Death of a Demon (The Dark Angel Wars 3)

“It’s not much to look at, is it?” She sheathed the sword in her hand and rubbed her hands together. “Do you think she’s here?”

She had to be talking about Granny. But the shades were drawn tight and not a flicker of light came through the windows. I had to assume Granny was out in the middle of the fight. She wasn’t one to shrink away from duty. She was probably ushering people to the tornado shelter underneath the town bank. Firing upon the demons from the top of the Calico Diner. Or running them down with her old jeep.

“Let’s flush her out,” she said, making a beeline for the rusty can of gasoline in the grass next to the old push mower.

What are you doing? I demanded. Stop it.

“What?” She popped off the lid, releasing a dizzying acrid aroma that tickled my nose. “You hate this place as much as I do. Think of it as a favor, from me to you.”

Laughing to herself and humming a tune, she began to splash the sides of the house with the clear liquid. When the can was empty, she tossed it over her shoulder and plucked Granny’s spare lighter from the ashtray on the window ledge.

Don’t do this, I begged. As much as I hated growing up in this house, I couldn’t bare it being destroyed like this. These walls weren’t to blame for my Granny’s hate. If anything, they’d sheltered me, provided me warmth and comfort despite the lack of a mother’s love.

“It’s showtime, baby,” Mona said, ignoring my pleas.

All it took was a tiny flame to send rolling walls of fire up the sides of the house. Black smoke filled the sky, choking my lungs. Mona didn’t seem to mind. She relished the sight, backing up to examine her handiwork.

Twenty-one years of memories went up in flames before my eyes.

Around us, chaos was beginning to descend upon Hanna. Ferals flew past, barely glancing at Mona as she hummed and strutted around the old house. I could catch the sound of battles and yells from deeper within town, but with Granny’s home on the outskirt of town, the action remained far away. An explosion went off, accompanied by screams. Mona giggled and perched herself on an old tree stump just yards from the house.

A few seconds later, a rusty old jeep came flying down the highway. It screeched to a halt next to the house, throwing up gravel and dirt in the yard. I recognized that vehicle immediately. Granny had refused to let me drive it. Said I would throw the transmission and destroy it. I’d had to learn how to drive in my best friend Kate’s little ‘87 Honda.

“What in tarnation?” Granny hopped from the driver’s side and landed with a solid thud on the ground.

She looked exactly the same since the last time we’d met in the forest and I’d spared her life. Same grizzly gray mane of hair that refused to be tamed by a ponytail. Wrinkled white skin with age spots. And of course—her trusty shotgun resting on her shoulder.

Same old Granny.

If Mona wasn’t careful, she was going to get us both killed.

Chapter Seventeen

Looking up at the flames, Granny swore and shaded her eyes, the heat becoming nearly unbearable.

“Hello, Granny.” The words dripped off Mona’s tongue like poison. She stood up and cocked her hip, her hand on the hilt of her sword.

Granny’s chocolate brown eyes locked onto us with extreme displeasure. “You did this.”

“What can I say?” She shrugged playfully. “It felt like the perfect time to cleanse the past of the bad memories. What do you say?”

“I say you’re crazy.” Granny swept the gun off her shoulder and aimed it squarely at my chest. “Always have been. Demon child.”

Mona squealed and clapped her hands. “You have no idea how right you are, grandmother.” Breaking into a low bow, she looked up at her. “Demon child at your service. Lizzy’s been grounded. For life. It’s me here, now.”

Chewing on the inside of her cheek, Granny began to slowly circle her. I could tell her mind was whirling behind that intent stare. All the while, she kept the gun pointed at us.

“What’s wrong, Granny?” Mona grinned and raised her eyebrows. “Don’t approve of your granddaughter? Your own flesh and blood.”

She snorted and pursed her lips. “You’re nothing but a monster.”

Putting on a fake pout, Mona tilted her head. “That’s not very nice, grandmother. Especially not when I’m prepared to do you a favor.”

“I don’t want any favors.” Sh

e spat on the ground and sniffed. “Not from the likes of you and your kind. Tell your friends to get out of here. We’ll handle this on our own.”

“You’re handling it very well,” Mona mocked. She pointed behind her. “My Prince has claimed this town for his own. Check it out and see.”