“Well, I was enjoying this until you said that,” Jonah said, then he bit his cheek as his eyebrows drew in. “It’s a sad waste of some good bikes.”
“True enough,” James agreed and cocked the trigger.
As James predicted, three more demon riders appeared at the top of the rise and were heading straight toward them. Jonah cursed and swerved sharply.
Lightning struck the ground near the last fiend on their tail, and missing her target, Tracy yelled down to him, “I thought you knew what you were doing!”
“I do! Duck!”
Heeding his warning, Tracy dropped back into the cab as Jonah spun the wheel. The truck followed his movement, and the momentum caused Tracy to fall into her brother’s lap. Obeying his command, the heavy vehicle used both lanes to make a full circle. “Where did you learn to drive, Hall?” she grumbled as the truck spun about.
The demon at the back couldn’t swerve in time, and it crashed into the side of the truck, causing the back half of his bike to flip up and eject its rider with impressive distance. The truck’s bumper clipped one of the oncoming demons, and the bike spun wildly before sliding across the asphalt. When the driver jumped free, Cade was there to finish it off.
The other two bikers reacted smoothly and zipped around the chaos, but Jarrett didn’t give them a chance to turn around. He jumped at one rider, over-balancing it, then launched himself off that Hyabusa to crash into the other one.
Tracy glanced at Jonah in amazement as she assessed the damage he caused. “I’m from Texas, Williams. Down there, we love a good demolition derby,” Jonah explained.
“God bless Texas,” muttered James.
Suddenly, a greater demon fell from the sky and landed on Jarrett. All three of them looked up through the windshield. “Drive!” James shouted in fear.
“Gun it, Hall!” Tracy ordered at the same time.
Jonah tried to hit the gas, but he couldn’t react fast enough. A heavy thump emanated from behind. Lowered by the muscled weight of its newest passenger, the truck groaned, and the tail end actually hit the ground before it bounced back up. Glancing in the rearview mirror, Jonah was awestruck. One of the largest creatures he’d ever seen was tucking its wings in. It placed a hand on the top of the cab, bent down, and peered through the sunroof. Grinning knowingly, it displayed razor-sharp teeth and gleeful malice shone in its black eyes. “Wings!?” he shouted with disbelief.
“It’s not their wings you need to worry about,” James retorted and aimed to shoot it.
Shifting into reverse, Jonah floored the gas pedal, hoping to dislodge the fearsome archdemon. James’s desperate shot missed and embedded just below the neck instead. It would have been a lethal wound to a human, but to this beast, it was nothing more than an inconvenience.
They backed into one of the ruined bikes and sparks flew as it was propelled across the road. Unbalanced, the huge creature merely lifted its wings once more and alighted atop the hood of the truck. It punched out with a clawed fist, and the tempered glass cracked in a spider web shape as the lines and breaks spread. The archdemon pulled back to break through.
Jonah desperately slammed on the brakes, tires squealed in protest. Preparing for a shower of glass, Tracy ducked, and James readied for a second shot. Before the mighty demon could drive his fist home, Cade arrived with perfect timing.
Taking a flying leap, the black lycan tackled the archdemon. Claws scraped against the hood, metal crunched, and the added weight had the front end scraping the asphalt this time. After an intense struggle, Cade managed to force the behemoth off the vehicle. They grappled for a moment, but the demon freed himself enough to swat Cade back like a pesky fly. His head struck the pavement with resounding force.
The winged monster followed to attack, but Cade rolled and was on his feet again before it managed to reach him. Bunching his muscles, the werewolf sprung up and clung to the archdemon tightly. Knowing the ability to fly created a huge disadvantage for him, Cade tore at its wings to cripple it and keep it grounded.
“Shoot it!” Jonah ordered James.
“I can’t. I might hit Cade, and the tip is magically enhanced,” James shouted back.
Standing on the seat again, Tracy uttered a new incantation, and a line of fire streaked across the dark night sky like a bottle rocket. For a minute, Jonah thought she missed, but the greater demon battling Jarrett behind them lifted its head and shrieked when the fire struck its back and erupted. Grateful for the distraction, Jarrett made use of the aide she offered and locked onto the creature's neck with his powerful jaws. In a few short seconds, the demon turned to dust. Jarrett turned to help his brother, but two more leech demons jumped him.
