Magic Wild (Dragon's Gift: The Seeker Book 4) Read online

  Then, not only would we be fighting demons, we’d be fighting humans as well. And there were so damned many humans. We relied on them. They built the infrastructure on which the world turned. Supernaturals used human money, roads, planes—everything. Most of us even blended into human cities.

  It’d be the end of the freaking world as we knew it.

  “Do you have any ideas?” Nix asked.

  “Only one.” Something strange fluttered in my chest, a visceral sensation. “I need to collect more powers. If I’m going to defeat so many Shadows, I need more gifts.”

  “I hate to be a downer,” Nix said. “But you haven’t even mastered your telekinesis yet. Should you steal more before you do that?”

  Annoyance simmered. “I’ll practice.”

  “You need to,” Nix said. “Powers aren’t any good if you can’t use them.”

  “Will you take from demons or other supernaturals?” Cass asked.

  “You mean take the gifts with my Phantom power or my FireSoul power?” I asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Phantom. It’s easier—and less guilt inducing—to kill demons. I wouldn’t know how to find supernaturals worth killing.” And I didn’t want to be the final judge of whether or not they deserved to die.

  “Yeah, that’s the hard part,” Cass said. “You pretty much have to wait until their hands are around your throat before you make a move.”

  I squeezed her hand. Cass had killed her fair share of supernaturals to get her powers, but all had been after her life.

  It was one reason I was grateful for my Phantom gift. I could grow my power with less guilt. It was easy to choose a demon who ate people, after all. I’d stay away from Roarke’s contacts—demons like Jim Bob weren’t fair game. They were good. Which made my job a bit harder. But I’d have to manage.

  Nix looped her arm around my shoulders. “Just be careful, okay? Stealing powers is a slippery slope.”

  I nodded, but my mind was already on the hunt.

  Chapter Ten

  The next morning, I met Claire at P & P. I’d barely slept the night before, having spent the full six hours tossing and turning in my worry. The threat of the Shadows controlling me with the horror of killing Roarke’s brother as being the only way to escape made it impossible to sleep.

  I thought I’d been worried about my situation before…

  I’d been naive.

  Roarke was spending the day with his brother, questioning him about the last ten years, while I was with Claire, ready to hunt some demons. I’d called her last night, requesting as many hit jobs as she could get from her handler at the Order.

  Before my “death,” I’d been a mercenary, too, but I hadn’t picked the work back up. I didn’t exactly know how to explain my absence, so I’d decided not to explain at all. Ancient Magic had been doing well enough lately that we didn’t need the money anymore. I’d never have guessed that I’d need a list of evil demons to target for reasons other than a paycheck.

  Fortunately, I had Claire to call on.

  “Ready?” Claire asked as I walked up to the coffee bar in the shop. She wore her leather battle gear, and her brown hair was pulled up in a ponytail.

  I was so hyped up to get started—and so worried about what was coming—that I didn’t even appreciate the scent of coffee, which was just plain weird.

  “Hello?”

  I blinked, startled, and met Connor’s gaze. Apparently he’d been smiling and waving awhile, if the strain around his lips was any indication.

  “Oh my gosh, I’m sorry.” I frowned. “Was I ignoring you? I’m in my own world lately.”

  Connor shrugged. “It’s cool. Lot on your mind. I hear you’re going demon hunting with big sis today.”

  I nodded, then looked at Claire. “Ready?”

  Though I’d tried not to sound too eager, I could hear it loud and clear in my voice.

  Claire drained her coffee cup, pulled on her leather jacket, then smiled. “Yep.”

  As we hurried out of the shop, Claire dug some index cards out of her pocket and handed them to me. “Six jobs on the docket today.”

  “Six?” Excitement flared in me. That was a ridiculously high number.

  “You said you wanted a lot.” Claire grinned. “But don’t worry. Some of those are wide calls. Other mercs may be after them, too. So if we don’t finish, it’s fine.”

  “Oh, I want to finish.” I gave Scooter a longing glance, wishing I could ride my motorcycle, then followed Claire to her sleek sports car.

