Protected by the Damned BoxedSet 1

by Michael Todd

  They had made it through that. Now they had to just keep going.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Katie saw the stone hit the tail of the helicopter, taking it clean off. She put her hand over her mouth and gasped, staring as it wobbled back and forth, then spun in a circle. Calvin nodded to indicate that he would keep track of the demon, so she could take a moment to watch the crash.

  As it dipped below the hill she stood up and ran forward, watching the helicopter blades dip dangerously close to the ground. However, right before impact, the pilot pulled the chopper up and landed hard in a grassy patch at the front of the cemetery before it tipped over. She was able to finally stop holding her breath when it looked like her teammates were safe.

  Katie let out a deep breath and dropped her arms, feeling the anger starting to swell inside of her.

  That was some good flyin’, Pandora drawled in her best southern accent.

  Katie slowly turned back toward the demon, who growled at the chopper. She took off running toward it, stopping just short as it bent down and grabbed another stone, this one bigger than the last. She pulled her swords up as the demon reared back, ready to launch another attack on the chopper. She couldn’t let him do it; those were her teammates struggling to get out of the helicopter, defenseless against the stone.

  She screamed and took a step forward, but before she could go any farther shots hit the demon in the eye. Katie turned to Calvin and smiled as he walked forward, firing round after round into the demon’s face.

  “You know, I am liking this target practice on something so fucking huge.” Calvin laughed, no fear in his face. “Though I must admit, if my target was his dick I would definitely miss. It’s just so damn small. I mean seriously, I thought a beast like him would have a massive schlong, but nope! It’s itty-bitty.”

  Katie turned back and watched as the beast swatted away the bullets like flies, growling loudly in Calvin’s direction. She could see the frustration building on the demon’s face, but she wasn’t sure where to go at that point. Calvin just kept coming, blasting away, reloading, and blasting again. He knew the bullets wouldn’t kill the creature, but he was trying his best to get the demon’s attention off the helicopter long enough for them to evacuate.

  “Move your asses, Damian,” Calvin shouted over his shoulder. “I can’t hold this thing off forever.”

  The demon looked at the chopper as the men pulled themselves free and ran in different directions. He snarled, lip quivering and saliva dripping from his sharp teeth. Katie could see the muscles in his black-scaled arm twitching as he shifted his body toward Calvin. Calvin knew it was coming, but he wasn’t about to back off. Instead, he pulled his shotgun out and cocked it.

  “Fuck you, motherfucker,” he screamed, letting the shots fly. They struck the demon in the chest, but barely left a mark.

  Calvin’s eyes opened wider. “Well, shit.”

  The demon reared back and flung his arm forward, releasing the stone in his hand. It missed Calvin and ricocheted off the tree in front of him. Calvin laughed loudly for a moment, but the stone had broken into large pieces when it impacted the tree and a rebound hit him squarely in the chest, knocking him backward onto the ground. Katie could hear the bones in his chest crunch as the stone made contact.

  “NO,” she screamed, running across the lawn toward Calvin.

  She slid in next to him like she had made a home run and groaned, lifting the stone from his chest and throwing it to the side. For a moment he was still, not a sound coming from his motionless body. Katie grabbed his shoulders tightly and pulled him into her lap, tears beginning to flow down her cheeks.

  “Come on, you stupid motherfucker,” she whispered. “Don’t leave me now. This is not the fucking time for this shit. I haven’t shown Pandora the websites yet. You are supposed to be there to make fun of us, dammit! WAKE. THE. FUCK. UP!”

  Katie pounded hard on his shoulders, which caused a deep wheeze to emerge from Calvin’s chest. She gasped and lifted his torso. He opened his eyes and looked up at her, cracking a smile. He coughed and blood spewed from his mouth, covering his teeth. Katie shook her head and checked him over really fast. He was hurt, but the demon could help. She knew it could.

  Maybe, Pandora said doubtfully. He’s not like me, Katie.

