Sorceress, Interrupted - By A. J. Menden Page 0,97

wield a weapon made by the gods against a god, but they can’t kill one with it. You don’t think the gods would be that stupid, do you? To let humans get their hands on such a weapon? A mere human can’t kill a god.”

“You’re not a god, Dylan,” I choked out.

“I’m a demigod, and that counts for this, Fantazia. While you’re just a human.” He started to swing the sword down at me.

I moved as quickly as I could, lurching upward and plunging the dagger Kate had given me straight into his chest. “Oh, sweetie,” I crooned into his ear, holding his body for leverage. “I’m not human.”

I gave the dagger another hard shove, and the light died in his eyes. He crashed to the floor, dead. After all of these many years, having to kill someone that’s turned evil never gets any easier, but sometimes my hand is forced. Yet another reason why I separated myself from the rest of humanity.

My sword fell beside him and I picked it up. Knowing it had to be done, with one quick motion I took off his head. Instantly I felt the weight of magic slip out of the room. Whatever spells he’d cast were finished, but I wasn’t sure that helped. Not now. The Dragon was already loose.

Cyrus walked over and eyed my grisly handiwork. “Seems like overkill.”

“Had to make sure,” I said. “With demigods you never know. Always a good idea to take off the head.”

“Done this before, have you?”

“A time or two,” I admitted.

“Good thing he was wrong.”

I glanced at Cyrus. “About what?”

“About these weapons being useless in the hands of a human. Against gods, I mean. They worked just fine against his cronies.” He motioned to the bodies of Dylan’s minions.

“He wasn’t wrong,” I said. Glancing at Cyrus I said, “I knew when I asked Kate for them: had anyone else on the team tried this, it wouldn’t have worked.”

Cyrus looked flabbergasted. “I don’t understand. Your father’s human. I know he’s got more power than most magic-users and the whole reincarnating thing, but they’re still just powers. And maybe your mother was a great magician like he says—”

I laughed. “You trust his shoddy memory? Who do you think told him she was a magician?” I gave Cyrus a wry smile.

He was shaking his head. “I don’t understand.”

“No, but you’re going to.” I put a hand to my headset. “Kate? If we’re lucky enough that the Dragon’s dead or if my father can spare you, I need to borrow you for a second.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“I don’t think it’s a good idea leaving the battle like that,” Cyrus was saying, following me. “Dragging Kate out of it, too . . .”

“We’ll only be gone a second. Literally. Where we’re going is kind of out of time as you folk know it,” I said.

“I’ll be back before anyone notices I’m gone,” Kate agreed. “Possibly with reinforcements.”

Cyrus mouthed, “ ‘You folk,’ ” giving me a strange look. Then, staring at the wall in front of us he asked, “Are we going to another pocket universe like yours, or did you drag me to this corner to look at advertisements for musical theater?”

“Last time I try to broaden your horizons,” I joked.

We were standing in front of an abandoned playhouse. Someone had painted the wall with an advertisement for the work last performed here, some corny musical romp that seemed to center on boy meets girl with a bit of magic thrown in. Looked delightful. But while we were many years too late to attend the play, we weren’t interested in the actual playhouse. Cyrus was right, sort of; where we were headed was a place akin to my pocket universe. There were portals to it, interdimensional doors that only certain people could see, mainly its inhabitants. Hence, me bringing Kate. She knew where the dimension’s owners, metaphorically speaking, hid the key.

She frowned, studied the wall and then walked forward and started to press her hand onto it. Instead, her hand went through. “It’s been a while since I used this doorway,” she admitted. “I’d almost forgotten about it, and I figured everyone else had as well. But someone’s used it recently.”

“Mneme,” I grumbled. “She’s been using this door to sneak out to see her little boyfriend Dylan and wreak havoc.”

Kate shook her head. “Mneme? This is so confusing. Why is she doing this? She’s always been so unassuming. We forget she’s there half the time!” She studied me. “And how did I