Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
They slid into the back of the cavernous meeting hall.
It was darker than expected, although Skarde recognized the observation came from the fact that he’d had no clue what to expect and reflexively thought illumination might put him in a better defensive position.
Witches were usually obsessed with candles, which is why the lack of light was strange.
They’d likely be lit as the summoning came to its climax.
Based on the buzz inside his head, it wouldn’t be much longer.
The shifting of humans consumed with uneasy energy echoed in the hall. As Skarde led his companions around the back toward a position with a better view, the scent of recently spilled human blood rose above the odor of humans.
He pointed to the right and the Hunters slid along the wall, their job to control any humans and fledgling vampires.
A man eyeballed them. Just as his eyes flew wide, mouth opening to unleash a warning, Cade unsheathed a dagger, covered the man’s mouth, and slit his throat.
Maybe the human didn’t have to die. That stray thought was all Gemma, making Skarde question his usual feelings toward the situation.
Cade’s actions had been efficient and likely cut down someone they’d be fighting later.
But what if… Maybe the humans were under Petra’s control, like VanFliet.
Perhaps, they weren’t here by choice and would choose to run if given the chance.
No use dwelling on mercy at the moment. The reality was the guy could’ve sounded the alarm, triggering an acceleration of the summoning or a full battle with the hundred or more people in this place.
He detected two vampires other than his brother—Gemma and VanFliet. He wasn’t one hundred percent sure about VanFliet’s loyalties. He might be here by choice. He could’ve manipulated them into helping him.
“Up front. To the right,” Cade whispered.
Skarde craned around a few people to see Gemma on the floor, out cold, but breathing. Metal bindings encircled her wrists and ankles. Petra planned to use her for whatever came through the doorway from another dimension, or hell, or wherever the demons came from. The doorway was almost open.
Was she meant to be the vessel for a demon’s possession?
He’d considered this, but now that he was here…seeing her up there, bound like a sacrifice…
His focus narrowed to his need to get Gemma away from this place. A growl worked its way up his throat and his body tensed to move, Cade slammed him against the wall with a hand over his mouth.
“Quiet.” Cade gritted out in a harsh whisper. “I knew you’d lose your shit over her situation. Prove me wrong. All we’ve got on our side is the element of surprise. We’re outnumbered and about to face a demon if we’re lucky. A demon army if we’re not.”
Skarde fought to alleviate the weight against his chest.
Cade slammed him against the wall once more. “You’re drawing attention. I need your head in this right now. I don’t need irrational possessiveness over her. Tell me how we stop this.”
He stilled. Reason returned. “We have to get Gemma out of there… Shit, we’re too late.”
“Come forth, my loves.” Petra slammed a staff that contained all the crystals on the floor.
Her voice had risen high above the nervous murmurs as red and yellow light lit up the room like a lightning storm.
She held up her hands and the staff, which revealed a bracelet with many charms. On of those had to house VanFliet’s heart.
A huge demon stepped through the portal, its skin a mixture of red and blue with raised markings all over the exposed skin of its shoulders and neck. It wore standard tooled battle leathers, which Skarde had unfortunately discovered last year were impenetrable to every weapon he used.
The demon paused to glare at Petra, an unexpected moment of intelligence. In Skarde’s experience, demons struck first and thought about it later.
“I bring you forth,” the witch queen proclaimed in an imperious voice, “to do my bidding. I offer you this vessel.” She waved at Gemma.
Skarde held his breath, waiting for the demon to dispatch her. Petra couldn’t control this being that was ten times more powerful than her, and—based on its incredulous scowl—wasn’t that interested in her offer.
Skarde whispered, “This is how all demons end up in our world. A power hungry dunderhead summons one. Few summoners survive the attempt.”
The demon continued to glower its distrust at Petra.
“Do my bidding and I’ll bring forth your cohort,” Petra proclaimed.
“There are too many here for both of us to deal with. Some of the beings in the crowd are black magic assassins,” Skarde whispered.
“We have to get the manticore up here. With it on our side we could do this. That means we need VanFliet free from Petra’s control.
Here’s how this will work. I’m going to deal with the demons.
On my count, you’re going to steal Petra’s charm bracelet.
Do it so fast she doesn’t notice. Find VanFliet.
He can tell you which of those dangly miniature urns on the bracelet is his so you can return his heart. ”
“What?” Cade frowned.
“It’s magic. She has his heart on her bracelet.”
“I don’t get it. His heart? As in his literal heart, not some metaphorical bullshit?”
“You could’ve asked about this when we were in the dungeon.
Yes, the actual beating organ. It’s how she controls him.
Return his heart to him in order for him to be in control of himself.
If you open the container near him, it’ll return to his chest. He has to redirect his people.
Let’s hope the manticore didn’t lie about his goals.
If so, we’re on our own. I’ll handle the demons and what’s coming out of that portal next. ”
Cade opened his mouth.
“Now,” Skarde said. “Go!”
All hell broke loose.
Petra screamed and grabbed her wrist the moment she realized her bracelet was gone. All the humans panicked at once.
Skarde dove for the demon as it dissolved into mist, missing and landed on the hard floor. The fact it dissolved meant it accepted the offered vessel.
Fuck.
There was no time to think. He had to get that thing out of Gemma before it was too late. Before she lost her mind.
