45. Erin
The Demon, an oversized blue-hued nightmare with spikes scaling its shoulders, muscles bulging from under its skin, veins pulsing, looked down at the three of us still crouched on the ground. I went to draw my dagger but Derik beat me to it, pulling out his and sprang into action.
I silently thanked him and pulled Libby with me as we ran for the clearing. “Erin, we can’t leave him!”
I shouted over my shoulder, “You know as well as I do that Derik will be fine. Especially against the one. If we don’t move now and get what surprise we can on them, we’re fucked. Once Derik slays it, the others will smell its blood, alerting them all that we’re here. You know how that works far better than I do, Lib.”
“But, Erin, I can't…”
I whirled, stopping us in our tracks and braced my hands on Libby’s arms. “Where did that strong, fierce Nephilim in the forest go, Lib? He’ll be okay. You know that.”
“But, what if he’s not, Erin? I cheated on him, and I didn’t even know it. And I haven’t apologized. We haven’t talked since you left and ran off to Josh. None of us are talking besides Seth and Josh.” A tear ran down her cheek.
How did you not know you cheated? And since when were the two of you dating?
I shook my head, filing it away.
It didn’t matter.
“Libby, listen to me,” I held her eyes. “We’re going to make it out of this. All of us. Derik, you, the humans, me,” I bit back the wince at the small lie. “The only ones not making it out of here alive are those damn creepy assholes, do you hear me?”
Libby nodded. “I hear you.”
I smiled as wide as I could. “Ready to kill some assholes?”
“Hell yeah.”
We drew our weapons and crept up to the edge of the summit ahead of us. As we neared, one of my nightmares clicked. This was the valley. It was the same valley that kept appearing in my dreams.
“It was a summit this whole time,” I mumbled.
“What?” Libby whispered.
“My nightmares. The dreams I’ve been having with that weird guy in them. This place. I’ve been here before.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“We’re going to find out.” I spotted two Demons walking towards us, gloating about their latest meals and conquest. My fingers twitched as they grew closer.
The moment they were out of view from the others, we pounced. Silently, we leaped from behind, making quick work of slicing through their necks. Their heads toppled to the ground, blood pooling around their bodies. I pressed my hand to their chests and sent trickles of fire through my fingertips, burning down to their cores.
We moved quickly, picking our next prey. Three others headed our way, alarm crossed their features as the scent of the Demons’ blood reached them. Their muscles tensed and anger flashed across their eyes. They raced toward us, nostrils flaring.
As they crashed through the trees, their bodies met our blades. I had my sword drawn, at the ready. As the first Demon, a grey-scaled one, ran through, I swung my sword out, slicing the Demon’s torso right below the chest. He roared as blood spewed. He lunged at me, the other two catching sight of Libby.
The grey Demon extended his claws. They clashed with my sword, matching my every movement. The Demon hissed and spat at me, a spiked crevice opening across his bottom lip.
I cursed under my breath as my arm began burning. I glanced down to find that the spot where the glob had landed on my fighting gear, had melted away. My exposed skin was bubbling and burning, as if it were on fire.
I blinked back the pain and swung my sword above my head, bringing it down on the Demon’s, almost missing my mark as the pain seared through my arm. My sword sliced through its skull diagonally. I dropped my sword, gripping my arm with my hand, biting back the scream clawing its way up my throat. I dropped to my knees, my vision blurring as I took in the melting flesh, the bone beginning to poke through.
“Fuck,” I spat.
Someone dropped next to me. “Let me see, Rin,” it was Derik. He pulled my arm into his lap as he examined it. “It’s acid.”
They can spit fucking acid!?
“No one mentioned anything about these assholes being about to spit freaking acid ,” I panted. ”Can you fix it?” The pain was unbearable.
“Yes, but you’re going to have to keep quiet. This isn’t going to feel good,” he rasped. Libby stood at the ready as she’d taken her Demon down.
I bit my lip, drawing blood as I fought back the scream. Not feeling good was a fucking understatement. Every part of me burned, like my flames were consuming me from the inside out. Guilt washed through me as I thought of the Demons I’d scorched.
“They deserved it.”
Did they though?
“Erin, look around you. The pain they cause and the horrors they are trying to bestow unto this world. Yes they deserved it.”
