Of Blood and Monsters

by D. G. Swank

  And my soul was hungry for every single one of them.

  I was sure we looked like generals from two warring parties, meeting with our armies behind us, only Tsawasi had yet to produce the army he’d promised.

  I lifted my chin and said to the Botageria in the middle. “Go back to your master and tell him he’s wasted your time. I refuse to go with you.”

  “Piper,” Abel said. “The Botageria only take orders from Okeus.”

  One of the demons released a slow growl.

  The power filling my body made me too sure of myself, but I was also a proponent of fake it ’til you make it, and there was no way I was going with them. “Today they take orders from me.”

  I could feel Ellie and Collin behind me, their life forces burning brighter than that of David, who stood behind them. Abel’s was brighter than the others, but not brighter than mine. I was truly his equal now, and he seemed to sense it.

  He sucked in a breath. “Waboose.”

  Tsagasi popped up beside me. “The Botageria are fierce,” the little man said matter-of-factly.

  I adjusted my stance, keeping my gaze on the demons. “And so am I.”

  “Your power has grown significantly, creator of worlds,” Tsagasi murmured. He sounded as though he wasn’t certain whether that was a good thing.

  “I have more titles within me.”

  He hesitated, then said, “I know.” There was no mistaking the disappointment in his tone.

  I didn’t need his approval or permission.

  “Where is your army, Tsawasi?” I shouted, keeping my eyes on the demons. “Or must I kill the demons alone?”

  Abel shot me an incredulous stare. I knew I was drunk with power, but what better time to stare death in the face?

  I pointed my blade at the demon in the center. It seemed to be in charge. “I will kill you if need be, or you can deliver my message. It’s entirely up to you.”

  The demon leaned back its head and roared.

  “Then face your death.” I didn’t wait for its attack to charge.

  Ride its back, Abel sent toward me. I’ll take its front.

  He charged, aiming for the demon’s bloodied arm, while I ran beside it and jumped onto its back, grabbing a handful of fur as it rose to its full height and roared, trying to shake me off.

  Abel charged and slit the demon’s throat as I stabbed the base of its skull with my dagger.

  The demon stumbled and Abel plunged his sword into the creature’s chest. The demon turned to ash, its body disappearing underneath me, but I landed on my feet in a squat, piercing the glowing orb that floated into the air.

  Abel stood in place, staring at me with a look of love and longing.

  “I love you too,” I said with a grin. “Now help me kill the rest of these demons so you can take me to bed.”

  A grin spread across his face. Then he turned to face the surviving Botageria, who was currently engaged with Ellie and Collin.

  The army of demons stayed in place, and while I was grateful for their forbearance, I had to wonder what they were waiting for. Our own army? I heard a rumble behind me, relieved to see Tsawasi’s army pouring out of a small stand of trees across from the police station.

  The little man stood on top of Abel’s car, shouting to them in a language I didn’t understand as they emerged. They began lining up, ready to clash with the demon army, with us sandwiched between.

  The sound of laughter filled the air, unnaturally loud given the chaos around us, and I dared a glance up. Okeus sat on a golden throne floating on a cloud. He wore a dark gray suit with a white shirt and gray tie. His legs were crossed, and his left forearm rested lazily on the arm of his chair. “You are a feisty one.”

  Abel stepped in front of me, his sword in his right hand. “Create a world, Waboose.”

  I held Okeus’s gaze. “No. I’m not going anywhere.” I could feel his life force and I craved it the most. I licked my upper lip as I shot the god a wicked gleam. “I’m looking forward to this.”

  “Piper, no!” David called out behind me.

  I’d known they would protest, but Ellie surprised me. She walked toward me with a solemn expression. When she reached me, she asked, “Are you sure you want to take this stand?”

  “This isn’t your fight, Ellie. You don’t need to be here with me.”

  “The hell it’s not.” She took a breath, then murmured, “There’s a reason I have a sword created to subdue gods.”

  “And there’s a reason I have the title slayer of gods.” Along with the soon-to-appear mark, god killer.

  In the back of my mind, I couldn’t help wondering if this was too soon . . . if we were really ready, but I had to protect Abel and I refused to spend the rest of my life running. I’d known it would come to this since the showdown at the warehouse, and I suspected Ellie had known for far longer.

  “He is the master of deceit,” Tsagasi said in a low voice behind us.

  He wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know, but it was good to have the reminder.

  “You plan to kill me?” Okeus asked, sounding amused. “How do you propose to do that?”

  He had a point. He was floating on a cloud about twenty feet over our heads. How would we even get up there?

  “As amusing as this is, we have other business to attend to.” His eyes narrowed on Abel. “Abiel . . . my son. Your behavior has been disappointing . . . however, you are part human and I see her appeal.” I felt naked under the god’s stare. “Drop to your knees. Bow your head and swear allegiance to me and all will be forgiven.”

  One glance at Abel was all I needed to know he was actually considering it.

  “Abel,” I said, taking the half step between us to close the distance. “No. Do not enslave yourself to him. We can defeat him.”

  He turned to look at me, uncertainty in his eyes.

