“The demon is too powerful for you alone,” they hissed again.
“I have a Mage and a demon hunter behind me!”
I started advancing on Drake, my magic coming on more powerfully. Then it began to slowly dissipate. They were taking away the power of the necklace.
Getting angry, I stopped. “This is what you wanted!”
“We will not risk the children. We told you what has to be done.”
“Then get your crabby asses out here and help me!” I shouted.
Drake laughed, glancing at his demons. They started laughing, as well, no longer in a daze. “Your Ancestors know what’s good for you. You three don’t have a chance against me!”
“Your time will come, demon,” the Ancestors threatened. “It may not be now, but soon. We will have your head within our grasp, your blood on our lips.”
Still smiling, Drake continued to watch me, waiting to see what I would do. If I couldn’t have the support of the Ancestors, how was I supposed to defeat him? Would our power alone be enough?
Deciding to at least try, I accepted Ethan’s hand when he offered it to me. We were going to do this, Ancestors be damned. Ethan glanced down at my stomach, worry marring his handsome face.
“You will not defy us!” the Ancestors shouted.
The light exploded from the necklace, blinding me until I screamed in pain. I fell to my knees, pressing the heels of my hands to my eyes. Then I was moving, my body slamming against something. My vision dark, I couldn’t tell where I landed. I felt around blindly, finding myself in an area about the size of a box. Swearing, I realized they’d sent me to their white room.
“Take me back!” I shouted.
They didn’t respond. I wanted to cry. I left Ethan. Could he and Carlos get out unscathed? Panicking, I rubbed my eyes some more, hoping it would clear my vision. I tried to listen, taking in deep breaths. Only silence met me.
I put a hand to my stomach. The babies were moving. They could tell I was stressed. Trying to calm myself, I leaned against the wall. If I could make the Ancestors pay for what they did, I would. I thought about the Trials the Mages mentioned. It was supposed to get rid of them. Did I want that? Just because I was mad at them didn’t mean I should wish them harm.
Sighing, I lay my head back, briefly closing my eyes. I didn’t know how to get out of this. Drake seemed beyond help. I thought he had managed to get control of the demon, but obviously not.
Opening my eyes, I was able to see again. Surprised, I looked around, seeing I sat in the middle of my bed. I hopped off and debated on what to do. I had to get in touch with Ethan. But my cell was in the car, which was still at the bar. Even Taco was missing. Where the hell did he go? Did the Ancestors take him from me?
Just as I was about to disappear to go to Mikey’s house, Ethan and Carlos showed up in my room, looking worse for wear. Blood coated their faces and arms, clothes torn. Taco paced on Ethan’s shoulder, agitated, blowing fire.
“What happened?” I gasped.
Both men glanced at each other. Even Taco was silent. Finally, Ethan sighed. “Drake left. We barely scratched him. The demon is powerful, Sophie. I don’t know how in the hell we’re supposed to kill him.”
“If he’s who the Mages say he is, then the usual decapitation and heart removal will not work. If he’s the second-in-command to Bael, there’s only one way to kill him. Unfortunately, we don’t know it. It varies, depending on the demon,” Carlos explained.
“The Mages have to know. Why is it they know but you don’t? Aren’t you a demon hunter?” I asked, annoyed. There had to be a way to eliminate the demon. Then I realized I was considering solutions that meant Drake would also die. I sat down on the bed, gripping the edges.
What the fuck am I going to do?
Ethan left the room, returning seconds later holding a beer for him and Carlos. Looking at them, they obviously needed it. I wished I was there to help them. It infuriated me so much, I felt my magic seeping out. I had started losing control of it, which never happened.
“It’s okay, Sophie. We’ll get this figured out,” Ethan promised, sitting down next to me.
Carlos took a sip of his beer and started to pace the room. “I think he was just playing with us. He could have taken our lives so easily.” Shaking his head, he turned to me. “I don’t even think your magic would have helped. This demon is stronger than any I’ve ever encountered. Honestly, I don’t know why he disappeared. His demons even left us alone. We lay on the ground next to the other victims, too defeated to get up. They left all of us there, alive.”
I jumped up, eyes wide. “The others are alive? He didn’t kill them?”
Ethan shook his head. “He left everyone alive. He said we ruined the moment. The demon didn’t seem upset about it, either. Almost like he was expecting us the entire time.”
“Probably was. He’s bound to know we’re following him,” Carlos said. He took a long pull of his drink, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “We have no advantage, and he knows it.”
I watched as the men talked, trying to come up with strategies. After about five minutes, I zoned out, bored. Carlos was right. We had no advantage. We had no plan. Hell was coming to Heaven and there was no stopping it.
THE NEXT MORNING, AFTER Ethan said he’d bring me breakfast, I took Taco and went to
