and you’ve got
Bumper. The dog has no fear of the demon. If we set her free to go after the
creature as soon as we find it, it might be distracted enough for Alton and me
to get closer. Alton’s crystal sword might not be talking to him, but it’s quit
trying to kill me.”

Alton laughed. “Last night it
definitely wanted a taste of the gargoyle. I think it’s decided you’re one of
the good guys. That’s a good thing.”

“A very good thing.” Dax
smiled at him, and a wave of emotion almost brought him to tears. He would miss
Alton terribly. A good friend, a powerful warrior, an honorable man. The gods
had been smiling on him when he’d found Alton in Lemuria. He swallowed and took
a deep, steadying breath. “As soon as Willow’s rested enough and can start
channeling energy, we’re going after the demon.”

It took much longer than he’d
expected. It was late afternoon before Willow finally regained her energy and
they loaded into the Jeep for the ride up the mountain. It was dusk by the time
Ed parked the vehicle beneath a small copse of shrubs and stunted trees, but
he’d driven them as high as he could possibly go. Once the tires began slipping
on the loose scree, it was time to continue on foot.

Dax climbed out of the Jeep
and stopped beside Ed. “You’ve got the spotlight and the shotgun. Stay alert.
If the thing tries to get away from us, it’ll probably come this way. Hopefully
it will be wounded and weak.” He rested a hand on Ed’s shoulder with the
realization he might never see the man again.

“It’s a double-barreled twelve
gauge. I’ll let the damned thing have it with both barrels. You can count on
me, Dax. Good luck.”

“Be careful, Daddy.” Eddy
leaned over and kissed him.

Ed kissed her back. “You
haven’t called me ‘Daddy’ in a long time. You be careful too, sweetie. Don’t
take any chances.”

She laughed and swung her bat
over her shoulder. “It’s a little late for that, don’t you think?”

“It was too late about the
time you turned twelve and started hitting the ball out of the park. Good
luck.”

Dax refused to look back, but
he held Ed’s words close to his heart.
Good luck
. He
hadn’t had much good luck hunting the demon this past week. It was about time
for his luck to change.

It was almost dark on the
dormant volcano by the time Dax stopped and put a finger to his lips. “There,”
he said, pointing to the now-familiar pile of rocks. “I don’t see him outside.
He must be within the vortex.”

Alton studied the surrounding
area. “Let’s hope he hasn’t completed a new gateway to Abyss.”

“Wouldn’t there be signs of
demons if he had?” Eddy leaned on her bat. “There’s no scent of sulfur at all.
The air smells clear.”

“You’re right. Okay…we need to
go in together.” Dax glanced at Alton. “I would imagine he’s trying to repair
the passage you destroyed, rather than attempting to create a new one.”

“I agree. That puts him just
beyond the entrance. When we pass through the portal, be ready to move
quickly.” Alton unsheathed his sword.

Dax laughed. “I still don’t
trust that thing.”

Alton nodded. “The important
thing is, it’s obviously decided to trust you.”

Dax agreed with a quick jerk
of his head. He took Eddy’s hand in his. Willow snuggled down deep in his shirt
pocket. Alton leaned over and removed Bumper’s leash and stuck it in his
pocket. He held on to the dog’s collar with his free hand.

The three of them exchanged
glances, and once again Dax felt the tide of emotion wash through him. They
trusted him. In spite of his failings, they still looked to him as their
leader.

He would not disappoint them.
Not this time. With a deep, steadying breath and Eddy’s hand held tightly in
his, Dax stepped through the portal.

Ignoring the brief sense of
disorientation, Eddy immediately turned loose of Dax’s hand and crouched low
the moment she entered the cavern. She moved to one side as they spread out,
according to plan.

The gargoyle spun around.
Obviously it hadn’t been expecting them. Bumper didn’t make a sound when Alton
released her. She merely launched her curly blond body like a guided missile,
straight for the gargoyle.

Willow’d been right. The
creature’s wing was entirely healed, but here, inside the cavern, there was no
room to spread them, no way for it to do anything but turn and fight with teeth
and claws.

