Demons of the Sun

by Madsen, Cindi

  “He’s slipping, slipping too fast for any of that.” Mara glanced at Jax’s face, then back up to Persephone’s. “I wouldn’t be a very good priestess if I didn’t sense your blood is different. It made me cautious in the beginning, but now that I know you, and know it’s so you can complete your mission…I’m guessing it makes you stronger, right?”

  Denying it seemed pointless. “It does, but I don’t see how—”

  “We can do a body-to-body transfusion.” Mara lowered her eyebrows and pressed her lips together. “Yes, that should work. But we’ve got to hurry.”

  Persephone shook her head. “You don’t understand what it does to a person, having demon blood running through you, physically and mentally. Athena bestowed Sentries with the power to handle the cursed blood, and we have to have Shaman bless us at birth. Without those protections…”

  She looked down at Jax. Who knew what her blood would do to him? She’d never wish her curse on anyone, especially Jax. He was so pure, so good.

  “I could never do that to him. We’ll rush him to the hospital. Now the venom’s gone, they can do the rest, get him the blood he needs. I don’t even care how hard it’ll be to explain the punctures on his neck.” She started to stand, ready to put her plan into action.

  “He’ll never make it there alive,” Mara said, freezing Persephone in place.

  Looking into his face again, Persephone’s heart clenched. What if I give him my blood and it changes who he is?

  “He’s about to die, Persephone! Time to make a choice.”

  Jax’s hand was now limp and his breath had slowed even more. Persephone couldn’t just sit there and watch him die. “Please forgive me for this,” she whispered, then turned to Mara. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

  Mara took a small blade out of her bag. Persephone bit down as Mara dragged the knife along the artery on Persephone’s wrist. She slit open the vein on the inside of Jax’s elbow, and Persephone placed her wrist over it.

  Her blood, several shades darker than his, dripped into his open vein. Wine red mixing with crimson. Dark mixing with light. Persephone focused on Jax’s face, willing the blood to start working its magic. Desperately hoping she was making the right choice.

  Drip, drip, drip.

  Ringing silence.

  Holding her breath.

  Silently pleading for a miracle.

  The back doors burst open. Persephone whipped up her head. A group of at least ten people she’d never seen walked in, carrying bags and swords. Keeping her bleeding wrist over Jax, she reached for his sword.

  Mara placed her hand on Persephone’s shoulder. “They’re here to help. Wallace is an EMT. I’ll get him over here, and get the others to start cleaning up the place.”

  Their urgent whispers filled the air, but Persephone didn’t try to decipher them. She watched Jax’s face. Some of his color seemed to be returning, but he remained motionless.

  Persephone ran her thumb down the blue line on her forearm, forcing more blood out. Already it was starting to clot.

  A scrawny black guy who looked like he was in his early twenties came over and knelt next to Jax. He put on a stethoscope and listened to Jax’s heart.

  “I think he needs more blood and I’m starting to clot,” Persephone said. “Just tell me what to do. Syringe, cut another spot, whatever it takes, I’ll do it. If he needs more blood I can—”

  Jax’s body convulsed. Only the whites of his eyes showed as his arms and legs spasmed.

  “What’s happening?!”

  Wallace grabbed a syringe and leaned his body across Jax. “He’s crashing. Help me hold him down.”

  Persephone leaned across Jax’s chest, and Wallace jabbed the syringe into his shoulder. “Is he going to be okay?” Persephone asked, panic making her voice high and squeaky. “Please tell me he’s going to be okay.”

  Wallace didn’t answer, simply pulled supplies out of his bag and went to work on Jax.Tears ran down Persephone’s cheeks. He’s going to die, and it’s all my fault.

  Jax’s body finally stopped jerking, and Wallace put an oxygen mask on him.

  “You’ve done all you can do,” Mara said, pulling Persephone to her feet and guiding her to a chair. “Wallace will take care of him now.” She tilted her head toward the blonde girl who seemed to appear out of nowhere. “This is Analise. She’s going to get the glass out of your back.”

