Magics: Escape (Book 2)

Chapter Thirty-Six

Gabriel stumbled backward, confusion and anger running over his features. Kai clenched his hands at his sides, unsure of what to do. He couldn't hurt Linda, and The Dark Lord obviously knew that. He was enjoying the fleeting moment of seeing his enemies' uncertainty and annoyance and fear. Abby clapped the other hand over her mouth, her eyebrows set in a frown and angry tears filling her perfect blue eyes. 

"How dare you," Gabriel said, his voice a whisper. His hands balled into fists at his sides, his fingers shaking in anger. "How dare you!" he said again, this time much louder and more angry. "You have no right! You can't just... just- Take over her body like that!" 

"Oh, but I can," The Dark Lord said deviously, gesturing to Linda's body with her hand. "I've done so already, dear boy, and only I can choose when I want to leave. Don't even think about giving me orders." 

Gabriel seethed with anger but wisely said nothing else. 

Kai stood perfectly still, breathing in and out slowly so he didn't attack Linda out of anger directed at The Dark Lord. He looked Linda up and down, though he wasn't sure what he was looking for. There was no change in her, simply the voice cloaked with her own. 

Her right hand still held the key with the force of a trap, and the cloud of darkness flitted around it almost joyously, caressing Linda's fingers then snapping back into the circle again. 

Get the key away from her, Kai's mind told him. That's what he's using to possess her body. The Dark Lord isn't a spirit, like Thorn was. He's Darkness himself. He doesn't have to be out of the Abyss to take over one's body. He can take over anyone if they're holding the key, or maybe if they're simply near him. 

Kai moved toward Linda, and The Dark Lord used her body to take a step back.

With a small chuckle, he lifted Linda's hand and waggled her finger at Kai. "Naughty, naughty. I didn't say you could move." 

Kai expected to be held in place by Dark Magic, but nothing happened. He could still move, and he took another confident step forward, which made Linda's face crease into a frown. The Dark Lord was simply using Linda's body; therefore, he wasn't in his own. Which meant he couldn't use his own magic. 

In another's body, The Dark Lord was powerless.

This drew a smirk onto Kai's face. He could get the key away from Linda easier than he'd expected he could. She did know how to fight, but he was bigger and had magic that could trap her in place. Surely The Dark Lord didn't know how to work her powers, if he even could. 

"Kai," Abby's wary and panicked voice warned from behind him, "whatever you're thinking, don't do it." 

"You should listen to your girlfriend," The Dark Lord said through Linda's mouth, his hidden voice forcing Linda's to a slow, warning tone. "She has some sense. Attack me, and you will be dead in moments." 

"You're bluffing," Kai declared, pointing his finger at Linda. "You're still trapped in the Abyss. You aren't actually here. You're only using our friend's body to talk to us. If you're not here, you can't use your magic because Linda doesn't have the same power you do. If you can even use her power, I can defeat hers. You are powerless." 

Kai could feel Abby and Gabriel staring at him in wonder and confusion, but he ignored them and mimicked the smirk that had been on Linda's face some moments ago. 

"Smart boy," The Dark Lord tsked instead of denying it. "I'll give you that. Say, where is Shintaro? I want to see him." He started forward, but Kai blocked his path, drawing another frown from Linda's face. 

"Sorry," Kai said flatly, readying himself in case he needed to pin Linda down with his magic. "Shintaro can't see you right now. He's currently busy. I would say wait your turn, but you won't get a turn to see him."