  Shut up, Katie growled. Just talk to him.

  Put your hand on Calvin’s chest, Pandora instructed.

  Katie nodded at Calvin and put her hand gently on his chest. He winced slightly and she closed her eyes, unable to take the pain he was showing. Pandora took a deep breath and growled.

  I told you to get to work, she snarled. Now heal him the best you can, then get back out there. I promise you that if you don’t pick up your slack, I’ll make your death more painful than you could ever imagine. T’Chezz will have nothing on the torture I’ll bring you.

  Katie gasped slightly when she felt the demon’s power flow as he started healing Calvin as fast and well as he could. Pandora was right—he was not nearly as strong as she was, but that didn’t stop him from pushing the bones back into place and mending them pretty well.

  Katie sat there breathing heavily as Calvin twitched and groaned, imagining the pain and agony he was feeling with every movement of a bone.

  She gritted her teeth and balled her fists, helping him through it and wishing that Korbin were there, or Garrett, or anyone who could help him right now.

  In the background she could hear shots being fired, the demon growling, and general destruction, but she didn’t care. Her focus was on Calvin.

  When the demon stopped Katie sat up, staring at Calvin and waiting for a sign. Slowly he opened his eyes and glanced at Katie, his face blank. He looked up at the sky.

  “Fuuuck,” he moaned. “That fucking suuuucked. But tell Pandora that she is one badass bitch for scaring the shit out of my demon. Never felt him move that fast or that panicked ever.”

  “I’ll let her know.” Katie chuckled.

  Calvin reached up, and Katie stood up and helped him to his feet. He groaned and leaned backward.

  “Not bad.” He ran his hands over his chest. “Not bad at all.”

  “Come on,” Katie said. “We have a demon’s ass to kick.”

  Calvin and Katie headed back toward the demon, firing shots to draw its attention away from the cops it was currently tormenting by the cars. Katie chuckled as Calvin bounced up and down, cracking his neck back and forth.

  He was not ready to go down, nor would he ever do so without a fight.

  “All right, you bitch-assed punk!” Calvin yelled. “Thought you could get rid of me, huh? Well, my friend, I have some news for you! It’s gonna take a lot more than your punk ass and a rock to take me out of commission.” Calvin got into preaching mode, “I don’t give a fuck what you think you are here to do! I’m here to tell you that it’s time to sit the fuck down and shut the hell up as we open an old-fashioned can of whup-ass!”

  Katie pulled her sword out with her right hand and held her knife in her left.

  Slowly she started to walk toward the demon, bobbing and weaving as she approached him with an evil smirk on her face.

  She was tired of being pushed around by this thing. It was time for him to step up or go the hell back where he came from.

  Dodging a swipe of his claws, she sliced across his ankle with the sword, laughing and running around to the other side as he reached down and grabbed his ankle with a screech.

  “Aw, did that hurt?” Katie made a pouty face. “Poor little demon baby.”

  She charged when his attention shifted due to a high-velocity round of some sort hitting him in the head. She leapt and stabbed him in the neck with her knife, pulling it back out as she dropped back to the ground, her eyes wide with excitement.

  The demon screamed in pain and grabbed the wound as the magic of Katie’s blade burned through him like the fire that raged on the outside. Before he could react, she slashed his knee with her sword and skipped backward, taunting hi
m again.

  “What’s wrong?” She laughed. “Does that feel like hell and fire all wrapped up in a single stab?”

  “I will crush you,” he growled, holding his neck, his eyes red with fury and damnation.

  “I don’t know about that,” Katie retorted. “You seem to be having a rough go at it. Do you need a timeout? Maybe a minute to gather those tears I think I see starting to fall down your face?”

  Don’t try this kindergarten bullshit with a higher-level demon, but this guy? Go ahead—steal his lunch money. He has the emotional resilience of a two-year-old.

  The beast growled and lunged at her, but she dodged to the side and sliced his other ankle. He roared in pain and tripped, taking out a mausoleum and at least three headstones as he toppled to the ground.

