by T. S. Ryder
"What am I waiting for?" she asked, abruptly annoyed. "Where is this, anyway? I know I got speared. Is this limbo? It can't be heaven or hell. Just doesn't fit the profile."
The receptionist gave her an irritated look but didn't respond. Just as Lydia was about to march over and demand answers, a door just past the receptionist opened. She leaped to her feet, her heart in her throat, as two people walked in.
"D-dad? Mom?"
Tears flooded her eyes. She rushed into their arms, the stress and fear from the years without them melting away. They wrapped their arms tightly around her.
"You've grown into such a beautiful young woman," her mother said, beaming. "I can't wait to hear everything you've done with your life – but not now."
Her dad kissed the top of her head. "You have to go back, sweetheart. I know it won't be easy, but you have to go back."
Back where? To life, with all its pain and uncertainty? Ugh. No thank you. Lydia shook her head. "It's better here. I can't do anything there, anyway."
Her parents glanced at each other. Her mother shook her head. "What makes you say that?"
"I'm only one person, and I can't even use my supposed Paladin abilities. Ian—" She cut off. If she stayed here, Ian would be facing the horde of demons on his own. How was that fair?
"Ian?" Her father frowned. "Who is this Ian?"
Her mother gave him a half-glare. "Someone she has to get back to, obviously."
Lydia nodded slowly. "I have to go back. For him."
"Then go." Her mother and father both kissed her. "Go now!"
Lydia's eyes flew open. In an instant, she was aware of everything around her. The beeping of a heart monitor, the IVs sticking into her arm, a vague itching in her chest where the burning pain of being stabbed ought to be. A nurse beside her bed, about to insert a needle into her IV.
The nurse's eyes flicked to her. Cold, dead eyes. The kind that killed without remorse, the kind that had haunted her dreams for twenty years.
Lydia screamed. The demon slapped a hand over her mouth. A burst of fiery strength ran through her and she struck the demon in the ribs, making it stumble back. It still had the needle, though, and switched to try to plunge it directly into Lydia. She threw herself to one side, dodging the deadly point. Her movement yanked on her IVs, bringing the stand down on the demon.
With another scream, Lydia yanked the IV needle from her arm. A bolt of white-hot pain ran through her arm while blood spurted into the air; the demon lunged again, and this time she struck back. The IV needle went cleanly through its eye. The demon reeled back, screaming and howling in pain. Lydia jumped out of the bed and grabbed a chair sitting next to it. As the demon straightened, she hurled the chair at it and ran for the door.
"Help!" she screamed. "Ian!"
The hospital gown flapped around her as she burst through the doors to the corridor outside. Her whole body felt like it was filled with fire, but it didn't hurt – more like she was made of fire, not merely channeling it. The demon chased after her, but she slammed the door into its face as it jumped towards her, and it crumpled.
A shout made her turn. Ian was being held by a dozen security guards. His arms were being yanked behind his back. He threw off one of his attackers, only to be tackled by two more. One of the guards pulled out a Taser. Smoke curled from Ian's mouth, his skin taking on a blue-green hue. Lydia growled, charging for them.
On instinct, she threw out her hands. The lessons Ian had been trying to teach her came back, tingling at the back of her mind. She called the fire inside and let it surge through her arms, into her palms. Bright, pure white light burst from her hands. The guards shouted, shielding their eyes from the light. Three of them howled in pain, clutching their heads. They fell to their knees, spasms overtaking their bodies.
When the light disappeared, these guards whipped their heads up, screaming. Lydia stumbled back, heart in her throat. Distorted, grimacing faces greeted her. Their skin was a mottled white and amber-red, eyes pure black. Sharp teeth gleamed and forked tongues flickered.
The human guards cried out, stumbling away from the demons. Was this why they wanted to kill her? Because she could reveal what they truly were?
