Chapter 32 #2
The massive beast that they had all come to know as Sena crashed down from the roof of the Saint compound, landing right where Josi had been standing.
The gangster who’d opened the door screamed and tried to shut it, but Sena reached a taloned hand in, dragging him back out.
From where she crouched with Josi, just out of sight around the corner of the building, Layla watched Sena tear into the man.
She flayed his flesh until his organs spilled out, and even then, she continued, mincing him into no more than a bloody pulp.
Layla kept a firm grip on Josi, who squirmed and hissed in her arms. Several other gangsters emerged from inside and fired rounds at Sena.
The ones who stayed back passed around what appeared to be a vial of venom, taking turns drinking from it before joining the fight.
It was fascinating to watch these newly turned reapers engage in inhuman fighting.
The venom, which Layla could only assume was left over from their exploitation of Josi, seemed to give them an extra edge.
She remembered what Maria had told her in the blood house weeks ago—increased strength, sharper focus, severe agitation.
All things exhibited in the reaper gangsters who tried to take Sena down. None of it was enough.
Sena tore them apart one by one, dropping bodies and spilling blood like it was her calling.
With each second that passed, the Saint girl grew hotter and hotter in Layla’s arms. Her skin scorched Layla’s own flesh as if it had been lit aflame.
She struggled to keep a good hold on her the more she kicked and fought.
Until something shifted behind Layla. She stiffened and turned to the alley behind them, searching the darkness for the other body that had appeared during her period of distraction.
“How are you finding your new body-turned-grave?” she asked the shadows.
Eventually, Nicoletta stepped out of the shadows. Red circled her piercing blue eyes, and they darted around wildly, her throat bobbing with a roughly contained ire. “If I never see you again, it will be too soon,” the new reaper hissed.
No matter how cruel and malicious it might have been, Layla enjoyed the new reaper scent on her.
The slower beat of her heart and the dull scent of her ruined blood—it all reminded Layla of how brutal she had been to Nicoletta on the boat.
It felt good seeing the results of her violence speaking for themselves.
“Don’t hold your breath.” She tucked Josi into her chest, trying to ignore the girl’s fevered whimpers.
Nicoletta’s lip curled. Her fangs scraped her lips, and a tiny speck of blood fell into the corner of her mouth.
Layla expected her to throw out another thinly veiled threat, but instead, the reaper raised her voice, calling out to Sena: “Your bait is here!” Nicoletta grabbed Josi’s arm, wrenching her from Layla.
Alarmed, Layla tried to pull Josi back into her, but the gangster hissed and shoved her against the wall with incredible strength.
Black veins stretched out beneath her eyes and out from her irises, indicating a variable intoxication.
Layla stood no chance beneath the weight of Nicoletta’s new strength.
With the reaper’s forearm crushing her throat, all she could do was watch, gasping for air, as Sena tossed a gangster’s body to the side and stalked toward them.
The beast peered at Josi with glowing red eyes. Blood covered more of Sena’s gray skin than it didn’t, rendering her a monster cloaked in carnage.
Layla did not recognize the creature that approached her.
Her old clan leader had been a wondrous beauty, both devastating and ancient.
This thing was a manifestation of nightmares and sin.
Layla had to fight to keep her eyes open against the gangster’s assault as Josi screamed and kicked in Nicoletta’s grasp and Sena drew nearer.
The beast moved so fast, for a few seconds, all Layla registered was blood after Sena struck.
Nicoletta fell to her knees, her hands pressed to a gaping wound in her throat.
Finally free, Layla coughed, trying to force air into her deprived lungs as she staggered toward Josi.
Sena reached a taloned hand for the little Saint, and Josi whimpered, her hands fisting in the front of her shirt.
A round of bullets flew through the air and sank into Sena’s back. The beast stumbled under the attack, shaking her head. She let out a piercing roar that shook the ground and building they stood beside.
Layla winced at Josi’s pained cry and glanced over her shoulder to find Elise racing down the street with several others following her.
Shock loosened Layla’s jaw as she recognized many faces of her own clan members.
Celie stood closest to Elise with Jamie and Sterling on either side of her.
She shared a worried look with Layla as Sena rose to her feet once more and faced the new arrivals.
“Keep your nasty hands off my sister,” Elise snapped. She lifted her gun again, aiming for Sena’s chest.
The reaper reared back so hard, everyone held their breath, anticipating her final collapse.
But she righted herself and dodged the flying bullet.
Layla’s heart stopped as Sena rushed for Elise.
The Saint tried to escape her advance, but the reaper was faster.
She snatched Elise into her grasp and took off with her into the night.