Demon Slayer

by Linsey Hall

  Roots began to pop up from underground and grabbed the zombies around the waist, then dragged them into the dirt.

  Mari leapt onto another mausoleum and raised her bow. She fired explosive arrows at the zombies and hit them right in the middle. The arrows detonated on impact, blowing the bodies apart.

  It was disgusting and cool all at once.

  In the distance, a small flash of black streaked though the headstones. It leapt onto one, then bounded onto the head of a zombie. Fiery breath shot from the hellcat’s mouth, lighting up the zombie’s head.

  Where the hell did that cat keep coming from?

  “Bad-ass friends you’ve got,” Declan said as he hurled a blast of heavenly flame at the zombie that stood between him and the demon.

  “Yep.” I searched the graveyard.

  There were thousands of bodies here. My friends were fast and skilled, taking out the zombies almost as soon as they reached the surface. But eventually they would tire and their magic would run out. If the necromancer kept going—and he would, I was sure of it—he’d eventually overpower them with sheer numbers. Then the zombies would overrun the town.

  We had to get that charm off of him, without getting one of his damned death punches.

  I needed to find a place to focus. To do a little magic that I didn’t want anyone to see—though they’d see the aftereffects. I couldn’t help that, and I wouldn’t worry about it now.

  Quickly, I darted toward a mausoleum that would conceal me. A zombie jumped into my path—these suckers were fast—and I swung my mace for its middle.

  The steel smashed right through the decayed flesh and brittle bones, but not before the bastard swiped me with his claws. Pain flared in my arm, blood soaking my suit. It turned red immediately upon contact with the fabric.

  The zombie fell, but another one took its place, swiping low for my legs. I slammed my mace into its arm, then hopped out of the way of its teeth.

  I did not want to run into those. I swung my mace for its head, crushing the skull.

  All around, the battle raged. I sprinted to my hiding spot and crouched down, slicing my fingertip with my nail. White blood welled, and I raised my hand. I blew, imagining the heavy headstones around the demon rising out of the ground and slamming into him.

  I’d used telekinesis before, so my aim was pretty good. The heavy marble slammed into the demon’s left side. His words stuttered, and he stumbled back. A second headstone crashed into him, hitting his other shoulder.

  This one took him to the ground, pinning him hard and trapping his remaining arm. I was glad Declan had chopped off one arm—it gave the demon a lot less leverage. For good measure, I sent a third tombstone at him that pinned his legs.

  He roared, a sound of rage that vibrated the air around us. The zombies moved faster, a frenzy overtaking them. They were fed by his energy, and they were pissed.

  I sprinted out from my hiding spot, determined to yank the charm off his neck. Declan was faster, though, racing toward the demon on long legs. He leapt on him, yanking at the charm. As he pulled it off, the demon got his arm free and swung a massive punch at Declan’s middle.

  The demon’s fist smashed into him, the black light of his magic flaring. As with last time, despair overwhelmed me, his magic shooting through the air. Declan flew backward, and my heart dropped. He lay still, unmoving. That punch had been even harder than the one in the water.

  “Someone guard Declan!” I screamed.

  We couldn’t let the zombies get to him while he was knocked out.

  “On it!” Connor shouted, running toward Declan while hurling his potion bombs at any zombie who came near.

  Declan had gotten the charm, so I could take out the demon. He was currently struggling to get the heavy tombstones off of his legs.

  We needed to incapacitate him further. No way I wanted to approach like this.

  I caught Mari’s eye from across the graveyard. She stood on top of her mausoleum on the other side of the downed demon. I raised my hand, and she nodded, understanding the signal.

  I lined myself up so the demon was directly in between us and sliced my palm. Pain flared, and I grinned. Mari did the same, black blood glinting in the light.

  I envisioned lightning, just like I had all those years ago when we’d created this magic. Thunder cracked in the air as lightning shot from my palm. Lightning surged from Mari’s hand as well. The crackling streams of energy joined, so much more powerful because the two of us worked together.

