Chapter Nineteen #2
“She’s right,” Lucifer said and stepped forward. “Let’s make this more exciting.” He took the key from Balor and unlocked the collar. “There now. You can run. We’ll catch you, of course, but this is a little more sporting. I’ll even give you a head start.”
Sophie rubbed her neck. “Like a fox in front of hounds?”
Lucifer grinned. “The chase always arouses me.”
Sophie didn’t wait to hear more, but turned and fled, running faster than she even knew was possible. Behind her, she heard him laugh and then he was on her, knocking her to the ground. She twisted around, pummeling his chest.
He laughed again. “Fight me, bitch. It makes me hard.” His eyes glowed red as horns sprouted from his head.
Sophie screamed and thrashed and then felt a surge of power in her fingertips. Forcing herself to concentrate, she sent the purple light at Lucifer. He cursed and put his hands around her throat. “You damn little white witch,” he hissed. “You dare—”
He stopped suddenly, tossing Sophie aside, as a mighty roar filled the air. Sophie rolled, gasping for air and looked up.
Pendragon, in his full, lethal size, flew straight at them, Michael riding astride, holding a flaming Excalibur high. He leapt to the ground as the dragon swooped low and then rose again.
A snarl sounded from behind the trees as the white dragon rose into the air, shooting a flare of fire at Pendragon.
The red dragon roared back with a fiery volley.
Leather wings flapping furiously, they flew at each other, claws extended, jaws open.
Their thunderous clash shook the earth as they grappled with each other, talons ripping into metal scales.
Silver light shimmered around Michael as he stalked toward Balor, Excalibur in hand.
“Showtime,” Balor said and lifted his patch.
Heavy, black air surrounded them, so dense it made breathing difficult. Sophie squinted, able only to see the flickering light around Michael and the strange flame that clung to the Sword. She tried to concentrate on where Balor was. Her magic might not be strong, but maybe it would help.
Lucifer morphed into demon form, horns steel-tipped and fangs exposed as he circled around into the blackness behind Michael.
“Your back, Michael!” Sophie yelled and shot purple light toward Lucifer, who turned, hissing, caught the light in one clawed hand and was ready to hurl it back in the form of a cannonball when Tanio manifested.
“You will stop!” he said.
Lucifer sneered at him. “You no longer control me, god.”
“Perhaps not, but now that I’ve found you, I can destroy you.” He raised a hand and began an incantation in a foreign tongue.
Lucifer hesitated, then threw the cannonball down as he sprouted wings and lifted into the air, moving at preternatural speed. Behind him, the white dragon roared and disappeared into the night as well, with Pendragon in hot pursuit.
Sophie turned her attention back to the fight taking place between Michael and Balor.
All she could make out was the flaming Sword lunging forward, slashing to the right and left as Michael advanced.
Each time, it was met with a clash by an invisible something that sounded heavy and was apparently solid black.
Pure evil emanated from that source, but Sophie could not see what it was.
From the distance came the sound of sirens wailing, no doubt summoned by the roars of the dragons and the smoke from their battle.
Tanio moved toward Sophie, his blue hair blazing as he pointed toward the lake. “Call the Kelpies, daughter of Epona.”
Sophie stared at him. “Kelpies?”
“Faerie water horses,” Tanio explained irritably as the fight grew more vicious and the sirens became louder. “They will save you and Michael. Hurry. You don’t have much time before the police will be here. They cannot find the Sword.”
“I don’t have that kind of magic!”
“Yes, you do. The Kelpies will obey you since Epona is their goddess. Water is not my element. I cannot summon them. Send for them.”
Feeling like a fool, Sophie ran to the lake bank. Raising her hands, she concentrated on sending the light through her fingertips. The lake remained placid, the sirens now only a block or two away.
“Nothing is—” She stopped as the water began to stir, swirling in ever-widening circles as something roiled beneath the surface.
Rogue waves rose as the water began to churn.
Sophie watched in amazement as two sleek, gray heads emerged, followed by powerful equine bodies.
The horses rose gracefully above the water, landing on either side of Sophie, lowering their heads as they each bent one leg.
“Hurry up and get on,” Tanio said as Michael raced toward her. “I’ll hold Balor back.”
“But we’ll drown!”
“No, we won’t,” Michael said as he reached her. “Look.”
She looked back at the lake. The water had risen into a spout, creating a hollow vortex in the water. Balor threw more of his black magic at them and one of the Kelpies nudged her as Tanio raised a firewall.
“Go!” he said.
Michael lifted her onto the back of one Kelpie and mounted the other.
They leapt through the air and then dove beneath the surface.
Sophie felt the wet shock of coldness and clung to the Kelpie’s mane, sure that she would drown as the water closed over their heads, but somehow a bubble of air remained around them.
“How can this be happening?” she asked Michael as the Kelpies gently settled on the lake floor.
He grinned and pointed.
Sophie followed the direction of his hand. A beautiful woman stood just beyond their bubble, dressed in an iridescent gown of changing greens and blues that swirled gently with the water’s movement, her blonde hair floating behind her.
“Welcome to my home,” the Lady of the Lake said.