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“Wilson’s out there,” Officer Yeats said. “He’s the one in charge. I don’t have the authority to let you go. I don’t—”
“You can release them into my custody,” Ramirez said with a smile. He touched Officer Yeats’ shoulder. “I’ll take care of the rest. You’ll get the paperwork you need, and I promise, you won’t get in any trouble.”
I held my breath as she considered. After a long second, Officer Yeats gave a sharp nod. “I’ll get your things.”
She came back with my messenger bag, as well as Shane, Raphael, and Claudia’s stuff—including Raphael’s bat. I slung my bag over my shoulder and started toward the exit.
Agent Morgan jangled some car keys. “I grabbed these from Yeats. She said it’s the second on the right.” She turned to us. “I didn’t realize there were going to be so many of you.”
We piled into a van with an SFPD emblem on the side.
“Do you know where you’re going?” I asked.
“I think I can get us there.” She flicked the sirens and peeled out of the parking lot.
I slammed into Dastien as he took a corner. “Jeeze,” I yelled over the siren. “Do all agents drive like this or is it just you?”
“All agents,” Ramirez said. “It’s practically a job requirement.”
Gunfire rang out through still the night, and we quieted down. The streets were clear. Not a soul in sight. And I hoped there wouldn’t be.
As Morgan turned a corner, the church came into view. The light from the helicopter overhead made it as good as daytime wherever it shone. The cops were firing, some in riot gear. Others just in Kevlar vests. Some hid behind their cars, but the rest were moving toward the demons, shooting their shotguns and reloading as quickly as possible. With each blast, little bits of demons went flying.
But the demons weren’t like the ones we’d seen before. They were the size of large raccoons. Their fangs dripped black goo that scorched the ground it touched. They swarmed out of the church like giant ants. I could see maybe a hundred of them, but more were coming out of the doorway every second.
The maybe thirty cops surrounding the church were barely keeping the swarm at bay. Their shotguns were pretty effective at killing the demon-raccoon things, but I wasn’t sure if that’d last long if minor demons—let alone major ones—started coming out.
We had to hurry. If Luciana hadn’t summoned any bigger demons yet, then maybe there was still time to stop her. In my vision, there’d been minor and major demons in the church. So, the portal wasn’t open yet. At least not all the way.
We skidded to a stop just outside of the ring of cop cars.
I slid down from the van—unable to tear my gaze from the front of the church as a demon leaped at a cop—gaining at least four feet of air—landing on the cop’s face. He cried out as blood spewed. The cop hit the ground, and another cop charged beside him—firing two shotgun blasts at the demon, point blank. Another three officers covered him while he dragged the injured cop to safety.
“Who’s in charge here?” Morgan called, drawing up to her full height as she approached the densest pack of officers with Ramirez by her side.
I shuddered. We needed to get in the church or we might all be dead soon.
Dastien gripped my hand. You okay?
I pressed my forehead against his sternum, and breathed in his scent. I’m terrified of going in there.
We can do this. We’ve been preparing for it. We’re ready.
Maybe. But if this was my last moment with him, I wanted to savor it.
“Officer Wilson and Chief Lauler have agreed that being supernatural creatures, you might have some insight into this problem of theirs.” Agent Ramirez motioned us forward.
Thank God. “Luciana is going to be behind the altar. I’m going in—straight for her,” I said. “As soon as she dies, her spells should die, too, and all the demons will get sent back.” Hopefully without me having to jump into any portals.
My stomach knotted, and I felt like I was going to throw up.
Breathe, cherie. I’m not going to let that happen.
We might not have a lot of options.
Then we make options.
“If not?” Deputy Wilson asked.
