Demons of the Sun (34 page)

Lights blurred, and the noise around Persephone turned into a high-pitched whine. Everything seemed off this afternoon. She shook her head, trying to get a grip on what was going on. Finally, everything snapped back into focus, especially Danielle, who was waving her over like the ice cream might run out before she got there.

After finishing their dessert, Persephone and Danielle headed toward the exit. As they neared the double doors, Danielle spun to face Persephone. “I may not understand you like Jax seemed to, but you’re not alone. I really missed you, and I want you to know I’m here when you need me. For whatever, whenever.”

For the first time since Jax left, Persephone felt a glimmer of happiness.

But then she looked out the glass doors, noticing blackness where sunlight should be, and her blood ran cold. “What happened to the sun?”

Danielle glanced at the door. “It does that whole setting thing. Every day, from what I hear.” The smile on her face faded as she looked at Persephone. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
In the way that I’m sure it most definitely won’t be fine.

It wasn’t just that she’d promised Jax she’d avoid being out in the dark—she knew it was a bad idea to be out at night with everything going on. The fact that her instincts were screaming at her and she didn’t have so much as a pocket knife, fanned the flame of panic.

Time slowed as she walked toward the exit. Could the demons feel her like she could feel them? Would they only take her, or would they go after Danielle as well? Her mind spun over possible ways to avoid them, but with Danielle in tow, there was no way she could risk it.

“You know how you just said you were here for me, whatever, whenever?” Persephone asked.

Danielle nodded, the alarm Persephone felt now reflected in her friend’s eyes.

“I need you to stay in the mall and call Dean or your mom to come pick you up.” Persephone worked to keep her voice under control. “You know I’d take you home if I could, but something’s not right, and I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“You’re scaring me.”

“I know. But what’s out there is scarier, and I need to know you’re safe.”

“Out there? What’s out there? And what about you?” Danielle gripped Persephone’s sleeve. “Just come with me. We’ll wait for Dean and everything will be okay.”

Would the demons risk coming in? Probably. Their unease echoed through her. They weren’t going to let it go tonight. They’d come for her, and they wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone who got in their way.

I’m not going to let any more people die because of me.

“I don’t get to go inside and wait,” Persephone said. “You’ve got to trust me on this, because unfortunately, I don’t have time to explain.”

She handed her bag to Danielle, trying not to think about the fact she might never get to wear whatever it was she’d bought.

When Danielle stood rooted, Persephone locked eyes with her. “Please, Danielle. I’ll call you later, okay?”

“I’ll be expecting the explanation then as well.” Danielle readjusted the bags on her arm, turned, and walked back into the heart of the mall.

Persephone’s mind spun, trying to work out a quick plan. Facing the demons without a weapon was suicide. Lucky for her, she had a pretty good idea where she could get one. 

Jax stared at the tiny community he used to call home. Charred wood skeletons stood where houses used to be. The fires had long burned out, but the smoky scent hung heavy in the air. With the exception of his footsteps crunching through the debris, the place was silent

How many people had died, he didn’t know. Didn’t want to know. The blackened corpses he’d passed as he came into town were enough to tell him it had been too many.
Why didn’t they sense it coming? Unless it wasn’t demons.

No other enemy would target them like this, though. Or be so ruthless.

This explains why I couldn’t get a hold of anyone
, he thought, his heart sinking.
There
is
no one.

Jobs often took the Warriors far away from home, sometimes for months at a time. Jax had a handful of numbers memorized—it was too risky to keep the numbers in his phone, in case the demons got a hold of it and used it to track other Warriors down. He’d called all the numbers he could remember, but so far no one had answered or called him back. He wanted to believe they were simply busy, that they were still out there fighting. But the young Warriors. They’d been here. Training swords and tiny shields littered the ground.

The stench grew and he lifted a hand to his nose. A lump formed in his throat. His home, his people, gone. Images of his family and friends filled his mind. Had any of them gotten out in time?

Then he saw all the tiny corpses. Swallowing became impossible, and his hands started to shake. Unable to take it anymore, he pulled his eyes off the fallen Warriors-in-training.

Fire coursed through his veins as the rage took hold.
Whoever’s responsible for this is going to pay.

His wounds from the fight with Lamia had healed remarkably fast, and he was ready to fight again. He just needed to find the bastards. He stopped for a moment, listening, waiting for his instincts to guide him, but he didn’t pick up anything.

As much as he hated to go further, he forced himself forward. If there were any survivors, he needed to find them. The sun dipped low in the sky, casting its last beams of light through the crumbling town.

The second the sun disappeared, a strange feeling settled over him. He surveyed the area. Nothing. He couldn’t tell if the buzzing under his skin was his demon sensor, or the dark, or if it was his connection to Persephone.

Persephone.
A dull ache filled his chest, growing worse the longer he thought about her. He couldn’t stop worrying about her. Leaving had been the last thing he wanted to do, yet he’d truly believed it had been the right decision. But it now looked like there wasn’t anyone else to help them. Running might be their only option after all, regardless of how dangerous it was to bring the dagger out of hiding.