Determined to help Cade, Jonah pulled out his glock and took aim on the archdemon before them.
“Hall!” Tracy yelled, worrying he would miss.
“Between the eyes, it buys a few seconds, right?”
James shot a fiend that rushed to the window. “Don’t miss. It may not kill him, but if you hurt Cade, it will give that thing all the advantage it needs.”
“I won’t miss,” Jonah insisted as he watched the black wolf battle the gray-skinned monster. By then, Cade had nearly torn one of the wings free. The bat like appendage hung grotesquely at an odd angle. Cade continued the assault, biting and tearing at the demon from behind as the creature pulled and clawed at Cade’s fur-covered body in an effort to dislodge him.
Finding his mark, Jonah called out, “Turn him, Cade!”
In nearly three centuries, Cade had fought with many men and had learned they were capable of great things. Trusting the call, he jerked hard on the demon’s hanging wing, and using all his strength, he finished the amputation.
Bellowing in pain, the archdemon’s eyes rolled back and went crazy. Swinging to tear Cade off its back, it whirled around wildly. Jonah fired. The bullet lodged itself right between the creature's eyes.
Chapter 28
Cynda and Delphene saw them coming before anyone else. The truck sped up the road and tires screeched when it swerved into the deserted parking lot of the private airport. “Démons!” Delphene exclaimed and transformed to a wolf hybrid as she ran to them.
“Rederrick! Nate!” Cynda called.
Rederrick exited the plane with Ashley on his heels. “Ashley, get back inside,” Rederrick ordered when he saw the two wolves running alongside the truck. Two winged demons followed in the air.
Before he could call out any further warning, another one landed atop the plane, bared its teeth, and shrieked. The co-pilot doing preflight inspections cried out as another demon picked him up and hurled him into the side of the Gulfstream. He dropped to the ground and was still.
Horrified, Cynda called out for fire and cast it on the offending demon’s wings. The winged creature on the plane took flight again, trying to grab Rederrick and the other pilot off the top of the stairs. Rederrick jumped down the last three steps. The pilot tried to duck, but the demon scored his back with razor-like claws. Nate emerged at the plane’s entrance with a crossbow and fired. The bolt clattered to the ground with the creature's ashes.
Ashley ran back up the stairs and helped Chris, the pilot, rise. He grimaced and blood seeped through his shirt. Nate was there a second later helping Chris inside the plane. Turning, he grabbed Ashley and pulled her inside the plane as he called for Cody. When Nate glanced outside again, his eyes widened and a curse escaped his lips.
Chris groaned but edged toward the cockpit. “I’ll get her started.”
Nate nodded and helped him to the front of the plane.
Ashley hurried to the back were they stored a few weapons.
“What are you doing?” Cody asked as he met her halfway.
“Cody, take these flash grenades,” Ashley said, moving around him. She pulled out a sword and added, “This too. Give them to my father. Hurry!”
“On it,” Cody said, taking the items and limping away.
“Wait!” Nate said, grabbing Cody’s arm as he passed. “Take this
too, for you.” He thrust a gun and the small crossbow into Cody’s hands.
Refocusing his attention down the aisle, Nate watched Ashley arm herself with the belt of throwing knives he’d given her last month. “Ash, what are you doing?”
“I’m arming myself, and then I’m going out there. They need my help.”
“Ash, you need to stay in here. There’re too many, and you haven’t mastered those knives yet. I’ll go out,” Nate assured and started gathering his own weapons.
Ashley placed a hand on his arm. “Nate, you have to get this plane going. It’s our only way out. I’ll have to push through this.”
Nate remained indecisive and glanced out the small window. After a couple of seconds, he reached into the supplies to grab his triple-bladed haladies. “I’ll be more help out there, I’m a better fighter than you.”
“But I can’t fly a plane. Only you and Uncle Cade can do that. We need two pilots, Nate.”
“Chris is in there, he can get it started. I’ll come back.”
“No. We can’t risk it. Chris is injured, and Jeremy is down.”
