“I’m sure it will only be a sec.” I smiled. “There’s some crazy stuff going on in there anyway. You don’t want a part of it. I’m sure.”
“Oooh, sounds like fun!” The other brunette squealed. She looked about as vacant as her counterpart, but she was in a dress and could, at least, stand upright.
Trying hard not to roll my eyes, I just smiled and hoped Arie would be finished quickly.
The door jiggled and sprung wide open, with Arie in the middle of the two girls as they leaned on her. Arie’s eyes were huge with victory and shimmering even in the dark light. It was hard for me to hold back my smile, as she moved by me. Athen came charging down the hall, moving the girls to our booth while they completed the change.
Their skin already began to cast a different glow. Their process was far from being complete, but at least, we were well on our way. With the club’s revolving doors, we’d have a fresh supply all night. We became the predators and Azazel’s newly-turned demons, the prey.
Arie jumped up in a show of excitement.
“I think we’ve got a good start,” I ventured.
“I agree,” Cyril said. “I think it’s time to call in the support and get this place cleared out.”
“Awesome!” Arie exclaimed.
“So on our way out the back, the white demons will be coming in?” I asked, amazed at the flow of the plan.
“Yep,” Cyril said. “I’ve just texted them. They’re outside.”
“What do we do with these girls?” I asked.
“They’ll take them,” Arie replied. “Are you ready to get going?”
“Absolutely,” I replied.
“I’m gonna go prop open the back door, and once we see them start to come in, we’ll take off,” she said, jumping out of the booth, she marched down the hallway where the back entrance was located.
Looking at Athen, I recognized an excitement running through him. As he glanced from one being to the next, I could tell he was eager to see how the white demons would make their entrance. There was a mini battalion of them just waiting for the word.
In an instant, I saw a green glow bouncing down the hall towards us. They were three in a row, as they strolled towards the dance floor. There was an intensity surrounding them that I recognized. It was the same as when we were back on the La Connor property. Cyril signaled one of the white demons and pointed to the newly-turned, white demons who we left at our table so that they could be taken care of.
The goal was to slip as many of the dark demons out the back as possible, without alerting the mortals to anything too odd. The darkness of the club with the lasers bouncing everywhere already provided a sense of chaos, so hopefully the process would be smooth.
The white demons in front of us, grabbed two female minions who blended in so well, I could’ve missed them myself. They whisked them through the crowd of white demons who continued to enter in. An enthusiasm began to explode inside of me, as I saw the ease with which these changes were happening.
One dark demon after the other was being hauled out of the club, not even making a disruption. I was in complete awe at the ease of everything, which was being executed. We were going to be ready for this next battle.
Reaching the door felt like a victory in itself. The fresh air landed on my skin, at the same moment, that I began hearing the shrieks and screams of the minions, off in the distance, who were about to meet their new destiny.
Chapter 20
Watching our troops walk into a hot bed of activity in the club last night was invigorating, but it was also frightening. This thing was real. The main fight was almost here. We all knew it, and we all had things we needed to do before we buckled down. The club invasion was a success. Many were turned, but I needed a reminder, a gentle mortal reminder, to keep me energized and engaged with the mortals who mattered.
Athen had gone to visit with Tom and Becky to clear up some loose ends, and I decided I wanted to try to escape a little. Cyril and Arie dropped me off at a Farmer’s Market in Seattle, while they want off to check out a local art exhibit.
The street had been barricaded and taken over by the liveliness of local vendors’ displays, with customers scurrying through. The many colorful canopies, spread along the street in neat little rows, was quite a wondrous sight. The season’s last harvests were displayed beautifully for all to see. The brilliantly colored orange carrots, beets carrying the deepest of burgundies, and rainbow chard begging to be cooked were spread everywhere. The flower vendors had their best dahlias in vivid reds, oranges, and purples waiting to be purchased.
The parents pushed their children around in strollers or chased them away from the candy vendors, while couples delicately placed samples out for the other to try. The community spirit was exactly what I needed after last night. These reminders, of what we were fighting for, did wonders for my soul.
Making my way to the end of the street, I happened to see a group of men hassling a woman across the block. I called out to the woman, who yelled back for help. I scooted through the barricades and attempted to follow where I saw the woman being taken by the group. My heart was racing, and I hoped I wasn’t too late.
Making my way down the street, I turned down an alley where I saw the woman last. My heart dropped, as I realized it was a trick. These were demons, and I fell right into their hands. I instantly opened up my mind, hoping to channel for help to Arie and Cyril, but it might be no use.
My body was being pulled and dragged in several different directions. A door scraped open, as they pushed me into a dark building. Silence was all I heard, until the words that crushed my spirit reached me.
“Ha! Azazel and Lilith were so right! You will look perfect shackled by your wrists and ankles! Don’t you think, Renny?” The chilling statement brought fire to my world.
“Yeah, he was totally right. Her wrists are nice and dainty. Hope they don’t get too scarred up from the tightness of the metal,” another demon said.