  Katie risked a smile at Calvin, who just shook his head as he limped away.

  He shook his head. “Always playin’.”

  “Come on, big-ass goon,” Pandora taunted, speaking through Katie. “I’ve seen you in hell, so I know how tiny and weak you really are. There’s no way you are going to beat these humans. You will fail at this, just like you did the last time. Oh, and way worse than the time you tried to hook up with me. I know you didn’t think I would be interested in that tiny-ass dick.”

  “You bitch,” the demon growled. “Your brother will come for you, and when he does he will not only kill that stupid bitch you are riding around in, but he will send you so far into the depths of hell it will take you centuries to make your way back out.”

  Sounds like a nice hiking vacation, Pandora quipped. Too bad he will keep you tied up for his own personal pleasure. You know how he likes a good torture on Tuesday nights…and every other night, for that matter.

  “He is coming, and you are not prepared. I can see it.” The demon chuckled evilly as he maneuvered himself around. “No matter what you say to me, it does not take away from the fact that he is going to crush you like ants. This is his planet now, and you are powerless to stop him.”

  “I feel like you have a bit of a crush on my brother.” Pandora/Katie laughed. “Does he know this? I mean he is as free and open as the rest of us, but I’m pretty sure he takes his sex with chicks. I mean, I don’t want to break your heart, but there’s no chance for the two of you. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.”

  “Enough, you stupid witch,” the demon snarled. “Are we going to end this, or do I need to just go ahead and step on you to put you out of my misery?”

  “I don’t like feet,” Pandora/Katie replied. “I never did. I mean, to each his own. Everybody got a thang, but your foot fetish is really not my forte.”

  Katie watched as the demon stood back up. He was tired enough now that he wasn’t on fire anymore—he wasn’t wasting his energy like that at this point. Before he could get his footing she moved forward and leapt high enough into the air from the damaged mausoleum to grab the demon by the face and plunge her sword into his shoulder.

  The demon screamed in pain and swiped across his face, sending Katie plummeting down to the ground. Her back cracked over a pile of stones and rubble.

  She couldn’t move.

  I got this, Pandora said, starting to heal her.

  You might want to hurry up, Katie moaned, watching the demon pull the sword out and throw it to the side.

  As Calvin ran forward he took out his new short sword and, slowing down, jammed it into the beast’s thigh. He pulled it right back out as the demon knocked him over. Calvin slid backward, grabbing his chest and wincing as he slowly worked to get himself back up and into the fight.

  The beast hobbled slightly, but kept moving toward Katie.

  Okay, go! Pandora shouted.

  Katie rolled over and got up, rolling her shoulders and grimacing.

  Nice work, she admitted.

  I know. Pandora chuckled.

  Katie met the demon head-on, pulling a gun out and firing it into his face as she jumped over the arm he swiped at her.

  She grabbed a small piece of his barely-there clothing and used it to swing around his body, then pressed the barrel of her gun into his stomach hard and fired several rounds into him.

  This time they pierced his skin, but it only slowed him down for a moment. Katie bitched and grabbed a reload when the gun just clicked.

  Watch out, Pandora yelled, taking control of her body and hurling her to the ground.

  The beast swung hard but missed, knocking Calvin, who had just gotten back into the fight, from his feet.

  He slid backward through the grass, rolling over several times before his back jammed into a stone wall.

  Katie looked over her shoulder at Calvin and growled, tired of the demon trying to kill her friend. They were both battered and bruised to hell, but the fight was nowhere near over.

  This beast had to be taken down for good. Katie didn’t want to fight him again if she could help it. She pushed away from the demon and stood up, slotting her pistols into their holsters and picking up her sword from the ground.

  She wobbled back and forth while Pandora frantically scanned her body and tried to heal her as fast as she could.

  The demon laughed. “Give up, little human, and maybe T’Chezz will have mercy on you.” He considered his statement before adding, “But probably not.”

