43. Erin
Chapter forty-three
Erin
Talk about a damned coincidence.
I reached the meadow where we had taken that Demon down and questioned it over two weeks ago. The black gunk was gone, as if it were never there. The trees towered over the landscape, bushes wedged in between.
The only real difference between then and now was that I probably wouldn’t be walking away from this. It was still me and Libby. We just didn’t have Josh with us.
I crouched down and pulled a granola bar from my jacket pocket, combing through an idea of how exactly Libby and I were going to manage this. I had no idea how many Demons we’d run into or what state the humans would be in and my ass had us running in there guns-a-blazing. Okay, swords and knives but all the same. If Libby got killed or any of the humans, it would be on me. I stopped mid-chew.
Shit.
I suddenly regretted telling Josh not to follow me, it’d been brash, and we could use the muscle. And if I died, he could at least get Libby and the humans to safety.
I rolled my shoulders, there was no point in dwelling on it now.
Footsteps crunched to the left of me, I whipped my head towards the sound, drawing my sword.
“It’s just me.” Libby emerged from the woods; hands drawn in front of her person as she neared me.
I stood and resheathed my sword. “Sorry, with where we’re headed, I figured the possibility of stumbling upon a rogue Demon was pretty high, given my luck—” I bit my tongue.
Given my luck with stumbling upon things I shouldn’t apparently.
Libby rolled her eyes, as if she knew what thought had waltzed through my head. She shook her head at me. “Understandable. Now, do you have a plan?”
“Minimal,” I dusted the dirt off my pants. “I was thinking we wing it. Go after the bad guys, save the humans, and get our asses out of dodge.”
Libby scoffed as a grin spread along the contours of her face. “I like your style. Let’s go save some people.”
We crossed the meadow and took off in a sprint. We headed deeper into the woods, the trees growing thicker; the sun dropping lower into the sky, casting us in fiery shadows as we ran through the undergrowth, our feet light, as we weaved through.
I felt my sword hum at my back.
“On your left.”
I slid a dagger from my thigh as a Demon came barreling towards us. Its frame came into view, bulky, purple arms grabbing the air where I’d been a moment before. I dipped low, dodging, and struck my blade at its thigh, scraping it through to the bone. Black blood gushed from its wound. I pivoted, launching myself onto its back and wrapping my arms around its neck before I sliced my dagger across its throat, ink bubbling up in the Demon’s mouth. I snapped the Demon’s neck back as I jumped from its back and out of the way as its body came crashing to the forest floor with a thud. Libby stood to the side, gawking.
“When the hell did you learn to do that?” She hissed.
I kept my dagger at the ready and motioned for us to keep going. “Training has been paying off. And I might’ve snuck out on a few occasions to try my hand at hunting.”
“And you were pissed at Seth,” Libby mumbled.
I shot her a glare and she snapped her mouth shut. “Exactly why I kept it to myself.” And Josh, as he’d been sending me leads, weaker ones, that he believed I could handle on my own for the time being. The silence between Libby and I grew.
Kinda helps when you get stabbed in the heart.
It’s not so hard to beat the living shit out of a Demon or two when it's gone.
Wonder if that’s Josh’s secret.
“How did you know it was coming? I didn’t hear or sense anything.” Her head swiveled, on the lookout for more.
“My sword told me.” I flicked my wrist toward the deceased Demon, a small flame spurted from the tips of my fingers, catching them on fire.
Libby’s forehead creased as her brows pushed together in question.
I brushed her off and I kept my focus forward as we trekked up into the mountains. I took the lead, so that if we were attacked again, I’d be our first defense and in a better position to keep Libby safe. If Seth cared about her, especially in that way, I needed her to make it out of this. Even though I was beyond hurt, they were my friends.
“I’m sorry, Erin, but your sword told you?”
“Yes. Keep the judgment to yourself,” I snipped. “I don’t know why but my sword can talk to me, and I can talk to it.” I shut the conversation down, my sword humming again, the twin daggers vibrating as well.
Where?
“There’s several. They’re narrowing in. Have your guard up and be on the ready. Back to hers. Now!”
“Back to mine, and weapons out. Now!” I hissed. Libby instantly jumped into position.
Can you sense where the strongest is coming from?
“No. That falls to you. I’m sorry.”
How the hell am I supposed to do that!?
“How did you find us? Or your talents? It is all in the same. Quickly. You are running out of time.”
I shut my eyes, slowly releasing my breath. My flame and lightning appeared behind my lids, aching to be used. Another sensation hid in the shadows, calling to me. I stepped towards it, and it jumped back. I tried again, this time slowly extending my hand. I held myself still, pushing down the growing anxiety in the well of my stomach as the Demons were closing in.
I won’t hurt you.
It peaked out at me, and slowly reached for my extended hand. The sensation’s form grew into a shimmering white blob as its warmth grasped my fingertips, my ponytail whipped around in a sudden gust of wind. An angelic voice rang through the crevices of my mind, caressing me.
“Home.”
Home?
“Yes.”
I am your home?
“Yes. And I am a part of yours.”
What does that mean?
“That is for another time. Now, tell me, what do you need?”
