screamed and covered his eyes, but it was too late. Eyes were the windows to the soul, and the best way to force a demon from a human host. Light fil ed his body, making his skin glow. I scrambled to my feet, fingers digging into the textured wal for support.
My gaze stayed glued on him. His screams became gurgles as he convulsed like he had an itch he couldn’t scratch. He dropped to his knees then plopped on his side, body twisting in unnatural positions. Dry heaves wracked his body. Then his positions. Dry heaves wracked his body. Then his mouth opened wide.
The smoke demon shot out of his mouth like lava from a volcano vent.
Lil! Where are you?
Remy’s voice resounded in my head, but I couldn’t look away from the man writhing on the floor, his face contorted. A continuous stream of evilness spewed out of him, then he went stil .
The thick smoky mass rippled on the floor and crested like waves in the ocean. The edges spread toward me. Shuffling along the wal , my knees shook so badly I couldn’t turn and run. It rose and expanded. Tentacles flared from dark core. I was beyond terror, chil ed, frozen in place as it moved closer and closer.
Lil! You okay?
Yes…no…. My teeth started to chatter. I was about to choke. Become possessed. Dragged to the dark side. I shifted to autopilot, Master Haziel’s words ringing in my head. When ambushed, go down fighting. When in doubt, use your instincts.
When defeated, teleport.
The instinct to survive kicked in. I lifted the dagger, my hand clammy and shaking, pointed and shrieked out a command. At least I hoped it was a command, or something intel igible. Light shot from the blade and missed the demon by inches.
I aimed again, but arms grabbed me from behind and pinned mine down. Stil running on adrenaline, I buckled and twisted against my captor.
When he didn’t release me, I turned the dagger and lifted it up to sink it into his thigh.
A hand closed around my wrist like a vice.
Familiar scent and energy penetrated my terror.
Words drowned out the blood roaring in my ears. It’s me…me, darn it!
Bran. Relief rippled through me, leaving me light-headed. I closed my eyes and went limp against his hard frame. An angry rumble rattled my bones and my eyes snapped open. The death cry rose from deep inside the dark mass and fil ed the room. The growl grew faint and hol ow as the demon sunk low into the floor and disappeared, leaving behind a charred carpet and the crumpled body of its host.
I stared at the scorched marks, expecting it to rise again. “It’s gone. How?”
Bran chuckled. “You did it.”
“No, I didn’t,” I screeched. I turned and faced Bran. He looked like he’d been dragged to hel and back. Dirt and bruises covered his face. “You pul ed my arm down when I was about to blast him.”
“You already ordered the dagger to send the demon to Tartarus. When the light hit the wal , it spread around the room and trapped him. Once he came in contact with the light, he couldn’t escape.” He grinned, his teeth white against his dirty skin.
“Are you okay?”
I nodded, shaken yet proud I had actual y vanquished my first Lazarus demon.
“You did great.” Pride lurked in his voice.
“Now do exactly the same thing upstairs. The others need your help,” he added in a serious tone and stepped away from me. I leaned against the wal for support. “And when you guys are done,” he continued, already running toward the stairs, “head home. I’l see you tonight.”
Head home? Was he nuts? “Where are you going?”
“To finish what I started.” He disappeared up the stairs. I stood there on wobbly knees, my confidence returning.
Lil! Remy cal ed.
Coming, I yel ed and staggered past the main office area, which was now deserted, and almost lost my footing at the bottom of the stairs. Half-way up, screams and thuds slammed into me like a sudden downpour of hailstone. The sounds were worse than those made by the demon I just vanquished. The
My gaze stayed glued on him. His screams became gurgles as he convulsed like he had an itch he couldn’t scratch. He dropped to his knees then plopped on his side, body twisting in unnatural positions. Dry heaves wracked his body. Then his positions. Dry heaves wracked his body. Then his mouth opened wide.
The smoke demon shot out of his mouth like lava from a volcano vent.
Lil! Where are you?
Remy’s voice resounded in my head, but I couldn’t look away from the man writhing on the floor, his face contorted. A continuous stream of evilness spewed out of him, then he went stil .
The thick smoky mass rippled on the floor and crested like waves in the ocean. The edges spread toward me. Shuffling along the wal , my knees shook so badly I couldn’t turn and run. It rose and expanded. Tentacles flared from dark core. I was beyond terror, chil ed, frozen in place as it moved closer and closer.
Lil! You okay?
Yes…no…. My teeth started to chatter. I was about to choke. Become possessed. Dragged to the dark side. I shifted to autopilot, Master Haziel’s words ringing in my head. When ambushed, go down fighting. When in doubt, use your instincts.
When defeated, teleport.
The instinct to survive kicked in. I lifted the dagger, my hand clammy and shaking, pointed and shrieked out a command. At least I hoped it was a command, or something intel igible. Light shot from the blade and missed the demon by inches.
I aimed again, but arms grabbed me from behind and pinned mine down. Stil running on adrenaline, I buckled and twisted against my captor.
When he didn’t release me, I turned the dagger and lifted it up to sink it into his thigh.
A hand closed around my wrist like a vice.
Familiar scent and energy penetrated my terror.
Words drowned out the blood roaring in my ears. It’s me…me, darn it!
Bran. Relief rippled through me, leaving me light-headed. I closed my eyes and went limp against his hard frame. An angry rumble rattled my bones and my eyes snapped open. The death cry rose from deep inside the dark mass and fil ed the room. The growl grew faint and hol ow as the demon sunk low into the floor and disappeared, leaving behind a charred carpet and the crumpled body of its host.
I stared at the scorched marks, expecting it to rise again. “It’s gone. How?”
Bran chuckled. “You did it.”
“No, I didn’t,” I screeched. I turned and faced Bran. He looked like he’d been dragged to hel and back. Dirt and bruises covered his face. “You pul ed my arm down when I was about to blast him.”
“You already ordered the dagger to send the demon to Tartarus. When the light hit the wal , it spread around the room and trapped him. Once he came in contact with the light, he couldn’t escape.” He grinned, his teeth white against his dirty skin.
“Are you okay?”
I nodded, shaken yet proud I had actual y vanquished my first Lazarus demon.
“You did great.” Pride lurked in his voice.
“Now do exactly the same thing upstairs. The others need your help,” he added in a serious tone and stepped away from me. I leaned against the wal for support. “And when you guys are done,” he continued, already running toward the stairs, “head home. I’l see you tonight.”
Head home? Was he nuts? “Where are you going?”
“To finish what I started.” He disappeared up the stairs. I stood there on wobbly knees, my confidence returning.
Lil! Remy cal ed.
Coming, I yel ed and staggered past the main office area, which was now deserted, and almost lost my footing at the bottom of the stairs. Half-way up, screams and thuds slammed into me like a sudden downpour of hailstone. The sounds were worse than those made by the demon I just vanquished. The
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