  “Not even in your wildest wet dreams,” Katie/Pandora growled, red flashing in her eyes.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The fight continued, hit after hit, wound after wound, healing after healing.

  Katie stopped attacking for a few moments and leaned against a statue, hiding and trying to gather her strength.

  Her body was covered in blood, and this time most of it was her own. She looked at the wall Calvin had landed against a few moments before, but he was nowhere in sight.

  She hoped that Eric had gotten him out of there. One more blow, and he would surely be dead.

  She shook her head, completely out of breath and almost tapped out from the amount of stress she had put her human body through. Pandora could heal her over and over, but eventually there would become a point where she just couldn’t take it anymore.

  You are running low, Pandora admitted. But so is he.

  This needs to end. Katie panted as she spoke. And it needs to end now, before anyone else dies.

  Including us, Pandora stated.

  Agreed.

  Katie took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the statue. The demon was licking his wounds, keeping one eye out for the next attack.

  He straightened up and balled his fists, chest heaving, body injured and torn. Katie limped forward carrying her sword, staring up into the demon’s eyes.

  No words needed to be said; they both knew they were down to one last battle. One or both of them would fall, but it had to be finished—neither had anything left.

  The demon stepped forward and bent down, roaring loudly, and sending spit flying everywhere.

  Pandora bitched, Damn, a little Listerine would go a long way.

  Katie tipped her head back and let out her own warcry, raising her sword high.

  The dawn sunlight glistened off the metal as she lowered it and readied herself for the attack.

  They began to circle each other, moving in tune with each other’s steps and carefully planning their next move. Just as Katie was about to charge shots rang out again, this time spraying bullets all over the beast’s torso. Katie’s eyes glistening as she glanced at Eric, who was holding Calvin up and walking slowly toward them.

  “Come on, you limp-dick motherfucker,” Calvin yelled, firing at the demon again. “You want to show me who’s boss? You want to have a dick-measuring contest? I promise you, my huge cock will win every single motherfucking time.”

  Katie smiled and shook her head as he moved closer, firing bullet after bullet. The demon was weak; he could barely fight back anymore.

  The beast backed up slowly, swatting at the bullets that stung his skin as blood splashed from the entry points. His skin wasn’t
nearly as tough as it had been at the beginning of the fight.

  She sheathed her sword and stepped back, watching the demon grumble and grasp for a break in the fire.

  When Calvin’s automatic weapon ran out he threw it to the side and pulled his pistol out, stopping a moment. Eric still held him up.

  Calvin fired the pistol at the demon’s face and hit him in the cheek, then the ear, and then right between the eyes. A viscous black droplet of blood bubbled up where the bullet had entered, and the demon lifted his hand to rub it away.

  His eyes were still red, but the end of the battle showed on his face. Katie was taken back at the heroic nature that Calvin displayed in the face of something so permanent, so finite as death.

  Her pride surging through every vein in her body like an uncontrollable fire.

  This was a new kind of intensity. A desire…no, a need to take this demon’s life.

  Katie needed to do it for herself, but she also needed to do it for Calvin. If he died, Calvin would see the demon go down before he did.

  She needed him to see that he was a hero, that he was a better man than that demon could ever be. She moved over to Calvin and pushed the barrel of his clicking pistol toward the ground.

  “You did well, my friend,” Katie told him softly.

  “And I look good doing it, even half-dead.” He chuckled, keeping his eyes on the demon, who was panting too.

  She smiled. “Hell yeah, you do.”

  He looked at her for a moment, a smirk moving over his lips before his eyes drooped and fatigue washed over his face.

  “Finish this,” he requested quietly. “I want to go home.”

  “You got it.” She nodded, unbuckling her vest.

  Wait, what are you doing? Pandora squawked. Pick up your knives! You need those knives!

  She dropped the vest on the ground and winked to Calvin, who just shook his head. She knew he thought she was nuts, but that didn’t mean he didn’t trust that she knew what she was doing.