Tears fell down Nathan’s cheeks as he thought about hugging her again, being her big brother. It was the only thing he had ever been good at. He might have been weird with no friends, but he had always been Sophie’s big brother, and she had loved him. Proof that he was human and not a monster.
The angel spotted Nathan flailing about in his tiny boat, and a grin crossed its massive lips. All of a sudden, its beauty turned terrifying.
“No,” Nathan cried, knowing he was so close. “No, you can’t stop me. I’m going to do this!”
The massive creature raised its mighty fist into the air, ready to pound Nathan into oblivion.
“No! No, this is my victory. I am Lord of these lands. Why are you here? Who summoned you? Who? Leave here at once!”
The deep, sonorous voice came from the shore, and Nathan looked back to see the large, skeletal creature that had enraptured all the demons at the top of the castle’s rear slope. It bellowed all sorts of obscenities—including ones not in English—and its words seemed to cause offence, because the colossal creature in the lake removed its focus from Nathan and glared at the smaller creature on the embankment.
Nathan rowed furiously, aiming for the centre of the lake, at the exact point that giant hand had first emerged. It must be where the gate was located. Beneath the frothing waters, a light shone, but it was fading. Closing.
He was going to be too late.
He rowed and rowed, as hard as he could, his arms burning. His stomach purged itself into his mouth, but he swallowed the burning vomit back down.
He would not give up. This was his only chance to be with Sophie, to make his soul worthy of whatever place now kept her.
Nathan reached the centre of the lake and stood up. The boat crashed up and down on the unsettled waters, but it wouldn’t matter now if he tumbled over the side. He was right where he needed to be.
Nathan stooped and picked up the paint can and hoped it was heavy enough to speed his descent. If he drowned before passing through the gate, he wasn’t sure what would happen. How deep was the lake?
He perched the paint can on the edge of the boat and took one last look towards the bank. Night had almost arrived, but there was enough remaining light, along with the glow from the burning cabin, to see the army of newcomers driving the demons into the forest. He saw the teenagers up on the castle walls, cheering in victory.
He saw Hannah lying on the ground and Kamiyo climbing to his feet a little beyond that. And he saw the skeletal monster and the massive angel continuing to argue, unaware that they were about to be blown to smithereens.
Nathan threw the paint can overboard and followed quickly after it. On the way down to the bottom, he pictured Sophie’s smiling face, and at some point, before he blacked out, he was surrounded by a blinding yellow light. He wondered if it was Heaven.
54
TED
Demons spilled through the gate, and Vamps’ burning glare of victory turned Ted’s fury to ashes in his mouth. His temper had doomed them all. By lashing out and releasing Vamps’ arm, he’d allowed the demon to break free, and then open the gate. Ted’s actions had killed everyone.
The demons spread out everywhere, some heading up the steps to get at the screaming teenagers. Ted couldn’t bear to see them ripped apart, and yet he deserved to suffer the consequences of his actions. He forced himself to keep his unruined eye open.
Frank and Aymun gathered beside Ted, ready to fight the impossible fight that would see them all dead. Ted would go down fighting, even if he had already failed. It was the only thing he could do.
Vamps was vulnerable while he held the portcullis over his head and seemed to realise it as Ted marched towards him with his fists clenched. A demon got in the way and tried to bite Ted, but Ted grabbed it in a headlock and snapped its neck. He continued towards Vamps, planning to tear the demon’s arms off before he died. Even if they grew back, the agony he inflicted would be worth it.
Vamps had no choice but to let the portcullis drop to face the rampaging Ted. The iron spikes sliced two demons right in half and seared a half-dozen more that collided face-first with it.
Vamps threw his arms out to either side of him, and his claws extended. His face twisted into a ghoulish grin, and a nerve-rattling hiss escaped his jaws.
Ted charged, roaring like a viking.
An almighty earthquake knocked them both off their feet. The vibrating BOOM! had Ted covering his ears and screaming in pain. He had no idea what was happening.
The air whooshed, picking up leaves, dirt, and debris. Anyone still standing was now blown over or forced to anchor themselves.
A bright light suddenly consumed everything.
Ted’s eyes were wide open, yet the light was not blinding. He stared right into it but felt no heat, or piercing stabs in his retinas. He wasn’t sure how much time passed, but it might have been years. Tiredness crept into his muscles and he lay back, embracing the end of everything.
Frank’s voice brought Ted back to reality. “Kidda, yow gotta open yow eyes and see this!”
Ted opened his eyes and saw stars with the one that still worked. Not stars in his vision but those hanging in the clear, inky-black sky. He sat up and looked around. Frank and Aymun were on their feet nearby, and the teenagers peered down from the walls.
The demons were gone. No sign existed that they had ever even been there besides the clutter of broken arrow shafts. The massive explosion, whatever it had been, had taken the monsters away.
Hannah, you did it, luv! You soddin’ saved us all.
Ted grinned from ear to ear, proud of his friend,
