Hell To Pay (Hellscourge Book 5)

by Diem, J. C.

  Sam looked across the road, inadvertently giving them all a look at his face as well. Reynold’s mouth dropped open when he saw that my best friend wasn’t a normal human. “Violet Harper?” he called out, alerting his partner to who I was.

  Coming to the demons’ attention had the effect of instantly nullifying Brie’s spell. “Get her!” Gomez snarled.

  All five demons attempted to teleport to us, but nothing happened. Their expressions were just as shocked as Reynolds’ had been a moment ago. I didn’t know how, but I sometimes had the ability to stop them from zapping themselves to a new location. It had somehow been activated without me even trying.

  Reynolds sprinted towards us. “Don’t run, Violet,” he shouted as we backed away. “You’ll only make things worse for yourself!”

  The uniformed officers spread out to block the street in both directions, leaving us with only one way to go. Sam came to the same conclusion. Grabbing my hand, we entered the gate and headed onto the High Line.

  ₪₪₪

  Chapter Five

  A few spindly trees lined the beginning of the path. It might be spring now, but they weren’t sporting many leaves yet. The grass was only just starting to turn green as the weather warmed.

  We quickly left solid ground behind as the path rose above the street. Following the curving walkway, I caught glimpses of a parking lot, a busy road and the Hudson River to our right. Tracks from the original train line were still embedded in the ground. They must have been left as a reminder of New York’s past. Instead of demolishing the train tracks, they’d turned the elevated line into some kind of public park. If only they’d known that it would one day act as a desperate escape route.

  Shouts followed us as the officers came in pursuit. Demons were far faster and stronger than me, but they had to at least pretend to be normal for the benefit of Reynolds and nearby civilians. They weren’t ready for humanity to become aware that the underworld was real and that they were poised to invade us.

  We sprinted past two long blocks of wood that offered seating to the weary. I already had a stitch in my side and looked at them longingly. I wished I hadn’t decided to take such a long stroll now. It seemed that my instincts had been wrong when I’d thought that a walk would be a good idea. Now we were paying the price for my poor decision.

  A steel fence to our left overlooked the old train yard. More gigantic blocks of wood were stacked atop each other, acting as a scenic rest. They looked more like a work of art than mere seating. Perhaps it was meant to be both. Rows and rows of disused tracks were lined up side by side down below. It wasn’t exactly a picturesque sight, but it was interesting. Not that I had much of a chance to admire it.

  The pathway curved in a long arc before it straightened out. I didn’t have time to take in much of the scenery and only snatched glimpses as we ran. A gigantic brick building in the distance to the right looked like an old warehouse of some kind. Signs told me that it had been converted into a storage place. It had definitely seen better days and it didn’t look like it had been refurbished yet.

  Tourists cowered away when they saw who was in hot pursuit. No one was brave enough to attempt to stop us. Some snapped photos on their cameras or cell phones as we streaked past them. I wondered how long it would take before my face was splashed all over TV and the internet again.

  The murders had died down for now and people were venturing out in the warmer weather. We had to wend our way through increasing numbers of tourists and locals. Hopefully, they’d slow the cops down as well. The path was fairly wide at the moment, but I could see it narrowing up ahead.

  A section of the walkway had been raised right in the middle of our route, creating a narrow channel. Grass and plants flanked it and seats lined both sides of the path. If we hadn’t been running for our lives, it would have been nice to sit down and relax for a minute. Instead, they were acting as an impediment.

  Sprinting along the middle of the track, we sped past a trio of frightened pedestrians. They pressed themselves up against the railing in an effort to get out of our way. I looked directly at a camera as the flash went off. It blinded me for a moment and I had to rely on Sam to guide my steps. His head whipped around to see how far away our pursuers were. He held my hand tightly, pulling me along as he felt my strength already fading.

  Buildings closed in on us as the walkway narrowed and angled to the right. I had to fight down my claustrophobia as the sunlight dimmed behind the apartment buildings. When we passed over the cross streets, we had brief moments of openness before we were flanked by the tall structures again.

