Destiny Disrupted (10 page)

“Cut the crap,” Mom held the azure ball up. With her free hand, Mom’s fingers bit into my shoulder as she dragged me back a few steps. Her fingers flexed, causing the glowing ball to expand. Mom cocked her head. “Are you the demon responsible for the murders, Shax?”

He waved a hand in dismissal. “I have others to do that sort of messy work. Demonic hitmen are bloodthirsty barbarians, but they do come in handy now and then.”

Demonic hitmen?
My heart slammed against my ribs and I peered around the graveyard.

“Your coven is disbanded,” he continued. “Each witch that dies weakens the other members. You’re bound by circle magick. Before long you’ll be too drained to fight.”

“Do you think killing witches is going to help you win a war?” Mom squared her shoulders. “You’ll never be able to undo the magick and free your brethren from the Sheol without completing the ritual. And my daughter’s been cured.”

“Fortunately, that was only one solution to end the Nocturnes eternal damnation. There are many others. We are patient creatures. We have waited in the shadows for generations. Waited for the birth of the prince.”

First thing I’d learned from my mentor in my occult studies was that demons never lie. They had no reason to. Not that I had a built-in lie detector, but I could often sense dishonesty in the flickers of auras. His remained stable, unvarying.

“Mom! Enough with the chit-chat.”

“Right,” she said. “Let’s vanquish him and go home.”

“Good idea,” I replied.

He laughed. “You are but two witches—alone—without the backing of your coven. Don’t be bloody fools.” Shax moved closer. “I don’t want to hurt either of you. But that doesn’t mean, I won’t.”

Suddenly the demon rushed forward, claws raised and he hit me like a freaking bull at a rodeo, knocking me against the mausoleum. Pain shot up my spine and air left my lungs.

Before my mom could throw the energy ball at Shax, he backhanded her. The slap echoed like gunfire. She was lifted off her feet and her body flew backward. The energy ball blinked out and her head collided with a tombstone. She didn’t move. Blood dripped from a gash on her scalp.

Oh, please, let her be okay.

Shax dusted off his hands. “Now we can talk without interruption, love.”

Oh. Hell. No. Time to witch up!

“Don’t waste your time trying to fight me,” Shax said, and glanced at my unconscious mom.

My heart charged up my throat. I had to do something. Stepping in front of her, I blocked her with my body. “
Host of goodness, deny this evil essence. Insert white light to impede any cruel possession, and overcome this demon’s twisted obsession
.” As I recited the incantation, opalescent magicks swirled around my mom and a protective glow washed over her.

The Upper Level demon took a cautious step toward me. “Now why did you do that, love? I wasn’t planning on possessing your mother.”

“Well, now you can’t hurt her, either.” I drew a breath, all the way down to my silver belly-ring, then released it, forcing myself to ignore the rising panic constricting my chest. Instead, I focused on stamping him out like any other supernatural threat to my town.

Rushing forward, I smashed into Shax’s chest with a high roundhouse kick. He stumbled backward, and I held the dagger out in front of me. He was strong, wiry, teeth bared. He jumped, half-twisting with one leg kicking out. I couldn’t dodge fast enough. The strike to my gut caused me to lose my balance and my knees collided with the ground. The dagger bounced out of my hand, landing a few feet away.

Damn, damn, damn.

Shax moved closer and stood over me with a foot on either side of my head. “Stop this madness. You’re no match for me, witch, and I have no wish to fight.”

I got to my feet and dusted myself off. I threw a clumsy punch at his head. He was quick, ducking my fist and crouching to stretch his leg in a graceful arc. My shins connected with the back of Shax’s ankles, and he swept my legs out from underneath me.

With a grunt of annoyance, I fell and rolled. As I stood, a smoky fist flew at my chin. Turning my head to the side, his knuckle shot past close enough for me to feel the wind of its passing. His fist flashed out and struck my face. The crack across my jaw blurred my vision. He shifted to take advantage of the blow, but I anticipated his movement and intercepted the fist with my arm. Swinging again, I punched him in the stomach, and he doubled over. Gasping for breath, the demon fell to his knees.

I struck a fist in the air. “
Ha!
Never mess with a badass witch!”

“Stop!” he yelled. “We don’t have to fight.”

“Whatever, freak show.” I pressed my palms together to conjure an energy ball and the electrical discharge floated above my palm. “You really shouldn’t be here. It isn’t safe in this town after sundown.”

“You don’t scare me.” Shax pulled back his shoulders. “Besides, you are mistaken.”

I cocked my head and squinted. “Oh, my bad. You’re not evil, then?”

“No,
I
am pure evil, but I would like to call a truce,” he said. “I’m waving the white flag here.”

The mass of blue energy blazed inches above my left palm. “Let me make this clear for you. We’re mortal enemies, remember? There’s no time-outs.”

“We don’t have to be. Aren’t you the least bit curious about what I have to say? It could help save lives.”

I rolled my eyes. “This has got to be the
lamest
scam a demon has ever tried to pull.”

“No scams. I don’t want the world to end, love. I like it here.”

