Page 131 of A Monstrous World: The Complete Series

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Wraith

“ G et back in the fucking jar,” Knight growls, jabbing a finger at the djinn currently on my last fucking nerve.

This showdown has gone on for the better part of five minutes, and my patience is running very thin.

“Fuck you,” Athos snorts. “If you’re so fond of it, then maybe you should climb inside.” He rubs his hands together. “I’m free, motherfuckers. No way you’re getting me back in that thing.”

Knight snarls, swiping a claw at the infuriating monster. “We have places to be!”

My skin sizzles, calling us to Nadia. “Get in the container before we shove you back in forcefully.”

“No, I think I’ll pass on that,” Athos says, turning to grayish-blue smoke and swirling away.

“Our witch is in mortal danger,” I hiss.

“I’ll reap your soul if I have to, just to be done with this situation.

” Technically, since Nadia bound us, we don’t need the relic, but it’s valuable.

Extremely so, now that we know the jar holds a wish-granting djinn.

“We’ll let you back out once we’re settled in the human world. ”

“Fuck you! Would you go back in that tiny, cramped jar? It’s worse than Hell! I’m your built-in backup,” Athos says, smiling dangerously. “I thought we were friends. Friends don’t force friends back into the jar.”

“We don’t have time for this,” Knight mutters. “If you betray us, we will murder you.”

“It’s been ages since I was allowed to participate in a good bloodbath.” His light blueish-silver skin glints as he moves. “Let’s do it.”

Nadia’s terror rips through my chest as my eyes meet Knights. “Let’s go,” I growl, grabbing the jar. “Hopefully, you’ll be sucked through with us.”

“As long as you hold my vessel, I will be,” the infuriating djinn says.

“That’s good enough for me.” Knight disappears in a cloud of black shadow.

A half second later, I’m ripped through the veil too.

“Fuck, it’s been so long that I forgot how disorientating siphoning is,” Athos grumbles.

I immediately halt time. There are so many souls, it takes considerable effort. Twenty-four individuals, to be exact, and that’s in this room alone.

“Oh, thank God,” Nadia whispers.

“You can thank your demons.” Knight crawls onto the bed next to her. “Right after I spank your ass for being all up on someone who isn’t the wolf or the vampire.”

“It wasn’t exactly like we had a choice.

” She wraps an arm around his neck, pulling him in for a kiss.

“And it’s not Garth’s fault, either. The council is to blame and they need to be handled.

..” She goes on to explain exactly what happened before we arrived, and it feels like my blood boils inside my skin.

“Point me to where you’d like me to start.” Knight chuckles darkly. “That table smells especially delicious.”

“Yeah, that’s them,” she confirms.

“I’ll help.” I stride forward, climbing the steps to the bed. “This is extremely valuable. Keep it safe for me while we handle the problem?”

“Of course.” She smiles so brightly that my heart beats funny. I brush my lips over hers, handing her the canister.

“Now I see why we were in such a rush.” Athos appears at my side, bending at the waist. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Holy fuck,” she whispers with wide eyes. “You brought a djinn.”

“It couldn’t be avoided.” I raise my hood. I prefer reaping when others don’t have to see what my face turns into while I feed.

“Athos,” he says, smiling widely. “Your reinforcement, at your service.”

“She’s not interested in your affection,” I mutter, yanking on my sleeve. “She’s already built her pack.”

“Thank you for coming.” Nadia stares straight into my eyes.

They’re currently in void form, but somehow, she instinctively knows exactly where to look.

It makes my heart beat in a strange pattern.

I bow my head, preparing to suck the souls out of a few monsters who thought they could hurt my witch.

A small hand grips the front of my robe as I move to spin around.

She gives a little tug. I bend to make it easier as she kisses the hell out of me.

“I really love that I knew you’d come. I didn’t even have to question it.

I trusted that you’d be here if you got my call. ”

I smile, shaking my head. She’s exceptionally cute and not afraid of me at all. She shouldn’t be, but it is surprising, considering I could suck out her soul if I’m not continuously careful.

The tether between us would never allow for that. Nor would I.

“Can you unfreeze Echo and Ridge?” She licks her lips.

“You realize you’re straddling an incubus while the sin eater sucks the life force out of a succubus, right?” Athos asks, drawing my attention.

“The sins,” I correct.

Nadia glances down, frowning. “Oh, you can unfreeze Garth too. He’s just trying to pay off his mate’s debt.”

Now I’m the one frowning. I swipe my hand over the demon with a death wish, and he pops into our timeline, or unfreezes, as Nadia put it.

