Chapter 8

It took me good ten minutes to duck under swinging fists, twist away from kicks and grabs for my hair. Out on the street was brutal. Inside the shop the sound was mostly muted so we couldn't hear the blood curdling screams, animalistic shrieks and snarls echoing off the tall buildings. It was hard t believe these were humans arguing and fighting.

"Where do you think you're going?"

So, lost in my disbelieve that they would turn into this when influenced by the demon I didn't see the tall man who stepped in front of me until it was too late. Knowing my luck, the human couldn't have been a tiny scrawny accountant type of a person. No. I got the gym enthusiast that had arms so beefed up I bet he couldn't wipe his own ass.

"Me?" acting scared I betted my eyelashes at him. I'm trying to hide from all the bad people." Hoping he would fall for it and leave me be was too much to ask. The moment I was about to circle around him he grabbed a handful of my hair.

"Ah, fuck." I hissed when my skull was lit on fire from the way he was pulling my hair. "I really," taking hold of his beefy arm I used it as leverage to swing myself in the air and kick him in the head. He immediately released my poor strands. "didn't want to hurt you."

He dropped like a rock at my feet along with a few chunks of my tresses but I couldn't mingle longer unless I wanted to deal with more of those. On a whim I darted left when I exited the café hoping to go as far as the angry mob was. My plan was to look for the demon on the outskirts of the affected area. From what I've read back when I was hoping that I'll be a great witch one day, anger demons are easily recognized because you feel absolute rage when they are near. Since I was not affected by the bastard I had no idea how I would pin down who it is.

My heart skipped a beat when two barrel chested humans circled a young woman and her three children. Without realizing what I was doing my feet were eating up the space across the street when I froze mid-step. The oldest of the three children, age twelve or so by the looks of it, picked up a piece of a broken brick I didn't notice until then that was by his feet. With a screech of a banshee he jumped on one of the humans and started bashing his head with it. The other two children followed their brother and latched onto the man's legs and started biting.

The second human didn't know what to do and while he gapped at his buddy didn't see the woman yanking her heel off her foot and swinging it at his head. His scream made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end so I missed that I was standing in the middle of a busy street with people yelling at each other, arguing and fighting.

The hit to the back of my head came as a surprise.

"Sonofab…" stumbling forward I threw my hand back with intention to block if another hit was coming.

My magic however didn't get the memo so I heard the screech of the person when my power slammed into them. Eyes watering, I blinked behind me to see if I killed the human only to be shocked with a whole bunch of them staring at me with open mouths. The one who hit me in the head was crumpled on the ground but from what I could see still breathing.

"Ummm…" I had no idea what to say.

"Witch!" somebody thundered from my open-mouthed audience and I cringed when the rest of them joined, their eyes bloodshot and crazed.

They all moved as one, hunching their shoulders and ready to chase me. I didn't wait to find out if I can fight my way out of it. Spinning on my heel I bolted like the wind away from all of them.

"That will teach you," I huffed and gasped as I ran. "to go help others when you can't even help yourself."

When I turned a corner and saw an alley within reach before the mob could get to me I took the chance. Ducking in the narrow passage I slowed down my pace so my feet smacking the concrete doesn't give away my hiding place. Buildings towered over it on both sides forming deep shadows good enough to conceal my presence so half way in the alley I plastered myself to the wall near two trash containers. Heart hammering in my throat I had to flare my nostrils to drag as much air as I could so I don't gasp and give my hiding place away.

Maybe I should be more like Danika. She would've blasted the lot of them with magic without blinking an eye. My grandmother would not be losing sleep over hurt humans. I on the other hand took care of them for most my life and had no intention on stopping now. One angry mob was not going to change my mind.

Shouts and hoots came from the mouth of the alley and I watched as much as I could as the river of people ran pass it, chasing after their own rage than me. I was no longer leading that sprint yet they continued as if they could still see me in front of them. My leg begin bouncing while I waited, impatience crowding my every thought.

I needed to stop messing around and find the demon. Who knows how long Ace and Sissily would be out? Worse than being the reason for an actual witch hunt, was to be the reason your friends get hurt. Or hurt others. So, the moment the last chaser hooted and dashed after the rest I inched closer to the street, tiptoeing my way to the entrance of the alley.

If it wasn't for my personal witch hunt I never would've seen him.

About five foot eleven tall, with plain features, unassuming t-shirt and jeans and a dirt brown hair, the demon was…well the best way to describe it was, forgettable. How I knew it was the Anger demon was very simple and uneventful, too. He had his hands in his pockets and a shit eating grin as he strolled leisurely behind the running humans.

