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She would be the downfall of an era. The one blamed for ruining something built for eons.
Only her failed commander and a useless gargoyle would be by her side. Watching over the carnage that was left behind by her choices and failings.
I knew her humans wouldn’t survive, nor would anyone in this building.
I would sit back and watch it all fall apart with a smile on my face. Revel in their shortcomings and fragility.
Then I would take my rightful place.
ChapterEleven
Roman
Thursday morning
Third Floor Common Room
Ihadn’t realized how much I craved stability until our lives descended into pure fucking chaos. Now everywhere I looked there was some creature prowling and the girl I wanted to keep safe couldn’t stay away from danger.
The sky was gray and overcast, rain drizzling on the window I was gazing out of. It fit my mood and I couldn’t seem to tear myself away from it.
“Alright, enough of this bullshit,” Drake said. It broke the silent bubble I was in, and I snorted at his entrance, not even surprised to hear an outburst from him. My amusement fell when I saw his eyes locked onto me as he stalked over to me.
“What?” I demanded, glad it was just us here. He laughed humorlessly at my narrowed eyes.
“You shouldn’t even have to ask this. Clearly this is the time for an intervention. We’ve got Hiro acting dangerously, diving into situations he isn’t prepared for. Then there’s you on this side of the spectrum, brooding and shutting down because you have some asinine opinion you’re no longer a worthy protector.”
“I let him die, Drake,” I stated.
“How old were you?” he demanded. I didn’t answer, we both knew Hiro and I were too young to have dealt with the shit we faced. “Exactly. What happened then has defined you as a person, as people. But letting it win over the person you are now? That’s the fucking problem.”
“What can I offer her?” I asked, refusing to let my anger rise. Drake and I have always shared a blunt exchange, respecting each other. I knew whatever he would say was coming from a place of knowing me, not of judgment.
“Take this,” he told me, handing over a knife. “And come with me.”
“What the fuck?” I demanded, but he was already done speaking to me. He stalked to the elevator, hitting the button and standing in the open door until I stood and followed him.
The dagger felt heavy in my hand and I had a feeling I knew where this was going. What I didn’t expect was for Drake to take me to the fifth floor.
“What are we doing here?” He still didn’t answer as he walked past Vane’s office and pushed open another door, ushering me in with an urgency I didn’t understand.
Until I walked into a horde of demons. They were all lurking in the halls, in and out of rooms. The moment we stepped inside, they turned at once, lunging toward us.
“Fight,” Drake said absently as he let his demon take over. My choice was taken as they swarmed us.
It was far too easy to swing the blade. I sliced and stabbed at every demon, my mind going blank as I hyperfocused on my task.
The scent of death and smoke filled the hall and burned my nostrils, but it was little more than an afterthought as I refused to let a single demon past me, slaughtering them without a second thought or hesitation.
It was hard to see through the rain of ashes and flare of blue flames but it didn’t matter. I was running on pure instinct and my blade landed on target with every strike.
When it was over, my chest was heaving and sweat and blood coated my skin.
“Look behind you,” Drake said as he let his human side take back over. I did as he asked, not seeing a single thing.
“Why? There’s nothing there.”
When I turned back, he was smiling so smugly I kind of wanted to punch him, but instead I raised an eyebrow, waiting for whatever wisdom he assumed he was imparting on me.
