Page 117 of Burn of Obsidian

Blood spluttered from Gideon’s lips, but he didn’t go down. It was Titus who’d taken the shot, flanked by Riley, Sythe, and Xander.

“Oi!” Ruhne dropped from above with a wide grin. “My turn.” With a wink he brought up his palm, blowing pixie dust straight into Gideon’s face.

He snarled, releasing the dagger to rub at his eyes. At the same time, Thunder jumped forward, tails curling around her waist to yank her toward him.

“You really think that will stop me?” Gideon spat, the words grating as the wound on his neck slowly repaired. He laughed, the sound manic. “I am a god!”

Another shot, the bullet hitting him in the ribs. The edge of his body blurred, a second of disbelief passing across his features before he bared his red-stained teeth. He began to rush toward the chalice, only to be tackled to the floor by Lucifer.

Thea pushed at Thunder, the arcane already eaten through several layers of flesh.

“Where the hell have you been?” she screamed at Sythe and Titus when they approached. “I twisted the bead hours ago!”

“Don’t look at me!” Ruhne snapped, hovering just above. “It didn’t work.”

“No, it worked,” Titus said, holding up his arm to show the thin silver bracelet on his wrist. She wore the master, hidden on her ankle.

“We had to figure out how to get in here without setting off the wards,” Sythe added, holding his hands up when Thunder growled, snapping his jaws in warning. “Easy, big guy. We’re just trying to help your girl.”

Riley appeared, his grey eyes entirely shifting to silver. “Behave,” he barked, kneeling down to grip Thunder’s muzzle. With his free hand, he pressed against the arcane on his chest, palming it. “What happened? I can’t feel J in there at all.”

Thea laughed, the sound on the edge of hysteria. “Oh yeah, he’s fine, can’t you see? Although, he might need a spa day.”

Riley frowned, seemingly unimpressed with her dark humour. “What do you – ”

Sythe burst from his skin, his dark beast appearing with a roar. Launching himself, he began tearing the Skull that had aimed a sword at Titus apart.

“Thea, get up,” Riley demanded, going to touch her before Thunder snarled. “This was your plan, remember?”

Pop. Pop. Pop.

Titus hit every Skull that got too close.

“Nothing about this was my fucking plan.” This was why she never made plans! Scanning the room, she found the lectern had been knocked over, along with the pages. She needed to get closer to grab the –

Thunder pulled her beneath him, flattening himself as arcane soared above. A burst of heat as it passed, crashing into a wall.

“You’re still chained to your decision, my friend,” Gideon shouted, his arm encased in red flames. Great wings had sprouted from his back, sharp spikes sweeping out to tear along the flank of the grey beast. “Power isn't something we should shy away from.”

Lucifer’s power was darker, the core black with flecks of red. “We’ve never been friends.”

Gideon shook his head, dark veins pulsating beneath his grey skin. “When I ascend further, I’m going to keep your soul for my enjoyment.”

Thea pushed at Thunder, looking over to find the pages had disappeared.

Fuck!

Managing to turn despite being crushed, she found the chalice still on its platform.

Thunder grumbled, keeping her beneath him, but with another shove, he shifted to the side. She knew he wanted to stop her, but she was already sprinting. The room had filled with Skulls, the Guardians fighting along with the beasts to keep them back.

“I don’t think so.”

The blond-haired Daemon appeared beside her, his smirk smug when he shoved her hard into the pit. Thea fell, feet slipping when she hit the bottom until she slid beneath the surface. Flapping her arms, she kicked up to break back through with a splutter. Barely holding back a scream, she pushed at the bodies, guts, and congealed blood. Roach lay on her back, her eyes pale in death as she floated to the side. Her torso had been cracked open, organs missing and likely swimming around them somewhere.

Swallowing bile, Thea looked up to find Thunder pacing the edge.

“Where’s…” The Daemon held the chalice on the opposite side, the stones surrounding the lip a deep red. She remembered them being black with white cracks, which meant something had changed.

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