“Get out of my house,” Mom orders, the milk still in her hand.
The man with the gun walks up to her and slaps her across the face. He is no longer laughing. She drops the milk to grab her cheek but stands her ground.
The shadow moves on the wall. It makes its hands into what looks like a gun and then fires it. Dad jerks and backs up a few steps.
Maybe he’ll just leave. The thought gives me hope as he backs up to the doorway to the living room. He’s leaving. We’ll be fine. I almost smile.
The pistol in his hand points at her. His finger squeezes the trigger. There’s a blast. My ears are ringing, and a shadow on the wall turns toward me.
Mom stares at him for a few seconds and then drops to the floor. Red blood soaks her t-shirt.
I fall to the floor, no longer caring if he kills me, too. I have to get to Mom. My tears drip into the milk and blood. It takes forever to crawl to her. He watches me, laughing the whole time...
Chapter Sixty-Four
Choices
A strong impact shakes me out of the nightmare. I yell with rage and fright. Something explodes in my face. I beat it off with my arms, coughing as powder flies through the air. My shoulder aches from the seatbelt holding me in place.
My panic eases when I realize it was the airbag. My car crashed into a tree while I was lost in my memories. I sneeze again.
Liam steps toward the car with a leer on his face, reminding me of what’s happening. I wish I would’ve hit him with the car instead of the tree.
If God truly cared, He would have steered the car so that it ran over Liam.
I shake my head and struggle to get out of the car. My nose aches, and there seems to be a scratch on my cheek. I pull the sword out with me, belting the sheath on, and limp around the car to confront Liam.
I hate him all the more when he doesn’t flinch when I come to an abrupt stop five feet away. He stands there with a sneer on his face full of hate, and I want to rip it off him. The sword is in front of me, ready for attack. He snorts at my weapon and folds his arms over his chest.
“Thank you for not making me wait very long,” he says. Mockery drips off his tongue. “I don’t know what I would have done if I got bored.” He pauses and glances back at where Megan is hanging in the air. “Oh, wait. Maybe I do.”
“Get away from her,” I order. My voice sounds weak. I shake my head to clear it of the memories. I have to focus. Liam notes this.
“Oh,” he jeers. “Is this too much trauma for you?”
“Where are they?” I ignore his questions.
“I’m assuming you mean your aunt and uncle.” Liam grows serious. “Odd. I thought you would have cared more for the girl.”
I point the sword at his throat, sick of the games he’s playing. “Where are they?”
Liam bursts out laughing. “You think you can best me with that!”
His laugh transforms into a snarl. His long fangs glisten in the moonlight, and he springs at me. I step back and block with the sword.
He bats the blade aside. The blow reverberates down my arm. I gasp as pain shoots to my shoulder. The hilt slips from my grasp, but I grab it up once more.
I back up another step to recover from his strike. He closes the distance, snarling like a wolf. His green eyes grow black with hate and bloodlust.
I attack low and fast. Liam growls and jumps back.
“The little mouse wants to play, does he?” Liam taunts.
I yell at him, unable to form words and press my attack. He waits for me this time, low and close to the ground, much like a cat waiting to pounce.
Megan makes a noise like she’s being strangled. I want to tell her that it’s okay, and I’ll get her down soon, but I can’t.
“Nic! Don’t!” she manages to say.
I ignore her and pull back the sword for a strike. Liam springs before I can bring the blade back. He grabs me by my shirt to lift me into the air. His fist collides in my ear. I yell from the pain. He holds me up and beats my head and chest. I struggle to break free but can’t escape.
Dropping me to the ground, he kicks me in the stomach. “Can’t even fight,” he sneers.
I lay on the ground, trying to catch my breath. His words hurt far more than the physical blows. He’s right. I can’t fight.
I didn’t do anything when Mom was killed. At school, I had the gun in my hand. I could’ve shot Mr. Peterson, but I hesitated.
I’m not going to win. But I beat up Cody. Why can’t I do the same to Liam?
Liam kicks me again. I roll slightly, and his foot grazes my side.
“Leave him alone!” Megan orders and struggles to climb up to the beam where the rope is tied.
He strides back to her. I push myself up until I’m sitting. My head spins, and my whole body aches. Just out of my reach lays my sword, as useless as I am.
“I’m getting tired of your antics,” Liam says to Megan.
“Leave us alone.” Megan’s voice shakes.
Liam laughs. “Or what? You’ll get free and stop me? You’ll hang there until I’m finished with him, and then you’re next.”
“What do you want with us anyway?” Megan demands.
“Want with you?” Liam snaps. “Nothing! I want the boy! But you had to get involved. You should’ve kept your nose out of it.”
Megan kicks again but stops when the beams start moving.
“You don’t want to drop down there,” Liam warns. “That fall will break more than your neck.”
I can’t watch anymore. Not again. I won’t see another person die. I grab the sword and stand up. I may not be a fighter, but I can get up every time he knocks me down. Maybe that will be enough.
I struggle to my feet before he notices. He turns, and his smirk slips a little.
“Where are Aunt Kate and Ryan?” I demand.
“There are things we must do before we talk about them,” Liam answers.