Lydia's stomach churned. The fire inside, so powerful moments ago, was dying, doused by fear. She tried to call it back, but she didn't have the control she should have. Ian surged to his feet, but the demons punched him in the kidneys and knees, driving him back down. One of them focused on the Dragon, beating him, while the other two headed for Lydia. She held up her hands and called forward her weak fire again. Blue flames coated her fingers.
One of the demons chuckled, those dead eyes locked on her. "Such a brave little girl. Or should I say stupid? You've never gone for what you really wanted, have you? You've drifted through your life, always waiting for someone else to push you to do what you want."
The fire around Lydia's hands flickered. She backed away while the demons came forward. The nurses and security guards were all running in the opposite direction, but there was nowhere for Lydia to run – not unless she was going to go through a window. The demon that had tried to kill her while she was unconscious stepped into the corridor. Blood dripped from its ruined eye, but it grinned at her.
"You can't defeat us," it said. "One little girl against the powers of hell. Give up and your death may be quick."
Lydia shuddered, stomach churning. Those words felt so familiar. Her chest ached where she had been speared – no. That had been higher. Her breath caught. The old bullet wound she received when she was five years old was aching.
And she remembered where she had heard the demon's statement before. Her father had been standing over her with nothing but his fists against a demon as it revealed its true nature. You can't defeat me. One little man against the powers of hell.
Her mother had already been dead. Her father must have known there was no way to defeat them. But he fought anyway.
So would she. Lydia threw her hand forward, sending a fireball towards the demons. They moved aside, but it flickered and died before it even reached them. Lydia tried to summon more fire, but her hands shook with fear, and her inner ferocity burned low. She glanced helplessly towards Ian. The demon was still beating on him; his hands were pinned beneath its knees and his head moved side to side like a ragdoll's with every blow. Blood coated his face.
"Ian," she called.
"Don't think that the Dragon will save you," the demon she had stabbed said. "His line was weak. It was easy to turn the humans they knew against them. His apathy in the centuries since has helped us. He doesn't care enough to try to help you now."
Ian roared. The demons jumped and turned. The Dragon let out a burst of fire from his mouth, burning the head off the demon that was beating on him. His face was a mass of bruises and blood as he dragged himself to his feet. Smoke rolled off him, coming from various cuts covering his body. His teeth sharpened in his mouth.
Lydia didn't wait to see what the demons would do. Their distraction bought her just a few seconds. She raced into the nearest room and slammed the door shut behind her. Grabbing a chair, she swung it at the window. The glass shattered as the door burst open again.
The demons streamed in. The one with the bleeding eye lunged for her. She screamed, swinging the chair at it. It struck the chair aside.
"Drop!" Ian shouted from somewhere near the door.
Lydia didn't hesitate. She threw herself to the floor, curling into a ball. A burst of flame filled the room. The curtains caught flame instantly. The demons screamed as they were consumed. One threw itself out the window only to explode like a firework just outside. The rest of them writhed as Ian jumped onto the flaming bed. He tore into them, ending it in seconds. The last one fell, burned beyond recognition.
Lydia stumbled to her feet. The heat made her head swim. A fire alarm rang somewhere in the building and a sprinkler system in the ceiling activated, spraying down in the burning room. Ian ripped down the curtains and stomped th
em out while Lydia pulled off her hospital gown to smother the burning mattress. The smell of melting plastic made her gag.
Ian's arms wrapped around her waist. "We have to go. There's no more time."
"Right," she said. He pulled her towards the window. "Wait, you're not going to jump, are you?"
"Don't worry." He kissed the back of her neck. "I can fly."
Chapter Ten – Ian
Ian's emotions ran rampant as he flew Lydia back over the ocean towards the States. So many warring thoughts battled for supremacy in his mind. Out of all his worries and fears, though, one brilliant spot of hope shone through.
Lydia had been on death's door but was completely healed in a matter of hours. That could only mean one thing. She was his mate. Their connection was what saved her, what stitched her flesh back together and allowed her to tap into her powers.
