Her muscles tightened, millimeters before clearing the hump of her butt. “Come on. Come on.”
The burn of her muscles tearing and the flesh peeling away from her wrists as the metal restraints sliced through her skin clenched her stomach. Didn’t matter. Nothing did but getting mobile so she could face Pario.
A scream burned up her throat and out of her mouth as her hands made it over her butt. She hiked her legs as close as she could to her chest, fighting the tears from bursting out.
Almost there. Focus.
The metal caught on her pocket, and she yanked. She glanced at Pario, and he was standing, hunched over, coughing.
Hurry! She tucked her feet to her butt and worked her bound wrists over the toes of her shoes.
Finally. With her clasped hands now in front of her, she rolled over and pushed up. Much better leverage to use her strength.
She drew in a deep breath and yanked her hands apart. The metal sliced through the first few layers of her skin, but the cuffs snapped, pieces clanking to the floor.
A hard hand clamped on her shoulder. She cranked her elbow back. It met a jaw. Pario howled and threw her face-first into the wall.
Damn it. She crushed his toe with her heel, jabbed his ribs, then grabbed the demon’s wrist just as Sadie’d shown her.
She squeezed, cracking bones, and twisted out from his grip.
Now they were getting somewhere.
In a flash, Pario turned, the back of his giant hand smacking her face. Her head swiveled, warmth instantly filling her mouth. She rammed into the wall opposite them, her blood splattering across the stark white paint.
She ducked. A fist smashed through the drywall inches above her head. Leading with her fist, she turned and punched his groin again. Yeah, she needed some payback for all the abuse he had given her.
All the touches this demon stole from Justin. Fury stormed through her louder than a raging river.
Defluo. She rolled away from Pario and held her breath, hoping he’d be disoriented enough from her attack to not know which direction she’d rolled. The Khamut Stone, strapped tight to her left thigh, blazed as it went to work, hiding her.
Pario’s glazed eyes scanned the hallway and narrowed, then he disappeared as well.
Okay. This was going to be interesting.
“Sir!” A demon whipped open the door leading to a stairwell.
“No. Don’t let her get out!” Pario’s voice boomed, and the demon froze in the doorway.
Exactly enough room for Yvonne to sneak by.
She made a break down the stairs, but her boots squeaked against the concrete. She stopped at the bottom landing just as Pario burst through the open door, and he was visible now. “You idiot. Which way did she go?”
“I—I—didn’t see.”
Pario growled. “I’ll go up, you go down. Touch every surface. She’s invisible.”
“Shit.” The demon pressed a button on the collar of his black fatigues. “Seal all exits.”
Pario reached for the railing, and a little space between his gloves and the sleeve of his jacket revealed the Bracelet of Aoratos.
She had to get that thing, but she couldn’t touch him in the process. It would turn to dust along with him if she did. Think, Yvonne.
The demon army dude approached, slowly. Arms out in front of him. His shoes echoed off the concrete as well. For how slow he was going, she had about a minute before he made it to her.
She squatted and quietly unlaced her boots, searching her mind for a battle plan. An escape. Following this demon to find out the lay of the land might work. Or she could chase after Pario, sneak up on him, grab the bracelet, and fry his ass.
Or just run. Escape and get to Justin. If Sadie was truly dead, she had only a few months left with him.
Shit.
Finally, the last lace loose, she wrenched off her shoes.
The demon’s focus went directly to the boots, and he lunged. She hadn’t thought of them coming back into visibility if she wasn’t wearing them.
Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.
She scampered to the corner of the stairwell, then ducked, inching away. “Here. Here!” the demon bellowed.
Pario came storming down the stairs, then flicked invisible. Shit.
Time to run.
On soft feet, she took off down the stairs, skipping two at a time. The sting of landing on stockinged feet jolted up her shins, but she had to keep moving. Pario hadn’t removed his shoes, and she could hear that he was gaining.
