Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

Oh, shit. It was Rage. As usual, he had on a three-piece suit, but this time, he wore a white rose with splashes of what looked like blood on his lapel. I wasn’t sure why, but it had to have some significance. He stepped around Justice, his movements fluid and predatory. His black eyes didn’t reflect the rising sun. It was as if they were the pits of hell themselves.

“Stay behind me.” Justice immediately stretched out his arm, pushing me back.

Rage grinned and gestured toward the rose. “Would you like to know why I’m wearing this?”

Before Justice could respond, Damon stepped forward, positioning himself in front of us. “Well, well, if it isn’t the demon world’s answer to the Joker,” he drawled. “Let me guess, you’re here to audition for ‘Hellspawn’s Got Talent’?”

Justice tensed, his grip on my arm tightening. I felt the conflicting desires radiating from him, the need to protect me warring with the knowledge that Damon was better equipped to handle this kind of confrontation.

Damon’s eyes never left Rage, but his stance was loose, almost casual. A predator ready to strike at a moment’s notice. “How about we skip the fashion commentary and get to the part where you tell us what you want? Unless you’re here to show off your new threads, in which case, sorry pal, but the whole ‘blood-spattered psycho’ look is so last apocalypse.”

I couldn’t help but feel pride and fear watching my brother. His ability to face down danger with a smirk and a quip was both impressive and terrifying.

Rage’s grin widened, his black eyes gleaming with malice. “Oh, Damon,” he purred. “Always so quick with the jokes. I do hope you’re still laughing when I’m done here.”

Brody moved to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Damon, presenting a united front. “That’s enough. Whatever game you’re playing ends now, Rage. We’re not here for your amusement or your threats.”

I couldn’t see around the wall of muscle in front of me, but I turned, scanning the area behind us for Maci or any other demons.

Lisa held onto the phoenix, and Zara stayed close to her. They were whispering to each other, and I suspected they planned to conjure some kind of protective spell.

Or maybe that’s what I hoped they were doing.

Rage walked around them, but Brody and Damon weren’t letting him through.

“I don’t know what your endgame is,” Brody snapped. “But I can guarantee it’s not worth the lives you’re putting at risk. If you’re here to talk, then talk. If not, leave. Either way, we’re not intimidated by your theatrics.” He tilted his head. “Everyone, stay alert. We don’t know what he’s capable of, but we’re stronger together. Lisa and Zara, protect the phoenix. Sawyer, Justice, be ready to move if things go south.”

“Ah, but it’s going to go south before you know it,” Rage taunted. In a blur of motion, he skidded around Damon and came at Justice and me.

Justice immediately planted himself in front of me, his body tense. “Stay away from her,” he growled.

Rage’s laughter sent icy tendrils of fear crawling down my spine, rooting me to the spot. His cruel words sliced the air like a knife.

“She’s not the one I wanted.”

Justice’s piercing glare faltered for a heartbeat, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his usually stoic face. “What?” he uttered.

Before I could process what was happening, Rage lunged with terrifying, inhuman speed. My breath caught in my throat as his hands shot out, gripping Justice’s face. “Now, you’re my slave,” Rage hissed, his words dripping with a dark satisfaction that made my stomach churn.

I watched in abject horror as Justice’s eyes widened in panic, then slowly glazed over, losing their spark. My heart thundered, threatening to burst through my ribcage as the sickening realization dawned on me. Rage’s true target had been in front of me all along, and I had been powerless to stop it.

“Release him!” I screamed, my voice raw with fury. I raised my fist, ready to smash it into Rage’s smug face, consequences be damned.

Blinded by rage and fear, I charged at Rage but suddenly felt strong arms wrap around me as Damon yanked me away from danger.

His fingers dug into my arms, his grip betraying his own fear and determination. “No. You can’t help him, sis,” he rasped.

A primal scream of frustration tore from my throat as I twisted my arm, fighting against my brother’s restraint. I stomped on his foot, driven by a desperate need to save Justice. “Yes, I can!” I snarled, tears of anger and helplessness stinging my eyes. “Let go of me!”

Damon grunted, his grip on me tightening like a vise. “Will you listen to me for once in your friggin’ life?” he growled, his voice a perfect mix of frustration and concern, just like Dean Winchester’s. “I swear, you’ve got a death wish, sis.”

Rage released Justice and tilted his head back and forth slightly, inspecting his new “masterpiece” with pride. The sight made my stomach lurch.

“Justice, Justice, fight it!” I pleaded, my voice cracking. Tears slid down my cheeks, leaving hot trails on my skin.

Rage offered a thin, cruel smile that sent shivers down my spine. “Now, kill them,” he commanded.

Justice clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white with the effort. “No,” he managed to grind out, defiance flashing in his eyes.

Rage flicked his hand dismissively, confidence oozing from every pore. “You can’t fight me, boy. You’re mine.”

Justice dragged his feet, slowly turning to face me. His movements were jerky, like a puppet on strings fighting an invisible force.

My body trembled as I faced him, my brother still hanging onto my arm with an iron grip.

“I don’t like this one bit,” Damon muttered. “This is some serious mojo we’re dealing with here.”

Zara and Lisa backed up slowly, fear evident in their eyes. The phoenix fluttered its wings as it perched on a rock beside Lisa, but it didn’t fly away. Its presence was both comforting and unnerving, as if it knew something we didn’t.

Justice shook his head and spread his arms, his entire body trembling with effort. “I can’t fight it,” he gritted out through clenched teeth. His chest heaved, and sweat poured down his face as if drawing on every last bit of energy to fight Rage’s control.

