He exited with Cosmic on his heels. He knocked on the other door.
“Lily? Are you up?” Lawrence cautiously opened the door.
“Lily is gone.”
Lawrence’s heart skipped a beat. Lily stood in the room, arms folded. She had no weapon, but she didn’t need one. She looked normal. No different from before. Even her eyes were the same.
“Where is she?” Lawrence put a hand in his pocket.
“In my body. In my basement.” From behind her green eyes, Winter smiled. “If you hurry, you can say goodbye.”
“I thought demon bodies were immortal,” Lawrence looked him up and down.
“They are. I suffer the curse of the possessor, which is less a curse and more an occupational hazard. My real body is dead. I’ve been stealing the bodies of others for so long I no longer have an original. My stolen bodies eventually rot. I used a small piece of my original DNA to grow a copy. From a claw, an entire clone. A whole year wasted, fuck you very much.”
“How long does she have?”
“Lily? A few minutes. The Gandaberunda I stole was legendary. Level fifty. I was a half-avian once, more than a thousand years ago. Corruption and leveling let me unlock my Rank Up at level thirty. I ranked up to Lord at level fifty. I took the Slave Lord Job. I ranked up to Demon Slave Lord. Fascinating Skills, you see. Lily is the best kind of slave. A subject unaware of her own reality. Another few months and she would have broken.”
“Cute.”
“And I am a Doctor of Goetic Science. Level 100. Faustian, Practical Faustian, Professor of Goetic Science, Doctor of Goetic Science at seventy-five. I was trying to decide which Job to take next. I maxed my Occult Alchemist Job you see, level 100. I was considering Artificer, but I’ve never desired metal-work.”
“I thought we’d have a big mage battle.” Lawrence grimaced. “You and me, some innocents in the way. Me having to sacrifice someone who doesn’t deserve it to let you get away and walk away myself. And then a big battle.”
“A cliché. Now you know how suicidal it is. Your familiar was right to drag you away. You cannot win.”
“I can try.”
“What is she to you? She tried to kill you.” Winter, as Lily, shifted her weight.
“I have a chivalry streak. And she’s hot. Don’t wanna see her get waxed for you. There’s a bunch of idiots outside. Use one of them.”
“Enough.” Winter swiped his hand. “I am not a generic fantasy villain, Lawrence. I am not monologuing to give you a chance to beat me. I completed my possession. Lily is gone. Her body is mine. She has my body now, and her time is almost up.” Winter ran his fingers through Lily’s red hair. He looked at himself in the mirror on the wall. “Red’s not my color, but it looks good on me.”
“You mean it looks good on her.”
“Yes, whatever. Your debtor. My servant. It matters not. Both of us have life-owning Contracts on her soul. I wonder which of us will get it when she expires.”
“Lawrence. We should leave,” Cosmic said in his ear. “Let him have this win. She tried to kill us. We are safer with her dead.”
“Yes, you are,” Winter said. “You should have run far away as soon as you arrived. You should never have returned. You will never be able to trust her. She owes you nothing. She is nothing. Was nothing. Just a mutt bastard stray I uplifted from the sewer. She had no magical talent. Low stats. Her skills were atrocious. She picked the mermaid species when she Ranked Up if you can believe it. Do you see any water? Maelstrom has an ocean of sky, not water. Even the water world, Titan, is far away. Weak and unintelligent. Foolish.”
“What will you do?” Lawrence jerked his head. “Now that it’s all over, I mean. Will you teach?”
“No.” Winter snorted. He slipped a hand down the front of his pants. “I believe I will enjoy myself in this new body. What is it to rule in Hell if one cannot enjoy it?”
“And after?”
“After I answer your age-old question? I believe I will begin expanding my power. I am a liaison with Infernal Innovations, the sorcerer-corporation. I believe it is due for a change in leadership. I can think of no one more suited to the task at hand than a beautiful girl with [Siren Song]. All the men will be wrapped around my finger.” Winter twirled his finger.
Lawrence’s stomach flipped. It was bizarre and disturbing. The thing was Lily. It looked like Lily. It spoke with her voice. But the stance was a man’s. Her feet were shoulder-width apart like a man, toes pointing out. Her shoulders were back, throwing out her chest. She would have no trouble seducing a man. He imagined Winter wearing his own skin like a bodysuit and getting close to Mom and Dad. It made Lawrence’s skin crawl.
“So, uh, what remains of you versus her? You’ve got her Jobs, right?”
