Page 113 of Demon Apathy: Sunderverse
Gah, this would be so much easier if he could be told that his lazy ass was going to end the world, but that was against the rules.
Solar’s blue eyes met mine as he thought about it. I could see the realization dawning on him. With us out of the picture, his only problem would be Richie, which might not end up being a problem if he gave back the money.
His chest rose visibly with agitated breaths. He glanced from Khargon to Jophiel, weighing in his options. As if time had stopped, I perceived the change in his expression as he decided that dying for money and a trinket wasn’t worth it. He gave me a slight nod, then started lowering his gun.
That was when a shot rang out from Jophiel’s gun and hit Khargon right between the eyes.
I cried out. “Khargon!”
Like a robot, I glanced in her direction. She was standing in place, looking startled. She met my gaze. I stared at the spot between her eyes, realizing with relief that she was all right. Except in the next instant, her arms dropped to her sides, the gun clattering to the ground. Belatedly, blood started oozing from the wound, making a trail down her nose. Then her entire body unhinged, and she collapsed with athud.
Jophiel turned his attention to Solar next. “Go! I’m with Richie.”
Solar’s eyes went wide as saucers. I could see his brain doing somersaults, trying to figure this new turn. Me, a cop that was supposed to be friends with Richie and who had killed one of his own—none of it could make any sense to anyone but me.
Solar started toward his car again.
“No!” I exclaimed, watching Jophiel closely. He wasn’t allowed to hurt me, but I wasn’t so sure he would respect that rule. “Please, give the vessel, then you can go,” I said, trying to buy time.
If he left, he might manage to get away, and success in this situation would only make him that much harder to redeem later. Hehadto fail. Today. Now.
Jophiel turned the gun on me. “Don’t listen to her. Richie will make it worth your while. He has a buyer for the vessel. He’ll split the pot two ways.”
My insides seemed to shrivel as I stared into the barrel of his gun. “You won’t shoot me.”
The angel laughed and glanced at Khargon for proof that he was willing to shoot anyone. Except he and I both knew that she was only playing dead. A bullet couldn’t kill the demon. Nothing really could, except a weapon forged in heavenly fire. I fought the urge to glance toward Striker’s sword.
Jophiel was only saying that for Solar’s benefit. Or at least that was what I told myself. For all I knew, he planned to disobey the rules. Damn the consequences.
Rebecca and Lunar were standing shoulder-to-shoulder, their hands clasped as they trembled on the spot. They both looked pleadingly at Solar, who didn’t really have a choice but to go. Something I couldn’t allow. Making up his mind, Solar rushed toward his car, a hand stretched toward the door handle.
Pushing away all the doubts that crowded my mind, I launched forward to block his access at the same time that I unsheathed Blazebringer and threw the scabbard down.
“Stop!” Jophiel shouted, taking a step closer and aiming carefully.
But I didn’t stop. Instead, I shoved Solar with my free hand and sent him staggering against a concrete column.
A second shot rang out from Jophiel’s gun. Acting on pure instinct, I thrust all my telekinetic energy in the angel’s direction, hoping to stop the bullet, hoping to save my life.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl. Through the force of my skill, I felt the bullet speeding in my direction. If it had been a barrel tumbling in my direction, I would have been able to stop it. I had enough practice with sizable objects, but it was a tiny projectile, traveling at an impossible speed.
You’re dead. So dead!
I felt the bullet’s trajectory, true and deadly. Drevan was wrong. The angel didn’t care about any rules, and now I would die, and the damn devil wasn’t even here to help.
For a split second, I was resigned to my fate, but that survival instinct that had always kicked in when I most needed it had me raising the sword to protect myself. To my utter surprise, the bullet pinged against the blade, ricocheting.
Still possessed by that same instinct to stay alive, I pivoted to one side just as Jophiel pulled the trigger once more. This time the shot went wild, and knowing that staying on the defensive would do nothing but cost me my life, I lunged toward the angel, the sword pointed straight at his gut.
Jophiel’s face went from an impassive, self-assured mask to one of terror as he saw the dualistic blade coming for him. For a brief instant, I wondered if he had ever been threatened by anything that could actually end his life. If he had, I doubted the one holding the weapon had been a lowly human.
As he re-aimed, going for my chest, I batted my free hand to one side, releasing the entirety of my telekinetic power. I was hoping to send the pistol flying from his grip, but he was holding it tightly. Still, I deviated his hand just enough that the shot missed me by mere inches.
Teeth bared and running at full pelt, I devoured the distance between us and thrust the sword forward. The angel let out a scream of utter panic, even though he dodged the blow with his preternatural speed.
I lurched past him, fighting against my momentum as I tried to stop and whirled to face him. But I was not as fast as he, and I’d barely whipped my head around when he’d already repositioned himself, lifted the gun, and aimed it straight at my head.
With a cold smile, he said, “Goodbye,” and pulled the trigger.
