But, then darkness slammed into her, as hard as if she’d been punched in the solar plexus.
Since she’d been expecting that this time, she was able to block the full impact. She recovered from the blow and then pushed back at the attack with her own energy. Sparks flared inside, the crackle of energy crashing against each other. She wouldn’t back off from it—wouldn’t let the darkness drag her back into that despair.
She didn’t know whether she was inside Janie’s body or inside her own. Or in some space where bodies didn’t exist, merely their souls. The battle of energy mirrored that of the one outside—dark magic versus light. A battle for Janie’s soul.
Although Larissa struggled to force the oppressive force back with her magic, forming it into a protective shield, some of the demon’s darkness seeped through cracks. It was too powerful and insidious. It threatened to take her under. She was merely a mortal facing an immortal far more practiced with magic. How would she ever compete?
Doubts slithered in, crippling her with insidious whispers—you’re out of your league. You can’t win. Give up.
And then she faced the evil. It didn’t slither out at her like creepy fingers this time. It appeared like a shadowy orb, which then rumbled and shook.
The center of the murky sphere stretched open. The gap reshaped into what appeared to be a mouth with frigid, putrid breath. Larissa stared at the monster taking form inside her friend. Icy, prickling sensations spread over her skin like goosebumps. She was trapped in some other realm of existence with this monster, and she was alone. Shadows wrapped around her like a monstrous shawl, whispering of her defeat and dragging her down into despair. She couldn’t resist it. It would entrap her like Janie.
The demon’s mouth spread wider, preparing to swallow Larissa.
She inhaled and forced the doubts from her mind. Roman believes in you. Nana believed in you.
But, how? She envisioned herself as they’d described—not as a wreck or a freak masquerading as a normal person, but one who embraced all the magic she had within her. One who had the potential to be a powerful witch.
You are not just a human. You’ve descended from a long line of witches. They persevered through centuries, their blood and magic run through your veins. You can’t deny who you are any longer and run from the truth. Think of your mother and your grandmother. They live in you.
Her mental pep talk gave her a brief surge of energy, enough to keep those tentacles that crept over her from advancing.
Fight for Janie. Fight for Roman.
Fight for love.
Right. That was it. It all made sense to her now. The pleasant lightness that had filled her when she’d been driving to her grandmother’s, that had been a gift. Her grandmother had passed on her magic in her final moments when facing the demon.
Magic. Love. Energy. Light. It was all from the same place deep within.
Larissa focused on the dark magic that shrouded her. She wouldn’t let it defeat her.
She gathered all the light within her and hurled it at the ominous presence with a primal, desperate howl.
Magic burst out of her like a blast of light and pierced the barrier that enslaved Janie. The darkness jerked back, like Roman had hit the glass of the hospital earlier.
A tremendous sense of love swelled within. She sensed her grandmother and her mother’s presence, smiling upon her. Wherever they were didn’t matter. Whether it was real or in her head didn’t matter, either. They lived within her. And would be with her always. Their magic was there within hers.
Her grandmother and Roman—and even Janie—encouraged Larissa in her mind. Don’t stop. They believed in her. She sure as hell wouldn’t let them down.
The darkness recovered from the blow. It reshaped into a sphere, no longer with that hideous mouth. It slithered back toward her.
“Get out of her,” she seethed.
She gathered her energy again on the inhale. On the exhale, she unleashed her power at the shadowy orb once more.
The sound of breaking glass pierced the air, drawing Larissa’s attention back into the hospital room. Roman and the demon crashed beside Janie’s bed showering them all with shattered glass. The demon approached with its red eyes aglow and claws outstretched. Arto stepped before it, brandishing his sword, yet the massive being continued toward Larissa and Janie, undeterred.
With a war cry, Larissa unleashed the full blast of her energy into Janie, pinpointing the negative magic. Lightning-like sparks from her shot over and around it, like luminescent fireworks. It was more magnificent than anything she’d ever seen. It soared from Larissa and into Janie, alighting all the dormant nerves and cells.
