Love and War Part 2

by Kim Faulks

  Creed would’ve given her the benefit of the doubt. He’d have shown confusion, however momentary. But not this bitch. Sarah’s dark eyes flashed and the Chosen knew the haughty woman put the pieces together in the time it took her to toss her head. “I should’ve figured it out sooner, Lila. You fooled us all, didn’t you? He’ll kill you, you know. It will utterly destroy him, but when he finds out it’s been you all along, he will kill you.”

  Power and excitement raced through her veins as she lifted her chin and smiled. “He will try.”

  They stood there for a moment while the truth hung in the air, until there was only one thing left to say. “End the witch.”

  The demons wrenched the witch backwards, dragging her deeper into the house. Lila could hear Sarah mumbling, speaking a tongue she didn’t understand, but her words didn’t matter—nothing did. Lila stepped back. Her work here was done.

  The wait had definitely been a waste. This was turning out to be easier than she expected. The witch kept mumbling, her words slurring until they were one long moan. Finish the bitch and be done with it. One of the demons reached for her, snarling with savagery that spiked Lila’s pulse. Yes, yes.

  Sarah raised her hands and shuffled backward, but there was nowhere to go. The beasts formed a tight circle, advancing like a pack of starving wolves. She held her head low, muttering the words of her Goddess. Words wouldn’t help her now. “Yield and I’ll make it quick and painless.”

  “Never.” Sarah broke her prayer to answer.

  She waited for the first blow, already envisioning the arc of blood, the sweet, salty scent in the air. Her stomach tightened. Her tie with the Goddess she once worshiped. The phantom queen, Mórrígan was still there, although faint. She would’ve fought alongside this witch, given the chance. She would’ve bled. She would’ve died to protect the legacy, the cause. Once Creed’s pathetic coven saw she could get this close they’d know she was a force to be reckoned with.

  Lila was so occupied with her thoughts, and the tug-o-war inside, she didn’t see one of the beasts turn from the witch until it stepped toward her. The demon snarled, raising the hair on the back of her neck.

  Something was happening here, something she hadn’t planned.

  The witch continued to mumble, casting words like stones. The result sent ripples through the horde. Another demon turned away from Sarah, instead moving toward Lila.

  Lilith.

  The bitch was casting a spell, turning her own army against her. She spun, lunging for the door. Her heavy footfalls boomed through the house as she raced towards the kitchen. She needed a weapon, something she could use to protect herself. An old carving knife lay on the sink, coated with a thick, white substance.

  The beast snarled, bearing down on her. She snatched the knife from the sink and swung. The blade arced through the air, splattering white gunk across the demon’s chest. Her chest heaved, aching from her sprint. Deep howls tore through the house as the elder circled her. He lunged. She slashed, grazing his upper arm. Blood welled, seeping through his shirt. This was not what she had planned. Her heart sped as a second growl echoed, coming closer. Another monster skirted the doorway, the creature’s steps slow and careful as he joined his brother.

  The witch sang louder, each word punching through the air, turning the tide against the Chosen. Fucking bitch. One slow shuffle had her backed against the wall. The two demons stepped together, closing her in. One pathetic blade was all she had. One blade against two mindless drones. She was fucked.

  She squeezed herself against the pantry cupboard. There she could force her power into the beast, killing it. It wasn’t much, but it was all she had. A pentacle was nailed to the cupboard. The idol was a slap to her face, daring her to take the name of god and ask forgiveness.

  Never.

  The demon prowled forward, lips drawn back, ugly blood eyes focused on her. She clenched her fist, steeling the blade in her hand and stepped into the attack with a scream. The knife sank deep. The beast didn’t stop. He wrapped his hands around her throat and squeezed. She had no time to use her power and cleave the demon from the vessel it wore. She tried to inhale and instead gasped and choked. The knife was still in her grip. Lila wrenched her arm back, using what little strength she had left.

  The blade slid free with a sickening squelch. His grip tightened and the room darkened. At one time she would’ve survived this and fought the Corrupt with powers of her own, but not anymore—she had forsaken the only mother she’d ever known. Still the dark power of her Father raced through her veins.

  The room greyed. Her head rolled back and her knees weakened.

  Mórrígan….

  A scream wrenched her back, dark blurs moved in the center of her vision. The knife. The knife was still in her hand.

  They are only men after all… the words whispered inside her head. Lila lowered her hand. Using her thigh, she shoved the blade as hard as she could. A deafening howl cut through the air. The darkened shapes paled. She sucked in air, grasping the cupboard for strength. The door came open. Tins of food dropped out and rolled, coming to rest beside the beast who writhed on the floor. The knife hilt shuddered from the middle of his groin. Blood covered the floor. Her stomach rolled and she tasted acid. She looked away, but this was no time to be squeamish.

