A Demon's Wings: Vice College For Young Demons: Year Three

by Marie Mistry

  Even the few deaths were quickly dealt with, the bodies removed by waiting unshown who dragged them out of sight through the door at the back of the stage.

  The line of people waiting never seemed to go down and it didn't take long for me to start flagging. My smile started to feel more and more forced with every person that passed and the music started to make me wince whenever a high note was played. My headache started maybe an hour in and before long, my stomach started to rebel.

  I knew it was the poison but I'd put myself in the position where asking for a break in front of these demons would make me look weak.

  For me to feel so bad, so quickly, I must have been dosed again.

  But how?

  I'd been cautious. I hadn't touched anyone beyond the line of first-years and I'd kept enough distance between myself and Professor Saxon that any move she made to dose me would have been obvious.

  It took almost another three hours for the end of the line to make it inside the room. My eyes kept returning to the last guy, willing the end of the line to move closer. But, like watching paint dry, it only made it go slower.

  My mates knew something was wrong. I could tell by the furtive glances they were taking at me and the way that Enzo's hands would periodically appear around my waist, directing his power into me, giving me a small measure of relief for a matter of minutes before my symptoms returned.

  We couldn't keep this up forever.

  Chapter 32

  The end of the line finally made it onto the stage. The last person was close enough for me to reach out and touch when I felt myself sway.

  Shadows sprang out of the ground to hold me up but the motion set off the nausea in my stomach. I ended up grabbing the last first-year, but more for support than anything else.

  Of course, touching someone who, seconds later, collapsed under the pain of their showing was a bad idea. I almost toppled over him, saved at the last second by those supportive shadows. The audience, oblivious to my dilemma, broke into applause as the man stood, his Envy crystal gleaming on his chest. That gleam seemed to make my eyes water and blur, until every little visual detail around me became fuzzy.

  I felt Enzo reach into my body with his power, take control of my muscles and start to move me towards the back of the stage. I didn't fight him. He had enough control to hold back my vomit reflex and contort my face into a blissful smile. Like a puppeteer, he manoeuvred me down the stairs at the back of the stage and straight to Rina's waiting arms whilst the Headmistress took my spot to start her speech.

  My mates followed. They formed a solid wall of muscle around me, the six of them holding back the tide of thankful demons as Rina grabbed my arm and started leading me towards the small door in the back of the hall. We'd almost made it when the announcer's voice cut through the music and the chatter.

  “Prime Delaroza, Head of His House and of the Assembly.”

  Through the gap between Blaze and Kain's shoulders, I watched as a blurry Hannibal strode into the room, followed by an entire army of his Assembly guards. The crowd parted, some people actively slipping away as soon as they caught sight of the obvious display of unfriendly force. Others, like Maddox, Nelly and Lulu edged closer to us, but Aeron caught their eye and gave them a minute shake of his head. They hesitated for just a moment before melting back into the crowd.

  I suppose it was best not to get the Grand Master of the Knights and my two best friends caught up in this if they didn't have to be but I didn't like the idea of my mates facing this threat alone.

  Hannibal stopped in front of me, a severe expression on his face, but a gleam in his eyes that only my mates and I could see. “Lady Carazor, I'm here to arrest you and your mates for conspiracy to aid the Resistance and aiding and abetting a fugitive!” he boomed.

  The silence spread like a flash frost but Hannibal wasn't done. Ever the showman, he paused for dramatic effect, then released the bombshell that thawed the crowd's shock and turned it to outrage.

  “We have footage showing you raiding Craven Hall on the night of Ronan Craven's escape. We also have proof that, on the very same night, you met with none other than The Rebel himself, Torin Valec! Surrender now, and you may be shown mercy and a fair trial.”

  Viv appeared, pulling open the door and urging me through it. She grabbed one arm and Rina took my other, all but yanking me away from my mates. I tried to resist, but Enzo was still in the driver's seat of my body, and he helped them as much as he could.

