Page 91 of Fiendish Delights
‘Hugo’s a fiend!’ Hester yelled. ‘Hugo’s a fucking fiend!’
I waved her out of the way and advanced on him. ‘That’s not Hugo,’ I bit out. I swiped the blade, aiming for his exposed throat.
He batted away my thrust easily, straightened up and splayed his arms out wide before executing a mock bow. ‘It was a good performance though, right?’ He smirked.
My words were strained, hissed out from between my teeth. ‘Is he dead? Did you kill him?’
‘What do you think?’
Agonising pain stabbed at the centre of my chest and my knees almost gave way, but somehow I stayed upright. ‘I will destroy you,’ I whispered.
‘Really?’ His smirk grew. ‘Don’t you know who I am, Daisy?’
I looked him up and down. He was tall, easily over six foot and his ears were pointed, indicating that he too had once been an elf. His skin wasn’t patchy like Horst and the other fiend’s had been; its sheen was akin to what I’d seen on Zashtum’s body. But this fiend exuded more power than she had, and I could almost feel the magic rolling off him in waves. He was muscular, strong and entirely unrepentant.
‘I’m going to take a wild guess,’ I spat, ‘and say that you must be Athair.’
Something odd flickered in his eyes and a dim part of me registered it as disappointment. He shrugged. ‘You guess right,’ he said. His head swayed from side to side. ‘It’s a real pleasure, Daisy. I mean that.’
I ignored his words and the shiver that ran through me. I pointed instead at his arm, ‘You’re still bleeding.’ I swishedGladys from side to side. ‘Your wound hasn’t healed. That’s because of her.’
To my astonishment, Athair threw back his head and laughed. ‘Is that what you think? That it’s the sword that’s did this?’
I inhaled shakily. ‘She killed your mate. Baltar is dead. You’re not immortal, Athair.’
‘Baltar is dead?’ He quirked an eyebrow. ‘Bravo.’
I snarled, ‘Soon you will be too.’
‘Do it, Daisy!’ Otis screamed. ‘Give the bastard all you’ve got!’
I didn’t need any encouragement. Blade swinging, I launched myself at him.
Athair danced out of the way, his feet nimble despite his large body. I tried to remember the moves that Miriam had taught me but eventually I gave up and simply threw everything I had at him. First, I flashed out a blast of earth magic to blow up a section of the ground and prevent him from darting to the side. Then I let out a battle yell and slashed at his torso. Gladys’s tip scraped across his chest, drawing more blood and triumph spilled through my veins. I had this – I could do it. My heart wrenched. And Iwoulddo it for Hugo.
Athair didn’t appear upset but simply smiled at me again. ‘My turn now,’ he said.
As soon as the words left his mouth, he threw out a scorching blast of fire magic. I dropped to my feet and rolled to avoid it, but I wasn’t fast enough. Flames seared my arm and shoulder, and the strong smell of burnt hair filled the air around me. I growled and conjured up a bucketful of water, dousing myself with it. As I did, I registered another crackle and hiss as more fire streamed past.
It took me a moment to realise it wasn’t directed at me. I wiped the water from my eyes and spotted Aine’s head pokingout from her lair before she breathed more fire in Athair’s direction.
‘Yes, Aine!’ Hester yelled. ‘Get him!’
His golden body was consumed in flames but I could see that he was still grinning. Powerful as it was, Aine’s dragon fire had no effect on him whatsoever. I told myself that was a good thing because it meant I could kill him myself.
Aine pushed herself fully out of her lair and snapped in Athair’s direction. ‘No!’ I shouted at her. ‘Stay back. Get yourself to safety!’
She swung towards me, her tail whipping as if she were as angry with me for trying to stop her as she was with him for attacking in the first place. But she didn’t get it: if he killed me, people would mourn – alright,somepeople would mourn – but life would move on. If he killed Aine, that would be it: no more dragons, not in this country anyway. She was the last surviving female.
I muttered a curse under my breath then I played my remaining card left. I pointed at the old dragon’s egg lying forlornly on the ground. Aine’s head turned and she froze when she spotted it.
Otis yelled a sudden warning. ‘Daisy!’
I spun around. Athair, who was still on fire, was striding towards me. I braced myself and tightened my grip on Gladys. Aine took a step towards me then stopped and veered towards the egg instead, scooping it up in her jaws before receding into her lair. Hester and Otis followed her.
I exhaled. Then Athair’s fiery fist came flying towards my face. I tried to dodge the blow but I already knew in my heart that I wouldn’t be fast enough. This was going to hurt. I grimaced in anticipation.
Nothing happened.