  Persephone couldn’t answer. She sat in a daze, staring at Jax. People moved around her, cleaning the restaurant and disposing of Lamia’s body.

  The world snapped back into relief as Analise started removing the glass. Sweat broke out across Persephone’s forehead as piece after piece was removed. The shards clinked against each other as Analise dropped them on a table.

  “That’s the last of it,” Analise said. “I’m going to clean it out, then I’ll let Mara do her thing.”

  “Can you make sure Wallace doesn’t need any help?” Persephone nodded toward Jax. “Don’t worry about me. I heal fast.”

  “He’ll tell me if he needs me. Now, try to hold still.”

  Liquid poured over Persephone’s back and she gritted her teeth against the burning sensation. As soon as it dried, Mara rubbed aloe and chamomile ointment over Persephone’s wounds.

  A woman with curly brown hair walked up to them. “There’s another body in the kitchen. Black male. Early sixties maybe.”

  A lump formed in Persephone’s throat. “Gray moustache? Glasses?”

  The woman nodded.

  “I’m sure it’s Rose’s husband, Laurence. I wonder why no one else has shown up for work.”

  “We had people outside, telling anyone who tried to come in there was an accident,” Mara said. “The entire place is blocked off now.”

  The people Mara had called moved around the restaurant, clearing away the broken furniture. The restaurant was almost clean again, and Persephone’s back had finally stopped burning.

  And still, Jax lay on the floor, motionless.

  After swearing to Mara and Analise she was fine, Persephone moved back to Jax’s side. With every minute he didn’t wake up, her hope he eventually would, faded. She bit her lip, trying to keep herself from totally losing it.

  Wallace tucked some of his supplies back into his bag. “His heart rate is good now, and so are the rest of his vitals. And his cuts seem to be healing miraculously fast. I think he’s going to be okay.”

  Persephone wanted to be relieved, but the I think part wasn’t comforting enough. She needed to know. “Now that he’s stable, we should get him to a hospital.”

  A loud crashing noise sounded, and the lamps hanging from the ceiling shook.

  Mara put her hand on Persephone’s shoulder. “I didn’t want to worry you further, but I’m afraid we’re not going to be able to hold them back much longer.”

  “Hold who back?” Cold filled Persephone’s stomach, because she was sure she already knew. “You mean…? How many demons are out there?”

  “Twenty? Thirty? I’m not sure. A lot of them, anyway. I put a ward on the place, but I didn’t have time to do a very powerful one, and it’s like they’ve been summoned here. I don’t know how long the spell will hold, but we’ve got our best guys standing by in case they break through.” Mara lowered her voice. “But it’s time for you to get somewhere safer.”

  Lamia’s words ran through Persephone’s head. You’re just the girl I’ve been looking for. “They’re here for me.” She squeezed her eyes against the pain filling her chest. “This is all because of me. Rose. Jax.”

  Anger flared up in her, heating her veins and replacing the pain. She picked up Jax’s sword and charged for the door. “You want me, come and take me!”

  The people guarding the door turned, eyes wide, looking unsure what to do.

  “Move aside,” Persephone said. “It’s time for me to take out some aggression.”

  Mara grabbed Persephone’s arm. “You can’t risk it, and you know it.”

  Persephone gritted h
er teeth. “I can, and I’m going to.”

  “And then what? Let the world be turned over to the demons? You think that’s what Jax would want? What your family would want you to do?” Mara gripped her shoulders and shook her. “You’ve got to be strong, Persephone, no matter what happens. Too much depends on you to give in now.”

  “It’s too much! I just want it to be over.” All the fight drained from her, and she leaned into Mara. “I can’t take it anymore. I’ve lost everything.”

  “Then make sure it wasn’t lost in vain.”

  Banging echoed through the room.

  “He’s coming to,” Wallace yelled.

  Persephone sprinted back to Jax and dropped to her knees.

  A low groan escaped from his lips. His eyes flickered open, then closed, then opened again and focused on Persephone.