Help me.
My eyes flew open as a pale demon launched itself through the air, aiming for Libby.
This one. The angelic voice cooed. I twisted, jumping and using Libby as leverage, and launched myself at the Demon. My dagger made contact with its neck, missing the jugular and nicking the side. Its blood spurted, before the wound healed almost instantly. I bit back the surprise, masking my expression and lining up for my next move, the Demon’s attention fully on me and no longer on Libby. It growled as we circled one another. Another surge caught my attention.
“Libby to your right!” She leaped into action, quickly taking down the Demon as it came into view, her blade slicing through its middle.
I returned my attention to the Demon towering over me, our eyes locked, a cocky snarl ripped from its lips. Recognition flared in its yellowed eyes. “You’re the one he’s been searching for,” he exhaled deeply. “Ah, yes. Just as delectable as Erebus had described. I shall have my fun with our Key before you fulfill your purpose.” A shiver raked down my spine as I swallowed down my first encounter with Erebus.
“Do not falter. You are The Key. Be the key to his undoing.”
I smacked my lips. “Oof, sorry to disappoint but you’ll have to buy me dinner first, big guy.” I could’ve sworn I felt the voice shake its head. I feigned boredom, taking a note from Libby and glanced at my severely chipped and neglected nails on my free hand, dagger in the other.
The Demon gawked at me and took the bait. He roared in pure ego-stricken offense. “How dare you not fall to your knees in fear. You should be begging for me to spare you.” He puffed out his chest as he cackled.
I looked up from my nails and pursed my lips. “Eh. I’ve seen worse. Try again.”
His eyes went wild as the Demon lunged forward, claws extending. His movement was fueled by rage; I took the opportunity and pulled my sword from its sheath, leaping high and bringing it down on the Demon's head. The blade slicing all the way down, splitting it in half, its entrails roping outward, and flopping to the ground. Its guts squashed underfoot as I stepped between the two halves.
I wiped the inked blood on my sword onto my leggings and slid her back into her harness. I extended my hands, palms facing the Demon’s severed body and called my flames forward, burning it until nothing but ashes remained.
I am taking no chances.
Libby fought against two others, out maneuvering and slowly wearing them down. I readied to join in when another presence caught my attention.
I hissed. “Derik, what the fuck are you doing here?”
I’m going to kill Josh.
“We’re a team, remember?”
I growled and jumped in to snatch another Demon that had crept in while I was briefly distracted by Derik’s unexpected appearance. I made quick work, as it was a smaller Demon; it hadn’t seen me and was hunting Libby. I kicked it in the center of its back and shoved my dagger into its stomach as it whirled on me, sending electricity through my blade and frying the damned creature from the inside out.
Sweet. I didn't know if that’d work. I didn’t hurt your sister, did I?
“No, she is fine. But really? No thought, just went for it?”
Yeap.
“God help us”
I snickered at my sword and turned on my heel back to Derik. Libby finished off her Demons with a final thrust of her blade, taking their heads clean off. She wiped the sweat off her brow. The Demons’ blood caked both of us.
Derik just gawked.
“What?”
“You. What the hell? You took that thing down like it was nothing.”
I stared at him. “It was nothing. Now out with it, why the hell are you here? And how long did it take for Josh to blab?” I stepped closer, making sure to flash the dagger still in the palm of my hand, baring my teeth. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Libby step closer, ready to get between the two of us if necessary.
Derik threw his hands up in front of himself. “He texted me right after you left his place,” Derik shot a knowing glance to Libby, who in turn shrunk back. “He said to tell you that you only told him to keep himself and Seth out of it and said nothing about keeping me out of the fight.”
I mentally kicked myself in the foot for not thinking to include Derik in the ‘do not tell’ list. “You still should’ve gotten the message. So get. Obviously, I’ve got this handled.”
“Maybe, but you really think the two of you can take on whatever is awaiting you? And get those people out? Are you psychotic?”
“Excuse me but we’ve been fine. And I have a plan.” I narrowed my eyes at Derik.
“And what the hell is that? Cross your fingers that your stab-and-zing trick works on a bunch of Demons who are more powerful than you?” Derik was bent slightly, his face inches from mine, fuming.
“We were going to wing it, actually,” Libby mumbled.
“I’m sorry, you what!?” Derik growled.
I bristled. “Dammit, Libby.” I met Derik’s death glare with one of my own, the fire in my eyes reflecting off of his.
“No. Don’t you fucking ‘dammit Libby’, her. Erin, that’s fucking idiotic. You could get yourselves killed. And I might be pretty freaking peeved at Lib right now, but I don’t want her dead. I know you don’t either. And do you have any idea what that would do to Seth?” His voice turned to a threatening whisper.
“Of course I don’t want her dead. I don’t want anyone dead, Derik,” I kept his accusing glare. “Keeping the rest of you and those people alive is the fucking plan.”
Derik’s eyes softened with understanding. “Erin…”
Don’t look at me like that, Derik.
I cut him off. “We need to go. If you’re tagging along fine. But we leave. Now.” I turned on my heel and slashed through the bushes and continued through the forest, Derik and Libby close behind.