“I have my Adventurer and Mage Jobs. My Species Jobs are hers. No matter. I will adjust. I am now a Half-Demon Mermaid Slave Lord, Doctor of Goetic Science, and Master Occult Alchemist.” Winter smiled showing his teeth. He ran Lily’s tongue across them. “She has all her teeth. They are white and straight. Wonderful. I’ve forgotten what it’s like to have teeth.
Winter squeezed his own breast. Cosmic tugged Lawrence’s shirt. When the latter didn’t respond, Cosmic nibbled his ear. Lawrence flinched.
“Lawrence, we must go.”
Lawrence stepped forward. Winter whirled.
“Irresistible—”
“Counterspell,” Lawrence shouted. He produced a scroll he’d brought from home. Mom had packed it in the carry-on as a last-ditch defense against Winter. It was a spell crafted with the aid of a Catholic bishop, a charm for pagans to use against the forces of Hell. A miracle, cast as an evocation.
“Iliaster Bur—”
“Counterspell.” Lawrence began reading the scroll. He had hung one use of Counterspell. He used the last of his available soul units to cast the second. Regardless of success or failure, this was it. He read the prayer inscribed.
“Stop doing that,” Winter roared. “Counterspell is a cheap trick. Real wizards don’t bother with it. Stop hiding behind shields and fight.”
“In the name of King Jesus and His Holy Father, come out, demon. Come out.” Light flowed from the scroll like liquid gold. A hand of fire appeared. It was taller than either of them. It was brighter and hotter than any fire created by a mage. Lawrence felt a wave of heat greater than a volcano. The hand reached.
Lawrence saw Lily’s body. Shadows dripped off her like mist. A dark parasite like a giant, many-limbed leech wrapped around and into her. The fiery hand touched Lily’s front. It pushed.
Lawrence heard screaming. Horrible, agonized screaming. The shadow ripped free of Lily. It shot through the walls and vanished. A second shadow appeared. This one was a pale ghost, a curvy form with long hair. She wore white pants and a white shirt. She slammed into Lily’s body, still ensconced by holy fire. The fire brightened. Lawrence closed his eyes. He blocked the light with his free hand. The light faded.
Lawrence waited for his vision to clear. He squinted at Lily from between his fingers. She patted herself down.
“I’m alive?” She stared open-mouthed. “How?”
“I’ll explain everything,” Lawrence promised. “But first we must phone a friend.”
“Who?”
“You’ll see. If we don’t, Winter’ll come back and possess us again.”
“We should leave, Lawrence,” Cosmic reminded him. “He’s returning regardless. The question is where will he spawn. He said he’s a lord. This is his estate. Didn’t you once tell me demon lords often take a skill that makes their entire estate a phylactery?”
“Yeah. I know, just,” Lawrence pulled out his chalk. “We have to do this. He can save us.”
“Who are you talking about?” Lily demanded. “Why did you save me? Did you exorcise him. Listen kid, I appreciate it and all, but why? You and me… What are you doing?”
“Winter gets around by using possession attempts.” Lawrence pulled out and lit candles. He didn’t bother with matches. He used one of his remaining hung spells. “That’s how he does it. He’s a body surfer. He’s coming back to life now. Maybe with his original body, maybe not. I don’t know how long it’ll be, but if he’s anything like the lords mom talked about, he’s coming.”
“What are you saying?”
“Faustians use rituals to get ahead.” Lawrence scribbled the symbols. “Winter didn’t. It’s like lichdom, but it’s tied to his fief. And its demonic, not necrotic. I don’t know how it works. I dunno if he’s gonna be down for a week or a minute.”
The ground shook.
“He’s on his way,” Cosmic said. “His body is reforming. We must leave.”
“Not yet.” Lawrence pulled out the one object he’d been planning to ‘lose.’ He’d just never gotten around to it because he wanted the guy’s knowledge. “If we leave now, he’ll fly after us and kill us. The whole mountain is his land. We’re trapped.”
“Is that a Bible?” Lily frowned. “Why do you have a Bible?”
“Hush. Please.” Lawrence began chanting.
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“Kid. I don’t know what you’re planning, but I think we should—”
“Lily. I’m begging you. Please be quiet.” Lawrence said with real emotion. Lily looked shocked. Lawrence resumed chanting.
A shape took form on the circle. Golden light surrounded it. A chair appeared, followed by a man in a robe.
“Hey. Llama,” Lily whispered. “Explain why are aren’t leaving.”
