I snorted. “Yeah, right.”

  Ulf sniffed at it and backed up, looking hard at Vetr. Even without hearing the wolf, I pretty much figured out his opinion, and it wasn’t good.

  “Ulf says its deadly.” Ironspell turned to me.

  “I kinda got the jist of it. Now what?”

  “Maybe we need to dispose of some batteries.” Vetr crossed his arms.

  “We’re not going to kill Normals,” Ironspell objected.

  “They’re the ones fueling this thing.” I shrugged. “They probably volunteered.”

  “The idiot has a point.” Vetr turned to Ironspell.

  “My name is Droid, not ‘Idiot,’” I snarled.

  “Okay, Idiot.” The Jotun had a shit-eating grin on his face.

  I started towards him, only to have Ironspell block the way. “It’s not worth it.”

  “Yeah, it is.” I balled my fist.

  “You won’t win; he’ll pound you to goo.” Ironspell glanced askance at Vetr as his knuckles cracked while tightening his fists.

  “I’m fast,” I stated.

  “It won’t matter. Your fists will hit what amounts to an ice wall—with no chance of cracks, except the bones in your hand. Think how punching a glacier feels and you’ll get the idea.”

  I glanced at the less-than-Jolly-Blue Giant. “Seriously?”

  “Oh yeah.” Ironspell nodded. “He’s on our side, remember?”

  “Have him apologize.” I crossed my arms.

  “Oh, fuck no.” Ironspell shook his head.

  “Then, forget it.” I turned to walk around him.

  Ironspell stepped into my path. “No. This isn’t the time. We’ve got zombies, the Cult of the Messiah, and Lucifer as big problems. You don’t want to get into a fight over something stupid like name calling, do you?”

  My smartphone pinged again and I silenced it.

  “What was that?” Vetr asked.

  “My smartphone.” I tucked it back in my pocket.

  “No shit, Sherlock. What is that all about?” Ironspell demanded.

  I shrugged. “It’s my Lucifer sighting app. Apparently he’s gotten tired of hiding.”

  “Where is he?” Both my friends spoke in unison.

  “Honestly, guys, we have bigger problems trying to get out right now.” I shook my head.

  “Yes, yes you do.” Another voice spoke.

  Suddenly, ten fallen angels surrounded us.

  Chapter Four

  Okay, then.

  The fallen angels, or Watchers, as Ironspell and Vetr refer to them, were typical of the breed. They had dark hair, glowing red eyes, pale skin, and black bat wings. Other than the Goth look and wings, they could’ve been mistaken for Humans, since they wore what looked like modern military armor and clothing in an urban camo pattern.

  To my eyes, they all looked alike, androgynous and pretty, if you were into the pale, Goth thing. No variations in features, genders, build, or clothing. I guess Christian demons were cursed with looking the same. But then, Ironspell says that the angels he’s met look similar, too, just with white, feathered wings, blue or gray eyes, normal skin-tones, and blonde-white hair. Apparently, Yahweh didn’t have a lot of creativity when he conjured them.

  At that moment, I wasn’t evaluating their looks, but rather the AK-47s in their hands. Call me crazy, but fashion wasn’t on my mind. And just when that registered, I felt something strange. With an odd whoosh, I felt all the magic leave the area, making where we stood devoid of magic and anything we might consider using against the Watchers.

  Ulf growled but I suspected his powers felt severely limited. Normally, I expected Vetr and Ironspell to do something clever in the magic department, but with the obvious lack of magic, Ironspell drew his sword and Vetr raised his axe. Unfortunately, I could tell something suppressed the weapons’ magic.

  "I would set those down if I were you," spoke the leader of the Watchers. "There is no way you'll get to us before we shoot you."

  I was in total agreement with that assessment, but apparently Ironspell, Vetr, and Ulf had other ideas. The giant wolf leapt at the fallen angels, bowling them over better than a leprechaun playing tenpin with brownies. The Watchers fired, of course, but their shots went wide and Ironspell and Vetr charged, swinging their sword and axe, respectively.