  “No,” I said firmly. “There’s another way.”

  We can’t defeat Okeus, Piper.

  “Not with that attitude we can’t,” I teased, my stomach in knots. Trust me.

  His gaze held mine and he closed the distance between us. His hand lifted to my cheek, and he lowered his lips to mine with a soft kiss. With my life, my love.

  He pulled away from me and turned toward the army, releasing a roar as he lifted his hand and sent a wave of energy toward the first line of demons, freezing them in their tracks.

  “Charge!” Tsawasi shouted, and the army behind us advanced, swarming past us to attack the stock-still demons in the front.

  “We’ll take the final Botageria,” Abel shouted to the curse keepers. “Get the demons that break through the line.”

  We both charged the remaining beast, throwing thoughts at each other as we worked to take it down. The surviving Botageria had learned from our combined attack of its partner, so it took longer to destroy, but Abel finally got a good strike to its heart. It turned to ash and I freed the souls.

  Abel’s eyes glittered with joy, and I realized he loved this—the war and the killing—he thrived on it. In some ways, he was very much his father’s son. I knew I should be concerned, but darkness lived deep in my own soul, the perfect counterpart to the crown prince to the throne of hell.

  Tsawasi’s army had made it through the first line of demons and were now fighting the next tier, but I could feel the back rows of the demon army slipping around the sides.

  “Abel, the demons plan to surround us. Can you freeze them again?”

  “I would stun our soldiers as well.” He didn’t question how I knew, just ordered some of Tsawasi’s army to stop them, but it soon became apparent that our army was vastly outnumbered.

  Okeus watched from above with obvious glee.

  The fire demons had broken through our line of soldiers and were throwing demon fire toward us.

  The answer struck me. I knew how I could turn the tide in our favor. “We have to capture a fire demon.”

  “Are you mad?” Abel shouted as he fought off a group of
smaller demons.

  “No. Will you help me or not?”

  He shot me a dark look. “I will follow you to the end of time, Waboose.”

  “You can start now.” I grabbed his arm and dragged him to the side of the police station. Then I pressed him against the wall and captured his lips with my own, unable to stop myself.

  When I pulled back, his eyes were wide with wonder and lust. “Piper.”

  “I am yours, Abel. In every way. Don’t hide your true self from me. Don’t hide your thirst for blood, because I have a thirst of my own.” I caught sight of a fire demon rushing past a police car, moving toward us. “Now freeze that demon.”

  He turned and stunned it in place. The demon’s eyes widened in fright.

  “Now what?” Abel asked.

  “Can you unfreeze it at will?”

  “Yes,” he said hesitantly.

  “When I tell you to, release it.”

  He started to ask me what I was doing but stopped and nodded.

  I charged toward its back. I’d originally planned to cut off its hand, but I couldn’t help wondering if the fire would be more powerful if the hand were still attached, and besides, I could use the demon’s body as a shield. Instead, I changed course and climbed onto its back, grabbing its arm and pulling its right hand up over its shoulder.

  “Piper, what are you doing?” Abel asked from beside me.

  “Creating a weapon.”

  The demon underneath me was pissed. I could feel fury seething from its skin.

  “Can you control it to do what you want?” I asked.

  Yes, but I don’t know for how long.

  Then we’ll use it as long as we can.

  Abel turned the demon toward its own army, and I began to pummel the demons with fire.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Ellie

  I stared at my cousin in shock.

  “Do you see what she’s doing?” I called out to Collin. The demons were coming at us in waves. Tsawasi’s army had done a good job of holding them back, but we’d been outnumbered from the start and our numbers were thinning.

  “She’s riding a demon and throwing fire,” Collin grunted as he prepared to fight a new group of demons advancing from the side. His spear and sword were already coated black with demon blood.

  I’d believed that we could win this battle, but I was becoming less certain, especially since Okeus was watching with amusement from above, not looking remotely concerned.

  David was to my right, fighting off a demon that had broken through the front line. I’d been worried about letting him fight with us, but he’d held his own, killing more demons than I’d expected.

  “Jack!” I heard Rhys scream from over by Abel’s car. “Jack!”

  I turned to where she was looking, shocked to see Jack stumbling toward us, his shirt bloody. He looked around, stunned and dazed by the battle around him, but somehow he had a sword in his hand.

  “What the hell?” Collin said in disbelief. “I thought he was dead.”

  “Olivia said he was,” I said. “But you thought Piper was dead too.”

  “Piper’s no normal human. He lost too much blood to be moving around,” Collin said. “Something’s not right.”

  I had to agree with him. Besides, I was certain Piper’s own power had healed her. What, or who, had saved Jack?

  “Jack,” David called out. “Look out.”

  Jack was about twenty feet away, looking a little less dazed but still not capable of defending himself. He seemed oblivious to the group of three demons snarling after him.

  David was closer, so he rushed forward to intercept the demons before they got to him. “Jack! Run to Rhys. Get in the car with her.”

  Jack stumbled, unsteady on his feet, and David reached for him as the demons prepared to attack. Which was when Jack’s expression cleared, shifting from confused to knowing. To evil. He grabbed David’s extended left hand with his own, then ran his sword through David’s chest, the tip shoving out the back of his shirt.

