Page 1 of Hellish Witch (Playing with Demons #3)

Prologue

B ang. Screeeeech.

Pop. Pop. Screeech.

My heart thundered as gunfire and twisting metal resonated through the concrete walls surrounding my cell.

A scream stabbed the distant chaos.

I could relate.

Pain blared through my puffy cheek and stiff jaw. My eye socket throbbed in time with the blood surging through my battered veins. Hunger clawed at my middle like some feral beast.

I could hardly summon the energy to get excited about whatever drama was going down beyond the plain walls of my prison.

Screams weren’t uncommon here.

Another round of pain surged through my ribs, cold air stuttering in my lungs as I fought to breathe through it.

I leaned my forehead against the icy bars of my cell. The tips of my short horns clanged against them as a curtain of my ruby curls swung past my face.

The smooth metal practically froze my hands shut around them, until I couldn’t even feel my claw tips digging into my palms, despite the small streaks of blood dripping down my hands to splatter against the filthy concrete floor. The human realm was cooler than Hell, and England was especially chilly despite the time of year.

My skinny frame shook from the effort to keep standing, but I refused to let my captors see me cower on the floor like meek prey. Whatever fun was happening beyond my cell, it wouldn’t be long until it found me too.

My thoughts drifted as I nudged them away from the pain assaulting my body and the reality of being trapped squeezing my throat.

Both my demonic energy and mage magic were so low I’d stopped being able to heal myself days ago. I’d used the last of my magic in the bigger cells, healing the deep gashes and broken bones of an elderly demon chained next to me.

It hadn’t been enough to save him.

Another scream echoed in the distance. Darkness writhed just beneath my skin in reply, and I shuddered at the unnatural sensation.

I didn’t know how long it had been since the festering maggot I’d dated had sold me to demon hunters, but I wasn’t sure how much more of their hospitality I could take.

Especially now they’d locked me away in my own special room. Funny how they were so touchy about me slaughtering a few of them, given what they were doing to my kind.

Both sides of my heritage.

The sole door to my solitary prison burst open with a roar of sound. A sweaty mage spilled inside, pistol raised. The door slammed shut behind him, smothering the clamour of battle.

Recognition burned through the fog of exhaustion and bled fire through my veins.

“Fenton,” I hissed, yanking at the bars. “You fangless rat! I will tear your throat out and shower in your weak blood.”

“Fuck!” The mage searched the room, frantic gaze sweeping past me like I wasn’t even there.

His brows creased as his attention finally turned to me.

The last time he’d seen me, I was covered in a lot less blood and bruising. Unfortunately, I was still in the same tight jeans and cute low-cut top as the night he’d tricked me.

In contrast, he was still a golden-hued human with his unmarred skin, wearing a pristine white shirt. The only signs of distress were the sweat dotting his brow, and the slightly ruffled look to his short hair.

Hopefully, I could turn the metallic brown as red as my own curls when I clawed his face off.

“Oh, look, it’s…” His straight nose wrinkled as he waved his gun. “I don’t even care, you’ll fucking do.”

I hissed, baring my fangs. Darkness bucked under my skin, but I didn’t dare answer its demands. It would be the last thing I did.

“Don’t be sour, pretty demon,” he chuckled, the sound edged in hysteria as he let the door slam shut behind him. “You’re not all used up yet.”

How had I not noticed the evil crawling beneath his pretty exterior when he’d first summoned me?

I’d never forgive myself.

You’d think my brutal upbringing would have come in useful for once, and given me trust issues or at least a healthy dose of scepticism, but apparently the only thing my cruel succubus aunts had beaten into me was stupidity.

“Oh, goodie, come here and let’s find out, shall we?” I grinned, running my tongue along a fang to draw his gaze, desperately hoping he couldn’t hear the shake in my tone.

As much as I wanted to, I was in no state to take on a mage. Even a rodent like Fenton. He seemed ruffled, like he hadn’t been enjoying his time here either. I hoped the very monsters he’d sold me to had turned on him too.

His pouty lips twisted into a smirk, and he glanced at the key card hanging off a hook right beside the door he’d burst through.

“Everyone is so fucking stupid,” he muttered, grabbing the white plastic and stepping towards my cell.

My lungs squeezed at the thought of him letting me out, even though I knew it wouldn’t be for anything good. I might be as weak as a newborn unicorn, but he wouldn’t be taking me anywhere without a fight.

Not again.

“Look at the adorable glimmer of hope in your big red eyes.” He chuckled. “Unlike your kind and these moronic hunters, I’m not that dumb.”

He lifted his palm, wreathed in a bronzed glow.

Pain bit through my skull and swallowed me whole.

Red fluttered across my vision as I forced my eyes open.

The world rushed in with a pained groan and blinding light. The noise fell again from my numb lips as the acrid scent of blood, gore, and magic smacked me in the face.

Saliva pooled in my mouth as every sense screamed at once.

I couldn’t make sense of the shiny bars blurring past my face until I felt the heat banding around my waist. My stomach lurched as the mage tightened his hold and dragged me from my cell to the only door in the cramped room.

Beyond my solitary prison were the main holding cells I’d once stayed in. With a rough grunt, my ex turned the handle.

And dragged me straight into chaos.

