Page 8

Chapter 7

I t was hell unleashed the second the shadows bled away, revealing the Inner District. Elaine’s breath seized in her throat. Screams filled the air as shadowy beasts flew down the streets, monstrous creations perfectly blended between a wolf and a bear. Wreaths of fire flowed from their matted black fur and glowed from their eyes like burning coals.

People ran for their lives, some even fighting back. Vampires with their dizzying speed launching at the creatures. Even a few humans, clutching at broken planks of wood or knives, whatever they could get their hands on, battled with screaming defiance.

But it was a fight they were losing—and fast. Blood splattered the cobblestone, the metallic stench thick in the air.

There was no time to think as one of the creatures in question exploded right toward them.

Elaine shot ahead of the group, throwing up her hands. Tattoos burned bright blue along her arms as a wall of ice blasted upwards. The beast slammed into it, the force sending her staggering back.

“Drop the wall!” Aya bellowed.

She tore it down and rolled to the side. Aya dashed past and with a flap of her wings, leapt clear of the beast and dropped onto its back. She twisted around in a blur of movement and plunged the blade into its neck. It released a guttural cry as Aya twisted the blade and it dropped.

Movement flashed beyond Aya, and Elaine burst into action. She tore off across the cobblestone and flung out a palm. Fire erupted into existence, blasting straight into the head of an attacking beast. It reared up with a howling cry, the flames quickly consuming the matted fur. As it swayed back, Sabra was at her side, twin blades in hand, forged of shadow. She dropped low at the last second, sliding her blades along the side of the beast. Matted fur and skin split, organs spilling out.

Elaine hurried after her, heart pounding, muscles burning. All around her, demons attacked and battled with vampires, and whoever was lucky enough to be standing. Feral snarls and guttural roars tangled together in a chaotic dance as death littered the streets.

Sabra was staring at the beast she’d slain, her face pale, lips parted. Elaine called her name twice, but she remained eerily still, as if she’d forgotten the carnage raging around them.

“Sabra!” she shouted again, grabbing her by the arm.

Sabra jerked to her, blinking twice. Quiet words broke from her lips, scraped raw in a pain Elaine had never heard before.

“They’re demons, ” she whispered.

Elaine’s jaw dropped.

Another beast exploded out from behind Sabra. She shoved her friend aside and threw her hands wide, then slammed them together. An orb of fire erupted to life, and she thrust her palms forward in a single blast. It struck the smaller creature, sending it flying into a nearby wall. Stone and tile cracked, a window above it shattered, raining shards of glass.

She spun back to Sabra. “Freak out later. We need you.”

At the words Sabra snapped into focus. She nodded sharply and raised her bloodied blades. Aya was at her side, glistening in blood and grinning like she was utterly in her element. Shadows spilled from her skin, swirling around her body, never straying too far from her. Eyes black as death raked over the chaos.

“Elaine, stay close to me. Sabra, go help Tobias and Alexios. There is more of them heading for the council building.”

The second Sabra was gone from her side, Elaine and Aya plunged into the chaos. She kept close by her lover’s side, wielding flame and ice as she struck down the beasts. As they fell, Aya closed in like a wraith and sliced them into bloodied ribbons. Soon, more demons began to come for them, snarling and eyes glowing with unbridled rage.

They moved swiftly down the streets, hunting after the bigger beasts tearing their way through the Inner District. For each one they cut down, it felt like dozens more appeared. Every part of her body ached and screamed for rest. She might’ve been training with Aya, her muscles certainly stronger than when she’d first arrived…but this?

Every breath burned her lips, scalding her throat like fire. She dug deep, calling on the wells of magic within her. Her tattoos glowed, burning brighter until she swore light streamed from her skin. Ribbons of power eddying around her body. Sweat dripped from her body, running in thick droplets down her skin.

Darkness nudged the edge of her vision.

She stopped, swaying for a minute. A hand touched the side of her, holding her steady.

“Elaine?” Concern touched Aya’s voice.

“I’m fine,” she forced out. “Let’s keep going.”

Aya’s jaw tightened, like she wanted to argue. It died as they jogged into a narrow street flanked by looming residential homes, and a beast was trying to tear into a house. A shimmering ward kept it back, but it strained and groaned, threatening to give out at any moment.

“Stay back,” said Aya. “I have this.”

Elaine went to argue but her legs wobbled.

Aya swept forward, wings trailing black blood in her wake. The beast roared as it slammed into the ward once more. Elaine’s breath caught in her throat as Aya released a primal scream, a sound scarcely even human. The beast turned at the sound.