A door with the number seven swung open. She reached out and grazed her fingers along the demon’s face. Dust plumed. She spun and ran through that now-open doorway. This hallway was lined with closed doors, but an exit sign at the end blared red. A beacon for her escape.
Two demons stormed out of a room three doors down and went the opposite direction of her. She took off after them. As she passed the room they’d just exited, bright light filled the windows. The sun hung high overhead and the trees moved in the wind.
It looked as if she might still be in Arizona, but maybe up north considering the pine trees outside. They’d knocked her out for the drive here, so she hadn’t a clue where they’d taken her.
The door clicked shut, but she shadowed the last demon. He tapped the radio button on his collar. “Copy. All exits. On my way to west, floor seven.”
The demon straightened. “Jonsey, cover east on seven. Find Smith and Robson for north and south.”
Shit, how many exits?
If she dusted this demon, she’d lose the radio. That would come in handy. Strategies stormed through her, but she couldn’t grasp one that she thought would work. Maybe she should just—
“Didn’t think about the dust, did you?” Pario’s voice behind her sent her whirling around to face him.
The demon she’d been tailing stopped, and she backed into him.
“The dust gives you away.” Pario’s now visible grin taunted her.
Arms came around her as he moved forward. She smacked her head back, and the demon vanished.
Pario flickered from sight just as she got her bearings. Damn it, dust on her socks had been leaving a little trail. She yanked her socks off and tossed them down the hallway, then raced toward the other end.
Another hallway to her right came into view. At the end stood a demon, dagger drawn, knees bent. Ready for action.
On quiet feet, she sprinted onward, the echoes of Pario’s breathing and heavy footfalls close behind. One check over her shoulder showed nothing, but she felt him. He was close. Hairs prickled along her neck, and she pumped her arms harder. Thankfully she wasn’t leaving any footprints in her wake.
But he seemed pretty focused on her despite her invisibility. Regardless, she pushed through the burn in her legs. A door opened beside her, and a thick arm caught her at the waist. She grunted at the impact, her breath whooshing out of her with a fiery pain.
“Gotcha.” The demon hissed as he backed into the room.
She grabbed the demon’s hair, her fingers scraping his skull, and dust plumed. Stumbling back, she met a cold windowpane and looked over her shoulder.
Shit. It was several stories down.
She scanned the room for anything that might help but only found a plasma TV on the wall, a small kitchenette off to the side, and a table with several wooden chairs surrounding it in the middle of the room. Yes!
She darted to the table, keeping it between her and Pario. At least she hoped. He hadn’t gone visible yet, but she heard his boots creaking. If she could get to the kitchen, maybe she’d find a knife or something to use as a weapon since touching him might be difficult with all that damned leather.
Could he see her? Was there dust on her? She veered right, and Pario’s movement stopped. He must be able to see her. Damn.
She looked at the chair in front of her and before she could think of the repercussions, she grabbed it and tossed it at the windows behind her.
Glass shattered. Two steps and a well-timed l
eap thrust her through the jagged opening.
And she met air.
Chapter Forty-Five
Justin’s stomach lurched and he buckled forward, clutching the dashboard before him. “Left. Go left.”
“But the tracker—”
“Do it.”
Theo cranked the wheel, and thankfully they had a four-wheel drive option. Barely traveled trails leading through forest made things ten times more difficult. Trees shredded the black paint job as the machine jostled.
“What’s happening, Justin?” Sadie asked from the backseat.
“She’s hurt. I feel her. This direction.” He pointed off to the side. His chest tightened, and a metallic taste coated his tongue and throat. “She’s hurt bad.”
“She can heal. Focus on that. Send her your energy,” Theo commanded, gripping the wheel until his knuckles blanched. “Visualize her.”
They’d trained him on his ability to find her while teaching her to fight, but it was still young. The connection with Yvonne was strong, but still, Justin wasn’t a Gatekeeper.
“Oh. The tracker’s online again. Satellite must be delayed a few seconds.”
