I am not where I came from.It does not define me.
The Shinigami’s hold on me slipped a little.
And I choose to bea badass goddess.
Strength returned to my limbs and the pain receded from my chest as whatever invisible claws retracted.The demon was still tethered to me and if I let it go entirely, it wouldlikelyattack the nearest person.
Slowly I turnedaround to face the Shinigami.Itsperpetual grin looked more like a grimace as those glowing red eyes drilled into me with pure hatred.
I spoke outloud this time.“I’m not scared of you, but yousure as hellshouldfearme. You know why?”
It cocked its headever so slightly.
“Because I’m friends with a powerful little girl and her magic rabbit.” Idove to the right, rolling offto the side allowing Sophie to step up.
Phillipand Astridyelled outin unison.“Captnembulla.”
Astrid immediately passed out cold, and Phillip fell to his knees, fighting to stay conscious.
A forcefield ballooned around Sophie and the creature like an orange-colored soap bubble. The surface of it was viscous and constantly shifting, buttransparent enough that wecould still see inside. Sophie held Merlin up in front of the scariest fucking thing I’d ever come up against.
27
Krystanhad been smart of enough to pick up on the cues from the rest of us to getSophie positioned. I wanted to grabKrystan, and never let go.Take her to a hospital to let them poke, prod and scan her to make sure she and our future kid was okay.But we were out of the pan and into the fire.
Every muscle in my body tensed, watchingthe scene inside the orange bubble.The Shinigami licked its tiny sharp teeth like it had found a snack. The look of the deranged psycho clown would give me nightmares for the rest of my life, but I knew it could do so much worse than chow down on Sophie.
Her soul was at stake, and the thought of her having to live through the trauma of herparents’death had me ready to call this whole thing off. Anxious, I got as close as I dared to the bubble, not knowing if I could break it if I interfered in any way.
Please,please let this work. Don’t let her die. Please don’t have let me kill her.
A muffled explosion then light poured out of Merlin the rabbit into the Shinigami.
Krystanhooted and hollered with a fist punch.I breathed a sigh of relief.The plan was working. Sophie was going to be okay. The Shinigami jerked and contorted under her power blast. The demon's permanent grin twisted as it writhed in pain.
“Yeah, take that,” I cried. “We’re right here with you Sophie. You’re doing so good.” I didn’t know if she could hear me, but I didn’t care. I continued to shout encouragements like adadat their kid’sbaseball game.
“Sir, we have a problem.” One of the agents saidto Phillip, touching his earpiece. “The She arenorth and east entrances ofthe mall.”
Astrid had woken up, and was sitting against a wall, holding her head.Philliphad gotten back to his feet butlookedhaggard.I couldn’t believe he and Astrid had been able to make a forcefield at all. That was usually only something a Chevalier could do, and it had to have cost them.
Still, Phillip straightened his stance, preparing for battle.“We must protect Sophie at all costs. We have to hold them off.”
“Help me.” A chorus of voices from little girls asking for help, echoed through the mall.
In the words ofKrystan,fuck nuggets.
The agents took up their arms, and Gregory brought up his sword.Astrid got to her feet, those cunningeyessearching all around for signs of the She.
Phillip put a fresh clip in his semi-automatic rifle. “We’ll hold them off as long as we can. I trust you two to protect the girl.”He handed a gun to Astrid. “If you want to live, you are going to have to fight.”
Astrid’s lips thinned as she gave him a curt nod and followed the rest of the agents as they fanned out and dispersed. Gregorytilted his head in our direction thenfollowed.
I swallowed hard. “Guess we’re on babysitter detail again.”
Krystanpicked Batman back up, but her eyes were glued to the bubble. “We’ll need to get used to it since we’re going to be parents.”
I was going to shoot back a wittyreply,but the words died on my tongue. Sophie’s light went out, and she fell to the ground withMerlin still in her arms.
