Thaumatology 02 - Demon's Moon Page 15

  ‘Have you considered your name, Ceridwyn?’ the old woman said.

  ‘Sorry? I was named for the ancient sorceress.’

  ‘Yes,’ Alexandra said, ‘and you are a sorceress. So you could say that you are Ceridwyn reborn.’ Ceri blinked at her. ‘The name itself has a couple of meanings, but one of them is “Fair Poetry.”’

  ‘Crap,’ Ceri said flatly.

  Alexandra smiled. ‘I couldn’t have put it better myself,’ she said.

  Kennington, December 12th

  ‘Officially,’ Kate said, ‘I’m on my lunch break so, uh, thanks for the sandwiches, Twill.’

  ‘My pleasure, Detective,’ the fairy said, settling onto Lily’s shoulder. The half-succubus was leaning against the kitchen counter wearing only a concerned look. Kate probably did not realise that Lily’s lack of clothing meant she had been accepted as “part of the extended family.” Right now she just looked a little uncomfortable.

  ‘Anyway,’ Kate went on, ‘I did some checking and no one’s heard anything about the North Hills pack recently.’

  Ceri sighed. ‘I was kind of hoping there was some news,’ she said.

  ‘I didn’t say there was no news,’ Kate replied, ‘just that no one had seen them. There’s a larger pack, the Fenlanders. They cover most of land between Bedford and Norwich, and King’s Lynn down to Clacton. The eastern end of the North Hills territory borders theirs, but a large group of Fenlanders was seen in Oxford on the seventh.’

  ‘That’s the western end of the North Hills’ territory,’ Ceri said, frowning.

  Kate nodded, finishing up a bite of her lunch before continuing. ‘There have also been some odd reports from the Cambridge cops. Werewolves being more violent than usual. Some livestock going missing. This is going back as far as the sixth, way before we had our problems.’

  ‘So,’ Ceri said, ‘he arrived on the east coast on the night of the new moon and kicked off with the Fenlanders.’

  ‘They’re a large pack with some good connections,’ Kate said. ‘They would make for a good source of troops. Rumour out of the Cambridgeshire force says they’re hooked up with some sort of occult conspiracy group.’

  ‘Three werewolves are coming up the front path,’ Twill said suddenly.

  Frowning, Ceri got to her feet. ‘I’ll be right back,’ she said before heading to the front door.

  She did not recognise one of the two males, but she smiled as she opened the door to see Alexandra and Michael. The unidentified man nodded politely to her and took up what looked like a guard position on the porch.

  ‘I went to see Catherine,’ Alexandra said, ‘and thought we would stop off here on the way back.’

  Ceri nodded. ‘Good to see you,’ she said. ‘I have a cop visiting, but she’s a witch and she can be trusted.’

  ‘That will be fine, dear,’ Alexandra said and Ceri led the way through to the kitchen.

  ‘Kate,’ Ceri said as she walked in, ‘this is Alexandra, Alpha of the Battersea pack, and Michael. Kate’s a detective in the Greycoats, investigating the recent violence among the werewolves.’ Ceri moved over to her chair and waved for Alexandra to sit. The old woman smiled and accepted the offer. Michael stood at the door, trying his hardest not to look at Lily.

  ‘Pleased to meet you, ma’am,’ Kate said. ‘Pardon my eating. I’m on my lunch break.’

  ‘Not an entirely sanctioned sharing of information, Detective?’ Alexandra asked.

  ‘Not entirely, no.’

  The Alpha smiled. ‘Has Ceri told you about the Remus wolves?’

  ‘Some,’ Kate replied, ‘though I suspect she’s not telling me everything. We were just getting to the bit where she does the sharing.’

  ‘Then I’ll tell you what I told her,’ Alexandra said. ‘Remus sent one of his wolves to each of the London packs two nights ago. Catherine was the only other Alpha who resisted them.’ She looked up at Ceri. ‘She’ll be going back to rally her people this evening. I have high hopes for her, if she can get through the next few days.’

  ‘Well,’ Kate said, ‘we had some success in keeping things quiet last night. We had teams out with riot gear and gas. The Royals seemed like they were staying out of town, but if she’s going to bring them back tonight maybe we could stand by on the borders.’

