Firstborn (The Legacy Series) (8 page)

“
Son of a – ”

I gave him the finger again – not that finger. The painful finger. Oh
, you know what I mean!

Jack’s voice rose by a couple octaves.

“What's wrong, Jackie-boy? Can't handle a little pain?” I turned to Amaymon. “You believe this joker is supposed to be a tough guy,” I said.

“Lemme take over.” The cat calmly padded over and hopped on Jack’s lap.

“OK, here’s how it’s gonna work Jack,” I said. “I ask a question, you lie, the cat messes you up and then you tell me the truth.”

“
Another talking animal?” said the Elemental. “I’m not scared of a cat.”

Amaymon let out a cute mew that would have made any girl swoon.

Then he dug his claws into Jack’s thighs and the guy screamed.

“Hey
, jackass,” said the demon. “You don’t talk unless he asks a question.”

That was impressive. Intimidation by cat – never fails.

“Why did you trash my office?” I asked.

Jack eye
d the cat warily. “I was paid to beat up some wizard named Ashendale. They said he lived here alone and I’d have the advantage,” he blurted out rapidly.

The cat did not torture him again. I assumed he was telling the truth.

“Who are
they
?”

“
They said they'll kill me if I tell,” Jack whimpered.

Amaymon scraped his claws into his trousers.

“If you don't tell us,
I
will kill you,” he threatened.

“Wait,” I ordered. “We can go about this another way.”

Good cop, bad cop. Or, in our case, good wizard, homicidal kitty.

“
This is bugging me. When you heard Amaymon talk you said,
not another talking animal
. Which means you met another talking animal. What was it?” I asked.

Jack’s eyebrows shot up.
“Black dog. Huge damn thing.”

I groaned internally. Unless there was another
black talking dog around, then I was sending my bill to Mephisto. Or Gil.

“Lemme guess,” I groaned. “
Your boss is a petite blonde with a long braid and a weird costume? Drove around in a limo?”

Jack nodded.

“Ah, crap.”

“You know her?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“
Enemy?”

“
Worse. Sister.”

Jack laughed.
“Good one.”

I didn’t laugh.

“You're serious?” he asked incredulously.

I rolled my eyes.
“What about you, Jack? How come you're a hit man?” I asked, throwing the spotlight back on him.

“
I'm not a hit man.”

“
Good, because you're horrible at it. So, what are you? Thug for hire?”

Jack lowered his head.
“I'm just need some cash. You don’t know what it’s like to live on the streets. And it's not like you're any better − running some sorta scam out of a fancy office.”

I wedged my face mere inches f
rom his face. “Screw you. I
help
others. I use my powers to bring a little peace to this place, by ridding it of monsters and idiots like you. I never,
never,
took money to hurt anyone. Even when I lived on the streets at an age younger than you. So, take your sad story and shove it,” I said. My voice quivered in anger.

“
Didn't you escape the mansion?” interjected Amaymon. Somehow he managed to pull off a mocking expression on his feline face.

“
Not now, Amaymon. I'm trying to prove a point here,” I shot back.

But I thanked him inwardly - Amaymon knew that getting too emotional about this was not going to solve anything.

“Just getting my facts straight,” the cat replied innocently, before resuming the task of scratching the leather fabric of Jack's pants.

I took a deep breath. Get your game together Erik.

“Did she say where she was going?” I asked.

The Elemental glared.
“I heard her mention a hospital.”

“
This jackass is a distraction,” said Amaymon.

I stood up, pushing my chair away.
The demon was right. What better way to slow me down other than a literal human tank? This type of underhand tactic was just like Gil.

“Let’s go
, then,” I told Amaymon. This was not the time to hold back – Gil was going to go after the succubus with angels and Mephisto in tow. I was bringing my backup.

I scooped up my coat and weapons.

“What's in it for me?” Amaymon asked as he hopped off Jack.

I raised my arms in exasperation. “What do you want from me?”

Amaymon’s whiskers flicked. “I already told you that. I’m not your pet or your servant. So, what’s in it for me?”

“
I dunno. Honor?” I suggested.

Amaymon simply stared at me as if I had just suggested shaving him.

I tried again, this time in a more upbeat tone, like a game show host.

“
How about an adventure, TV remote control for the next week, and a chance to flirt with a succubus? I hear girls find cats adorable.”

The cat flicked its tail enthusiastically.

“Sold. What are we still doing here?”

“
Hey, what about me?” called the Elemental.

I considered leaving him bound like that. But I don’t have the guts for torture. So
, I walked toward him, licked my thumb and rubbed my moist finger against his forehead, wiping away the triangle.

“
Get out of the rest on your own. I don’t care where you go or what you do. Just don't be here when I get back. If I ever hear of you again, I’ll hunt you down myself and terminate you. You understand?” I asked. His eyes widened and nodded.

Outside was a motorbike
− most likely Jack’s. I’m not much of an enthusiast, but even I could appreciate the marvelous piece of engineering in front of me. I needed a ride and Jack wasn’t going anywhere for a couple of hours. And I figured he owed me for destroying my office.

I
climbed on it without a second thought, and turned the key that was stuck in the ignition. Amaymon hopped onto my lap and dug his claws into the leather of the seat.