Sharp light stabbed through the migraine hammering my skull. The dim screeches and gunshots now roared.

I released another pained snarl and tried to get my feet under me, but my entire body felt weak. I didn’t know what that fucker Fenton had done to me, but it was like my limbs no longer understood the commands my brain was sending.

Bodies littered the vast space, demons and hunters alike. Most captives remained trapped in their cells, though a handful of freed demons battled their way towards the other cages.

Across the room, a familiar grey demon with flame-coloured hair and double horns slashed his claws at a pair of hunters. Panic emptied my lungs. Blood covered his bare chest, peppered with cuts and bullet wounds.

“Let me through or I’ll fucking kill the bitch!” Fenton’s breathy voice snarled, far too close for the ache in my skull.

The cold barrel of a pistol pressed to my temple, but I could hardly focus on the mage’s threat.

Rex was here .

My brother by choice. The only real family I had, blood or not.

And he was hurt. Because of me.

“Uncle!” My nickname for him escaped on a cry. “I’m sorry, I-I should never have left with him.” The words fell from my bruised lips as I struggled against Fenton’s steely hold on my weak body.

Every demon in the room seemed to hold their breath. Too many eyes raked me in my pathetic state.

A hunter’s body fell with a wet thump, loud in the echoing silence.

The psychotic mage dragged me out past the cells framing the door and towards the open space of the room, my thrashing barely slowing his stride.

“Eve.” Rex stepped forwards, pain creasing his blood-smeared face. “It’s okay. Everything’s going to be okay.”

My heart stuttered at the sight of him.

By his side, as usual, were his enforcers: powerful demons who’d do anything for Rex and our kingdom of outcasts.

One in particular strangled me with terror. I’d never forgive myself if any of them were hurt, but especially not Killian, the vicious incubus with more scars than most.

“That’s the piece of shit she was dating,” Killian hissed, blood-splattered wings flaring to frame his dark-purple skin, inked in tattoos.

“More fucking trouble than you were worth, you useless slut,” Fenton snarled in my ear, yanking my loose curls hard enough to knock a gasp free. “Should have doubled the price. Lousy fuck too.”

The watching demons blurred as my eyes watered from the harsh sting joining the dull throb in my fuzzy head.

Shame smothered me. I’d let this idiot mage talk me into his bed, and now everyone here knew what a fool I’d been.

Rex snarled, a vicious growl rumbling his chest.

Killian’s eyes flashed silver with menace. “You’ll know pain like never before,” he promised, voice silky with threat.

“You’re all so fucking stupid, I love it.” Fenton dug his gun harder into my skull. “I’m a sin eater. I can end this bitch even without the spelled gun. A single bite of my magic and she’s brain-dead.”

My body locked up in his grip. Was that what he’d already done to me? How he’d knocked me out with his magic?

The mage pulled the gun from my temple and swung it across the semi-circle of demons as they tried in vain to shift closer. He paused on Rex, aiming right at the bristling grey demon. “I’ve seen you before.”

A woman appeared in the smashed doorway, stepping over charred bodies. Stunning lilac hair matched her glowing eyes. I’d have said she was a witch, if it weren’t for the black claws tipping her fingertips as she gave Fenton a tinkling wave.

Could she be like me?

“Oh, hello, Fenton dear. Fancy seeing you here. Again.” A vicious smile graced her lips as she strolled towards us.

Her gaze met mine. A strange kinship flowed between us for a single moment of connection before her eyes locked back onto the mage behind me.

“Take me,” she said.

“No!” Rex snarled, whirling to face her. Fear contorted his features.

“Leave her here and take me instead,” she repeated, ignoring my frantic brother.

I shook my head, silently pleading with her not to do this. She didn’t even know me. She didn’t know I was already broken. With all the damage done, I probably wasn’t leaving here alive anyway.

“And why would I do that? A hostage is a hostage,” Fenton scoffed.

He shook me hard enough to knock another pained whimper free as my tender brain rattled around my skull.

The demons in my periphery stilled their subtle movements. Fenton dragged me towards the broken doors at the other end of the room, staying just out of reach of the captives, trying to strike at him through the bars.

“I’m the only one who knows who you really are. What happens when you leave here without me? I’ll lead all these bloodthirsty demons straight to your coven’s territory.” The feral witch moved with us, angling herself in front of the only exit. “You can’t afford not to take me with you.”

“Or I could just shoot you now and still have this bitch.” Fenton shook me again.

This time, I was ready, trapping pained noises behind clenched teeth as agony spiked through old injuries and new.

The witch smirked. “You think you can shoot me and get that pistol back to her head before one of these demons is already wearing your blood? You’ve seen how quick they move.”

“Zoella, no,” Rex pleaded, the agonised sound stabbing my heart. “Don’t do this. We’ll find another way.”

Fenton snarled. “Fine. Come here.”

The witch strode closer, and Fenton dragged me to meet her, gun digging painfully into my temple. He released his grip on my hair, and I stumbled forward, legs threatening to give out under my full weight.

Something slammed into my back, sending me flying as I tripped over an unmoving body. Before I hit the ground, powerful arms caught me, pulling me into the safety of a muscular chest.

Killian.

“You’re okay, Eve. I’ve got you now. Nothing will ever take you from me again.”