Megan shifts. I catch her glancing at the small cabin.
Is she trying to tell me something?
I ignore Liam and race to the cabin. I get halfway when Liam grabs my shirt. He swings me hard and lets me go. I fly through the air. The sword slips out of my hand. A branch smacks my face, and there’s a snap. Pain bursts through my nose, and I hit the ground.
Blood drips out my nose. I touch it carefully, and the pain stabs me harder. I squeeze my nose in hopes the bleeding will stop. My arms are cut, too. I watch the blood ooze out. This is not good.
Megan yells at me to do something. I nod and get to my feet, fighting the shooting pain in my side. Has to be a rib broken.
I stumble back to Megan, looking desperately for the sword, even though it is completely useless. The moonlight glints on the blade, and I grab it, clinging to it as if it could save us.
Liam is pulling something out of the cabin. Megan starts fighting again, but this time I can’t pay her any attention.
It’s Aunt Kate!
Liam drags Aunt Kate to the scaffolding. From the way her head is tipped, I can’t tell if she’s alive or dead. Her dark hair hides her face.
I force myself forward, dragging the sword through the grass. I have to get to her. Liam drops her next to the scaffolding and stands over her body like a lion over his prey. He crosses his arms over his chest as he waits for me.
“Oh, she’s alive,” Liam sneers and kicks Aunt Kate. Her body moves with the impact, but she makes no sound. “Kind of.”
I limp up to him. What else do I have in me to fight? He’s faster, stronger, and more ruthless than I am. I want to rush to Aunt Kate and Megan, but I know Liam won’t let me get to them.
“You have two choices,” Liam says as calmly as a school cafeteria lunch lady. “You can watch them die and then do what I say, or you can do what I say and save them. What’s it going to be?”
I can save them!
He wants me to do something. That’s what all this has always been about. I glance at Aunt Kate and Megan. I’m not going to let them die.
“What do you want?” I ask, dreading his answer.
“You.”
The answer tells nothing. And everything.
You, and everyone else. What else is new?
“What do you want me to do?” I press.
Liam grins. “I knew you’d be much more willing to cooperate this way than with all of tricks Rob and Catherine were using.”
So, Catherine, you’re not as innocent as you pretend, are you?
He circles to Aunt Kate. “All you have to do is to give up what you don’t like. I can give you freedom from what you hate about yourself and turn you into something amazing.”
I spit out some blood and realize that I don’t feel any pain anymore. All I can think about are his words.
There has to be a way out of here. I escaped a horde of demons yesterday. I beat up Cody in the bathroom. I can deal with this leech.
I try to appear like I’m considering his words while I assess what is around me. Not the sword. He’s too quick. Not sheer strength. He’s too strong.
He thinks I’m weak. A child he can brush off.
Megan climbs up the rope. Liam whips around to growl at her. Her fingertips reach the beam, but then she falls back with a groan. The scaffolding rocks so hard that the legs come a foot off the ground.
Liam barks at her, “Stay still, or you’ll fall!”
Then I know how to fight this vampire.
Chapter Sixty-Five
A Gap
Eli jumped back into the trees as Nic crashed into the branches. He grabbed at Nic’s shirt to keep him from falling, but the boy was already gone.
“Of all the unholy!” The words escaped before he knew what he said.
Mal put his hand on Eli’s shoulder. “He’ll come around. Give him time to realize his differences are a gift from God.”
“Where are the blasted demons?” Chasdiel asked without caring that he changed the subject. “I thought they’d be here to savor the victory.”
“Good question,” Mal answered. “Strange they’re not around. What does Blaise have planned?”
“There will be no victory for them,” Eli stubbornly defended Nic. “He will turn to the Creator. He has to.”
Chasdiel stood in the branches of a tree next to them. His face was twisted in an expression of pain and distaste. He held the hilt of his sword, ready to fight, although he looked as if he was not convinced that they would be able to join in this battle.
“I see so many good things in him,” Mal continued. Nic pushed himself up and faced Liam again. “He’s brave, too.”
“But he’s not turning to God,” Chasdiel reminded them. “He knows the truth about our Lord and the love He has for humans. But the thought hasn’t crossed his mind that his grief could be healed his grief with the Creator’s love or to ask the Him to blast this irritating vampire to the depths of Hell.”
Mal shook his head. “Give him time. He’ll come around. Don’t lose faith. Our fellow warriors are waking up the Forgiven to pray. They will answer the call.”
Chasdiel turned away from the morbid scene in front of them, his words laced with frustration and anger. “And while he delays, are we going to have to watch Megan fall to the pit? Kate and Ryan sacrificed? Is it worth it if they should perish?
“Sari and Azrael guard Kate and Ryan tonight,” Mal reassured. “Let’s focus on getting Nic and Megan out of danger.”
Chasdiel didn’t look like he was encouraged. “However you look at it, we’re going to lose him and this battle.”
Mal didn’t have anything to say about that. They stood, hidden in the deep shadows of the trees, until the time came that they could strike.
* * *
Blaise kept close to the gate so he would be the first out when his soldiers finished tearing it down. He didn’t want some minion reaching the boy before him and getting any ideas of grandeur.