  The remaining demons surged forward, stepping across their writhing brother. She had no strength left and no knife. She sought out the front door. I’ll never make it. Freedom may as well have been miles away. There was no way she could get past it. Her throat felt thick and dry. She tried to work some saliva in her mouth, but there was nothing but the salty taste of her own blood… salt… Demons are burned by salt.

  Lila spun, and tore through the contents of the cupboard as the heavy steps advanced behind her. She sent tins and bottles crashing to the floor. Please, there has to be some here…. The monster smashed into her from behind, ramming her against the shelves. Broken bottles cut deep. Hot breath splattered her skin as he latched onto her neck. The cupboard swallowed her scream. Pain lanced her shoulder, driving shards down her arm. Tears sprang to her eyes. Her knees gave way under the demon’s weight and she crashed to the floor. She could feel the tearing of her flesh and smelled her own blood. She tried to reach for a bottle, anything she could fight with, but her hands slid through fine grains that poured from a spilled bag somewhere on the shelves.

  Her face hit the ground. Iron fists punched her spine. Her teeth tore through her lip as her nose smashed into the floor. She inhaled the powered substance, coughed, spluttered, and swallowed the sting… salt… it’s salt.

  The beast wrenched her head back by her hair and slammed her face into the floor. Sparks flew behind her eyes. Dull thunder reverberated inside her skull like an empty drum. He yanked her head up a second time. This time, her entire upper body lifted off the ground. Her hand skirted the floor. She grabbed what she could, praying a fistful would be enough. Wrenching her upper torso to face her attacker, she stared into crimson eyes. Ribbons of her flesh stuck out between the demon’s teeth. The stench of blood wafted over her. Pain washed over her like a tidal wave.

  She swung her arm and released her grip, spraying the monster with the fine powder. The soulless vessel screamed and dropped her. She grabbed another handful, scrabbling across the floor, out of the demon’s way. Raising to her knees, she coated the other with a spray of salt.

  While he screamed and twitched in a terrible herky-jerky dance, she scanned the room for another weapon, but saw nothing else. The knife was all she had. If she didn’t end them now, Sarah might bring them back from the brink. She grabbed frantically the knife handle, protruding from the demon’s groin. Its pants were torn, exposing its flaccid penis. Gross. She averted her gaze and grabbed the hilt.

  Lila jerked, dragging the screaming demon closer. The blade was wedged tight. Must’ve hit bone. Her heart thundered. She had to end this now. The constant call of the witch in the other room fell to mere grunts. She wasn’t successfu
l in turning all of the demons against her. Whoever was left would finish the damn job. She smiled and wedged her foot in tight against the demon’s hip and yanked. The blade ground against bone. She pulled with all her might. Momentum slammed her against the floor as the blade slid free.

  She scuttled on her hands and knees. Her breath came hard as she swung her arm above her head and bought the knife down, slicing through flesh to bone again. Blood shot high, splattering her arm and chest. The other piece of shit writhed on the floor, gripping its borrowed face. She could see flesh bubbling up between its fingers. She needed to put it out of its misery

  “Can you hear me witch, bitch?” Lila hollered, tasting salt and blood. “This is the last one, then I’m coming for you!” Dark power surged inside her. She wielded the energy like a blade, impaling the monster. The vessel let out a choked cry, which was cut short as she drove her essence home and spat. “Worthless piece of fucking shit.”

  Blood flowed from her shoulder, coating her arm. She glanced to where her shirt stuck to her flesh with the red gore, but adrenaline shoved her pain aside. Finish it and be done. She pushed herself up. The room swayed. She refused to die at the cusp of the Corrupt’s rule. She refused to die here, in this dump. Her hand closed around the hilt of the knife once more. One last bitch to kill and then she could rest.

  The walls seemed to move as she stumbled down the corridor. The faded yellow paint was now painted a sickening hue. She stumbled toward the doorway, clutching the knife. Her left leg dragged. Her right eye throbbed, closing off her vision. I won’t fail you, Father.

  A head greeted her as she rounded the corner, eyes unfocused. A tongue lolled from the corner of the demon’s mouth. She searched the room and the torn bodies of what remained of her squad until she found the witch. Sarah knelt on the floor in the midst of the carnage. The dark curtain of her hair hid her face. Blood dripped from her hands to pool on the floor. There was no movement, not even the rise of her chest to indicate she was still alive.

