Annihilation Read online

  He suspected something big was brewing. Even the destruction of the demon gate shouldn’t have disrupted demon activity to this extent.

  The casino was a long shot, but he’d received solid intel that the establishment was run by a Ballor family. In any case, it would be a chance for him to work with Salina Frye and get to know her better, and that was the real purpose of this mission. Something small to see if they could really work together.

  He turned to confront her. Her jeans had to be a couple of sizes too small. They hugged some delicious looking curves. Her print top was modest enough—thank goodness. They’d look like a couple out on a date. He hoped to blend in with the crowd, but he doubted Salina could ever dress dowdy enough to blend. She would always draw attention, at least from any straight man in the room.

  She was stunning. He had to admit that. He would have to watch himself, to keep from being deceived by the packaging. This was an Arcanist witch, and incredibly dangerous.

  The black Mustang he’d requisitioned from the Templar repository would complete the picture of a young, well-to-do couple out for a night on the town. The car was fairly new, purchased with funds acquired from the demons back when the Templars were a wealthier organization. Ryan enjoyed the feel of the powerful engine as he sped down the freeway.

  “Keep your eyes open for any sign of demon activity.” Ryan wasn’t sure how much rope he wanted to give Salina. “Play the supportive girlfriend. Don’t wander too far from me.”

  He darted a look at her as he drove. Selena’s pert lips were pursed as she turned her dark, mysterious eyes his way. “Are we going to gamble?”

  He felt as if he were gambling already. He had to drag his eyes away from hers and back to the road. “I’m planning to buy some chips and play some cards. If the place is legitimate, I’ll play fair. If we discover it’s a demon run operation, I plan to walk away a winner. I have no problems taking their money.”

  They pulled up to the casino. Bright lights lit up the rural countryside, and the parking lot was packed with vehicles. Ryan parked the Mustang, then went around to open the door for Salina. True to form, she was already out of the car before he got there, but she took his arm and seemed to embrace her role as his date.

  She was so much shorter than him. He cocked his head when she poked his shoulder and rose up on tiptoes to whisper in his ear.

  “That one?” She nodded toward the big bouncer by the front door.

  Ryan was one of the few Templars gifted with true-sight. He didn’t need to cast divine light to identify a demon in human illusion. The bouncer was indeed a Drogga. As they entered the bustling casino, he spotted Whargans walking the floor in security guard uniforms. Many of the dealers at the tables were either Kolthas or Falgolite, though a few were human.

  Discovering one or two demons working at an establishment didn’t necessarily mean it was demon owned. Ballor families had spies and agents everywhere. But this many demons working at the same establishment pretty much confirmed Ryan’s suspicions.

  “Yeah, this is definitely a demon-run establishment,” he told her, just in case she hadn’t already figured it out.

  Purchasing a modest stack of chips, he made his way to one of the blackjack tables. The beady-eyed Kolthas dealer shot him a cold smile. Ryan played a few hands, only occasionally using power to change a card so he stayed on the winning side. His stack of chips slowly rose over the next hour.

  Salina cheered him on, playing her part so well Ryan relaxed into his role. Occasionally she would take a few chips from his stack, wander away to a nearby roulette table and drop them on red or black. Ryan would feel the burst of power as she manipulated the spinning wheel. Then she’d come back and drop her small winnings on top of their growing stack.

  Her hand was on his shoulder when he felt her suddenly tense. She bent down and brought her lips dangerously close to his ear. Her hot breath blazed an erotic trail down his neck.

  “Isn’t that Senator Stanton?”

  He looked across the room at the tall, dark-haired man in the navy-blue business suit. His features were instantly recognizable by anyone who’d spent any time watching C-SPAN. In Ryan’s true-sight, however, the senator’s human form was overlaid with the image of a Ballor demon.

  Ryan had only ever seen Senator Stanton on television, and true-sight didn’t work over electronic devices, but now in the same room, he could clearly see that the man was a demon.

  From time to time, the demon lords sought political power to influence laws and regulations. It was mostly on a local level—occasionally on the state or regional level. Demon lords tended to only concern themselves with their own territory.

  To Ryan’s knowledge, the demons hadn’t sought national level political influence since the late thirteenth century, when they took over the French government and drove the Templars into hiding.

  A U. S. Senator? What were the local Ballor lords up to?

  Ryan lost his next two hands as he concentrated on the room around him. He spotted three other Ballor making their way toward the doorway Senator Stanton had disappeared into. One he recognized as Richard Frale, a wealthy businessman. That would certainly be a good mark to add to Ryan’s list of demons to take out. Frale was high-profile enough to be a real challenge. They’d need to make it look like an accident. Maybe an opportunity would present itself tonight.

  Stanton, on the other hand, would be off-the-charts untouchable right now. They’d certainly have to keep a close eye on the senator though.

  Ryan picked up a sizable stack of chips and handed them to Salina.

  “Time to shake things up. Try to attract a little attention.”

  He was sure almost every man in the place had been sneaking clandestine glances her way all evening, but that wasn’t the kind of attention he was looking for.

