He grunted and began to walk towards the Volkswagen. I guess that was as good an answer as I was going to get.
I threw up my hand, more to check if we were concealed than anything, and followed him. Knowing I was about to fight without my arondight blade felt as if I’d lost a limb, but there was nothing I could do about it.
Elijah was right. They had to die, and if he was right about my Light… Well, that was another can of worms I’d have to deal with—if it was opened.
The front doors of the Polo opened as we approached, and two slimy black demons slid out. Not concerned their birthday suits were showing, they lopped towards us, their tongues darting between their thin lips like a slithering snake.
Man, every time I saw one of these things, they creeped me the hell out. I couldn’t imagine what they used to be before the rift was closed—seven-foot-tall walls of rubbery black muscle, snappy teeth, and razor-sharp claws. I couldn’t believe Scarlett had fought these and lived, but then again, she was the living embodiment of Arondight—and Arondight could do just about anything.
I allowed my Light to flare, hoping my meagre power had at least enough zap to take down one of these things in their weakened state.
Elijah edged towards the creature on the right, leaving the other to me.
“Okay, no sword,” I muttered. “I’ve got this.”
The demon lunged and I dodged to the side. Twisting, I struck its back with a burst of Light, but it merely stumbled as if I had jostled it.
I cursed and tried again before it could regain its footing. The heel of my boot collided with its ribs, but the creature was too quick. Claws wrapped around my ankle and the demon pulled. My knee buckled and I landed on the flat of my back with an angry grunt.
I rolled to the side as claws rushed towards my face, then back as its other hand struck. Both sets slammed into asphalt, cracking the surface of the road. And here I was thinking they wanted to capture me alive. What a fool I was!
The demon pinned me under its slimy body, trapping me in its grasp. I pushed my lower half off the ground and kicked upwards with both feet. The soles of my boots slammed into its gut and I added a pulse of Light which sent the creature flying. I flipped, landing on my feet, and raised my fists.
I turned to check on Elijah, but he was doing fine. His hand was grasped around the other demon’s neck, his Darkness searing through flesh. What was he trying to do? Squeeze its head off?
His gaze met mine. “Madeleine.”
I swung back just as the demon I’d sent rolling down the road came at me with incredible speed. We collided, the impact jarring my body.
Unfortunately, I landed on my back again with it straddling me. This was getting embarrassing.
I slammed my palms against the demon’s head, the strength in my arms the only thing stopping it from eating my face off. Struggling against it, I sent pulse after pulse of Light into its brain, but it wasn’t enough to bring it down.
“Just. Die!” I screamed at it, the limits of my power beginning to flicker.
Dammit, I needed my sword!
“Elijah!” I shouted.
A boot collided with the demon’s ribs and it rolled down the road. Elijah leapt over me, not even stopping, and tore into the demon like it was putty in his hands.
Turning away from the carnage, I breathed deeply. Sucking in a lungful of sulphuric air, I gagged. Slick, congealed black blood—and other juicy things—coated the road. Elijah had torn the demon apart like a savage beast.
I must never forget what he is…
A shadow loomed over me, and sensing Elijah, I looked up at him.
“I should have left you in the car,” he drawled, glaring at me. He didn’t even bother to offer me his hand, so I was left to stand on my own.
“And I told you I needed my sword!”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do!”
“No, you don’t.”
“We will be here all day if you keep that up,” I snarled.
“Your Light is meant to protect the innocent,” he said, looking down at the dismembered demon. “A sword is merely a tool.”
“But we’ve never been able to do that. Light doesn’t vanquish the Dark.”
Elijah rolled his eyes. “Light and shadow, night and day. Whatever. You’re a good warrior, Madeline, but you could be great if you just got over yourself and opened your mind.”
“I can’t change biology,” I argued. “And I can’t change the laws of physics.”
“You can.”
“But—”
“Things are different now. The Dark is evolving to survive. It’s not a simple fight for balance anymore. You’re so worried about the things you can’t do, you’re blind to the things you can.”
“Why do you care so much?” I exclaimed. “If I don’t get your cure, I’m toast, and if I do, you’re gone… Why does any of this even matter?”
He levelled his gaze at me. “You stupid girl.”
I sucked in a sharp breath. One second he was making me swoon, the next he was a condescending prick. Talk about extreme whiplash.
He snorted, irritated at my stunned silence, and began to walk towards the Polo. I was slow on the uptake and I grimaced in annoyance.
My mutation evolved to survive.
I followed him up the road, my cheeks red with embarrassment, helping him roll the car off the road and into the field. The police would chalk it up to an abandoned stolen vehicle. The bodies however…
I walked back down the road, but I frowned when I stood over the first demon. It was bubbling like hot tar in the sunlight. It’s black eyeball popped and I jumped out of the splatter zone.
“Leave it,” Elijah said, striding past me.
“But—”
“They will be gone in five minutes. Ten at the most.”
Getting a whiff of
