Capricorn's Midnight Clock: The Zodiac Book 10, page 20
Bilba was currently working with wounded refugees at a camp in New Haven. Ralrek was holding a meeting with a new group of Forgotten Ones. They were ringed by a watchful yet compassionate-looking group of more experienced demons of that variety. Dialphio looked to be running things at our camp at breakneck speed. Marijon was alone on a narrow section of beach. I wasn't sure what she was doing, but I suspected she was working with a new Ability Bilba had been training certain demons on. Sagittarius was with Libra in the Ninth Circle. From what I could tell in the mirror, they were working on one of her planned junctions in the underground network.
That last one made me smirk. Maybe I was tired. As Lucifer, I figured I could make a proclamation and end the need for subversive things like underground networks. But I had to remember that Sagittarius wasn't doing this because she feared reprisal. She was still working on the network because there were three Founders with their sights set on destroying what she held dear.
Sagittarius had a team of demons from the Ninth to supplement the number of Exiles who'd volunteered to help. For weeks, they'd been building infrastructure. Supply caches, safe houses, strategic resources had been pre-positioned throughout the network. All with one purpose. When the time came for Ralrek to lead liberation efforts for future Forgotten Ones, when demons sought exile from the tyranny to come to the entire Underworld, everything would be in place.
A brilliant strategy. Rewarding work that contributed to a community. And it was all happening without me.
I leaned against the wall, watching and fighting the familiar frustration of being alone. Between the staff, the crews who ran every aspect of my grounds, and the extensive retinue of soldiers, I was an island. One visited by tourists, but without comfortable residents. Was this the price of ruling? Sitting on my ass while others did all the work to preserve the peace until we could extend it?
I pushed off the wall before my frustration got the better of me and moved to the mirror that reflected the Third Circle. I glimpsed what looked to be routine patrol movements. The Fourth Circle was oppressively calm.
I watched the scenes playing out across the Circles until my brain numbed and the irony of hating my loneliness while remaining alone in the scrying chamber got the better of me. I was almost ready to quit and find something else to occupy my time when I felt the explosion of magical signatures.
Scanning the mirrors, I looked for a hint of what I was feeling. Had I been in the map room, I'd have pinpointed the activity. I felt inadequate, not understanding how to focus a particular mirror to find the signatures.
"Shit!"
I scurried down the line of mirrors and then moved along the wall, scanning the displays. Multiple sources of magic originated from the scrying mirror for the Ninth Circle. Some of it was coming from Sagittarius and Libra's work. But I'd seen that from the first instant. This new level of magic couldn't be explained.
I focused on Libra, having known him for far longer than Sagittarius. He was scrambling for cover against a blaze of fire that hadn't formed by accident. I watched him take cover. A blast of fire devoured the stack of boxes he'd just been standing by.
I moved my concentration along the scene until I found Sagittarius. She was scrambling to hide.
Whatever was going on, I was doing my friends no good by standing in the tower and watching events unfold in the mirror like I was chilling on my couch and catching up with my latest binge.
I dashed out of the chamber, bursting past the guards outside the door.
"Lord?" the senior most called out.
I didn't have time. "Round up everyone you can in the next minute and meet me in my personal chambers!"
My guards were good. How good, I didn't quite know. But I knew enough, because they'd proven it, to know they'd follow through. I couldn't be sure what kind of recruitment they'd pull off, but it was better than what I had now.
I'd hoped to come across Baphomet, but he was nowhere on this floor. I got to my chambers, dashed for my table, and sent quick notes to Bilba, Ralrek, and Dialphio. A contingent of six guards stood outside my door by the time I scribbled the last warning to my ex-boss. If the title of Lucifer meant I was as powerful as mortals thought, I could have accomplished far more than I had in my short reign. I'd have made sure each of my letter recipients was doing nothing but sitting by their notebooks waiting for my next insightful missive. I could only hope each of them had their notebook and, for whatever reason, took a gander at that second.
