Marked by Hades (26 page)

Chapter Forty-Five

Justin’s stomach lurched and he buckled forward, clutching the dashboard before him. “Left. Go left.”

“But the tracker—”

“Do it.”

Theo cranked the wheel, and thankfully they had a four-wheel drive option. Barely traveled trails leading through forest made things ten times more difficult. Trees shredded the black paint job as the machine jostled.

“What’s happening, Justin?” Sadie asked from the backseat.

“She’s hurt. I feel her. This direction.” He pointed off to the side. His chest tightened, and a metallic taste coated his tongue and throat. “She’s hurt bad.”

“She can heal. Focus on that. Send her your energy,” Theo commanded, gripping the wheel until his knuckles blanched. “Visualize her.”

They’d trained him on his ability to find her while teaching her to fight, but it was still young. The connection with Yvonne was strong, but still, Justin wasn’t a Gatekeeper.

“Oh. The tracker’s online again. Satellite must be delayed a few seconds.”

Good, at least he knew his personal tracker was working. Overtime. It was more intense. He’d never before tasted or smelled her so intensely.

“We’re deep in the mountains. We might lose our connection,” Sadie said. “But it’s flashing northwest. Only one tracker, though. The shoulder.”

“Must have found the toe.” Justin shook his head. What if they were torturing her? Removing limbs.
Shit.

The ground rumbled. Trees swayed. The car jostled, and not from navigating roots and rocks, either.

“What the hell?” Theo said.

Sadie gasped. “I just felt—”

“The strongest splice I’ve ever experienced.” Theo’s jaw clenched.

“Lucifer.” Justin’s gut roiled. “Lucifer is here.”

Only once before in Justin’s nine-century existence had Lucifer ever surfaced. It was a great shift in Gatekeepers six hundred years ago. Three were killed when they’d joined forces in what is now the Czech Republic to defeat one of Lucifer’s personal demons that breached with an army of archdemons.

Lucifer took advantage, too, wreaking havoc in that area for decades as new Gatekeepers were created and trained.

It was a dark time, and from the looks of the trees still swaying from the evil-ignited earthquake, dark times were soon at hand.

They had to get to Yvonne. She was connected somehow. “It was Lucifer’s punishment that made her so strong. He must be here to destroy what he inadvertently created,” Justin said.

“Nothing inadvertent about Yvonne,” Sadie said. “Remember, The Great One has always had plans. Etched before time.”

Sadie’s faith, when she once rejected The Great One’s existence, inspired him. Warmed his chest with hope. Yes. Yvonne had been created. Maybe not to destroy Lucifer, because Lucifer would always be, but to rein in the rebellious demons vying to overthrow him.

Stupid plans that would never work, at least that was the theory. Or maybe it was time that Lucifer’s reign was cut short, and it was time for heaven on earth.

Theo flinched.

“What?” Justin asked.

“Halena’s communicating with me. Demanding answers on the splice. She can’t get to us.”

“Why not?” Sadie asked. “She’s been able to use demon splices to get to us before.”

“Evidently, not Lucifer’s.” Theo glanced out the side window. “The Great One doesn’t like the Gatekeepers to converge together to do battle. Too much of a chance to repeat what happened all those centuries ago. Making us weaker in the long run.”

“The Thata would come in handy right now,” Justin said as he scanned the dim, foliage-covered surroundings.

“It’s better the Thata’s not out in the open. Too risky it’ll land in a demon’s hand,” Theo said. “We’ll handle this. We can’t have any other Gatekeepers at risk right now. We’ll get to Yvonne and end this.”

Lucifer might be focused on Yvonne to fix his mistake. He wasn’t able to reverse his punishment, but he sure as shit could kill her.

Maybe they should try to kill Lucifer. Either the world would cave in on itself or The Great One would return, purifying it, making it heaven on earth.

That wasn’t for Justin or anyone, Shomrei or not, to decide. No. He would focus on getting Yvonne. That was all that mattered to him right now.

“Shit,” Sadie said. “Yvonne’s last tracker just flatlined.”

