He heard her curse as she fell to her stomach even as her body resumed boiling forth in disgusting tumors and moist fleshy expanses.
Stomach churning, shaking his head futilely to dispel Juniper’s flares, Scorio rose, blinked, and tried to take in the battle.
Caramel hair was everywhere, filling the church like a great and luxurious web. Evelyn was bubbled by gleaming glass, Davelos blocking her approach to the brick but unable to get close to her.
Naomi?
Scorio turned just in time to see the Nightmare Lady take out Zala, her great triangular tail sideswiping the slight girl across the brow. Countless butterflies were affixed to her black skeletal frame, which slowed her down as Dameon moved confidently to confront her.
Simeon?
Appearing behind Dameon.
A hand curled around his ankle and yanked just as he put weight on it.
Scorio fell backwards, arching his back so that he could plant a hand on the stone and turn his fall into a reverse cartwheel. He tore his taloned foot free of Jova’s grip and then leaped over the rising Juniper to sprint down the center of the church toward the distant brick.
Davelos saw him coming and moved to intercept.
Damn.
Scorio slowed, feinted to the left then dashed to the right. Somehow it worked. Davelos dove past him, cursing as he realized the gambit, but Evelyn was free to reach inside the circle and snag the brick.
Scorio laughed with relief and turned to backtrack before the approaching Davelos who came at him, coal fists raised.
Evelyn disappeared into her hair, a cocooned form that fled back to its origin point.
Davelos swung his fist. Scorio raised his arm to block, but at the last second the Dread Blaze’s arm phased through his own, became solid at the last second, and crashed into his jaw.
Scorio spun all the way as he fell, crashing to the flagstones just in time to look up and see Evelyn appear before their home circle before Dameon, who smiled sweetly before punching her in the gut.
Evelyn flew back, the blow so strong that her web of hair snapped and then strained as it sought to catch her.
“Damn!” hissed Scorio, only to lose track of what was happening as he rolled aside, Davelos’s heel cracking the flagstone where he’d been.
Scorio came up to his knees just as his chest shuddered.
His Heart was giving out.
Davelos sneered and came in with a massive punch, drawing it all the way back, not caring how much he telegraphed his intent—what could Scorio do to block it?
Scorio went to dodge but he was too slow: Davelos came in like an avalanche, fist blurring through Scorio’s upraised arms only to impact at the last second with Lianshi’s face.
A face that glimmered with a silver sheen.
Davelos’s eyes widened with surprise as she stopped his fist cold, shouldering Scorio aside, then kicked him square between the legs.
Scorio didn’t have time to count his fortune. He rose, swaying, as Dameon came racing toward him, their home brick in hand.
Simeon.
“Come at me,” snarled Scorio, flaring his white-hot talons and moving to intercept.
Dameon didn’t hesitate. He raised a forcefield at the last second as he swerved out wide.
Scorio launched himself at the passing Dread Blaze—only for his Heart to gutter and die.
He hit the curved and gleaming surface full-on with no protection, bounced off it, and hit the ground just as Lianshi was also brushed aside.
Dameon stepped inside the enemy circle and raised the brick on high. “Game over,” he called, then shuddered as Simeon split away from him, his grin wicked. “Thanks, everyone, for trying so hard.”
“Gah!” Dameon staggered out of the circle and dropped the brick. “No offense, but I loathe your powers.”
“Only when you’re up against me,” said Simeon complacently. “Otherwise I never hear you complain.”
Dameon grimaced then straightened. “Fair. Everyone all right?”
Leonis lay still. Naomi was picking herself off the ground, hand to her temple. Jova was already up and scowling at Scorio, while Juniper was helping Zala rise.
“Ow,” said Evelyn, her huge web of hair retracting swiftly. “Dameon, that hurt.”
“Wasn’t me, darling.” Dameon raked his mop of golden hair back and smiled apologetically. “Blame Simeon.”
“I hate Coal.” Davelos was glaring at his hands as he shrank back down to human form. “Feels like I’m wading through mud and waking up after drinking a barrel of flaywine.”
“Well, much as I hate to say it, the dominant player of this game was Simeon.” Dameon considered his companion. “I guessed wrongly that you’d stay with Davelos to keep Evelyn at bay.”
“I knew you would. Which is why I moved to take Leonis.” Simeon’s voice was gentle, almost a murmur. “A misdirection. I knew you’d dismiss for having taken control of the wrong piece.”
“Wrong piece?” asked Jova. “You nearly wrecked Scorio and took down their center attack.”
“All irrelevant to my main goal,” said Simeon, moving to kneel beside where Leonis lay. “As soon as Dameon took his eyes off me I was able to come up behind him. Wouldn’t have been possible if I’d kept his attention by taking someone important.”
“Hey,” protested Scorio. “Leonis is important.”
“Not in a contest of Dread Blazes, he wasn’t,” demurred Simeon, touching the side of the big man’s neck and then drawing a vial from his belt.
“It worked, damn your eyes.” Dameon grinned ruefully. “I turned my attention to Naomi the moment I saw you dueling with the Tomb Sparks.”
Scorio blinked and saw Jova’s horrific form unfolding in the darkness behind his eyelids. It was a mess of eyelashes, intestines, and toenails. He shuddered and opened his eyes wider.
“But everyone did well!” Dameon clapped his hands and smiled at everyone in turn. “A fast-paced and brutal fight where everyone contributed to the best of their ability and rank. Jova and Juniper, excellent work on tying down Scorio. Who, in turn, did well to press the attack when he did and make a run for Davelos. Lianshi, I caught your timely save. I know you must feel limited for now with your brief moments of invulnerability, but I can’t wait to see what your Tomb Spark power will be. Evelyn, you looked great.”
Evelyn fluttered her eyelashes coquettishly at Dameon and canted her head to one side. “You’re so sweet.”
“Davelos?”
“Don’t even say it,” groused the Dread Blaze. “Just tell me when we’re leaving Bastion.”
Simeon poured the contents of the vial into Leonis’s mouth then tipped his head back. The big man’s throat worked then he coughed and awoke, hand going to his chest and he blinked blearily.
“My apologies,” said Simeon. “I didn’t even give you a moment to show your abilities in this fight. Maybe next time.”
Leonis focused on Simeon, then looked past him at the others. “It’s over?”
“It’s over,” said Lianshi wryly.
Dameon clapped his hands. “Mark my words, Emberlings and Tomb Sparks, you all did well. You tangled with Dread Blazes and for the most part, held your own. I’m looking forward to working with you. Right now you’re fielding only a quarter of your powers. You’ll become exponentially more dangerous as you rank up and come into your full suite of abilities. With the right guidance, you’ll become truly formidable fighters.”
Jova uncrossed her arms and shifted her weight to her other leg. “That mean you’re taking us with you?”
“It does indeed.” Dameon considered the brick he still held then tossed it aside. “I mean to pay my respects to a few key figures while I’m in town, witness the final ceremony where the White Queen bids her farewells, then I mean to return to the Chasm. We’ll make you probationary Manticore members there, continue your training, and after you’ve had a chance to grow and evaluate us in turn, we’ll see about making our partnership official.”
Jova gave a nod of fierce approval. “Excellent.”