I strolled past the guards and raced down the hall to the larger landing. They followed on my heels. I opened a Gateway to the battle in the Ninth. As usual—something I'm still getting used to—my guards insisted on stepping into the Gateway before me. I stepped behind the ring they'd formed and into the chaos of a battle.
I quickly threw a shield up around me and them. I called out for Sagittarius.
I listened, which is more difficult than it sounds since there were spells doing uncomfortable things to my tactile sensations, nevermind the noise they created. Plus, I hadn't announced myself, and Sagittarius most likely was wisely not answering to give away her location.
"Move with me," I said to my guards. We raced along the tunnel wall while I kept my eyes out for any demon, friend or foe, hunkering behind cover. An explosion from the tunnel to our left blew shreds of crates and produce across the tunnel opening. Someone cried out in pain.
I moved quicker. Crossing the opening behind the shield, I glimpsed the demonic Abilities being tossed around like overripe tomatoes at La Tomatina in Buñol, Spain. In the chaos, I couldn't tell who was attacking and who. I still hadn't found Sagittarius or Libra. They were my focus. Safe behind the shell, we moved on.
I thought I'd placed us close to where I'd seen her in my scrying mirror, but evidently not. We had to cross three more tunnel mouths before I found her. She was rattled, but alive and uninjured.
"What the Heaven is going on?" I asked as I squatted beside her, ensuring that I'd moved my shield over her.
Her dark hair was a rope of tangles. Purples that weaved in and out of the brown strands. "No idea. We were mapping out escape routes in case something happened during an escort. Plotting where we could put up signs to help anyone unfamiliar with the tunnel systems. It started in channel 8A. We heard shouting. It was strange. At least for this part of the Circle. Usually just imps screwing around. Sometimes getting into fights. Nothing like this, though. Before we checked to see what was going on, stuff was on fire. It was very, very real. Very scary."
"Where's Libra?"
Sagittarius gave a tight shake of her head. "Don't know. We ran, and someone threw fire at us. He should be close, though."
"Deliberate attacks? Demons you know?"
"I've only ever read about Angelfire, and what I saw didn't look like it."
"Not your Niners, though?"
"I don't know everyone in the Circle, and I didn't see faces I recognized. Trust me. It happened too fast. But I promise you, nothing like this has happened before. Not to this degree."
I nodded. That was sufficient information. I needed to make sure Libra was okay, then I needed to deal with whoever was behind whatever this was. I turned to my guards. "Spread out. Find Libra. Ask by name if you haven't seen him with me and don't know what he looks like. Bring him when you find him."
A look of concern flashed across their faces. Each guard was probably older than me and had served my predecessor. I was sure they were still adjusting to the whippersnapper they found themselves serving. To their credit, none of them complained.
"Stay covered," I said to Sagittarius as I started away.
"Wait. You can't go out there alone. Let me come."
I shook my head. "Just keep my back safe. There are tunnels everywhere. You know them better than I do. I don't need any nasty surprises. And if I'm about to stop this, I've got to drop my shield. I can't protect you. Stay safe, and keep me safe from behind. That'll be more help than you know."
She, like my guards, didn't protest. I was grateful. Sagittarius was a decent magic user, but her true gift was her studious intelligence and insight. A battlefield force she was not.
I wasn't alone for long. Pinned around a corner, unable to get an extensive analysis of the troublemakers at the far end of the hall, I heard the distinct sound of someone hustling along the longer passage behind me. I needed to stay safe, as vulnerable as I was. Without knowing what we were facing, I didn't know if what was coming was a friendly force or a group that could make my life even more uncomfortable.
I held Creed's double-ax lowered, ready to respond in either direction. Hellfire danced along its blades. The effort of holding it wasn't a problem. Yet.
"Zeke!"
Bilba's voice.
Relief. Reinforcements. Bilba wasn't alone. Capricorn and Marijon tagged along.
I waved them toward the wall. "Stay close."
He slammed against it, breathing heavy. "What's going on?"