A pang to his chest sent him gasping. “She’s close. Left. Go left.” He clutched his chest. “Hurry.”

…

Bones cracking into place sent Yvonne leaning forward, clutching her chest. Broken ribs knitted together as her sliced-open skin sealed shut. She pulled in deep breaths through her nose, fighting off the shivering cold as she leaned against a tree, watching the building she’d just escaped from.

She didn’t think Pario followed her the same way she’d gone.

Seven freaking stories. Even he wasn’t that dumb. At least that allowed her time to heal a little. Though crushed and shattered bones would take some time.

Thankfully the stone strapped to her thigh had survived the fall. Deep woods behind her and a line of trees around the property on either side didn’t leave much choice as to where to go.

The crunching leaves on the ground would give her location away as soon as she started moving.

A vibration from the ground beneath her bare feet radiated up her shins to her thighs and along her spine. She held on to the tree to keep balanced. That was the second vibration she’d felt. The first one had the trees swaying it was so violent.

What the hell could that be?

A sense of dread, dark and thick, bled into her mind. Her pulse skyrocketed, and her palms went sweaty.

Something evil,
very
evil, was near. She wasn’t sure how she knew other than the dread clinging to every fiber of her being and the foul, sulfuric taste coating her tongue.

She choked in another breath, hoping to get enough strength to start moving again. To where, she didn’t know, but it had to be away from this place. Something deep inside urged her to that conclusion, so she turned, palming the tree trunk, and pushed off.

Each step fired a bolt of pain up her shin. She’d sliced her toe good on that jump through the broken window, but her shoulder was still intact. One tracking device still active, hopefully. She’d landed pretty hard on it, though.

She might be on her own here.

Two steps brought her to another tree, and she had to stop as more bones slipped into place along her right side.

“You heal quickly, child.” The rich timbre in a deep male voice had her looking up.

Before her stood a man—no, a creature. Dark black hair shifted across his face as if there were a breeze. Only there wasn’t.

Long dark lashes framed deep-set teal eyes. Porcelain-smooth, flawless skin stretched tight over perfectly placed bones gave him the just-stepped-off-a-model photo shoot look.

Easily over seven feet, he stood tall, eyeing her from head to toe.

Wait, she was still invisible. How—?

“Wimpy spells cast by reject wizards are no match for me.” The man stepped forward. “My. You are a beauty.”

Her stomach bottomed out, and her hands came into the corner of her sights. No more invisibility. She stumbled back. “Who—?”

“Your creator.” His cheeks dimpled when he smiled. The mixture of beauty and evil played havoc with her mind.

Centering her thoughts on Justin, she drew in a deep breath, willing herself to heal. Though what match would she be against the devil himself? She glanced around. All was quiet as if they were in a time bubble.

“It is true, you do make the worst demon ever.” A glint of light flickered in his right eye. “But very powerful, nonetheless.” He inched forward.

She told herself to move, but her feet were rooted to the ground beneath her. The creature approaching walked with such confidence. Arrogance. The crooked smile curving the corner of his lips gave off a don’t-fuck-with-me air, yet tempted her to try. To get close to him.

Why wasn’t he killing her?

“Now, who said anything about killing you? I have use for you, dear. A nice addition to my harem of talented women.” He grinned.

“Your mate might get jealous.” She fished.

His laughter ricocheted off the trees surrounding them. “Do you honestly think I, Lucifer, could possibly have a mate? Someone who would make me vulnerable?”

“But Agares. Pario. They—”

“They plot and scheme.” He reached out toward her face, and as much as she wanted to move away, she couldn’t. Wait, he could touch her?

He withdrew his hand before contact.

Okay, maybe he couldn’t. Good. If she could just break through this mental hold he had on her.

“My children scheme, thinking, plotting, dreaming. Why do you think I allow it?”

She sent out the loudest and biggest mental vibe she could muster to Justin. He and Theo could surely help her.

“It keeps them motivated.” He grinned and fangs descended, though they weren’t as long as his demon offspring’s. His were more civil, hidden, yet barely visible, as if to give off a threat and temptation at the same time. No doubt they were vicious.