“A please would be nice but I’ll let it slide,” Cosmic murmured. “Winter is a possessor, but he is also a faustian. His key weakness? His vanity. He doesn’t want any old body. He wants one with powerful magical talent. With attractiveness. Youth. Vigor. A high constitution.”
“But he doesn’t need one. He’s respawned, hasn’t he?”
“Yes, but Lawrence doesn’t think he’ll have an actual body.” Cosmic’s tone became lecturing. “Ask yourself this. Liches are undead who respawn. When they return, they return as skeletons. They may regrow their flesh after they return, but they return as skeletons.”
“So?”
“What type of respawn does Winter possess?”
“Demonic lichdom?” She raised an eyebrow, as if the answer was obvious.
“No.” He shook his head. “Liches have phylacteries. Their souls are tied to a box. Normal people put their bones in a box, instead a lich will place his soul. What do demons have? What do demon lords possess?”
Lily thought hard. A slow, creeping horror settled in her gut. She looked at Cosmic Creepers. Fear spread across her face.
“You are smarter than they think you are,” the llama said. He jerked his head at Lawrence’s summoning circle. “Fear not. Lawrence is finished. I believe Winter’s story is almost at an end.”
An early sixties Italian man sat in a plain wooden chair.
“Archbishop Anthony Maria Claret,” Lawrence bowed. “I am honored you accepted my summons.”
“Why did you summon me to this infernal plane, child?” Archbishop Claret crossed his arms.
“We’re facing off against an ancient demon. He possessed Lily here,” Lawrence gestured. Lily waved. Claret glanced in her direction. Lawrence continued, “I had to burn this scroll made by a Catholic bishop. We drove him out, but he’s coming back, and he wants blood.”
Lawrence held out the scroll’s remains. The ground shook again. All the furniture rattled. Claret’s lips turned down when he saw the scroll.
“Child,” he whispered. “What have you done?”
Thus, Lawrence told him. Not all of it, an abbreviated version. The most important bits. The ground quaked again. Dust showered Claret’s mozetta.
“Are you certain you wish to make this choice?” Claret asked him. “You and the woman? Both of you, children of devils?”
“Don’t know we got a choice, father. We drove him out once by the power of God.” The ground shook. Lawrence went to his knees. “He’s coming and we can’t stop him. Please. Let the light of God shine on us. Help us.”
“Come to me, son.”
Lawrence lurched across the circle. He ignored Lily. Claret bent his waist. He held Lawrence with one arm. Lawrence smelled soap and incense.
“Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God?” Claret whispered.
“I do.”
“Are you willing to confess your sins?”
“Ahhh ha-ha-haha.” Lawrence looked over his shoulder. “You doan want me confessing my sins in front of this lady. I got a lotta ugly stuff. I don’t wanna make this lady blush, heh heh. I can confess my sins before God in private.”
“Uh-huh.” Claret shook his head. He said something under his breath in Italian. “No, no. I mean, do you confess to Him? If you confess to Him, and you believe in your heart then you shall be saved. It’s that simple. There are no words to say or oath to take.”
Lawrence froze. He raised his head.
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“I just believe and all my problems go away?”
“Well, believing does not mean all your problems go away. The demons will still follow you. But you will be a living witness to Him.”
“English, father?”
“The demon cannot possess you. He may still harm you, but he cannot possess you. Your mind, body, and soul become sealed by God. No demon can lay a claim upon you.”
A part of Lawrence, a small part, told him this may have been a bad idea. He needed membership in a demonic company to get to Dis. Otherwise he wouldn’t be able to ride their ships. Well, he could, but it would be much more difficult. Eh, whatever. He’d cross that bridge when he came to it. Winter’s threat was real.
“Then I believe.”
“It is not words you say.” Claret put a hand on his chest. “It is something you believe in your heart.
Lawrence sobered. He rocked back on his heels.
“You have troubles, son?”
“I can’t do it.” Lawrence looked at the floor. “I can’t reconcile it. Belief in God—any god—is not logical.”
“Of course not.” Claret smiled with the patience of an old teacher. “It must be taken on faith.”
Light blossomed behind Lawrence. A shape descended from the ceiling and draped itself over Cosmic. Lawrence knew without looking what had happened.
“Breathe the free air, friend,” Claret beamed.
“Can God forgive any sin?” Lily asked.
“Yes. Any sin.”
“Even murder?” she murmured, as if speaking the words out loud made them a truth she could not deny.
“God can forgive any sin.” Claret’s expression changed. Lawrence thought he saw a flash of judgment, then it was gone. No, not judgment. …Disappointment? “If you are willing.”