Good, at least he knew his personal tracker was working. Overtime. It was more intense. He’d never before tasted or smelled her so intensely.
“We’re deep in the mountains. We might lose our connection,” Sadie said. “But it’s flashing northwest. Only one tracker, though. The shoulder.”
“Must have found the toe.” Justin shook his head. What if they were torturing her? Removing limbs. Shit.
The ground rumbled. Trees swayed. The car jostled, and not from navigating roots and rocks, either.
“What the hell?” Theo said.
Sadie gasped. “I just felt—”
“The strongest splice I’ve ever experienced.” Theo’s jaw clenched.
“Lucifer.” Justin’s gut roiled. “Lucifer is here.”
Only once before in Justin’s nine-century existence had Lucifer ever surfaced. It was a great shift in Gatekeepers six hundred years ago. Three were killed when they’d joined forces in what is now the Czech Republic to defeat one of Lucifer’s personal demons that breached with an army of archdemons.
Lucifer took advantage, too, wreaking havoc in that area for decades as new Gatekeepers were created and trained.
It was a dark time, and from the looks of the trees still swaying from the evil-ignited earthquake, dark times were soon at hand.
They had to get to Yvonne. She was connected somehow. “It was Lucifer’s punishment that made her so strong. He must be here to destroy what he inadvertently created,” Justin said.
“Nothing inadvertent about Yvonne,” Sadie said. “Remember, The Great One has always had plans. Etched before time.”
Sadie’s faith, when she once rejected The Great One’s existence, inspired him. Warmed his chest with hope. Yes. Yvonne had been created. Maybe not to destroy Lucifer, because Lucifer would always be, but to rein in the rebellious demons vying to overthrow him.
Stupid plans that would never work, at least that was the theory. Or maybe it was time that Lucifer’s reign was cut short, and it was time for heaven on earth.
Theo flinched.
“What?” Justin asked.
“Halena’s communicating with me. Demanding answers on the splice. She can’t get to us.”
“Why not?” Sadie asked. “She’s been able to use demon splices to get to us before.”
“Evidently, not Lucifer’s.” Theo glanced out the side window. “The Great One doesn’t like the Gatekeepers to converge together to do battle. Too much of a chance to repeat what happened all those centuries ago. Making us weaker in the long run.”
“The Thata would come in handy right now,” Justin said as he scanned the dim, foliage-covered surroundings.
“It’s better the Thata’s not out in the open. Too risky it’ll land in a demon’s hand,” Theo said. “We’ll handle this. We can’t have any other Gatekeepers at risk right now. We’ll get to Yvonne and end this.”
Lucifer might be focused on Yvonne to fix his mistake. He wasn’t able to reverse his punishment, but he sure as shit could kill her.
Maybe they should try to kill Lucifer. Either the world would cave in on itself or The Great One would return, purifying it, making it heaven on earth.
That wasn’t for Justin or anyone, Shomrei or not, to decide. No. He would focus on getting Yvonne. That was all that mattered to him right now.
“Shit,” Sadie said. “Yvonne’s last tracker just flatlined.”
A pang to his chest sent him gasping. “She’s close. Left. Go left.” He clutched his chest. “Hurry.”
…
Bones cracking into place sent Yvonne leaning forward, clutching her chest. Broken ribs knitted together as her sliced-open skin sealed shut. She pulled in deep breaths through her nose, fighting off the shivering cold as she leaned against a tree, watching the building she’d just escaped from.
She didn’t think Pario followed her the same way she’d gone.
Seven freaking stories. Even he wasn’t that dumb. At least that allowed her time to heal a little. Though crushed and shattered bones would take some time.
Thankfully the stone strapped to her thigh had survived the fall. Deep woods behind her and a line of trees around the property on either side didn’t leave much choice as to where to go.
The crunching leaves on the ground would give her location away as soon as she started moving.
A vibration from the ground beneath her bare feet radiated up her shins to her thighs and along her spine. She held on to the tree to keep balanced. That was the second vibration she’d felt. The first one had the trees swaying it was so violent.
