Page 93 of Fiendish Delights
I threw out air magic; the tail of Athair’s shirt lifted, but he didn’t break his stride. I threw out water magic; Athair clicked his fingers and conjured a blast of air to knock it away. I threw out earth magic, desperate to shake him off his feet; he simply jumped and sailed through the air with terrifying ease. Then he landed next to Gladys and scooped her up in his right hand.
‘I’m done playing now,’ he muttered. His arm tensed and he flung Gladys at the fleeing brownies. He’d known they were there all along. It didn’t matter that they were already more than seventy metres away, or that I cried out a warning and sent as much air magic towards Gladys as I could in a desperate bid to stop her. I was impotent.
My sword cut an efficient, lethal beeline through the air then thudded into the side of the silver box that held the chess pieces.
Hester and Otis squealed as it was ripped from their tenuous grip. With a casual curl of his lips, Athair tossed out a wave of air that sent the brownies tumbling away. Then he sniffed and stalked over to the chess set and picked it up. ‘Such magic,’ he murmured, stroking the surface of the silver box. ‘Such power.’
I knelt by Hugo’s side. ‘I’m okay,’ he croaked. ‘Go. You have to stop him.’
I paused long enough to brush his cheek lightly with a kiss. Then I straightened up and strode in Athair’s direction.
The brownies were in a tangled heap on the ground, Hugo was behind me and Gladys was near Athair’s feet: I was on my own and weaponless. My magic wasn’t strong enough to beat Athair but I was still going to try. I couldn’t let him walk away with all that power.
The ground shook slightly and there was a deep rumble to my left. As I neared the fiend, a jet of dragon fire spat past me and engulfed him in flame again. I didn’t turn around. ‘Aine,’ I yelled. ‘You need to get back. You can’t be here.’ From beyond the white-hot flames of her fire, the dragon’s scarlet eyes danced.
Athair lifted his chin and suddenly I heard a roar of falling rock. I pivoted just as a section of the entrance to Aine’s lair collapsed and landed on her tail, trapping her in place. I gasped in horror. No. Oh no.
Athair waved away the remaining flames with a nonchalant swipe of his arm, then he smiled at me, his expression strangely tender. I couldn’t suppress my shudder of disgust.
‘Watch this,’ he whispered. He stretched out his arms and splayed his fingers. Little electric sparks danced at his fingertips. He was pulling on the same magic that Horst had produced in the disused dragon’s lair. I had no doubt that Athair’s version was stronger.
Heart pounding I sprinted, desperate to prevent him from shooting anyone with a magic bolt of lightning, but my feet were no match for his fingers. He crooked each one in quick succession and four sizzling bolts lit up the air.
The first one zapped towards Aine and shot past my head to reach her. I heard her roar of bitter frustration as the second bolt sped for Hugo. The third arched towards Hester and Otis and the fourth landed a foot in front of me, smacking into the ground and halting my progress.
Athair was grinning. ‘Cool, huh?’
I turned to check on the others. Aine was struggling, trying desperately to free herself from the fallen rocks. There was a scorch mark on the ground in front of her long, purple snout where the lightning had struck. Hugo was trying to stand up, his body wavering, and there was an identical mark next to him. I knew before I looked that it would be same for the brownies. Athair was still toying with us.
He tilted his head and raised his eyebrows. ‘You know I could have killed you all several times over by now.’ His voice was soft, almost coaxing.
Hester pulled herself away from Otis. ‘Then why haven’t you, you wanker?’ she yelled. ‘Don’t listen to him, Daisy! Don’t let his words poison your ears! End that bastard, now!’
A flicker of irritation crossed Athair’s gaunt face but his focus remained on me. ‘You should ask yourself why you are still breathing, Daisy.’
My eyes travelled up and down his body. His clothes were charred rags from the dragon fire and his left arm continued to ooze blood. I had to keep believing that he wasn’t invincible; I had to find a way to defeat him.
‘I tell you what,’ he continued, ‘I’ll throw you a bone. I’ll let you keep one.’ He smiled gently. ‘You may have either the boy, the dragon, the sword, the treasure or one of the brownies. Choose one and I’ll let you walk away. The rest die.’ He nudged the silver box with his toe. ‘Or they will be taken. Only one may leave this place safely with you. Which one is entirely up to you.’
Nausea rolled around my belly and I swallowed hard. I didn’t get the sense that he was bluffing. I took one step towards him. ‘Only one?’ I asked. ‘Why not two? Why not all of them?’
‘You shouldn’t protest too much. This is a boon that I’ve never granted to any soul before now. You should be grateful –you should fall at my feet and kiss my shoes in gratitude for my generosity.’
Uh-huh. I took another step. ‘How could I possibly choose?’
Athair pursed his thin lips. ‘I’d suggest you choose the dragon – that would be my choice.’ His voice hardened. ‘Choose before I change my mind.’
My legs felt shaky. I was desperate for another hit of spider’s silk but I didn’t dare reach into my pocket for a pill for fear that Athair would mistake the move for something else. Instead, I gazed at him. ‘You’re asking the impossible.’
‘No, Daisy,’ he said. ‘I’m not.’
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Hugo pull back his shoulders and suck in a breath. Before he could move, the fiend zapped him with another lightning bolt. Hugo gave a sharp cry. ‘Try anything, elf boy, and next time I’ll stop your heart,’ Athair growled.
‘Hugo,’ I whispered. He was on his knees, groaning with pain.
A fiery hiss ejected from Aine’s nostrils. ‘The chess set,’ she said. ‘Choose it. You cannot allow this creature to take it.’
Otis was having none of it. ‘No! You have to pick Hugo. You need him, Daisy! You have to choose him. If there’s any chance you can walk out of here alive, you’ll need him with you to survive.’