Before I could answer, a louder sound. More feet. Many more.
The sensations of demonic Abilities being tapped into raced along my neck and arms. The hair on my head tingled with their touch.
"Be ready. Don't know what we're facing."
Bilba was already ready. Same with Marijon and Capricorn.
Every little bit helps, right?
Before we got an answer as to whether the three new arrivals would make a difference, our reinforcements were reinforced.
"Thank Lucifer," I said, at the sight of Ralrek and more Forgotten Ones than I could count.
Bilba and Marijon shot me a strange look at my expression of gratitude to myself. I ignored them.
I briefed everyone in one fell swoop.
"So we move smart?" Ralrek said, confirming my inclination.
I nodded.
"Where's Libra?"
"My guards are looking for him."
He went rigid. "No one knows where he is?"
"He and Sagittarius were split when this kicked off." Before he started off, I grabbed his arm. "Don't do anything stupid."
"I'm good." Though he didn't pull his arm free, there was a distinct and insistent tug.
I nudged Bilba, pointing in the direction where Sagittarius hid. "She's over there. But you don't get to do something stupid either."
Getting him to Sagittarius was easier than getting myself away from her on my own. The benefit of an additional fifty demons ready to fight.
"It's Vathek," Sagittarius said as we squatted beside her.
I don't think Bilba heard. He was too busy flushing and staring at the succubus.
"How do you know?" I asked.
She pointed to the corridor on the right. Where it ended at a T-intersection, I saw the incubus from the former committee that ran the Ninth Circle during Azazel's time.
"I'm going to…" Bilba sputtered. "I… I don't know. But when I figure it out, I'm seriously going to do it."
The corners of Sagittarius's mouth flickered.
I didn't shake my head—something I'm proud of—at his ability to charm her even in a serious moment.
I patted him on the back. "Whoa, fire cat. Settle down. No one does anything stupid." Why did I have to say this so often? "And you won't do anything to him because I don't want him responding and us responding to his response. A firefight doesn't result in answers. I want him able to answer why he's got goons throwing fire at my friends."
Bilba nodded grimly. Sagittarius brightened.
"We've got to find Libra," Ralrek said, swiveling constantly.
He wouldn't be any good to us or himself if he were distracted by his concern for Libra.
Concern that wasn't all-consuming until it was.
22
UNDERWORLD, NINTH CIRCLE
The bolt of fire Ralrek released was targeted. Not his most powerful. I'd seen him struggle with control, but anyone who didn't know him wouldn't know how well contained this attack was. Only a single stack of crates was set ablaze.
Four demons dove away as the tunnel floor was showered with fiery slivers.
The Forgotten Ones moved forward at Ralrek's command, pressing the four demons with attacks that kept them at a disadvantage.
"Careful!"
My call came a fraction too late. As Ralrek's Forgotten Ones moved to subdue the four, a counter-attack came from the far end of the hall. Six went down under a spray of Water and Fire attacks. The fiery shards from the blasted crates were pulled together, forming a basket-sized spiked ball. When it hit the group, it was responsible for three injuries. The Water and Fire finished the job.
Ralrek went into a rage. White smoke filled the tunnel as he blasted the path just beyond his fallen fighters with attacks.
His tactics could have been disastrous. It could have hurt his Forgotten Ones if the enemy flung spells with equal aplomb. It could have rendered demons with important information unable to communicate it. He could have hit Vathek, which I'd specifically told everyone not to do.
I lowered Creed, aimed just over Ralrek's shoulder, and released a stream of Hellfire so precise I could have talked shit about the accomplishment for weeks to come if anyone would listen that long. Maybe even if they wouldn't.
My stream struck the tunnel ceiling and fell like a sheet to the floor. Stone to stone, the tunnel was cut off by my blazing wall of magic.
Ralrek spun around, his shoulders heaving.
"I told you," I said, meeting his eyes, "not to do anything stupid."
"I—"
"Libra might be down there, Ralrek. We don't know what this is about. I want answers. Maybe prisoners. But answers first. Got it?"
