Demon's Dance (Lizzie Grace 4)

She hadn’t.

I began twining a repelling spell around my fingers, and almost ran straight into Monty as he stopped abruptly.

“Can you feel that?” He wasn’t looking at the house. He was looking at the hill that rose steeply on the other side of the road.

“Define that.” My gaze swept across the dark gully and the trees that lined the hill beyond it. There was no light, and no fire, and yet... and yet energy was gathering.

Dark energy.

“I think she’s—”

The rest of my comment died as a huge ball of flame erupted from the earth itself and thrust skywards. Monty swore and immediately cast his spell. It fell around us like a cloak, a fierce net of energy that neither looked nor felt strong enough to protect us from the sheer force of that fireball.

But it didn’t turn. It didn’t come at us.

Instead, with an inhuman scream, it spun and raced away, trailing flames behind her like a comet.

Dread surged as I realized where it was going. I had no way of getting there, no way of helping her.

Belle, get out of the truck and

run like hell. Out loud, I added, “Monty, it’s going after Belle and the jerry can!”

He hastily cast a second spell and then threw it after the soucouyant. The glowing threads of red and gold spun through the night, an arrow that lodged deep in the tail end of her flames. She screamed again and began to barrel roll, obviously trying to dislodge the spell. It didn’t work but she didn’t retaliate. She just continued to flame away from us.

Belle?

Running as fast as I can.

How far away from the truck are you? Because the older soucouyant is coming in fast.

Probably because I killed the other one.

What?

Had no choice—the spells containing it utterly broke down. It’s just lucky I had the water gun handy or I would have been toast.

Shit, Belle—

Oh, I said a few harsher words than that, I can assure you.

But you’re okay?

A little singed around the edges, but yes. She paused. Not sure the same can be said about the truck’s cabin though. The water may have killed the soucouyant but boy, did she go out with a bang.

My gaze rose to the skyline. The soucouyant had dipped below the hill line. Are you in the water yet?

Diving in now. And I still have the water pistol with me.

Keep under as much as you can. I pushed through Monty’s net and began to race down the hill. I’m coming.

Don’t—

It’s a witch’s duty to keep her familiar safe, I bit back. So just keep your head down until I get there.

Nothing like having your own words used against you, she muttered, with a slight edge in her mental tone. Just be careful, okay?

I ran across the road and up the hill, slipping and sliding on the rubble in my haste. A hand grabbed mine, at first steadying me and then sweeping me up into his arms and racing on.