Page 7 of Daemon Master

Before he could talk himself out of what was probably a terrible idea, he had Trailseeker leap into the alcove and wedge itself into the space. It was a tight fit, especially with Heartrender occupying the back half of the cubbyhole, but they managed.

Scrabbling at the door with Trailseeker’s snout and paws, Adrian managed to swing it most of the way shut. He didn’t dare latch the door completely in case it couldn’t be opened from the inside. It wouldn’t do them any good to hide from Shadowlash, only to lock themselves in here.

The trapdoor outside exploded inward. Huddled within Trailseeker, Adrian listened to the splintered planks clattering down the stairs, followed by the soft patter of paws on stone. When the footsteps paused a few paces outside the compartment, Adrian tensed, relaxing only once the daemon continued past.

Now what?

His impromptu plan had bought a brief reprieve, but his concentration already wavered, and hereallydidn’t want to see what happened when his body rematerialized in this tiny stone box. No, better to make a break for it while Shadowlash remained focused on its search. Maybe by the time it realizedits prey had fled, they’d be halfway back to Hillvale and relative safety.

Nerves on edge, Adrian nudged the door with Trailseeker’s head. It swung slowly open far enough for him to peek out. As he’d hoped, Shadowlash prowled along the lab’s far edge, weaving around tables in a methodical sweep. The daemon’s behavior once again struck him as strange. But if it kept the creature distracted, who was he to complain?

Trailseeker slipped out of the compartment at his command and padded softly toward the stairs. Thankfully, the gas lamps left the cavernous space brightly lit enough that the faint glow of Trailseeker’s aether-infused skin didn’t instantly draw Shadowlash’s attention from across the room. Still, Adrian didn’t dare move too quickly as he navigated the minefield of detritus strewn across the floor. A single sound might well be enough to give them away.

With every step they took, he expected to hear a furious howl of pursuit—to feel those shadowy tentacles slamming into his daemon’s flesh. All it would take was Shadowlash glancing over at the wrong time or extending its aethersense far enough to detect them. He could only pray that the daemon kept its search confined to its immediate vicinity.

When they reached the stairs, Adrian allowed himself a flicker of hope. Thanking the spirits for Trailseeker’s nimbleness, he carefully navigated around the trapdoor’s broken remnants. Shadowlash still hadn’t noticed them, and the opening to the cabin loomed overhead.

Maybe they’d survive this after all.

A loud clattering echoed behind them. Adrian jerked Trailseeker’s head around to find Heartrender frozen guiltily on the stairwell several steps back. The smaller daemon must have followed them out of the alcove. Below, a section of fallen plank trembled and stilled on the stone floor near the base of the stairs.

For a long moment, time seemed to slow. Then, a deafening howl resounded from the chamber’s far end. Abandoning all pretense of stealth, Adrian commanded Trailseeker up the remaining stairs. Heartrender trailed close behind. As Trailseeker vaulted over the ruined hatch into Crastley’s cabin, Adrian’s gaze caught on the nearby bookshelf, and he hurled his daemon against it. The stacked books teetered.

Below, paws pounded on wood. Shadowlash had reached the stairs.

With a desperate surge of aether-enhanced strength, Adrian ordered Trailseeker to leap up, clamp its jaws around the upper edge of the bookshelf, andpull.Already off balance, the bookcase toppled across the opening. Hopefully, that would buy them precious seconds.

He turned Trailseeker’s body and dashed for what remained of the front door. A flash of movement by his side made him jerk reflexively, but it was only Heartrender keeping pace. The cat-like daemon gave him what he swore was an apologetic look. He cast the creature out of his mind. So long as it didn’t attack, he had bigger problems to contend with.

Weaving Trailseeker past piles of books, he barreled into the meadow beyond. The previously serene vista now seemed vaguely sinister, its dappled sunlight and fragrant flowers unnervingly incongruous with his mad dash for safety.

His aether trembled, his vision wavering as he almost lost control of his meld. With a colossal effort of will, he wrenched his mind back into focus. He couldn’t maintain this state much longer, but he’d hold it as long as he could to take advantage of his daemon’s speed.

At his urging, Trailseeker poured aether into aBolster Bodyto enhance its legs until they bounded down the hill in a blur. Adrian’s aethersense suddenly bloomed behind him as Shadowlash unveiled its full aura. He didn’t need to look backto feel the powerful daemon gaining on him with every step, its aether almost blinding against the duller sources nearby.

They reached the derelict bridge. This time, Adrian didn’t hesitate to drive Trailseeker across while weaving around the collapsed section. In retrospect, he should’ve used a full meld the first time, but the thought hadn’t occurred to him since he so rarely utilized the strenuous ability.

Right as Trailseeker reached the other side of the still-raging river, the last of Adrian’s mental control slipped. He materialized beside his daemon and tumbled roughly through the grass. Trailseeker skidded to a halt as Adrian took a second to catch his breath, wincing at the pain that lanced through his skull. He hadn’t pushed himself this hard in years—not since the early days of his training when he’d still held out hope of overcoming his flawed aether.

Somewhere between the cabin and the bridge, Heartrender had vanished. Perhaps the smaller daemon had seized the opportunity to escape. So long as it didn’t also try to take a bite out of him, Adrian supposed it didn’t matter. Shadowlash, though…

The fearsome daemon bounded toward the bridge. Darkness enveloped its azure form while black tentacles lashed the air. The oppressive weight of its aura was almost suffocating.

Trailseeker, attack!

Registering his mental command, his daemon dashed across the bridge to meet Shadowlash head on. Legs still enhanced for speed viaBolster Body, Trailseeker nimbly evaded a barrage of crushing tentacles. Adrian had his daemon lunge at one, but its bite phased harmlessly through.

Spirits below, the aetheric finesse required to make its limbs corporeal one moment and incorporeal the next... Coupled with the darkness cloaking its flesh, it made Shadowlash nighinvincible against Trailseeker’s physical attacks. All his daemon could do was keep dodging.

Adrian considered running, but what would be the point? He wouldn’t make it far on foot with how worn out that last meld had left him. Instead, he moved to one of the wooden posts securing the bridge on this side of the river. If he could knock it loose, maybe he could delay Shadowlash long enough to return to town and rally the Watcher Division. Placing both hands against it, he heaved with all the strength he could muster.

The bridge barely even shook. He fought down a manic laugh. It figured—now that hewantedthe spirit-cursed thing to collapse, it was as sturdy as a rock.

He shoved again and again, drawing on the dregs of his pitiful aether to strengthen his flesh in a lesser version of what Trailseeker could accomplish with its technique. When that failed, he growled in frustration and stomped on the nearest planks. His only reward was a loud creak and an aching foot.

Spirits curse my stunted aether!

He brought his leg back for another stubborn kick. That’s when he noticed the small daemon crouched by his feet. He stumbled in surprise, barely catching himself on the wooden post. Heartrender studied him, and he was struck again by the sharp intelligence in its three-eyed gaze.