The anger was spreading. I knew I was outnumbered, but this was not how I wanted to end things. Not before I had a chance to take out the major players.
The harshness of the cement on my cheek, as my body was scraped across it, spread a pain like no other. The flesh wound wasn’t the source of my agony. It was the thought that I might not be able to fight another day. It seemed like my world was in slow motion, as my body crashed against the cinderblock wall from them tossing me across the room. My fingers grasped for anything to help pull myself up. My fingernails dug their way into the concrete material, as I felt the demons begin the circle around me.
I could feel the blood trickling down my neck, but I couldn’t let it become a distraction, like I couldn’t let the pain of my fingernails separating from my flesh bother me either.
The cackling began from the onlookers. My breath was no longer my own. I was fuming and no longer myself. If I was going to go down, it wouldn’t be without a fight. One of the demons jumped onto the table next to me, his dark eyes peering down at me.
Scanning the room, I only saw the single exit, which was the one I had been shoved in through. There was a lone halogen light hanging in the center of the room. The cord dangled from the ceiling. It was hardwired in, making it my only hope.
“Looks like the little girl doesn’t know what to do,” the female demon said, pushing the others aside. Her appearance was remarkably refined for the company she kept. Her soulless eyes were taking in every morsel I had to offer. I returned the favor.
The longer they stood staring at me, playing these games, the longer I had to regain what strength I could.
“You might not look so severe if you didn’t slick back your hair in that tight bun,” I sneered, as I managed to stand up, looking at the female dead on.
“I don’t think you’re one that I should be taking fashion advice from,” she replied coolly. “You have a lot more to worry about than my hair, you silly girl.”
I started to feel like I could move again. If I could only buy
a few more minutes, I might have a slim chance. I hoped with everything in my world, that Arie and Cyril would somehow be able to pick up on everything that was happening to me. My mind was wide open.
“No, I know. You’re right. I’m not thinking correctly. You guys might’ve done what you were sent to do,” I replied, softly.
I reached up my hand, with every fingernail pulsating, as I felt the pool of blood that had formed at the base of my neck.
“What did Azazel want you to do with me?” I asked.
“Our only instruction was to keep you alive. We can rough you up as much as we want, though!” the gnarly demon in the back yelled out. I was pretty sure he was the one who had initiated the attack. “He wants to make sure you’re alert enough when you become his for eternity.”
“No more!” the female shouted, pushing the demon down to the ground.
There was definitely some sort of hierarchy going on that I didn’t understand, but I hoped I could use it to my advantage. No dark demon liked to be spoken to that way.
“Why would you let her push you around like that?” I asked, scanning the faces of the demons circling me.
“I’ve heard quite enough from you,” she snarled.
“I’m not on your side, yet,” I said with a smirk, staring at her loveless eyes. “Sorry, but you don’t have that control over me, honey!” I smiled, only infuriating her more.
The confidence of my family was now running through my veins. Images of Athen came pouring into my soul. Our most intimate moments only he and I had shared, spirit to spirit, were providing me with the power I needed.
The shift in the room was noticeable. The circle wasn’t tight any longer. I began scanning each of the demons, trying to gauge their weaknesses.
“Talk to me, guys! What is it you really want out of this deal? What have you all been promised for my soul?” I challenged.
“Don’t answer her!” she shouted.
“Why not?” I taunted. “Nothing wrong with knowing what I’m worth on the black market!”
Finally, it began!
“Mortality! My old life back!” one of them shouted.
This was better than I hoped.
“We get to learn the way of our Master!” another one yelled.
“You, we get you, for our use, anyway we want!” the one closest to me said. I did my best to hide my repulsion.
“Azazel said in your dream, you saw yourself shackled and following him, like his minions! I would no longer have to be by his side. I would no longer be his minion. You would take my place!” the demon who had been pushed to the ground, mustered up.
“My dream, huh?” I said, smiling a smile that couldn’t be hidden. This was too perfect.
My body lunged for the hanging light, grasping it with my left hand. The weight of my body began swinging it in the direction of the door. The screams were bouncing off the walls, but all that I could think about was the simple words the one demon provided. Flying to the exit, I landed on the cement floor, spinning to face the demons.
The first one flung himself towards me, as I spun my body through the air, watching him crash into the wall. Grabbing the female demon by her bun, I ripped out the strands of hair, throwing them on the ground.
“Much better!” My voice was not my own.
Scaling the wall, I felt the fingers of one of the beings wrap themselves around my ankle. Stopping, I grabbed one of my knives, throwing it directly down at his forehead. It stuck as marvelously as it could have, as he tumbled to the floor. The black mist began escaping into the room.
“You might as well come down,” she howled. “No one will be here to rescue you.“
“I’m not the one who needs to be rescued,” I whispered.
Falling onto the demon who had crashed into the wall, I twisted his neck, watching the glorious mess dissipate into the air. A high ran through my veins. The craving was insatiable.
