Burning

by Carrillo, K. D.

  All of the men who’d comprised the first-wave attack lay broken and bloody around the circle. Grey and Anita resumed their position in the darkness. Chloë and her parents began to chant around Cynthia's body. I focused on lighting the circle by directing the moonlight to concentrate on our location.

  A black haze began to spill out of Cynthia, and then suddenly it rushed back into her body with enough force to cause her to convulse. Her black eyes opened and she focused her hellish gaze on Chloë. A nasty grin spread across her delicate face.

  "You're too late," the demon sang in its hellish voice.

  A whoosh sounded off to the far right, and the glow of flames danced off the black landscape.

  "Is that sulfur burning?" I asked no one in particular.

  "Brimstone," the demon corrected.

  "We'll hold the circle. Take Anita and Grey. Go!" Eli urged Chloë and me.

  I grabbed her hand, and we ran out of the circle. Anita and Grey fell in behind us without a word. We found a man and a woman around our age tied to a post. Fire crackled at their feet, which were slowly burning.

  The stench was revolting. Bile rose in my throat, and I fought it back down. My discomfort was nothing compared to theirs.

  The girl released a blood-curdling scream as the flames licked against her skin. The guy stared blankly ahead. The fire was hotter and hungrier beneath him. He was physically present, but his mind had already granted him the release of fleeing his physical predicament.

  We tried to advance forward, but more robed figures emerged from the shadows. I tried to pull moisture from the earth and air to squelch the fire, but Chloë was quickly surrounded. I couldn't command the elements and protect my mate, and it wasn't a hard decision. It should have been, but protecting Chloë was as essential as breathing.

  Rage focused my powers. Suddenly, I could feel every beat of their hearts, every contraction of their lungs, and the rush of their blood through their veins. As easy as flexing a muscle, I squeezed their internal organs until the veins in their eyes popped and blood began to trickle out of their noses, mouths, and ears.

  They dropped to the ground. I ignored the shocked expressions on Chloë’s, Grey’s, and Anita's faces and turned my focus back to pulling water from my surroundings to put out the flames. My magic continued to thrum inside me, dark and intoxicating.

  Chloë's hand slipped into mine, and I managed to push out the rising darkness inside me. I allowed her strength to ground me, and I managed to drench the flames. The two people, who I assumed were Cynthia's sister and boyfriend, sagged against their bindings.

  Another wave of robed auto-da-fé moved toward us in a triangular formation, each carrying a shield and spear. Their choice in weapons allowed them to keep from getting too close to us.

  The men closed ranks. There were ten of them, but they realized that the four of us were all very deadly individually. They’d seen what I was capable of. I tried to call forward that power again, but tapping into it felt dark and evil. I made the split-second decision to reserve that tactic unless it was absolutely necessary. Not that they were aware of that.

  Grey and Anita were posed in a crouch with their fangs exposed. Their hard, pale skin gleamed where it wasn't streaked with blood. Both of them were capable of killing in a split second, and it showed.

  Green sparks danced at the ends of Chloë's fingers. Her hair blew around her, despite the absence of wind. She levitated several inches off the ground in a blatant display of the magic they feared. It was showy—and also a brilliantly calculated ploy.

  While they were sizing us up for their battle strategy, they didn't see the most immediate danger sneak up behind them. Dean, Cooper, Jo, and Leah silently stalked out of the tree line. Their muscled forms twitched in anticipation, and their eyes focused on their prey.

  I smiled at their clueless faces. Death at the hands of the four of us would have been quick and merciful, much preferable to being mauled by wild animals. I wasn't particularly interested in being merciful.

  Dean

  I crept out of the trees and was relieved to see Anita safe and whole for about three seconds. Then I really saw her. She was covered in blood, paler where her skin showed through the gore, and relishing the chance to kill again. My heart sank as I realized that the vampire in her had completely taken over. She prepared to strike, but I had to act before she lost more of herself from reveling in death.

