Page 106 of Daemon Master

They were passing through a massive cargo bay full of scattered boxes when Adrian jerked to a halt. His eyes widened as he recognized Kali’s relics and Crastley’s journal tossed carelessly into an open crate. Beside the crate, Ghosttear sat in a small cage. The lethargic daemon barely glanced their way before curling into a ball and closing his eyes. Jasper hadn’tbothered with a bondstone. Perhaps he’d worried how it would affect the daemon’s unstable aether.

Adrian paused beside the cage. “Don’t worry, buddy—once we’ve secured the ship, we’ll come back and let you out.” Ghosttear shifted but gave no other indication it had understood him, so he moved on.

Beyond the storage area, they pushed through a pair of doors and emerged at last onto the airship’s bridge. Adrian swept his gaze over the room and froze. The bridge had to be situated near the front of the ship given the enormous glass window looking out on open air. Complicated panels littered the space, used to issue commands to the daemons bound within the engine room.

None of that, however, was what drew his eye and sent his pulse racing. No, that was the solitary figure standing with his back toward them, peering out the window. His white coat billowed about him as he turned and fixed them with a wide grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Well done, you three!” Jasper said, clapping his hands while he stepped forward. “Bravo! You put on aremarkableshow.”

twenty-five

Daemon Master

Freya reacted the quickest,cocking her still-disguised head to the side. “I’m not sure what you mean, sir,” she said, deepening her voice. “We’re sweeping this ship for the escaped prisoners. You should clear the area for your own safety.”

Jasper chuckled. “Nice try. But I’m afraid those nifty little illusions of yours don’t fool me.”

Aether flared around the seeker. Adrian tensed, unsure what to expect, but all that happened was the appearance of a tiny, spherical daemon hovering beside Jasper’s head. At first, Adrian thought it was covered in some sort of shifting scales. He shuddered when he realized it was actually thousands of little eyes, packed tightly across the daemon’s azure skin.

“Foreye’s technique enhances my vision, both increasing my awareness of the world around me and allowing me to cast my sight at a limited distance,” Jasper said, gesturing to the floating daemon. “I’ve been observing you since you left your cells,though I briefly lost you in that conjured cloud. Your stunt with the watcher armor had evenmefooled at first.”

Seymour’s teeth clicked together beneath hisMirror Image. Aether roiled off him as he flexed his aura. “You’ve been watching us this whole time?”

“Of course. I’ve been looking forward to witnessing the true bond in action, and I’m pleased to say it doesn’t disappoint.”

Adrian’s stomach sank, pieces clicking into place. “You let us escape.”

“I wouldn’t gothatfar,” Jasper said with a slight frown. “Everything you’ve done has been of your own volition. I merely tweaked the variables to allow for myriad possibilities.” He glanced at Adrian, his admiration plain. “I knew of your interest in aetherforging thanks to our discussions. But to have managed something akin to daemoforging so soon in your studies...” His gaze shifted to the others. “Not to mention your remarkably effective use of daemonsbane, Freya, or your ingenuity and tenacity, Seymour. I’m impressed.”

“Butwhy?” Adrian demanded. “Why allow us to knock out those watchers? Why let us make it this far?”

Jasper shrugged. “Intellectual curiosity. I suspected you’d trysomething, and I wanted to see how it would play out. As I said, it proved an effective demonstration of the true bond’s potential. Even with your daemons subdued and your hands chained, you managed to execute a successful escape attempt, taking out a squad of trained watchers in the process.”

“Y-you’re demented,” Freya said, her voice low and trembling. “How can you treat living beings like nothing more than pawns in your sick games?”

Jasper’s expression sobered, looking almost pained. “I’m a scientist, my dear. I cannot afford to allow emotion to cloud my judgment—not with so much at stake. No cost is too great in pursuit of the League’s salvation.”

“And now that you’ve finished your little experiment?” Seymour sneered, summoning Tremorfist and Shadowlash. “If you expect us to go quietly, you’re sorely mistaken.”

“I expect nothing of the sort.” Jasper’s eyes glinted. “Besides, this experiment’s far from over.”

“It’s three against one,” Adrian said as he manifested Heartrender and Lockrod. Next to him, Freya did the same with Metamire. “Eight if you count our daemons. Surrender or face the same fate as your former partner.”

“Surrender?” Jasper shrugged off his white coat, revealing his bare chest beneath. Adrian gaped at the shimmering azure tattoos coating Jasper’s skin in swirling patterns. “I think not.”

Freya took an involuntary step back. “You injectedyourselfwith aetherforgings?”

Jasper stretched his arms wide to better display the lines of aether rippling across his muscles. “Why rely on an object that can be broken or stolen when you can harness the power directly? Imagine, if you will, an army of daemoforged watchers, each with the techniques of a dozen daemons imbued into their flesh. With such power, we wouldn’t need to hide behind our walls or rely on captured daemons for pitiful protection. We’d possess the strength to eradicate our foes once and for all!Thisis the true culmination of Project Paragon.” His fervent gaze fixed on Heartrender. “And your daemon there is the key.”

Adrian tightened his jaw, resolve coursing through him as he settled into a fighting stance. Lockrod and Heartrender echoed his determination via their bonds. “I won’t let you have her.”

Aether erupted around Jasper in a series of overlapping auras as he drew upon the enchantments seared into his flesh. “You desire your freedom? Revenge for the wrongs you believe I’ve caused you? Thenfightfor it! Pit your true bond against my daemoforging and let us see which makes for the greater daemon master!”

Baring his teeth in a savage grin, Jasper charged. The crisscrossing lines of aether on his chest blended together, making it impossible to distinguish one daemoforging from another. Not that Adrian could get a clear sense of what any of them did anyway without more time.

And since we have no idea what he’s capable of, our best bet is to take him out swiftly.

With that thought rattling around his brain, Adrian barreled forward, Lockrod and Heartrender to either side and anUnbendable Rodin his grip. As Seymour, Shadowlash, and Tremorfist careened after him, Tremorfist unleashed a ferociousStunning Howl.