Larissa stared at it, entranced by the beauty of her power.
A raven-colored curtain draped over her, and she was powerless to escape it.
Chapter 17
Roman roared when Larissa collapsed in the hospital room. He recovered from crashing through the window and leapt in front of the demon before it reached her. No way would he ever let it touch her.
She’d been so brave to help Janie, returning down a path that few would ever dare to go. The dark magic had terrified her, yet she’d faced her fears. She’d closed her eyes, appearing to sink into a trance as she helped Janie. But, something had gone wrong, as she now lay unconscious on the floor.
After losing the sword when they smashed through the window, he lacked a weapon. Still, he had gargoyle strength to counter the demon’s speed. He pounded at the demon–landing blows on its head and chest as he forced it back. Arto had jumped into the fight, as well, and managed to stab the demon on its other side. The demon tried to fight them both, but couldn’t keep his attention in both directions, and endured relentless blows from either flank.
Roman howled as he reared back with ferocity, preparing to launch the demon out of the room. It ducked. Then turned back and leapt out of the gaping hole left in the window.
Roman would destroy them all.
Shred them to pieces and scatter their body parts from one end of the city to another, so they’d never be able to rejoin.
A crimson hue tinted his vision as he located the demon below. The bloodlust clouded his sight, urging him to obliterate the enemy.
Arto caught Roman’s eye, piercing cool sensibility amid the rising fury. It reminded Roman of who he was—a commander, not a bloodthirsty monster as hell-bent on revenge as the demons.
And the eagerness in Arto’s eyes made it clear he itched for the order to follow the demon.
“Commander, shall I chase it?”
Roman struggled to find cool battle logic that would help them win the battle, not all die in a rage of violence.
He glanced at Larissa and his heart slammed into his ribs. He couldn’t let her suffer. Perhaps die—if she wasn’t gone already.
No. He’d know if his mate was gone. Just as he’d known when she was in pain earlier.
He wouldn’t leave her alone. Not when she was unconscious and unable to speak for herself.
“Go!” Roman commanded, releasing Arto from his duty in the room.
He launched into the night sky. The potent adrenaline of battle fuel propelled Roman to fight, but he struggled to keep a level head. Arto had the demon covered. Someone had to guard Larissa and Janie.
After rushing over to her, he nudged her shoulder. “Wake up, Larissa.” She was unresponsive.
He pulled her onto his lap, rocking back and forth while he tried to wake her. She was too pale.
Had the demon’s magic taken hold of her, too? Or had she lost too much energy?
He breathed in her scent. It wrapped around him like nurturing arms and calmed the raging beast within.
“Open up!” A woman’s voice from outside the hospital room shouted. She tried to open the door, but Arto had reinforced it well.
A human was the least of Roman’s concern. Most of all was Larissa’s safety.
Where the hell were the other gargoyles anyway? Arto had called for backup wh
en Roman had run up to the roof. Why were they taking so long to reach this part of the city with the goddamn weapons? Or perhaps it hadn’t been that long, and his heightened senses from battle had done that, twisting his sense of time and space.
He sent a silent command to nearby Stone Sentries and told them to assist Arto, Manny, and Diego in their pursuit of demons.
And, I need someone nearby to protect Janie. Her hospital window is open and the humans are pushing in. Stay outside and make sure nothing gets to her.
Erik responded, I’ll be right there.
A moment later, Manny reported, The two demons we chased are down. They tried to slip past by Franco and Vidal at the portal. We got them.
Roman exhaled. Thank the gods. The head, he insisted. Sever their necks.
Aye, Commander. It’s been done.
Sirens sounded from below. Shit. How would he explain the situation in the hospital room?
Male voices added to the woman’s from outside the room. “Open this door now. Or we’ll break it down.”
