The Rise of Fortune and Fury (Chronicles of the Stone Veil 5)

“Someone’s coming,” I hiss at Boral, but the doors have already swung shut again and I’m betting he didn’t hear me.

I decide to pivot fast and bolt, but, before I can, four daemons appear in the hallway entrance from the showroom.

Not one or two as Echo claimed, but four.

No wait… two more join them.

There are now six, and they are all staring at me in shock. Each one bears thick dark auras, and their countenances are especially grotesque. One looks to the office, sees the open door, and hisses in fury.

“Shit,” I mutter as I pull my whip free as they charge.

I swing the thong back along the floor, preparing to level a strike at the lead daemon when he gets in range, but, to my surprise, they all pull guns out of holsters I hadn’t noticed until now.

Daemons don’t have magic, but they are not without protection and the ability to guard. Bullets explode, the sound reverberating in the hallway, but I manage to throw my shield up in time.

The bullets hit the magical force field and clatter uselessly to the floor. I don’t even wait around to take in their reaction. I drop the field, send a blast of air at them that has all six blowing backward like tumbleweeds. They all sort of get clogged up in a tangle of arms and legs.

It’s the perfect time to bolt and I do, bursting through the double doors. The dock door is open, and I see Boral running with Blain toward the G550.

Zora is out of the vehicle with the back door open so when Boral reaches her, he can throw the rescued package in the back.

I hurtle through the opened door, hit the dock with one foot, and go flying through the air toward the pavement about four feet below.

I hit hard, twisting my ankle, and roll three times before coming to my feet. Pain shoots up my leg as I take my first step and realize it’s not going to be a flat-out run for the Mercedes. Instead, I hobble as fast as I can, but I know it’s not fast enough as two bullets ping off the pavement within inches of me.

“No,” Zora screams, and I watch in horror as she rushes toward me to help.

“Go,” I yell, waving with my arm toward the SUV, but she ignores me.

More bullets, one whizzing by my ear, and I throw a hasty blast of magic backward toward the dock hoping to hit something. I have no clue if all six daemons are there or only one is shooting, but I dare not even take the time to look.

For a blessed few seconds, there’s no gunfire, so I assume my magic hit the mark. Zora reaches me just as I see Boral shove Blain into the backseat of the vehicle. He leaves the door open for Zora before running for the driver’s side.

Zora’s hand goes around my waist as she grabs my arm and forces it around her shoulder. She then helps support my weight to keep it off my injured ankle as we try to make our escape.

More bullets fly and I take the time to look over my shoulder to see all six daemons leaping off the docks in pursuit.

While they don’t have magic, they are incredibly strong and fast and there’s no way we’re going to outrun them. I know that I have to turn and make a stand if I’m going to keep Zora safe.

I toss her arm off me and give her a shove, turning to face my adversaries.

It’s just in time to see the closest one aim his gun at me, and the one behind him aim his at Zora.

There’s no rhyme or reason for what I do, but when the guns discharge almost simultaneously, I’m already diving sideways in a flying leap to put myself between Zora and the bullet headed her way.

It catches the outer edge of my upper arm, slicing through my flesh. It feels like fire, but I can tell it’s nothing more than a graze.

I am, however, now hurtling toward the pavement again, which is putting me at a distinct disadvantage to fight and protect my sister.

I roll to face the onslaught of daemons, thrusting my hands out and trying to conjure a shield big enough to cover Zora, the G550, and me.

But before I can let my magic loose, there’s a flash of light and Carrick appears between the daemons and me. His back is to me and he doesn’t even give me a glance, but I watch, astounded, as he does nothing more than lift his arms just a bit from his sides, palms upward as if he’s making some type of offering, and then, somehow… unbelievably… all six daemons combust into flames. Their screams are shrill as they stumble around for a few moments before dropping first to their knees and then toppling forward to the pavement.