  I crouched down, and my muscles tensed in preparation to leap. One of the men pulled back his arm to launch his spear and I attacked. I grabbed him by the throat and clamped down, crushing his airway.

  He gurgled and blood foamed out of his mouth. I dropped him to the ground and saw Leah and Jo race forward, out of my peripheral vision. Leah ripped at the tendons of the man nearest to her then went in for the kill when he was down. Jo grabbed hold of one man's arm and tore it open, causing him to drop his spear. Cooper swiped at another with his large claws, digging deep cuts into his stomach.

  One of the auto-da-fé warriors flanked around Cooper and was preparing to impale him with a spear when Jo leapt forward suddenly. The tip of the spear stabbed into her flank, and she yelped before falling to the ground.

  The air shimmered around her, and she transformed back into her human form. Cooper released a deafening roar and landed on Jo's attacker. In seconds, he ripped the man to pieces, tossing limbs in every direction before transforming himself.

  "Jo!" he screamed. "Oh, baby, stay with me."

  "It's my shoulder. I'm going to be fine," she said through gritted teeth.

  I quickly transformed to better assess the situation. "Take her and go," I ordered, knowing that Cooper wouldn't be any good to us while he was worried about his mate.

  He nodded, carefully picked her up, and ran away from the fighting.

  Grey moved toward Leah. She turned toward the robed men who still stood. Her hackles rose, and she snarled, showing large, white teeth. Anita skipped to my side, looking like a demented porcelain doll. She smiled, revealing an equally frightening set of canines.

  "I think what she is saying is, 'The better to eat you with, my dear,'" she taunted.

  The men turned to escape, only to discover that Chloë had teleported to their other side. "You wanted a witch? Well here I am. You aren't really going to run now that you've found me, are you?"

  With their attention on Chloë, I motioned Anita toward their victims. We crept quietly back to the stake and cut through their bonds. I took the male, who was dead weight, while Anita carried the female.

  "My sister," the girl said, through chattering teeth.

  "We are trying to help her. Can you drive?" I asked, studying her burned feet.

  "Are you kidding? If it meant getting out of here, I could fly. Although that other girl was flying, right? No...don't tell me. I'm certain I can convince myself I hallucinated all of this," she babbled.

  I grabbed one of the bodies and searched through the voluminous robes until I found a set of keys. Thankfully, it had remote locks. I pressed the button, and the lights flashed on one of the cars near the house.

  "Take the car. Go straight to the hospital. I want you to tell them that you were attacked by a cult. Tell them everything except for our involvement. Do you understand?" I demanded.

  "Like they would believe me if I told them we were rescued by a pack of wild animals that turned into people, vampires, a flying witch, and whatever the hell Mr. Sex God there is," she scoffed.

  Chloë laughed and said, "He's an elf, although you aren't far off on the sex god part."

  "An elf... Right... Well, forgive me if I try really hard to forget all of this," she replied.

  "Give us some time. You're traumatized. You don't remember where you are right away. We need to take care of the rest of them and rid your sister of a demon before the authorities show up," I interjected.

  "A demon? I don't think I'm going to have a hard time convincing anyone I'm confused and traumatized. Just please save my sister," she plead
ed.

  "We will do our best. Now come on. He's heavy, and it's a bit of a walk over to that car," I said, heading in the direction of the flashing lights.

  Anita

  My skin prickled with a sense of foreboding. The demon turned to look at me through solid-black eyes. I couldn't think of it as Cynthia anymore. It didn't even really look like her. As mean as she was, this beast was downright evil. I didn't like her, but I was still going to kick this demon's ass for using her in this way. I knew what it felt like to have evil using your body against your wishes.

  The temperature dropped by at least ten degrees, and my breath hung in the air in foggy wisps. I looked around and realized that I was the only one experiencing the cold. A malevolent sneer spread across the demon's borrowed face.

  "I've got someone that would really like to see you," Astaroth taunted.

  "I'm sure I don't want to see whoever you've got," I replied. My sense of doom intensified.