Bah, Roman couldn’t deal with this human nonsense, not when so much more was going on than they could ever comprehend. Look at those fools punishing Larissa when she’d been a key factor in saving them. He stood and carefully lifted Larissa into his arms. Her head fell against his chest. He cradled her close, his protective instincts soaring higher than flight had ever taken him.
She was his mate, and he’d do anything to protect her. He outstretched his wings and soared into the night sky cradling her in his arms.
A woman’s gasp made him turn back. Janie sat upright in bed. Her eyes were wide with terror. She covered her chest with both hands.
When she spotted Roman in his gargoyle form flying with an unresponsive Larissa dangling in his arms, Janie screamed.
Chapter 18
Larissa opened her eyes. She was in her room. Roman sat in a rocking chair in the corner.
“Roman, what’s going on?”
“You’re awake.” His eyes gleamed. “You’ve been out for about thirteen hours.”
Thirteen hours? She was lucky to get six on a typical night. What happened?”
Memories flickered through the fog in her head. She’d been trying to help Janie by pushing through the dark energy. Roman and the demon had crashed through the hospital window. With a final thrust, she’d blasted all her energy into the darkness within Janie.
She pulled herself upright. “Where’s Janie? How is she?”
Roman raised a hand in a calming gesture. “She’s all right. Awake. They moved her to another room after the incident. She’ll be released soon.”
Larissa’s eyes widened. Her heart leapfrogged in her chest. “She’s—awake?”
“Yes, Larissa. You did it. You managed to break through the dark magic and free her.” He took her hand and kissed the palm. “You were amazing.”
She shook her head, confused. “But, why did I pass out?”
“With forcing all that energy out of you, could we expect anything else?” He arched his brows. “It took a great toll on your body. The sacrifice you made for her was monumental. I hope she appreciates how good of a friend you are.”
More images of the situation in the hospital room flashed before her. Her pulse drummed with a pounding bass that echoed in her ears. Roman had been fighting a demon. She’d been terrified for his safety. Thank God, he was safe.
But what about the others? Two other gargoyles had been fighting. And what happened to the demons? At least three of them were out there last night.
She stared out of her window. The sky was a clear blue with no clouds in it. No signs of a battle between winged beings.
“What about you?” She asked. “Are you all right? And the other sentries? What happened to the demons?”
Roman squeezed her hand. “The sentries are fine. Let’s get you some breakfast, and I’ll tell you everything.”
When he left the room, she counted to ten to control her impatience. Janie was awake. No sentries had been killed. But, he hadn’t replied about the demons, triggering her wariness. She fisted her sheet, twisting it in her hand. Why hadn’t he told her?
Roman returned several minutes later. He had a tray of food, including coffee, eggs, bacon, a banana, and an oversized blueberry muffin sprinkled with sugar.
“Whoa. That’s a lot of food.”
“You must replenish your energy. Besides, I want to take care of you, and make sure you eat, before you’re off and running.”
She fidgeted in her bed. “I’ve got to get up and see Janie.”
“I know.” He placed the bed tray over her lap. “But, first you need to eat.”
Where he’d found the bed tray was another mystery, since she never made herself breakfast in bed, but it fell away among the other countless questions. She took a sip of the coffee. The hot liquid tasted like paradise found. She then took a scoop of the eggs and followed it up with a bite of the bacon. Everything was at the perfect temperature.
“This is delicious, Roman. Thanks. But, I need to know what happened.”
Roman leaned back in the rocking chair and sighed. “I don’t know what you saw from the room, but we ended up fighting two demons out there. Two took off, and my sentries took care of them. The third—” Roman’s expression hardened. “Vanished.”
“Vanished? She echoed.
“Arto and two other sentries are chasing it. It slipped behind some buildings. When they turned the corner, it had disappeared. Gargoyles may have great strength, but demons have greater speed.”
She slumped into her pillow. “It’s still out there?”
“Unfortunately, yes.” He gave her an encouraging smile. “But don’t you worry about that. I have all my sentries on watch. We’ll find it, Larissa.”