  Me? I had nothing, so I ran. Okay, I did have a pocketknife. You know, one of those multitool types that fold up? Yeah, that. I would probably more likely threaten a fallen angel with a wrench than figure out how to deploy the actual knife. I felt kind of stupid running away, but I really had nothing to add to the fight except get in the way.

  What I did have was my smartphone, but without magic, it made me not so powerful in the middle all those angry Watchers.

  The funny part is, nobody noticed me running away. They were all too busy with Vetr, Ironspell, and Ulf. Especially Ulf.

  ~ * ~

  I ran for quite a while. I only slowed down when I found myself gasping for breath an realized I'd attract zombies. But honestly, what could I have done to fight freakin’ fallen angels? Sure, Ironspell had muscles and a freaking sword. And Vetr, he was a frickin' Frost Giant. With a wolf that was destined to eat the sun. Knowing this made me feel better, but still, they were without magic.

  I looked down at my skinny arms and flabby body. I wasn't really fat; I was more just out of shape. The only exercise I really got was twelve ounce curls and the occasional night I spent with a date. Okay, I might go LARPing every once in a while or even joined some gamer friends in a round of paintball. In other words, I wasn't really in shape for what they were doing.

  I stopped behind an old, boarded-up building to catch my breath. As I bent over gasping for more oxygen, I realized that I was being kind of a dickhead, leaving my friends to handle the Watchers. But honestly, what could I do?

  Maybe I should hack into the fitness center's computer system near my house and get myself a membership. It would probably help me run without gasping for breath.

  A soft moan interrupted my thoughts. I turned to see a female zombie staggering over to me. Oh great, a shambler. Just what I needed.

  I kind of felt sorry for it. My guess was the zombie had been a pretty girl before it turned. Its long blonde hair was now matted and dirty, but when it was a young woman, it was probably very lovely. Its skin was a mottled gray, and it had two distinct puncture marks along the side of the neck where the jugular had been. Its clothes had seen better days. They were torn and filthy, exposing what was left of its small breasts, torn thighs, and bare ankles and feet. It was missing some toes. The clothes might have been blue at one time.

  "Fucking fangers." I swore a lot more than just that. Some idiotic vampire had decided to try to make a vampire from one of its groupies with predictable results.

  But now, I had nothing to separate the shambler's head from its body, and once one shambler sensed weakness, others were bound to turn up. So, I sucked up my pride and ran.

  I stopped again when I was certain I had outrun it. The problem was where could I go in zombie downtown central? I could make my way back to Justin’s house—I had a key to it—but it made no sense to leave Ironspell and Vetr.

  I was trying to decide what to do when I felt a gigantic nose press against my back. I jumped and freaked, thinking it was more zoms when I turned and saw it was Ulf. “Oh shit! Don’t do that!” I gasped.

  The wolf looked amused and put his paw on my shoulder. I almost ran, but then I actually heard a voice in my mind. It was deep and gravelly, but I could understand the words, nonetheless.

  The Watchers captured Ironspell and Vetr. Vetr sent me to find you to see if you can get them out of this.

  I blinked. “Wow, I can hear you?”

  Obviously. Otherwise you’d be hallucinating. You’re very weak at mindspeak which is why I have to be touching you in order for you to hear me.

  I frowned. He made a lot of sense, actually. I almost failed mind magic until I hacked into the administration’s computer and gave myself a “C.” There was no way anyone would believe I had gotten an “A” or a “B” grade, so I had to settle for barely passing and be done with it. Now, hearing the words in my brain for the first time took getting used to. I could see why Ironspell was always bitching about migraines. I could kind of feel a headache coming on. “What do we do?”

  Ulf paused as if getting instructions from Vetr. They’re taking them to where we heard the Cult of the Messiah. Vetr says there’s some sort of stands erected and there’s a podium. Lucifer is going to speak there.

  “What?” I looked at the wolf.

  Check the app on your phone.

  “Which one?”

  The one that alerts you to Lucifer sightings, Moron.

  “Hey, no need to be rude.” I pulled out my smartphone and checked my alerts. The alerts gave me coordinates of where the cams had picked up the Devil, himself. “Shit.” They showed Lucifer at the Broadway entrance. “What the fuck is he doing with the Cult of the Messiah members?”

