Page 79 of Demon Apathy: Sunderverse
“That’s what I can’t figure out. I can’t find her.” Concern etched his face, something I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen in him. He always appeared to have everything under control. “Phenog is looking for her. I’m sure she’ll find her.” He shook himself to dispel the worry. “But now it is Solar we need to worry about. We need to figure out a way to push him in the right direction.”
“I was talking to Jenna and the others, and I think we may have an idea.” The wheel made a full revolution, and we faced the open ocean.
I explained about finding a way to put the pressure on Richie so that, in turn, the crook would put the pressure on Solar. Drevan listened carefully until I was done explaining.
“Yes, something along those lines might work. Hmm, put pressure on Richie…” He pondered, nodding his head in approval. “Richie isn’t the type of guy you are imagining. In fact—”
A sound like the high-pitched scream of an alien creature sounded in the distance. I wouldn’t have thought much of it—dismissing it to something caused by the wind—but Drevan was immediately alert, his eyes glowing amber as he scanned the horizon. He hissed under his breath, words I couldn’t understand, but that definitely sounded like a curse.
“What is it?” I asked, also scanning the night sky, my heart speeding as my adrenaline spiked. Something was wrong. I could feel it in the air.
Then I spotted it, a dark shape moving erratically in the distance, below a cluster of clouds.
“Khargon!” Drevan spat. “We need to get down from here.”
That inhuman screech again. Much louder now, and the flying shape bigger, headed straight toward us. I took in the creature, its leathery wings, huge fangs and claws, pointed ears, and vaguely humanoid body.
Gargoyle. That was the only word that came to mind to describe what I was seeing. The creature flew at a staggering speed, and it was almost on us. I glanced at the ground.
Witchlights,I have to get down!
But it was too far to jump. Still, I started to undo the strap that secured me to the basket. My trembling fingers fumbled with the buckle. I darted a look back towards the creature. So close! A star-white shape glimmered behind the darker one.
Oh, crap!
I stood up to jump. I would take my chances with the ground and not with the hideous gargoyle or the terrible angel chasing it. Drevan stood too, draping an arm around me. What was he doing? The creature was flying erratically and was mere feet from smashing into us.
I pushed him. “Let go!”
A familiar, nauseous feeling came over me. My stomach clenched and my windpipe filled with bile. I dissolved. The world around us dissolved. The next thing I knew, my feet were planted on the ground, and my head was spinning as I tried to regain my bearings. We had reappeared next to a concession stand. The sugary smell of cotton candy filled my head. My brains felt totally scrambled.
Trying to clear my head, I glanced up and scanned the line of amusement rides up to the Ferris wheel. Drevan had transferred us a fair distance away from it.
A horrible crashing sound rent the night. The whine of metal followed as the Ferris wheel shook, and its baskets started swinging wildly. The gargoyle shrieked as it fell through the Ferris wheel’s spokes and mechanism.
“Stay here!” Drevan ordered.
“Wait!”
He disappeared.
Shit! Now what?!
Squatting, I ran from behind the concession box to a photo booth, the world seeming to tip on its axis. I stopped and took a deep breath until the ground leveled. Blinking from behind the booth, I was able to watch as the gargoyle finished filtering through the Ferris wheel, bumping against every spindle, bones cracking and wings ripping.
The angel came around the ride, white wings glittering. He seemed intent on finishing the gargoyle. He was wearing the same light blue skirt and golden belt and carried Swiftglory in his hand. Looking determined, he lunged toward the gargoyle, preparing to land near it, except Drevan flew in—his magnificent black wings beating in strong, rhythmicthuds—and blocked Jophiel’s path.
“I will kill you for this!” Drevan exclaimed.
“Ah, cousin, you didn’t learn your lesson.” He flashed Swiftglory in a reminder of the deadly harm he’d inflicted on Drevan.
Cousin?!Some relative he was.
“Who did you get to patch you up?” Jophiel asked in a tone that suggested he wouldn’t hesitate to dispatch whoever had dared to undo his handiwork.
Damn!Thatwhoeverwas my sister. What kind of trouble had I gotten her into?
Wearing a murderous expression, Jophiel charged forward, Swiftglory aimed straight at Drevan’s chest.