“Ash.”
Her eyes pleaded with him. “We don’t have the luxury of having anyone sit idle. Even I have to do my share.”
Nate knew she was right. “Take these, just in case they get close,” he said, handing her his favorite haladie daggers.
She shook her head and kissed him on the cheek. “I can’t wield those. You know I’m no good at close combat. There’re too many feelings involved. Besides, it’s my first chance to use the belt you gave me.”
His expression turned stern. “Stay back as far as you can.”
“I promise. I’ll stay close to my mother and my sister. I need to keep the demons away from them while they cast.”
“Be careful, Ash. I don’t want to find out what it feels like to be Cade.”
Ashley kissed him sweetly. “Get this thing ready to fly. I’ll get them inside.” She let go of his arm and rushed out to help her family. Mimicking her urgency, Nate took his place in the other pilot's seat and helped Chris ready the Gulfstream for takeoff.
When Ashley appeared again, she scanned the area and found Rederrick and Cody standing protectively in front of her mother as Cynda used her magic to hold the creatures back.
Chaos surrounded Ashley’s family, and their emotions were intense. She stumbled a step, overwhelmed by panic and worry. Hearts pounded, adrenaline spiked. She felt Cade’s and Jarrett’s need for medical attention, and Tracy’s sprained wrist. James felt frustrated and useless.
Ashley forced herself into a state of long-practiced breathing and redirection. She hated her growing talent, hated what it did to her. Focusing, she did her best to cut that part of herself off to rid her mind and heart of the negative emotional bombardment. It is the only way, Ashley assured herself. She didn’t have time to sort through the sensations to reach for anything positive as Cade had advised. Instead of utilizing her gifts, she suppressed them, pushing that part of herself aside. In doing so, she unknowingly left herself vulnerable.
Counting six winged demons, Ashley concentrated on the threat they presented to figure out her place in this fight. She glanced back the other way and saw James and Tracy dodging sharp claws as they sprinted to meet up with the family. Detective Hall followed them and fired cover shots in the air to stall the swooping creatures.
Ashley hurried to aid them. She put all her efforts into helping her family survive. Reaching to her belt, Ashley plucked two of the triangular knives from it and tossed one at a demon as it swooped toward Tracy’s side.
Unused to the throwing knives and combat, Ashley missed and hit the creature’s eye instead of its heart. “Shoot,” she said as she aimed at another demon.
A speeding streak of black fur and teeth jumped into the bed of the abandoned truck, onto the roof, and launched skyward. Cade had seen Ashley’s throw, and dropping his sword, he capitalized on the opportunity. Because its lost eye, the injured demon did not pull out of his reach fast enough.
Cade managed to grab its wings and pull the demon down. They crashed on the pavement, and the impact separated them. Cade and the demon rolled several times before their momentum subsided. A chocolate-colored lycan was there before the bleeding demon could recover.
Unacquainted with the new ally, Jonah turned his gun on the brown hybrid.
“Don’t!” Tracy shouted. “She’s on our side.”
“She?”
Tracy rolled her eyes and kept running. She neared her sister as Ashley let another of her blades fly. This time, the knife struck the demon in the cheek. It turned its head her direction. “Dang it!” she exclaimed. “I can’t get the hang of this.”
When it came at them, Jonah saw the creature's eyes and fired. The bullet struck, and the flying demon froze then dropped to the ground. “Good enough for me,” Jonah told her as Jarrett ran by and finished the creature with his sword.
“Time to go,” Tracy reminded them as she saw several leech demons running their direction. She grabbed her sister’s hand and ran, but assisted by unnatural speed, the demons were gaining fast.
Cynda chanted a spell, and bright light flashed between them and the lesser demons. The leeches hissed and screeched. Sensing the spell, Tracy chanted in tandem with her mother. She stumbled as she completed the incantation, but Jonah and James grabbed her arms to keep her from falling. A line of fire erupted behind them, and the flames grew. Each end spread to encircle the plane. When the flying creatures swooped down, the flames leapt higher to keep them at bay.
When they reached Cynda, Jonah scowled at her partner. “Cody?”
