“We’re good to go now.” Emily stood.
Michael popped one last fry into his mouth. “Great.”
They hit the road minutes later. By the time they left Dallas, it was already dark. Knowing the Alfreds would probably be staking out the major roads that led into the town, Michael opted to take a dirt path, which apparently only he knew.
“I’ve never seen this road before.” Dad sounded intrigued as he looked out the window.
Michael kept his eyes glued on the dirt path as the car stumbled down into the darkness. They were traversing an area of tall trees and dense grasses.
“Yeah, well, that’s because it’s a secret road,” Michael replied.
Dad looked in the rearview mirror at Emily. She could see him looking to her in hopes she would chime in. The worst thing that could happen to them would be getting lost before reaching the safe house.
“Are you sure you know where we’re going?” Emily questioned her brother.
Michael shot her a glare through the rearview mirror. “Why don’t you shut up and let me drive?”
Heat rushed into Emily’s cheeks. “You can’t talk to me like that!”
“I’ll talk to you however I like,” Michael said calmly. Then he muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like “bitch.”
Emily felt a fire-like burst within her. It burned so hot that she felt like ripping Michael apart. The fire spilled out of her heart into her veins. This time, it wasn’t a figurative fire. She could feel the fire demon come to life in her body. Uh-oh. The fire demon within her itched to come out. To make Michael pay. Its presence multiplied her rage a thousandfold.
Emily squirmed, fighting to stay in control. Fighting to keep from shifting. Because she knew if she changed to her Owl form, Michael would be toast and probably Dad along with him—toasted quite literally.
“Emily, are you okay?” Dad’s voice was concerned.
Emily kept her eyes shut, her fists clenched, and her head down. She refused to speak. The fire demon was trying to force itself out. He was like a stubborn kid who didn’t want to back down until he got his way.
The car slowed. Michael looked a little nervous. “Emily?”
The car was getting hot. She could feel it. The fire surging through her was beginning to raise the temperature in the car.
“Emily, calm down.” Michael looked more than a little nervous. It wasn’t so much what he said as it was the nonchalance in his voice that angered Emily further.
“No!” she screamed, and as she did, her eyes flashed fire, and smoke belched out of her mouth. That was when they all saw the danger.
Emily gagged as she cowered and wrestled internally with the fire demon. Her heart pounded in her chest.
“Stop the car!” Dad boomed. The car stopped a second later. “Get out. And run!”
Michael didn’t waste any time waiting around. Emily didn’t see anything. But she heard the clunky door of the car open and Michael tear out of the vehicle. Dad’s door opened as well, but Dad remained. “Emily, fight it!”
It’s no use, Selena interjected. Her voice was very faint and strained. He’s too powerful.
Emily knew this to be true. She was losing the battle. She could already taste the fire in her throat. Her innards were already shifting even though the outside of her body remained the same. She could already see fire in her vision.
She sensed the fear of her prey, could feel Michael’s pounding heart as he raced through the trees. It was a heightened sense that the fire demon possessed.
“Emily . . .”
Emily glanced at her father with terror. “Dad, run!”
She opened her door and pushed herself out of the vehicle. Dad followed suit. But instead of running, he came to her side.
He touched her and screamed as he pulled back his hand. The smell of burning flesh was the last thing Emily remembered. The next thing she knew, the fire demon came forth in an explosion of flames. The Owl shot up into the air, cawing terribly.
The fire demon leveled out at almost ten thousand feet. Emily was locked out of control.
I’m baaaack! It relished the feel of the air. Emily was struck by the fire demon’s emotions. She could sense his pain for being trapped within her for so long, as well as his happiness for having just made it outside.
She felt a pang of guilt as the fire demon zeroed in on Michael’s beating heart as it raced toward him. For a moment, she held back. Without even saying a word, she allowed the fire demon to fly straight at Michael. She knew what to do to get him to stop. She had the weapon. His name. But she also remembered what Selena had told her. Selena had warned her not to estrange the fire demon. Selena had told her that a time would come when the fire demon’s rage would be needed. That even though she could command the fire demon to take over, he could decide to lose the battle and end her life.
So even as Michael’s racing form popped out of the trees hundreds of yards away, Emily allowed the fire demon to dive in. There was no way Michael was going to survive the attack dive. This was it for Michael.
Don’t kill him, Emily instructed.
The fire demon didn’t reply. It continued to dive, preparing to unleash hell.
I said don’t kill him!
Why? The fire demon shot back. He’s the enemy!
No, the Alfreds are the enemy. Michael is my brother.
The fire demon’s hesitation rippled through Emily’s mind. She was surprised he understood the notion of family at all.
What nonsense! The fire demon boomed. I do have a family, you know. Selena. She’s my big sister.
Um, what!? Emily was still wary of the fact that the fire demon had not pulled off his attack dive, but she was confident she could get him to do so before he torched Michael.
The fire demon’s chest began to heat up as it got