  “I can’t keep this pace up for much longer,” I gasped. My fitness had begun to improve before I’d been stabbed by the Wraith Warrior. Now I was in worse shape than I’d ever been, thanks to the poison that was spreading through me.

  Seeing a group of uniformed officers appear ahead to cut us off, Sam took action. Swinging me into his arms, he sped up and angled towards the fence as we came to another cross street. The buildings drew back, giving us access to freedom.

  “He’s going to jump!” someone shouted in panic and dozens of heads turned to watch us. Some would no doubt be capturing us on their cell phones.

  Proving he was far stronger and more agile than a mere human, Sam leaped over the barrier. My hood fell back and my hair streamed upwards as we fell thirty feet to the sidewalk below. Screams of disbelief and horror rang out, but he was already on the move. I looked back to see Reynolds reach the fence where we’d leaped over. He stared down at us in shock, unable to believe that neither of us was hurt.

  Cop cars were rapidly converging on our location. Sam cast about for a hiding spot as he took off. We both saw the church a couple of blocks away at the same time and I pointed at it. “Demons won’t be able to follow us in there,” I said.

  The spawn of hell couldn’t step on consecrated ground. We’d be safe from them in there until I could catch my breath. Human cops could enter, but they were less likely to kill me on sight. While I carried demon souls inside me, my own dual soul was gone, so I doubted that I’d be barred from going inside. I had no idea if I’d be able to enter the church if I still had my half-demon, half-angel essence.

  Sprinting as hard as he could, Sam wove in and out of traffic, ignoring the horns that blared in protest. He leaped over the five-foot high stone fence that surrounded the church. He angled towards a small side door and turned around at the last moment to slam into it with his back. The lock shattered and he stumbled inside. Catching his balance, he kicked the door shut again. We’d managed to leave our pursuers in our dust and I was pretty sure no one had actually seen us take refuge in the building.

  Putting me down, he dragged a heavy wooden bench over to block the door. “It will not keep them out for long when they realize we are here,” he said.

  He was barely breathing hard from his exercise, but I was seeing white spots and felt like I was going to pass out. “I need to sit down,” I said and tottered over to the bench. Sinking down onto the hard wooden surface, I put my elbows on my knees and rested my chin on my palms.

  “Are you okay?” Sam asked in concern. He sat beside me and put his hand on my shoulder.

  “No,” I replied honestly. “I’m trying really hard not to barf right now.”

  “Oh.”

  He pulled his hand away so fast that I had to smirk. “Don’t worry, I’ll aim in another direction if I feel my breakfast coming back up.” It was a good thing I’d eaten several hours ago. I probably didn’t have much in my stomach to bring up right now.

  “That is very thoughtful of you,” he said with a weak grin.

  “I wonder how many people saw us jump off the High Line?”

  He became uneasy at that question. “I should not have brought so much attention to us, but I saw no other way to escape from the demons.”

  “Me neither,” I agreed. “I can’t let them capture me again. I’m sure Bob would love to get his hands on me and repay me for the humilia
tion that I put him through.”

  “I aided in his humiliation,” he reminded me. “I would not like to fall into his clutches either.”

  Checking my watch, I saw that it would be at least another half an hour or so before Nathan would grow worried enough to come looking for us. We were on our own and the church would soon be surrounded by our enemies. “I’m not going to be able to run all the way back to the store,” I told him. “You should go and get Nathan.”

  “Can you call the store and ask him to retrieve us?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t have Sophia’s number stored on my cell phone.” It was an oversight that I would correct as soon as we returned. I’d grown complacent, thinking we’d be able to get out of any scrapes that we got ourselves into. I didn’t have the internet on my phone and I couldn’t look up the number for the store.

  “I can camouflage us both until you have rested,” he offered. “They will not be able to find us.”

  “They’ll be searching the area for hours. They’ll block the roads and it’ll be almost impossible to slip past them.”

