Page 6 of Demon Hunger
Without warning, she charged.
As if LeBeau’s attack was their cue, Jophiel and Eisheth also jumped into action.
LeBeau was fast. She had many years of experience sword fighting, whereas I’d only begun learning last semester. It took all the speed and agility I had to lift my sword in time to block her. Our swords clanged together a mere inch from my face. My arms trembled as she leaned all her weight into me and I tried to hold her back. LeBeau was taller and heavier than me and was quickly driving the sharp edge of my own Queller toward my nose.
Shit!If I didn’t do something, she was going to cut me in half.
There was a growl from Zach, and the sound of metal against metal, but I couldn’t spare a second to see what was happening around me.
LeBeau was only a Stale, and I was a Skew with another weapon at my disposal. Using my telekinetic powers, I focused on one of her boots and yanked it from under her. I expected her to fall flat on her back, but she’d probably been counting on my abilities and had been ready for such an attack. Instead, she dropped to one knee and managed to turn her mishap into an attack, aiming her sword at my middle and slicing across.
I cried out as the blade cut through my jacket. I waited for the sting and warmth of blood, but I’d also been quick and my retreating step had saved me from being wounded.
I had an instant to cast a glance about to see Drevan engaged in battle with the angel, and Eisheth taking a hold of Zach’s bear form by the neck, while Sage did his best to stab her and send her ass back where she belonged. If he didn’t hurry, the demon was going to strangle Zach, or worse yet, possess him.
As my attention swiftly returned to LeBeau, I found her coming at me with her Queller raised above her head.
I parried the blow and jumped back several steps, trying to take a better view of what was happening around us. People had started coming out of the club, drawn by the commotion. Jenna pushed Benjamin down and got away from him. Arms pumping, she ran in to help Sage and save Zach. Drevan was parrying attacks from Swiftglory. Of all of us, he was at the greatest disadvantage because his sword was totally harmless against Jophiel, while the angel’s dagger was mortal against him. Still, he was faring much better than Zach, whose tongue was lolling as his back legs dangled weakly in the air.
LeBeau glared at me, rage contorting her face. Hate seemed to ooze from her. She had tried to further corrupt me, to drown me in my own pride and ego, and it was clear she despised me for letting her down and finding the error of my ways. Drevan said she’d struck a bargain with the man upstairs, and as long as Drevan and I were succeeding in our task of redeeming the subjects, she would not get whatever was promised to her.
“I’m going to kill you,” she hissed between clenched teeth, then ran at me again.
But I couldn’t fight her right now, not when my classmates needed my help, so instead of facing her, I ran. As fast as I could, I skirted around Eisheth, putting the huge demon between LeBeau and me.
Zack’s legs stopped kicking, and his eyes rolled to the back of his head. Sage and Jenna were doing their best to get close to Eisheth in order to stab her, but the demon’s long arms and fast movements were keeping them at a distance.
The good thing was that I didn’t need to get close. Last year, fighting one of the demons Drevan had used in his redemption plot against me, I learned I could quell without touching the sword, so aiming my weapon directly at Eisheth’s middle, I let go of its hilt and propelled it forward.
The Queller flew true, and I was about to whoop in victory when Sage stepped right into the path of my flying sword.
My heart and lungs stopped.
A collective cry rose from behind the hedges where the rest of my classmates were taking cover.
I was nearly paralyzed with inaction, but just as the sword was a few feet from Sage, I had the presence of mind to redirect it, sending a blast of my telekinetic power under it. The Queller’s tip rose.
Eisheth monstrous figure loomed over Sage, and I saw the opportunity to salvage my attack. I had aimed for her middle because it provided a larger target, but a simple nick in any part of the demon’s body would do. Keeping control of the soaring Queller, I aimed higher. It traveled in its new trajectory, but Eisheth kept moving, avoiding Sage’s and Jenna’s attacks, and I had to keep correcting the course.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of LeBeau rushing toward me once more, her sword prepared to lop my head off. A burst of adrenaline shot through my system as I became aware of the threat. I needed to kill Eishethandsave my life. I couldn’t do both. So I gave my sword a final push, praying to the witchlights it would find its target. Then I ducked and rolled away from my attacker, just as her sword whistled through the air right at the spot where my head had been a second ago.
There was a terrible roar that sounded like a thousand lions crying out in pain and anger. A loud pop followed, then the air filled with thick smoke. My Queller had hit the demon! Blinking at the sting in my eyes, I crawled on all fours under the haze, in case LeBeau came looking for me. Ashes rained around us like snow.
As I scuttled like a cowardly bug, my hand fell on thick fur. I flinched back, then realized it must be Zach. Feeling my way around, I found his head. His pelt was dense and coarse.
“Zach, Zach.” I shook him desperately. “Wake up!”
Please, don’t be dead. Don’t be dead.
I felt around his neck for a pulse, but it was impossible to find one through the breadth of his coat. That or he just didn’t have one anymore. Tears pooled in my eyes. I blinked them away as the smoke dissipated, leaving behind Sage and Jenna, crouching low and coughing.
Behind them, LeBeau stood, batting a hand to dispel the remaining smoke. When it had all cleared, she wasted no time charging in my friends’ direction.
“Look out!” I cried out, jumping to my feet. I thrust a hand forward and blasted the brunt of my telekinetic power between Sage and Jenna.
The blast flew past them and hit LeBeau square in the chest. She grunted as it hit her, her face contorting in pain. She staggered backward several feet. Her arms windmilled as she fought to keep her balance. I thought one blast might be enough to take her down, but the woman was strong. When she fully recovered, she took a deep breath and charged forward again.
Damn!