It charged right at her.

Aya dove out of the way at the last second, surging to her feet. Twisting sharply on her heel, the beast turning back to meet her, Aya launched into the sky. She crashed into its back, driving her blade right through its head and into the stone. Bone crunched and blood pooled rapidly across the stone, staining it black.

Aya yanked the blade free and offered Elaine a victorious grin, terrifyingly beautiful in blood and shadow.

The beast rose suddenly. Aya yelped in alarm as it jerked back and flung her off.

Elaine was off in a flash, fueled by a burst of energy. It tore through her veins, lighting her from within. She dropped low at the last second, calling on Vikra’s power. Ice burst across the cobblestone. The beast lost its grip on the ground and swayed, hitting the ground hard. The second it did, she lifted her hands. Ice burst upwards. It wrapped around the beast, pinning it down.

It thrashed and screamed, fighting to free itself. Elaine gritted her teeth and forced the energy into the beast, turning flesh and bone to ice. Something metallic and wet dripped on her lips, the ache in her head sharpening until it felt like a blade was being driven into her head. She gritted her teeth until she tasted blood in her mouth, and she slammed her palms back down.

The beast—turned solid into ice—shattered into a thousand glittering shards.

Elaine dropped to her knees. Ragged breaths wracked her body. The world swayed viciously, darkness threatening to drag her under. She swayed, lurching to the side but she never hit the ground. Warm arms caught her.

Her gaze tipped to the burning crack in the sky, the last thing she saw as the dark rushed up to meet her. And she swore in that last moment of consciousness was the silence wrapping around her and a voice, soft a whisper, filling her mind.

There you are. We have been looking for you.

It was embarrassing to have collapsed and hours later, when she emerged from the hazy darkness, she was in a room she didn’t recognize. Aya and the others were nowhere to be seen. A clean dress was laid out for her, along with boots and a cloak. She hauled herself out, finding she’d been stripped down to a simple shift. Once she changed, she knew what she had to do.

With every step, her body protested; legs wobbly, feet barely lifting off the ground. Elaine grasped the door and closed her eyes, calling on Dianera’s power. Warmth seeped through her veins, chasing back the pain until her body felt steady. It was the best she could do. She opened her eyes and snapped her fingers. Only a spark of fire danced along her palm before sputtering out.

She’d need more rest before she was in any fit state to fight again.

You’re going to need more magic if you’re going to restore the barrier, her inner voice taunted.

Ah, yes. That fucking unfortunate sword suspended over her neck. Elaine shook her head. First thing first was she needed to find the others. Knowing Aya, she wouldn’t be far away. She wouldn’t leave Elaine alone, certainly not somewhere that wasn’t the house.

She stepped out into the quiet hallway and realized two things. One, she was in the council building. She’d know the stone walls and ornate paintings on the wall anywhere, the way it reeked of that cloying power and old magic. Which led to the second realization. Where Aya was. She set off in search of the meeting hall.

A few vampires passed her, offering gentle nods and quiet thanks. She chafed at the words. She wasn’t a hero. She was just doing what needed to be done, saving Aya’s neck. Keeping those she loved safe.

As she approached the hall, she heard the familiar snarl of Aya.

“So, you have no fucking idea how the fuck demons got into Purgatory—fan-fucking-tastic!”

A smile tugged at her lips. How she loved that filthy mouth.

Elaine pushed open the door. A hush settled as all eyes fell on her. Aya was pacing one corner of the room, the shadows stretching for her. Her eyes were twin pools of black and the air thickened with her magic.

The other council members remained seated around the table, shifting between irritation and fear. Tobias was beside Alexios, staring at the map stretched out before him. And there was Sabra, standing by the open window, eerily quiet as she peered out of the window. She hadn’t even turned as Elaine shuffled in, the door falling shut with a muted thump behind her.

Aya saw her first and strode across the room. The darkness bled from her eyes, and suddenly Aya’s hand was on her face, inspecting her from head to toe. Warmth rippled across Elaine, coiling low in her belly. It made her wish that she was alone with Aya and that their world wasn’t falling apart around them.

“How are you feeling?”

“Better.” Elaine leaned into Aya’s touch. “So, what did I miss?”

Aya moved to her side, one hand sliding to the small of her back, guiding her to the table. “The council has no idea how the demons appeared, and they haven’t sent a rider to the witch temple.”

“The witches wouldn’t do this,” said Ingrid calmly. The syren leaned back in her chair, a picture of ethereal grace, and seemingly unperturbed from the darkness radiating from Aya.

