“No!” Asmodeus ran over to the shattered mirror. But it was too late.
The connection was cut. All the golden beams and black tendrils evaporated, and the millions of mirrors exploded with a roar. Pieces of glass showered the ground, like sheets of brilliant rain.
Asmodeus turned to face Kara. His face distorted into something evil and sinister. The beautiful face was now ugly and contorted.
“You have tried to ruin my plans once again, daughter,” said Asmodeus.
A smile twitched on his lips as he drew his cigar from his mouth and blew ringlets of smoke, “—but you are too late. My pets have already entered the mortal world. Soon all the pathetic mortals around the world will be eradicated. And I have you, daughter, to thank for it. You were conceived for this. And now, unfortunately, I have no more use for you—KILL HER!” he roared.
Grutus and Xenor drew their weapons and charged.
Kara felt her power drift away from her body. She knew it was dormant now. She felt tired. The last surge of energy had drained her completely. She knew she didn’t stand a chance against the demons without her power, so she did the only thing she could—she ran.
Kara grabbed the jar with her mother’s soul and bolted through the door.
“Stop her!” Asmodeus roared and pointed. “Stop her you fools!”
Kara didn’t look back. She hid the jar under her shirt and pushed her way through the drunken demons in the casino. She hoped they wouldn’t notice her. Then she heard a commotion and turned to see Grutus pointing to her. The entire legion of higher demons stopped gambling and focused on her. They charged.
Kara pushed and kicked her way towards a blue and red neon exit Sign. She ducked under the armpits of a demon throwing dice. The exit was near.
“Get her!”
Kara reached the door and pushed her way out.
She found herself in the windy desert again. Dark, dead and barren, the desert attacked Kara with sand tornadoes and tried to knock her down. She couldn’t see past five feet. To her relief, the blood carpet still lay rolled out. She hoped the elevator would be at the other end.
With her eyes shut into slits, Kara bolted down the carpet. She heard the doors swing open behind her, but she didn’t stop. Images of her mother and David gave her the fuel to keep on going.
To her amazement, Kara reached the end of the carpet. But when she looked around, she couldn’t see the elevator. It was gone.
“Oh no!” cried Kara desperately. She heard the loud stumps of many feet. Angry roars reached her ears. She looked around the grey desert. Where could she go? Where could she hide? What was the name of that cockroach?
“Jean-Pierre, where are you! JP I need you!”Kara called out into the wind and sand.
There was a sudden pop and a swoosh. Kara turned around.
“Ah! Mademoiselle, Kara! I knew you could not resist mon amour!” The cockroach stood in the doorway of the elevator, and batted his eyelashes.
“Oh, thank god!” Kara scrambled in, careful not to break the glass jar. She looked out the door. “Quick! We need to get out of here. They’re coming! Shut the door!”
“ ’Ou iz coming, ma chéri?” Jean-Pierre stuck his head out. “I don’t see anyone?”
In a few seconds the demon horde would reach the elevator, kill Kara and eat her mother’s soul.
Kara crawled over the cockroach and grabbed a foreleg. “Please—I beg you! Close the doors now! They’re almost here … I’ll … I’ll … give you a hundred kisses if you close—”
The elevator snapped shut. Instantly there were loud booms, and Kara could see the imprints of sledge hammers forming on the metal doors as the demons tried to beat their way in behind her.
Jean-Pierre threw off his top hat. Then his cane. He waddled over to Kara, his black eyes glistening in the reflection of the glass jar that held her mother’s soul.
“I am ready, my love.”
The elevator shook. The demons pounded on the door. The glass jar jumped and jiggered.
She regretted her offer to kiss him, but decided it wouldn’t be a good idea to hurt the feelings of the French cockroach now.
“Okay—” Kara leaned towards Jean-Pierre. His antennae were bent into a heart shape over his head, “—here goes nothing.”
Another thundering boom. The door wouldn’t last. She had to get the elevator moving.
“I am counting, you know.”
Kara cringed. “Sure. You can count. Let’s just do this quickly!”
After giving him one hundred small pecks, and wiping her mouth on her sleeve, Kara backed away. Jean-Pierre jumped into the air and rocketed around the small elevator.
Kara secured the jar with her mother’s soul tightly in her arms.
With another great strike, the door ripped open. A hand reached in.
Kara jumped back. “Quickly! We need to go! Now!”
“Oui, mon amour. I can take you back to urth—and zen you can go back to ‘orizon.”
“That’s fine. Good enough.” She stared at the hands reaching in. “Go!”
Jean-Pierre stretched out his forearm and pressed the Up button.
Kara was thrown on the ground with the sudden pull from the force of the elevator. The demons were gone. She breathed a sigh of relief. A moment later, the elevator stopped, and the doors swished open.
“Merci, Jean-Pierre,” said Kara.
“Au revoir, my love.” The giant cockroach bowed and pressed his four arms to the left side of his chest. “I ’ope to see you again soon.”
God, I hope not, thought Kara. She flashed her teeth and jumped out.
Chapter 20
Going home
Marked, Soul Guardians Book 1 Page 39
