Heir of Night (The Thorne Hill)

Which is exactly what I have to do…I just don’t know how.

“I will say your efforts are admirable.” He moves closer and holds out his hands, eyes rolling back. His projection shimmers again, looking like a video game character glitching. “It would have been a disappointment if you didn’t put up a fight.”

Three demons carrying the same white gemstones from earlier move in front the outer circle. They place them around Paimon. As soon as the last stone is set, a circle of green light forms around them. Three more demons come over to me, holding gemstones as well. Heart in my throat, I pull one foot up, desperate to get away.

Paimon raises his hand, and the black smoke rises, twisting around my body and wrapping around my throat. I can’t move, and I can hardly breathe. The chanting gets louder, and the demons put the gemstones around me, glowing in a circle of white light. A final black rock is anointed with my blood and placed at my feet. Right away, I feel my powers leaving me. It hurts, and something inside me feels all wrong. I’m being torn in two, and the pain is so bad that bile rises in my throat. I’m being torn in each direction, and my body is begging me to pick a side.

Human.

Angel.

But I can’t. I can’t get rid of half of me. I can’t block out my angel powers, even if I wanted. They’re there, and they’re inside of me, and I’m hoping and praying they’re the answer to all of this. Paimon starts chanting along with the demons, and the pain gets worse and worse. Stars dot my vision as my divinity is drained, and I want to give in. I want to relent to the pain and let it take over, ending things so I can be at peace.

But then my baby kicks me hard in the ribs, reminding me of all I have to fight for.

“No!” I scream and yank my hands free, pulling them from the smoke. Gasping for air, I throw my hands out. I’m getting weaker by the second, and I need to get out of the stone circle. Balling my fingers into fists, I reach deep down inside of me and pull on the divinity I have left. It bubbles up inside of me, and I throw my hands out, screaming as I send a flash of bright white energy from me like a bomb.

Paimon’s astral projection doesn’t move, but the demons stumble back. Power surges through me. Whatever I did must have broken the banishment spell. But as soon as the power rushes through me, I feel light-headed. Ears ringing, I look for Lucas. I can’t kill War. I just need to knock him back so Lucas can get up and we can get to the Covenstead and come up with another plan.

Because we will. That’s what we do.

“Get her!” Paimon yells. “We still have time to complete the spell!”

I rush to get out of the stone circle, swaying on my feet. A demon in the body of an athletic young man grabs my hands and yanks them behind my back. My injured wrist hurts, sending a wave of pain through me that’s too much. I’m fighting against passing out and am no match against the demons.

“Get her in the circle!” Paimon’s eyes are wide, and he looks up at the sky again. We’re running out of time. The demon forces me forward, and I thrash against him, trying to free my hands. Locking my knees, I refuse to take another step, but it doesn’t stop the demon.

Suddenly, the demon holding me drops to the ground, taking me with him. I clamber away, turning to see Julian standing there, dagger glinting with fresh demon blood.

“You need to run,” Julian says, extending a hand to help me up. “The barrier is still up. I can’t fly us out.”

“Lucas,” I pant, gripping onto his wrist. Julian nods, knowing I won’t leave here without Lucas. Demons run at us, and I turn, wincing as I summon hellfire. It burns bright for only a few seconds before Paimon’s black smoke snuffs it out.

“Hurry!” he yells, and three demons grab me, wrestling me to the ground.

“No!” I scream when one claws at my stomach.

“Keep the child alive!” Paimon bellows. “We need the child!”

“You can’t have her,” I breathe. “Or me.” Summoning another energy ball, I go to throw it at Paimon. A demon hits me in the temple with its elbow, and I’m knocked back, vision blackening. My head turns to the side, cheek against the dirt.

Half a dozen demons are surrounding Julian, and he backs up, swinging his dagger through the air. I blink more blood out of my eyes, and the air buzzes with electricity. The stone circle I had been in glows brighter, and the black rock rises into the air.