  ‘No,’ Alexandra said, ‘if they are going to survive as a pack they need to stand on their own.’ She looked at Ceri. ‘Though there would be nothing to stop some of their less… governmental friends from assisting.’

  Ceri looked over at Lily, who nodded. ‘We may drop by Regents Park tonight,’ the sorceress said. ‘Do you think any of Remus’ goons will show up?’

  ‘Yes,’ Alexandra said. ‘I expect him to take this opportunity to destroy one of the packs who rejected him. If you’re going, then I shall send some of mine with you. He’ll come for us once he’s finished with the Royals so we would be helping ourselves as much as them, and an alliance between the two packs would be… useful. I’ll be relying upon you and Lily to be our ambassadors in this, Ceridwyn. My wolves will take orders from you. It will be up to you to see that the Royals accept the help, and I’d like my people back in one piece if at all possible.’

  ‘I’m no tactician, Alexandra,’ Ceri said, looking uncomfortable.

  ‘You don’t have to be, dear,’ the old woman said. ‘Most of leadership is letting the people who know what they’re doing do it and making sure everyone believes in themselves. If it helps, I believe you can do this.’

  ‘So do I,’ Michael chimed in.

  ‘I don’t need to believe it,’ Lily said quietly. Ceri looked at her quizzically. Lily looked into her eyes and quite calmly stated, ‘I know you can.’

  Regents Park

  People cleared away from them as the two women and dozen werewolves marched out of Regents Park station and headed for the park and Broad Walk. Ceri and Lily walked at the head of them, the wolves fanning out as they entered the green land like an honour guard. There were no humans to be seen; the news was full of the dangers of being near the werewolf territories after dark and no one was risking it.

  Ceri walked with a determined stride, the tall staff Carter had given her for her birthday in her hand. She had brought it simply to look impressive, having no idea what it actually did. Carter had said that he had bought it thinking it might grant him power and it had not. He had also said that he was giving it to her because he thought she could use it. So far it had spent its time hung over the fireplace in the lounge.

  From somewhere, Lily had produced a pair of curved daggers and some heavy-looking metal bracers which now adorned her forearms. She was dressed in leathers and low-heeled boots, ready to fight though she had never mentioned knowing how to. She had not explained where the weapons or armour had come from either and Ceri had not pressed her for an answer. Still, Ceri could almost smell the enchantment on the metal.

  Michael was marching just behind the two of them. The wolf-man was constantly sniffing, searching for sign of anything dangerous around them, and they were just crossing Chester Road when he let out a soft growl.

  Three werewolves moved out onto the path in front of them. Ceri stopped, planting her staff in the ground. ‘We’re here to see Catherine,’ she said. ‘The Battersea pack lends its assistance in the Royal pack’s time of need.’

  The leader of the three was suddenly a human. Ceri recognised him from the hospital; this was probably Stefan. ‘Catherine will want to greet you personally,’ he said. He glanced at his pack-mates. ‘Go and tell Catherine that Miss Brent is here with help.’ As they loped off into the trees, Stefan fell into step beside Ceri and introduced himself. ‘I’m Stefan, Catherine’s… General? I spent five years in the Marines so I’m the best tactician we’ve got.’

  Ceri glanced over her shoulder at Michael, receiving a nod in answer to the unasked question. ‘Fine,’ Ceri said, ‘Alexandra gave me leadership of these wolves, but they’ll take direction on tactical disposition from you.’

 
; ‘Thank you for your trust,’ Stefan replied.

  ‘I promised Alexandra I’d bring them back alive,’ Ceri said, smiling slightly. ‘I’m no soldier. I’m just using the talent I find available.’

  ‘You’re sure we’ll be attacked tonight?’ Stefan asked quietly.

  ‘I have it on good authority.’

  ‘Then we’d better get ready for it.’ Ceri glanced at Stefan. He sounded determined. It was not something she had expected to hear from one of his rather decadent pack, but she was glad to hear it.

  Catherine was waiting for them near the spot Ceri had met her before. She looked like someone who was very nervous and trying very hard not to let it show. As they approached, she stood up and the long cloak she was wearing parted enough to show she was naked beneath and ready to shift if necessary. ‘Welcome,’ she said. ‘Darren tells me that you’ve brought wolves from Alexandra. I bid you all welcome and offer free passage through our territory.’