  She let out a relieved breath and gripped his hand. “Oh, thank the gods.”

  Jax pressed his fingers to his forehead. “What’s going on?”

  “I called Mara and she took the poison out, then I…” She didn’t want to terrify him, so she skipped the blood part. “And Wallace is an EMT, and he got your heart beating again.” She threw her arms around Jax. “I was so scared you weren’t going to make it.”

  The banging near the front increased, and frantic shouts filled the air.

  “Hate to break up the reunion, but I think it’s time to make our exit.” Mara pointed at Wallace and Analise. “You two get Jax and Persephone out of here. And keep Persephone safe at all costs.” She aimed her last words at Persephone. “Her calling’s vital to our survival, and the demons are trying to stop her from succeeding.” She looked back to Wallace. “Her home’s cloaked and I want it to stay that way, so make sure you’re not followed.”

  Wallace nodded. “We’ll get them to safety, whatever it takes.”

  “What’s going on?” Jax asked, his eyebrows drawing low over his still-dazed eyes.

  “Demons,” Persephone said. “Lots of them.”

  “That’s weird. I don’t even feel them.”

  “Wish we could give you some more recovery time, man, but it looks like that’s not going to happen.” Wallace helped Jax to his feet and draped his arm over his shoulders.

  Jax straightened. “I can manage.”

  “No, you’re going to take it easy.” Persephone stepped up on his other side and wrapped her arm around his waist. She gripped the handle of his sword in her other hand. “If any demon comes close to us, it’ll be the last thing he does.”

  “I’m the Warrior. It’s kind of my job.” Jax swayed, and she and Wallace worked to steady him.

  “Like I said, you take it easy, I’ll fight.”

  “Never going to happen, babe.”

  Persephone wanted to argue, but she knew how she felt when people told her she couldn’t fight. So she handed him his weapon and retrieved the sword she’d gotten from under the bar.

  Jax glanced over his shoulder at the entrance, where several men were set up waiting. “I feel like a coward running away.”

  “So do I.” Persephone tightened the arm around his waist. “But I guess sometimes retreating’s the right choice. I think we already got beat up pretty good today.”

  A loud crack filled the room as something slammed into the front doors, splintering the wood.

  “You guys get out of here.” Mara pushed them toward the back exit. “I’ll get in touch as soon as I can.”

  Persephone and Jax, along with Wallace and Analise, rushed to the back door. The second they stepped outside, Persephone saw glowing red eyes, several sets, coming for them.

  Wallace raised his sword. “There’s more than we thought. Analise and I will fight them off. You two—”

  The demons charged for them.

  “—get in the van!”

  Persephone ran toward the black van, but a pair of demons cut her off. Jax stepped in front of her. His arm trembled as he raised his sword. He lunged for the one on the left; Persephone attacked the one on the right.

  She killed him, but right behind him came another, larger and stronger than any she’d seen before. The demon blocked her blow with his forearm, grabbed the end of her sword and yanked. She stumbled forward and found herself up close and personal with the demon’s chest.

  “You’re coming with us,” he snarled, tearing the sword from her hand.

  Persephone swung her fist into the side of his face. Pain traveled up her arm. The hit didn’t even faze him, but it felt like she’d broken bones.

  His massive hand clamped onto her arm. He pulled her toward the mouth of the alley, where Wallace and Analise were fighting.

  Persephone tugged against him, trying to break free.

  The demon lurched forward with a yelp. Keeping his iron grip on her, he whipped around. Jax stood there, sweat across his forehead, face pale. Black blood dripped from the tip of his blade. He swung his sword again, and the demon let her go.

  The demon blocked as Jax advanced on him, driving the creature backward.

  Persephone scanned the ground for a weapon. Anything to help. She spotted a wooden pallet, lifted it, and slammed it into the side of the beast’s head. He staggered, and Jax thrust his blade into the demon’s stomach. He yanked up, ripping open the demon’s abdomen. He dislodged the sword and swept the blade across the demon’s neck.

  The demon’s head went one way, the body went the other.