  Hannibal chuckled, the sound so eager that I knew this was what he'd wanted all along. “Let this be a lesson to all those who would aid the scourge of the Resistance,” he announced. “There will be no mercy when it comes to defending the castes. Tonight marks the beginning of their end!”

  A shield formed between us and the army approaching and Enzo's hold on my body dropped as he turned his focus to the approaching maelstrom of power. Someone on one of the sides had thrown the first PK missile and my mates were retaliating faster than I could keep track. The other guests were fleeing en-masse now, their curiosity outweighed by their sense of self-preservation.

  My gut, finally back under its own influence, rebelled and I retched, splattering the white wallpaper with blood.

  “Shit!” Rina cursed, dodging the spray. “We need a healer.” She glanced back where my mates were giving as good as they got with the Assembly guards. Ruelle had joined them, her replicas flying at the enemy from all directions.

  “We need to get out of here first!” Viv argued, pulling me forward.

  “Rina, take her and GO!” Blaze roared, as an explosion rocked the room.

  We were almost out of sight when the first net was shot. Made of metal chains, it ensnared Jin's legs, sending him flying backwards.

  I wanted to scream but all that came out was a gurgle of blood.

  “Go! We got this!” Aeron was already freeing Jin, slicing him free with blades of air.

  Rina and Viv yanked me forward, pulling my mates out of my sight completely.

  “Come on, at least try and help!” Rina kept looking behind us, even as she sprinted down the corridor with the force of a rampaging bull.

  We'd barely turned the corner before we came across the first guard. He raised his hand but before he could do much more, I used what little strength lingered in my muscles to launch myself at him. Our mouths connected. My Succubus side found the core of his power and dragged it to herself.

  He fell to the ground, dead, before he could take in enough breath to scream.

  But it felt like I'd barely taken anything. Instead of brimming with power as I normally would be, I was still running on empty.

  I staggered away, landing flat on my ass.

  It didn't take long before I was hauled up again. Even though my legs felt like jelly, I forced myself to run alongside Rina and Viv. I might have been useless in a fight beside my mates but I sure as hell wasn't going to be the reason my friends ended up dead.

  Another man rounded the corner but, this time, Viv reached out and yanked him to her. She fed on him in a frenzy, mouths fused as her victim stiffened and paled before our eyes. Was this what I looked like when I fed? I was caught between horror and fascination.

  When Viv stepped back, I could tell her Succubus was in control by the ways her eyes flashed with hunger. But Rina hadn't stopped to look as she hurried past, dragging me with her.

  “Come on!” Rina yelled.

  But Viv had seen another guard and she pounced on her next victim with a look of glee.

  “Stupid Succubae,” Rina muttered, before turning and yelling. “Get somewhere safe when you finish with desert, you greedy bitch!"

  Viv didn't reply and we were soon too far gone to hear if she did.

  I blacked out. I wasn't sure when, but when I dragged myself back to the land of the living, a heavy sense of danger pressed into my gut. The stained-glass windows told me we were nearly at the Chapel and the safe room Maddox had told me about, but Rina was in front of me, her fists rai
sed as she threw missile after missile at the men behind us.

  “I'm a Protection, you stupid, dung biscuits!” she roared. “You think you can touch me?”

  And it was true, her shield around us was opaque with power. Her strikes shook the walls with each blow.

  “She is quite impressive, isn't she?” Fintan's voice came from beside me and I wrenched my head up to see him squatting beside me. He was clutching a bright red stain on his thigh, marring his otherwise-immaculate white clothes. He noticed me staring. “I'm not much of a fighter, I'm afraid. Fortunately, I'm not stupid enough to feel emasculated by the fact that my mate can kick ass and take names.”

  He was as conversational as though we were sitting outside on a pleasant day, but it was hard to hear him over the crashing of Rina's assault.

  Then it was silent.

