Page 180 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

I look around for something to throw at it to try to move its focus away from the witch and her group long enough for them to escape.

But as if it senses me, it turns around and stares right at me. I move closer and partially shift. It pauses, tilting its head.

The demon growls low and deep, but whatever effect it had on the others, it doesn’t work on me, which pisses it off.

It bends, breaks off a large chunk of the club stage, and flings it toward me. I see the witch and her group escape just before I sidestep it and shift into my basilisk.

Black scales slide down my body as it expands and grows to make way for my beast. Bones crunch and slide along my body, growing and shrinking to extend and form my beast.

It takes seconds to transform, and the creature is still in the same spot. It stomps forward, reaching out to grab me, but I slide around it, moving so quick it barely sees me until I’m behind it.

Rearing up to full height, I tower over it, striking it from the side. Lava spills onto the floor, burning a large hole through it.

It doesn’t stop its advance, its injury causing it no hindrance. It turns, stalking forward, and growls once more. This time lava surges from its mouth, spraying straight at me. I evade most of it, but a chunk touches my tail, burning it instantly.

The pain subsides quickly, healing almost instantly, but my basilisk is pissed off. We evade the next lava attack before striking the demon again and again, causing it to become off balanced.

The demon starts to fall to the side. I spring forward, wrapping the length of my body around it, squeezing my hold as I do.

Drops of lava burn into my scales the more pressure I use, but I heal quickly and don’t let up.

A deafening crunch sounds out, just as the creature explodes from within. Its lava eyes leak down its disfigured broken face.

I quickly release its remains, unwrapping my body from it.

What’s left of the creature falls to the ground, becoming a block of broken pieces and cooling lava. The soothing air works alongside my new healing ability to quicken the process up.

Shifting back, I turn to leave when I spot them. My mind had been too focused on the imminent threat to seek them out.

Warlock, witches, and demons all stare right at me. They must have stayed to watch.

Their expression and energy ranged from shock and awe to anger and jealously. I ignore them, making my way out of there. I need to update the others about this.

Just before I leave, a young demon steps up beside me. “You destroyed it like it was nothing to you. How?”

I stay silent, making my way outside and moving stealthily between the shadows and back to the apartment.

At least we know now that Draven wasn’t lying about the attacks, but most of the supes didn’t look too bothered. They were frightened, but a lot of them looked like this was a normal occurrence, meaning Draven knows more than he’s letting on. And keeping us in the dark isn’t helping anyone.

If he wanted our help, he was going to have to tell us everything, and soon. I had a feeling that time was running out for us all.

I needed my siren back with us before it all kicked off. It was only time before whatever was going on with these old demons came to a head.

CHAPTER 11

KIARRA

The tall demon glares down at me as if waiting for something. But what, I couldn’t tell.

A thick, deep-purple horn sits on his head like a mohawk. His skin is a similar shade but much lighter. His muscular build and eyes are black-rimmed tell me he isn’t any underling.

No, this is a higher demon, and one you did not want to mess with. Malik never mentioned he was a higher demon, but it had to be him. He said we were the only ones down here.

Maybe I could get through to him before he does something he might regret.

I still can’t move, trapped by these damn metal bands. The strange darkness is gone, leaving nothing but confusion and exhaustion behind.

“Malik? Are you in there?” I ask. But he doesn’t move an inch or speak.

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