Chapter Twelve

As it turned out, it was not a piece of cake and considering how convoluted my life was, I should have known better to ever assume anything would be easy.

Most of the guards weren’t magical, thankfully, but the one mage here was far superior to the last one we’d faced. To add another degree of difficulty I really didn’t need right now, most of the human guards were desensitized to incubus power, thus Dimitrius’s power didn’t have its full effect.

Spinning out of the way of yet another cutting spell, the blade of magic slicing painfully though my arm, I snarled. “This is why I despise Exitium mages!”

My opponent laughed, enjoying every dodge and weave I gave as he slung spell after spell my way. Dark eyes danced with mirth I’d seen dozens of times as he pulled back for another volley.

Dimitrius, for his part, had his hands full with the rest of the guards. The knives he always kept on his person flashing in a blur as he cut a swathe through the humans. They were falling pathetically easily to him, so with any luck he’d be available to help me with this ass soon.

Another too-close spell cut through my calf, blood hitting the air as I dodged his next attack. A smirk curled his lips as he taunted. “Why don’t you fight back then? Or is that worthless magic all you can do?”

Familiar frustration burned hot, wrath joining it to churn dangerously in my chest. The urge to let loose–show him what I could really do–was tempting, but I forced it back. Attacking recklessly would get me dead and Dimitrius right behind me. Unacceptable.

I would think, like Seraphina always tried to beat into my head, and finish this the smart way.

As it stood, I was wearing down and he knew that. If the fight continued much longer he’d win from the blood loss slowly leaching at my strength. Which meant I needed to end this now.

My heel slid on the blood slicked floor, nearly sending me to the ground before I caught myself, the Exitium mage slamming another cutting spell past my head in the moment of distraction. I dodged, but before I had time to jump back, I noticed it.

The smallest break in his defenses. Every time he cast, he paused to gather his magic. I could use that.

Waiting for his next attack, I let it graze me, gritting my teeth through the fiery pain as I dropped. Hard floor bruised my side, but I didn’t focus on that. No, all my attention was on the mage now sauntering up to me with an arrogant smirk.

With each step he took, Dimitrius’s struggles nearby grew until he shouted. “Julian!” His voice rang with worry as he tried and failed to dice his way through the remaining guards to get to my side. The calm and cool mask shattered, desperation sharpening his movements as he fought.

It was sweet, how hard he was trying to reach me, but in this case it wasn’t necessary.

Ignoring the fluttery feeling in my gut over his worry, I met my opponent’s eyes, his black fringe of hair nearly covering narrowed blue orbs as he smirked down at me.

“You should have attacked while you had the chance instead of constantly staying on the defensive. You might have lived to see tomorrow if you had.”

Stopping above me, he raised a hand as magic sparked through the air. His whispered incantation was lost to the buzzing in my ears, but when a fireball formed in his hand, I braced. Just like before, he dropped his guard, and when he went to bring the fire down I swung to grab his ankle.

Snapping my other arm out, I barked. “Exsilium!”

Like the crack of a whip, the air tensed as magic poured off me, saturating the air around us. His eyes widened, but before he could say or do anything, a colossal crack opened behind him. He swung to face it, terror growing, but before he had a chance to escape I dragged myself up and slammed a fist into his jaw.

Satisfaction flared as he staggered back into my spell, falling through it before the rift snapped shut like a monster’s maw. Dead silence rang out as I turned to the rest of the guards, a feral grin stretching my lips. “Who else feels like taking a trip to Satan’s personal sauna today?”

Those that weren’t already on the floor from Dimitrius’s assault slowly lowered to their knees, faces paling in sync. Smart of them.

“Good move on your part.” I said, hand trailing down to take stock of my injuries. Before I could examine the particularly nasty cut on my side, arms wrapped around me. Now pressed flat to a firm chest, I resisted the instinctual urge to lash out and breathed. Dimitrius’s scent–books and tea–hit my nose, relaxing me instantly as he gripped me tight enough to bruise.

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Not fighting the sudden hug, my chin resting on his shoulder, I listened as he choked near my ear. “Do not ever terrify me like that again.”

It wasn’t like I’d done it on purpose, though the relief all but gushing off him like a geyser made my heart spin and flip. No one, aside from Seraphina, ever cared if I lived or died. To a certain extent I knew he liked me, saw me as a friend if nothing else, but this?

His arms tightened, as if afraid I’d melt away if he let go, and the firm hold was soothing in a way I had no words for. Through the fluttering in my chest, safety sank like an anchor, spreading warmth out in waves as I fought the urge to melt into him.

Rubbing small circles on his back, I glared at the still conscious guards over his shoulder–all but daring them to strike–while soothing. “I’ll try not to, but sometimes I have to let enemies think they won. It’s the easiest strategy.”

