Page 83 of Woven Souls

The words trail off as my connection to the other side breaks.

The second the Veil is dropped, we’re enveloped in chaos. I’m jumped by four demons of various sizes. My scream is cut off as I’m knocked out of the sky. Before I hit the ground, the creatures from the Realm of the Dead erupt into green flames. They don’t last longer than a second before turning to ash. I roll away to give myself space, but I’m jumped by two more before I can get to my feet. Again, green flames race over their hard, rough black skin before their souls are erased and their bodies turn into flakes that drift away in the wind. I don’t try to get up this time. I sit up, call forth my power and slam my hands together. The energy I let loose throws a handful of these monsters away from me before I kill them.

When I have the space, I get to my feet.

Around me, the Ghosts work as a unified team to slice through the demons. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see them slice, skewer, and mutilate the threat to this realm. I wish I could just sit back and watch. But since I’m the reason they’re here, sitting back seems rude.

Together we work, cutting down the numbers slowly but surely.

As the Ghosts, and ex-Ghosts slaughter demons, their kills turn into an obstacle. Trying not to trip becomes the newest challenge. If it’s not a body in the way, it’s ice, and if it’s not ice, it’s puddles of blood. To help with the growing number of bodies littering the ground, I open up a much smaller slit in the Veil. My reaper is crouched and ready, scythe in hand. I dip and twirl out of reach of a particularly large, savage beast and then yell at the warriors around me, “Send them this way!”

I send two demons into the Realm of the Dead simply by ducking. I split my attention from the Veil to send green flames shooting through a larger cluster of demons as they converge on two Ghosts. As they turn to ash and their souls disintegrate, the Ghosts whirl around to face me. I point to the Veil.

“Send them home!”

I don’t wait to see if they understand or if they take advantage of my back being turned to come after me. Instead, I keep a demon from mauling Viktor as he shoves Jonah into the van. When that’s done, I turn and kill several more. I launch myself out of the way of two coming at me from different directions. There’s so much going on, and I’m starting to run on fumes.

Thankfully, the Ghosts seem to be taking my advice. Slowly but surely, the demons are either killed or driven towards the Veil where they disappear out of sight. Soon, there are only a handful of demons left.

“Willow, this way!” Theo calls.

Without thinking, I turn at the sound. It’s the wrong move. The moment my attention is elsewhere three demons take advantage and leap for me with claws outstretched. I don’t even have time to throw my hands up to protect my face or use my power.

The whistle of a blade swings through the air and ends with a sickening wet thud. I turn halfway around to watch Viktor slice through, not one, not two but all three demons like butter. The muscles in his arms bulge and strain against the short sleeves of his shirt, sending another wave of lust crashing through me. As the pieces of each creature tumble to the ground, Viktor turns, wraps an arm around my waist and hurries me towards the waiting van.

“We’re leaving?” I ask incredulously. “But we’re not done killing—”

“There are less than a handful left. These Ghosts can handle it. Now let’s go!” Viktor shouts.

He’s right. The Ghosts will soon be done with the immediate threat and will come after us next. I push my legs harder as we sprint towards the vehicle.

Theo slides open the back door as we approach and then jumps into the driver’s side. Viktor shoves me in first and jumps in afterward. I’m thrown to the other side of the van as Theo guns the gas. Viktor slams the sliding door shut just as a demon smashes into the side of the vehicle. The van tilts to the side but rights itself. Theo barrels through the demons and Ghosts, not bothering to try to avoid anything in this chaos.

As the van races down the narrow dirt road, I focus on opening up smaller sections of the Veil. Each time it’s strategic. A demon leaping for a Ghost hits the entrance to a Veil. If one is about to land on the ground, the Veil opens up just underneath it. Over and over, I open and close the Veil. My head begins to throb, and my body grows tired. By the time we hit the highway, I’m sweating.

But at least we’re out of that mess.

“Oh, thank goodness.” I sigh loudly. I start to sag in my seat but remember that I can’t rest yet. Not with Kwil and Jonah still down and out. Viktor must have been thinking the same thing too because we both turn around in our seats to peer behind us at the two unconscious men.

“Are they going to be alright?”

I start to climb over, but Viktor yanks me back down by the seat of my pants. “Be careful,Soiel Ywab.”

Angel of death… The endearment settles me. Swallowing hard, I get comfortable in my seat and try to calm my racing heart.

“We’ll pull over shortly,” Theo promises. “We’ll check over their injuries to see what can be done.”

I bite my bottom lip as I peer over my seat again. There is so much blood on Kwil’s shirt.

Please don’t let that be his…

Chapter20

VIKTOR

My hands are shaking.

We were nearly caught, and there had been nothing I could do to stop it. Our brothers would have done their jobs, and as much as I hate it, I don’t fault them. We’re Fallen, and now Willow is definitely on their watch list as a monster that needs to be hunted down.

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