  Ceri bowed her head in acknowledgement. ‘The Battersea pack is proud to stand beside the Royals against this danger to all. And Lily and I are proud to stand with both.’

  Catherine smiled and bowed her own head, and then her resolve to look regal broke and she rushed forward to wrap Ceri in a hug. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered. ‘I’m not sure I can keep doing this without help.’

  ‘Yes, you can,’ Ceri whispered back, hugging the Alpha in return. She raised her voice. ‘My wolves are at your disposal. I understand that Stefan is leading the defence?’

  Catherine stepped back and pulled herself upright. ‘Yes. He’s very capable, and he’s been a rock in this turmoil.’ Her gaze flicked toward the tall, muscled man with his military cut, sandy hair and rugged good looks. Ceri was pretty sure that there was more than pack loyalty there.

  ‘What’s the plan?’ Ceri said, turning to Stefan herself.

  Stefan dropped into a crouch and picked up a stick, quickly scratching a rough map of the park into some bare earth. Michael dropped down beside him while Ceri, Lily, and Catherine stood watching. ‘The Serpents are the most likely to attack,’ he said, ‘and they’ll likely come in from the west side. Unless they’re absolute morons, they’ll avoid the main park. It’s all open ground and we’ll see them coming long before they get to us. So they’ll stick to the trees around Inner Circle until they can break across the shorter distance. I’ve got a scout on the island in the boating lake watching for them.’ He grinned. ‘We got a couple of those cheap walkie-talkies kids use. It’s got enough range that he can warn us before they get too far into the park.’

  Michael reached out a claw and marked a line up from the south side where Broad Walk would be, then dipping in to about where they were sitting. He looked up at Stefan and the ex-soldier nodded. ‘Yeah,’ Stefan said. ‘I figure the main attack through the park will be a diversion and they’ll send a hit squad in around the back. Their main objective has to be assassinating Catherine and that’s their best chance.’ He paused and glanced up at Ceri. ‘So… this is where I return your trust, ma’am. My plan is to commit as many of our wolves as possible to the main assault. I’m going to trust the defence of my Alpha to you and yours.’

  Michael made a low rumpling sound deep in his chest and bowed his head toward Stefan. ‘We won’t fail you,’ Ceri said.

  ‘What if they send those creatures?’ Catherine said.

  ‘They will,’ Ceri stated. ‘And I have a few ideas for taking care of them. I scared one off the first time they came. They aren’t all-powerful, and they can be defeated.’

  ‘That’s why I brought these,’ Lily said, patting the daggers sheathed at her hips.

  ‘A pair of knives?’ Stefan said.

  ‘A pair of demon-bane daggers,’ Lily replied. Ceri raised an eyebrow, but made no comment; now was not the time to ask why Lily had them.

  ‘All right,’ Stefan said, ‘we have a plan, now we get to the largest part of any war.’

