Chapter 11

A few thingsoccurred to me as the acolytes panicked about the smoke filling the room.

One: I didn't see smoke.

Two: I did see a demon crawling through the door.

Three: I remained bound, a.k.a. an easy buffet.

And four…whatever Emilia did hadn't removed the whole reaper-witch thing from me, which explained my strange dream and why Moloch still thought of me as his key to escape. Speaking of escape, I really needed to do something or my already shit day would get worse.

The acolytes fumbled around, looking for robes to dress themselves. All except for the tall dude, who stared wide-eyed at the door and the demon grinning at him.

"Um, does anyone else see that?" He pointed.

No one replied, and he didn't have a chance to explain, as the demon launched itself at him. The tall dude never even screamed before he hit the floor and had his throat torn out with sharp teeth. I didn't feel much sympathy. He'd chosen to worship at the altar of evil.

The youngest woman in the cult was the first to attempt to breach the exit, her flailing hands finding the door frame. She slipped out, but her sharp scream let me know she didn't get far. Her shrieks didn't last long. The demons weren't fucking around with Moloch's disposable acolytes, now that they'd served their use.

Larry had yet to realize he'd been betrayed by the demon lord because he wailed, "Oh Dark Lord, save me."

I couldn't help but chirp, "He won't save you. Who do you think sent the minions to slaughter you?"

Larry apparently couldn't see me, the way he glanced around, looking everywhere but at me. "Liar. I did as he asked."

"Yeah, you did, and now that he doesn't need you, goodbye." I might have sung the last part a little cheerily. If I had to die, then I wanted everyone who'd brought me to this point to die with me.

"I've had enough of you!" screamed Michelle. She might not be able to see me, but she had a general idea of the direction. She dove toward me with her knife. I barely managed to roll out of the way, and it proved a temporary respite. Michelle scrabbled on her knees, plunging her knife, screaming incoherently.

I screamed back. This was so unfair. If I had to die, couldn't I at least be free to fight? But, no, my bound hands and feet had me helpless. And my magic? My magic didn't do shit!

"Argh." I strained, and my anger grew to match my fear. I wouldn't be a tool for Moloch. Fuck being a sacrifice for my fake parents. I refused to be a victim because of my own stupidity. Pity I couldn't use my feelings to shred the ropes binding me.

Larry yodeled as a demon swiped claws across his leg, dropping him to the floor. He kept yelling as the demon played with its food, biting out chunks of his body at random. His pain almost made me smile. I couldn't imagine someone more deserving.

Realizing revenge might cost her life, Michelle made a run for the door, only to get hip-checked to the side by the tanned woman who exited and immediately shrieked, "No. No. Owwww!"

And another acolyte died. That didn't leave many left.

Demons crept into the room, taking down those that remained, all except for Michelle. With her eyes wide open and unblinking, she swung her dagger, cutting a swath in the air that kept the demons at bay. She did pretty good considering she couldn't see them.

She panted, "Stay away from me. This was all his idea. He told me we'd be rich. That when Moloch returned, we'd be part of his court. I never wanted any of this."

And yet she went along with it, so I lacked pity when a demon rushed under the wild flailing and tackled her at the knees. She shrieked and plunged the dagger, getting lucky and actually impaling the demon in the skull. It fell to the side, and Michelle staggered to her feet.

Weaponless.

Afraid.

Yet somehow still brave and full of fight. When a demon rushed her, she swung her fists and huffed, "I will not die. Not for his folly."

Alas, words couldn't stop the demons from tearing her apart.

It occurred to me as I stared at her one open and unseeing eye that only I remained, which of course was when the demons all turned in my direction.

Eep!

They crept toward me, some on two legs, others at a crawl. Their fetid stench washed over me, making me gag. Some slobber dripped and soaked my clothes, making my flesh faintly burn.

They crowded around me and yet didn't touch. What did they wait for? Would ripping me apart open Moloch's door, or did they need a ritual? Moloch had said something about needing magic. Please don't tell me another demon wizard was about to appear. The last one I'd dealt with—and by dealt, I mean he'd kidnapped my ass and then proceeded to drag me through a sewer, strip me naked, and almost sacrifice me—had been scary enough it was a wonder I hadn't pissed myself.

I wondered if this time I'd be found in a pool of urine as I lay there, surrounded by a nightmare, terrified beyond belief. Was it wrong I hoped Cain or Vance would arrive in the nick of time? After all, it happened once before. Would I be so lucky again?

As if controlled by one mind, demonic heads swiveled toward the door, and I couldn't help but look as well.

A smile stretched my lips. Emilia stood framed in the opening. The cavalry had arrived. It took me a second to realize she probably couldn't see me.

"Emilia, I'm here, but watch out. There're demons!" I shouted.

"I know, I can see them. Who do you think led me here?"

I blinked at her words before softly saying, "You can see them?"

"Yes. A gift from Moloch."

My stomach turned into a tight ball. "I don't understand." But I was starting to. Once more, I'd managed to not see what should have been obvious. Emilia played me.