  Jax propped his hands on his knees, gasping for air.

  The van squealed to a stop next to them, Analise behind the wheel.

  “Time to go!” Wallace sprinted to the van door and flung it open. He helped Persephone get Jax inside, and then Analise tore out of the alley.

  Demons swarmed the entrance to Carrefour, red eyes dotting the black night. Their forms got smaller as the van sped in the opposite direction. Persephone’s heart sank as she thought about the people they were leaving behind—people who’d come to help and were now fighting her fight for her. People about to die.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Persephone ran her fingers through Jax’s hair as he dozed. He’d put his head on her lap after they’d collapsed onto the couch and drifted off in a matter of minutes. He was still pale, with dark circles showing under his eyes, but he was breathing steadily.

  He came so close to dying. Way too close.

  And with all my nightmares coming true…

  As soon as he woke up, she was going to tell him everything. About her nightmares, how she’d seen the members of the Order who’d turned up dead before they’d died, how the demons called her their queen, and how strongly she felt the pull. She only hoped once she’d confessed everything, he’d still want to be with her.

  Because she loved him, and she was going to tell him that, too.

  She relaxed into the couch cushions, the cuts on her back stinging, and closed her eyes.

  A knock sounded on the door, pulling her out of the heavy, almost-asleep haze. Persephone slipped out from under Jax and tiptoed to the door. Through the peephole, she saw Mara standing on the other side.

  Quiet as she could, Persephone eased open the door and invited Mara in.

  Gashes split Mara’s dark skin—a deep one on the neck, and several on her arms. “It’s nothing,” she said, apparently noticing Persephone’s alarm.

  “It doesn’t look like nothing,” Persephone whispered.

  Mara nodded her chin toward Jax and kept her voice soft. “How is he?”

  “Okay, I think. His cuts are healing quickly, and so far the blood doesn’t seem to have had any negative effects on him. Thank you for saving him—for getting me to do what needed to be done. For everything.” She put her hand on Mara’s elbow. “What about the rest of the people who came to help…Are they…?”

  “We lost a few,” Mara said, her voice raw, like she’d been crying. “Eventually, we managed to push the demons back enough to get away.” Her hand shook as she ran it through her braids. “I’ve never seen so many in one place, and they
were huge.” She took in a deep breath and blew it out. “I guess I didn’t realize how bad it could get. And I’m afraid it’s going to get worse.” Her eyes lifted to Persephone’s. “More are coming. Rumor is, Hades is coming, too.”

  “You think they know about the dagger?”

  “The dagger was never mentioned. They said they were looking for their queen.”

  Ice traveled down Persephone’s veins, making her cold inside and out.

  “What’s that mean?” The voice came from behind her. Persephone turned and saw Jax leaning against the wall, eyes on her.

  Mara didn’t say anything, simply continued staring at Persephone.

  She knows. She knows they think I’m their queen.

  Jax pushed off the wall and took a few slow steps forward. He put his hand under Persephone’s chin and tipped her head up. “What is it? You know where their queen is?”

  Trying to keep the tears from coming, she bit her lip. “It’s me. They want me. They think I’m…” Looking into his eyes hurt too much, so she focused on a spot on the wall over his shoulder and forced the words out. “They think I’m their queen. Because of my blood. In my dreams…” The icy sensation increased until it felt like her internal organs were dead and frozen. “I don’t think I can stop it.”

  Jax’s arms came around her. “No talking like that.”

  “But the blood and the pull.” Her voice cracked. “You don’t realize how strong it is. Because of me you guys were hurt tonight, and I’m afraid you’re going to get hurt again, and it’ll be all my fault.”

  “I’m not going to let you cop out because of a little demon blood. We’ll stop them, we’ve just got to come up with a plan.”

  Determination filled Mara’s features. “He’s right. No way we’re giving in. I’ll gather everyone I can, and we’ll be ready when they come.”

  Jax nodded. “I think it’s time I called for a little Warrior back up. If it’s a fight Hades wants, we’ll give him one.”