Chapter 25

Before Moloch ranoff to play war god, he planted a slobbery kiss on me. If I could have gagged and spit, I would have. Luckily Moloch's kiss lasted only a second.

He shoved away from me, vibrating with excitement. "At last, the reapers have taken the bait. Join the others. I shall take the spot of command." Moloch waved his hand, and his minion scampered off.

"Looking awful gleeful for a demon about to get his ass kicked," I remarked.

"Did you really think I hadn't prepared for this? The moment I was ready, I sent out a signal I knew no reaper could resist."

It didn't take a genius to connect the dots. "You killed the pope knowing it would piss off the reapers."

"Brilliant, I know. It not only kills the hope of millions, but with that single deed, I pushed your allies into acting while they think I'm weak."

"Because you are. I know you're not been able to recruit the numbers you were hoping for."

"Ah yes, because your spying eyes in the castle told you so." Moloch's grin turned sly. "So easy to fool."

A statement that clenched my stomach. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I purposefully hid my legions. I wanted you to believe me vulnerable and without aid."

"But the princes—"

"While rude and unhappy at my return have also donated to the cause. After all, once we rid this world of the reapers and witches, it will be ripe for picking."

I might have blanched as I realized we'd been played. "It's a trap," I whispered.

"Oh yes. One that is about to decimate those capable of standing in our way. Shall we go watch their defeat?"

Moloch dragged my bobbing, magically bound ass out of the main hall and up some stairs. We encountered no one on our way to the parapet. We emerged to a sky thick with dark clouds. A chill wind pimpled my skin, but it couldn't compare to the coldness within as I beheld the dark valley spread before us, seemingly empty, and I couldn't help but remember the demons I'd seen digging at the ground. How many hid in the burrows they'd made? The entire hillside appeared churned and disturbed.

Dear god. The reapers were going to be slaughtered.

From the woods, movement rustled branches. It turned into a single reaper emerging, holding a sword, quickly followed by another with a scythe. The world's best hope—since I'd so epically failed—flowed from the forest in a wavering line that began the hike up the hill to the castle.

Those reapers didn't get far before the ambush struck. The ground erupted as demons emerged, claws and fangs bared. The undaunted reapers didn't turn tail and run but fought, slicing through the attackers, killing them easily.

Too easily.

More reapers emerged from the forest. More than used to live at the castle. Had all the reapers in the world come? It sure seemed like it.

As they continued to trudge up the hill, headed for the castle, more and more demons popped out of their hidey-holes. Minor nuisances that the reapers easily swatted, but Moloch appeared too smug, meaning the worst was to come.

When the ground began to rumble and the very soil itself roiled, I braced myself.

A gigacerta exploded from the dirt. Then a second and a third! Along with them, other monsters suddenly swooped from the treetops where they'd been nesting and hiding in the boughs.

The reapers' steady advance halted as they paused to deal with the new threats. Not all of them survived the savage attacks.

My heart ached as bodies dropped. It didn't help that I kept looking for a sign of Vance or Cain but couldn't see them. Had they come? Had they already fallen?

The chaos of battle kept me busy watching, and so I missed when the witches arrived. But their presence soon became known as crackling energy and flaming balls began launching into the massive beasts. Electrical zaps struck and jolted. The fire caught the wings of those diving and caused them to crash. The wind began to swirl, dragging dirt and loose grass to form a blinding maelstrom that hid much of the attack from view.

The lack of visibility led to Moloch grumbling, "Ruining my fun. I wanted to watch my victory."

A victory that no longer seemed certain as reapers marched out of the dust cloud and, trailing behind their grim-faced line, witches. I spotted Mizuki, Helen, Cecily, and leading them with her head held high, Nova.

She looked terrifying. Her outfit was slim-fitting black leather, her hair undulating as if alive. Her expression was set in a fierce scowl. How brave she appeared, and crazy, too, seeing as how she didn't stop her march until she stood in front of the space where the drawbridge usually sat. For all his smack talk of an easy victory, Moloch had pulled it closed to prevent their entry.

Nova lifted her hands, and her voice boomed. "Moloch of Inferis, you are hereby being given a chance to leave this world or else face the consequences."

"You are no match for me, witch," he stated brashly. "Not even your precious messovenata could prevail." He dragged me close to the edge to show me off.

The embarrassment of being dangled as a shameful prize burned. What did they all think? I could practically hear their thoughts. Weak. Useless. Told her she shouldn't have come.

The voice of doubt hammered me, but in the midst of that pummeling of my self-esteem, I heard another speak in my head.

Don't listen to him. You are stronger than he realizes. Stronger than even you know.

Who spoke to me? I tried replying. I am so strong I got caught in a simple spell of binding.

Break it.

I can't.

There is no can't. Just do.

Easier said than done. Yet while Moloch boasted and taunted the troops on the ground, I did my best to wiggle in my magical net. It seemed impossible. I was no hero. I didn't belong here.