But what if she didn't want it? What if after this was done she decided she wanted a normal life with a normal romance and walked away from him? Or worse – what if she died? He didn't know how he would survive that, not after everything. He was just opening his heart again. If he experienced that pain again, it might just turn black and cold.
He landed outside the restaurant that Lydia managed. The fact that the demons had attacked her here and that was where both she and Ian were drawn to had to mean something. As soon as he touched down, a dark tingle ran down his spine. He shifted. Lydia climbed from the car he'd carried her over in and shuddered.
"The gates are here," Ian said. "They're opening up."
"I can feel them," Lydia breathed. She shuddered. "It's awful."
"I know. We have to get inside and stop it. I don't know if the barrier will still be intact."
Lydia glanced around wildly. Her hands patted her pockets. Searching for a key, Ian realized. She froze suddenly, as though remembering she couldn't have it on her, then swooped down. She snatched a sizable chunk of broken concrete and hurled it through the window. The glass shattered and alarms started blaring. Ian followed her in as she rushed in and disabled the security system.
"I am never working again, am I?" Lydia asked, gazing sadly at the shattered door. "After this, I'll be lucky if I avoid prison. That or Maria is going to kill me."
Ian pulled her into his arms and pressed a kiss to her mouth. Despite the situation, or maybe because of it, she responded with a fierceness that surprised him. Her arms wrapped around him, her body undulated against his, and she teased his mouth open, thrusting her tongue in at once. The desperation tore at his heart.
The Dragon held her close for a moment before breaking away from her. "Don't worry about your job," he told her. "You always have a place with me."
"Yeah, but I love working."
"I'm rich. I'll take care of all of this. And I'll buy you a new restaurant."
Lydia managed a smile at him before she untangled herself from his embrace. "It's silly to be worrying about work right now. We have Hell to catch."
Ian nodded. "Right. But before we do, I just want to say… Thank you. I have been carrying so much anger and bitterness inside of me. I've cut myself off from humans and had to struggle to find anything worth saving. But you reminded me… there is good in individuals, and a whole forest can't burn because of a few rotten trees."
Lydia kissed him again. Ian reluctantly broke it before he wanted to. Together, they rushed into the back. The floor beneath their feet felt unstable; Ian tensed. He recognized this feeling. The gate was close to the surface.
"Stand back," he said.
Lydia pressed back against the wall. Ian concentrated, bringing his fires up through his belly in a concentrated stream. He spat it out, hitting the floor dead center. Chunks of floor burst into the air. Dust flew every which way. Lydia yelped, but Ian repeated the blast, again and again. Soon the gate came into sight. A grid pattern of flickering light expanded over the entrance to a tunnel filled with black smoke.
Ian didn't realize Lydia was standing next to him until she gasped. He took her hand. Behind the bars were demons. They pressed against the light, screeching and wailing. Hundreds of thousands of them, scrambling through the smoke towards the entrance.
"It's damaged," Lydia said, pointing.
One corner of the grid was fainter with a few of the strands of light broken. A demon threw itself repeatedly at this second, gnashing its teeth. Lydia squeezed Ian's hand so tight it hurt.
"You need to fix it." She looked at him with hopeful eyes.
"I can't. I don't have that ability. And if I try to burn them, I might damage the block. You're a Paladin." Ian gripped her shoulders tightly. "You're the one who can fix it. The light from before that revealed the demons in the hospital – that's the only thing that can repair the barrier."
"But I don't know how to control it!"
"You're smarter and have far more talent than you give yourself credit for," Ian said. Sweat trickled down his back. "Just feel it. Trust your gut."
Uncertainty flickered in Lydia's eyes, but she nodded. Closing her eyes, she pressed her hands together. Ian watched, holding his breath. Light seeped from her fingers, and when she spread her hands, it roped between her fingers. She cast a petrified look at Ian, then climbed into the pit. The demons increased their screaming; the one ramming the weak spot spat at her. She ignored them, spreading her light over the grid. The flickering pattern grew stronger, brighter.
