Page 19

CHAPTER 19

AISLINN

A s the last vestiges of the corrupted energy dissipated, a sense of relief washed over me. We had freed the Shadowmere Pack from Marcus's twisted control. Their natural forms reasserted themselves as the relic's hold was shattered. The look of gratitude on their faces made the effort worth it.

Still, I couldn't shake the lingering effects of the corruption's taint. Marcus had tried to unravel the very core of my being. He’d twisted my various parts into some perverted mockery of unity. The memory of that violation made my stomach turn. It made me want to run home and hug my daughter. Now was not the time to dwell on my trauma. We had a madman to stop.

"Gadross," I called out, my voice steady despite the weariness that tugged at my limbs. "Any luck tracking down that bastard Marcus?"

The Department agent's copper artifacts whirred to life, the devices guiding us deeper into the labyrinthine tunnels. "I'm picking up a strong magical signature up ahead," he reported, his forehead creased with intense focus. "It's definitely Marcus, and he's throwing up one hell of a defense."

Fiona's expression turned grim. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's not keep the wanker waiting. I'd say he's had more than enough time to stew in his delusions of grandeur."

Violet nodded in agreement. "Couldn't have said it better."

We traveled in silence for several minutes until things changed. Oppressive energy set me on edge as we pressed forward. I was about to ask about the shift when the tunnel ahead erupted in a shower of debris. Massive, hulking figures emerged from another corridor. Their bodies were contorted. Flesh melted into twisted amalgamations of disparate parts. There was a grasping claw here, a gaping maw there, and all were bound together by a pulsing, gelatinous mass.

Argies let out a feral snarl. Dragon fire flicked out of his mouth when he said, "So the bastard's sending his pet abominations to slow us down, is he? Fine by me. I was hoping to work out a bit of frustration."

Thanos chuckled and pulled out his sword. "Stay sharp, everyone. These creatures are an extension of Marcus's corrupted power."

I steeled myself, drawing on the last dregs of my elemental magic. I hurt everywhere from Marcus’s torture, and I feared I might simply collapse if I pushed it too far. I could let the others handle this. They wouldn’t hold it against me, but I refused to sit by and do nothing. I made a mental note not to use all of my energy. I had to save some for Marcus.

The twisted abominations surged forward. Their guttural roars echoed through the tunnels. Argies met them head-on. His dragon fire burned away their malformed flesh with righteous fury. Thanos's sword sliced through their ranks. Bas was right beside him, cutting them down just as easily.

Violet and Fiona worked in seamless harmony. Their combined magic unraveled the corrupted essence binding the creatures together. Wherever their purifying energies touched, the abominations recoiled. Their discordant screeches made my head throb even worse.

I gritted my teeth and summoned bursts of power to supplement the others' efforts. Earth jutted up and formed jagged spikes that crumbled the abominations' footing. I conjured fire next. It seared their twisted flesh while I used air to blow the stench away and disrupt their movements. Though my strength waned with each passing moment, I refused to falter.

Thankfully, the others carried more of the weight. It wasn’t long before the last agonized wail echoed through the hall. The twisted creatures collapsed, and their corrupted forms dissolved into a noxious sludge. I leaned heavily against the tunnel wall. My chest heaved as Fiona approached with a concerned frown.

"That was too bloody close," she muttered. "We can't keep running into these kinds of obstacles and expect to have enough left to take on Marcus himself."

I nodded wearily and closed my eyes for a moment to gather my strength. "You're right. We need a new plan. One that plays to our strengths and exploits Marcus's weaknesses." Straightening, I met Fiona's gaze with a resolute expression. "And I think I know just the thing."

The memory of Marcus's twisted machinations still burned in my mind. The corrupted energy he used to try and unmake me was seared into my very being. But in that violation, I had also glimpsed the underlying structure of his power. It taught me the weaknesses that, if properly exploited, could be our key to victory.

"Marcus is obsessed with unity. He wants to erase the barriers between magical disciplines," I began as we continued. "But that very obsession is also his downfall. He doesn't understand the true strength that comes from embracing our differences and enhancing each other. He doesn’t see a need to help anyone else."

Fiona's eyes widened. I saw the spark of understanding flicker in their depths. "You're saying we can play on his need for control and perfection to throw him off-balance."

I nodded as a faint smile tugged at the corners of my lips. "Precisely. We may not be able to match him in raw power. If we can disrupt the cohesion of his magic, it could give us the opening we need to put an end to his evil schemes once and for all."

Violet stepped forward. "We’re going for facials as soon as this is done."

That lifted my spirits as we pressed onward. A surge of cautious optimism filled me. Marcus had underestimated us before in thinking he could break us and remake us in his image. But he'd forgotten one crucial detail. The Backside of Forty didn't break. We adapted, we evolved, and we emerged stronger than ever.