But, it might attempt to get Janie again. “We have to go to her in case it comes back for her.”
“We will, as soon as you’ve restored some of your energy. Don’t worry, Arto hasn’t left her side. I have sentries all over the hospital. They won’t get to her.”
Although, she wanted to get moving, she shoved some food in her mouth to avoid arguing with Roman. He wouldn’t agree to leave until she’d eaten.
“Shit, I need to call headquarters. They need to know what’s going on.”
Roman raised his hand. “They know. When a gargoyle and demon crash through a hospital window in a busy district with several witnesses gaping out of windows, it’s hard to keep that from being reported.”
“They saw you?”
“Yes. When we’re fighting, it’s nearly impossible to remain cloaked or to communicate with others. We need to keep all our focus on our opponents.”
She drank more coffee as she contemplated what that meant. Probably more speculation and more panic. She groaned.
“Take a moment and appreciate what you’ve accomplished. You woke Janie and freed her from the demon. You saved her from them twice.”
She gaped at him. It blew her mind that she stopped an immortal.
Perhaps what Roman and her grandmother had been saying about her being more powerful than she thought had some truth to it. Oh, her grandmother. Thinking about what had happened to her swept a wave of grief through her.
“Roman, something weird happened to me last night. When I was transferring my energy into Janie, it was like my grandmother and mother were there with me. And I think their magic was in me.”
Roman eyed her with an unreadable expression. “I believe that’s true.” He pointed at her plate. “Finish up, and I’ll bring you to see Janie.”
It felt good to have him care for her, especially after the ordeal she’d faced. She smiled at him before taking a dutiful bite.
*
An hour later, they arrived at the hospital. Larissa eyed the taped-off areas where officers investigated. She headed over to them.
Roman took her arm. “Are you sure you want to do that?”
Right. A tightness thumped in her chest. She was still on forced leave.
She let out a short laugh. “You don’t think me reporting how I projected energy inside my best friend and then battled demon magic for her soul would aid in the investigation?” She raised a brow.
Roman grinned. “Let’s keep that bit to ourselves for now. They have enough witnesses who reported what happened.”
“Right. I’m not here to further screw up my career.”
After passing security, she rushed to Janie’s new room. When Larissa spotted Janie sitting up in bed with her blonde hair pulled into two side braids, and talking to Arto, Larissa gasped and covered her chest. Janie was okay.
“Janie!” Larissa ran over to her and hugged her.
“Oh my God, Larissa. I’m so happy to see you. I can’t believe all that’s happened. If it wasn’t for you…”
When they broke apart, Larissa said, “You know?”
Janie gave Arto an appreciative smile. “I saw some of it when I woke, heard plenty while in weird demon purgatory, and Arto has got me up to speed with the rest.”
Arto smiled. “She can be very persuasive.”
That she could. Larissa glanced from Janie to Arto and back. Had he told her everything? If so, Janie appeared to be taking the news rather well. She’d had an encounter with an incubus that had almost killed her. And a gargoyle had been guarding her.
“I’ll let you two catch up,” Arto said, keeping his eyes on Janie. He walked over to where Roman stood in the open doorway.
Roman said, “Good to see you again, Janie. Arto and I will be right outside.”
After they closed the door, Larissa turned to Janie. “You mean, you know—everything?”
Janie nodded. “Afraid so.” She let out a short laugh. “After you revived me, the first thing I saw was you unconscious in the arms of a creature with enormous leathery-looking wings. He then leapt out my hospital window carrying you. At first, I thought I was dreaming, but a violent shake had woken me and I was convinced I’d finally woke up.” Her eyes took on a haunted look. “I was terrified you were dead and being stolen away by a monster. When Arto returned later, I demanded he tell me what happened to you.” She tilted her head and smiled. “He’s right—I can be persuasive—even if it means getting the truth from a stoic gargoyle who said whatever he could to delay it.”
Enticed by the Gargoyle: Stone Sentries 2 (Boston) Page 13
