Time passed unmeasured and when Niki finally pulled away, his cheeks were as flushed as mine. The magic surrounding him hadn’t dimmed, but it had been reduced from a roaring volcano to a meandering lava flow.
Slipping from Niki’s body, I stretched my arms and tails, twirling to get a good look at my fully formed eighth edition. Bouncing on the tips of my clawed toes, I clapped my hands in heady anticipation.
“Ready now?” Niki asked.
“So ready.”
Tilting his head in the direction of the warlock trio we’d been ignoring, Niki said, “Sounds like they’re getting a little restless.”
Peeking over Niki’s shoulder, I giggled my agreement. Bailor pounded at the door while Raiden stood at the side. Danzig was the only one left in the middle of the room—fury and confusion warring for pride of place amongst his features.
Grinning, I reached deep inside, once more finding that spark of magic that allowed me to dissipate and reform at will. My body was little more than atomic mist when I said, “Let’s play.”
Thirty
Nikodemus
I wasn’t typically a violent warlock. Not that I abhorred violence, but generally I didn’t see the need. There were ways around it, especially for a warlock of my stature.
However, exceptions were sometimes required. I’d killed before and didn’t bemoan the loss of those that were now gone. My son’s attacker, Dr. McCallister, was one such individual I’d happily snuffed the life from.
Staring out at the trembling, dark blue robes, I knew not every warlock in this room would finish the day still breathing. I could not imagine they could be salvaged. Maybe they would not die this day, but at the very least, I would bind their abilities. They deserved no less, if only for their malicious acts against magic itself. These warlocks did not deserve the right to guide magic, not when they chose to imprison it.
I dropped the magical barrier protecting Hikaru and myself. My one and only had already left the protective shield, reforming behind Danzig. His slender fingers gripped Danzig’s wrist, wrenching the hated blade from his hand, a deadly, “I’ll take this, thank you very much,” slipping from Hikaru’s lips before dissipating again, reforming on the other side of the room.Hikaru’s laughter echoed through the chamber, bouncing off walls as the warlocks trapped inside craned their necks this way and that in their attempts to find him. My kitsune was nowhere and everywhere all at once.
I stood back, letting Hikaru have his fun. He stripped away each and every one of their horrid cloaks. I had no idea where he hid them. I could only hope he’d thrown them into a pit of fire, utterly destroying them.
Deep gouges raked through skin, individuals crying out in pain as their flesh was torn and left bleeding. They uselessly swatted at the air but by the time their arm reacted, Hikaru was long gone, his claws sinking into another individual. Hikaru took great pleasure in transforming his body to appear like one of the warlocks. He’d get close to another and say something like, “We’ll take him on, back-to-back.” But when his victim turned, Hikaru attacked, his joyous laughter singing through the room.
Danzig suffered the most. Hikaru seemed to take great pleasure in slicing and dicing through Danzig’s skin. I took pleasure in hearing Hikaru’s joy. I didn’t begrudge him his sadisticplay. I stood back, watching the havoc Hikaru’s actions wrought, relishing in the confusion and panic that set in knowing that each swipe of my kitsune’s claws could cut a little deeper, or perhaps slice through something far more important than shallow skin.
Ignoring the begging wasn’t as difficult as it should’ve been. These warlocks had not shown mercy to the humans they’d injured with their carelessly heartless actions. They’d casually threatened my son and even attempted harm to Cilla. They’d more thanattemptedharm when it came to me. I could have forgiven transgressions aimed at myself; however, I could not forgive when aimed at those who had no way of defending themselves, and I most certainly could not forgive the capture and threats to Hikaru.
I doubt even the passing centuries would erase the image of my one and only shackled and hanging from the ceiling. It seemed anathema to bind any kitsune in that way, let alone Hikaru. And to threaten him as they did…unforgivable. These warlocks had lost their way, most likely happily slipping off the path Gaia set for them, wandering darkened trails and causing harm to all those who they happened to come into contact with.
No one would accuse the warlock species of being saintly, however, there were guidelines and rules for a reason, and these warlocks hadn’t just ignored that reason, they’d taken a torch to it and laughed as the ashes fell.
No, mercy was not on the agenda today. Utter destruction was all that would cleanse this filth from our ranks.
Danzig tilted his head back, an animalistic scream wrenched from his lips. Hikaru had just taken another swipe at him, blood trailing down his exposed arms and dripping from his fingers. The scream wasn’t only fueled by pain, but frustration and ineptitude.
That scream bounced off the walls, echoing through the room long after Danzig’s mouth closed. Hikaru’s laughter rose, trying to outdo the scream. While I was happy my kitsune was enjoying himself, the time had come to put an end to the torture.
Danzig had sought to bind my warlock abilities. It was fitting to do the same to him. Already stripped of magic, Danzig would quickly fade.
Eyes slipping closed, I concentrated on the one spell I thought I’d never use. I’d always thought binding was cruel. My opinion hadn’t changed. Itwascruel. It was no less than Danzig deserved.
Weaving the spell was relatively quick considering its implications. Pulsing with excessive magic, it was surprisingly easy to not only cast one spell, but three. I would bind them all at the same time. The magic coursing around me was eager tofollow through and needed no cajoling. In fact, it was difficult keeping it contained long enough to finish the spell.
I created the final sigil and spoke the last words before slamming my hand into the spell, sending it out into the room. The results were immediate and not what I expected. It seemed the magic had a different idea of justice.
Three binding spells went forward, wrapping themselves around Danzig, Bailor, and Raiden, seeping into their skin and diving into their core. What little magic the warlocks had remaining was torn from them with agonizing force. The screams filling the room made Danzig’s earlier cries seem petty.
“What’s happening?” Hikaru asked as he reformed beside me. “What did you do?”
I shook my head. “It’s not what I did. It’s what the magic desires.” And what it wanted now was cold revenge. All three fell to their knees, grasping their chests as tears streamed down their faces.
“They’re dying,” Hikaru stated, those two words lacking emotion.
