AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I hate that we’re potentially sacrificing a soul if we can’t stop the demons in time,” I say quietly, letting my guilt overtake me for a moment.
“We’ll save them, because that’s the point of this mission. Hopefully, once we’re inside the demon realm we can follow where they take the soul and you,” Mason reassures me and I nod. He’s right, this is our best chance.
“We won’t let anything happen to you, but I want Thea to stay here,” Sam says firmly, causing us both to look at him like he’s crazy.
“I don’t need saving, I can handle myself,” I say and glare up at him for emphasis. He looks at me and chuckles. I start to open my mouth to give him my thoughts on his alpha ways, but Thea interrupts.
“How do you plan on getting the souls to go with you?” she asks with an eyebrow raised.
“By saving them. There are four of us, and we all have chains.” Sam counters, giving her a hard look.
“Fine. Only because that place is fucking scary,” Thea mumbles. I’m actually a bit relieved she agreed.
Sam sits back in his chair with a look of pure triumph on his face. I almost want to throw my burger at his face, but he’s so damn sexy while he gloats that I also kind of want to throw myself at him.The struggle is real.
Our group barely talks through dinner and eventually we finish, send Liam off for the revised list of locations, and I say my goodbyes to Thea.
The second Liam returns I take it and call our first portal of the night.
Stepping through, we realize we’re already too late. There’s no soul in sight, but a strong stench of acrid smoke hangs in the air. Without hesitation I call the portal to take us back.
“Should I just try to open a portal to that realm again?” I ask, feeling a bit ridiculous for not thinking of it sooner.
“I figured you couldn’t because you weren’t in distress. Try it and if not we can go on to the next,” Liam says with a laid back shoulder shrug.
I close my eyes and picture the awful realm before opening my portal. When I open my eyes, there isn’t even a portal waiting.
“Plan B then?” Mason jokes, giving me a reassuring smile.
“I guess so. It was worth a shot.” Instead of letting frustration set in, I call the second portal to Earth. The guys probably could open the portals, but I like to be in charge and they respect that.
We step through and spot the soul right away. The only problem is, so does a demon, and it is just as far away from the soul as we are. The demon and I take off at the same time, both running toward the soul. I wasn’t expecting it to abandon the soul and grab me and I stumble as he changes course. He catches me by surprise and manages to hold me so I can’t fight back. The yells from my guys are heartbreaking as the demon drags me back to his portal.
“Porta!” I yell in desperation, hoping with everything I have that it takes them to the demon layer of the veil. I have a bad feeling this one is going to close before they reach us. I feel the brush of someone’s hand on my back as I’m pulled through the demon’s portal.
“Dominum nostrum vult te!” The demon’s voice is shrill and piercing as he yells down at me. My eyes dart around frantically, willing my men to make it through the portal. The moment he loosens his hold I fight back, punching out at him and trying to reach my dagger.
“Contritionem perimetri!” another demon yells from behind us. I’m forced to turn around with the demon and am relieved to see Sam, Mason, and Liam fall out of the portal. My reassurance doesn’t last long and I scream in horror as waves of demons descend upon them, hundreds overpowering them faster than I can blink.
“No!” My voice echoes hauntingly in the night but it does little to help as I’m pinned down already.
The guys thankfully don’t give in easily. I can see Sam and Liam swinging their dual daggers with a fierce precision. Mason has his imposing stature on his side and is able to move gracefully within the fray and strike quickly. I see several demons fall before they manage to get my reapers in shackles and drag them away.
As they’re taken away I scream in rage and frustration. The demon holding me screeches out another string of Latin before striking me with so much force I see stars.
“Audes ledo eam!” a new imperious and deep voice yells out. The demon holding me lets go and bows down on the ground. I step away and run toward my guys, but a wall of demons blocks my way.
“Let me through!” I demand in a confident tone that I certainly don’t feel. I figure if I sound brave and sure of myself, then they might take me seriously.
“I’ve been waiting for you.” The deep voice is somewhat familiar, but I can’t place it. He looks similar to the other demons, with long arms and legs and sunken features. His skin is a a darker gray than the others and he has mostly human facial features, but with large inky black eyes and sharp, animal like teeth. His teeth are yellowed and decaying, which causes breath that could rival a trash heap. I try not to openly gag as he leans in closer.
The major difference is that he has hair. The long black strands reach the middle of his back and look matted and greasy. He moves into my personal space until I have nowhere to back up. My heart races in panic, but I hold steady and pull out my dagger.
With more speed than any being should possess, my dagger is suddenly in his hand and he is holding me in place. Ice runs through my veins as he leans in and whispers in my ear.
“You don’t recognize your future mate? I’ve been waiting for you to come. I knew the moment your light started shining in the void, that you would be mine.” His voice is smoother when he whispers and I place it immediately. This is the voice from the darkness. It’s hard to consider them the same, when that voice helped me on more than one occasion. But it’s his claim to me that has me dry heaving. He wants me to be his mate. Oh god, no.
“I am theirs, not yours,” I snarl at him, pulling away with all of my strength. I manage to break free, though I suspect he let me.