“Hey,” he greeted awkwardly and thrust a silver canister at him. “Here.”
Jonah looked down at the flash grenade. “What am I supposed to do with this?”
“If they get close, we’ll throw them. Demons hate light, and this will blind them for a few minutes.”
The jet engines started whining as they came to life.
Startled, Jonah jerked and looked around frantically. “Give me a couple more and get on the plane, I’ll cover you.”
“While I appreciate your selflessness, Detective, it won’t help,” Cynda shouted above the noise. “They can attack us in the air or during takeoff. We have to deal with them first, otherwise they’ll take the plane down before we can get high enough to be safe.”
“How are we supposed to do that?” Jonah countered. “Those things keep multiplying. We’ve killed several of them, but more came.”
“He’s right, Mom. We can’t stay here either, that fire won’t last more than eight minutes, and Cade and Jarrett have to be tired. We had to fight our way here.”
“Why are they coming on like this?” Ashley asked.
“My guess, Cade and Jarrett have hit a nerve,” Rederrick offered.
“Nate’s a good pilot, but…” Ashley offered doubtfully. She knew Nate would be able to out fly a demon. She drew back and hurled another knife into the air. The surrounding stress snaked past Ashley’s barriers, and self-doubt crept in as she watched her terrible throw. She’d aimed for the back of a demon brave enough to approach the edge of the protection. Ashley once more forced her magical talent aside as the blade tore through the wing and lodged in the flying creature’s shoulder.
Struggling to control its direction with an injured wing, the beast beat the bat-like appendages wildly but dipped a few feet. The magical barrier flared when the creature got close, scorching both its wings. It scrambled to get out of harm's way and aimed for the other side of the fire wall. Ashley did not see Cade finish it off with a single sweep of Collett’s sword before its feet even touched the ground.
The flames flared again. The group looked up wearily, but there was no demon in sight this time. At least, not one they could see.
Using his amulet, Jarrett burst through the flame barrier. The emerald glowed brightly as it absorbed magical flames. The sight of the black werewolf charging toward them with sword in hand
through a wall of flame set Jonah back. Out of habit, he lifted his Glock again.
Jarrett shouted a warning, “Phase demon!”
Cursing, Jonah dropped his hand and his eyes darted to his new allies, but it was too late.
Ashley had already been invaded. Suppressing her magic made her an easy target. Worse, the shadow demon used the magic against her. Opening up her empathy offered the invader quick control. She only froze in place for a few seconds. James noticed his sister’s lack of movement and immediately moved to jump on her, but it was too late.
Ashley plucked a blade from her belt and threw it at her brother before he could reach her. Cody ducked as she threw another at him. Lucky for them, her aim was no better when possessed. One struck James’s shoulder. The other hit the side of the plane and fell to the ground. When Rederrick tried to come in from behind, Ashley turned and slashed him with another knife, cutting a long gash into his arm.
Acting fast, Jarrett dropped his sword and tackled her. He wrapped her up in the bulk of his wolfish form to protect her from the fall as they tumbled down together. As Ashley struggled against his hold, Jarrett growled. “The wall! Let them in!”
Horrified that Cade and Delphene were stuck outside the enchanted flames, Tracy and Cynda chanted to create an opening for them.
As the curtain of fire separated, three leech demons rushed in. Jonah threw a flash grenade, and Cody followed with a bolt from the crossbow. “One down,” he said, reloading as it turned to ash.
The demons were too fast, and before Cody reloaded, the leeches were upon them. Rederrick dodged a punch to the face, whirled, and sliced through a demon’s neck with his preferred katana. Jonah fell into street fighting tactics since it was all he knew. The wild style proved effective. The Texan stabbed one leech in the heart after a few feints and jabs. Tracy strained to keep the wall open, and a greater demon lumbered through.
Ashley started screaming, but the sound was inhuman. The ethereal pitch sent shivers down their spines and pierced their nerves. Jarrett growled as she continued to kick and fight against him. The jet turbines were loud, but Ashley’s supernatural shrieks were deafening. The keening was meant to destroy hope and instill fear, and they all felt the effect.
The Truth of Victory: A Powers of Influence Novel Page 25