I lowered my hand and extinguished the ball of light. “Why would the world end?”

“If the Sheol is opened, then Hell will be unleashed. And this town will be wiped off the map.”

I folded my arms. “I’m listening.”

“We like to talk tough. Some demons, like Caym, just love to go around bragging about how they’re going to destroy the world. It’s just your typical demon boasting. Swaggering around with your friends over a corpse,” Shax said, picking dirt out from under his nail. “The truth is, I like this realm. You have...Netflix, laser tag, and lots of people just wandering around like Slurpees with legs. Without their essence, the Nocturne would become extinct. But then some demon comes along with a vision. With a genuine thirst for destruction. Caym could pull it off. He doesn’t care that it’ll kill off most of the Nocturne. And with the cambion at his side, there’ll be no stopping him. You know what I’m saying?”

He meant Trent. But I would worry about the love of my life going all evil later.

“Okay, fine. So you’re not down with Caym’s sinister plans. Why tell
me
this?”

“I thought you could use another ally. And I don’t fancy spending eternity without any humans around to drink.”

I fake yawned. “Sheesh, did all demons talk this much?”

He relaxed, reclining against the mausoleum. “Pay attention, little witch. Caym doesn’t just plan to free our brethren—he wants to take over the Earth. Destroy mankind.”

“So, we’re talking a war of Biblical portions?”

“That’s what I’m saying. The end is coming, unless you find a way to prevent it. Like I said, I don’t want the world to burn. I like it here.” He tapped a long finger on his pointy chin. “But I must say…it is adorable how naive you are.”

“I really wish people would stop calling me that!” I grumbled. “I’ve vanquished uglier demons than
you
.”

“Have you now? You mean Esael.” He clucked his tongue. “You’ll come around, or die.”

“Funny coming from a demon with two minutes left to live.”

Not my best snarky retort. Especially when I took a step back and tripped over my own two feet. My butt hit the ground and I scuttled crablike away from Shax.

Moving quick as a snake, Shax pounced forward and jerked me off the ground by my collar. He licked his lips.

Oh, crap.
Was he going to suck out my soul like a kid sipping on a juice box?

“Thanks for helping me up,” I said. “But would you mind removing your talons? You’re getting your stink all over my new sweater, and it’s dry clean only.”

Shax gritted his teeth and shoved me away from him, putting a safer distance between us. My gaze zoned in on the dagger stuck in the grass.

I moved away, keeping a close eye on him. “I don’t work with demons. Sorry.”

Magickal waves buzzed between my fingertips, snaking across my hand. I stretched my arm, palm upward, and concentrated on the dagger. The weapon trembled, then the hilt sailed into my hand. Clutching the knife, I raised the blade, ready to fling it at the demon.

“That’s a shame.” Shax threw up his arms in surrender. “If you want this to end with blood and tears, have it your way.”

“Not gonna be
my
blood or tears,” I said coldly.

“No, maybe not yours…but possibly someone else’s.”

“Who?” I demanded.

Shax growled and lunged, wrenching the knife from my hand. The dagger fell from my grasp. “I’ll tell you, but can we just have a nice chat without all the violence, love?”

“No.” I punched him twice in the face.

His head whipped to the side and blood trickled from his lips. He grabbed me by the shoulders to restrain me, but I brought my knee up into his groin.

Shax grunted and doubled over. “Now, hold on a second! I have more information that you need about the cambion, and pummeling me doesn’t really put me in a sharing mood.”

The shrubbery began shaking wildly, pulling at Shax’s attention.

Three small, husky bodies shot from the bushes. Kasha, Bakaz, and Zrekam rushed across the clearing on all four legs, growling deep in their throats. I smiled at my friends.

“I can’t believe it,” Shax said. “You still have demonic familiars?”

Zrekam attacked Shax first, a low howl rumbling through him. The Upper Level demon whipped around, catching Zrekam around the torso, and threw him against a tombstone. The pintsized demon struck the marble with a thud and sagged to the ground.

The blood drained from my face and my limbs quaked. Kasha and Bakaz flanked me.

Bakaz sprinted forward, stood on his back legs, and punched Shax in the stomach. The bigger demon grunted, then his fist flashed out, striking Bakaz’s face. The shade shot backward and fell near Zrekam. They helped each other up, but stayed there, bloody and dazed-looking.

Shax eyed Kasha. “Two down. One to go.”

Kasha snarled and released a loud bark that would’ve made a hellhound proud. She squatted on all fours and ran at the taller demon. Her razor-sharp teeth flashed and she tore into his calf. Shax grimaced and tried to shake her off, but Kasha held on tight.

“Just stop,” I cried. “Guys, stop attacking him. I’m fine.”

Shax shook his leg with the shade still attached. The deep wound seeped blood. Kasha growled, but did not release her hold.

“Call off your familiars,” Shax ordered.

I faced the Upper Level demon, still keeping a good five feet between us. “Kasha, please let him go.”

She lifted her mouth from Shax’s calf, and just as she crouched, he swung out a leg and kicked Kasha across the cemetery like a football.

