Page 86 of Ravaged Devotion

It was definitely not a regular animal.

For starters, half of its face was missing. The entire left side was gone right down to the bone, the smooth, off-white gleam of a bare skull a stark contrast to the other side, where there was black fur. The fur was patchy, with clumps falling off here and there. It had the girth of a bear, but there were also antlers protruding from the top of its head.

When the creature reached Jesse’s body, the man emitted a sound of alarm, but still didn’t move.

With a sense of dread, Rue realized he’d probably broken his spine when he’d hit the stairs and couldn’t move, despite being conscious.

More than ever, he wanted to look away.

Yet he still couldn’t, frozen in place as he watched the creature unhinge its jaw.

That was nothing like a bear either. The bottom part unlatched from the top, showcasing rows of sharp teeth, but it kept going, opening impossibly wide, until its face was practically split in two. That tongue dragged across Jesse’s face, almost testing him out, and then the creature finally pounced.

The move was almost too quick to follow, like a snake striking. Its jaws were around his neck and head in a split second, and then they closed like a trap had been sprung, a deafening crunch and a burst of crimson across the bottom step signaling the end.

It seemed to swallow the bite whole, not bothering to chew, and then opened its mouth again and moved onto Jesse’s shoulder, exposing the bloody, empty space where a man’s head had only been a moment prior.

Lenore threw up.

Right over the bannister.

Onto the creature.

Rue grabbed her arm and pulled her back, and then they were all running away in a flash, a loud roar vibrating up the stairs after them.

Chapter 18:

“They’re late.” Uriel was holding one of the blinds half an inch away from the window, staring off into the distance.

Ellery tapped his foot impatiently nearby, eyes on his multi-slate. “Where the hell is your man, Ryk?”

Ryker didn’t know.

That was a problem.

“He’s not so delicate,” Uriel said. “You both treat him like he’s one of them, but he isn’t.”

“If he’s one of us, he’s the lowest rung,” Ellery stated.

“He is one of us,” Ryker growled, but Uriel was also right. Rue wasn’t as weak or naïve as they always pretended he was. Growing up, he’d been more than capable of holding his own against any one of them, Ellery included. After the incident with Ryder and Uriel and the game, Rue had changed, but he couldn’t be that different.

“He’s a decent person,” Ell argued.

“Illya is a decent person,” Uriel countered, and before Ryker could thank him for defending Rue, he let go of the blinds and turned toward them. “We can’t wait any longer.”

“It’s half past,” Ellery agreed. “If they haven’t done it by now, they most likely aren’t going to. Something must have happened.”

“I’m going back.” Ryker took a step toward the door, only for the other two to block his path.

“Hold on.” Ell held up a hand. “You can’t just go running out there blind.”

“We need a plan.” Uriel crossed his arms.

“Screw that.” Rue might not be weak, but that didn’t mean he was immune to being bitten in half by a hell beast. The longer Ryker waited, the more his worry grew. Rue had been against him coming out here in the first place, there was no way he’d leave him to fend for himself. “Something must have happened. He might be in danger.”

“We’re all in danger,” Uriel reminded. “I spotted three of those things moving outside. There might be more. Without the music to draw them away, it’ll be difficult for us to make it.”

“What about the plan to take one of them out?” Ellery asked.