  The engine roared as she pulled away from the curb. Claire had always been a real car fanatic.

  “Pick which job you want to start with,” Claire said.

  I skimmed the cards. Unfortunately, there were no powers listed next to the demons’ names, so we’d just have to hunt them down and see what they had.

  “Let’s try the Fortera demon,” I said. “It says he stalks Hyde’s Park in Darklane, looking for girls to…”

  “I know what he’s looking for.” Claire grimaced and put her foot to the gas.

  We pulled up to the park ten minutes later. The pace was wide and open, but in that familiar way of Darklane, everything looked vaguely gray. The huge oaks seemed to droop with the strain of growing here, where the sun shined half as bright.

  We climbed out and made our way to the first tree, staying slightly behind it as we scanned the park. There were a couple joggers, but no one lying out on blankets or playing soccer, like you’d see in a regular park.

  But then, there was nothing regular about Darklane.

  It took nearly an hour of creeping around and keeping our eyes peeled, but finally we caught sight of the demon lurking in the bushes.

  “He looks like any old peeping-Tom predator,” I muttered.

  “He is. But he doesn’t stop at peeping.”

  I scowled, using my magic to reach out for his signature. I picked up a chill, but many powers carried that signature.

  “Any idea what he is?” I peered at his form. I could just make out flashes of a dark coat and the occasional glint of his eyes to be sure he was actually in there.

  He was a pro.

  “No.” Claire pointed across the path to the other bush. “He’s got a partner.”

  I caught sight of a twitch of the bushes, just enough to see through a gap in the leaves. “Yep.”

  From down the path came the telltale sound of pounding footsteps. A moment later, a pretty woman appeared, jogging along in all black attire with flashy orange sneakers. She was just out enjoying her morning, while these monsters waited for her.

  Rage boiled in my chest, pushing out the worry and fear that had been lodged in there like a hulking gargoyle.

  “Sons a’ bitches,” I muttered.

  “I’ll take the far one, you take the close,” Claire said.

  “On it.”

  She gave the signal with her hand, a quick flick of the wrist, and we bolted from our spot behind the tree, startling the runner. I paid her no attention as I kept my gaze glued to the predator in the bush. He was so intent on his pretty prey that he didn’t even see me coming until I was only a few feet away.

  When he caught sight of me, he sprang up out of the bushes. I tackled him, sending him flying onto the asphalt path. His face scraped against the ground, and a sick satisfaction welled inside me.

  Bastard deserved it. I was glad I couldn’t read his intentions, because I was pretty sure they’d make me vomit.

  “Get off!” the demon growled from beneath me.

  I got a hint of his cold magic as I powered up an icicle and sent it through his back, not even bothering to turn him over.

  He jerked and howled, but the sound was short.

  I dragged him off toward the bushes to hide my Phantom form, only dimly realizing that I was acting like some kind of creepy predator myself.

  A quick glance around revealed that the jogger had disappeared, and there was no one left to witness my Phantom form. I called upon the mag
ic, letting it flow through me and turn my body pale blue and transparent.

  The sight of my gray-tinged form made the worry rise back up in my chest.

  I’d crush it soon, however, by stealing the power of the demon now bleeding out on the ground beneath me.

  I flipped him over, ignoring the cold evil in his pain-stricken eyes, and reached out for his magic.

  When the icy chill hit me, I faltered.

  Ice magic?

  “Damn it!” I shook him. He howled at the feel of my Phantom touch.

  “What’s wrong?” Claire asked. She’d finished off her demon and now stood above me.

  “He has ice power.” I stood and nearly growled down at him. “I already have that one.”

  “Don’t want to catch the same Pokemon twice?” Claire asked.

  “Can’t.” At my feet, the demon finally bled out and lay still. “I need new powers.”

  The monster in my chest clawed, worry feeding it. I’d needed this. Not just the power, but the kill. The act of taking it and proving that I could control my own fate. If only for a little while.