  We’d stand out far too much if he kept carrying me and the chase would instantly begin again once we were spotted. Even now, we could hear more sirens approaching. Reynolds and the rest of the human cops thought I’d been shipped off to another facility. Bob would have to come up with a plausible story to explain how I’d managed to escape.

  “I cannot leave you here by yourself,” Sam said in anguish. He was torn between doing what was necessary and keeping me safe.

  “I’ve seen how fast you can run. You could reach Sophia’s place in a few minutes and send Nathan to rescue me.”

  Heaving a heavy sigh, he reluctantly agreed. “Promise me that you will not do anything foolish while I am gone.”

  “I’ll try,” I replied with a shrug. “But you know me. I tend to get into trouble far too often.” Knowing he had to leave, he pulled me in for a hug and I kissed him on the cheek. “Try to hurry,” I urged him.

  “I will.” He gave me a final squeeze then let me go. “Sit tight. I will find Nathan and I will send him to you as soon as I can.”

  ₪₪₪

  Chapter Six

  Sam hurried down the hallway, searching for another exit where he could hopefully slip out without being seen. I heard a door open then close and knew that I was truly on my own. Slumping back against the door, I closed my eyes and concentrated on breathing. My heartrate eventually slowed and the sick feeling in my stomach eased up.

  My eyes flew open again when I heard a familiar voice coming from somewhere deeper in the church. “Violet Harper and her friend were seen entering the church a few minutes ago,” Detective Reynolds said to his lackeys. “As far as we know, they’re still in here. Spread out and search the building.”

  I didn’t have Sam’s ability to blend in with my surroundings. I needed to find somewhere to hide until Nathan could rescue me. Standing wearily, I hurried as fast as I could along the wide hallway. I passed several doors, but the rooms held nothing that could serve as a hiding place.

  Turning the corner, I sped up when I heard footsteps approaching behind me. Halfway along the hall, I came to a staircase that gave me a choice of going down to the basement or upwards. Hesitating for a moment, I started upwards.

  Reaching the third floor, I was badly winded, but I saw that the stairs kept on going. I needed to give Sam enough time to reach Nathan, so I kept climbing. Coming to a door three flights later I pulled it open. Wind buffeted me even before I stepped out into a bell tower. A waist high brick wall did nothing to block the breeze. An antique brass bell took pride of place. A frayed old rope hung from it. One good tug would probably tear it off.

  The bell tower was only six stories high, which was short compared to some of the buildings nearby. It was high enough to give me a view of the cop cars that were blocking the nearby streets. The entire area was surrounded.

  Feeling far too exposed, I retreated back inside the stairwell, but I left the door open just in case. I hoped Nathan would arrive soon. If I was arrested and taken back to jail, the demons’ wards would keep my guardian out and I’d be at Bob’s mercy again.

  Listening intently, I heard several pairs of feet start up the stairs. They reached the second floor and hushed voices floated up to me as they tried to decide who would search the bell tower. Looking around in desperation, I had to find a way to delay them from bursting up the stairs and arresting me. Out of options, I shouted the first thing that came to my mind. “Stay back! I have a gun and I’m not afraid to use it!”

  It was a cheesy thing to say, but it worked. Panic broke out and most of the cops fled from the area until only one person remained. “Violet!” Reynolds called out. “It’s Detective Reynolds!” His voice echoed around the bell tower loudly enough to hurt my head.

  “You don’t have to yell!” I said loudly. “The acoustics are pretty good up here!”

  “I’d like to talk to you and your friend face to face,” he said at a more normal volume. “I’m unarmed. Can I come up?”

  Talking to him would be a good delay tactic. “Okay,” I said in a doubtful tone for the benefit of his remaining colleagues. “Just don’t try anything stupid.”

  “I’m coming up now. My hands are raised and I’m defenseless.”

  “My gun is pointed at the staircase.” I felt stupid for making the baseless threat, but I had to keep up the charade. “If I see anyone but you, I’m going to pull the trigger.”

  “I promise you it’s just me.” I heard the tension in his voice and felt guilty for causing him fear. He was just an innocent human who was caught up in something that he’d never be able to understand.

