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I toss one more fragment and end up slapping the closest demon right in the fucking face before picking up the pointed metal leg and running. Thank the Archangels that we’re faster on land than they are. But even as that thought surfaces, I turn to find the group of five angry fuckers hot on my tail.Shit. You need a plan, Raph. Think!
I rush toward the thickest flower bushes, jumping high to avoid their sharp thorns, and a chorus of grunts comes from behind me as the demons run straight through them. Ha! Suckers. Wheeling around the back of the weaponry building, I head toward the woods, hoping to avoid them until I can figure out a goddamn plan.
When there’s a bit of distance between us, I stop beneath an old, thick-trunked tree while I think. The scents of the forest envelop me. Rich and earthy, it settles something inside of me. My balcony overlooks this batch of trees, and I’ve studied it enough to know how to get out of here unseen.
I try not to think of Hayliel or Theo, but the harder I try, the more I worry. Are they safe? Or has one of these beasts already got to them?
A twig snaps somewhere behind me, and I brace myself for a fight. When I turn to attack, though, I don’t find any demon.
“Fucking hell,” Dina whisper-shouts, backing up before my bench leg can make contact with her skin.
Relief floods through me, quickly followed by frustration. “Didn’t anyone teach you not to approach an angel who’s trying to avoid a horde of demons?”
“I saw you rush in here with five of them on your tail. Hayliel would fucking kill me if I let anything happen to you, dick.”
At the mention of her name, my face falls. “Where is she? Is she okay?”
Before she can answer, one of the demons spots us. It rushes toward us, stumbling over tree roots and stumps, but nothing stops it. That dude will have a fuck ton of bruises after today. And even more once we’re done with it.
Weaponless, Dina throws a massive rock at it before darting to the side and holding every ounce of the demon’s attention. She dodges three swipes of its claws before landing a punch of her own that nearly sends the creature crashing to the floor. It only enrages the beast further.
Dina smiles, her face filled with what I can only describe as joy. I swear she even lets out a little giggle as she continues to avoid any damage while dealing plenty in return. When the demon finally lands a hit, scraping one of its claws across her arm, Dina growls.
“You’re going to fucking pay for that.”
While the beast is distracted, I creep forward, ready my strike, and swing the iron leg. I hit him right in the ear, the metal screw piercing through his head in a sickening crunch. It turns to me, takes one half-assed swipe, then crumples to the forest floor.
Unfortunately, this won’t kill it. Only a sun blade can truly manage that, but this not-so-little beastie will be down and out for enough time that we can hopefully find our friends.
“Hayliel?” I ask again, tearing my trusty bench leg free from the demon’s skull before turning to Dina.
“We were together on the Tower when they came. We got separated after that.”
“Fuck. I haven’t seen her or Theo yet. Want to track them together, or should we split up?”
She’s weaponless, aside from her combat skills, which are clearly good enough to survive, so I’m not surprised when she says, “Split up. You go find Theo, and I’ll look for Hayliel. Meet back at the fountain?”
I nod, not wanting to waste any more time. “Stay safe,” I call out, then rush off through the trees.
Exiting the forest, I end up in front of the house of Power. To my surprise, there aren’t any demons or angels in sight. Only destruction. Of all the statues that usually line the path here, only one remains while the rest lie in chunks on the grass.
I stick to the front gate, moving swiftly toward Knowledge house, which is where I hope to find Theo. He was supposed to be studying in the library, but I’m going to check his room first. With so many demons around, I can’t imagine how he’s faring. I just have to hope his panic hasn’t left him an easy target.
Sneaking around the side of Knowledge house, I work my way toward Theo’s balcony. I’ll need to fly to access it since I don’t have a key. Thank the Archangels we coded our wings to unlock each other’s rooms.
I barely get in the air when a force slams into me.
All the breath leaves me as I’m knocked to the ground by a demon so thick, I’m surprised my ribs haven’t caved in. The bench leg I was holding lies abandoned and out of reach. Before I can steady my breathing, the monster attacks and I barely avoid the dagger-like claws that now drive into the dirt.
The idiot has its hand stuck in the ground, giving me just enough time to skip around it and grab my weapon. I let out a manic laugh, my heart pounding in my ears as I take aim and slam the screw into its eye. The victory is short-lived when the fucker swipes out and slices my legs, ruining my favorite pair of jeans in the process, before shuddering to the ground with a thud.
I don’t waste any time flying as quickly as I can to Theo’s balcony before letting myself into his room.
But he’s not here.
The weapon I find beneath his pillow tells me he hasn’t been up here since the attack. Where is he? He doesn’t have a weapon. His past still has a chokehold on him. Shit.
I race to the library, hoping to find him tucked safely away in a corner, but the room is empty. In fact, the space looks entirely untouched. Maybe the demons didn’t make it over here yet. But where else could he be?