  Claire pulled out her cell phone and snapped a pic of the demon. His form began to disappear a moment later.

  “Ah, well. At least we got to save the girl.” She showed me the picture. “And this will get me paid.”

  I nodded, trying to force my mind toward the thought of the girl. Just thinking of what might have happened to her made me shudder.

  “Yeah.” I nodded. “Glad I picked this job first, or we might have been too late.”

  “Fate.”

  “I think so.” I just hoped fate was on my side in this whole deal.

  “The demons are gone. Let’s hit the next stop.”

  As we headed back to the car, I rifled through the cards. I slid into the passenger seat and said, “Let’s head to the main road in Darklane. There’s a demon who feeds off the pain of old people. He’s been hitting up houses through their back entrances on Dimlight Alley.”

  But did I really want the power of such a monster?

  Yes.

  Beggars couldn’t be choosers, and I didn’t want to take power from anyone actually decent.

  Claire nodded and gunned her engine, pulling away from the curb.

  It was noon by the time we pulled up to the edge of Dimlight Alley. The houses on the main street all backed up to this narrow passage. The midday sun struggled to shine through the clouds, but it wasn’t going to succeed. Not here. It was almost like the atmosphere of the place extended to the stratosphere.

  The alley was even darker than the main street, so narrow that the shadows were deep and dark. Grime covered the walls, turning them pitch-black. Most of the windows were covered by dark curtains, and debris was piled outside of back doors.

  We climbed out of the car just in time to see a shadow dart along the wall farther down the alley. Another followed him.

  “Perfect way to break in,” I said. It was so shadowed that they were well camouflaged, and there was no foot traffic like on the main street.

  “Yep.”

  We hurried after the shadows, which turned out to be two large demons dressed all in black. The first slipped into an open kitchen window. The second tried to follow, but we were too quick.

  He grunted as Claire dragged him off the windowsill. I hopped up and shimmied through. The kitchen was a disaster, the table flipped and plates shattered on the floor.

  I raced through and into the narrow hall. The demon loomed in the close space, heading away from me.

  I produced an icicle, firing without hesitation. He dodged, just in time, then whirled on me. He was over six feet tall and at least two hundred and fifty pounds. He growled, revealing long fangs.

  I grimaced. Fangs meant biting. This monster likely planned to bite whatever poor person lived here.

  The demon drew his sword and charged. I called on my telekinesis, attempting to hurl the side table in front of him. It barely wobbled.

  Old faithful, then. I created another icicle, but he dodged this one, too. Damn, he was fast. He was almost upon me when I called upon my Phantom form. The chill raced through me as my limbs turned blue.

  The demon hurtled through my ephemeral form. I shuddered and called my sword from the ether. Behind me, the demon made a retching noise, as if he hated the feel of me.

  “I got more where that came from.” I spun and leaped for him, wrapping my arms around his big form in a creepy hug.

  He shuddered and yelled. I wasn’t used to using the most common Phantom power—the ability to make those you touched relive their greatest fears and worst memories.

  But I fed it into him, hoping to incapacitate him. He was so fast and so big—and so damned evil—that I had to play dirty.

  He shuddered again, dropping to his knees as his yellow eyes rolled back in his head. I didn’t know what would frighten a demon as strong and big as this one. I didn’t want to.

  When he toppled to his back, shaking, I followed him down and turned corporeal long enough to thrust my blade through his neck.

  Blood sprayed up at me, warm and thick. I gagged as it coated my neck and face.

  With bile rising in my throat, I resumed my Phantom form and reached for the demon’s magic. This time, I got something unfamiliar. The feel of rain pelting my face, then sun, followed by a breeze.

  Weather.

  That was handy. I reached for his soul. The ephemeral thing tingled against my fingertips as I drew it out. Immediately, that sense of calm control rushed over me, driving out the disgust and worry and fear. As I absorbed his soul and his magic, my whole body buzzed.

  I felt amazing.

  The magic melded with mine, becoming one of an increasing number of signatures.

