Omens (Dark in You 6)

The corpses in front of them weren’t the only threat.

Enoch continued to sling black orbs through the broken window, uncaring that they couldn’t penetrate Jolene’s shield. Moreover, the corpses in the cellar had managed to punch enough holes through the hatch that one of them would no doubt crawl out of it any moment now.

“Motherfucking motherfucker,” cursed Ciaran, his voice thick with pain.

Khloé looked to see that the cougar had knocked her brother onto his back, its rear claws digging into his stomach, its teeth snapping at his face. Only the arm he’d placed against its throat kept it from biting down.

He wasn’t using his telekinesis to buck it off, which meant his reserves had to be super low. Her own were sadly no better. She flicked her hand, sending out a wave of electric fire that was strong enough to lash the wild cat like a whip and cause it to topple over.

She screamed through gritted teeth as hot pain knifed through her leg. Powerful jaws had clamped around it like a fucking bear trap. Khloé glared down at the dead wolf, knowing Enoch was looking back at her through the one eye that hadn’t yet been blinded. Well, she could fix that. She zapped its good eye with electric fire just as there was a loud crack. His broken jaws went slack.

She gave her father a grateful nod and pulled free of the wolf. Only then did she realize that all the puppets lay blind and still at their feet. The one that had half-crawled out of the hatch had taken a hellfire orb to the face, and its limp body blocked the other corpses from being able to exit the cellar.

“You’re all looking a little worse for wear,” said a voice that grated on her nerves and made her demon snarl.

Khloé snapped her gaze to the doorway. Enoch stood there, surrounded by his forcefield. Jolene had moved to block him with her shield, which was probably the only reason he hadn’t started hurling more of his weird black orbs at them.

“Khloé,” said Jolene.

Enoch laughed. “She’s too weak to destroy my forcefield at the moment. So, it would seem we’re at an impasse. I can’t penetrate your shield, and you can’t damage mine. I suppose we’ll have to continue this another day.”

“You think Molly would be proud if she could see you now?” asked Jolene.

His face hardened. “Don’t you speak of her.”

“We cared for her too, you know. We all mourned her. Her death was a tragedy—”

“Death is not the end. My power proves that. She could have lived, but you just had to interfere, and now I’ve lost her forever. I warned Khloé in her dream that I’d get my revenge on you both. It may not have worked today, but there’s always next time.”

“Molly was already lost to you, and you know it. Reanimating her body was selfish on your part. You treated her body like it was a doll, and you did it rather than deal with your own grief. If your mate had been alive, she’d have hated you for it. Just as your siblings hate you for resurrecting your parents and others they cared for.”

“Not all see the beauty in what I do. But I think you’ll be surprised to find out just how many people do.” A sly smile curved his mouth. “Bet you didn’t know some of the demons in your precious lair sought—and paid well for—my services when they lost their loved ones. It’s been happening under your nose for years.”

Khloé tensed. He could not be serious.

She almost jumped when Ciaran’s fingers linked with hers. The spurt of power that shot into her body wasn’t very potent, but it quickly blended with hers, strengthening her. We’ll probably pass out after this, you know that, right? she asked him. Melding their powers twice in a day never failed to leave them unconscious.

I know, he replied, but it has to be done.

He wasn’t wrong.

“I’m sure we’ll all see each other again soon,” said Enoch, giving them a little wave.

Adrenaline spiked through her. That rat bastard was going nowhere. She lifted her hand and let out a wave of electric fire that rippled through the air. It surrounded Enoch’s forcefield in a flash of speed, crackling and hissing.

His eyes widened, and his face fell. “No!”

Her demon smirked. “Oh, fucking yes,” hissed Khloé. She snapped her fist closed, cutting through the forcefield.

Jolene, Orrin, and Richie attacked as one, hitting the bastard with hellfire, telekinetic punches, and a snap of power that broke his neck. Enoch burst into a cloud of ashes that swiftly flew away. The corpses that were struggling to get out of the cellar instantly collapsed due to the breaking of the psi-connection. And Khloé, well, the world viciously spun around her.

Her vision blurred. A feeling of weightlessness filled her. Nausea roiled her stomach. The voices around her faded as the world just kept on spinning and spinning and spinning.