  He’s announcing his official platform on the destruction of Supernaturals. Ulf’s golden eyes met mine. He’s chosen Highlands Ranch because most people don’t like vampires and zombies. The Normals can sympathize with his position easier when they associate Supes with pests like fangers and zombies.

  I blinked. “I had no idea you could speak like this.”

  Like what? You mean intelligently? That’s insulting, even coming from you. Of course I’m intelligent. I’m a demigod. Ulf shook his head.

  To be honest, I thought maybe his voice would be full of growls and barks, not that I ever heard Ulf bark. Ulf removed his paw and his expression was one of utter disgust. “Look, I’ve never had dealings with wolves before I met you.”

  Ulf snorted and turned to leave in response.

  I trotted after him. “Where are you going?” I grasped a handful of his thick mane.

  To go rescue our friends. He stopped. Ironspell thought you might be able to help me, but I think you’re a lame excuse for a wizard.

  I glowered. “Hey, I’m a technomage, not a wizard.”

  Whatever. You’re still lame. He started walking again and I had to trot to keep up.

  “Yeah, well if I’m so lame, why am I free while they’re captured?”

  Ulf stopped again and looked at me in disbelief. You ran. They couldn’t use their magic.

  I hesitated as a thought came to me. “Why can I hear you?”

  Excuse me? I thought I explained how the mindspeak thing worked by touching me.

  “No, no. How can I even hear you when they’ve cancelled all magic?” I scratched my ear.

  Ulf cocked his head. It almost made him look cute. You have a point there, idiot. Possibly because my magic doesn’t come from this Earth. Or maybe because it is intrinsic to what I am. If the spell were truly powerful enough to suppress all magic, the zombies and fangers would revert to decaying bodies. That hasn’t happened—as far as I know.

  “Good point—yeah I saw a shambler back there. I don’t think the magical nullification zone is powerful enough to destroy them.” I nodded. “So, it’s not a true null zone.”

  It couldn’t be. They’d have to use magic to create it, in which case it would nullify itself.

  “So, it nullifies the obvious magic such as casting, but it leaves enough magic so it can continue to tamp it down?”

  The wolf shrugged. Makes sense to me.

  I hesitated as a thought popped into my brain. “What about technomagic?”

  I don’t know.

  I tapped into my app and tried to cast an illusion. Nada. I sighed. “Okay, that doesn’t work.”

  Well, that’s a lot like a spell. Ulf spoke when I touched him again. I suspect the cancellation spell would nullify that as well.

  I sighed. “Okay, well we’ll just have to see what I can do when we get there.”

  ~ * ~

  “Shit.”

  I looked at the stage that had magically appeared before the thronging crowd. Literally. There was no way a stage like this could be constructed this fast by conventional means. It stood over the crowd at the base by a good ten feet and towered some three stories. Bright red and silver curtains adorned the stage with signage saying “Jesus Diablo for President!” along with a smiling photo of Lucifer, himself.

  Only it wasn’t quite the demonic Lucifer I was used to. The wings were gone and his hair was now a platinum blond instead of white. He was just as handsome as ever, but his red eyes had toned down to gray. In other words, he was charismatic, devilishly good looking, and appealing to men and women, no matter where you were on the sexual preference spectrum. Even a heterosexual male such as myself could see his ultimate appeal. Justin, my fanger friend, would be smitten.

  On either side of the stage rose gargantuan screens, now filled with the smiling image of Lucifer, himself. Obviously a playback from some time ago, or maybe a staged clip, it ran in a continuous loop and had the desired effect—making you want to grasp your junk and start jacking off.

  Okay, maybe that was TMI, as Ironspell would put it, but there you go.

  We had found a place to watch next to a crumbling privacy wall someone had put up by their house. Ulf had shrunken his size down to what was probably considered a large wolf to attract less attention. Luckily this late in the afternoon the shadows were growing long enough to provide some type of concealment.

  I took a deep breath. The crowd that already formed was in the thousands by my reckoning.