  Ryan used power to look at and change the cards dealt to him, then pushed his entire stack of chips forward.

  “Sometimes you just have to risk everything,” he said to the man sitting next to him. The young man had been losing steadily all evening and drinking far too heavily. Ryan got a sense of desperation and hopeless depression from him. Still, the man smiled.

  “You’re taking a big chance just letting a woman like that walk away from you, friend,” the man said.

  Ryan smiled. He certainly was, and not in the way the young man suspected, but it was time to find out how well they would work as a team.

  “I’m putting it all on thirteen,” he heard Salina announcing. “I’m feeling lucky.”

  The demon dealer’s eyes widened in surprise as he dealt Ryan a natural twenty-one.

  Ryan turned to the man next to him. “Well, what do you know?”

  The dealer’s eyes narrowed as he paid up Ryan’s winnings, but Ryan also noted the hand sneaking under the table, probably to press a security button, which would be the real payoff.

  Ryan swept his mound of chips in, then pushed them to the side toward the man next to him.

  “Do yourself a favor, friend. Cash these in and buy yourself a taxi ride home.” He patted the man on the shoulder as he rose, leaving the chips behind.

  “Thirteen,” the man running the roulette table announced. He was human, and genuinely surprised. A stunned cheer rose from the table as Ryan made his way through the crowd to Salina’s side.

  “Look, honey, I won!” Salina threw her arms around him and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. Her alluring curves pressed against him and his body reacted fiercely. The woman was a consummate actress. He would really have to watch his step with her.

  There was also a curious blaze of power around the two of them after she’d kissed his cheek, something he’d never experienced before. What was the sorceress doing?

  Salina pulled back, a curious look in her eyes. “What was that?” she asked.

  So, she’d felt it too, but had nothing to do with it? Before he could question her about the power surge, Ryan sensed the approaching demons.

  “You two, come
with us.”

  Four Whargan, wearing their human illusions and security guard uniforms, stood glaring at him as he turned.

  “Not before I’ve collected my winnings!” Indignation rolled off Salina’s tongue as she swept the offered chips into a handbag she hadn’t had when they’d arrived. She certainly seemed resourceful.

  The Whargan formed a guard, two in front, two in back, and pushed them through the crowds. People they passed stared and mumbled.

  Their guards didn’t speak as they marched Ryan and Salina out of the main casino, through a door marked private, and down a long hallway. At the other end of the hall they opened a door and shoved them into a small, empty room. Ryan noted the security camera right away and sent a pulse of power to disable it.

  “You stay here,” one of the guards said.

  Whargan were not the brightest of creatures and their vocabulary tended to be limited. The demons backed out of the room, eyeing them suspiciously. Ryan heard a bolt sliding into place on the other side of the doorway.

  As soon as they were alone, Salina held up her handbag, then let it go. The bag floated in the air with no visible means of support. Suddenly, with a slight pop, it disappeared.

  “Let them try to get their chips back now.” Salina’s impish grin was beguiling.

  Ryan couldn’t help but smile. “I have a feeling it’s not the chips they’re after.”

  The demons had to know either a Templar or an Arcanist was among them. Hopefully they wouldn’t suspect one of each. Ryan looked the room over. The doorway was the only way in or out. The casino was located close to a Templar power pool and an arcane power center, so they’d have ample energy. Salina appeared to be having no problems casting spells, and he knew she was a strong sorceress. This should prove interesting.

  The demons would only be able to come at them one or two at a time through the doorway, so defending against an attack shouldn’t be a problem. And this could prove an excellent chance to take out some demons and see how well he and Salina worked together.

  “You ready?” He smiled.

  Green wisps of energy swirled around her as she brought up a protective force shield. “I was born ready.”

  Ryan pulled divine energy from the nearby power pool and prepared a blast to take out whatever walked through the doorway next. He could hear heavy footsteps approaching and sense the soulless demons behind the closed door.

  The lights in the room flickered. The hum of machinery reverberated in the walls around him. As the bolt slid on the door lock, Ryan’s connection to the power pool broke. Salina’s green energy shield dissipated into vapor.

  In desperation he reached out once again toward the power pool, only to encounter a barrier blocking him. He noted Salina’s confused look and could tell she was experiencing the same thing.

  The doorknob turned, the demons were about to enter, and suddenly they were both powerless.

  God-given energy resides in all of us, just waiting to be awakened. – Pedora Franco, A Memoir 1667

  Chapter 4

  The connection to Salina’s power center broke. She couldn’t maintain the arcane shield around her and Geoffrey without a continuous flow of energy, so she dropped it and instantly drew what power she could into her personal reserve. She’d have enough for one or two small spells—mere cantrips, nothing more—certainly nothing useful against a group of attacking demons.

  “My divine energy has been blocked.” Ryan’s stance, battle-ready with hands fisted, reflected the hopelessness of their situation. “Sure wish I had a gun.”

  No power, no weapons, and a small army of demons about to burst through the door.

  “I’d settle for a baseball bat.” Salina wracked her brain to find the best use of the small amount of arcane energy she had left in her reserves.

