I climb up on the desk, reaching for anything to grab onto to hoist myself up with, when a hand grasps around my ankle. With nothing to grab on to, I lose my balance and fall, landing hard on the cellar ground. Hunter stands protectively over me, and I look around in the dark for whatever grabbed me. My hand flies to the dagger as I stare into the dark. I can’t descry what lurks behind the wooden stairs, but the rattling hiss tells me that a Harvester is only a few feet away.
Hunter, no doubt able to see perfectly in the dark, springs forward. His growls echo off the crumbling brick walls. I take a deep breath. My right wrist pulses with pain, making it hard to grip the dagger. My heart pounds in my throat. I need a plan. Something—anything—to help me see in the dark. I hold my hands out and take a small step away from the stairs.
Suddenly, my vision changes, and I’m looking through Hunter’s eyes. The world is shades of green and gray, and I can see everything. I wrap my fingers around the dagger, pulling it free, and rush forward. Hunter drags the Harvester across the root cellar, right next to a broken wooden shelf. I pull all the energy I can from the air and direct it to the old shelf.
Now!
Hunter lets go of the Harvester, and I shove the dagger into its chest. It throws its hands up to push me away, but it’s too late. I twist the dagger, feeling the heat from the blade. I yank the dagger out and kick the Harvester back. It stumbles and crashes into the shelf. Already hot with energy, it ignites when the Harvester burst into flames, lighting up the basement.
Panting, I whirl around the room. Waiting in the shadows are five Pricolici, Asaroth, and the last remaining Harvester. Seven on two; the odds aren’t in my favor. I tighten my fingers around the dagger. Yes, the odds are against us, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to try. I lock eyes with Asaroth.
Bring it, bitch.
They lurk forward, slowly circling us. Asaroth crosses her arms and steps back to watch me get my ass kicked. I push aside my fear. Hunter growls and shows his fangs, ready to defend me even if it means his end. My heart beats a million miles an hour as I try to see a way out of this.
The demons pause in front of us, sizing us up. And then, all hell breaks loose. They rush forward, fangs and claws slashing the air. I jump out of the way, dodging the jaws of a Pricolici by inches. Hunter leaps, colliding with it and knocking it to the ground.
I scramble up, turning around to be face to face with the Harvester. I throw my hand up, fire erupting from my fingers. The Harvester halts, swiping a clawed hand through the air in an attempt to put out the flames.
Another Pricolici springs at me, saliva foaming at its mouth. I drop my hand and dive to the side and out of the way of the demonic dog’s attack. I slash the dagger through the air and miss.
The Harvester steps back, its sunken black eyes triumphant. It holds out its taloned hand and hisses. The Pricolici circles it, mocking me.
There’s no way that I can fight them all. Not even with Hunter’s help. With me gone, Asaroth has no reason to spare the lives of any of my friends.
Something covers the hole leading into the root cellar. The steel gray Pricolici that had been advancing toward me stops, turning around to see who had shut them. I seize the moment to sink the dagger into his back. He crumbles into ash and dust, but two more are quickly in his place. I take a step back and trip over my own feet.
Slowly, the Pricolici inches closer, growling and snarling, teasing me. I push myself up, wincing at the pain it causes my wrist, so intense it’s hard to grasp the dagger. There’s no way I’m making it out of this.
“Hey!” a familiar male voice shouts. The energy shifts, and every creature in the room turns to look. Ryan stands at the bottom of the stairs, along with a very young girl in a yellow dress and a middle-aged man. They’re ghosts, trapped to this earth and this madness by Asaroth’s possession of their powers.
Flickering in movement, Ryan appears before Asaroth. His hands spark with electricity. Asaroth’s face blanks in disbelief as Ryan clamps both hands over her ears, jolting the electricity and causing her to shriek in pain. The other two spirits, also sparking with blue energy, take on the Pricolici that are in front of me.
With the feeling of despair melting away, I jump up and go for the Harvester. The dagger slides easily into his back, and soon, he’s nothing but a pile of smoldering ash. Hunter pounces on another Pricolici, shifting into shadow form and killing the thing in an instant. He shadows to the last two left, who are being held back by the ghosts.