  On the other side of Finn's circle, the air shimmered and seemed to split apart.

  "The veil is dropping," Eli announced ominously.

  A person started to step forward. He walked with an arrogant swagger. The moonlight reflected a silvery light off of his wheat-colored hair. I didn't need him to come closer to know who it was.

  Dean recognized him a moment later as he rushed into the circle. "What is this? You never said the veil would open up to Hell!" Dean shouted at Eli.

  "The veil is being manipulated by a demon. Where did you think it was going to open?" Eli snapped back.

  It was unusual for Eli to lose his usually impenetrable calm. I turned back to the apparition. This was my nightmare to face.

  "How many times do you have to be killed Alexander?" I taunted with all the false bravado I could muster.

  "I don't think that's a pleasure you're going to experience a second time," Alexander sneered. "Does your shifter know I had you first?" he continued with a snarl on his aristocratic face.

  Dean's body tightened and prepared to lunge. I moved in front of him and gently placed my hand against his cheek. I turned my back to Alexander, giving him the attention I felt he deserved—none.

  "Dean, he's baiting you. He wants us to leave the circle because he can't come in," Chloë said.

  Dean's hazel eyes never left mine. Dean nodded, acknowledging what Chloë had said.

  I turned around and pressed my back to Dean's chest. Some battles were fought with words, and this was one of them. This was a battle that had been waging a war inside me for over two years now. The feeling that something had been taken from me, that I had been damaged by this vile creature in front of me. It ended here. I wouldn't carry around this darkness any longer.

  "You never had me. You kidnapped me, forced yourself on me, and tried to change me into a vampire, but you never had me. I am more than the things that have happened to me. You never had access to my mind, my soul, or my heart. Dean is the only man who has ever had me," I said to Alexander.

  Alexander turned dead eyes from me to Dean. "It still bothers him that he saved himself for you and you've been ridden more than a carnival ride."

  I tried not to flinch at his words, but it was impossible to prevent the small tremor that racked my body. Because I was pressed up against Dean's body, he didn't miss the movement. Dean leaned down to my ear and whispered, "I wouldn't change anything about you. Every past moment brought you into my life. Don't listen to him."

  "It appears we are at a standoff. You're right. I can't come into the circle, but if you don't force me back before dawn, I am here to stay," Alexander announced with a satisfied grin on his face.

  "Is that true?" I asked Eli and Marguerite.

  "I'm afraid so," Eli answered.

  I felt my stomach sink. We'd sent Alexander to Hell, and he’d still clawed his way back. Despite my brave speech, I was as tormented by him as I had ever been.

  I took a step forward. I was afraid, but I wouldn't be owned by my fear. Dean's arms tightened around me, but I used my strength to untangle myself from his hold. I had to face this demon once and for all.

  Chloë stepped in front of me at the last second. "Not alone. You never have to face him or anything that torments you alone again."

  My eyesight blurred, and I nodded at my best friend. Finally, I realized that there was strength in accepting help when I needed it.

  Chloë

  I nodded at my parents, giving them the signal to begin the chant. I grabbed Anita's hand, and we stepped out of the circle. I felt a swell of magic and a pop as we crossed the invisible barrier.

  I released Anita's hand. and we each stalked toward Alexander from a different direction. I felt Grey's desire to join us, but he’d had his turn destroying Alexander. This time, the closure belonged to Anita.

  Alexander was fast, but his gaze drifted between Anita and me while trying to judge who the biggest threat was. He decided to take his chances with Anita, but he wasn't aware that her abilities had grown in the year he’d spent wasting in Hell.

  He lunged for her, trying to sink his fangs into her neck. She managed to launch herself in the air, twist around, and land on his back. Her fangs slid out and she started for his throat before suddenly leaping off of him.

  "No! I won't be this!" she shouted. She looked at me, and I moved toward her. "I don't need to be the one to do it. He isn't important. I won't let him make me a monster with his last act," she whispered to me.

