Chapter 30
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 sadistic play.
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 than attempted harm 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. It was cruel. 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 to follow 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.
“I believe so. I only meant to bind them. They would have died eventually. I believe the magic did not wish to wait that long to enact justice.” It was a sobering reminder.
Magic obeyed our will by its own choice, and that relationship was a precarious one built on a pillar of trust. These warlocks had defiled that trust.
One by one, their gasped breaths stilled until nothing but silence remained, three bodies lying limp on the floor. Some of those lives had been cut too short. Others had far outlived their usefulness.
Carnage filled the room. Hikaru’s idea of play was akin to a hurricane and left similar destruction in its wake. I was beginning to understand the restraint Hikaru had shown when lovingly rearranging my furnishings.
“Well, that was satisfying,” Hikaru said while staring at his blood-stained claws.
“A bit messy, but have you truly had fun if there’s not a mess when you’re done?
” When I glanced down, Hikaru’s eyes appeared lit from within, and a wicked grin lifted one side of his mouth.
Pressing his shoulder against mine, Hikaru’s grin faltered.
“Are you upset with me?” He swallowed hard.
“I mean, maybe I could have been a bit gentler, but—”
“I am upset, but not with you.” I stared out at the waste of life and potential talent. “I don’t believe he was always this way.”
“Who? Danzig?”
I nodded. “I wouldn’t call him a mentor, but when I was younger, Danzig garnered my respect. I have no idea what happened to change him.”
“Perhaps you never truly knew him at all.” Hikaru’s memories sounded a thousand miles away. “We see what we want to see, especially when we’re young and impressionable. Youth is a disease and one of its symptoms is blindness. Another is idiocy.”
We were no longer speaking of Danzig. “I believe the word you’re looking for is na?veté.”
Hikaru huffed and crossed his arms, his gaze pointedly no longer looking at me.
Turning enough that I could cup his chin, I angled Hikaru’s face to me.
His eyes remained downcast. “Huxley’s betrayal is not on you.
It is not a commentary on you. The fault lies in but one place, and that is Tenzen Huxley.
You’re right, youth makes fools of us all.
It is the responsibility of the elder generation to guide the younger through those treacherous waters.
It is a grave responsibility, one Huxley not only rejected, but preyed upon.
You were never at fault.” Leaning in, I kissed Hikaru’s trembling lips.
His stiff body relaxed under my touch, leaning in and soaking up the freely given affection.
When Hikaru pulled back, his eyes were downcast once more and his voice was little more than a wounded fluttering. “He hurt me.”
I pulled Hikaru in, wrapping my arms around him.
He could have been speaking of Huxley or Danzig.
Either way, I made a vow then and there that no other would have such an opportunity in the future.
Resting my chin on Hikaru’s head, I gently rocked us back and forth.
It was amazing that such a fierce creature could hold such insecurities and pain.
While a change in venue would be appreciated, a part of me wished I could stand there forever, holding Hikaru in my arms. Right now, he was safe. There was no one left within these four walls that could cause him harm.
“This is nice.” Hikaru’s voice was muffled against my chest. “But I can think of a thousand different places that smell better.” Pulling away, Hikaru crinkled his nose. “I’m not sure what’s worse, the mold or coppery blood scent. It would be a really poor choice for a candle company.”
My lips twitched with humor. “You never know. Humans have peculiar tastes, especially around the holiday they deem Halloween.”
Hikaru’s grin was back. “We should try selling it in your store.”
“Not a chance.”
Smacking me on my chest, Hikaru stepped out of my arms. “I swear, sometimes you are absolutely no fun at all, Niki.”
“But you love me anyway.” I didn’t feel like I was going out on a limb. Every fiber of my being told me that Hikaru loved me.
Cheeks pinking, Hikaru blushed. “I do.”
“That is fortunate. It would be horrid to have a one and only who did not share my feelings.”
Hikaru’s grin grew, stretching his lips, plumping his cheeks, and narrowing his eyes. “Your one and only? You mean that?”
“I would not jest about something like that.” I hardly jested at all, and certainly not regarding my feelings for Hikaru. “As I said before, Gaia has bestowed her blessing upon me once again, menace.”
Eyelids fluttering closed, Hikaru collapsed back into my arms. “I was afraid I’d never hear you call me that again.”
I ran my fingers through his hair, relishing in the soft texture. Hikaru’s tails danced behind him, contentedly swaying back and forth, occasionally touching my legs as they moved. “I will call you that so many times you’ll soon be sick of it.”
“Never,” Hikaru reassured.
“You say that now, but—”
“But nothing,” Hikaru insisted, and who was I to argue. Twisting his head, Hikaru’s cheek pressed against my chest as his gaze scanned the bodies lying on the floor. “What should we do with them?”
I started to answer but it seemed the magic had ideas of its own.
Eyes wide, I watched in astonished awe as the warlocks’ bodies diminished, their flesh and bone whittled down to a consistency akin to pixie dust. The substance shimmered before disappearing all together, at least to my eyes. Hikaru was different.
“Oh! Who knew such filth could become something so beautiful.” Hikaru’s round, wide eyes flicked here and there. He lifted an arm, moving his hand through what appeared to be empty air.
“What do you see?”
“Magic. So much magic, and it’s gorgeous.” Hikaru’s eyes slipped closed as his head tilted back and he inhaled deeply. “I had no idea Magic could do that.”
Hikaru twisted until his back was to my front, my arms wrapped around his middle. “What did it do?” I could feel the magic, but I couldn’t see it, not like Hikaru could.
“It reclaimed them.” Hikaru nudged his head in the direction of the now empty floor.
“It broke the warlock’s bodies down until there was nothing left but magic.
” His gaze traveled toward the ceiling. “It’s free now.
The magic hesitated for a moment. Magic really does love you, Niki, but this magic had a bigger desire and that was for freedom.
I think it had been caught in those hate-filled bodies for far too long. ”
I squeezed Hikaru a little tighter. “But warlocks aren’t magic, not like brownies and fairies.”
“Everyone, even humans, have magic in them. No, you’re not made of the stuff, but it’s a part of you, just like everything else that makes you who you are.
Some of us have more than others. Some of us would be nothing without it.
Some have a minuscule amount. Regardless, there is a touch of magic in all living things.
” Hikaru tapped a clawed finger against the corner of his eye. “I can see it.”
I had no idea what that must be like. “I envy you.”
That mischievously wicked grin I loved so much returned. “Oh, baby, doesn’t everyone?” That smile still on his lips, Hikaru went up on his tiptoes and pressed his lips to mine. It wasn’t just Hikaru others envied. Given that I had his love and affection, I was now on that desired list as well.