Page 9 of The River of Fire
But my gaze quickly returns to the redhead, now using herstaff to sweep a smaller blonde off her feet. While they’re both wearing tight leather armor, it is not the blonde’s backside I eye.
Perhaps Sariel senses my hunger, as he smirks suggestively. “So, are you going to wet your sword with any Elioud?”
I frown and turn away from Abaddon. “No. And if any enter my domain, I will know, and I will oust them.”
“Right,” Sariel drawls. “Is playtime over then?”
I unleash my wings, the susurration of feathers answering his question as I launch myself into the dark sky.
There is nothing to see here. And it is time for me to feed.
Chapter 6 – Lana
The gates in front of us look creepy as fuck. Gargoyles are perched on wide stone columns, and the dark, misshapen ironwork is topped with spikes. Not to mention that this area of Hell is so foggy, you could cut it with a knife.
“Is that blood?” Liam asks, a note of apprehension in his voice. He unsheathes his sword with a soft rasp of metal over leather.
I step closer and eye the oozing liquid. “Yep. Definitely blood.” Not all that shocking seeing we’re looking at the gates to a graveyard in Hell. I use a booted foot to nudge at one leaf, opening it just wide enough for us to enter. Jess bounces on her feet nervously. It’s not that I’m immune to the creep factor myself, but we were told there are soul manifestations here, so in we must go.
Simone sidles up to me quietly andcontinues with the conversation our arrival at the gates stopped. “Can you talk to him again, please?”
By ‘him’, she means Maalik. And I’m the one she’s asking because the brute in question chose me to lead our group, a decision that baffled me. I don’t want to be responsible for the deaths of five people with whom I bonded in training. Apparently, that’s exactly the reason why I’m the best woman for the job – words delivered with that sadistic grin of his we’ve all come to loathe. The bastard. I can’t say we don’t respect him though; everything he does is to ensure we have the best fighting chances possible.
This is the last mission we’re doing together as a team before he sends us all out on a solo patrol, to see if we can handle it both physically and mentally. It’s not the same when you don’t have anyone watching your back or diverting you from wondering if you’re about to be shredded by demons.
“I really did try, honey.” I eye the tall tombstones and the bones scattered before them. Were the bodies just not buried in the first place, or did something dig them up? “We all have to do the solo patrol.”
Simone’s fighting skills have definitely improved, but she’s not quite as confident as everyone else. “I don’t know why they want me out here. I’m better at healing, anyway,” she pouts.
I throw her a sympathetic look which turns into a cringe as the sound of bones snapping under my foot echoes among the tombs. Soul manifestations won’t run from us, seeing as they don’t have a brain to think with, but we encounter demonic minions as often as those ethereal forms.
“I know. And I’m going to fight to have you stay at the keep and help Daniel with post-patrol injuries.”
Simone sighs and nods with resignation. “Okay.”
“Oh, Great Leader.”
I glare at Ethan. “Don’t call me that, fuckwit.”
Ethan gives me a shark’s smile, then points to the right with his sword. Damn it, I didn’t even notice the amalgamation of souls hovering by a dilapidated tomb. At least I think I wouldhave noticed if there were demons around. Now that we know what to look for, it seems my internal Spidey sense is sharper than anyone else’s.
“Do the honors, then.” I bow and sweep my arms in a grand gesture. Ethan bounces on his feet, then withdraws a throwing knife. He takes a second to aim and the knife sails towards the manifestation, flying straight through it.
That’s enough, though, as all that’s needed is Celestial metal interrupting the bonds holding the blob together. The souls given form dissipate. Since souls can’t be killed, being eternal and all, no one’s quite sure what happens to them. Maybe they end up in the Fiery Pits with Lucifer. Maybe they’re reincarnated in the mortal realm and given a second chance. My guess is as good as anyone’s. Except, you know, God and the big D’s.
I snicker, wondering if the Devil has a big dick. Bet he does. Liam looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. Little does he know, it’s not lost – I purposefully misplaced it years ago.
I whistle to myself as I lead my friends deeper into the demonic burial grounds. We rarely encounter more than one target in an outing. This should be an easy, if morbid stroll, and we’re not so far from Purgatory that we can’t walk home and be there in time for dinner.
I freeze between one step and another. Clearly, I haven’t learned my lesson when it comes to jinxing myself.
“What is it?” Kevin asks, looking around and trying to discern any shapes that don’t belong through the fog. Good luck with that, with all the creepy statues.
“Demons,” I whisper, and take a step back.
Liam’s serious voice sounds to my left. “I feel them, too.”
“So, we fight them,” Ethan shrugs, unconcerned.
