That Old Black Magic - By Michelle Rowen Page 0,100
good way to get bad vision. You had it all, and you didn’t even realize it. Greatness? You know what’s really great?”
He turned to her as if she might have an answer to help him. “What?”
“Not you.”
She twisted her hand, drawing out Oliver’s soul through Daniel’s mouth in a long gray stream. Daniel collapsed to the ground and the smoke hung in the air. She held it still with a focused thought.
“Don’t worry, Oliver,” she whispered. “You wanted to go to Hell. It’s still your final destination. Have a nice trip.”
Another twist of her magic and the smoke vanished in a flash of fire.
Powerful magic. Powerful black magic. She’d reversed Sandy’s spell as if it was nothing more than rewinding a videotape.
Eden fell to her knees as if a chair had been pulled out from under her, gasping for breath. She had no idea she could even do that, but it had taken a lot of her strength.
And a heavy price as well. A glance at her darker amulet confirmed that she’d delved deeply into her bag of tricks this time.
“Eden!” Leena shouted. “Behind you!”
Sandy had finally come to and was rising to her feet. The other witch’s amulet, Eden noted with a sinking feeling, was already as dark as it could get.
She’d killed Oliver’s mortal form with black magic. She’d crossed the line. Her soul was black. The formerly gray witch had nothing left to lose.
Sandy smiled coldly. “I’m going to kill you.”
“Let’s get the party started,” Eden said, and more magic coursed through her.
Darrak had been aiming for the Void.
Close, but no cigar. They’d landed just to the edge of it. Darrak’s self-preservation had unconsciously kicked in. After all, if he’d sent them directly into the Void upon their arrival it would have been a trip for two.
He stayed in his demonic form since it gave him more strength.
Plus, he’d always been fond of the horns.
Lucifer brushed off his suit, looking annoyed. “So this is how it ends for you, Darrakayiis. Kind of anticlimactic with no other witnesses, isn’t it? I thought you liked an audience.”
Darrak glanced around the dark and deserted area. “There were a couple wraiths here earlier. They would have made an excellent cheering section.”
Lucifer shook his head. “Eden went to great measures to save you, and now you turn around and destroy yourself yet again. Seems a bit ungrateful if you ask me.”
He shrugged his hulking shoulders. “I guess I’m a slow learner.”
“That much is obvious. What’s funny to me is that none of this is my fault. She agreed to my deal.”
“She didn’t know what the deal meant.”
“Not my problem.”
Darrak couldn’t help but snort humorlessly. “You know, you almost convinced me you’d grown to care about her. Forgiving her the screwups. Her own personal summoning crystal. The whole French kiss, darkness-sucking action from time to time. Thought I had some romantic competition for a moment there.”
Lucifer’s expression didn’t change aside from a small smile. “We can share her. After all, I only want half.”
“I don’t share. I’m greedy like that.”
“One last chance, Darrak. Don’t get in my way. You still get the girl and walk away from this.”
Darrak flexed his fists and his talons bit into his skin. “You were right about one thing, Lucy. Your time is up.”
The prince’s smile faded and his eyes narrowed. “Call me Lucy one more time and this ends now.”
Darrak grinned. “Finally getting to you, am I?”
“Congratulations, you succeeded.”
“Thanks. I feel . . . strangely accomplished.”
“My previous pick was unworthy. I should have realized the solution was too simple, too eager. He was overly motivated by his own greed.”
“It’s a deadly sin. Total bonus.”
“Not helpful in a situation like this, I’m afraid. He was a bad pick, I’ll admit it. Which leaves us with a large problem. If you want to destroy me, there is no one to rule Hell and keep all the demon lords from losing control of the shadows.”
Darrak shook his head. “Wrong. There is someone already lined up.”
“Who?”
“You’re looking at him.”
Lucifer stared at him for a long moment and then burst into laughter. “Oh Darrak, you do amuse me.”
Darrak knew he’d have the last laugh today. “You know, I think I’ll go all out with a crown, scepter, the works. Maybe I’ll sign up a couple of jesters to keep me amused for the next millennium or two. We all know the job will suck the personality out of anyone with a tendency to feel sorry for themselves.”