Corson jumped through the hole, landing onthe debris with his talons extended. His eyes darted around as hesearched for a threat before noticing the flames licking toward theroof and crackling up from beneath the floor. Behind him, Hawk andVargas came through the hole with their guns at the ready.
“I heard screaming,” Corson said as heretracted his claws and rose to his full height.
“Akalia vine,” I told him.
His gaze slid past us to the growing fire.“Are you sure?”
I glanced down at the blood drying on my armsand body before looking pointedly at the still-trickling trail ofblood on River’s cheek. The flames danced in his orange eyes as hisclaws came out once more. Bale and Erin appeared at the top of thedebris to stand beside Hawk and Vargas.
“Give me your shirt,” I commanded Corson.
Without hesitating, he grabbed the bottom ofhis shirt and pulled it over his head. River glanced down atherself, her eyes widening as she realized the top half of her wasnaked against me. Her cheeks became redder than the fires around meas Corson handed over his shirt.
“Your fire went across your back,” I told heras I turned her away and stood over her to keep her sheltered fromthe others. “It reacted to my fire.”
“I see,” she mumbled as she tugged the shirton. It fell nearly to her knees, making her appear smaller. “It’sonly ever come from my palms before or up around my wrists towardmy arms. The fire is growing stronger too.”
“Yes, or at least around me it is.”
“Is the akalia dead?” Corson demanded when Iturned to face them again.
“I hope so. I’m not in the habit of burningdown churches,” River muttered as I helped her climb the rocks tojoin them.
“That would kind of be like burning down yourown home,” Corson said to her. The look she shot him would havemade a human run away. Corson didn’t run, but he did take a stepback. “Or not.”
“Not, definitely not,” she said. Smokefloated like mist around us as we turned to watch the churchburn.
CHAPTER 32
Kobal
“Lucifer won’t stop until he’s opened all ofthe seals, will he?” Corson asked.
I didn’t want to think it was true, that hewouldn’t be so stupid to openallof the seals, but I knew he wasn’t going to stop.
“The seals?” Hawk asked.
“The seals holding back the worst of Hell.The creatures even demons don’t want to deal with, but they haveevolved over the years within the pits of Hell. Creatures thatweren’t allowed to roam freely in Hell because of what they coulddo. My ancestors began locking them away hundreds of thousands ofyears ago, and now Lucifer is setting them free. You humansbelieved there were only seven seals, but there are a couplehundred of them.”
Hawk blanched, Vargas kissed his cross, andagainst my side River trembled. “And all of those things are cominghere?” Vargas asked.
“With the akalia vine, we know at least thefirst six seals have been opened. I’m not sure how many more couldhave fallen. Some of the seals housed things that would never beable to survive up here as they thrive on shade and fire, but manyof the otherscansurvivehere.”
Erin planted her hands on her hips as shestared at me. “Why would Lucifer open the seals?”
“If he can open the seals, he won’t have tocome to Earth until it is completely overrun with the horrors ofHell and there is little opposition left to him here. Once hearrives, this world would be his for the taking. He knows the messhe will create; he simply doesn’t care. Part of the plan with Riverhad been to try to lure him out of Hell. He won’t be lured out now.These creatures will wreak havoc on Earth and destroy as manyhumans and demons as possible before he rises,” I said.
“Won’t they destroy him too when he rises?”Hawk inquired.
“Not if he’s the one setting them free,” Ireplied. “They’ll follow him.”
“Son of a bitch,” Hawk muttered and ran ahand over the stubble on his head.
“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” Corsonsaid. “The gateway has to be closed.”
River thrust out her chin when Bale andCorson looked toward her. Hawk and Vargas exchanged a glance witheach other.
“You can close the gateway?” Hawk inquired ofher.