"And to think you were touted as the world's hope." She snorted. "What a waste." She snapped her fingers. "Moloch wants her moved to the backyard and staked out on the grass. Don't forget to strip her too. He wants the moonlight bathing her skin."

Fuck me. It wasn't just my ex-parents playing for the other side.

"Why are you helping Moloch?" I asked as rough and clawed fingers grabbed me and hoisted.

"It's not that complicated. The demon king has promised me power. A greater amount than nature saw fit to give me." She flicked her fingers. "I am capable of so much more."

"But he's evil," I argued as my body got jostled going up the steps.

"Evil only if you're on the opposite side."

"He's a bloody demon," I reminded as we entered the kitchen, the demons marching for the door to the yard.

"And? He's also extremely powerful."

"Yeah, so powerful he was locked away and can't get out."

"Yet despite his incarceration, he is able to come to me in dreams. To command. He even gave me a sample of the magic I'd receive once I helped him escape."

"He lies. He told those people in the basement they'd be special, too, and look at what he did to them."

For a moment, uncertainty clouded her features before avarice and pride brought a haughty look. "As if he has need of mundane humans. I'm a witch, and once he's blessed me, I'll be the most powerful one alive."

"You're an idiot who's going to die," I predicted as I got dropped onto the ground, the scrubby weeds doing their best to defy the chill of autumn.

"That's ripe coming from you. You wanted to give away your magic."

"But didn't. You never took it from me," I accused.

"No, I didn't. However, I did put a tracker on you to ensure once you left the warehouse you didn't get lost." She smirked. "Now who's the idiot?"

"You. Because I still have my magic and I can tell you from experience the moment you try to kill me, it will act to save my life."

A sly smile curved her lips. "No, it won't. Unbeknownst to you, I've been dosing the bottle in your tent with a magic suppressor."

"Er, what?" Her claim distracted me from the fact the demons were tearing at my clothes. Better to concentrate on Emilia's words than the fact I'd soon die.

"Moloch had your parents drugging you initially. Putting it in your food to keep your magic dormant."

"And when I moved out, they sent the care packages," I murmured.

"Which you obviously stopped ingesting because your magic began to awaken. It's the reason why you started seeing demons. Luckily, you joining the guild gave me the opportunity to resume your parents' task."

"You made it so I couldn't use it," I accused. "It's your fault I failed so badly at magic."

"As if you care," she scoffed. "You made it very clear you wanted nothing to do with it. So you're welcome."

"I might have felt differently if it worked," I retorted, my anger keeping me warm as the chill air kissed my naked flesh.

"Boohoo. Cry me a river," she taunted. "The last thing Moloch wants or needs is a reaper witch to get in his way."

I could have mentioned the fact I'd stopped drinking the shakes in my tent because they tasted bad. I could have also pointed out the fact that her suppression shit wasn't working so well, because, hello, I'd been able to see the demons in the basement. However, while dumb about some things, even I knew better than to give away my advantage.

Could I use my magic? I didn't know. Could be whatever drug she gave lingered for a while in the system. What I hoped for? That it would act to save me.

The full moon overhead shone bright. Just like it had a month ago when the demon wizard had me spread-eagle in a park. I really hated this was becoming a habit.

Emilia stood between my parted legs, holding a dagger aloft and chanting. I had no idea what she said, the language strange and guttural. I did know it made me shiver with cold and ooze sweat at the same time. The hair on my skin lifted, and the air around me vibrated.

A part of me really hoped for a surprise rescue.

But then again, why would anyone come? I'd left without a word. No one knew where I'd gone. Why would they chase after me?

A thunderclap sounded out of nowhere as Emilia uttered a final syllable. The knife went from reflecting the moonlight to a dark surface that absorbed it.

Oh shit.

Rather than plunge the knife like the previous demon wizard planned, Emilia sliced me in numerous places. Across the thighs, the biceps, the stomach, even both breasts. You know the expression a death by a thousand cuts? I lived it. Could feel myself growing weak as blood seeped from my many wounds, soaking into the ground.

My magic didn't suddenly decide to save me. It let her cut me over and over, so many places that my body just turned into one giant, throbbing boo-boo.

By the time she'd finished, I wanted to die. Let the agony and suffering end.

Once more she chanted, and as those husky notes hit the air, a fog began to rise from me. It seeped from the bloody wounds and from the blood-soaked ground I lay on. It rose to form a dark morass that undulated in a way that hurt my brain.

2D, 3D, more Ds. I wanted to close my eyes, and yet I couldn't, as if hypnotized. The rippling patch solidified, a black disc that hung in the air and in front of which the demons suddenly threw themselves flat. Only Emilia remained standing, her expression smug.

Out of that portal stepped the massive demon king, bringing with him scorching heat and the scent of blistering spice. He stretched his arms wide under the full moon, towering over me, before booming, "It's good to be free."

Glad he was happy, because all I could think: I am so fucked.