  It took a second for what I’d seen to sink in. Then I screamed at the top of my lungs, bolting for him. “Nooo!”

  Collin’s arm snaked around my waist in a firm grip, hauling my back to his chest. “Ellie, stop.” His voice broke. “He’s gone.”

  “Nooo!” I screamed again, beginning to wail. But I knew he was right. Jack, or the thing that was riding him, had killed him instantly. “David!”

  Rhys’s screams rang in my ears, and I heard Collin shouting at her to get back in the car and lock the doors. But all I could see was David’s lifeless body on the ground.

  “David,” I sobbed.

  Collin’s arm tightened around my waist and he gave me a little shake. “Ellie. I have to go protect Rhys, but I can’t leave you here like this. Don’t fall apart on me now. Please.”

  I sucked in a breath to try to calm down, but my hands shook, and my sword clattered to the ground.

  Rhys continued to scream, crying out Jack’s name as he shifted direction and began to advance on her. Olivia had gotten out of the car to help but was now being swarmed with demons on the other side of the car.

  “Go,” I said, shoving Collin’s arm off my stomach. “I won’t do anything stupid.”

  He released me and searched my face with a cold look in his eyes. “We’ll kill him.”

  “It’s not really Jack,” I said in a shaky voice. “It’s a demon.”

  “All the more reason to kill it.” Then he took off toward Jack.

  Rhys was just as much of a mess as I felt, but I had to get it together to help her. Bending down, I scooped up my sword and sprinted for her as a new group of demons emerged with Rhys in their sights.

  “Rhys!” I shouted as I got closer. “Get in the car.”

  “Jack,” she sobbed, clearly hysterical. “He killed David. Why would he kill David?”

  “It’s not Jack,” I assured her, worried about how she’d react when Collin killed him. “Get inside.” I opened the front passenger door and pushed her inside. “Stay in here until we tell you that you can get out.” I shut the door behind her, hoping she’d stay put.

  I heard the clash of metal and saw Jack and Collin in a sword battle. I swallowed my fear, telling myself that Collin could take care of himself. Instead, I rushed around the car to help Olivia fight off the group surrounding her.

  “They’re everywhere,” Olivia said. “We need to pull back.”

  She was right, but I wasn’t sure Piper would agree. I couldn’t see her, but I knew she was somewhere deep in the demons, blasting them with their own demon fire.

  I killed the last demon near the car, grateful for the sense of purpose, but Olivia and Rhys still weren’t safe. “Olivia, there’s an address in there for Abel’s mountain home. You’ll also find the code to get inside. Go wait for us there.”

  Horror filled her eyes. “I can’t leave you.”

  “We’re pulling back too,” I said, partially hoping it was true. Part of me wanted to stay until every last one of them was dead, but I also knew we couldn’t. We were too outnumbered.

  She nodded then got in the car and wove out of the parking lot, hitting a demon in the road. It flopped over the roof of the car and landed on the road before I stomped over and slayed it.

  Okeus sat on his throne in the clouds, watching me with an amused grin.

  That fucker had to die.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Piper

  The demon I was riding had begun to fight Abel’s will in earnest when I heard Rhys scream Jack’s name.

  I sucked in a breath in shock, wondering why she was calling his name. She already knew that he was dead. But my hesitation nearly got me thrown off.

  Pissed, I shoved the tip of St. Michael into the demon’s back, shoving deep enough to reach his heart.

  As the demon turned to ash, I jumped to my feet, then turned to run back to the others, freaking out when I heard Ellie start to scream “no.” I’d never heard her sound so
desperate. Rhys was hysterically calling out Jack’s name, which made me even more anxious.

  When we finally reached the edge of the horde, Collin was holding back a sobbing Ellie as Rhys stood next to Abel’s car, hysterical.

  In the middle of it all stood Jack, holding a bloody sword over David’s still body.

  “No,” I gasped, stumbling over a pile of ash.

  “It’s not him, Waboose,” Abel whispered in my ear, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me close. “He’s being ridden by a demon.”

  A squatty demon approached, and we turned to face it together, working in a unison that I was sure usually took years of practice. But I was shaken by the sight of Jack’s possessed body, and it made me sloppy. I knew Abel was right—that wasn’t Jack—but anger roared to life inside me when I saw Collin go at him with his sword and spear.

  We finally took care of the demon in front of us, but another quickly took its place. As soon as I got the chance, I broke free and ran to Jack, my heart aching as I ran past David’s body. Ellie stood to the side, watching Collin, and I could see he was beginning to tire. He’d been fighting demons for nearly an hour and Jack seemed to have limitless energy.

  “Jack,” I called out to him, my voice breaking.

  He swung his gaze to me, a huge smile spreading across his face.

  “Collin,” I said calmly, moving toward them. “Let me have a turn.”

  He started to protest, then abruptly stepped back, leaving me to take his place. I could feel Abel behind me, watching but ready to jump in if need be.

  “Jack,” I said as we both began circling one another. “Lookin’ good for being dead.”