  Rina was panting, her eyes glowing with power as she surveyed the dusty wreckage of her enemies. “Damn, I hoped I could leave one alive for you to gobble.” She kicked a dismembered arm with her toe. “Ugh, I see what your assassin means. Killing idiots is so damned messy!”

  I was about to croak a reply when more footsteps echoed towards us.

  “As comely as you look when you're crushing your enemies, perhaps retreat is the best option?” Fintan stood and I dragged myself up the wall beside him.

  "Lady Carazor, your mates are in custody. Surrender now!” Hannibal yelled, appearing around the end of the corridor, flanked by two guards.

  My heart thumped as I processed his words. My eyes caught on the ring still on my finger, the stones gleaming through the layer of blood, grime and dust that clung to me. Everything inside me roared as I found my mating bonds muted and I shoved myself away from the wall, towards the Prime.

  “You dared to touch my mates?” My voice was guttural, but clear.

  I reached inside myself to the seat of my power and found it not empty, but completely missing. The poison's work was complete. I was a dead woman walking.

  But my inner Succubus and I agreed: Hannibal would die for touching my men.

  Rina tried to grab me but I ducked, the motion more of a lurch than graceful dodge. My spear found its way into my hand without conscious thought, and I extended it. I dug one end into the floor and used it to vault myself closer. My wings helped, giving me enough lift to help me get just that little bit further.

  Rina was yelling something. Her shield appeared between me and the man I planned to drag with me into the abyss.

  I launched my body forward.

  Grabbed hold of his soul with my last ounce of power.

  And I. Took. Everything.

  Epilogue

  Rina

  “Lilith!” I roared, reaching for the blonde hair of my brother's mate as she overcame the stupor that she'd been in for the last few minutes and launched herself towards the Prime.

  I tried to raise a shield between them, but Lilith used her damned spear like a pole to vault herself out of my range. The rainbow light from the stained-glass windows danced across her body as she flew.

  And she was flying—wings 'technically' too small or not, they were keeping her aloft in a way that defied gravity.

  She landed almost a foot away from Delaroza, who had his sword drawn and was waiting for her. I braced myself for the inevitable blow, even as I sent all the power I could muster to try and stop it.

  Hannibal's face paled, his mouth going slack.

  Then he just … imploded.

  His body sucked in on itself as if Lilith was drawing so fast that he couldn't handle it.

  His skin started to shrivel like a raisin, contorting down until even his bones were collapsing. His entire body mummified with his mouth stretched open on a silent scream he never had the chance to make.

  His guards stepped back in fear and I used that instant to strike them from underneath with PK, sending them flying away from Lilith, who had dropped face first onto the floor. I watched them land, made sure that they didn't get up again, and then started running as fast as my short-ass legs would carry me.

  Shit, if she died, Blaze would never forgive me…

  My feet pounded on the shattered tiled floor as I raced towards her.

  She lay sprawled over the body of the Prime, her face pale and skin waxy.

  “Is she breathing?” Fintan demanded.

  I was so terrified that I didn't even snap at him.

  I heaved Lilith off the corpse and onto her back, holding my cheek over her mouth to feel for breath.

  I swear my heart stopped beating as I waited… "Only just.” It was the faintest puff of air I'd ever felt. So quiet and innocuous I might have thought it was a breeze. I rocked back on my heels. “Fuck, what are we gonna do?”

  He hobbled up beside me, grabbing one of Lilith's arms and slinging it around his shoulders. “Safety first. Then we can find a healer.”

  My gut told me that there was very little any healer could do for her now but I pushed that negative bitch aside, nodded and took Lilith's other arm, muttering under my breath as we stumbled back towards the chapel.

  “Wake the fuck up, Succubus.”

  She didn't answer me and my gut clenched. This woman was Blaze's entire life. And, I grudgingly admitted, she wasn't all bad.

  We just made it to the secret door to the Shrine of the Chosen when I heard the clatter of heels on tile.

  “Rina! Wait!”

  Professor Saxon's blonde hair was windswept, her shoulder bleeding onto her stupid yellow dress as she jogged after us.