The door leading to the main part of the restaurant burst open. Demons began streaming in. Ian yelled, grabbing two knives from a prep station, and charged them. If he turned into a dragon in here, he'd crush Lydia. He sliced across the chest of the first one and ducked under its arm to stab one knife through its ribs while he sliced at a second. His fires were burning low in his belly; he'd used up almost all his stock blasting through the floor. There was enough for just one last burst.
"Ian!" Lydia shouted.
"Fix the barrier," he shouted back, dodging a fist that flew at his face. "Don't worry about me!"
He spared no time checking if she listened to him. One of the demons tried to circle a cooking station to come at her from behind, but Ian grabbed a smaller demon, cut its throat, and hurled it at the sneaking one. It stumbled and he threw a knife into its throat. He sucked in a deep breath and shot out the last of his fire, burning half of them in one go. The uninjured ones shoved aside their flaming comrades and hurtled towards Lydia.
Ian retrieved another knife and stabbed into their leader. His heart pounded, adrenaline flooding his system. His fires wouldn't be restored until he Shifted again. But there was no room.
A fist connected to his kidney. Pain exploded through his whole body, making him stumble. A demon grabbed his wrist, twisting it sharply. He shouted, but managed to keep a grip on the knife. He swung the free arm, sinking the other knife into the demon's eyes. It screeched, releasing him, and he pivoted quickly, whipping the blades off the back of the demon that had just pushed past him. One of them punched him. He ducked. The blow shattered the jaw of another demon.
Ian slipped from the mass, finding his footing again. They were closer to Lydia. Too close. But he was back in a position where he could hold them off. He just needed time for her to repair the barrier and escape.
A startled scream from behind him made him turn. A long-fingered, grey-red hand had thrust from the flickering grid. It wrapped around Lydia's wrist, breaking the light roped through her fingers. Ian's heart jumped to his throat. Lydia yanked on her wrist, screaming again.
The air left his lungs as he was hit from behind. Ian whirled to the demons he was holding back. His muscles ached and his distraction had cost him. He struggled to draw in a proper breath and weakly struck out. The demon pushed him aside; he stabbed into its neck, then tossed his second blade in Lydia's direction.
"Lydia," he tried to shout, but it came out a breathless gasp.
She looked up. Their eyes met; the fear in her gaze melted away to determination, and she ground her teeth together. With a scream, she yanked he
rself backward. Her fingers wrapped around the hilt of the knife. She stabbed the demon through the arm, then threw her hands wide. The same white light from the hospital spilled from her, making her look like an avenging angel.
The demons screeched and drew back, shielding their eyes. Many of them fell to their knees. It only lasted a few seconds, but it was enough time for Ian to regain his feet. He collected yet another new knife and dove back in, hacking and slicing.
"You can't stand against the powers of hell!" one of them shouted, stumbling to its feet. "You are tiny, insignificant. You can't do anything!"
"Yes I can," Lydia screamed back. "I can do anything I want! Now go back to hell already and leave us alone!"
Ian killed two demons and risked a glance over his shoulders. Lydia's eyes blazed as she stretched thick bands of light between her hands. She dropped out of sight, but Ian could feel the barrier being reinforced, strengthening against the demons below. Their shouts and curses cut off abruptly. Lydia scrambled from the pit, clutching her knife.
"The gate is restored."
Ian grinned. "Get out the back," he ordered, turning to face the demons again.
Several of them were limping away, but the rest attacked with a renewed fury. Ian dodged fists and knives, using their frenzy to redirect their attacks into each other. There were still so many of them… His resolve strengthened. It didn't matter what happened to him, just so long as Lydia got away, as long as she was safe…
She suddenly jumped onto the top of a cooking station, something big and clumsy in her hands. Ian bit back a curse and started to shout at her to leave. Before he could, though, a rushing noise filled the room and white foam spurted into the air. It flew into the demon's eyes, blinding them. When they cried out, it filled their mouths making them choke and spit. Ian stumbled back, jaw gaping.
