Page 12 of Underworld
My world condensed down the rush of the fight, the roars and hisses of Demonspawn, and Orion’s laughter as the warm musk of sunlight filled my senses.
The Demonspawn fell in droves, at our mercy when it came to my new strength and Orion’s rejuvenated reserves. My demigod sent beams of sunlight down on the dark creatures while I took on my untamed Virtue.
I smashed into Cole, raking him with my Demonspawn claw that drew black blood. He must not have expected the strike, because he snarled and thrust his wings down. A hot breeze sent my hair flying over my face as he shot up.
My wings twitched in response, wanting to follow him, but I didn’t know how.
Orion and I fought at a rift that offered an endless supply of Demonspawn and Cole watched from above as a smirk crested his lips.
One of Cole’s minions rushed at Orion’s back.
“Orion!” I shouted, unable to assist when a sharp pain radiated up my spine and into another appendage I couldn’t explain.
My wings.
Claws swept through delicate feathers, leaving gauzy wounds splattering blood across the ground.
I stopped the disgusting little beast with a well-aimed fireball, but it left me open to another attack—and this time, the Demonspawn showed they’d learned.
All of them went for my wings.
I screamed as one of them tore into the underside of my right wing, shredding flesh, sinew and bone.
“That’s enough,” Cole called out in a booming voice.
“You fucking demon,” Orion snarled, stumbling to get between us. His leg gave way and I cried out as I saw why—a dark gash that edged his flesh with shadow burned along his right knee and he went down, Demonspawn crowding around him.
Cole smirked and dropped, quick as a snake, to wrap his fingers around my wrist.
“You’ll pay for this,” I snarled, fisting my free hand. Virtue or not, even I had my limits.
A blinding white light emanated from my wrist—from the skin where Cole touched me—searing everything it touched.
I dug my heels in and when he turned from the brilliance as it build, a hum low in my ears.
The blue-white glow that had been forming where Cole gripped me exploded.
A sonic crack swept out, hurtling us all through the air.
Orion managed to catch me, protecting my body with his as when we landed.
Cole slammed into the solid portion of the barrier and it reacted with a violent explosion of power. It radiated through him, sending him to his knees as he shivered with obvious pain. He panted, his ruby eyes on mine filled with revenge—and something else.
Surprise.
He hadn’t expected me to win against a direct attack.
Which meant it was time to change tactics.
With a snarl, he called the Demonspawn to retreat. Then he turned and dove through the lingering rip on the barrier, the remaining Demonspawn following him.
“They were here for me,” I said numbly as I watched the barrier tremble, the breach not quite healing.
What kind of damage had been done.
How many had died?
Orion and I could handle ourselves, but based on the screams in the distance, not everyone had been so lucky.