He looked at me, his eyes a storm of emotions. Love, fear, determination. “You need to…go…now.”

“No.” I shook my head vehemently, my heart racing. “You can suck my blood. It will cure you.”

“It won’t, Sawyer.” He gave me a fierce look. “I’ll kill you. Go. Now, while you have time.”

Damon’s grip tightened even more. “Listen to your bloodsucker boyfriend, Sawyer. We need to haul ass outta here before things go from bad to apocalyptic.”

I struggled against Damon’s hold, torn between my instinct to save Justice and the rational part of my brain screaming at me to run. “But we can’t leave him!”

“Damn it, Sawyer!” Damon’s voice rose, sounding more like Dean than ever. “Sometimes you gotta make the hard call. We leave now, we live to fight another day. We stay…” He let the implication hang in the air.

Justice’s body jerked forward, his face contorted in pain and determination. “Please,” he rasped. “Run!”

The air crackled with tension as we stood on the precipice of a decision that could change everything. My heart felt like it was being torn in two, caught between my love for Justice and the survival instinct Damon was desperately trying to awaken in me.

Brody stepped forward, his stance wide and authoritative. His gaze swept the chaotic scene.

“We’re not leaving anyone behind,” he declared. He placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, his touch conveying strength and support. “That’s not how we operate.”

“You can’t help me…” Justice gritted his teeth. His fangs lengthened. “A hunger… I can’t control it.” His head tilted back again, and his eyes turned red. “I want blood.”

Damon shot Brody an exasperated look. “Are you kidding me? This isn’t the time for heroics, Boy Scout!”

Brody stood his ground, unfazed by Damon’s outburst. “There’s always time to do what’s right,” he countered. “Justice is one of us, and we don’t abandon our own.”

He looked at me, a spark of hope in his eyes. “Sawyer, your blood might be the key. We simply need to create an opening.” Then, he turned to Damon, “We need your hunter skills now more than ever. Can you distract Rage?”

Damon grumbled but nodded reluctantly, “Fine, but if we all die, I’m blaming you, Captain Optimism.”

Brody’s lips quirked into a small smile before he addressed Zara and Lisa. “You two, be ready to support us. And that phoenix might be our ace in the hole.”

He turned back to the struggling vampire. Determination and compassion filled his voice as he called, “Justice, I know you’re in there. You’re stronger than this control. Fight it!”

For a split second, something flickered in Justice’s eyes. A glimpse of recognition, perhaps even a silent plea for help. Then, as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, replaced by a predatory gleam that sent chills down my spine.

With inhuman speed, Justice lunged at Brody. Despite his quick reflexes, Brody couldn’t dodge in time. Justice’s powerful arms wrapped around him, pinning Brody’s arms to his sides. I watched in horror as Justice’s fangs elongated, glinting in the dim light.

“No!” I screamed, but it was too late.

Justice’s fangs sank deep into Brody’s neck. Brody released a pained grunt, his face contorting in agony. Blood trickled down his neck, staining his shirt crimson.

But Brody wasn’t going down without a fight. His jaw clenched, muscles straining as he fought Justice’s iron grip. With a surge of strength, he managed to free one arm. In a swift motion, his elbow came up hard, catching Justice under the chin.

The impact loosened Justice’s hold. Brody twisted his body, using the momentum to throw Justice off balance. As they stumbled, Brody’s fist connected with Justice’s jaw in a powerful uppercut. The sound of the impact echoed through the air.

Justice staggered back, momentarily dazed. Brody’s blood stained his lips and chin.

Brody pressed his hand to his bleeding neck, his breath coming in short gasps. “Justice, this isn’t you. You have to snap out of it!”

But Justice’s eyes remained glazed, Rage’s control still firmly in place. He crouched, ready to spring at Brody again.

Damon’s voice cut through the tension. “Brody! We gotta go, now!”

Brody glanced between Justice and the rest of us, torn between saving his friend and protecting the group.

Justice lunged again, but this time, Brody was ready. He ducked under Justice’s outstretched arms and delivered a powerful blow to his solar plexus. As Justice doubled over, Brody used the opportunity to put some distance between them.

“I’m sorry, Justice,” Brody’s voice was heavy with regret. “We’ll come back for you. I promise.” He turned and sprinted toward us. “Use the hourglass!” he shouted, urging us to retreat.

Zara picked up the backpack that had fallen behind Damon and me as we struggled. She reached into it and pulled out the hourglass.

“Use it, Sawyer. It’s our only chance,” she stated as she handed it to me.

Fresh tears slid down my cheeks. “I love you, Justice. Come back to me.”

As I clutched the hourglass, the air began to shimmer and vibrate. Suddenly, a swirling vortex of golden light erupted from the artifact, enveloping my team, including the phoenix, in its warm glow. The wind picked up, whipping our hair and clothes as the vortex grew stronger.

“Take us to Inveraray Castle,” I whispered, my words barely audible over the whooshing of the magical wind.

The world blurred into streaks of color as the vortex lifted us off our feet. We were suspended in a cocoon of swirling golden light punctuated by flecks of what looked like glittering sand. The vortex spun faster and faster, creating a tunnel of light that stretched before us.

I looked down. The last thing I saw was Justice, standing eerily still, watching us leave with those haunting, glazed eyes. Rage’s laughter echoed behind us, a chilling reminder of the battle we’d lost—but not the war.