A warning hummed through his body. It felt different than it usually did, but he was certain there was a demonic presence near.

Letting his instincts guide him, he drifted to the large building on the right. Made out of cement, the warehouse was the only building still standing, and his instincts were screaming the creatures responsible were in there. Seven, maybe eight, maybe more, it was hard to tell. More demons than he’d ever taken on alone, but he was pissed off enough he didn’t care how outnumbered he was. Fury like he’d never felt before heated his body. He felt strong, powerful—like he could destroy anything he crossed, and enjoy every minute of it, too.

He extended the blade on his sword and stormed up to the entrance. A swift kick flung open the door. Several red pairs of eyes looked up at him. From the looks of it, they were waking up for the night.

Jax didn’t wait. He slashed at the one nearest him, slitting his throat. He swung across and stabbed another in the heart. He thrust his sword into the next one’s stomach. Jamming the blade deeper, he lifted the beast into the air and threw him into the other demons scrambling to their feet.

The first to break free came at him from the right. Jax swung his blade in front of him. With a flick of his wrist, he stabbed the demon. The creature shrieked, and Jax hacked off his head, cutting off the scream.

Six more, now on their feet, were coming at him.

Flamethrowers ringed the room. One of the beasts lunged for one and wrapped his fingers around the handle.

Jax cut off the hand and sent his heel into the demon’s face. Bones crunched and black blood poured from its nose. Sensing movement behind him, Jax spun and blocked the blow with his sword. The demon swung his other massive fist at Jax’s head. Jax ducked and plunged his sword into the creature’s side.

Thinking of all those tiny, burnt bodies, Jax twisted the blade. Blood ran from the corner of the demon’s mouth. He hissed, flashing his sharp teeth. Then his knees buckled, and he fell to the ground.

Jax lunged left, piercing the chest of the demon advancing from that direction. He threw an elbow into the beast on his right and brought his blade back around to deliver a deadly blow.

The last two demons backed away.

Eyes wide, they turned and darted out the door.

Gripping his sword tighter, Jax sprinted after them. Taking aim at one of their backs, he whipped his arm forward, causing pain to spike through his injured shoulder.

The blade landed true, in the center of the beast’s back. A cloud of ash puffed around him as he hit the ground.

Jax ran to the body, jerked out his sword, and bolted after the last demon. He leapt over the charred debris and pushed harder. He dove on top of the demon and brought the blade across the thick neck of his enemy.

They tumbled to the ground. Jax rolled and stood, sword still in hand.

But it was over.

Jax worked to get his breathing under control. Dark blood coated his arms, and his muscles burned with exhaustion. He looked from the beast at his feet, to the one he’d impaled, to the warehouse, where he could make out a few of the bodies.

“Whoa.” He’d taken demons on before, but never like that. He felt strange, too, almost a little drunk with power. It didn’t matter, though. The death sentences had been delivered; his people had been avenged.

Only it didn’t make him feel much better. Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, he felt empty. And dizzy. He reached out and propped himself against a scorched post.

Near the edge of the woods, he caught movement. He tightened his grip on his sword. Realizing he wasn’t getting a demon vibe, a flicker of hope ran through him. More outlines appeared among the trees.

Jax strode toward the figures, squinting his eyes, trying to make out faces.

Moonlight glowed off the top of their heads, and he recognized blonde curly waves, the same color as his.

“Jax?” Mom left the others and sprinted toward him. When she reached him, she threw her arms around him and showered him with affection that would’ve embarrassed him in any other circumstance. Soon the need for air became urgent, and he had to pull out of her grasp.

That’s when he noticed the bloodshot eyes, scratches on her face and arms, the blackened clothes, and twigs and leaves caught in her hair.

“How many did we lose?” he asked.

“I’m not sure.” Unshed tears glistened in her eyes. “Hades himself was with them—more demons than I knew existed. We sensed it, but there were so many surrounding the area we couldn’t get everyone out in time. So many were gone on missions, too.

“The demons killed everyone in their path, burning the town as they went. We tried to fight, but it soon became clear…” She sniffed, and huge tears ran down her ash covered cheeks. “The kids who were old enough to be in training were already gone…Their cries…” Like she could still hear them, she brought her hands to her ears.

Not knowing what else to do, Jax hugged her. The other figures neared and he recognized people he’d known all his life. A handful of teens, a few women around Mom’s age, who were cut up and bruised, three young mothers, and six kids under the age of ten.

“Have you been able to contact any of the others, the ones who are deployed?” Jax asked.

Mom shook her head. “We’ve had no way to, but last we heard most of them were being overwhelmed by demons already. Something bad’s happening. I’m not sure what, but I know that Hades and most of the demons marched south.”

“I’m afraid I know what they’re after. Or more accurately who.” He glanced at the other scraggly looking survivors, then leaned in and whispered, “I found the Sentry who has Hades Dagger. And in order to keep it from Hades and his demon army, she’s going to need our help, as many as we can gather.”