Demons (Darkness #4)(9)

“And this torrent—this is something she deals with on a daily basis?”

“Yes. Like trying to direct a flood. It is the price for the power at her disposal, I am sure. With her as lead, we could have a huge Merge. She doesn’t have to pull the power and disperse it, or merge with anyone to pull more, she simply has to open up, and direct the deluge.”

Dominicous shook his head. “Is this because she is human? Because she is black?”

“No. It is because she is one in a million. Had we known what we found that night, the little thing you gave blood to, we would’ve taken her right then. We would’ve had time to train her, to study her. To coach her before she could come up with wild ways to use her power.”

“That day is done. We are here now. What do we do? Link around her?”

“And then there is Stefan to think about.”

Dominicous threw the car in park beside Sasha’s vehicle. He breathed through his mouth in a silent exhale, willing patience in the light of Toa’s constant analytics. Stefan stepped out of a large Hummer on their right, his face a mask of fierce determination. Dominicous could almost see the ghosts of his parents sitting on his shoulders as his gaze stabbed Charles, the driver of Sasha’s vehicle.

Toa said, “He can balance Sasha. Her special skill seems to be to coax others to accept more magic. His special skill is to balance the flow of magic. He gets more power while balancing her so she can work the torrents accosting her. They make each other better—more powerful. They were made for each other. One in a million.”

Dominicous snorted at the romantic babble. He earned a glare.

“If he had been a white…” Toa’s voice drifted away as he watched Stefan consult with Jonas. Charles sat in the car, speaking with Sasha. Probably filling her in on what she faced.

“Stefan is not in control,” Dominicous stated flatly. “He was not there when his parents died, but he lost everything. Imagination is sometimes worse than witnessing the actual events.”

Toa threaded his fingers together in his lap. “It might be wise, for all our sakes, if you lead this battle.”

“He would challenge me, immediately. He would see the value in my leadership, but he would fear for Sasha’s safety if he wasn’t in control.”

“But he’s not in control.”

“He’s holding it together.”

“She will try to cut that thing off from the source before I can enact a link with you. I will then have to try and work around her magical weave without merging. Dominicous, if you sit and do nothing, it could kill her, and then everyone else. If I scrape against her magic, it will bind to me and surge through me. I’ll end up flat on my back, but this time, without the novice to save me. You’ll then be fighting without me.”

“So we chop the thing into bits while you two play at elements. It’s not that strong of a demon, Toa. You’re fantasizing.”

Toa exhaled noisily. The glare was back. “Can you take nothing seriously? I wonder how you were able to ascend to your position at all.”

“You know how: by killing. C’mon, I want to be in position to monitor my daughter. I’ve just found her again, I will not lose her.”

Chapter 3

Charles sat in the car after the Boss evacuated, feeling uncertainty and nerves burning a hole in his stomach. Sasha sat beside him, picking her nail and watching the Boss as he gathered his men to him.

Charles had just explained what it was they faced, but the problem was, he didn’t really know, either. He’d learned about this stuff in school. That, and from the rumors and the hushed stories told in places the Boss was sure never to hear. This wasn’t one of those things people wanted to get caught talking about.

“So…” Her voice was frail, sounding as nervous as Charles felt. “It’s kind of like a Dulcha, then. This thing. Right?”

“This thing is not like a Dulcha,” Charles answered. “Well, it is, but in a different sort of way. A Dulcha is a newer creation with magic—implanting a demon into a human body. Demons that need a host—need to feed off of a life—are lesser demons. No real power. No real ability to think on their own. They’re governed by the magic holder that summoned them.”

“Trek always did that.”

“Exactly. And they reacted to his desires. As demons get more powerful, they need a sacrifice, but not a host. These demons are also less likely to take directions. They’re harder to control. Plus, it’s the old magic. Think of it like opening a portal to that underworld you believe in. Let one of these magical beings with a lot of power run around, and it’ll rain down death and destruction.”

“Why? What’s their purpose? What do they want?”

Charles squinted at her. “Ah…good question. I never thought to ask.”

Adnan shifted in the back seat. Charles glanced at him in the rear view mirror and got a blank expression in return. He obviously didn’t know, either.

Sasha said, “Okay, well, how do I get rid of it? Toa hasn’t taught me how to link, yet.”

Charles stared at her. “He hasn’t?”

Sasha chewed her lip in response.

Oh. Toa probably tried, but something went wrong. Figured. With her, something always went all kinds of wrong before it finally went right.