“Would you care to return my jar to me?” Athos asks, nodding to the container she still holds.

“Holy fucking shit, that’s a reaper,” Garth says with comically wide eyes.

“Indeed, and your grubby hands are on my witch,” I say in warning.

“Oh, fuck me. That’s disturbing.” Garth jolts. He must have caught sight of Knight. It is quite unsettling if you’re not expecting it.

“Goddamn,” Knight mutters, having moved on to the next monster. “This female vampire is good to go, but honestly, I think I’m going to puke. I’ve never been this full. The succubus was a snack compared to this hag.”

“I’m coming,” I grumble, moving to bring Echo and Ridge into our timeline. I don’t fully understand how my magic works, but that’s how I choose to view it.

I’m pleasantly surprised to see the two of them fighting outside foes. They stagger when they spot me, but both manage to stay upright.

“Glad to see you made it.” Echo shakes out his hand, glancing down at his bleeding knuckles.

“Of course.” I nod, heading for the especially terrible vampire.

“Hey, wait. Don’t do Imogen just yet,” Nadia grumbles.

My eyes fly to her as she climbs off the mattress.

“Damn, this jar is heavy.” She immediately steps over to Echo with Athos’s canister on her hip.

“I don’t know how his magic works, but if you want to kill her, then I wouldn’t take that away from you. ”

Echo’s mouth opens and closes several times.

I move on to the succubus instead. She’s not at the level I’d feel comfortable devouring, so I simply swipe a hand to reap her.

Her light gray energy slowly flows into me.

I’ll need to deposit her soul in the pit within the next few days.

Next, I move on to the male vampire Knight has just finished cleansing.

He’s the one responsible for Nadia’s compulsion.

“Oh yeah, fuck. I’m definitely going to puke.” Knight staggers over to the window and shoves his head out.

“Does that have negative effects on the environment?” Athos’s nose scrunches as he frowns at Knight, who is busy heaving.

“Not once he’s cleansed the sins.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Although, I’ve seen him eat the sins of ten or twelve monsters and never need to purge.”

“Will my compulsion die with Warren?” Nadia asks Echo as I weigh the male vampire. He’s getting devoured. I move my mouth only a few inches from his and suck slowly. He’s a vile creature, so it takes a while, but I continue until the final remnants of his soul flow into me.

“It will,” Echo says from behind me.

“Leave Constantine and Imogen for last, please?” Nadia asks.

I nod my agreement, moving to the greed demon instead. He’s not terrible, as far as monsters go. I reap him for rebirth in the pit. He’ll be cleansed for a few hundred years and be able to try again.

I turn back, and Ridge is cradling Nadia in his lap with her legs off to one side as she clutches the container between them. He sits on the edge of the bed, running his hands over her cheeks.

Athos sits next to Garth, who I may still kill. I’m undecided on either of those two.

“This guy is probably going to require a second culling,” Knight says, staggering away from the demon, who must be Constantine. He heads back to the window, and I tune out the sounds of his retching.

“Did you want me to continue with the female vampire?” I ask Echo. He’s kneeling in front of Ridge and leaning into Nadia’s shoulder. He pulls back enough to run his fingers over her cheek.

“I swore I’d kill her if I got the chance, but...” His head shakes. “I’d actually prefer not to have that on my conscience.”

My eyebrows rise. That was unexpected. She’s clearly his maker. I simply nod my agreement, heading to handle her disgusting soul. It smells putrid, even after being purified by Knight.

Thinking of my partner seems to summon him closer. He grunts but moves to cull Constantine again before tossing himself onto the bed at Ridge’s back. “Are you going to be able to hold those partygoers? Or are they going to pop in, wondering why we just massacred their council?”

I glance at the remaining people. They thought they’d get one type of show, but clearly, they’ve gotten another.

“I’ll manage,” I grunt. I position myself to devour Imogen’s soul and, as her life force flows into me, I end up feeling rather rejuvenated. Bringing up a sleeve, I wipe away any lingering smoke. “Only Constantine is left.”

“Devour him,” Nadia says. “I mean, please.”

“Anything for you, love.” I take the few steps over to the last demon.

“Wait.” Echo pushes himself up. “Can you unfreeze him long enough for me to ask him a few questions?”

“He could attack,” Knight says contemplatively. “Are you sure there’s a benefit to knowing whatever it is he’ll have to say?”

“I think we should at least try,” Echo says.

“I’ll keep close and refreeze him if necessary.” Standing at his side, I nod. “I’m here, I’ll just be invisible to his eyes.”