“If we believe… we get to go to heaven? We get to leave this place forever?”
“Yes. You get to live in paradise with Jesus.”
Lawrence frowned. He sighed. Faith did not compute. He could not believe.
“I… I…” Lily looked at her hands. Lawrence wondered what she saw. Her eyes were wet. “I…”
Light bloomed around her. A shape descended from the ceiling and draped around her like a cloak. Lily’s eyes widened. She looked around in shock. The light faded. Claret looked elated.
Lawrence stood. Claret met his eyes, expectant. They stared at each other. Lawrence’s shoulders drooped. He dropped his eyes. He shook his head.
“Another time then,” Claret said. “I meant what I said. If you desire someone to teach you weaving, call upon me.”
“I’ll remember. Thanks.”
“Now let me pray for you and you be on your way.” Claret raised a hand in farewell. “Father…”
Lawrence sighed. He could not. He did not understand how Cosmic Creepers could. No, it wasn’t right. Cosmic was an uplifted animal. His understanding was simple. Lily was more complex. She’d killed. She’d tried to have him killed. How could she be forgiven and not Lawrence? Why couldn’t Lawrence do it? He was willing to debase himself on the floor and say whatever oath it required. But belief? Genuine, true belief? It was a step he could not take.
“Thank you, Archbishop,” Lawrence said. He bowed at the waist. Claret disappeared. Lawrence took a deep breath. The ground quaked. It kept quaking.
“He’s coming,” Lily shouted. “We must leave.”
“Let’s go,” Cosmic ran to the stairs. Lily ran right behind him. “Lawrence?”
Lawrence stared at the circle. His brain needed a reboot. He shook himself. He’d process later. It was time for action. The three of them ran down the stairs. Cosmic had to go slow because he was on all fours. They made it to the ground floor. They ran across the quad. The students had vanished. The professors sat in their stolen homes.
Cosmic skidded to a halt. Lily and Lawrence stopped. Lawrence drew his gun. Lily grabbed her pocket, just now realizing.
“Kid. Give me my knife.”
“Still don’t trust you.”
“What? After I became a believer?” Lily looked shocked. “But I confessed.”
“People,” Cosmic said.
“No, keep talking. I like where you going.”
A humanoid stood in the path. Because his domain was a mountain, he resembled a mountain. A square of grass covered his torso. The rest of him was a mixture of cockroach shells, gravel, pieces of glass, refuse, and whatever trash the servants dumped.
Two beady lights sat in his eye sockets. His face was a mass of dead bugs. He didn’t have the Swarm Skill. It was just a pile of dead bugs from somewhere on the mountain. It was easy to shape into a face and it showed emotions. Winter’s horrible mouth opened. He had rocks for teeth and a long, black tongue.
“Come Lawrence.” Winter’s voice changed. “I give you my word. If you fight me now, I will let the others go.”
“No,” Cosmic Creepers shook his head. “We’re staying.”
“Speak for yourself, llama,” Lily yelled. “I just got a second chance. I don’t want to die.”
“Do we have a deal?” Winter grinned. He had a man-shaped body, as much as he could while looking like something out of a nightmare. “I see the blessing of God upon your shoulders, slave. I cannot take your body for my own, but there are other things I can take. Have you ever been raped?”
Lily froze. Tears sprang to her eyes. “L-l-l-l-Lawrence. D-d-d-do sssss-something.”
“I got this. Cosmic. Guard her.” He walked around the llama.
“You don’t have any more of those scrolls,” Cosmic reminded him. “And you’re vulnerable. You can’t beat his will.”
“Shut up, Cos. Uncle, I accept your deal.” Lawrence chucked his grenade. It rolled to a stop at Winter’s feet. “Shield from Physical Harm.”
A shimmering bubble appeared around the three. Lawrence heard an explosion. He saw a burning flare. The ground shook. Winter took the hit. The grenade blew him to pieces. One leg, part of his chest, one arm, and his head remained. Winter’s garish grin grew.
“Irresistible Current of Will.” Lightning shot from Winter’s eyes.
“Counterspell.” Lawrence snapped. “Iliaster Burst.”
“Counterspell. Hellfire.”
Lawrence screamed as the fire burned him. He felt his soul burning with it. Winter began laughing. His body reformed. Lawrence launched spell after spell. Winter stopped defending himself. His mouth expanded like a shark. He threw his head back. Pieces of him burned and regrew.