  I whirled and let go of Lilith, sticking my body between Professor Saxon and the two wounded Lusts. If the rogue professor thought she could get to them, she had another thing coming. Besides, I was the only one who would get to kill my mate.

  “Stay back,” I warned, summoning pyrokinetic fireballs into my palms as I searched for any more Syndicate cronies she could have with her.

  She didn't stop, but she did slow down. Approaching like I was some kind of pissed-off tiger. “Rina, I want to help.”

  I snorted. “That's not what my visions tell me, Professor. Not what Lilith's visions showed her, either. You're with the Syndicate and I'm done with pretending otherwise.”

  Her angelic smile made me clench my fists. “Hear the truth in my voice. I want to help you. Your mate knows my memories. He can see that you should trust me.”

  Her voice was doing something weird. As she spoke, it sounded too clear, too pure. Listening to her hurt my ears, but at the same time I couldn't open my mouth and call her a liar. I glanced sideways at Lilith. Why the hell couldn't she just wake up and play these stupid, political, bullshit games?

  Fintan saw me glance in their direction and assumed I was looking to him. “She's telling the truth. She was a member of the Syndicate but she switched sides when her son was born.”

  The Headmistress flinched at the mention of Aeron and I remembered Prime Delaroza saying all of Lilith's mates had been captured.

  Fuck.

  “We don't have time for a standoff,” Saxon continued. “Her sigillary is killing her.”

  Again, her voice sounded like she was telling the truth. “Stop using your gift to try and convince me!” I ordered. I opened my mouth to demand she leave us or fight, when my eyes caught a shift in the shadows behind her. A second figure came into view, his greasy blonde hair and gaunt face no less recognisable for all the months spent in prison. I shuffled closer to Lilith. “Prime Craven, why am I not surprised?”

  The man was undoubtedly Enzo's father, though he looked a lot more dishevelled than the last time I'd seen him. Personally, the Assassin gave me the creeps, so looking at his sperm donor set my teeth on edge.

  “Our daughter-by-mating is dying the longer you discuss this. There is a toxin in her blood and if you don't take that sigillary off her, she'll be dead before we can get her to safety.”

  “You can't poison a piece of metal!”

  “No, I can't. It's not in my skillset. But an aurumkinetic can combine gold with
poison easily.”

  It clicked into place. “Ajax.”

  “Precisely.”

  I weighed my options, trying to see the endgame here. Nelly, Lilith, Viv—even the airhead, Lulu—could all play these stupid political games. Me? Not so much. Wraths are known for our brawn, not political mastermind. I had no talent for guessing the motivations of others and in a situation like this, all I had to go on was my gut.

  Of course, my gut couldn't really be all that trustworthy, considering it wanted me to bang Fintan's brains out, instead of skewer him.

  Yet somehow, I still lowered my arms. My hand hovered over the exposed brimstone on Lilith's back and the fancy scrolling metal there. “If you're telling the truth about this … Prove it. Who's the Grand Master of the Syndicate?”

  Saxon grimaced, but the truth still echoed in her words when she spoke. “The person who gave her the poison in the first place.”

  My hand whipped the gold off Lilith's brimstone before she could finish her sentence. The ring solidified in my hand and I glared at it. “Vendra.”

  Saxon nodded and strode past us all into the chapel. “Follow me. She doesn't have much time.”

  Vice College for Young Demons Reading Order

  Book 1: A Demon’s Horns – Available Now

  Book 2: A Demon’s Gifts – Available Now

  Book 3: A Demon’s Wings – Available Now

  Book 4: A Demon’s Heart – Releasing Autumn 2020

  About the Author

  Marie Mistry lives in rainy Britain but spends most of her time escaping into imaginary worlds, whether that is in books or video games. She writes paranormal romance but has written books in other genres in the past. She has a mild obsession with happily ever after and true love which she blames on a childhood full of Disney goodness. Stalk her on Facebook at Mistry’s Inc.