At the thought of Gabe my mind froze. The high I’d been feeling turned dark and cold. I recoiled from the anticipation for blood, urges the demon had put into my head. This was wrong. I couldn’t kill another human. Not even if it was Granny. Not even to save my own life.
“I won’t do it,” I screamed.
With one kick, I slammed the feral on Granny’s left into a nearby tree. The demon inside of me began to flail with panic as I drove my dagger into the other feral’s heart. It lashed out and tried to hurt me, but I ignored its attack as more ferals joined the fight.
Granny shuffled to her feet, snatched her shotgun, and ran away without a look back. I managed to keep the ferals busy long enough for her to disappear into the trees. But soon, they overwhelmed me and I found myself pinned to my back on the ground, looking up at the blue sky peaking through the trees.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Elizabeth leaned over me, blocking out my view of the sky.
Her feral puppets gripped each of my limbs with excruciating pressure. There was no escape.
“I’m very disappointed, my daughter.” She plucked the silver dagger from my hands and tossed it into the trees. “Very disappointed. It looks like you won’t be sharing eternity with your mother, after all.”
She gestured at the ferals. They pulled me up from the ground, and although I struggled against their claws, I was no match for them.
“Go ahead, kill me.” I spat.
There was no point in dragging this out. I would never let that demon inside of me take control.
“Oh, I will,” she said, an evil grin curling her lips. “But not until you release my Prince from Hell. Along with all of his armies. Your kind will perish from the face of the Earth by nightfall, take my word for it.”
With that evil proclamation, she turned on her heels and began marching us straight to the Hell Gate.
Chapter Nineteen
The demons dragged me through the forest, kicking and screaming. No amount of Nephilim energy I had left in me could overcome the strength of five ferals. Elizabeth laughed maniacally as I fought to be released.
“Give up, child. This is the end.”
I glared at her, wishing I could make her spontaneously combust with just the heat in my gaze. “Never. I won’t let you kill my family.”
She pouted. “You have no choice. I’m going to annihilate them all...one by one. Even that little boy toy of yours. What was his name?”
Clamping my mouth shut, I bit on my tongue. She didn’t deserve to know Gabe’s name. He was more powerful than she could ever dream. He’d avenge my death, of that I was certain. But my body ached at the thought of dying without saying goodbye to him. In the last few months, he’d become my very best friend and partner. I didn’t want to lose him.
It was only two months ago when he’d surprised me during one of our trips into the city and taken me to a fancy restaurant. The kind with the linen tablecloths, candles on the table, and soft music in the background. We’d spent an hour talking about our childhoods. He’d grown up in Westward Manor, but his parents had taken him to see the world. I’d been so envious of that. I’d never even been out of the state of South Dakota. He had gently taken my hand in his and promised me that we would do the same as soon as everything slowed down. How I wished that could’ve been true for us. I would’ve loved to see the world with Gabe.
“Oh, I touched a nerve.” Elizabeth grabbed my chin and shook it playfully. “Someone is extra sensitive about her love life. You can tell mommy all about it. I’ll make sure he gets some very special attention when he dies. Don’t you worry.”
A wad of spit flew from my lips and onto her face. Without batting an eye, she released my chin and calmly wiped it from her cheek.
“You’ll regret that. I’m going to make you wish you’d joined us. In fact, I predict that by the end of the day, you’ll be begging me to let you back on the team.”
“I’d rather die a thousand deaths,” I hissed. There was no way she’d ever turn me to her side.
“Very well.” Nodding at the ferals, she strode ahead of us.
Panic coursed through me as recognizable landmarks came into view. We were getting close to the mouth of the Hell Gate. Soon, she’d throw me in and there would be no stopping the armies of Hell. Gabe, Luke, Raquel, and all the rest of the Nephilim stood no chance against the legion of demons waiting for them. I had to stop her.
“Mom, listen to me.” I pulled back on my arms, causing the ferals to slow down. “Listen to me, please. Don’t do this.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Too, late. We’re almost there.”
“I wasn’t talking to you, demon.” Taking a deep breath, I pulled back again. “Mom, I know you’re still in there. Please, fight her. Don’t let her do this. We have to save our family.”
She stopped walking and fixed me with a jeer. “Your mother isn’t going to hear you. She’s been gone twenty-two years. I took her one day when she happened to wander a little too far into the woods and out of the protection of your precious Nephilim. And you want to know the best part?”
I bit the inside of my cheek, refusing to play her game.