  His footsteps echoed as he slowly made his way up. I didn’t urge him to hurry. The longer he took, the more time Nathan would have to rescue me.

  Reynolds poked his head around the corner. His wary expression eased when he saw that I wasn’t armed. My dagger was in the sheath in my pocket and he didn’t know I was carrying it. “I had a feeling you were bluffing about having a gun,” he said quietly and looked around. “Where is your friend?”

  “Sam’s long gone,” I said tiredly. I didn’t mention that he’d gone for help. It would be best if he thought I’d been deserted.

  “Do you mind if I sit down?” he asked and gestured at the step beside me. I shrugged and moved over to give him room. “Are you feeling okay?” His concern sounded real as he sat then examined my face.

  “Not really. I’m dying, Detective,” I said flatly.

  “From what?”

  “Is anyone listening to this conversation?” I asked. For all I knew, he could be wearing a wire or he might be recording us on his cell phone.

  He shook his head. “I give you my word that this is a private conversation.”

  I wasn’t sure if I could believe him or not. If the demons found out I’d told him about them, they’d either kill him, or possess him. Taking a chance, I shifted so we were face to face. “One of the Princes of hell sent a creature called a Wraith Warrior after me. He stabbed me in the stomach, which infected me with some kind of toxin. Soon, my insides will rot and that’ll be the end of me.”

  He stared at me for a long moment. “Do you realize how crazy that sounds?”

  “Yep,” I replied and snorted out a laugh.

  “I honestly don’t know how you can find any amusement in your situation right now.” His tone was bewildered.

  “Maybe you’ll believe me if I show you the wound that he gave me.”

  Wariness returned to his eyes and his hand twitched towards the gun that he normally wore on his right hip. Controlling himself, he nodded. “Go ahead.”

  Lifting my hoodie and t-shirt up, I revealed the ten-inch long black scar that ran across my abdomen. Horror stole over Reynolds’ face as he stared at the mark. His gaze sharpened when he examined the tendrils that branched off it. “They’re moving,” he said in a shocked whisper.

  “I know,” I said wit
h a grimace and dropped my clothes back into place. “It freaks me out, too.”

  “You need to see a doctor. They might be able to do something to fix you.”

  “No human is going to be able to fix this,” I said glumly and gestured towards my stomach. “There’s supposedly a cure, but I don’t know what it is yet.”

  “So, you still believe that demons are real and that there’s a war going on?” he asked.

  “I know there is.” Proving it would be another matter. “Where’s your partner, by the way? Why isn’t Gomez here trying to talk me into giving myself up?”

  “Our Captain ordered her to remain outside.”

  Something in his tone raised my suspicions. “Would that be Captain Lancaster by any chance?” I asked. That was what Bob was calling himself these days. He’d risen from a lower level lackey to a captain of hell’s armies. He’d also somehow become a police captain. I still wasn’t sure how he’d managed to pull that off. He wasn’t the brightest demon to have escaped from hell. Frankly, I was surprised that he’d risen so high in either dimension.

  Reynolds nodded. “The Captain insisted on coming to investigate this incident himself. He has no idea how you managed to escape from the prison in Denver and return to Manhattan. He was furious that no one had informed him about it.”

  “I didn’t escape from a prison in Denver,” I said in amusement at Bob’s pathetic excuses. “I never even left the city. I broke out of my cell after your boss tried to rape me again.” I could tell that he didn’t believe me and I didn’t really blame him. He thought I was just a delusional kid.

  “Since we have some privacy, why don’t you tell me the truth about what happened to your mother and everything that has happened to you since then?” he asked.

  Checking my watch, I probably still had a few minutes before Nathan would turn up. “Okay, but you’re going to think I’m even crazier once you hear it all,” I warned him. Then I gave him a quick summary of seeing my mother being murdered then fleeing from Denver. I explained how Bob had picked me up hitchhiking and how I’d crashed his car and had stolen his dagger and cut his fingers off. I told him of my excursions to hell and what my purpose was. I finished up with how Bob had planned to take out his frustrations on me in the cell.