“Hmm. We could sell this after you get your car from the shop.” He arched his head, gazing at me with one eye.

“Did you really end up homeless or were you just trying to burst his bubble?”

“I did,” I replied. “I bailed outta the mansion after the incident with my father. I had no money and no place to go. Then
, I met Tenzin.”

“Ah, yeah. Tenzin. That exorcist guy who taught you all about being a goody two-shoes. You gotta tell me the whole story someday.”

“Another time,” I replied. That wasn’t a story I’d ever told anyone. I guess I didn’t want to acknowledge the fact that he had died to save my life. If I said the story out loud, it would become real – and I didn’t want his death to be real. Even after all these years, I knew I wasn’t ready for that.

I shook my head.

Enough dwelling on the past, Erik. You have a sister to beat and a sex demon to rescue.

12

“
Any luck tracing Gil?” I asked as I swerved around a corner and a line of slow cars.

“
No. No trace whatsoever. They must be cloaking themselves,” replied the cat.

The gray-white building loomed in sight. Why can’t hospitals have upbeat colors? At least it wo
uldn’t be that depressing.

I slid into the underground parking and ditched the bike in a corner.

“Erik, check out that limo,” Amaymon called from behind me. The sleek, black vehicle was parked at the opposite end.

“
Gil,” we said together.

I made it to the reception area and forced my way through the desk.

“Excuse me. I'm here to see an Abigale. Red hair, short, a college student. Got attacked in the neck. I'm a friend of hers,” I said to the plump African-American nurse. She eyed me suspiciously.

“
I'm sorry, sir. Only family allowed in,” she replied curtly.

“
But I really need to see her,” I said in urgent tones as I scanned the place for any signs of my sister or her posse.

“
Sir, I just told you you're not allowed. And this is a hospital. You can't bring any animals in here,” she said sternly.

I shuffled impatiently.
“Look, lady, I get it. You have a job to do. But I have to see this girl. It's a matter of life and death.”

Error number one
− never ever use the term
life and death
in a hospital. It doesn’t sit well with the hospital staff.

And makes you sound like a terrorist.

“Sir, are you threatening a patient? Or me?”

See what I mean?

“No, not at all. What I meant—”

"Sir, you need to leave right now before I call security," she said as she picked up a phone and waved her finger threateningly over the number pad.

Amaymon rubbed against my leg. “Plan B?”

“
Plan B,” I agreed, not bothering to lower my voice.

Amaymon hopped onto the table and let out a quick hiss. The nurse's eyes rolled into the back of her head and
she slumped back in her chair. Amaymon stood on a thick ledger and his eyes glowed for a second. “Room 414.”

We quickly raced towards the wards. The cat counted the numbers as we passed them.
“Up ahead, Erik. I feel something,” he said as we turned into a corner.

“
I feel it, too,” I replied. We saw each other at the same time.

Mephisto had just disappeared inside a ward
. Gil lingered back and caught sight of me. I went into a full sprint towards her but it was too late. She crossed her arms and spread them forwards. Amaymon shouted a warning but there was little I could do to stop my momentum.

Her spell took effect and a giant barrier covering the corridor from top to bottom blocked my way. I crashed into it and slid downwards
pathetically like another cartoon.

Mephisto reemerged with a petite figure over his shoulder and
I caught a glimpse of red hair as they both turned and went on their way.

“
Dammit!” I yelled as I pounded my fist against the invisible wall.

“
We can't double back, Erik,” said Amaymon. “My brother set up a whole bunch of traps. As soon as we go through − Ka-Boom!”

“
So, we can't go through the building without blowing it sky-high and we can't go around the building, cause we're trapped inside it,” I said as my heart raced with panic.

“
Too bad you can't go over the building,” the cat said.

That’s it – so simple.
Just go over the building.

“
Amaymon, you're a genius,” I said as a plan began forming in my head.

“
Are you about to pull something crazy and dangerous?” Amaymon asked.

I nodded fervently as I went through my plan again in my head, calculating the p
ossibilities and probabilities. I needed a distraction and the element of surprise. And I had both. I fastened Amaymon’s ruby to his collar.

“
Run after their limo and create a diversion. Anything goes. Just don’t kill any civilians,” I ordered my familiar.

“
No holds barred?” he asked. His form simmered. In his human form he cracked his neck in anticipation. “You sure about that?”

I nodded.
“Just don't hurt anyone. Or wreck the entire city.”

“What about y
our sister?”

“Anything goes,” I said darkly.

He flashed his sadistic grin and took off. Once inside a ward he touched the wall and the stone crumbled into dust. He turned, gave me a salute and jumped down, nearly three floors.

At the same time
, I walked to the opposite ward and opened the window.

It’s not
technically correct to say I can’t use any magic. My power is too great and too out of control, and as a result damages my body. But that only applies to magic outside my body − or rather my aura area, which is some thirty centimeters from my skin.

But when it comes to using magic within my body
it’s a whole other story. My healing magic is proof of that. It’s automatic and can heal just about anything. I can also use other magic, so long as the area of effect is within my body.

So
, I hopped on the window ledge and magically shifted my center of gravity towards the wall. My body slammed against the wall as if it were a giant fridge magnet. It took a moment for me to get my bearings, but I managed to stand upright – against the wall of the hospital building.