  I reveled in the feeling of control, wanting to roll around in it forever.

  Had Claire’s demon disappeared yet, or could I possibly go steal his power as well?

  A sound from behind me made me jump. I leaped up, leaving the body of the demon sprawled on the ground. I hoped it was another demon.

  When I turned, I caught sight of an old man in a familiar blue velour tracksuit. His Gandalf beard reached to his waist and was tucked into the silky pants he wore. Spectacles glinted in the dim light.

  “Aethelred?” The seer who had once helped me? I hadn’t seen him since then.

  “Delphine? What did you just do?”

  I glanced down at my faded blue form. Shit. Quickly, I shifted back. “I didn’t realize I was in your house.”

  “No, you were preoccupied.”

  “Um.”

  “What did you do here?”

  Defensiveness prickled my spine. “You’re the seer. Shouldn’t you know?”

  His pale eyes narrowed behind his spectacles. “No reason to get snappy.”

  Immediately, I hated myself. He was right. There was no need to act like this. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s all right. Who are they?”

  “Forma demons.” Claire’s voice came from behind. She must have climbed in the window. “They like to…”

  She trailed off, and I couldn’t blame her. I wouldn’t want to explain what they did, either.

  “Ah, no. That is all right.” Aethelred grimaced. “I know what they do.”

  “You didn’t see them coming?” I asked.

  He shook his head. “No. I scry for danger, but I found nothing because I was never at risk. Fate decreed that you would stop them. Thank you.”

  “Glad to be of service.” Claire saluted. “Though perhaps you should have scried for damage to your kitchen, because I think that guy knocked some things over.”

  A pink glow stained Aethelred’s cheeks. “No, ah, that was a jazzercise episode gone a bit awry. I was just returning to clean it up.”

  So that’s why he always wore tracksuits. I grinned, but didn’t ask more. He clearly didn’t want to talk about it.

  “It’s lunchtime. Can I feed you? It’s the least I can do.” He nodded to the demon’s b
ody, which wasn’t disappearing. “As soon as his body goes away.”

  I didn’t know how to tell him it wouldn’t go away because I’d stolen its soul, but my stomach answered for me by rumbling.

  “We’ll take care of the body,” Claire said. “He’s, um, a rare type of demon who doesn’t disappear after death. And a rain check on the food, but thank you.”

  “How about something to go?” Aethelred asked. “I’ll make sandwiches. And give you a wet paper towel.” He nodded at the blood on my face.

  Now that was something I could use. The scent of the blood was making me queasy. “Thank you.”

  We hauled the body down the hall and back out the window. While Aethelred made sandwiches inside, we stood out in the alley below his window. I wiped off with the paper towel while Claire incinerated the body.

  “Get anything good?” she asked.

  “Weather.”

  “Oh, that is good.”

  The body was gone by the time Aethelred handed two paper sacks out the window. “Turkey and cheese.”

  I took them. “Thank you.” It seemed a shame to waste this opportunity. “Could I ask you—have you seen anything new about me? I’d be happy to pay.”

  “And well you should be.” Yep, there was the curmudgeonly Aethelred I remembered. “Just give me a moment.”

  While hanging out the window, he closed his eyes. His magic surged around him. The scent of cinnamon grew strong. Something in the air calmed. It was almost trance-like. When his eyes popped open, I almost jumped.

  “You’re going to fail.” His tone was sharp.

  “What?” My stomach dropped.

  “You have many goals, all important. One will fail. Quite dreadfully.”

  Chills raced over my skin, followed quickly by a sheen of sweat. “What should I do?”

  He shrugged. “What would you normally do?”

  “Try to stop it. But I don’t even know what I’m going to fail at.”

  “I’m sure you can guess.”

  Among many things, sure. Fail to stop the Shadows. Fail to save the world. Fail to cure my curse. Fail to not kill Roarke’s brother. There were a lot of bad things I could fail to do.

  “I really need a clue,” I begged. “Anything.”

  He shook his finger. “You know how this works. I don’t see all, but—”