Old Demon and the Sea Witch (Welcome to Hell #9) - Eve Langlais Page 0,35

I could already see the use of all that magic taxing her strength. We needed out of here.

Even more soldiers poured into the throne room, rushing for Dottie, the biggest threat. She didn’t let it daunt her but flung bursts of wind that tossed the soldiers around. With a cackle, she jabbed her finger to strike with lightning.

Whereas all I had in my back pocket was a tiny, unknown book titled Eat my Cape, a superhero fan fiction that had some power because the writer had poured their life force into it. While the author’s death never made them famous, it allowed me to use some magic, but it was erratic. At times, when I pointed and channeled my ability, squids shot out of nowhere to splat on the faces of soldiers. Other times, they exploded and covered everything in slick goo. And then Dorothy’s power failed.

“It’s fizzling!” she screeched. She waggled her fingers, trying to ignite her power, only getting a weak zap. She’d mentioned needing to recharge because of some big love spell. It meant that we were done fighting.

But soldiers kept moving in.

“Conserve what you have left.” It was the only advice I could think of, while my mind whirled for how I could help.

The fish men sensed her weakness and moved as if to swarm. I shoved my hand into one last pocket and withdrew my palm-sized Book of Water. Containing aquatically-inclined poems written by a mad warlock, it did the most interesting things. I aimed it at the strongest water source in the room. The fountain. The liquid in it churned and rose, flooding through the air, blasting the soldiers to the ground. It allowed my nephew to hobble close to Dottie and me, and once he got within range, the water formed a liquid shield around us.

“How long can you hold it?” Dottie asked.

“Not long. We need out of here, pronto. Do you have enough magic to fly?”

“Only if you can pull a broom out of your ass,” she retorted.

Good thing I’d learned how to improvise. “How’s a spear?” I swept a shaft from the ground and offered it to her.

“You do realize my magic is just about tapped out, right?”

“We just need enough to make it to the ship. Once there, Adexios will protect us. He won’t let anyone hurt his favorite uncle.” I grinned, offering some attempt at reassurance.

Ian still bled and looked none too steady on his feet. And if Dorothy couldn’t use magic, then we wouldn’t last long.

Dorothy slid the shaft between her legs. “It’s crazy enough that it might just work. We’ll have to huddle close to make sure we all fit. And be warned, we might get wet.” She gave me a coy peek over her shoulder.

She expected me to refuse. I’d lived long enough to not give a shit about appearances. I sat bitch behind her, but Ian balked.

I beckoned him to come closer. “Hold on tight to me, Ian, this could be bumpy.”

I wasn’t surprised to see Ian shake his head. I’d expected it, especially since I could see the beast within pulsing under his skin.

“I’ll take my chances on land. Go.” He waved at us. “I need to find Sasha.”

“But the guards…” I glanced at my shield and the bodies behind it. Saw the determination on Ian’s face. The book in my hand was almost tapped out. But it could do one more thing. “I love you, Ian.”

He nodded, and I knew in that moment that this was the last time we’d speak. The monster was coming, and I couldn’t stop it. But I could at least give Ian a chance to reach the water.

I thrust my arms out, channeling all the magic left in the book even as I knew it would destroy it. Giving it a burst of power exploded my watery shield, knocking down the soldiers, and giving Ian a bubble to move.

Dottie murmured, “We have to go. Now.”

Barely enough warning for me to grab hold of her as the spear lifted. Jostled. I lost sight of Ian for a moment, and when I did glimpse him again, another spear hung from him.

“No,” I muttered, only to watch wide-eyed as Dorothy circled, showing the transformation of man to beast.

The rain turned Ian’s skin slick, not mottled as you’d expect, but a steel gray with hints of blue and green. And he was massive. The size of my nephew, the boy I thought of as a son, engulfed the throne room, knocked down