What the hell could that be?
A sense of dread, dark and thick, bled into her mind. Her pulse skyrocketed, and her palms went sweaty.
Something evil, very evil, was near. She wasn’t sure how she knew other than the dread clinging to every fiber of her being and the foul, sulfuric taste coating her tongue.
She choked in another breath, hoping to get enough strength to start moving again. To where, she didn’t know, but it had to be away from this place. Something deep inside urged her to that conclusion, so she turned, palming the tree trunk, and pushed off.
Each step fired a bolt of pain up her shin. She’d sliced her toe good on that jump through the broken window, but her shoulder was still intact. One tracking device still active, hopefully. She’d landed pretty hard on it, though.
She might be on her own here.
Two steps brought her to another tree, and she had to stop as more bones slipped into place along her right side.
“You heal quickly, child.” The rich timbre in a deep male voice had her looking up.
Before her stood a man—no, a creature. Dark black hair shifted across his face as if there were a breeze. Only there wasn’t.
Long dark lashes framed deep-set teal eyes. Porcelain-smooth, flawless skin stretched tight over perfectly placed bones gave him the just-stepped-off-a-model photo shoot look.
Easily over seven feet, he stood tall, eyeing her from head to toe.
Wait, she was still invisible. How—?
“Wimpy spells cast by reject wizards are no match for me.” The man stepped forward. “My. You are a beauty.”
Her stomach bottomed out, and her hands came into the corner of her sights. No more invisibility. She stumbled back. “Who—?”
“Your creator.” His cheeks dimpled when he smiled. The mixture of beauty and evil played havoc with her mind.
Centering her thoughts on Justin, she drew in a deep breath, willing herself to heal. Though what match would she be against the devil himself? She glanced around. All was quiet as if they were in a time bubble.
“It is true, you do make the worst demon ever.” A glint of light flickered in his right eye. “But very powerful, nonetheless.” He inched forward.
She told herself to move, but her feet were roo
ted to the ground beneath her. The creature approaching walked with such confidence. Arrogance. The crooked smile curving the corner of his lips gave off a don’t-fuck-with-me air, yet tempted her to try. To get close to him.
Why wasn’t he killing her?
“Now, who said anything about killing you? I have use for you, dear. A nice addition to my harem of talented women.” He grinned.
“Your mate might get jealous.” She fished.
His laughter ricocheted off the trees surrounding them. “Do you honestly think I, Lucifer, could possibly have a mate? Someone who would make me vulnerable?”
“But Agares. Pario. They—”
“They plot and scheme.” He reached out toward her face, and as much as she wanted to move away, she couldn’t. Wait, he could touch her?
He withdrew his hand before contact.
Okay, maybe he couldn’t. Good. If she could just break through this mental hold he had on her.
“My children scheme, thinking, plotting, dreaming. Why do you think I allow it?”
She sent out the loudest and biggest mental vibe she could muster to Justin. He and Theo could surely help her.
“It keeps them motivated.” He grinned and fangs descended, though they weren’t as long as his demon offspring’s. His were more civil, hidden, yet barely visible, as if to give off a threat and temptation at the same time. No doubt they were vicious.
“Though Pario…” Lucifer shook his head as he walked a circle around her. “He must be taught a lesson.”
A breeze busted through the trees around them, and Lucifer stepped back, eyes focused over her shoulder.
“Interesting.” He nodded his dark head. “Theophilus. Nice to see you again.”
Yvonne fell back as if Lucifer’s hold on her had vanished, but Theo’s hands held her steady.
“Lucifer.” Theo’s voice was tight, filled with emotion.
“And Justin. Theophilus’s trusted Companion.” Lucifer turned, and Yvonne saw Justin behind the gigantic demon.
“Back away, Yvonne,” Justin said.
Theo guided her to his side, then stepped in front of her.
Marked By Hades (Entangled Embrace) Page 27