Page 75 of Demon Hunger
I followed his line of sight, but nothing seemed to warrant his reaction, which meant he was sensing something I couldn’t. Goosebumps erupted over my skin, traveling down my spine and leaving me with an awful premonition that, today, everything I held dear would meet its end.
Where were Sage and Benjamin?
Please, be all right.
Just as the thought materialized inside my mind, both of them came running from the back, Quellers in hand. Khargon was hot on their heels, screaming at them to run for their lives. When they saw us, they veered in our direction, ready to help.
“Get the hell out,” Khargon cried out. “He’s fallen. There are no rules anymore.”
She had to be referring to Jophiel, but what did she mean? How much worse could it be?
“Stupid girls,” LeBeau spat, pulling my full attention back to her. “Don’t you see you’re fighting for the wrong side? Drop your swords, and I may consider sparing you.”
“Go to heaven, you bitch!” Jenna shot back.
“Have it your way.” LeBeau lunged forward, slicing her sword in a wide arc, intended to hit us both at the same time. She moved so fast that I had no time to prepare my sword. Instead, my telekinetic instincts of self-preservation kicked in, and I sent a jolt of energy right at LeBeau’s hip and center of gravity. Unbalanced, she faltered and staggered sideways. Anyone else would have fallen to the floor, but her footwork was excellent, and she managed to right herself.
As she planted her feet, the entire building shook, and the wall exploded, sending cinder blocks flying in every direction. We all ducked as debris rained down on us. Jenna cried out in pain as a softball-sized piece of concrete grazed the side of her head. She swayed for a moment, then dropped to the floor. I ran to her, hooked my hands under her arms, and awkwardly pulled her away from LeBeau. I stopped near the wall next to a stand advertising barbecue seasonings.
“Jenna!” I patted her cheek as her eyes danced from side to side. A streak of blood ran from her left temple down to her jaw. She looked as if she was about to pass out. “Stay with me.” I slapped her this time.
That got her attention, and her blue eyes focused on my face.
I helped her sit up against the stand, her back resting against it. “Are you okay?”
She nodded and took several deep breaths.
I tightened her fingers around the hilt of her Queller, which had miraculously stayed in her hand. “If anyone comes this way, stab the hell out of them.”
I turned back toward the chaos. A sheet of dust was settling on the floor, which was strewn with pieces of concrete, wood, and cinder blocks. Beyond the settling cloud, LeBeau lay on the floor, unmoving, but it wasn’t her prone body that kept my attention. No, it was what lay thirty yards away, looming in front of the broken wall.
Jophiel.
At least I thought it was him. The massive creature that stood there had the same blond hair and wore the same light skirt and belt, though that was where the resemblance ended.
He stood over eight feet tall, his skin looking sallow and gray, and his once resplendent wings streaked with a black tarry substance. Slick drops dripped from the stained feathers, which looked nothing like an angel’s.
He’s fallen, Khargon had said. Did that mean he…? The words of the curse [X] had placed on Lucifer echoed inside my head.
May you and your progeny be forever cursed with the semblance of a hideous beast. May your betrayal serve as a lesson to others that when you turn your back on your maker, no good can come of it. May they roam the earth forever, unworthy, unloved, far removed from God’s likeness.
It seemed Jophiel had lost his place in heaven. He broke one too many rules, disobeyed his God, andfell. And no doubt, he blamed us.
But that wasn’t what terrified me. I was used to bigger foes. What made my blood turn to ice was the weapons he held in his hands. On his right, he wielded the firelash, and on his left… Swiftglory. Both of them could hurt Drevan, even kill him, and from the way Jophiel was staring at Drevan, it seemed that was the only thought in his mind.
“Stay here, Jenna,” I said.
She tried to stop me, but I jumped to my feet, holding on tightly to Blazebringer as I ran toward Drevan, Khargon, Sage, and Benjamin. As I passed LeBeau, I spared her a glance. A piece of wood was sticking out from her chest and bloodstained shirt. Her eyes were open and staring fixedly at the ceiling. I felt no shred of sympathy for her, and as soon as I joined my friends’ side, she was out of my mind.
“Where is Jenna?” Benjamin asked.
“She’s fine. Don’t worry,” I said.
“You all need to leave,” Drevan growled, taking a step forward.
“You’re fucking crazy if you think I’ll go anywhere,” Khargon growled back, her body slowly changing, presenting her demon semblance even to anyone without Truesight.
Sage and Benjamin said nothing but stood their ground. I did the same. Drevan had to know that I wouldn’t leave him. I would stand here and fight, and I would do my best to wipe Jophiel completely out of existence.