  With a flick of her fingers she threw a magical lock on the doorknob, fusing its workings so it wouldn’t twist. It wouldn’t help for long, and the demons would probably just break down the door, but it would buy them a moment or two to think.

  Ryan took a step toward the door. “Get behind me.”

  Mister Brave and Heroic! As much as Salina distrusted Ryan and his organization, she found it hard to dislike him. There was a noble air about him—foolish, but noble. He was just a bit too goodie-goodie for her tastes.

  Inspiration then hit.

  “Screw that. We’re getting out of here.” She reached out and grabbed Ryan’s hand, pulling him toward the back wall of the room. To his credit, Ryan didn’t fight her. With the last of her power she made a section of the wall intangible, allowing her to pass through and pull him with her.

  She heard the door shatter in the room they’d just escaped, as the wall between became solid concrete block once again.

  “Good call. Where are we?” Ryan whispered, as his dreamy brown eyes met hers. Nothing seemed to throw him for a loop. He was always controlled and in charge, even when he’d just been pulled through a solid wall.

  “Damned if I know. Looks like a storage closet,” she whispered back.

  Light filtered into the small, dim room through a louvered vent in the wooden door. Folding chairs and tables were stacked neatly against the walls. It had just been dumb luck they hadn’t stumbled into anything when they’d come through. Steel chairs could make one hell of a racket when crashing to a hardwood floor.

  Voices, some raised in anger, reverberated in from the room beyond. Tense conversations.

  Ryan knelt by the door to look through the vent. “Out of the frying pan, into the fire.” His whisper sent a cold shiver up Salina’s spine.

  She crouched beside him. Too close—his clean, masculine scent set her head reeling, but she wanted to see. It took all her concentration to make out what was happening in the next room through the small slit.

  A group of men sat around a huge conference table. She could make out about ten of them and thought there were probably a dozen more. The faces she could see perked her interest immediately. Jeff Wilson, the head of News Central Media Corporation, Cardinal Simons of the New York Archdiocese, and the U.S. Secretary of Education, Edward Holden, sat side by side, looking intently toward the head of the table. Out of sight, but strong and clear, she could hear Senator Stanton addressing the group. His deep, raspy voice was readily identifiable.

  “Stop complaining. You’ll all get your share if you do your parts. It’s taken us over a hundred years to reach this point, but thanks to the goddess, Shimone, we now control government, religion and the media in most parts of the world. The small pockets of resistance will soon fall.”

  Ryan sidled closer and whispered in Salina’s ear—his breath was warm against her neck. She found the closeness unsettling and arousing. “Every one of them I can see, is a Ballor demon.”

  Salina felt a chill knot her stomach. In their long history, demons had always stayed subtle, under the radar. They’d certainly never aspired to this high a profile. Something had definitely changed over the past hundred years. The Arcanists hadn’t noticed it. Probably the Templars hadn’t either. They’d been too busy fighting each other.

  One of the unidentified Ballor spoke. “Technology brings the world closer. It enables a more centralized control of this world. Shimone has foreseen this moment. It is time to stop hiding behind these human illusions and rise to our rightful place as rulers here!”

  “And where is Shimone?” another asked. “She hasn’t been seen for months.”

  Chair legs squealed against the hardwood flooring as one of the unseen demons rose from its seat. “You dare to question the goddess’s actions?”

  Arguments erupted throughout the room, as one demon lord tried to shout down another.

  At least some things never change. A meeting of Ballor rarely went well. Too many egos were always in play.

  Ryan emitted a low chuckle next to her. “If we’re lucky, they’ll take each other out.”

  But a banging on the table quieted the anarchy in the room to mere harsh whispers. Senator
Stanton’s voice rose over the commotion.

  “The goddess is doing her part, keeping the High Lord and the Earth Mother busy in the heavens while we continue with her plan here on Earth. Nathan Gray is trapped on the other side, and they are welcome to him.”

  Most of the Ballor seemed to settle, but the demon lord that was Jeff Wilson spoke out.

  “What of the Templars and the Arcanists? They continue to attack us. And now they seem to be working together.”

  The room once again erupted into chaos. Salina felt smug satisfaction at the intensity of the debate. At least they still had the demon lords worried.

  Stanton again had to thump the table to restore order in the room.

  “We have little to fear from the Templars and Arcanists. The two broken organizations continue to fight amongst themselves, for all their outward show of support for each other. Their level of trust is…well, lower than ours.”

  “It’s true.” Cardinal Simons rose to address the group. “I hear in that raid on Txolmek last week the Templars arrived purposefully late, causing the death of seven Arcanists.”

  Stanton chuckled. “I’m afraid I must claim credit for that one. You see, we once again have an agent embedded.” Salina felt Ryan go stiff beside her. “With their distrust so high, they are quite easily manipulated.”

  Salina’s emotions roiled. They had a spy among them. Who could it be? It had to be a Templar. Salina had helped Anna Brown test each of the surviving Arcanists. No one entered their headquarters without being retested. The damn Templars must have let a demon slip by them.

  “There is no way you’ve infiltrated the Templars,” Jeff Wilson cut in. “We can’t get past their damn Light of Truth.”