More demons joined and their claws raked over the blazing translucent barricade. I screamed louder, but they couldn’t cut through. Every time their talons sliced at the surface, lightning-like threads of light flashed and they jerked back.
“Ikelia. I told you not to come out.”
Mother’s words were lost amid my nonstop, deafening screams. A single claw poked through. My screeching reached an unholy pitch.
A gun shot boomed. The bullet scattered them apart, but it didn’t hurt them.
“Henry, take care of Ikelia.”
The wagon tilted as Father climbed into the back. He slipped under the blanket and held me in his arms. “It’s okay. It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
“Papa. Papa. Papa.” I shoved my face into his chest, holding onto him as if he was my lifeline. Tears streamed down my face and I sobbed wildly.
“Look. Ikelia. They’re gone. They’re gone.”
I opened my eyes. Father was right. No demons. Then I realized the blanket covered us.
“No. Papa. They’re still there.” Breath left me in gasps.
“This blanket is magical. They can’t see us. I promise.”
I tugged it lower and the demons were gone. Where did they go? They wouldn’t just disappear. Then I just…
Crack! Crack! Crack! Mother was fighting a dozen demons on her own. She wasn’t holding a whip but when she flung her arm, a blazing silver thin line snapped and recoiled like a whip. It even sliced a demon in half.
The demons backed away at first, but then attacked relentlessly. Mother reached into her pocket and pulled out a red crystal, the size of a spoon, and replaced the magical whip with a sword.
“Mama.” I sucked in air.
I had never known Mother could fight like a warrior. She swung her sword to slay a demon, but missed when the demon turned into mist. Then she twirled to her left, sword extended. This time she sliced the demon when it was in skeletal form. It shrieked, turned back into the mist, and was sucked into the crystal.
Mother took out a dagger from her pocket and flung it at the demon above her, then she whirled to her right to dodge a claw. She slayed more demons to her left and kicked one to her right. A ball of blue light swirled around her hand that held the crystal.
When the demons came near, she let loose the flaming fire lights. They enclosed the demons and then lightning struck inside the bubble of her magic. She cast that spell again, and again, while she defended with her sword on the opposite side.
“A tree,” I shrieked, but Father placed his hand over my mouth.
Mother flipped over the branches and landed on a horse’s back. Our horses seemed to know which way to go home. Then she held the crystal up to the stars, and blinding light flashed from it. The remaining demons bellowed in pain and spiraled into the crystal.
It happened so fast. I couldn’t believe what I saw. Mother was so brave and so skilled with a sword and her magic. I wanted to be just like her.
Father released me and went to Mother as she climbed back into the wagon. Father took up the reins, and Mother slumped on her side.
“Mama,” I said proudly.
“Come here to me.” She extended her hand.
I climbed to the front, one shaky leg after the other, and sat between my parents. Mother wrapped her arms tightly around me. Her hair was a mess, sweat beaded on her forehead, and she was breathless. But other than that, she looked fine. No wounds. No blood. Like it never happened.
“It’s all right, sweetheart. You’re safe,” she said through panting breaths.
I shivered and leaned into her warmth. “They were the monsters from my nightmare.”
She caressed my hair over and over as she spoke. “I know, sweetheart. I know. I’ll always protect you.”
My body trembled as I thanked mother earth while I gazed up at the twinkling stars. “Why did they come after us? What did we do?”
I thought about Mother and Lilith during their talk. They seemed mad at each other. Did Lilith send the demons after us? Why did my parents want to leave early? Father had told me Mother was sick. A sick person couldn’t fight like she had.
“We did nothing wrong, sweetheart. Don’t worry. We’re almost home.”
My life was never going to be the same. Knowing my nightmare was real changed my whole world. They would keep coming after us, and I had no idea why.
When we got home, I was told to go to bed. I didn’t argue, nor did I beg Mother to tell me what had happened. I would have hardly known where to start asking questions even if she’d been willing to answer them.
Mother said demons existed. I supposed if there was such a thing as magic and Elementum, then why not demons. But I also wondered if there were other creatures.
Chapter Six
Something Malicious
Ikelia
The next day, the thick, ominous clouds covered the sun while my friends and I played chase. I thought of rushing home, but decided to wait. Besides, I loved playing in the rain and jumping on puddles, and I loved the smell of fresh rain.
I ran across the field of wildflowers, my long hair billowing around my face. Holding out my doll, I pretending she ran with me. My friends and I each had a doll, and we carried them with us when we played together.
“I’m going to get you,” Sabina shouted behind me, her blonde hair bouncing on her shoulders.
“I’m so close. I’m—” Kalani’s voice was lost to the breeze. She had kept the ribbons in her hair.
I hiked up my dress, more room to stretch my legs. I ran faster. The meadow behind my home curved upward, making me work harder to maintain my speed.
Despite the sweat on my forehead, something cold and malicious sliced through my veins. So sudden and sharp that I shuddered a breath and froze momentarily. But I knew I was safe so I wasn’t scared. I didn’t bother to touch the tourmaline crystal inside the pocket of my dress.
Mother had busied herself that morning protecting the house with chants and crystals. She also told me that we were going to take a trip. She told me to visit my friends in the afternoon while she packed, and reminded me again not to tell them anything.
If we were safe at our home then why did we have to leave? I didn’t understand her reasoning, but since we were going to come back, I didn’t ask her questions. Besides, taking a trip would be fun.
A cold and strong wind flattened my dress against me. I stumbled off balance. I wondered if I would get picked up by a tornado that was surely on its way. Then shivers tremored through me, reminding me of the night before when I was in the forest alone and the demons took my air and I couldn’t breathe.
“Ikelia. Come home right now.” Mother’s voice was laced with fear in my mind.
Was I hearing things? How could I hear Mother calling me in my head? Mother had been showing me things she could do with magic earlier, so maybe this was another trick she wanted to show me.
When I turned to go back home, Kalani, Sabina, and Halina tackled me. The four of us crushed the flowers, rolling in the field with laughter. I held my doll close to me so as not to get it dirty.
“You have flowers in your hair.” Kalani pointed at me and laughed.
“So do you.” I cackled. “And you.” I pointed at Sabina’s blonde hair. “And you.” I pointed at Halina’s red hair.