This time, we would be the ones to teach Marcus a hard lesson. And when this was over, he'd learn why you never mess with a bunch of stubborn, midlife, magical misfits who refused to allow evil to spread. Our pace quickened as Gadross's copper artifice guided us deeper into the tunnels.

"We're getting close," Gadross reported. Deep lines etched across his brow as he concentrated. "We’ve cleansed the ley lines, but we should watch for any attempts to take them again. I’m not sure if he needs them to fuel his ritual."

As if on cue, the ground suddenly shuddered beneath our feet and sent us staggering. Massive cracks spiderwebbed across the ancient stone. Purple energy pulsed from the widening fissures. Fiona and Violet threw a spell ahead of us. I was familiar with their protective barriers.

Argies and I surged forward. Our magic worked in tandem to clear a path. My elemental bursts disrupted the Dark magic’s creeping efforts while Argies's dragon fire incinerated every scrap. It couldn’t find a way around Fiona and Violet to get another foothold. Moving forward was slow going.

The further we pressed, the thicker the corruption became. At one point, the air writhed with Marcus's malevolent power. We were so focused on what we were doing that I nearly missed the new threat. It emerged from the gloom. The creatures lurched towards us with massive teeth and even bigger paws.

"Demon hounds," Thanos growled, and his eyes narrowed as he sized up the approaching monstrosities. "Nasty buggers, but nothing we can't handle."

I nodded as I started conjuring elements. "Then let's show them why they shouldn't have come between the Backside of Forty and their goal."

The demon hounds surged forward. Their guttural roars echoed through the tunnels. Argies met them head-on. He’d shifted his fingers into talons. He sliced through their tough hides. I supplemented his assault with bursts of earth and air. The elemental energies confused the creatures.

Thanos and Bas used their weapons to cleave heads from shoulders wider than most buses. Fiona threw a few magical bombs and then decided to use her witch fire. Violet started with her blue witch fire. The stench of burning flesh made my stomach turn violently.

For every demon hound we dispatched, two more seemed to take its place. The relentless onslaught wore me down quickly. My magic flickered and waned as fatigue began to set in. "Bloody hell," Argies panted. "These things just keep coming. We need to find a way to cut off their bloody supply line."

I gritted my teeth, racking my brain for a solution. As I studied the demon hounds' movements, I caught sight of something. "Focus your fire on the tunnels behind them. I think I know where they're coming from."

Trusting my instincts, Fiona, Violet, and my mate shifted their assaults. Argies spit his dragon fire towards the debris-choked passageways while Fiona and Violet directed their flames to the same location. The intense heat caused the rubble to crumble. It effectively sealed off the demon hounds' route of reinforcement.

With their supply line cut, the creatures faltered. Their twisted forms wavered as the corrupted energy that sustained them began to wane. Seizing the opportunity, we redoubled our efforts, our magic working in seamless harmony to dispatch the remaining monstrosities.

"Bloody good work," Violet said as the last hound fell. "But that was far too close for comfort. We can't keep fighting these endless waves of Marcus's abominations.”

“The good news is, we won't have to worry about fighting any more of Marcus's creatures. The man himself is just up ahead," Gadross replied with a grim smile.

Fiona’s grin turned feral. "Then let's not keep the bastard waiting. Time to show him that you don't mess with the Backside of Forty and get away with it."

We surged forward on swift feet. I easily kept up. Anticipation fueled me and gave me a second wind. We rounded the next corner, and the tunnel opened into a vast chamber. Marcus stood in the middle of it with his corrupted magic radiating an unholy power.

But he was not alone. Beside him, a rift had been torn in the barrier between realms. From it, tendrils of pure chaos reached through. The First Ones were trying to force their way into our world.

"So, you've finally decided to join the party," Marcus sneered, his voice layered with the discordant undertones of the First Ones. "I was wondering when you'd grace me with your presence."

Fiona and Violet flanked me. Their magic flared to life. Argies and Thanos moved to the other side of Marcus. Their power radiated a rage that was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

"This ends now, Marcus," I said. "Your malicious schemes have gone on long enough. We won't let you or your evil destroy the sanctity of our world."

Marcus's laughter echoed through the chamber. It was cold and mocking. "Destroy? My dear Aislinn, I'm not here to destroy. I'm here to remake. To forge a new world where magic knows no boundaries or limitations. And you and your friends will be the foundation upon which I build my new order."

I expected Fiona to issue some witty retort to that statement. However, she and Violet threw a magical spell at Marcus. It exploded in spectacular fashion, taking one of his arms with it. His roar of fury and pain was followed by him using fire to cauterize the wound and stop the bleeding. He leveled us with a look that should have killed us right then and there. Oh, shite. We were in trouble.