Hilario dipped into his sleeve and brought out the sapphire and gold amulet. Dangled it from his fingertips.
“Perhaps this would provide more amusement, dear lady,” he said.
Her face twisted with rage. “Give that to me!”
He let the amulet twirl in front of his face. The words carved into the gold were indecipherable to him. Ancient words of power to invoke the Eye of Malachi gates. And the sapphire gem in the middle, that was ancient, too. The Gem Witches were old powers. Not the oldest by a long way. But they certainly predated the lords of the dark places. Who came and went with such regularity, there should be revolving doors on their realms.
Why would a gem witch bother with such a lowly creature as Lord Igidbon? Especially when she had another elemental–the Paladin Odom–happy to be her companion.
When had a gem witch ever had ambitions for power? Desire their own kingdom? For what purpose? They already had power. Their domain was wherever they chose to stand. They were the elite elements. Royalty from the dirt and rock.
And Rachel was right. Now matter how much power they had, they always ended up following the will of the living.
Because it was life that gave them power. Just as it gave Rachel power.
As it gave him power.
His twisted the amulet’s chain. Made the golden and sapphire bauble spin. It sparkled in the flickering green light.
“Such a pretty thing,” he said, “And so interesting, too, don’t you think?”
The Sapphire Witch opened her outstretched hand. Sparks crackled between her fingers.
“Give it to me,” she said.
Her tone–her command–normally would have invoked instant obedience from him. After all, he was just a lowly creature of the dark places. Who was he to think for himself?
Just a clown.
He looped the end of the chain around his finger. Began to spin the amulet like a sling. The Sapphire Witch didn’t move. Her face seemed clenched with strain. As if she were trying to do two things at once.
“I’ve started to wonder about this little thing,” he said, “It isn’t surprising the Eye of Malachi would have keys. Everything seems to have keys in some way or another.”
The Sapphire Witch’s fingers slowly closed to a fist. Her arm shook.
“Perhaps even you have keys, my dear lady,” he said, “And perhaps, someone found yours. Perhaps find a way to make you useful. Perhaps even against your will.”
A great clatter rose up behind him.
He grabbed the amulet. Clenched it tight in his sausage fingered hand.
***** He spun around, dropping to his knees as he did so.
Gunshots rang out.
He caught a glimpse of flame. Twin guns in Lord Igidbon’s hands.
Bullets zinged off metal.
Lord Igidbon fired off a couple more shots. The dark lord’s face twisted with fury. His white cowboy hat, stained with sticky green terror spider blood, sat askew on his head.
The dark lord’s eyes suddenly blazed red. Huge black wings unfurled from his back. A single downward flap and he lifted from the stoney ground.
He aimed his guns. One at Hilario and another at Rachel.
“No!” Marco shouted.
Igidbon pulled the triggers. Guns belched flame.
The black angels moved. A shimmery, spiky black form was suddenly in front of Hilario.
Lord Igidbon uttered a curse.
A literal curse.
Stone cracked. So loud it sounded like another gunshot. A fissure opened up in front of Hilaro. Zipped between his knees. The ground shook violently.
Hard enough he nearly fell over.
The black angel in front of him moved closer. His heart pounded so hard he feared it would burst.
Was this how it was going to end?
He rolled away from the fissure. Thorns tore at his back. The air hissed around the spiky limbs of the black angel.
Someone was shouting. Odom?
Flames shot up from the fissures in the ground. Lord Igidbon flapped higher in the cavern. His blazing red eyes left a trail of fire.
A gunshot rang out.
Lord Igidbon grunted. Clutched at his chest. His wings faltered. Folded.
The dark lord plummeted.
‘Bought time you used me for something, boss.
Marco’s gun.
Igidbon smacked to the vine covered ground.
A keening cry filled the cavern. The stone underneath Hilario trembled. Cracked.
“Quickly!” Rachel said, “To the van!”
The van?
The black angel moved away from him. Toward the spot where Igidbon fell. So did the other angel who had moved in front of Rachel when Igidbon had shot his guns at them.
Hilario rolled to his knees. Where was…there. The Sapphire Witch was down. Her hands clutched to her head. The keening cry came from her. It trailed off as Odom scooped her up in his massive metal arms.
Marco bounded over to Hilario. He still had his gun in his hand. And a huge grin on his face. He held out his other hand to Hilario.
“Come on, big guy, let’s go!” the detective said.
Hilario eyed the hand dubiously. But he put his own white gloved hand in it. With surprising strength the detective pulled him up.
The vines around them rustled. Parted. Clearing a path to the van.
Roger the ogre was already running for the door. No one had to tell him twice. Odom was behind him, the limp form of the Sapphire Witch in his arms.
He spied Queezleyan lurking under the front of the van. The little rat demon’s eyes flickered red in the darkness there.
The beast darted out from under the van. Raced toward where Lord Igidbon fell. Where the spiky black angels were headed.
The little demon didn’t get far. A dozen green tendrils wrapped around him. Lifted him from the ground. The demon writhed and snapped at them.
Thicker vines wound around the beast’s body as the tendrils crisped under his
