Page 7 of Demonic Affliction

Tendrils of energy unfurl from her shoulders, curling and twisting into the barely visible shape of wings before dissolving back into the air.

"Willow?" Dagny's voice cracks with panic. "What's wrong with her? Willow!"

Dagny places her hand on Willow’s forehead, a dark blue light pulsing from her palm as she attempts to push healing magic into Willow’s body. As soon as she does, a blast of raw energy explodes from Willow. It tears through the air, ripping us off our feet and hurling us backward to the cave walls.

My spine slams into ice, and my vision goes white with pain a split second before the darkness swoops in, attempting to claim me. I fight against it, using all the power in my body to remain conscious.

When I open my eyes, I can't move.

Invisible bands of pressure pin me in place, suspending me several feet off the ground. Only my eyes still obey me, and when I drag them around the room, I find everyone else caught in the same trap—Nyx, the red one, the gold one, the purple one, Dagny—all of us are hanging, useless, unable to break this strange power.

Willow floats at the center of the room, held aloft by those beautiful, formless wings. Her silhouette is haloed by an ominous sheen of red light, as if bursting from her pores. Her eyes are locked on Dagny, burning with a disgust that doesn't belong on Willow's face, and her smile is curved into something cruel and… hungry.

"Halfling," she says in a voice that's not hers. "We've been dying to meet you."

3

Nyx

Willow! I scream her name through our bond, but it’s like my voice hits a stone wall. I can’t reach her no matter how I claw and scrape at the barrier. She’s gone. Locked away somewhere I can’t find her, and in her place is… What is that thing?

Whatever’s wearing my mate's face turns slowly, taking in the room with a predator's patience. Its eyes are completely red, and they gleam with hatred beneath the dark lashes I've kissed a hundred times.

It’s wrong. Unholy. It may look just like her, but it is not my Willow.

I strain against the invisible bindings crushing my limbs, desperate to reach her, to do anything but hang here uselessly. My claws elongate, scraping at nothing, but try as I might, I can't get free.

Willow floats closer to where Dagny is pinned to the wall, her mouth curving downward with disgust as she takes in Dagny’s silver-ringed eyes. “Horrible creature. Vile abomination. I will take care of you first, then I will strip the skin from your mates’ bones.”

Dagny struggles against the powerful hold of Willow’s magic, her mouth moving slowly as she fights to get out her next words. “I’d… like to… see you try… bitch…”

Willow’s lips pull back, and she actually hisses. “I will take my time with your death, halfling, and laugh as I send your soul to the abyss.”

Dagny’s eyes burn, the silver around her irises glowing bright enough to rival the sun. “Fuck… you… kindly.”

Willow’s mouth opens, and a horrible wailing sound explodes, echoing off the walls of the cave and freezing me to the spot as pain lances through my eardrums.

Willow surges forward, wrapping her hand around Dagny’s throat. Dagny’s eyes bulge, and her body convulses as she struggles for air. Willow looks down on Dagny with a horrible, evil grin, the red from her eyes coloring her face the hue of human blood.

Dagny's struggles are slowing. I can see it even from here. With every passing second, the fight drains from her body, and I can do nothing but watch her die.

Just when I think it’s all over, a rush of wind sweeps through the tunnel mouth, and three more figures barrel into the cave. The demons—green, yellow, and blue—move too fast to make out any distinct features. I only know by their body language that they mean to defend Dagny with their lives.

“Get off her!” the yellow one cries. The yellow and blue demons seize Willow by her upper arms, attempting to wrench them away from Dagny’s throat. At the same time, the green one attacks from behind, wrapping both his hands around her throat and hauling backward with everything he has. His arms bulge with effort, twin veins standing stark at the sides of his throat as he strains against her, but Willow doesn't budge.

Willow's head snaps to the side with an irritated growl, her attention shifting briefly to acknowledge the newcomers clawing at her. Almost lazily, she raises her hand, and a blast of raw magic pulses outward, flinging all three of them off her as if she's swatting flies.

They hit the ice wall with a trio of sickening cracks, and one by one, they slide to the floor in crumpled heaps, where they refuse to move.

“Useless males,” Willow grumbles, shaking her head slowly.

Satisfied that they won’t be interrupting, Willow turns her attention to Dagny, and that horrible smile creeps back into place. “Sorry for the interruption, darling. Where were we…?”

She goes back to choking Dagny as if the interruption never happened, her grin widening with malice. Dagny's nails scrape weakly at Willow's wrist, but there's no real strength behind it, and Willow lets her know it by throwing her head back in a taunting laugh.

“I love it when they struggle. Don’t you see how good it feels, Willow?” The thing wearing Willow’s face cackles maniacally, like it just heard the funniest joke in the world. “Oh, please. Don’t argue. It will all be over soon. You’ll see, Willow. You’ll see.”

Is that thing… is it talking to Willow right now?