“You never did tell me your name?” I stared directly at the female, as the others backed slowly away from us.
“Sabri….”she stopped herself, annoyed that she was falling for my small chat, once more. The dark demons weren’t known for being smart.
“Ahh, no need to continue. It’s a perfect name for a wonderfully evil being.”
I was still outnumbered, but my only concern was getting back outside of this building. I had a chance on the other side of this wall. My back was towards the exit, but I knew I was only feet away.
“Tell us your final wish, now!” the female began again.
“To stop your wickedness from contaminating the world,” I said simply.
As I looked at the demon who’d been given false hope of returning to a mortal state, I knew I saw a splash of good.
I jumped over Sabrina, leaving behind the safety of the exit, kicking her spine as I landed. She wasn’t finished, but it bought me a moment.
“What is your name?” I demanded from the demon, who had the glimmer of a better life. My fingers were wrapped around his neck, in case I needed to force it out of him.
“Nathan,” he muttered.
“Thank you, Nathan. Be watchful in the next few,” I told him, winking.
The remaining demons already began charging towards me. My body tore through the air, like I had never done before. There was no rescuing Nathan, if I was caught.
My foot landed on Sabrina’s arm, as I made my way to the exit. A hand wrapped its way around my wrist. Flipping backwards, I kicked him as I broke free, but I was squarely facing the wrong direction once again.
Feeling for the door handle with my left hand, I punched the palm of my hand clear through the chest of the first demon beginning the attacks. The black mist began swirling through the building. Another demon came towards me, with his arms wide, he grabbed me at the same time I was able to open the door.
The heaviness of this being was making every movement a struggle as I tried sliding my body out the door. The street was only feet away, but the demons had begun grabbing at every part of me. Kicking as hard as I could, the sound of things snapping did little to alleviate my worry. I might not get out of this. The night at the Grizzly Pub began circulating through me. I would not get this far to be taken away by these thugs. Athen’s smile flashed through me, his eyes radiating the love that could save us all.
Ripping my belt off, I began swiping it in every direction. The heavy breathing of the beasts, came closer to me, but I kept propelling myself towards the street. The images were getting hard to focus on. I imagined myself in another time, another situation. It was the only thing I could do.
A loud rumbling came up beside me. I didn’t know where I was any longer. Shouts and screams began echoing through my mind. Opening my eyes back up, I saw a mob of white demons, throwing the dark demons off of me.
I heard Arie screaming. I knew it was her, but I didn’t understand how. My eyes darted from one fuzzy object to the next.
“Ana! Get in!” she yelled, once more, flinging open the Jeep door. “Get in!”
I pulled myself up to the backseat, where the seat welcomed me, like nothing before.
“Nathan,” I mumbled. “Nathan’ s okay.”
I knew my mind and body were fighting each other. The pain was crushing, but the only thing that helped me was hearing that demon mention my dream. It gave me hope that the images I had been fighting had been implanted by Azazel and were never a premonition. When Azazel was thrown out of heaven, his wrists and feet were shackled as well, so it made sense that he’d place similar images in my dreams to scare me.
“Who? What?” Arie questioned, her eyes searching mine for clues.
“He was with them, but he’s okay. Will be one of us. Name’s Nathan,” I tried again, before my body fell into a consciousness neither here nor there. The sound of the fight more muffled with every second that passed. The last words I heard were Arie’s, telling Cyril we had to leave the states. We needed a reprieve to Whistler, before it all began.
***
; Shooting up straight from my bed, my forehead was covered in beads of sweat. I was safe back at home, but the terror of being captured wasn’t easily forgotten. Briefly disoriented, I looked around the room, and everything was where it should be. Falling back down, I closed my eyes hoping to sleep. Unfortunately, that’s when the images began flooding my mind faster than I could decipher. Behind the curtains, I could tell the sun was hoping to make an appearance soon, with the bluish-grey that only early morning can bring.
“Athen, Athen. Sweetie,” I commanded, shaking him awake.
He turned over, looking at me in the confused sleepy state I wished I still was in.
“They are building so quickly. There are hundreds of factions. The armies are multiplying beyond anything I ever thought possible.”
“Whoa, honey. What are you seeing? Where is this coming from?” he asked scooting up in the bed, flipping on the light. His hair completely disheveled and sticking straight up. In any other moment, it would have stirred something.
“The amount of humans they are turning is mind boggling and many of them…” I didn’t want to utter the words, but I had to. “Are willing participants.”
“What makes you say that?”
Looking at him, I could feel the tears begin to surface, and I forced myself to get in control.
“Azazel and Lilith are making crazy promises. They’re just leaving out some of the main negatives of making a deal with a demon. We’ve got to stop this. There’s no way we can match these numbers. I’ve got to see what they’re being told. I need to go in undercover. See how they’re doing it. Find out exactly what they’re telling them.”
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