  ‘The waiting,’ Ceri said.

  ~~~

  It began just after the moon had set for the night, plunging the park into darkness. Ceri had just cast a night sight spell on herself and Lily when the toy radio Stefan was holding as though it were the most vital thing in the world hissed and a voice could be heard indistinctly over the static. ‘They’re just passing the lake now,’ it said. ‘Sticking to the trees like you said.’

  Stefan thumbed the transmit key. ‘All right, you know what to do. Stick to the plan.’ He dropped the walkie-talkie onto the grass and rose to his feet. ‘Good luck,’ he said to Ceri, and then he was moving toward the point they were expecting the attack to come from, shifting as he ran.

  Ceri closed her eyes briefly and then turned to Michael. ‘We need a lookout,’ she said.

  The grey wolf-man nodded and looked to his right giving a short bark. A female crouching near the edge of the clearing barked a reply and bolted into the trees. Ceri watched her go with a growing sense of tension. She had been in fights before, but they had always been unexpected with no time for planning or forethought. This was different; all the waiting gave her plenty of time to imagine the possible outcomes, and she had other people to worry about, people relying on her to lead them.

  Lily’s hand on her shoulder almost made her jump. ‘We’re ready for this,’ the half-succubus said. ‘We’ll beat them.’

  ‘But people could die,’ Ceri almost whispered.

  ‘Yes,’ Lily replied, ‘people will die, but not our people.’

  They heard howls from the south west. Battle had been joined, but none of the sounds coming from that direction sounded like they were being made by Remus’ wolves. There was nothing they could do about that now. Ceri pulled herself up straight and nodded. ‘Yeah,’ she said loud enough for the wolves to hear her, ‘I just wish they’d get on with it. It’s rude to be late to your own funeral.’

  There was a rumble of cheerful agreement from the surrounding weres. Michael looked up at her with a mixture of pride and humour in his faintly orange, feral eyes. Ceri winked at him just as their scout dashed back into the clearing making growling noises and a few gestures.

  ‘They’re coming,’ Catherine translated, though Ceri had got that much. ‘Ten of them, plus two of the demon-wolves. We’ve got about a minute before they get here.’

  ‘Were you seen?’ Ceri asked. The she-wolf shook her head. Nodding, Ceri took in a breath and said, ‘Show time, people. Let’s do Alexandra proud.’

  Catherine rose to her feet, undoing the catch on her cloak as she did so. By the time she was upright she was a grey-furred wolf-woman flexing clawed hands in readiness. There was a faint scrape of metal on leather as Lily drew her blades and stepped up beside Ceri. Michael gave a short bark and two groups of wolves split off to either side, vanishing into the trees and leaving what looked like a bare guard of four werewolves keeping watch on their Alpha.

  Ceri began to concentrate, focussing her power through her staff. The complex pattern of blue inlay around the upper third of the staff began to glow, as did the large crystal sphere mounted in its head. ‘No one gets between me and the first demon we see,’ she said, and then they saw it.

  The hulking form stepped out from the cover of a tree and managed to look triumphant with a face incapable of showing much in the way of expression besides “mean.” Michael and his three wolves let out long howls, dropping into crouches in readiness as the demon gestured and a small horde of werewolves broke cover around him. The demon gave a roar, seeing his prey almost entirely unguarded. He began to charge.

  Ceri raised her staff, levelling it toward the oncoming creature, and released her spell. A bolt of blazing white light shot from the crystal, meeting the monster’s chest and blasting clear through. It stumbled, falling headlong and skidding to a stop on the grass. Still moving, it began struggling to turn over and right itself, but the shock value was already having an effect. The wolves faltered in their charge and Michael took advantage, barking an order and charging forward. The flanking groups hit
them from the sides in the confusion and the Serpents were caught in complete disarray.

  ‘There!’ Lily hissed and Ceri turned to see the second demon charging at them from their left side. It had obviously seen what she had done to its brother and considered her the most important target since it was charging straight at her, ignoring Catherine and the girl with the daggers between it and its quarry.

  Lily held her daggers back-handed, stepped into the charge and dropped low under the huge arm which swung in toward Ceri. The monster howled as the short blade cut through its thick hide like butter, opening a deep gash across its stomach. Ceri raised her staff, blocking the talons swinging toward her head and stepped back; she needed time to ready her next spell.

  Suddenly Catherine was on its back sinking her teeth into its bull-neck and Lily was spinning around to plant her blade deeply into its chest, and it had more to think about than Ceri. A clawed hand reached back to try to dislodge the werewolf, the other swinging a badly aimed, easily dodged blow at Lily. The half-succubus’ dagger slashed its wrist in passing, the second blade swinging about to carve a line through its thigh.

  ‘Catherine! Get clear!’ Ceri yelled as she rammed the head of her staff into the monster’s throat. She saw the lithe she-wolf jump back, somersaulting to land in a low crouch, and then Ceri released her spell. Light flared through the top of the demon’s skull and there was the stench of burnt fur. Lily had to roll aside to avoid the falling body.

  Turning, Ceri took in the scene to her right. As far as she could tell, the fallen wolves lying in pools of blood and gore were all Serpents and, faced with what had suddenly become a very superior force, the ones still standing were starting to turn and run. The demon-wolf was pulling itself upright despite the gaping hole she had blown through its chest. She growled under her breath; the thing would start regenerating soon.

  It looked at her with eyes which were burning red in the night. Its lips drew back to reveal two rows of vicious teeth and Ceri began to ready another light bolt. Then Michael appeared out of nowhere, his jaws clamping around the beast’s throat. It slammed a clawed hand into his chest, pushing him away and leaving deep gouges in its own neck.