He roared with anger and frustration. It was taking far too long to clear the rocks and open the gate. The wretched vampire may have already changed the boy, making it too late for Blaise to seize complete control.
The underlings threw the last of the boulders into the courtyard. Demons scattered as the massive missiles hurtled through the air.
Blaise dispatched a small demon to Hell, ignoring the flash of fire that appeared, and turned to bellow at the soldiers working with the rocks.
The gate was clear!
“Pull the gate down!” Blaise yelled.
Ashtar hung in the air high above the courtyard, surveying the scene. He shouted in anger.
“Stop them!” he shouted and dove into the fray.
“Don’t let him get closer,” Blaise responded.
His well-trained soldiers formed a quick hedge of protection, protecting the gate.
Blaise sneered at Ashtar in triumph. Blaise had won over the other demon. In a few minutes, the fight would be over, and the boy would be under his control.
The bolts that held the gates to the stone walls gave slightly with each pull. Blaise marched to the demons working at freeing the gates, ignoring the battle around them.
“Get it open!” he yelled at them.
They strained harder until all the muscles in their arms and necks were bulging. Blaise allowed his rage to overflow as he realized they weren’t making any progress. In a fury, he took the flat of his blade and beat them on their backs. They yelled in anger but didn’t stop tugging on the iron.
The bars gave way another inch. Blaise raised his blade to strike the demons with the sharp edge of the sword, certain he was running out of time, when a loud roar echoed from the castle.
Blaise stopped, sword still in the air.
Goddard knows.
Fear washed over him. He couldn’t face Goddard. Not yet. Not without the boy at his side. It was too late to pretend that he was loyal to the demon overlord. He had to get the boy. Now.
“Get it open!” he barked the order to three more demons fighting close by.
They struck down the ones they were fighting and obeyed. Blaise joined the fight and turned his rage onto the approaching demons.
Rising in the air on his black wings, he brought his sword down, relishing the pain he was imparting as his enemies were dispatched to Hell.
The courtyard around him rang with swords clanging and screams of the fallen. He darted closer to the gate, in anticipation of an opening large enough to force himself through. His soldiers pulled, ignoring the battle around them.
Then the moment came. The bars gave way just enough for him to squeeze through. The time had come. Blaise struck the killing blow on the demon he was fighting and shot through the gap.
The boy was his.
Chapter Sixty-Six
Dragged Down
I have to look defeated, and I have to get closer. But I can’t take my eyes off Aunt Kate. She hasn’t moved or made a sound yet.
The blood still drips from my nose. How much longer do I have? We’re so far from the hospital. Will I make it?
It doesn’t matter if I make it.
Megan struggles again. As she wiggles, the beams shiver and creak like they’re about to fall. They must be remnants of the mining days. They won’t take much more of her weight before cracking.
It’s time to make my move.
“Let me see that Aunt Kate’s alive,” I say. “Then I’ll do what you say.”
“Nic, no!” Megan gasps.
Liam considers my words for a minute and then nods. I exaggerate my limp and move slowly like all the fight has been drained out of me. I drop beside Aunt Kate and put a hand on her face.
“You’re alive,” I whisper and swallow back the tears that try to rise. “I’m sorry, Aunt Kate.”
Her breathing is shallow but steady. I close my eyes to gather courage for what I have to do.
I push to my feet and remember to remain looking like I’m done fighting.
Can I push it just a little bit more?
I drop my sword. “Okay, now let Megan go.”
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Liam crosses the distance between us and grabs me by the throat, holding me up in the air so my feet dangle several feet off the ground.
“You will listen to me!” he yells in my face. “I will not bargain with one so weak and puny.”
He throws me to the ground. I try to land on my feet, but my face slams into the dirt. I roll over with a groan.
“At least get her down.” I cough as blood slides down my throat.
Liam kicks me right where the rib feels broken. I can’t stop the yell of pain. Everything disappears, and I struggle to breathe, to ease the ache. I thrash from the agony, yelling from the pain, but there’s no relief.
It feels forever until I can see past the hurt. Liam is still standing over me, watching with a sneer.
Megan wrestles to get to me. One beam works its way free before settling back into the ground.
Liam yells at Megan. “I told you to stay still,” he barks. “What’s down there is worse than up here!”
Megan freezes. “Please let us go. We won’t tell anyone about you. Please.” Her voice cracks.
Is she crying?
Anger washes over me, replacing the torment I was feeling. But this time I stay on the ground. Lying on my back helps my nose to stop bleeding, and this way Liam will think I’m beaten.
Just wait for the right minute. Any time now. Get him talking. Get him to drop his guard.
“What do you want?” I ask. I’m not trying to make my voice shaky or weak, but it comes out that way.
“Get up,” he sneers.
I don’t have to fake the moan while I obey. My legs shake, and I stand with my feet wide to keep my balance. I keep one hand on my side like that’s going to keep my rib from coming out.
Megan catches my eyes. There’s pain written all over her face, although she tries not to show it. The full moon lights up her face and shows a black eye. She glances down at her feet. When she looks up again, I know she’s terrified of falling. But she’s brave enough to keep the terror down and try to fight.
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