“Hellfire. Irresistible Will. Hellfire. Iliaster Burst. Iliaster Drain. Energy Tap. Banishing. Hellfire.” Lawrence emptied his second-to-last magazine. His remaining magazine had six bullets left. He was out of spells. His will was like a wave against the shore—not enough. Winter’s body kept reforming. He could not be killed. His phylactery was the entire mountain.
Through it all, the same sound repeated. A high, mocking laugh. Winter uttered a single spell. His will slammed into Lawrence, a tidal wave of power. The wave retracted and slammed into him again. Lawrence’s knees buckled.
“Lawrence,” someone screamed.
He couldn’t do it. He had lost. He should have accepted illogic. Winter stopped laughing. He lowered his chin. His mouth opened wider, as if he planned to swallow Lawrence whole. Fingers of rock and bug parts wrapped around Lawrence’s neck. Winter squeezed.
Light flared. Winter paused. An animal crowed. Winter and Lawrence turned their heads. Three hundred pounds of angry, screaming llama rammed into Winter. The demon went flying. He landed as a pile of trash. He reformed.
Cosmic Creepers screamed. He charged. Winter took him head-on. A piercing, musical shriek made Lawrence’s ears ring. He, Winter, and Cosmic leaned away from the sound, but Cosmic kept fighting.
Lawrence saw green scales. Lily’s mouth hung wide like a snake. She had a mouth full of serrated, triangular teeth. The most horrific shriek erupted from her throat. A cone formed in the air. A tunnel of force and ear-splitting noise blew Winter to pieces. Blood ran from Cosmic’s ears. He reared and brought his hooves down on Winter’s body.
Winter reformed. His face twisted in rage. Lawrence put three bullets in his head. Winter reformed. His arm turned into a blade.
“[Iron Hooves],” Cosmic screamed. He kicked. “[Powerful Strike].”
Winter exploded. He was already reforming.
“[Banshee Screech].” Lily took a deep breath. “AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH.”
Lawrence fired two more bullets. He holstered his weapon and drew his sword. Winter snarled. The two went at it. Cosmic rammed between them. He bowled Winter over with his neck.
“No. Fight me,” Cosmic bellowed. “DEMON—FIGHT. ME.”
The demon obliged. Lawrence had never seen Cosmic so angry. Claws formed out of Winter’s body. These were not the little black fingernail claws that Kyri and Gnat had. Their claws could be duplicated if one did not clip their fingernails long enough. Winter’s claws were the Skill version. Twenty-four inches, at least. Jagged on the underside, burning white ectoplasm as he channeled iliaster for more damage. He raked Cosmic across the neck. Lawrence’s heart stopped.
Cosmic barreled into Winter.
“What?” Winter said.
“[Iron Wool],” Cosmic yelled. He kicked Winter’s head in. “And [Toughened Hide]. Lawrence. RUN.”
Lawrence dashed to Lily’s side. Her tail split in two. Scales gave way to smooth flesh. He helped her up. She grabbed his hand. He ran for the gate. Lily seemed to pull him along. Lawrence unlocked it. They shoved it open together. Lawrence unlocked the outer gate. They pushed it open. Lily ran to the edge of the path downward, and then stopped.
She turned around. Lawrence stood under the gate. Tears ran down his face.
“Lawrence.”
“I can’t.” He tossed her knife. Lily caught it by the belt.
“He’ll kill you.”
“He’s my friend,” Lawrence’s voice cracked. His eyes welled up. “My only friend. I can’t leave him.”
“You’ll see him again. He’ll be waiting for you in heaven.” Lily went back. She grabbed Lawrence’s wrist. “Look, for what it’s worth. I’m sorry about earlier. You—I—I was wrong. I’m sorry. I should not have tried to kill. But the truth is I don’t owe you or him anything. Accepting Jesus? It—it wiped away my Contracts. It reset my Corruption. I can’t sign a Contract anymore. I’m not your slave or his or anyone else’s. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to sign a Contract again. I’m a free woman now. And I’m telling you: we must go.”
Lawrence sniffed. He heard Winter and Cosmic screaming. The entire mountain shook. Light emanated from the quad.
“He’s holding off the demon. We can’t win this.” Lily pleaded. She pulled, but Lawrence would not move. “We must go. He would want you to live. He wants you to live. Please.”
“I can’t.” Lawrence wrenched himself free. He shook his head. “You go if you want. I made you sign a Contract ‘cause I didn’t trust you. I don’t need it. An apology is good enough. We’re even. Just go.”
“I’m sorry.” Lily’s face crumpled. She fled. Lawrence turned. He ran back inside. To help his only friend.