Demon from the Dark

But she'd had no choice.

The bitter hatred he'd been struggling with began to lift.

'Tis not the end.

She turned to him with tears streaming down her face. 'Malkom, please help us.'

She will turn to me, and I will take her troubles away....

The demon loomed over her, seething, his muscles standing out with strain. Moments ago, he'd looked on the edge of madness, like a true fallen vampire. Now his brows drew together.

'She's just a little girl, not even eight years old,' Carrow whispered. 'I can't get her free. I need you to save her.'

His onyx eyes flickered.

'Please, Malkom. Please.'

At that, he attacked the rocks as though they were an enemy. He dug down, clawing until his fingers bled, too.

Another quake rocked the tunnel. 'Hurry, demon!'

Soon he'd busted away a gap in the barrier, large enough for Carrow to ease Ruby through. Unconscious? She laid her ear to Ruby's chest, then to her mouth. Her breaths and heartbeat were normal! She checked her head for knots or blood, found neither. 'Ah, gods, she's just fainted. She'll be okay.'

Carrow gazed up at Malkom like the hero he was, with all the gratitude she felt. 'Y-you understand now, don't you?'

He gave a nod.

With her free hand, she cupped the back of his neck, tugging him down to give him a teary kiss. Against his lips, she said, 'I'm so sorry.'

When he pulled back, his gaze bored into hers, the message clear.

We'll be finishing what we started.

And she wasn't broken up about that.

Another explosion rocked the facility. He assessed the ceiling. 'Not safe in here.' Before she could blink, he'd snagged her sword from the ground, stabbing it into the sheath at her waist. 'We have to get out.'

Clasping Ruby to her chest, she said, 'I follow you.'

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, then hurried them out of the tunnel.

Back out in the labyrinthine facility, Carrow searched for Lanthe and Regin everywhere, calling for them, yet hearing no reply. She also kept an eye out for Ember—and Fegley's hand.

But the chaos had gotten worse. Ember's flames soared. Mortal scientists were screaming, creatures feeding on them, ghouls infecting them in large numbers. Soldiers attacked Malkom—a seeming army of them— but he slew them all, protecting Carrow and Ruby.

As they passed the PX, Carrow noticed two fey women she'd seen around New Orleans once or twice. One was tall and lithe, the other shorter and curvy. The pair had just finished stuffing a backpack full of supplies.

Remembering her stint in Oblivion, Carrow paused. She knew how rainy this island was, and she'd sworn that she would never go out into the elements unprepared again. I didn't even have a child with me then.

Yet there was no time to pack their own, and the supplies were picked over. When Malkom turned back, she quietly told him, 'We need that pack.'

He faced the two, saying in thickly accented English, 'Your pack. Give it to me.'

'No way!' the tall one said. 'Go to hell. ...' She trailed off when Malkom growled and bared his fangs. 'Sure thing,' she amended, handing it over. 'All yours.'

Carrow tapped his shoulder. 'We need the sweater from one and the rain jacket from the other.'

He snapped his fingers.

'This is so uncool, witch,' the shorter one said as she shrugged out of her sweater. 'We're supposed to be allies.'

'Sorry, but I've got a kid to take care of.'

Malkom stuffed the clothes into the pack, then strapped it on, leading her away once more.

I could get used to having a demon around.

In the next corridor, Carrow spotted the slimy sidewinder trail of La Dorada heading in one direction, so she pointed Malkom the opposite way.

At last, she spied an exit in the distance, a hole exploded through an exterior wall.

But she hesitated, gazing back for her friends. Carrow worried equally for them—Regin tortured earlier, and Lanthe abducted. 'Lanthe?' she cried. 'Regin?'

No response. Only the sounds of a battle nearing.

Malkom's voice rumbled from behind her. 'We need to get your young away. One hit ...'

Could kill her.

Carrow turned back. 'You're right, let's go.'

Outside in the blustery night, a micro Accession raged. And everyone on their side was encumbered by their torques.

Why had Malkom's come off? He was in no way evil.

As soon as they stepped out, the demon froze, astounded.

He's never seen rain before. 'Malkom, it's okay.' Of course he'd have to experience a gale for his first time. When she laid her hand on his back, he flinched, blinking repeatedly.

'You'll get used to it, demon. But we've got to move now.'

The grounds around the facility sloped downward. Hoping to reach the shore, she pointed down. 'Go that way.'

They followed the descent over treacherous terrain. Amassed fir needles concealed craggy rocks. Downed trees cluttered their way. The scent of decaying matter bloomed with each footstep.

Once they'd gained some distance, the sound of human screams and the baying of ghouls drew her gaze back up toward their former prison.

Cement blocks swirled overhead like a tornado, circling a rising mass of stone. Portia's work. Ember's flames soared, hissing against the rain.

Lightning flashed in the background, punctuating the bizarre scene.

Carrow could hear some female yelling, 'Let's do this! Rock out with your cocks out!' Was that Regin? Or just wishful thinking? 'I'm going to grease him right now!' Carrow couldn't be sure.

In any case, gods help Declan Chase if Regin caught up to him.

Carrow squinted, swearing her eyes deceived her when she spied a caped female hastening toward a battle. Surely that hadn't been ... Nix?

Another section of exterior wall fell. In a wave, creatures escaped: centaurs, kobolds, revenants. Like ants swarming from a mound, hundreds of ghouls welled out.

'Ah, Hekate, no,' she whispered as she grasped the sheernumber. 'We've got to put some distance between us and them,' she told Malkom. 'Let's get mov—'

The earth gave way beneath her feet; within a split second, she tossed Ruby up to him.

He caught the girl's limp form, trying to snag Carrow at the same time, but she'd already slid down into the darkness.

'Keep her safe!' she screamed as she blindly dropped.

He'd just prevented himself from leaping after Carrow. But he held her tiny girl in his arms.

She's trusted me with her young? He had to reach Carrow—without hurting the child.

If he slipped, if he squeezed her too hard for an instant ... Unlike Carrow, the girl wouldn't regenerate in days if he broke her bones.

Cradling the babe against his chest, Malkom trailed Carrow down, speeding through the forest as fast as he dared, vaulting from rock to rock to be sure of his footing.

He'd never held a child before, and this one was so fragile. Must keep her safe. She was the witch's beloved offspring, the reason for her betrayal.