  We lowered our hands, and the lightning dropped. It hit the demon, and he roared, his body lighting up like a Christmas tree. Without his protective charm, the lightning could hurt him. Together, Mari and I fed our lightning into him. We hadn’t used this power to escape Grimrealm like we’d planned—another failed attempt—but it came in handy now.

  Energy poured from me, weakening my limbs and making me short of breath. Finally, the demon lay still. No way we were lucky enough to have killed him.

  I dropped my hand, cutting the connection, and sprinted for him. With the way the fallen tombstones were positioned around him, the angle was all wrong for my mace. So I stashed the weapon in the ether and drew my sword, ready to take his head. He lay prone on the ground when I reached him, his face blackened and his eyes closed. Still unconscious?

  I raised my sword.

  Fast as a snake, his arm rose. He punched me in the leg, and the black magic flared. Pain surged through me, and I dropped to my knees, bile rising in my throat.

  He was weak from our lightning, thank fates. Otherwise, I’d be unconscious—or dead—like Declan. I struggled to stay upright with my deadened leg as the demon drew his fist back for a second punch. His fiery eyes met mine, hatred blazing within.

  I wanted to ask him why he was doing this insane thing, who the people were who’d hired him, but he struck out again.

  I dodged left, barely avoiding his strike. With my heart pounding in my ears, I swung my blade down, aiming for his neck. My aim was true. With one clean strike, his head rolled away from his body. For good measure, I sliced off his arm and legs.

  “Aerdeca! Watch out!” Someone’s voice echoed across the grass, and I spun on my one good leg, searching for the threat.

  Zombies still staggered across the grass, as violent and strong as ever. Freaking Reanima spell. Most magic died with the caster, but not this damned spell.

  A zombie was headed right for me, claws outstretched and mouth gaping wide. I lunged for it, but I was clumsy, my leg still dead. The monster swiped its claws across my waist, and agony streaked through me, hot and fierce. I brought my blade down on the zombie’s head, splitting it in two. Then I went for the waist, cutting him in half.

  One by one, we took out the last of the zombies, until finally, they all lay still. All of my friends were still standing, though some were pretty bloody. All except Declan. He was still sprawled on the ground. Panting, I staggered toward him. Connor knelt at his side.

  I dropped to the ground. “Is he all right?”

  “I think he’s alive,” Connor said. “Though he’s in pretty bad shape. That was some death punch.”

  “Bastard.” I leaned over Declan, worry tugging in my chest.

  “Here, he should take this.” Connor handed me a small vial of potion. I didn’t bother asking what it was.

  I pinched Declan’s jaw and poured the medicine down his throat. My friends gathered around, and the tension was thick in the air.

  We waited, breath held.

  Finally, Declan gasped, his eyes opening.

  Relief surged through me.

  Thank fates.

  “Did we win?” Declan asked, his head lifted off the ground.

  “Yeah, but I killed the demon.”

  Declan’s head thumped back to the grass. “I knew you’d do that.”

  16

  The next night, I sat on my front stoop. There was a chill breeze on the air, but I liked it. It was nighttime, and I’d finally gotten my hands on t
hat martini I’d been hankering for.

  Mari sat next to me, holding a Manhattan and looking longingly at an unlit cigarette.

  “Don’t do it,” I said.

  “I’m not going to.” She glanced at me, her dark eye makeup sweeping across her eyes. “But I’d like to note that we face down death so much that I don’t think it’s going to be a cigarette that gets me.”

  I sipped my martini, enjoying the feel of my silk pants and top. It felt like wearing air, and was a nice change from my fight wear. “Not worth the risk.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” She broke it in half and sipped her drink.

  The demon was dead and the Council was pleased, which meant that we were back to Blood Sorcery, at least for now. I, for one, had appreciated getting some decent sleep.

  A small dark shadow sauntered down the road, headed straight for us.

  I squinted at it. “Is that the cat that keeps showing up?”

  “That random one who appeared at the cathedral and again at the graveyard?”