Alright fine, you’re right.
Derik ran his fingers over the closed flesh once more. “Okay, you’re done. It’s rare that any of them can spit acid…but if any other sends fluids your way again, dodge, and cut them down immediately.”
“No fucking shit.” I panted. Derik stood up and reached his hand out to me, pulling me to my feet.
More Demons were beginning to take notice. A roar echoed through the forest. We readied ourselves as the trees behind us rustled. I groaned internally.
Fuck. Not again.
I stepped in front of Derik and Libby, sword braced.
Four men stepped out, none of them Demons. Recognition plagued me, however my memory failed me as I couldn’t remember their names.
Libby spoke up, the bounce in her step returning. “You guys got here a lot quicker than expected. Perfect timing,” she beamed and faced me, her hand extended to the four individuals. “These are the guys I mentioned. The ones you met at Riverside.”
“Oh, yeah. Sorry, I’m bad with names,” I nodded a quick apology and pivoted, aiming for the summit clearing. Making sure they followed. “Take down as many Demons as you can. Don’t get yourselves killed. Save the humans and do not let them out of your sight.” I rolled my shoulders back. I stepped into the open with the others behind me. I held my sword, drawn at my waist and cleared my throat. Mustering up every ounce of courage I could. The Demons' attention caught the hunger for destruction in their eyes. I quickly glanced around the clearing, only one human unconscious, the rest awake and barely clothed, blood and dirt caked onto their skin.
We’d get them out. I’d die to make sure of it.
I kept my expression neutral, and shouted, my voice calm, “Hey, Assholes. Heard y’all have been looking for some ‘Key.’ Well, today’s your lucky day,” I swung my sword in a loop, a smile spread across my face. “Here I am. Come get me.” I silently apologized to my sword as I stabbed it into the ground and propped my elbow on the hilt, leaning against it and waved my other hand through the air. “Unless, of course, you’re afraid of a few Nephilim.” I stuck my tongue out at the Demons and anger pulsed through the air, electrifying it. The corners of my mouth twitched.
The Demons rushed at us, and we braced ourselves for the onslaught. The first one jumped in the air, claws drawn, and the bloodshed began. I sent out my feelers, searching for the strongest and fought my way towards them.
Roars and screams vibrated the Earth around us. Blood pouring from Demons as we took them down, their numbers dwindling. Another Demon raced towards me, I slammed my sword through its kneecaps and pushed it backward over the edge of the clearing, sending it plummeting to the base of the mountain. I watched as it fell to its death, its body splattering on the rock face.
I whirled in time to find a Demon racing to the edge, its wings spread, a human within its grasp. I launched myself towards them, a roar erupting from within me. “Let. Them. Go.” Fire coursed through my veins, my vision narrowing in on my prey. A growl erupted from my throat, rumbling through the sky above. Lightning began cracking down, striking Demons where they stood.
Their bodies flambéed and scattered throughout the field. The dried grass surrounding the clearing caught aflame. Three Demons remained, fury graced their features. I ran, my sights on the Demon readying to take flight, sword drawn. I leaped in the air, twisting and ramming my blade into its neck, pulling it clean through as I landed on the ground behind it. Its head thumped to the ground. Black ink oozed from its severed neck. The human it held captive screamed. Tears streamed down her face. The Demon’s body dropped to its knees, I grabbed the woman before it fell forward, crushing her. Libby dismembered the second Demon, a second human woman in her arms as they escaped. That left only one Demon remaining. One.
I spotted him across the clearing, the Demon who aided in my torture during my captivity—Asier. His demonic wings were shredded, his eyes wild as he frantically searched for a way to escape, I flashed my teeth. He was mine. “Stay here,” I whispered to the woman, not registering anything beyond her flame-red hair and motioned for one of the Nephilim nearby to take her to safety. My sights trained on Asier.
I stalked towards him, licking my lips. His eyes widened in panic as they met mine. Recognition flashed in his narrowed eyes. I sprinted, drawing my sword once again. I was mere feet from him when he disappeared. “Too slow, Nephilim trash,” I whirled around to find Asier behind me, dagger nails clutched around a human man’s throat. “Move and I’ll rip his throat out.” Asier smirked. “And it’ll be all your fault, Nephilim.” Ice crept up my spine.
