The demon winced as his fangs pierced Sofia's neck, expecting pain. The pleasure that had Sofia moaning and clutching at the vampire nearly caused the demon to forget herself. She almost let herself merge with Sofia, only managing to stop herself at the last minute. The wave of pleasure drowned out Star freaking out in the background.
Sofia staggered back, a smile on her face, breathing heavy, and sat down on the edge of the bed.
Doc's eyes glowed golden, and he quickly removed one of the reservoir bracelets he wore and bit into his own wrist before offering it to Nikolai.
The mage twisted his lips, and the demon got the idea that, while he obviously enjoyed sharing his blood with the vampire, he didn't particularly enjoy drinking it. Even from a vampire.
"Are you okay?" Nikolai asked as he took the vampire's arm.
"Demon blood and I don't get along particularly well," Doc replied through clenched teeth.
"Oh." Nikolai pressed his mouth to Doc's arm. He groaned as her power hit him. She could tell he took as much as he could, but she was powerful, and it wasn't enough to save Doc from the affects.
The vampire collapsed when Nikolai released him.
"Doc!" Nikolai knelt by his friend. Ed and Allan hurried to his side. Star had fallen silent.
"He's not breathing." Ed put his hand on Doc's forehead. "And he's burning up. Sofia saved him last time he did this. I don't think you took enough magic, Nikolai."
"Took as much as I could." Nikolai clutched at the unconscious vampire.
The demon forced Sofia out of the way, taking control of her body "If you hurry, I can help him," she said. It was the least she could do if they set her free. She could feel the vampire's life force being overwhelmed by powers he was never meant to taste.
Nikolai tore himself away from Doc and stood. "Lie down. And stay in control. I need Sofia to bury herself again. Same as before, cling to the pack bond."
Did you get that?
Yes. I hope this works. Sofia tucked herself away, and the demon did the best she could to separate herself from her host's mind.
"We're ready," she said to the mage.
She watched as he wove the spell, her magic and his combining into a golden and blue lightshow, with hints of lavender from Sofia's magic. He muttered in Russian as he skillfully twisted the net of magic into a complicated pattern.
For as difficult as the magic was, Nikolai had the shape completed fairly quickly. He truly was as talented as he claimed, and the demon was impressed.
"Ready?"
She nodded.
Nikolai pushed the spell into the golden cuffs that bound her.
They flared with magic as the spell tried to reject Nikolai's, but his was stronger, and after a moment, they melted away.
The demon winced. That would leave a scar, but better than the alternative.
Freedom tugged at her, and she nearly bolted from this plane, but she had promised to save Doc. Of course, if she did magic in this body, it could destroy Sofia. She couldn't sense the girl at all but also knew that Sofia would choose to help her vampire even with the risk. He would die without her help.
She got off the bed and pulled on her magic. It filled her, burning pathways that had, until recently, barely been used, stretching them, altering them. It felt so good to be reconnected with something that was normally so intrinsically a part of her.
The werewolves had put the vampire on the other bed. She went over to him, put her hands on his chest, and pulled the rest of her magic out of him. His natural healing ability would take over from there. He would have to do this again for Ash. She knew he would, even though it could cost him his life.
"What are you doing?" Nikolai asked. He watched her shape another spell.
"He needs to be able to handle demon blood if he's going to save Ash. I'm making it so that it won't kill him. He will still have an instant hangover from hell, but otherwise, he won't suffer like he does now."
"Quite considerate of you."
"Don't thank me until you get Sofia back. Doing magic in her body may have destroyed her."
"She would have wanted you to save him," Nikolai stated quietly.
"Yes. I know. There. Tell him when he wakes. I'll leave now. Do me one last favor? Make the Andersons pay for this."
"I will," Nikolai replied, his face grim.
In consideration for Sofia's body. She laid down on the bed next to the vampire before she pulled herself out of her host and departed this plane.
Chapter 29
Ed
"Is she gone?"
"The demon is gone. Sofia is not breathing," Nikolai choked out.
Ed and Allan scrambled to Nikolai's side. Ed put his hand on Sofia's throat and couldn't find a pulse. He couldn't hear her heart, either.
"Damn it!" Ed put his hands on Sofia's chest and started pumping, trying to get her heart going again. Tears streamed down his cheeks. He couldn't lose her now. They were so close.
Doc groaned and rolled over, staggering to his feet and leaning against the wall. He clutched his head. "What's wrong?" He managed to get out.
"Sofia's not breathing," Star shrieked from her chair in the corner.
"Shit." Doc staggered over to Sofia's side.
"Nikolai, can you, like, shock her heart or something? See if you can get it started. It's something they do now with a medical tool, but we don't have one of those," Allan demanded while Ed worked.
"Maybe." Nikolai gestured at Ed. "Move."
Ed leaned back, and Nikolai placed his hands over her chest. Magic crackled around his hands and sank into her chest.
Her back arched, but otherwise, her heart stayed silent.
"Doc," Nikolai said desperately. "I might need you."
Doc had already opened his wrist again and poured some of his blood into Sofia's mouth. Ed rubbed her throat to help her swallow and went back to chest compressions.
"Try again," Allan ordered.
Nikolai nodded and sent his power into her chest.
Nothing.
Ed went
