“I can’t,” I yelled. “Not while I’m holding you, I can’t.”
I circled around the battle, observing the gaping slashes across Willow’s face and shoulders while Fiona’s body held only a few cuts from Willow’s talons. Willow was clearly weakening as Fiona all but blinded her with a raking slash across her face.
“Fiona will kill her, Alaric! Do something.”
I was forced to agree. Willow, older and less experienced in fighting, might soon grow exhausted. Already, Fiona had sunkher talons into Willow’s silver body and had closed her jaws on Willow’s throat.
“This is your chance,” Hayley yelled. “Her back is to you.”
Hayley was right. With Fiona occupied with shaking Willow like a terrier shakes a rat, her golden back and spread wings were exposed. And I flew not far above her.
“Hang on,” I said, and dove.
Holding Hayley close to my chest, and hopefully out of the way, I clamped my jaws on Fiona’s neck near her skull. I dug my rear talons into Fiona’s back.
In shock and pain, shrieking in rage, Fiona released her hold on Willow.
We both dropped away from Willow, and I lost sight of her. Focused on Fiona, I banked to my right, still diving. I wrenched my neck and head hard sideways to my left.
Fiona’s neck broke.
I heard its sharp crack an instant before she went limp under me.
I let her drop the thousands of feet to the sea.
Banking high again, I held Hayley up as Willow soared toward us, her wings wide.
“Holy shit,” Hayley screamed. “What’s that?”
I looked down.
An enormous, smokey, gray-black cloud formed around Fiona’s corpse even as it dropped toward the sea. I stared in wonder and horror as it developed massive claws and reached into the body. The smokey talons retreated – with something captured within them. The thing struggled mightily in the cloud’s massive grip.
Fiona’s golden dragon body hit the waves and vanished beneath them. The grayish black cloud dissipated, swirling, twisting, and almost appeared to leer upward at us. Then itvanished. The air between us and the surging sea below became innocent once again.
“Holy Lanokota,” Willow gasped, soaring beside me. “Oh, Holy Lady protect us.”
“What was that?” I yelled, scared to my bones. “What the hell?”
“Da’arvass.” Willow stared into my eyes. “He came to claim what was his.”
“That?” Hayley screamed, “that was the demon god? And he took hersoul?”
“Yes.” Willow pointed toward the distant coast. “Let’s get out of here. I need a stiff drink.”
***
Hayley took Willow into the bathroom to assist her in cleaning and patching up her wounds. Willow wasn’t just exhausted from the fight, she seemed frightened to her core. She said little as we flew to my house, even less while I went to the mini bar and fixed us all drinks.
I nursed my second when they finally emerged, Willow walking stiffly and clearly in great pain. I helped her to sit with plush cushions behind her. Willow accepted the drink and downed it immediately.
“Ah.” She sighed. “Better.”
Hayley sipped her own, also preoccupied. I prepared another drink for Willow, then took it to her before sitting down next to Hayley.
“Fiona failed her god,” Willow said slowly. “She will suffer for eternity. I feel terrible for her.”
“So do I.” Hayley murmured. “That – that was awful.”
