On the count ofthree, Hawk mouthed. I nodded and pulled one of my gunsfree of its holster. It would be better to keep my fire abilityhidden for a little longer anyway. The less the fallen angels knewabout me, the better off I’d be. Hawk held up one finger, then two,then three…
Stepping out from the shelter of the back ofthe truck, the four of us opened fire on Azote. The gun feltreassuring in my grip, but I knew it would do little against theangel. His body and shoulders jerked backward in tiny, quickmotions as the bullets pummeled him.
Then, a sneer curved his mouth and his wingsfolded against his back. He rushed forward so fast I barely saw himmove before he smashed his hand into Vargas’s chest. Vargas wentflying backward until his body hit the ground with a loud thump. Hekicked up plumes of dirt as he bounced across the dirt and came toa halt near the building.
Hawk swung toward Azote, but the angelsnagged hold of the end of his Glock and tore it from his hand asif it were no more than a water gun. I dropped my gun when Azotewent for Hawk. Before he could grab him, my hands flew up and ablast of fire burst from my palm. Azote jumped back when the crotchof his pants erupted into flames. Fury twisted his features as hebeat out the fire licking over his clothes before they could spreadtoo far.
Hawk gawked at him before spinning away toretrieve his weapon. Erin released three more shots before her gunclicked with the sound of an empty chamber; she slowly steppedfurther away from Azote. I lifted my hands, harnessing my fear torelease another blast of fire. Flames erupted and poured from myhands, but Azote blocked the flow by wrapping his wings around hisbody protectively. The fire swirled over him, beating against hiswings and illuminating them in a red and orange glow. The flamesilluminated the veins pumping black blood through his bat-likewings.
Fire proof wings, good toknow.
“Run!” I yelled at Erin and Hawk when Azotetook a step toward us with his wings still up to protect against myfire.
“Not without you!” Hawk declared.
Hawk grabbed for me, but I dodged his handthen darted around Azote’s unfurling wings to drive my fist intohis cheek. He staggered back, more surprised by the blow thanactually effected by it, as his head barely moved. I didn’t givehim much time to process what was going on before I lifted my legand drove my foot into his chest, shoving him back anotherstep.
“River!” Hawk shouted. “Run!”
He didn’t have to tell me twice. Turning, Ifled through the trucks toward the parking lot. My feet poundedover the packed dirt and rocks of the alley as my legs and armspumped faster than ever before. I didn’t look back but kept my gazefocused ahead; I didn’t want to see what was behind me. Azote wouldgladly pluck them to pieces, but it was me he would come afternow.
I burst into the light of the gas pumps. Ididn’t bother to go for our truck. Even if I could make it there,the vehicle would do me little good. Azote could lift a Mac truck;he’d have the pickup rolling end over end faster than I could sayboo.Plus, I couldn’t leave theothers behind. I didn’t know where Corson was, but I knew he hadn’tabandoned us.
I was halfway to the gas pumps when somethinghit me in the back and sent me rolling head first across theasphalt. The whoosh of flapping wings caused air to blow against myback, and I realized Azote had dive-bombed me. So much for uncle-ylove.
Coming to a stop near the edge of the parkinglot, my bruised and battered body protested the motion, but I gotmy hands beneath me and shoved myself to my knees. I was almost tomy feet when a hand in my back shoved me forward. My knees screamedwhen they cracked off the asphalt; trickles of blood slid down myshins to stick my pants to my flesh.
Rolling onto my back, I looked up to findAzote stalking toward me, all six feet of solid muscles andmurderous resolve. He was still at least fifty feet away from me,too far to have been able to push me over the second time. Thenwhat had happened?
I looked around, but didn’t see anyone elsenear me, not even a ghost floated by. My gaze fell to the frontwindows of the truck stop where countless faces peered out from thewindows. Their misty bodies were cut into pieces by the blindsslicing through them.
Rising, I shoved my hands beneath me andpushed myself into a sitting position. I was halfway up when Azotelifted his hands and waved them at me. “Stay down,” hecommanded.
Helpless to resist the invisible forcepushing against me, I was shoved back again.Telekinesis.The realization made my stomach turn.Now I knew how he’d managed to flip the truck over. What I didn’tknow was how the hell I was going to get away from him. He’d beenplaying with me this whole time, toying with me until now, and thelook on his face made it clear he was tired of his new toy.
His shiny black boots stepped beside me. Thetattered remains of his pants revealed he wasn’t wearing anyunderwear, but thankfully, there was enough of his pants left tocover his groin.
“You are something,” he murmured. “He’s goingto be so happy to meet you, child.”
I managed to get my elbows under me so Iwasn’t flat on my back, but I found myself unable to movefurther.
Kneeling beside me, his finger slid under mychin and lifted my head up. “And look at these hideous marks onyour neck.” His mouth twisted into a cruel smile. “You definitelyare your father’s daughter, going after the strongest one of them,binding him to you. Your father couldn’t crush their leader, so youscrewed him.”
“I’m nothing like him!” I spat.
“We shall see. I wonder what else you cando.”
“River!” Corson’s bellow drew both of ourgazes as he charged out from the other corner of the diner. Histalons were fully extended, dripping florescent green blood ontothe asphalt as he ran. The blood covered his clothes and hair. Theother two demons were nowhere in view, and judging by the look ofCorson, they wouldn’t be coming back either.
Azote rose to tower above me. He raised hishands and flung Corson back, pinning him to the wall of the diner.Bursts of gunshots rang out from the area where I’d left theothers. I turned to find the three of them standing at the end ofthe alley with their guns raised. The monster before me spun, hishand flying up. I watched in dismay as the bullets slicing throughthe air, froze inches before his face.
“Your friends don’t realize I already haveyou and I don’t care if they live or not.” With a flick of hiswrist, the bullets turned and sped away faster than my mortal eyecould see.
“Run!” I screamed at them, but they werealready fleeing into the shadows of the trucks.
A pain-filled scream rang out from thedarkness. With Azote’s attention distracted from me, I jerked tothe side and swung my legs out. My feet caught Azote at his anklesand knocked him back. Flames erupted at the ends of my fingers.Lifting my hand, I threw another burst at his back, but he spunaround, flinging it away with his wing and sending it spiralinginto the night.
“You’re lucky he wants you alive!” he spat atme.