Bumper didn’t bite. She threw
her solid body directly at the gargoyle’s knees. One buckled, and the creature
slipped as it tried to regain its balance.

Eddy stayed back to give Alton
and Dax the freedom to use their weapons. Alton swung his sword. The gargoyle
feinted, moving faster than a creature his size should be able to move. The
blade left a shallow cut in its shoulder, but Bumper latched on to a rear leg
as Dax threw a barrage of flame. The gargoyle let out a horrifying scream and
dove straight for Eddy.

She stepped aside, swung her
bat, and connected solidly with the creature’s left arm. There was a resounding
crack and another satisfying scream. Eddy ducked and rolled across the uneven
ground as the gargoyle spun around and came at her with jaws gaping wide.

The quarters were too tight
for Alton to swing his sword, but he resorted to short, sharp jabs that
penetrated deep. Dax measured the use of his burning and freezing, using his
powers to herd the creature out of the corners and into the center of the
cavern, where Alton had room to swing his sword to his best advantage.

Willow buzzed about in a
shower of blue sparkles, careful to avoid the green blood oozing from numerous
wounds on the infuriated gargoyle. Dax hit the blood with flame, incinerating
it where it fell. Bumper backed off and resorted to barking and growling. The
deafening cacophony echoed off the cavern walls.

Eddy dodged a swipe of the
gargoyle’s talons, and then another. It had chosen her as a target, obviously
hoping to draw Dax’s attention, but fear lent her speed. Twisting, turning, and
rolling, she stayed out of reach of its sharp claws.

Bleeding profusely, screaming
in rage, the beast lunged past Eddy with Bumper at its heels and burst out of
the vortex through the portal.

Dax grabbed Eddy’s hand while
Alton hung on to Bumper, and they followed the gargoyle out into the night.
Full darkness had fallen, but red, glowing eyes glared at them. Labored
breathing echoed on the still night air, and the sound of leathery wingtips
dragging over the rocky ground had a hollow, almost drumlike quality.

Alton didn’t pause. He
materialized out of the rock, released his hold on Bumper, and charged the
gargoyle. Swinging his crystal sword, he aimed for the creature’s neck. The
gargoyle raised one clawed arm and grabbed the sword in its powerful fist.

Two long, bony fingers tipped
with razor-sharp claws dropped to the ground when Alton pulled the sword free.
Trumpeting its anger, the gargoyle launched itself into the air. Its mighty wings
stretched out, knocking Eddy to the ground as it coasted down the mountain,
riding the wind currents.

“It’s headed straight for
Dad.” Eddy didn’t even pause. She leapt to her feet and took off running down
the rubble-strewn hillside. Dax, Alton, and Bumper followed close behind,
slipping and sliding in their haste to reach Ed and the Jeep.

An explosion echoed off the
mountain. “Both barrels,” Alton said, racing on ahead of Eddy. Dax grabbed her
arm as they made the trip down in a fraction of the time it had taken them to
climb the same distance.

Another loud bang, closer this
time. Obviously the first shots hadn’t stopped the thing. Dax let go of Eddy’s
hand and raced on ahead.

Pale moonlight illuminated the
area where Ed had parked. The Jeep lay on its side. There was no sign of Ed.
Dax thought he must be hiding behind the wreck. He hoped the man wasn’t under
it.

Alton followed the gargoyle.
He’d landed a few minor hits, but every time he went for the kill, the creature
eluded the shimmering blade. The gargoyle stalked the Jeep, bleeding now from a
dozen wounds. The grass and weeds beneath his feet sizzled and smoked wherever
drops of blood landed. Dax raised his hands and threw a column of fire.

The gargoyle turned around and
snarled. Then it said, very clearly, “Die.”

Sentience.
Speech.
There was no doubt the thing grew stronger by the day. More
dangerous. It had to be destroyed. Now. The image of the machine-gun nest
filled his mind, along with the knowledge that both he and the gargoyle would
die today.