2 The Business of Magic

A VAMPIRE LEAPT through the air, and Threadfin landed hard on his back with its jaws snapping at his neck.

Struggling, he did his best to keep her teeth at bay. The fact it was female, he was in no doubt. This one had all the feminine charms and wit of one of his old flings. Her grave-stench, snarls, and grunts were too familiar. He wasn’t at all certain it wasn’t one of his old girlfriends.

‘You dirty bitch, get off me,’ he growled in her face, as her jaws widened. Her strength was starting to overwhelm him. He’d had no chance to transform, taken by surprise as he had been.

It took considerable composure on his part not to panic, but instead, calmly reach for his magic. A moment later, the she-vampire wailed, writhing in agony as black flame scorched her.

The imperial mage hurled her off him, the creature smoking, flames licking her form as she burned from the inside out. Yet, she did not cease her attack, regaining her feet.

Yep, I definitely know her, he thought wryly. Didn’t know she was a vampire. The harlot left that little detail out. It did explain all the biting though.

Screeching, she came at him a second time, backed up by another dozen of her kin. I guess, she doesn’t like rejection much. They never do. Threadfin’s dragon wings unfurled, although he didn’t fully transform. His viralic power filled him with a heady mix of euphoria and pain as he lashed out, finishing her off with a spiralling blade of viralic power sharpened to ridiculous proportions. She fell to pieces, as they all do. He then directed his counterattack at the other dozen.

Nearby, Manic and Mania battled hard, using all sorts of tricks to hold the monsters at arm’s length. The twins’ bodies shimmered like oil filled with writhing snakes, and they had grown in height again. Their vast wings battered the vampires as they also hurled their magic into the fray. There were too many, however. The twins then joined hands, melded into one another, and the two-headed beast known as Cerberus roared.

Threadfin spotted Wormwood directing the attack from behind the vampiric lines. The viral mage sent spears of magic through scores of the enemy, undead flesh blackening and sizzling, although they kept coming. His wings struck next, sending many high and far with shattered limbs for their trouble as he cleared a path.

Then he remembered a little trick the Grim had taught him. In his left hand a dark sphere formed. It was difficult to maintain, resisting him, but he touched the Shadow Stone with his mind, and the vampires now turned on one another.

The Shadow Stone dissipated as he failed to hold it. Before it did, however, he saw something which froze him to the spot. He stared down at his left hand and for a moment, before the Shadow Stone vanished, he saw pink healthy flesh and blue veins. Then his hand returned to its undead state.

To say he was left in state of shock and confusion was an understatement. Perhaps it had been an hallucination. Were the vampires responsible or their leader?

The effect on the vampires didn’t last, as they turned their attention back to him. His power enfolded him in a protective cloak, before he lashed out at Wormwood instead. Undead flesh burning, the vampire leader advanced while weathering Threadfin’s assault as though it was a drop of rain. Something about the vampire leader gave him pause. This was no vampire, nor any viral he’d heard tell of.

Mania was right. They could not defeat Wormwood, not like this. Oh well, guess it’s time for a new plan.

Focusing his magic in a different manner, the air shimmered before the mage. His body faded, as he turned himself into a reflection. The vortex filled with white light and swallowed him up.

Dusting himself off, looking around to see if any vampires had managed to follow – not that he believed they could, but you never knew with such irascible vermin – the mage almost leapt out of his desiccated hide when Mania’s face popped up. Again.

‘The Grim piss all over it,’ he swore at her. ‘I thought I might have at least lost you two in the bargain.’

Mania did look upset, her fists on curvaceous hips, bosom just the right size and softness. ‘You might have warned us you were going to do that,’ she chided. ‘One might get the impression you wished to leave us behind, but I’ve assured my brother you would never commit such a treacherous act.’

‘I am not assured, sister. Not one bit.’

Nor should you be, Threadfin thought. He gave them both an eyeful, half-examining that expansive bosom. One might be forgiven for thinking it is real. After all, she is a shraed. However, what he said aloud was, ‘Of course I didn’t intend to leave you behind. I would never dream of such a thing. You are two of my favourite, uh, shraeds, in the whole wide weird and wonderful spectrum.’ He then paused, and gave them both a cheeky grin. One of his best. ‘Better?’

Manic glared at him, as though considering violence. Nothing new there then and he relaxed.

Threadfin had chosen another mirror world to escape to. It was one he’d visited several times. Nothing existed there, it being a dead world, and he did not think the vampires could follow. Of course, he’d been wrong about lots of stuff. He was certain either Tezcat or Podral kept a list of such occasions. They’d likely bring it out and read the damn thing at parties and such. Tezcat would have it memorized along with his list of screw-ups, which was a much longer list he had to admit.