He’s playing with you. A familiar male’s voice echoed in my mind.
I can’t let the man die .
Then don’t. Win this.
I dropped my sword, it hit the ground with a clink.
Asier bellowed out a laugh, hair pricked along my skin. “You weak, idiotic creature. So easy to tame. To manipulate.” He licked the human’s neck as he shook. Fear encapsulated the man, his eyes wide, skin ashen. His bones visible beneath his tattered clothing, what remained of it.
I dropped to the ground, one knee on the scorched grass, the other supporting my arm as I dropped my head in surrender. “You win.”
Asier cackled. “Excellent. You made this far too easy,” his footsteps neared, crunching the dead leaves and twigs underfoot. He crouched in front of me. “You see, you are what we truly need. As we’ve already bed the human women and feasted on the men, their blood is within safe keeping, you vacuous, Nephilim. So they may have escaped but all we need…is you. And Erebus shall be oh so thrilled to have you in his chamber again.”
I tensed.
I sent out my senses, finding the humans had escaped, taken by the Nephilim. I let out a breath of relief before noting my mistake. The heat from Asier’s towering form disappeared. My head snapped up to find the Demon, his arms wrapped around someone’s neck. My heart skipped.
Seth.
Everything stopped.
He slumped in Asier’s arms.
The Demon moved to the edge of the mountain, dragging Seth’s unconscious body with him, and tossed him over the edge.
I screamed, sprinting faster than I ever had before as I launched myself over the cliff after him. Tears streamed, floating in the air as we plummeted. I tucked my arms and legs in close to increase my speed. As I reached him, I pulled him into my arms, rotating us in the air so my back would hit the ground first giving him a chance at survival.
I held him close, clutching him to my chest, eyes shut as I braced for impact.
Please. Someone please.
Fly.
What?
The male voice echoed through the air around us.
“Fly dammit. This is not how you fucking die, Erin Snow.”
My eyes shot open. The man from my dreams flew next to us as we fell. Time slowed.
“Fly. NOW.”
I gulped. Begged and begged. Scrambled within and clamped my eyes shut. My body tensed. A burning pain erupted from my back; I screamed as my back arched. My skin ripped and my eyes shot open.
We stopped. I held my breath, my eyes darting side to side, stars erupting across the sky, the sun having disappeared. I gasped as I gripped Seth closer, refusing to risk letting him go.
We were floating in midair. My shoulders burned, as if strained. Wind gusted around us. I swiveled, turning my head to the side. Black feathers ruffled at the edge of my vision. I switched to the other side; the feathers were there as well.
My eyes widened. “No fucking way.”
The man from my dreams floated down in front me. As I peered closer, I noticed that he too was suspended in the sky, white feathers spread behind him.
“Holy shit. You have wings,” I swiveled my head. “I have wings. What the shit?” Panic began to well within my stomach, nausea taking over.
No one said anything about flying. Why…why am I flying?
“Let us get you to solid ground. At that point I shall answer your question.” The man flapped his wings, large gusts of wind whooshing around them as he did so. He continued until he gracefully landed on the moss covered ledge below us.
I chewed my tongue and did my best to copy his movement, flapping my newfound wings downward. It was sloppy, I jostled Seth in my hold and lost the rhythm several times. I finally landed with a thump, almost losing my balance.
I laid Seth flat on the ground and checked his pulse, biting back the nausea. I counted with the beat of his heart and let out a breath of relief. He was alive.
I remembered the guy from my dreams and whirled around, drawing my knife from my waistband, and leapt to my feet; my sword and daggers remained scattered near the cliff hanging far above us. “Alright, what the fuck was that? And why the fuck do you keep popping up in my dreams? Actually, no. Who the hell are you and why are you here? Why am I seeing you now? Is this some kind of sick joke?” I rattled off question after question, panting. He just stood there, a bemused expression on his face. I stomped my foot into the ground. “Ugh! Can you at least tell me who the hell you are, for fuck’s sake?” I threw my hands in the air, frustrated.
Silken honey, warmed from the recess of my memory, seeped into my bones. “That my dearest Erin, is Raphael, your Angel Guide. And my brother.” My eyes widened; tears blurred my vision. I turned, the world slowing down around me.
“Dad?”