But his plan is failing, and it makes his anger titanic. He thrusts massive talons of his essence directly into the barrier to grab Alvin’s body. The incubus boy has proven too willful for him to control, too dangerous, so he intends to crush him and snuff out my power.
It is a desperate move, because I am so much bigger than Alvin now, and it plays right into my hands. Now that Savadeva has breached the barrier, exposed his true self to its energy,myenergy, I can use it like a weapon. I will create a blast unlike any seen on Earth for millions of years, one strong enough to end a god. Many humans will die—tens of millions, perhaps—and that’s unfortunate, but this ancient enemy will finally be vanquished, and that is righteous.
I move quickly to direct the immense power at my command, working to concentrate enough holy energy to atomize an eternal being, but… Savadeva is not Alvin’s sworn enemy. This war is not his. Not yet. Alvin needs the spirit in the watch and the humans to live. He was willing to die to save them. And that small speck of me that’s the incubus boy swells at the thought that they could be hurt. Refuses to accept it. Refuses to use this magic to harm this world.
There’s a strange moment when I both feel infinite and small, where I struggle, but it’s long enough for that tiny part of me whose voice is now so large, forAlvin, to grab hold of the barrier and issue a command:
END THIS!
My barrier responds and stabs out dozens of sharp, vibrating purple spikes. One spears Valiente through the stomach, another skewers Rafa’s mom through the shoulder, and the rest rip through Savadeva’s form like a meteor storm. Valiente squeals in pain and terror as he is raised to the roof of the cavern like a pig on the tip of a spear. His puppet of a wife cries out too. But Savadeva refuses to give me the satisfaction of his screams. He chooses to spit outcurse after curse instead—bitter, hateful words meant to instill fear.
I do not listen. Alvin’s voice drowns him out. Alvin wants these monsters gone and the children safe.
And for this brief moment, his will is mine.
I violently bring Alvin’s arms together in front of his body and command the exposed barrier to implode, to collapse into the tear Valiente formed. The toxic energy rushes past me like a raging river, hurtling the god of corpses back to his ancient prison. The two impaled vampires are dragged along with him, howling in his wake. I then use the last of my magic to seal the wall tight, strong as it ever was. Stronger, because this seal was made by someone of this world with a stake in protecting it.
There is still more I should do. So much more. But I have spent my power, and I am tired. Exhausted and empty, I plummet again into bottomless darkness, falling into nothingness.
No.
No.That’s not right.
I am falling, but it’sto the ground.
Sharp pain jolts through me as my hands and knees smash down against carved bedrock, and I crumple, slamming to the cavern floor onto my shoulder. Something lands with a light, metallic clatter beside me. Then everything is quiet.
The stone beneath me is cold. There’s a long moment where I feel crazy disoriented, unsure of who or what I am. I was able to seize control of the magic, but just barely, and only for a few seconds at the end. This was worse than at the church. The power was so much biggerthan me, and it wanted things. Things that would have hurt a lot of people. It was so easy to get lost in it.
But I’m me again. The real me. Plain old Alvin.
I suck in a breath and focus on the sensation of my chest going in, then out, trying to feel solid again in my skin.
But what truly brings me back to myself is the sound of sniffling and whimpering.
I open my eyes. The barrier is gone. So are both Valiente and Rafa’s mom. There’s just me and the kids. They weren’t sucked into Hell. They’re still by the walls of the room, but they’ve now gathered together on Emma’s side of the cavern, and they’re crying and hugging each other with relief. Finally free of the Vampire King’s power.
I freed them. And didn’t blow up the world. Or myself. It’s finally over. For real, this time.
Not so bad for a stupid incubus boy.
I look around for Collin. I need to see he’s okay, too. He’s not here. But the watch is. It’s out of my pocket, closed-up again, and on the ground beside my knees. Mybareknees.
Because I’m completely naked.
Awesome.
My incubus juice protected me from the dissolving magic, but apparently it can’t heal club clothes. Maybe I could have used the serene power to protect them (the watch is still here!), but I didn’t even think about it.
Not exactly a heroic pose, and potentially one more bit of trauma I’m exposing these kids to, but the important thing is they’re safe, right? I turn to the huddled teens, throw on my best game smile, and am just about to getback to my feet when one of the boys startles and lets out a strangled cry of fear.
I follow his terrified stare to see five Hunter-vampires, poking their heads into the room like skulking dogs. These are the ones who were stuck behind the Hell wall upstairs. A protective barrier I just eliminated.
Right. I didn’t think about them, either.
Looks like it might be a little soon for that bare-assed victory lap. (Because apparently I’m not allowed to get asinglefreaking break!)
I stand, exhaling a heavy sigh, and rapidly take an internal inventory. Other than a newly bruised shoulder, I’m completely healed, so that’s good. But I’m completely out of incubus juice and no longer have any of the divine magic inside me. I reach in for my demon part—my life’s in danger here,lotsof lives are in danger!—but for the first time in my life, I find nothing. Nothing looks back. I don’t even feel the least bit hungry. I’ve just worked god-tier magic, way above my pay grade, and apparentlyallof my power has been exhausted, and I’m too empty to ask for more. That’s… not so good.
