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Willa whimpered. “Leave me here. I’m going to die as a hero. Thank you, Nina, for giving me that chance.”
“No, Willa.” Nina sobbed and Hawk lowered his head, though he kept looking over his shoulder at Licker, who teared up.
In the darkness, they were safe for now and no demon soldiers headed their way. They were too consumed with the mighty team. But most of the soldiers were dead.
“You can fly,” Nina cried. “We can leave now. I can try to heal you.”
Try. A hopeful word. The only words Nina could give.
Tears streaked down Willa’s face. “Promise me you’ll live. All three of you.” She gasped for air as her round body heaved and more blood gushed out. “I’ll be in peace. No more suffering. No need to worry about a cure. I’ll be going home.”
“It was an honor to fight by your side, Willa.” Licker dropped to his knee.
“You are a hero through and through.” Hawk put a fist to his chest.
“You’ll always be remembered,” Nina wept harder. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t cure you.”
“Do not apologize.” Willa’s voice softened. “This was my fate. I’m very blessed to have known you all. You are my family, even if it was for a short time.”
Nina hated Kara and Asmodeus with all her heart, Kara more for she had a choice. She could have refused to spread the disease. Hawk, Licker, and Willa would not be in this predicament if not for Kara.
Kara had turned other nice vampire beings into abominations. So Asmodeus knew demon blood caused vabies all along.
Another blast and the earth shook, then the ground fell away, taking the trees and Willa with them.
A gut-wrenching cry escaped Nina and she plummeted.
Hawk flashed his wings and grabbed Nina just in time as another scream was ripped from her lungs. Not because she was falling but because Willa was gone.
With Licker by their side, they flew to a giant boulder. There was no time for grieving the death of their friend and they didn’t stand on the boulder to rest, but simply to spend the last moments of their lives together.
From their position, Nina had the best view. Most of the demon spirits and the soldiers seemed to have been decimated but some lingered. The lava burned villages and killed countless commoners. Nina was sure there was more damage throughout the land.
Even in the darkest time, she still had hope for a miracle. Perhaps hope made her hallucinate. She could have sworn she saw a small ball of white fire in the sky soaring toward them like a fallen star.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Surrender
Snow
A volley of arrows launched from the hundreds of vampire sentinels, but instead of piercing the beast’s hide, they bounced off in all directions. Snow held her breath, petrified as the mice and squirrels continued gnawing, oblivious to the danger that threatened them.
Snow jumped into the air, and Sunshine and Midnight bit down hard on her uniform so as not to fall. “Michael, watch out!” Then she came back down to her team, keeping the formation.
Michael received the warning and jolted sideways, but one bolt impaled through Rafael’s chest, and another went through his right wing by his spine so he couldn’t close them fully. Rafael dropped to his knees, right in front of their team.
“Fuck!” Rafael said as he pulled out the arrow from his chest and rose.
He nearly stepped on the lava streaming like a river behind him when he stumbled back. His wound began to close up and he tried to take out the bolt near his spine but he couldn’t.
Tank punched a demon soldier that snuck up on him and grabbed a bow and a few arrows from the nearby vampire sentinel. He nocked an arrow one at a time and let loose the bolts, hitting Rafael on the thighs. Rafael jerked and fell on all fours.
“I told you you’d kneel, Angel of Many Faces.” Tank snarled, ready to let loose another bolt.
Rafael growled as Snow, Dawn, and Otis surrounded him with swords raised, the royal vampires beside them with their claws at the ready. Rafael tried to close his wings, but grimaced from the pain instead.
“I kneel to no one,” Rafael said through gritted teeth.