A second demon appeared at the edge of the portal. Deal with the demon in front of you first. Then Gemma.
Skarde leaped on the second creature the moment it came though, taking it down to the ground and rolling it over before it could get its bearings.
But the bastard was smart, and strong, and in survival mode when Skarde stabbed at its heart.
It managed to sink all ten of its claws into Skarde’s shoulders simultaneously.
His vision went in and out with the agony of the burn. Clamping a hand on the demon’s throat, he saw a flash of the creature’s sharp, triangular teeth, the tattooed lettering across both its cheeks and forehead, and the shaggy hair in mats that might have been an attempt at dreadlocks.
He fisted his dagger, the demon killer blade forged by the dwarves long ago, and stabbed it right through its ribs, between the fastenings of its leathers, and deep into the pumping six-chambered organ to the left of center.
Gasping, blood pouring out of its mouth, the demon crumpled to the floor. Its blood created an acidic hiss as it eroded through the stone floor. Hence why Skarde hadn’t shoved his fist through the demon’s chest to take its heart that way.
Skarde jumped away to avoid inhaling the toxic gas rising from the burning blood.
He staggered against the pain in his shoulders and searched for Gemma.
Dread twisted, tight and raw, in his gut.
Gemma’s body, now animated, stood and easily broke the bindings around her wrists and ankles. Her eyes were blacked over, all color gone.
Skarde whirled, detecting motion behind him, and caught Petra aimed the staff at him as if she intended to somehow use it as a weapon.
His right hook was faster, and sent her flying across the room.
The staff clattered far away from her. A quick assessment of the battle around him determined the humans fighting, but not amongst themselves.
Instead, they battled the vampire fledglings turned by VanFliet. Cade had done his part.
Before he could help Gemma, Skarde needed to close the portal. He grabbed the staff and surged toward the source of light. He attempted to pluck free the crystal he’d inherited from his father but the second he touched it…
“Motherfucker!” He yanked his hand, now imprinted with a perfect burn in the shape of the crystal, away from the staff.
A feminine, otherworldly cackle echoed behind him. “The door is locked.”
He turned and faced the voice.
Gemma.
Balls, he wanted to beg her forgiveness for what he’d said and kiss her. It’s not her. See her eyes? Blacked over, lifeless, and possessed.
“Which one are you?” Skarde asked. It would be easier to handle hurting her body if he could give it a name that wasn’t Gemma’s. If he had to kill her…
No. He was not thinking about that as a possibility.
It cocked its head as if surprised he cared to know. “Bannos.”
Skarde held up the black blade and intoned in Latin, “I know the immovable comes undone. I know the invisible appears to me. I resolve you to remain outside the creation. Takes—”
Bannos lunged forward, forcing him to stop the separation incantation. He stepped aside to avoid the attack, unwilling to damage Gemma’s body. It might yet come to that, however.
A new demon emerged through the doorway. Skarde jumped onto its back and squeezed with his thighs. He locked a hold around its neck, twisting the head so far to the right that it broke free.
Jumping away as the body fell, a grip locked around his neck from behind. Bannos was attempting the same move on him? Yeah, fuck that shit. With a quick jerk, he swung around and dislodged the demon.
“Why do you want to hurt me, Skarde?” It came out in Gemma’s voice, soft and melodic as she stood and stepped toward him. “I’m scared.”
The tone…it called to his soul.
Focus on her eyes. They weren’t hers. No color.
The smile wasn’t hers. It lacked her kindness.
He wasn’t losing her. Not tonight.
He resumed the incantation.
Gemma’s body jerked, falling to the floor. She screamed and rolled.
“Skarde…” Her lower lip trembled. “Hurts so much.”
“Fight it, Gemma. Come back to me.”
She reached out to him with a shaky hand. Tears ran down her cheeks as her gaze bore into him. For a blistering moment the black receded. A trick or real?
He wanted to touch her, to take her hand and pull her to him. But no. It was a trap. If he faltered now, she’d lose the fight.
Her mouth twisted, lips drawing back in a snarl. She gnashed her teeth. The glimpse of the blue of her irises dissolved back to black.
A sound that would never come out of Gemma spewed forth in a triumphant growl.
Disappointment and failure nearly sent him to his knees. He couldn’t do it. He wasn’t strong enough. He’d lost.
Bannos was back on its feet. In seconds, the demon had gathered up the chain that had been holding a chandelier that must’ve fallen from the ceiling at some point.
It aimed to hit Cade with the chain, who was foolishly charging Gemma.
With a quick jerk, Skarde unsheathed one of his smaller knives and tackled Bannos to the ground.
He stabbed the hand holding the chain. If it hadn’t been Gemma’s, he would’ve shredded the body to kill the demon. Kill the shell, release the beast.
Bannos roared and flung Skarde to the ground. A buzzing sound neared his head… He wrenched himself to the left, out of the way of the blade headed for his throat. Where the hell had it gotten a blade?
Petra. The bitch was over there smiling. Did she not understand the demon would turn on her the second it deemed her useless?
The blade sliced his way again. He didn’t move fast enough. It went deep. Right between his ribs on the left side.
He gasped, his vision doubling for a few moments. Then everything slowed and he went numb as he fell.
He’d failed. Just as the prophecy predicted, Gemma now served as a conduit for evil in the world.