Page 2 of Capturing Sin

The third demon towered over me, grinning maliciously. Hunger burned in glowing purple eyes.

I tried to roll away, but he stomped on my middle.

A scream choked off in my throat as I felt something give in my side with a bright stab of pain. I coughed, agony searing my insides, and wetness spluttered up from my lips.

I urged my body to move, but I barely twitched on the ground.

This was it.

The demon tutted, leaning down until his face eclipsed the room. “Such a fragile thing. Don’t die on me too easily. I’m going to gorge myself on your sweet blood for days.”

I could hardly feel the dread past the torment holding my thoughts captive.

But I knew one thing. I’d never let a demon feed on me.

My strength was failing, but I had enough left for one last strike, and he’d forgotten about the second blade.

His lips peeled back, revealing sharp fangs. Fetid breath washed over me. He tipped my head aside, exposing my neck.

We lunged at the same time.

Fangs grazed my throat as I twisted and swung. My blade bit into his neck, and I yanked it free, causing maximum damage.

Demonic eyes widened in a moment of shock, and I collapsed beside him. The monster gripped his throat, scrambling to stop the bleeding even as his claws raked weakly at the base of my own throat, stopping short at my collarbone. Pain swelled beneath the sharp points, but it didn’t feel much deeper than a scratch.

Glowing eyes faded, and his hand flopped to the concrete.

For a moment, all I could do was stare at the dull purple orbs locked onto me. Reality fuzzed at the edges as I fought for each shallow breath through the agony rebounding in my torso.

“Fall back!” A commanding shout boomed from the far end of the warehouse, underscored by pained groans and the sharp retort of gunfire echoing through the space.

“Liliana’s down!” another voice shouted nearby.

“Leave her.” My fiancé’s smooth voice pierced the din. “She’ll distract the beasts.”

Betrayal sliced through my chest, adding to the misery already lighting me up.

“Leo…,” I choked out, a wet sensation leaking down my lips.

Pain hazed the world around me, but with every laboured breath, it lessened.

Not ideal.

Footsteps thudded as the hunters fled. Growls trailed off as the demons gave chase.

Silence swallowed me.

My team, practically family, were leaving me to die. Led by my fiancé.

I was going to marry him in a few months’ time.

We were going to start a family of our own. Buy a home together here in Riverside. I could semi-retire from hunting in favour of domestic bliss. Even my uncle had given the nod of approval when I’d brought up dropping to part-time.

My hands shook as I tried to press them to the deep gashes in my side beneath the edge of my vest. I couldn’t be sure, but I thought something vital had been pierced. Like a lung.

Which would explain the wheezing, damp sound I couldn’t stop making.

It sounded like a death rattle.

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