“Though Pario…” Lucifer shook his head as he walked a circle around her. “He must be taught a lesson.”

A breeze busted through the trees around them, and Lucifer stepped back, eyes focused over her shoulder.

“Interesting.” He nodded his dark head. “Theophilus. Nice to see you again.”

Yvonne fell back as if Lucifer’s hold on her had vanished, but Theo’s hands held her steady.

“Lucifer.” Theo’s voice was tight, filled with emotion.

“And Justin. Theophilus’s trusted Companion.” Lucifer turned, and Yvonne saw Justin behind the gigantic demon.

“Back away, Yvonne,” Justin said.

Theo guided her to his side, then stepped in front of her.

Lucifer laughed.

In a flash, Theo tossed his Mavet, and another Mavet cut the air from above. Sadie zoomed forward, wings in full glory.

Sadie!
Thank God she was alive.

Both blades sank deep into Lucifer’s chest. He hadn’t even tried to move.

“
Reverto ut Abyssus!
” Sadie and Theo said in unison.

Lucifer laughed.

“
Morte Aeterna,
” Sadie said.

More laugher resonated through the trees, and they swayed. The floor rumbled, sending Yvonne off-balance.

Justin lunged, holding a sword. One Yvonne had not seen before—wait, the Sword of Terentia.

The blade pierced Lucifer from behind, the pointed edge poking out from his black shirt. The devil turned with such fury Justin was shoved to the side. He rammed into a tree trunk. In an instant, the demon grabbed him by the throat and lifted him up.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Lucifer reached behind him and drew out the sword. “But thanks for this.”

Yvonne tensed as Justin’s eyes rolled back into his head, revealing only white.

“Stop.” She stepped forward. “Let him go.”

“Forever sacrificing yourself for everyone else.” He tossed Justin to the side as though he was a rag doll. Justin grunted, then rolled onto his back, but at least he was moving.

“I never said I was
sacrificing
myself for anyone.”

Lucifer growled and stomped toward her. She stood her ground.

“Yvonne, don’t do it,” Theo said as Sadie landed beside him. “Run.”

“Come here, you ass. Give me a kiss.” Yvonne ripped off her long gloves. The cool air slapped her exposed, sweaty skin, but she had to get all the flesh she could showing.

Lucifer stopped and smiled as if a proud papa. “Brave little girl.”

Justin rolled to all fours, gasping for breath. Lucifer cocked his head, and the sword vanished in a blast of black vapor. Shit, they’d just lost an Artifact to who-knew-where.

And then Lucifer disappeared. Sulfur stung her nostrils. Where the hell did he go? Why—?

An invisible force parted the trees. “Pario!” Yvonne yelled as his blunt shoulder rammed into her gut. He landed on her like a lead blanket. She kicked up, using the momentum he’d created, and flipped him over.

Three more demons plowed through the thicket, daggers raised. Clanking metal sounded as Yvonne hopped to her feet. Chills rocketed through her body, but she clamped her jaw tight and focused.

Dirt clung to the invisible creature before her.
Defluo
. She vanished and focused on the dagger Pario held floating in the air, trying to work out how far up his neck would be.

And she lunged.

A hard boot to her gut threw her trajectory off. She crashed into a tree trunk and fell forward, but one roll had her on her feet.

She batted at the leaves sticking to her arms. Pario’s blade fell to the ground, rendering him completely invisible.

Cracking branches sounded in front of her, and she ducked, sweeping her leg. Her shin met Pario’s ankle with a sting, but it wasn’t enough to move that gargantuan force of evil. He laughed, and his gloved hand clasped around her neck.

One movement had her airborne. She landed over fifteen feet away on the twig- and rock-covered forest floor. The bones that’d just healed twinged in protest along her back. In a flash, the demon was on her again, knee to her chest and a cold blade to her throat.

Iron-tasting blood trickled down her throat.

Black lights flickered in her vision. The corners curved as darkness tried to exert its force over her. She reached up, hoping to snag something, but a blunt force rammed into her cheek.