Ducking my head out of the alley in a quick succession to check that no one was going to ambush me the second I step foot out I narrowed my eyes on the bastard. The fury I felt building in my chest had nothing to do with the demon's power but everything to do with him. I wanted to rip him apart limb from limb.

Last time I had a psychic encounter with my power, it wanted me to trust it and follow my instincts. If I fight it, it'll work against me. If I follow the lead it will work in my best interest. That was fine and dandy until you realize that what's good for the spider is a chaos for the fly. I had to trust it this time, though. As long as I played along I could somewhat control it.

I stepped out of the alley.

The demon's head snapped in my direction instantly. The grin that had stretched his mouth unnaturally, showing way too much teeth, slipped but mine grew. While he took my measure I carefully closed the distance between us.

"Fancy meeting you here." I told him conversationally doing my best to look as unthreatening as possible.

Cocking his head to the side he narrowed his black eyes on my hand just as the pentagram started burning as if wanting to get itself out of my skin. "A witch." He hissed, his accent so strange it took me a second to get what he said.

"And a demon, walk into a bar." When he snarled at me I lifted both hands in the air palms up. "You don't like jokes. Got it."

"You think this is funny, witch?" taking a step toward me he slightly hunched over and that was my queue.

"Nope." I made the popping sound with my lips just to annoy him. "But this might be."

Since my hands were still in the air and my palms were facing him I gave up the control I had to constantly maintain on my magic. It was like holding a hand over a hose while the water is trying to push through. Now that I removed that obstacle my power rushed out ready to play. Much to my surprise my skin lit up as all the sigils reappeared on every inch of it.

The demon widened his pitch-black eyes and tried to run.

Poor thing had no idea there was no escape for him or me where my magic was concerned.

Strong winds picked up lashing my hair around my face and I felt my feet lift off the ground. Thick string of magic like rope burst out of my alms and wrapped around the demon's limbs. It told me that whatever type of magic this was, it was always listening to my thoughts. I should've thought of no drama and problems instead of ripping limbs from demons.

Fighting for his life the demon roared his frustration and pulled on the ropes of power restraining him with everything he had. Not expecting him to be that powerful I threw my head back and screamed when him yanking on my magic felt like he was trying to rip my torso apart. I wanted to ask him questions about why he was here and who told him it was okay to attack humans but all my good intensions went down the drain when I felt pain like never before.

"No, you don't." I pushed through clenched teeth and added my own intent and strength to the power streaming out of me.

I almost had him, I could see his arms ready to pop out of his shoulders when the angry mob leading the witch hunt joined us on the street. When they saw us standing in the middle – well the demon standing and me levitating a foot of the ground- they bellowed as one and be-lined for us.

The bastard was using the humans to help him escape.

I needed a new strategy.

Stopping the streams of power that held the demon from escaping I dropped on one knee on the asphalt. Falling forward on one hand fooled the demon that I couldn't maintain the magic so he hissed and jumped at me, sharp claws forming at his fingertips. The ground was vibrating from the thundering footsteps of the angry mob but I was focused on something else. All the roots and living things that were beneath it. I called on them to come and aid me. The demon was almost on top of me, his shadow falling over me like a blanket of doom.

A sharp claw sunk inside my shoulder as the demon grabbed me, lifting is other arm up ready to rip me to shreds. Calm came over me and instead of crying out at the pain I lifted my head up fully to look at his rage twisted face.

That's when the concrete under my hand split open and roots as thick as cables slithered from under it. Multiple ones speared through the demon's upper body and I would ever forget the utter shocked expression on his face. Mine could've looked the same because I watched as black tendrils spread over the demon's skin and burst through it effectively shredding him alive.

Hot blood sprayed all over me when he burst like a balloon, his final cry echoing in my ears. I stayed like that for a long moment not believing what just happened when I realized it was too quiet on the street. Slowly I turned my head to the side.

A wall of people stood there dazed and stunned, and a little afraid, watching me like they were seeing an alien. Not that I blamed them but I fidgeted where I was kneeling, uncomfortable from all the staring. A slow clapping broke the awkward silence and my head snapped in that direction.

Danika stood on the street, right opposite side of the wall of humans. On either side of her stood a person dressed in all black, a male on the right and a female on the left. The only difference between the two was the gold and silver pins they wore on their ties. The female was clapping with a gleeful grin on her face while Danika looked like she was made of stone. Only her emerald eyes were flashing with fury destroying the calm fa?ade.

"How marvelous!." The female laughed. "You've been holding up on us, Danika. Your grandchild is perfect."

"Ah fuck." I breathed and closed my eyes.