  “Yeah. I first saw him in Grimrealm.”

  The cat strolled up to me, its fur partially obscured by the wisps of black smoke that drifted around him. Flame red eyes met mine. His magic smelled of brimstone, but didn’t feel evil. Inherently, I knew I could trust him.

  “Hey, cat,” I said. “Want some tuna?”

  I eat souls, thanks.

  “My kind of cat.” I frowned. “You can talk?”

  Of course I can. The cat climbed up onto the step and sat next to me.

  I looked at Mari. “Can you hear him?”

  She shook her head. “He’s talking to you? Does he want some tuna?”

  “He prefers to eat souls.”

  She gave the cat an apologetic look. “Fresh out, sorry.”

  “What’s your name, cat?”

  Wally.

  I looked at him, skeptical. “A hellcat named Wally?”

  It’s actually Wallace of Helltavia, Son of Gorgora the Dark, Devourer of Souls, and Stalker of Nightmares, but I like Wally.

  “Sure, Wally.” I reached out and scratched his head. His fur was hot to the touch, and a weird little tingle shot through my fingers, but Wally purred and rubbed his head against my hand. “Nice to meet you. Why are you here, by the way?”

  His little shoulder moved, and it looked just like a shrug. I like you.

  “Cool. I like you, too.”

  I was supposed to be a familiar to a witch down in Grimrealm but she was a real bitch. I like you better.

  "So you’ve been shopping for a new person?”

  Yep.

  “Well, a little warning, then. I’m a bitch too.”

  Not that kind of bitch.

  “All right then. Welcome to the team, Wally.”

  The three of us sat in silence a while, Mari and I sipping our drinks, and stared out at the dark street.

  When a second shadow appeared on the sidewalk, approaching at a steady pace, my heart started to pound. I couldn’t make out his features yet, but I recognized his walk.

  Declan.

  “I’m going to go get another drink.” Mari stood.

  I’m going to see if there’s any souls in your kitchen.

  Both Mari and the cat went inside—the cat was already as good a wingwoman as my sister—and I watched Declan stride down the road toward me.

  He stopped in front of me. Fates, he looked good. Tall and broad shouldered, with his damned fallen angel face that had been in more than one of my daydreams lately.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked.

  He sat on the step that Wally had just vacated. His shoulder was inches from mine, and I swore I could feel the heat of him. A low buzz started up in my body, an awareness that prickled over my skin and made me want to kiss him.

  “You really do clean up nice,” he said. “But then, you always look good.”

  “Thanks. But that didn’t answer my question.”

  “There’s one thing I don’t get, though,” he said, still not answering. “You keep pulling new magic out of a hat. I’ve never seen a supernatural do that before. We all have certain skills, but you have a lot of random ones.”

  This was why I didn’t like to work with a partner. Man, I really liked him. I hated that. I hadn’t liked a guy in ages, and it had to be this one? He was too observant. Too smart. He already saw things I didn’t want him to see, and that was dangerous.

  “I told you. I’m a Blood Sorceress. Good with the charms.”

  “But I haven’t seen any charms.”

  “It’s not my fault you’re not observant.”

  He smiled, a sexy half smile that made heat rise in my body. “There is one thing I’d like to observe.”

  “Yeah?”

  “You, on a date with me.”

  Oh yeah, this was bad news. Because I wanted that date. And I definitely couldn’t have it. Disappointment surged inside me, followed by resolve.

  “Not going to happen.” I turned to him. “But would you settle for a kiss?”

  Interest sparked in his eyes, and he turned to me. “Settle? I don’t know about settle, but—”

  I cut him off, pressing my lips to his.

  Heat surged through me at the first touch, and I nearly groaned. He did groan, a low rumble in his throat as he gripped my waist and pulled me toward him. His lips moved expertly on mine, and my head buzzed with pleasure.

  I parted my lips, nearly vibrating with desire as we kissed. I gripped his strong shoulders and gave it everything I had. It would be the only one we’d ever have, and I wanted it to be good.