Aya laughed dryly. “A witch has opened a portal to the demon realm before.”

Ah, yes, Honoria’s sister. The one who brought Sabra to their realm, keeping her captive for over fifty years before Aya freed her—then promptly decapitated the witch, throwing her head through the witch temple gates. All to ensure no one dared hurt Sabra again.

“And,” said Aya, continuing with a frosty drawl, “might I also point out, they haven’t exactly ventured outside of their little temple.”

Ingrid’s mouth curled, the smile not quite touching her eyes. “I would hazard a wild guess it probably has something to do with the crack in the sky—and recent events. Would you leave the safety of your home when everyone believed you responsible for death and destruction?”

Aya glowered.

With a flick of her hand, Ingrid went on. “Which brings me to my next question, you’ve had the supplies for a day—do you have anything to report?”

Elaine set a hand over Aya, sensing another biting reply. “There are a few leads we’re looking into but nothing of worth. Once we have something concrete, we will inform the council directly.”

Ingrid leveled her a lingering look, one she swore was trying to pry its way into her mind, to glean the secrets she kept so close to her chest. It was Loraina, to Elaine’s surprise, who spoke first with a gentle laugh. A blatant way to redirect the tension choking the room, so thick one might cleave it apart like a knife through butter.

“I would say that answer suffices, don’t you agree, Ingrid?” Loraina didn’t wait for Ingrid to speak before she added with a mask of calm mastered only by a syren: “The vampires did their jobs, and the Inner District was able to fight off the demons. A handful did flee into the woods.”

Ryker cleared his throat. “My wolves are already hunting them as we speak. I would advise though that the vampires and wolves regroup, as well as any volunteers. Until this barrier issue is resolved, we need a standing force to defend if this happens again.”

“Alpha Ryker is correct,” said Alexios smoothly. “We sustained some losses and injuries in the attack. Strengthening our numbers should be our first action whilst Aya and her team focus on their mission.”

Alexios peered at Elaine. Was something on her face? That was the second person to look at her like that, with a kind of renewed interest that left her shifting restlessly on the chair. What did it mean? The question crawled up her throat, twirling along her tongue.

Loraina pushed her chair back and rose. “Well, then I would say this meeting is concluded. May everyone be fruitful in their missions. I must return to the rivers, speak with my people. There may be some who are interested in joining this fighting force.”

Aya muttered something beneath her breath, too quiet for Elaine. She glanced up, wondering not for the last time what past lay between her and the syren—or if it was merely on par for Aya's standard distaste of the council. The look passed quickly as Aya cleared her throat, facing the council with a cool, unreadable expression.

“As Elaine said, we’ll send word once we have something to report."

As they went to leave, Tobias rose and squeezed his lover’s shoulder. The quietly intimate moment was not missed by Ryker across the table, his lips curling in disgust. A snarling remark threatened to break free of Elaine when Tobias looked up and winked at the wolf. She blinked, stunned for a moment, as Aya led her from the room.

Sabra followed last, still strangely quiet. Even when they made it outside and linked hands, she was quiet. They teleported back to the house and broke apart. Rather than go inside, Sabra headed straight for the trees. Elaine took a step after her, but Aya touched her upper arm.

“I’ll go.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“It’s okay. Head inside, help Tobias with the books.” Aya hesitated for a moment then quickly added, “leave the pendant alone, okay?”

She barely managed a nod before Aya was striding off after Sabra. Tobias appeared at her side, clearing his throat. His shoulder brushed hers, the presence comforting. A flicker of jealousy—stupid as it was—twined around her bones. There was never anything romantic about the bond Aya and Sabra shared, but she felt the prickle all the same, and loathed it with equal fervor.

“Sabra kept mumbling that she swore she saw someone she knew,” Tobias said, his voice disturbing her thoughts.

Elaine stilled. “As in one of the demons?”

“I would say so.”

Though Sabra had disclosed a little of her time imprisoned by Honoria’s sister, she’d said nothing over her time in the demon realm. About the land she once called home, and if she’d left anyone behind. Elaine wanted to ask about it, but she had the suspicion it was dangerous territory. She decided if Sabra wanted to talk about it, she would share it in time, and it was then she understood why Aya had gone after her alone.

“I’m not asking for details, but did Sabra ever tell you about where she came from?”

Tobias shook his head. “We all have our pasts and I suspected that it was one Sabra was always determined to forget about.”

He took off for the front door. Elaine glanced back at the forest before hurrying after him.