As despair tried to claw me down to its level, I got annoyed. Why couldn't I be strong? Look at the reapers who'd come. They didn't hesitate to fight. Even Mizuki, not usually a combatant, had found the courage to contribute.

Why couldn't I?

This time, I didn't listen to the voice that kept claiming I sucked. Fuck that voice. Fuck everyone who'd told me I'd amount to nothing. Everyone who'd made me feel as if I couldn't be strong.

Fuck. Them. All.

As my anger built, heat flared to life within me, and as it spread, the magic binding me failed. It happened so abruptly I almost fell. Luckily, I caught my balance, but less lucky, Moloch noticed.

"Look at the puny messovenata, thinking she can fight," he taunted. "Haven't I already proven you're no match for me?"

"What you've proven is you're a braggart, and I fucking hate those. I'm going to make you eat your words, asshole." I flung out my hand and imagined shoving him.

Moloch stumbled back a few steps.

Not exactly what I'd hoped for. And the smirking bastard knew it.

I narrowed my gaze as I thought of binding him like he'd had me wrapped. I could see the magic winding around his arms, tucking them against his body.

He flexed and broke the magical bonds. Then he smiled. "My turn."

He made no gesture, uttered no word, but suddenly I flew as if punched by a fist of air. I hit the far end of the parapet, hard.

Ouch. I pushed to stand as Moloch stalked toward me.

"Are you going to even try to make this challenging?" Moloch mocked.

His magic grabbed and lifted me, pinning me to the stone of the tower like a bug. Which really pissed me off.

My rage-fueled power burned through the hold, and I dropped into a crouch, eyeing Moloch warily.

He beckoned me. "Come, messovenata. Let's see what you've got."

I threw everything I could think of at him.

Fireball!

Spattered without leaving a single scorch mark.

Lightning!

Struck and didn't even make him jiggle.

Rain frozen into ice that then hammered him!

Melted against his skin.

Nothing I did so much as left a scratch.

A net suddenly dropped from the sky, glinting silver strands that landed on Moloch and caused him to scream.

I almost smiled.

Nova didn't hold back. She floated into view, looking pleased as she landed on the parapet.

"How do you like the silver veil of the Templars? I paid good money to get my hands on it, the only thing known to trap demons," Nova boasted.

Moloch stopped his moaning to smile. "It tickles." He grabbed the strands and tugged, tearing it in two.

Judging by Nova's face, she'd really thought the net would work. "I'm not done with you yet," she warned.

"You're welcome to try again after I get my turn, witch."

A cloud of fluttering insects, comprised of shadows, suddenly encased Nova, and I could hear her yelping.

Mizuki, who appeared at the far end of the parapet, suddenly yelled, "Leave us alone."

The fireball she tossed never even got close to Moloch. He held up his hand and deflected it right back at her. It should have been okay, but Mizuki screamed as it engulfed her hand. He'd somehow turned her own magic against her.

I ran for the big bastard, not sure what I'd do but having to act. Before I could slam into him, I noticed Cain at his back, and from my rear, Vance drawled, "Hasta la vista, motherfucker."

Bang. Bang.The shots were perfect. Heart and head. Right between the eyes as a matter of fact.

Moloch didn't fall or even cry out in pain. However, the distraction allowed Cain to sweep in close and swing.

The scythe went through Moloch's neck. Like right through. His head should have toppled. Instead, the bisecting line disappeared almost as fast as it happened.

Moloch smiled. "I told you no weapon of this world can harm me." Which explained why they'd locked him away.

If we couldn't kill him, then we couldn't win. Unless…

I had to get him out of here. As I thought it, Nova managed to clear the cloud of shadow bugs, looking pissed.

I shouted, "We need to do that thing you were looking into." I didn't say the word "portal," lest I give away the plan.

She looked puzzled but only for a second. Then she nodded grimly. Her hands began moving and weaving.

The demon lord noticed. "What's this now? Trying to open a doorway? I think not, witch."

He swung his hand, and while it never technically connected, Nova flew as if she'd been smacked. She hit the parapet and slid down to my feet, groaning. As she pushed to her hands and knees, the talisman around her neck dangled, and before I could think twice, I snatched it and tucked it into my pocket.

"Hey, little dick!" I shouted, distracting Moloch from Cain, who did his best to pendulum his scythe to block the barrage of black arrows shooting from Moloch's fingers.

The demon swung around and growled, "I'm busy."

"Here I thought you were trying to avoid the whole fucking thing. Afraid I'll mock your tiny shaft? And, no, I won't be nice about it because it's shameful a demon your size is so poorly endowed, but I'm sure—"

A hand of air grabbed me by the throat and dragged me close to Moloch. Close enough I could see fire in his irises.

"We will see how small my cock is when it's tearing up your insides," he growled.

"What are you waiting for, little penis?" I taunted.

"Impertinent slut!" As hoped, he grabbed me. His claws dug into the flesh of my arms as I dangled from his grip.

Before the contact could be lost, I invoked the talisman and took us to the nothing place.