“Hey!” I yelled, and motioned to the other two shades. “Bakaz, Zrekam, go check on her. I got this.”

They scampered off in the direction that she landed.

Shaking a fist in the air, I glared at the demon. “You’re gonna pay for that!”

He shrugged and pointed a thumb at his chest. “Sorry. Still evil.”

I went to my mom and crouched by her side. She was out cold, but alive. “Just tell me whatever information you have so we can call it a night.”

“It concerns the cambion. I’m committing high treason by even telling you this.”

I stood in front of my mom. “And you want something in return, I suppose.”

He straightened his posture. “Why, yes.”

“First the intel.”

“
Meow, meow!
” A black cat yowled from atop a headstone. Apparently, the feline didn’t like demons.

Shax crinkled his nose. He moved closer to the tomcat, raised his hand, and smacked the animal with a hard wallop, knocking the feline off the tombstone.

Apparently, demons didn’t like cats.

“You bastard!”

“And you’re what? Shocked and disappointed? Again. I’m
still
evil.” He lifted a foot to kick the feline, then stopped and turned his head.

Footsteps thundered across the cemetery. A flash of darkness, bigger and faster than Shax, shot out of the shadows, advancing quickly.

Hell’s Bells. More demonic hitmen coming to help Shax finish us off?

Shax whirled toward the fast approaching mass of night, but he was too slow. The blur of darkness halted two feet from its target.
Trent.
His pupils a clear demon black. A muscular arm flashed out and struck Shax in the spine. The demon screamed and his body spasmed, dissolving back into smoky shadow for a second, then quivering back into a solid form.

Shax fell to his knees. “Forgive me.”

The graveyard tilted, like I’d been tipped upside down. I blinked at my boyfriend. The raw gut feelings that clawed at my insides disturbed me. Now Shax would tell the Triad that he’d found Trent.

I ran a jerky hand through my hair. “Trent, what are you doing here?”

Trent flicked a glance at me without answering. He loomed over the kneeling demon. His eyes were black flame. He tilted his head as if inspecting a bug he wanted to squash beneath his boot.

Trent kicked out, catching Shax across the jaw and whipping his head around. “That’s for attacking my girlfriend.” He kicked him in the face again. “And that is for hurting the cat!”

“Wait,” I said. “He has intel on the Triad’s plans. Let’s hear him out before you beat the crap outta him.”

Shax shot to his feet. “I’m sorry. I meant no disrespect, my prince.”

“Not as sorry as you’re gonna be.” With one hand, Trent created a fireball and launched it at Shax. It struck him in the chest and the demon soared backward, crashing into the side of the mausoleum. His body burst into flames.

“Why did you do that?” I practically shouted. “He was blabbing about Caym’s big master plan!”

“Upper Level demons are too dangerous and you can’t trust them,” Trent said angrily. He picked up the tomcat that burrowed his cute face into the side of Trent’s neck and started purring like a lawn mower. “Let the other witches protect their own asses.
Stay
out of it.”

Even though, Trent had saved the kitty from Shax’s deathblow, an unsettling feeling began rising inside me. Trent was clearly losing that war with the
Darkness
inside him.

“Real nice, Trent.” I turned away.

He put down the cat and grabbed my arm, his fingers tightening on my bicep. “Hey, I just don’t want anything bad to happen to you if I can help it.”

My teeth gritted so hard the words had to wrestle free. “That’s sweet, but please stop with the overprotective vibe.” I jerked my arm away from his grasp. “I was trying to get more info on what Caym’s nefarious plans are.”

“All I’m suggesting is that you be more cautious, and by the looks of your mom, I got here just in time.”

“I could’ve handled it without your help…”

I whipped around, scanning the graveyard for Trent. He had vanished.

Where the hell did he go?

Scratching my head, I knelt beside my mom and gently shook her shoulders. “Mom, wake up!”

She stirred and her eye’s flicked open. “Owww.”

“Are you okay?” I asked.

She sat up, her fingers feeling her skull. When she pulled her hand away, her fingertips were stained red. “I’m fine, honey. I must be getting rusty at my demon slaying.” Her gaze darted over the cemetery. “Are there more of them?”

“Not at the moment. Just the one that got dusted like a vamp.”

“Did you kill him?”

I shook my head. “Nope. Trent vanquished him.”

She frowned. “Was Trent here? Where’d he go?”

“He just appeared out of nowhere, and then vanished. Do you think he’s all right?”

“I’m sure Trent’s fine. Cambions are known to be indestructible.” She patted my shoulder. “We should head home.”

“Wait.” I cupped my hands around my mouth and called out, “Trent! Trent!” No answer. All was eerily quiet now. I searched the dark terrain. “Why would he take off like that?”

“I don’t know, honey.”

Mom closed the circle and cleaned up the salt, making sure not to leave any traces of the ritual. I tugged my cell from my pocket and called Trent. It went straight to voicemail. Lacing my fingers taut around the phone until my knuckles turned white, I tried to remain calm.