Page 3 of Hellish Witch

A hunter’s body fell with a wet thump, loud in the echoing silence.

The psychotic mage dragged me out past the cells framing the door and towards the open space of the room, my thrashing barely slowing his stride.

“Eve.” Rex stepped forwards, pain creasing his blood-smeared face. “It’s okay. Everything’s going to be okay.”

My heart stuttered at the sight of him.

By his side, as usual, were his enforcers: powerful demons who’d do anything for Rex and our kingdom of outcasts.

One in particular strangled me with terror. I’d never forgive myself if any of them were hurt, but especially not Killian, the vicious incubus with more scars than most.

“That’s the piece of shit she was dating,” Killian hissed, blood-splattered wings flaring to frame his dark-purple skin, inked in tattoos.

“More fucking trouble than you were worth, you useless slut,” Fenton snarled in my ear, yanking my loose curls hard enough to knock a gasp free. “Should have doubled the price. Lousy fuck too.”

The watching demons blurred as my eyes watered from the harsh sting joining the dull throb in my fuzzy head.

Shame smothered me. I’d let this idiot mage talk me into his bed, and now everyone here knew what a fool I’d been.

Rex snarled, a vicious growl rumbling his chest.

Killian’s eyes flashed silver with menace. “You’ll know pain like never before,” he promised, voice silky with threat.

“You’re all so fucking stupid, I love it.” Fenton dug his gun harder into my skull. “I’m a sin eater. I can end this bitch even without the spelled gun. A single bite of my magic and she’s brain-dead.”

My body locked up in his grip. Was that what he’d already done to me? How he’d knocked me out with his magic?

The mage pulled the gun from my temple and swung it across the semi-circle of demons as they tried in vain to shift closer. He paused on Rex, aiming right at the bristling grey demon. “I’ve seen you before.”

A woman appeared in the smashed doorway, stepping over charred bodies. Stunning lilac hair matched her glowing eyes. I’d have said she was a witch, if it weren’t for the black claws tipping her fingertips as she gave Fenton a tinkling wave.

Could she be like me?

“Oh, hello, Fenton dear. Fancy seeing you here. Again.” A vicious smile graced her lips as she strolled towards us.

Her gaze met mine. A strange kinship flowed between us for a single moment of connection before her eyes locked back onto the mage behind me.

“Take me,” she said.

“No!” Rex snarled, whirling to face her. Fear contorted his features.

“Leave her here and take me instead,” she repeated, ignoring my frantic brother.

I shook my head, silently pleading with her not to do this. She didn’t even know me. She didn’t know I was already broken. With all the damage done, I probably wasn’t leaving here alive anyway.

“And why would I do that? A hostage is a hostage,” Fenton scoffed.

He shook me hard enough to knock another pained whimper free as my tender brain rattled around my skull.

The demons in my periphery stilled their subtle movements. Fenton dragged me towards the broken doors at the other end of the room, staying just out of reach of the captives, trying to strike at him through the bars.

“I’m the only one who knows who you really are. What happens when you leave here without me? I’ll lead all these bloodthirsty demons straight to your coven’s territory.” The feral witch moved with us, angling herself in front of the only exit. “You can’t affordnotto take me with you.”

“Or I could just shoot you now and still have this bitch.” Fenton shook me again.

This time, I was ready, trapping pained noises behind clenched teeth as agony spiked through old injuries and new.

The witch smirked. “You think you can shoot me and get that pistol back to her head before one of these demons is already wearing your blood? You’ve seen how quick they move.”

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