  I reveled in his taste and scent, not wanting the kiss to ever end. My nerve endings lit up like it was the Fourth of July, and I wanted to throw him down on the step. To hell with being in public.

  Instead, I pulled back, my breath short and my head fuzzy. I nicked my finger with my sharp thumbnail, letting the blood well.

  “Forget of me, I will of thee,” I murmured. Before he opened his eyes, I swiped my blood across his forehead. I repeated the chant one more time to seal it, pushing all of my magic into the spell.

  He’d forget me, from beginning to end, as if I’d never been here.

  My heart ached more than I expected it to, and tears pricked the backs of my eyes. I drew back to run into the house.

  His eyes opened, confusion and annoyance sparking in their depths. “Did you just try to make me forget you?”

  “Ummm…”

  “It didn’t work.”

  Oh, shit.

  ~~~

  Thank you for reading Demon Slayer! Do you want to know what Declan is thinking right now? Hint: He’s not pleased. Even worse, a bad guy with revenge on the brain is about to show up. Click here to get an epilogue from Declan’s point of view and see what happens next.

  Also, Aerdeca’s second book will be out this month, so keep an eye out!

  THANK YOU FOR READING!

  I hope you enjoyed reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it. Reviews are so helpful to authors. I really appreciate all reviews, both positive and negative. If you want to leave one, you can do so on Amazon or GoodReads.

  If you’d like to learn a little more about the FireSouls, you can join my mailing list to get a free copy of Hidden Magic, a story of their early adventures. Turn the page for an excerpt.

  The next book in Aeri’s series will be out on April 12. Click here to get it on Amazon!

  Excerpt Of Hidden Magic

  Jungle, Southeast Asia

  Five years before the events in Ancient Magic

  “How much are we being paid for this job again?” I glanced at the dudes filling the bar. It was a motley crowd of supernaturals, many of whom looked shifty as hell.

  “Not nearly enough for one as dangerous as this.” Del frowned at the man across the bar, who was giving her his best sexy face. There was a lot of eyebrow movement happening. “Is he having a seizure?”

  “Looks like it.” Nix grinned. “Though I gotta say, I was
n’t expecting this. We’re basically in a tree, for magic’s sake. In the middle of the jungle! Where are all these dudes coming from?”

  “According to my info, there’s a mining operation near here. Though I’d say we’re more under a tree than in a tree.”

  “I’m with Cass,” Del said. “Under, not in.”

  “Fair enough,” Nix said.

  We were deep in Southeast Asia, in a bar that had long ago been reclaimed by the jungle. A massive fig tree had grown over and around the ancient building, its huge roots strangling the stone walls. It was straight out of a fairy tale.

  Monks had once lived here, but a few supernaturals of indeterminate species had gotten ahold of it and turned it into a watering hole for the local supernaturals. We were meeting our contact here, but he was late.

  “Hey, pretty lady.” A smarmy voice sounded from my left. “What are you?”

  I turned to face the guy who was giving me the up and down, his gaze roving from my tank top to my shorts. He wasn’t Clarence, our local contact. And if he meant “what kind of supernatural are you?” I sure as hell wouldn’t be answering. That could get me killed.

  “Not interested is what I am,” I said.

  “Aww, that’s no way to treat a guy.” He grabbed my hip, rubbed his thumb up and down.

  I smacked his hand away, tempted to throat-punch him. It was my favorite move, but I didn’t want to start a fight before Clarence got here. Didn’t want to piss off our boss.

  The man raised his hands. “Hey, hey. No need to get feisty. You three sisters?”

  I glanced at Nix and Del, at their dark hair that was so different from my red. We were all about twenty, but we looked nothing alike. And while we might call ourselves sisters—deirfiúr in our native Irish—this idiot didn’t know that.

  “Go away.” I had no patience for dirt bags who touched me without asking. “Run along and flirt with your hand, because that’s all the action you’ll be getting tonight.”