He pulled away with obvious reluctance, hands lingering on my back as he grimaced. “Be that as it may, I will continue to dislike that particular method. I thought you were soon to be gone from this world…” Distress coiled behind his eyes, tightening the line of his jaw as I squeezed his hand.

“I’m fine and after we get back you can see that for yourself. The only injuries I have are minor and will heal in no time. For now, we have other things to deal with.” Besides, my crush was thriving under his attention and I needed to put space between us before it got worse.

Thankfully he separated without complaint, stepping back to eye where the Exitium mage had stood. “You are right, though later you must tell me how that works.”

I nodded, ignoring the drain steadily pulling on my magic as I turned to the rest of the guards. “Alright boys, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. I can knock you out and we’ll bring you in to be questioned, or I can throw you in with your buddy to be Cerberus’s chew toy and let you out later…maybe. If I’m feeling merciful. Pick one.”

Not surprisingly, they chose the first option.

Exsilium didn’t actually go anywhere that scary–it definitely didn’t lead to hell–but it sure looked like it did and that’s all that mattered. It was easier to corral terrified guards than ones who thought they had a chance.

Once I finished knocking out the last of them, with Dimitrius’s help, I sighed. “One thing down, another dozen to go.” Eyeing the building around us with disgust, flashes of the condition the kids were in coming back to me, I sneered.

“Tell me I can burn this place to the ground after we get everything we need from it.”

I didn’t have any fire magic–or attack magic in general–but getting my hands on dynamite wouldn’t be too difficult. Hell, I’d even come back to burn it all down if he agreed. Until this place was nothing more than sludge and rubble, I wouldn’t be satisfied.

Dimitrius shot me a confused glance, eyes drifting over the durable walls dubiously. “Seeing as this is a stone building, I doubt fire would do any good.”

A hard smile twisted my lips. “Yeah, but trying would make me feel so much better.”

His brow rose to that, but he nodded without further argument. “Let us get the children to safety and retrieve all the important information, then we will return so you may do as you wish.”

Awesome. Turning back to the guards, I pulled some rope from my bag and started tying them up. “I have this if you want to search the area. I think these were the last of the guards, so you shouldn’t meet anyone else.”

He paused, glancing hesitantly down my bloodied frame, before shaking his head. “I do not wish to leave you as you are without someone to watch your back. Any additional checks can wait until you finish.”

I appreciated the protectiveness, but in this case it wasn’t needed. I was fine and the sooner we checked over everything, the quicker those kids got out of here.

Keeping my tone gentle, I stopped fiddling with the guards long enough to prod him toward the door. “Dimitrius, I’m fine. Those kids shouldn’t have to stay here a minute longer than necessary and it won’t take you long. I’ll be right here, I promise.”

A war waged across his face, an argument building under the surface, but just as he looked ready to launch it, I cut in.

“Dimitrius…”

He deflated. “I will do a quick sweep of the area before releasing the children. Should you require aid, do not hesitate to shout.”

I hummed, watching him disappear around the corner. Once he was out of sight, I focused on tying up the rest of the guards as my mind wandered. I hadn’t expected Dimitrius to react so strongly to my ‘near death’ experience. Even now tingles swept through me where his skin brushed mine, the tight hold a comfort I wasn’t used to.

Through the warm flutters still twitching in my chest, hope flickered to life. I’d written anything off between us thanks to his history, but maybe I was wrong? He’d certainly gotten an eyeful earlier and for him to react so strongly now…

Before the treacherous hope could get away with me, I doused it with cold reality. We were friends, of course he’d be afraid of losing me and earlier didn’t mean anything. Heck if our positions had been switched with him being that close to death I would have been worried too!

A tiny voice chimed in at the back of my mind. But I also have a raging crush on the man. He seemed awfully worried, enough to pull me into a hug and hesitate to release me despite the circumstances.

Okay yes that was a bit off for a friend, but that didn’t mean he’d want anything else with me. Letting myself hope for more would only end in pain.

Repeating that like a mantra, I forced my thoughts to a different topic. Namely, the base we’d just taken down.

There were probably more of them, but knowing this one was out of commission sent satisfaction through me. We still had plenty more to do, but at least this was a step in the right direction.

I doubt the mastermind behind all this was here, though. Dimitrius said the kids were going missing from everywhere, not just in this area. To have the kind of connections to travel around the globe without an issue tells me we’re up against someone smart, powerful and well connected. Not a great combination for us.

Why is it I never got to fight the easy ones whose plans backfired hilariously because of some obvious problem they overlooked? At least then I’d have some amusement as I beat them into the ground.

Shaking that to the side, I focused. With any luck one of these goons would have more information on this mess. I’d even settle for where another base was, as long as we managed to save some kids while we were at it.

Anything was better than waiting around doing nothing.