Primalcraft: Crimes of the Father (Book 3)

Chapter 26

The air was thick with smoke and magic. Shouts and cries echoed in the air, while Alex's heartbeat pounded in his ears. Neither he nor Raine slowed down, despite the barrier towering over them. His father's scent led straight to it.

Then he saw his father, the shape standing in front of the flickering barrier. Frank glanced back, spotting them immediately. He touched his fedora, giving them a greeting before turning toward the barrier. He raised his hand and Alex saw the dagger in his hand. Its blade's shape was wavy and dark. Gleaming with dark magic.

Recognizing it as the kris, Setan Kober, Alex swore. Unfortunately, it was already too late. The blade hit the barrier sending a shockwave straight through Alex and Raine. They crumbled to their knees by the pure force and electricity coming off the barrier as Frank cut it, allowing Setan Kober to drain its magic. The cut opened a rift, ensuring that Frank could get through as he continued on his way.

"Bloody hell," Alex grimaced as Raine pulled him up to his feet and almost threw Alex into the closing rift. Raine ran as fast as he could but wasn't able to reach the rift before it closed in. He touched the barrier but it sizzled, not letting him through.

"Get going, catch the fucker," Raine said, grimacing as he paced back and forth along the barrier. Alex didn't hesitate and took up the chase.

He reached the parking lot, coming to a halt as he saw Ahriman standing by a strange fountain or birdbath. He wasn't sure. Ahriman was grimacing, seemingly trying to focus and it only took Alex a few seconds before he realized that he was the one who created the barrier. Though the flickering suggested that the barrier wasn't stable for some reason.

Owen stood beside him. His eyes inspected the grounds while Mya and Dale were drawing up circles all over the place. Owen waved at Alex when he spotted him and Alex didn't hesitate to run over.

"Why are you here?" Owen said, but his eyes told Alex that he already knew.

"My father entered the barrier and ran here. I'm guessing that you haven't seen him," Alex said, looking around. There were people huddled up inside the cars or beside them but he didn't spot his father.

"No, but I'm guessing he is after Ahriman's hearth. It is keeping up the barrier."

Alex glanced at the flickering barrier, frowning. "Barely."

"I don't understand why. It is ridiculously hard to keep it up. It wasn't before," Ahriman grimaced as the barrier flickered again.

"Does it need something, like fuel?" Alex suggested.

Ahriman opened his mouth to protest when he suddenly froze. "Blake?"

Alex just frowned at Ahriman's wide eyes, now filled with bemusement. "What?"

"I cannot sense Blake."

Owen glanced at the barrier, slowly fading. "Keep focusing, the barrier is breaking up."

Before Alex could react though, he felt something cold grab onto his leg. Looking down he saw a shade, twisted and grinning at him, crawl along the pavement. Its body was like a mockery of that of a human, moving on its four limbs, its head twisted like it has broken its neck while the entire shape was made up of shadows, twisting and turning.

"Bloody hell!" Alex pulled himself free, his pants ripping in the process, showing a dark and pulsating bruise. He heard screams and looked up to see the entire area filled with shades moving towards them like an army of ants.

"What the hell is going on?" shouted Dale.

"It's my father," Alex grimaced. "He must be summoning the shades."