He stared at me for too long, considering my role and his. That there were witnesses to the conversation only made his quiet challenge more inappropriate.
I whipped my hand in a circular motion. "Everyone round on me at the mouth. Now!"
Once formed up, we took the tunnel to the right. The sounds of fighting were muffled by dense stone. The opposite end was free of demons and their magic. We cleared it, approaching the mouth with caution.
I rotated Creed, forming the half-moon shield, and peaked around the corner. Nothing. I turned, checking my six. Nothing.
"Let's clear the way. No injuries on our side. Don't collapse the tunnel at their end either. We might need a way out."
We made our way to the end, where the path split to the left and right. A perimeter ring. Like a wheel, with the perpendicular tunnels serving as the spokes. At each, we either pinned down the demons until they capitulated and were subdued, or they forced me to call time on their lives. Thankfully, the latter was a rarer occurrence than the former.
By the time we'd made a full lap, I realized our work hadn't been as successful as we'd hoped.
The junction Sagittarius had been establishing was under full assault. Vathek's forces had surrounded the area where we left her. Their superior numbers pressed our fighters into a defensive circle.
"Libra!" Ralrek set a direct line course for the incubus.
In the shower of demonic magic, Libra came into view. Wobbling on his feet, he'd planted a palm on the smooth tunnel wall. The only thing preventing him from crashing to the floor.
Ralrek broke another promise, doing something stupid. Racing past unchecked tunnel mouths, he put himself at risk by running into the open. In a rush, I threw up a slab of Hellfire, but could only protect one side. I had a fraction of a second to choose which. I went with his left. Most of the action came from that side. His rush stripped me of my options. The wall of magic might incinerate any spell aimed at him, but Ralrek could still be taken down by an attack from the opposite tunnel. Before I could construct my first scathing line of admonishment I'd deliver as soon as he was safe, Ralrek's safety was ensured by a massive pile of what looked to be green Jello. He moved it along with Ralrek, absorbing anything that struck it. Bilba's Deception spell was creative and effective. I had to give him that.
Ralrek slid to a stop, wrapping his arms around Libra and keeping the lanky incubus upright. Isolated, they were sitting targets. That was a problem. The balefire bowl dangled in Libra's hand. Problem two if it fell into the wrong hands.
I hadn't seen the rare protective artifact in a while. In my new position, I hadn't needed it to disguise my movements around the Underworld. Libra was a master navigator, the demonic realm's recorder of its pathways, known and secret. In his possession, the bowl was not only a tool, but a necessity. I wanted every inch of the realm documented so that no one ever again lived in the fog of secrecy the Council had created. Libra was handling that duty. The bowl was something our side couldn't lose, but especially while Beelzebub, Seraph, and Michael still lived.
A section of wall caved in behind Libra, so close that the resulting cloud of dust billowed around the pair's legs and soon swallowed them.
I was running forward before I figured out what I could do besides drag them from the scene.
And I wasn't alone. Seeing Ralrek in danger, the Forgotten Ones fought with vigor. Almost as one, the large group of demons moved forward, smoothly yet with purpose. Untrained in how to conduct sweeps, they could have fooled me by their tactical progress. They reminded me of units during my time in the mortal army. From Baghdad to the Ninth Circle of Hell, they could have been the same I'd served with, just with the mortals' rifles replaced with bare hands flinging magical spells.
The tunnel junction became the epicenter of the fight. The air stank of sweat, blood, and fear. Every demon was pinned down by the other. Our contingent was possibly as large as the one we fought. But with the smoke and the dust and the fires and blocks of ice and Construction Ability creations, there was no way to be sure.
In a momentary pause where our side re-evaluated our tactics and the other was probably doing the same, a voice cut through the air as clear as if it'd been projected by a PA system.
"You always were naïve, Sagittarius," Vathek called out, his voice carrying smugness even over the sounds of battle. "Did you really think dismissing the committee would solve anything?"