Threadfin frowned as a thought occurred. ‘Wait a minute. You told me they wouldn’t bother you if left alone. Why did they attack then? Did I stare at Worm-face too long or something?’

‘Wormwood,’ corrected Manic.

‘I know what his name is.’

Mania’s mouth screwed up into something resembling another pout. She’d been doing that a lot of late. ‘A misunderstanding,’ was all she offered.

‘A convergence,’ suggested her brother.

‘An inconvenience.’

‘A load of old grolg shit as usual then,’ said the viral mage. ‘They’re after this Crystal Sword you mentioned ... ah, now I see. You two are after it too, aren’t you? Old Worm-nuts must’ve guessed why you were there. He saw a chance to eliminate the competition.’

‘The sword we seek is an object of great significance,’ said Mania, in a reluctant tone, ‘as we’ve told you. It was designed to hold a power known as the Aura.’

‘Oh, that’s just great. Something else I’ve not heard of. You know, this magic business is becoming quite the nuisance. It’s impossible to keep up with every magical artefact or power. It should all be written down somewhere, and indexed, with pictures.’

‘It is,’ said Mania, cryptically.

‘It’s nothing of consequence anyway,’ added Manic, examining a finger as though it were a work of art. To him, it probably was.

‘Really? Something of great power, meant to hold something else of what I imagine is also of great power, but neither are of any consequence? No wonder I never trust you two.’

‘We wish for you to help us stop Wormwood. Nothing else.’

‘I imagine you would need the entire viral horde to defeat him? Considering he has an army of vampires at his disposal.’

‘Exactly.’

‘So, what you need me for, is to convince the horde to aid you.’

‘You were correct sister,’ said Manic. ‘He does possess some limited intelligence.’

‘No,’ said Threadfin, ignoring the insult. ‘I rather think finding this sword myself would be the best course of action, and least confrontational option. I think I can manage it on my own, thank you.’ And this Aura too, whatever it is. Not for the last time did he wish Aiyana were with him. She would have scoured thousands of books to discover what these things were, but there were other ways to find out.

‘Perhaps it is time for us to explain better?’ Mania looked to her brother for support.

Manic snorted. ‘His puny mind could never cope with the consequences. Knowledge is best left to the knowledgeable. You shall not convince me otherwise sister, no matter how many pets you adopt.’

Mania eyed Threadfin for a long moment as though weighing his trustworthiness. Eventually she said, ‘Very well. Since it appears you will not aid us until we tell you. If Wormwood discovers the sword’s location, he can use it to ... destroy your world.’

‘I see.’ She’s lying, or at least she’s not telling me something about this Crystal Sword and this Aura business.

‘You and I, we are creatures of the Darkness,’ Mania continued, ‘but the vampires are much more so. They are becoming lost to it, and will be as fallen as the vanths in whose image they were created. With the sword in Wormwood’s hands, leading them ... well, you possess an imagination, don’t you? The Darkness has many plots, all with the same end goal. The destruction of the Spectrum.’

‘How come I’ve never heard of this before?’ They said nothing of Wormwood seeking the Aura, he thought. An accidental omission or a deception? Like I need to ask.

Manic sneered. ‘The Despoiler keeps it—’

‘Enough, brother. Too much knowledge can be overwhelming to the uninitiated.’ To Threadfin she added, ‘We simply need your horde to distract him for us. The artefact, we shall take care of.’

Ah, thought Threadfin, it’s like that is it? You need this Wormwood out of your way. These artefacts are obviously powerful. As if these two would be interested in anything else. ‘Fine. You two won’t tell me what I wish to know, but it just so happens I know someone who will fill in those yawning gaps.’

‘Hah!’ laughed Manic. ‘He will never tell you anything. Just give us your horde, and we can do this without you.’

His sister frowned, however. ‘No, I am not certain we can do it without him, brother. Not certain at all. The Spectrum chose this one after all, for a reason.’

Threadfin said nothing, preparing his magic for the trip home to his own world. He’d had enough of their tripe and enough of world hopping. He felt weary.

‘You do not know how treacherous a path you are taking,’ she said as the vortex formed. ‘You must not go in search of the sword alone. We have offered you our knowledge free of any price. Do not spurn us. Do not neglect us.’

Glancing over his shoulder as his body faded, Threadfin said, ‘You know, I’ve had just about all I can stomach of you two. I think, from now on, I’ll manage just fine all by—’

If he’d had a beating heart, it would’ve stopped in that moment as he stood between worlds. The vampires were upon them for a second time, and the infamous duo wasted no time in vanishing. Then Wormwood was there, reaching out a long arm to grab him.

Grey fingers stretching.

The vortex tore the mage from one reality and into another, and he was back in his Tower of Wept.

Safe and sound, for now at least.