  She licked her lips. “Hey.”

  The floor creaked. Her heart hammered. She spun, glancing behind her to the empty kitchen while a voice inside her screamed. There was no one there. No demons waiting to do this bitch’s bidding, nothing. It’s all in my head. Just get this over and done with.

  She took one step into the room, moving cautiously toward Sarah. “I’m gonna make this easy on you, all you have to do is… not… move.”

  Her chest quaked with thunder. The blade shook. She gripped the slimy hilt tighter. Something’s not right. The witch remained silent. Is she dead? The last few steps seemed to stretch out. The pool of blood beneath her hands slithered toward the Lila, gathering dust and dirt in its wake. “Are you dead, Sarah?”

  She stopped an arm’s length away. The tip of the blade danced in the air as she sliced through matted curls, uncovering her face. The movement was too quick. The dark witch spun on her knees, catching the Chosen’s wrist. In one quick move, the witch flung Lila to the floor.

  Sarah was strong but she was also hurt. Her screams were of pain. Blood spewed from the wound in the witch’s stomach when she hurled Lila to the ground. The floor crushed the bones in her hand. Her missed blow allowed Sarah’s fist to come for her face. The witch’s strike caught the high bone of her brow. Her head snapped to the side. Teeth gnashed shut. Pain tore through her head. She hit the ground, face down, and the witch was on her. There was nothing she could do. Her feeble blows caught the witch on her thighs. But she had the knife. She sliced the air sideways until the blade met something that prevented it from moving further.

  Sarah screamed above her. Lila rolled onto her back. She wrenched the witch’s arm behind her back and shoved, toppling Sarah, who slipped in her own blood. Lila’s stomach rolled. The pain in her head hit an unbearable peak. She held on, kneeling on all fours, and waited for the pain to pass.

  “Get up.” When she thought she could move, she growled and reached for Sarah. Her fingers slid through the witch’s hair. She gripped the strands and yanked her head back, exposing her throat. “Goodbye, Sarah.”

  The witch clenched her stomach, swinging her arm high. Her eyes went wide, telling Lila she’d caught the glint of the blade before she bought it down.

  Her mind froze and she clutched her chest. Her heart clenched like a fist, tightening until she couldn’t breathe. Her focus left her, moving through the walls of the house as though she was no more than a ghost.

  Someone called her—a familiar presence—drawing out each moment of agony until the sharp bite of pain was all she could feel. The air cut like glass as she inhaled, wrenching her spirit back into her body. Her fist unclenched. The thud echoed in the room as Sarah’s body hit the floor. Pain no longer touched her as she moved. She gripped the hilt and forced herself to her feet.

  He was here… and getting closer. The blood and the bodies she left behind, finding strength in her need—the need to see him once again. The front gate groaned as she pushed through the back door.

  Could she do it? Could she end this once and for all? Her feet were heavy. She slid along the side of the house, stopping at a clump of bushes at the edge.

  Creed stood on the footpath, glancing toward the house, as though he had yet to make up his mind. He hadn’t changed, still strong and noble—her lion. In a rush, the hurt came flooding back—fierce and unjust—and with it, the love she’d once had for this man. Her body shuddered, desperate to feel his touch, his compassion, his desire.

  In this moment, she hated him all over again.

  Her mind fought her heart—she knew neither would win. She felt the step before she took it. The actions played out like a movie in her mind as Creed turned. His blue eyes flashed, wounded. Betrayed by her existence. He cried out, reaching for her, ready to take the blade in her hand.

  Her god of Love and War.

  Her leg trembled, desperate to take this leap. Tires squealed as she caught sight of a car racing along the road, sliding sideways as it came to a stop outside the gate. She returned her gaze to Creed. He stopped and turned, but it was too late. The naïve were here.

  The boom of the car doors echoed like gunfire as five men piled out of the silver Commodore. She caught a flash of silver at the waistband of the leader. He pushed through the line of cars, heading for the gate. She knew cops when she saw them. But what did they want with Creed?

  The second officer jerked his head to the clump of trees where she hid, and in that moment, she knew she’d made one very important mistake. Blood-red eyes shone in the sunlight, exposing the beast for a split second before he shifted his gaze and his dark human eyes returned.

  Lila’s stomach clenched. Warning bells rang loud and clear inside her mind. She knew in her gut, this demon was who the elder spoke of. This was her new rival.

  And he’d come for Creed.

  The End

  I hope you enjoyed Part 2 of Love and War

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  Thank you

  Kim Faulks and Eden Connor