Page 72 of Not Today, Satan
I now understand why Father mourns his wings. Like him, I was born to fly. Unlike him, I refuse to fall.
Especially now.
Arrows pierce the sky as we zoom over the bridge, but I dart around them with ease and laugh down at the souldiers.
They dart back and forth like ants, Ferus barking orders and smacking them when they miss us.
I cackle, the same way he did when my fire sputtered out. Now who’s embarrassed?
“Is that all you’ve got?” I call as I fly by one last time for fun.
Ferus screams and hurls his sword. I knock it with my boot, and it plunges into the pit. He curses, and I swear he’s redder than usual. I almost wish I had more time to circle them and tease him further, but they’ve no doubt called the chariots by now.
Attero doesn’t move. He watches us, shoulders hunched, sadness pulling at his features.
I swallow the lump in my throat. I’ll never see my best friend again.
I can’t come back here.
I’ve instigated a war between me and my father. It’s a war I’ll never win.
I follow the bridge toward the exit, my body vibrating. The souldiers shrink into insects in the distance, their cries insignificant buzzing in my ears.
The portal shimmers before me, and I pause in front of it, treading the air with my wings.
Portals. Yet another thing Mr. B. forgot to cover.
How do I get through?
There’s no knob or lever. NoExitsign. No magical light that screams “THIS IS A MYSTICAL PORTAL OUT OF HELL.”
I bite my lip.
In books, portals typically aren’t solid. Characters go through them like any other door. It’s easy.
Sure. Totally easy to fling myself out of Hell into a place I’ve never been.
My arms shake, and Nate slips. I catch him before he falls again.
Well, we can’t stay here forever.
Here goes.
Closing my eyes, I plow into the shimmering circle.
Holy shit.
We’re split apart, and I no longer have control of my wings. I’m tugged from behind like I’m magnetized. My eyes may as well be closed for all I can see in front of me. Everything’s pitch-black.
I cry out as I’m ejected onto hard ground that scrapes my bare legs.
Easy, my ass.
The light is blinding. I moan and cover my face, but it’s not enough. All my senses are screaming.
Blaring horns and roaring motors pierce my ears. Something rancid pricks my nose.
The ground burns my skin. I curl over and wrap my wings around myself to block it all out.
