Magic Undying (Dragon's Gift: The Seeker #1)(58)

“Okay.” This was new. I wanted to ask more questions, but there wasn’t time. Perhaps I could come back and find him later.

“Hurry now, the demon has gone. Though I don’t know how he’ll get through the wall to the passage, if that’s what he’s looking for. But you can. Use your Phantom form.”

“Okay. Okay. Thank you!” I raced through the door, cutting through the empty abbey that was missing its roof.

In the far left corner, there was no tapestry, just a few hanging scraps of one that might have once hung there. And there was no door, just like Potter Thompson had said.

But there was a big hole in the wall. I hurried toward it. I was finally alone, no longer watched by Roarke, so I raised my sword, letting my Phantom power flow through my arm and light up the blade with a blue glow that allowed me to see.

The rubble around the hole looked fresh—there were no weeds growing amongst it.

The demon had torn through the wall.

Damn, he was strong. And fast.

I jumped through the hole, almost losing my footing on the stairs below, and sprinted down. Once I reached the bottom, my dragon sense finally flared to life.

I was close! Close enough that the castle’s protective magic could no longer block my dragon sense. I hurtled down the stone passageway, sprinting full out after the demon.

So close. I was so close!

I had to catch him. I couldn’t spend eternity as a demon.

Ahead, I could just make out the back of the demon. He was bigger than I remembered, and fast.

But not as fast as me.

I pushed myself harder, wishing that I had one of Connor’s potion bombs or some of Cass’s fireball or lightning magic. She’d had to kill to get those powers, something I didn’t want to do, but they’d come in handy about now.

But my Phantom form was faster and stronger.

Roarke wasn’t here to witness it, and what did it matter at this point? The demon had almost won. I couldn’t let him.

As I ran, I called upon my magic, letting it flow through me with a shivery tingle. My pumping arms turned fully blue and transparent. The weight of my body fell away. My speed increased. I pushed myself harder.

When I spilled out into a massive cavern tomb, the sight made me catch my breath. The demon had almost reached the platform in the middle where a body lay, but a knight with a massive sword fought him off. The knight was neither human nor ghost, but some strange enchantment.

Another protection for Arthur, who slept on the table in the middle of the ornately carved tomb.

Around the edges of the room, statues of knights stood, their hands resting on the hilts of their upright swords. The enormity of it hit me.

The knights of the Round Table.

And they were coming to life.

With motions as smooth as water, they raised their swords and stepped forward. Though they no longer looked like stone, they were not human either. Just like the one who fought the Ubilaz demon.

Some converged upon me, others upon my enemy.

“I’m here to help!” I cried.

But they stalked forward, unable to tell friend from foe. I would have to fight them off. But I could only hope they killed the Ubilaz demon before he got to Arthur. I could just make out the glint of gold around his neck, right above Excalibur, which rested on his stomach.

My dragon covetousness pinged, wanting those two treasures even though I would never take them.

I forced my gaze away and met the oncoming knight with my sword raised high. His blade whistled through my Phantom form, leaving no damage behind. While he recovered his blow, I turned corporeal long enough to land a blow with my sword.

The trick to my Phantom form was that my sword became a Phantom too. While it made me impervious to blows, I had to become human again for my sword to turn back to steel. My strike severed his arm, but there was no blood. Just as he swiped with his blade, I became Phantom again, changing back to human in time to remove his head.

Though he toppled to the ground, another knight replaced him. They circled me, ready to pounce. I panted and strained as I fought. It took all my skill and strength to hold them off. But there were too many. Twice, their blows landed, leaving deep cuts on my back and stomach. What I wouldn’t give for that Phantom dragon to show up and save the day.

But it didn’t show. So I forced the pain away as I fought, trying to keep my eye on the Ubilaz demon. He’d felled all but one of his own knights using only his massive strength and speed.

Pain flared at my shoulder as a knight’s blade sliced me, drawing me back to my own fight.

Instinctually, I turned into a Phantom and spun to face him. One well-placed blow sent him to his knees. There was only one knight left who sought my blood, but I was weakening.

I charged, stabbing the knight in the middle with my blade before tearing it away. The knight fell to his side.

Almost there!

I whirled to find my prey, only to see all his knights on the ground and the Ubilaz demon climbing onto Arthur’s platform.

“No!” I raced toward them in my Phantom form, but I was too late.

The Ubilaz demon grabbed the charm and threw the chain over his neck. My heart plummeted, but I hurled myself at the demon, catching him around the waist and throwing him to the ground.

He shrieked in pain, no doubt because of my Phantom ability to make those I touched live out their worst fears. While he thrashed beneath me, I turned corporeal and grabbed both of the charm necklaces, yanking as hard as I could. They tore away, and I flung them across the room.