  The people before the stage were already hyped up as they pushed at the barriers before it. Watchers controlled the barrier and the perimeter, keeping their weapons lowered, but ready if anyone tried anything on Lucifer.

  Along the perimeter, the Watchers held the zombies at bay, shooting them in the head , and then using swords to decapitate them. Their gruesome effectiveness made me hesitate. They could easily take me down, even with Ulf.

  The wolf must have sensed what I was thinking, because he gave me a quick nudge. I’ll protect you, if you can come up with something that will get my friends out of this.

  Well, that was reassuring.

  Still, it stunned me to see thousands of people with signs decrying Supes and the magical population, in general. I saw young people, old people, families with kids, and what looked like militia-type groups shouting “Kill the Supes! Kill the Supes!” They wore armor and even carried weapons. Why the Watchers allowed that was beyond me. Maybe they were really overconfident in their security. Or maybe it was because Lucifer was immortal and bullets couldn’t kill him.

  I can kill him. Ulf gave me a toothy grin that any other day would’ve scared the crap out of me. I ate Beelzebub. Tasted just like chicken.

  I was going to ask if Beelzebub was the same name as Lucifer when the show started. Music blared from the stage and the crowd went into a frenzy. I took a deep breath as Lucifer strode out from behind the curtains.

  Chapter Five

  Lucifer stood before his fans, soaking up their adoration. Just like the videos, he wore some expensive suit that you couldn’t buy off the rack and a red power tie. Same smug handsome face; same lean and muscular body. The energy emanating from him was indeed palpable, and I felt the overwhelming desire to run to him and bow at his feet, weeping and begging forgiveness for wanting to fight him.

  Instead, I took a deep breath and wrapped Ulf’s fur around my hand to give me strength. If Lucifer’s charisma affected me that way, it was no surprise what it did to the crowd. People were screaming and rushing the barrier, only to be shoved back by a wall of magic. Magic? Apparently, Lucifer made concessions here. Some people had bowed to him, only to become trampled by those who wanted to get up close and personal to the Devil.

  I stared in awe at him. How the fuck did someone like that get that much power?

  Ulf nudged me. How are we going to stop him?

  “Stop him? He’s got a butt load of security and a rabid crowd. Get anywhere near him and they’ll tear us to pieces.” I paused. “And anyway, I thought we were going to rescue Ironspell and Vetr.”

  True, but we need to get Lucifer, too.

  “Why don’t you just go eat him?” I suggested.

  Ulf glanced askance. Because if I go up there, the Watchers will either kill Vetr and Ironspell, or they will move them to a more secure location. We can’t chance that.

  The mutt had a point. I stared at Lucifer, wondering how I could rescue my friends. Nothing came to mind. “What would you suggest, then?”

  If a wolf could look exasperated, this one did. You’re the technomage. Do something technomagey.

  Technomagey, huh? I sent off one text and then another one. Calling in the cavalry, as it were. But it would take some time for them to get here, let alone get through the shield. And speaking of shields, I tried to use my Magic Sight to see if I could figure out who were the batteries. Nada. Nothing. That anti-magic shield blocked me from even seeing auras. Wow, that was powerful.

  “My friends!” Lucifer’s voice boomed over the speakers. “We’re here to take back what is rightfully ours! No more will we hide in our homes and quake because so-called Supernaturals have taken over this great land of ours. The land that is our birthright. The land that our ancestors took, fought for, and made into this great country today…”

  The screams practically deafened me. Ulf’s ears pinned back, and I suspect it was worse for him. The people waved American flags and chanted, “USA! USA! USA!” and “Kill the Supes! Kill the Supes! Kill the Supes!” The chants blended, and I couldn’t tell which one the people shouted more.

  Lucifer raised his hands for silence and the crowd quieted. “…but there are those who would prefer to see the travesty we see here…here in Highlands Ranch!”

  The people booed. “Kill the fangers! Kill the zombies!” they shouted.

  Lucifer grinned amused. “But you know, we can change that! We can end the reign of terror the Supernaturals have imposed on us. We are strong and we are many! We have shown this today by entering the very lands the Undead would keep for themselves!”

 

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