  I summoned my wand and pointed the glowing tip toward Alexander. "Fire will cleanse the world of your evil. You'll burn for eternity, and I won't feel a moment of pity for you," I said without emotion.

  His body erupted with flames. He flailed around, moving closer to the tear between the worlds of Earth and Hell. Anita moved in a blur and delivered a kick square to his chest. The momentum sent him tumbling through the gateway. I called on all of my magic and slammed the gateway closed.

  Anita and I ran back to the circle and found the demon thrashing around. Cynthia's body bowed upward as she grunted random sounds. My parents continued to chant while the guys held defensive positions around Cynthia's thrashing body.

  Anita and I took our places on either side of my parents, and we joined hands, closing the inner circle. We joined the chant, and her thrashing became more violent. She opened her mouth to scream, but instead of making a sound, a black cloud rushed out of her mouth.

  The black haze swarmed and buzzed like bees. The four of us let go at the same time and pointed our wands at the disembodied demon. Beams of light erupted from our wands. The light forced the demon haze into a tight ball, which we directed into one of my father's ancient clay jars. Once the demon was in the jar, Eli cast a magical seal on the container.

  "What are you going to do with it now?" I asked, watching the jar like it was going to bite me.

  "Unfortunately, demons are eternal. They can be contained, but not destroyed. There is a spot on the other side that is nothing but light. No living being, besides myself, can access that location. Astaroth won't escape this time," my father promised.

  We watched my father phase out and breathed a collective sigh of relief.

  "What now?" Anita asked.

  I looked to my mother for answers, but before she could answer, the sound of sirens in the distance broke the silence.

  "We need to leave," Dean ordered.

  Leah and Dean transformed and disappeared into the woods. Grey and Anita ran off at vampiric speed. I grabbed ahold of Finn and teleported away right after my mother. Within a couple of minutes, we were all back together at Grey's house.

  "I'm going to check on my sister," Leah said.

  "Do you want me to go with you?" Grey asked her.

  She smiled at him appreciatively. "No, you're needed here. I won't be any good while I'm worried about my sister," she answered him.

  He kissed her on the side of the head, and she ran off to the room where Jo was recovering.

  "The police involvement is going to be a big problem. T
hey aren't going to stop investigating attempted murder. Especially not when the method matches unsolved ritualistic murders being investigated by the FBI and Interpol. We can't wipe their memories. There are too many people involved, and we don't know who all of them are. It didn't really work last time anyway," Dean thought aloud.

  "What do you think we should do then?" I asked him.

  "I think we need to help them solve their case," he said.

  "We can't get involved with the police. How do we convince them to believe our story without exposing ourselves?" Grey asked.

  "Grey's right. We can't talk to the police, but we can still give them the answers they need to close their investigation," I replied.

  "How do you suggest we do that?" Grey pressed.

  "We give them a suspect," Dean said with a smirk.

  "Sure. We just give them a suspect," Grey said sarcastically. He looked between Dean and me and sighed. "You already have someone in mind, don't you?"

  I looked at Dean. "Did Carlos and Nik destroy everything from Dr. Tuttle's lab?"

  "Only the stuff that had to do with supernaturals," Dean answered.

  "Do you think there was anything there that could tie him to the burnings?" I asked.

  "Only one way to find out," Dean said, and he pulled out his phone.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Seeing is Believing

  Anita

  "Tell me again why we are lurking around campus today," I said to Chloë.

  "There is evidence connecting Dr. Tuttle to the murders in his office, but the police don't know to look there," she answered.

  "That isn't vague. How exactly are we going to point the police in the right direction without making them suspicious of us?" I pressed.

  Chloë shrugged. "Uhm...I was thinking of going with the innocent-college-girl act."

  Fantastic. Chloë could make people believe almost anything, but the aura of power she carried around her made "naïve college girl" a hard sell.

  Near the science building, I noticed a couple of detectives talking to students. One was young enough that he could have been a student, but the cheap department-store suit he wore set him apart from the students he was speaking to.