Page 77 of Demon Hunger
Lunging forward, holding my Queller toward his middle, I ran at the toppling angel, a war cry tearing from my throat. But I should have known better. I was no match for such a creature.
It took Jophiel a split second to right himself by flapping his other wing. He regained his balance in an instant, picked up a cinder block fragment, and hurled it at my arm. The piece of concrete smashed its target with unerring accuracy. The blow stopped me in my tracks and sent the Queller flying from my hand. The weapon clattered to the floor and slid away from my reach.
I grabbed my arm, gritting my teeth as pain lanced up to my shoulders and down to my hand. Doing my best to ignore it, I pinpointed Blazebringer’s location and started toward it, but as I took my first step, Jophiel’s right wing came around, hooking itself around my ankle and jerking backward.
Crying out, I fell face first and managed to brace my fall just in time. As quickly as I could, I scrambled to my hands and knees and turned around to face my enemy.
Jophiel came at me, Swiftglory ready to slice my throat. Behind me, Drevan cried out my name in a mixture of desperation and agony. He was still fighting the firelash, which seemed to have a life of its own and wouldn’t let him go.
Adrenaline flooding my veins, I leaped sideways, shooting a burst of telekinetic energy against the floor to give me an extra boost. Jophiel’s bladewhooshedoverhead just as I got out of the way. I rolled over my shoulder, tumbling and spinning into a crouch, one hand still on the floor.
Jophiel’s face twisted in confusion, as if he couldn’t understand how I was able to get away so quickly. As I watched, his face settled into a resolved expression. He held my gaze for just a second, then moving with preternatural speed, lobbed Swiftglory directly at my chest.
I’d tried. That was the only thing I could console myself with. I had not cowered in the face of evil, but I’d lost.
I braced for the impact, knowing in my heart that I wouldn’t be fast enough to escape this blow. Not this time. But it was all right, because I would see Drevan again. I would go to Hell. I’d done nothing to deserve otherwise.
Suddenly, a hulking, dark shape jumped in front of me. It took me a moment to realize what had happened.
“No!”
As Drevan fell to my feet, I grabbed his arm as if that could stop him, but instead, I went tumbling with him. He collapsed on his side and nearly crushed me as he rolled to his back, twisting in agony, Swiftglory embedded in his chest and the lash still wrapped around his arm.
“No no no.”
My hands hovered over the hilt of the dagger as golden blood spilled from the wound.
“No! Why did you do that?” I demanded. “Why?!”
A gurgling sound came from his lips, and a trickle of ichor slid out of the corner of his mouth.
“You should have let me die.”
“Ne-ver. You should live and be happy,” he rasped with effort.
“I would go to Hell and meet you there.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.
A deep laugh rumbled behind me. Jophiel. He lumbered in my direction, glee shining in his eyes. He didn’t intend to let me live either.
“Run,” Drevan commanded, using the last of his strength.
“No. I’m not leaving you.”
I grasped his large hand in mine and brought it to my chest. He blinked a few times, a golden tear cutting across his cheek. His mouth opened but no sound came out. Slowly, his eyelids closed in his head slumped to one side.
Drevan. No. Why? Why?!
I pressed his hand tightly to my chest, refusing to let him go. “Don’t leave me. Please, stay with me. You’re my salvation. I’m nothing without you. Please, come back. I was wrong. I was wrong for so long.”
Jophiel stomped his foot and let out another maniacal laugh. He leaned down, picked up Sage’s fallen sword, and pointed it at me, letting me know I was next.
But I didn’t care. All I cared about was Drevan, and he was gone. I didn’t want to go on without him.
Jophiel pulled the sword back. Time slowed as, through my tear-clouded vision, I saw the angel’s satisfied smile as the sword sliced toward my neck.
“No,” I hissed between clenched teeth.
