Chapter 26

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

DECLAN

The drive to the Shadowwalker home was tense and quiet. Callum and Malakai flew overhead, guiding the way. Felix and Hendrix rode in the truck bed, their heads on a swivel as they searched for enemies. No one came for me. We got all the way there without running into anyone. We decided to check the human realm first, since it was closer. There was a massive wrought-iron gate in the way, but no one guarding it. Malakai pushed it open, and I drove up to the front door, looking around warily. Nothing. There was no one here. Either they weren't here, or they were hiding. I honestly didn't know which was worse. Athena said we had to hurry. We didn't have time to waste searching for him.

The hair on the back of my neck stood up when I stepped out of the truck. It was late, clouds covered the moon, and trees surrounded the house to block out any light pollution from the city. It was pitch black, and only the fire on the demons around me and the lights from the truck gave me any visibility. It was eerie.

"Anyone else feel like we're being watched?" Felix murmured.

"We probably are," Callum grumbled. "It changes nothing. We're here to find Aziel. I don't think they'll give him up without a fight. "

Malakai landed next to me, pulling something out of the small of his back. "Declan. My mate has this for protection. You will need it more than I will."

The pistol was small, barely the size of my palm, but fully loaded. I huffed out a laugh, checking the safety before looking up at him.

"Remind me to thank your mate later."

He nodded once before turning toward the house. There were no distinct features, like they painted the whole thing black. No lights shone through the windows, nothing to indicate life inside. It felt like a long shot that anyone was here, but we had to check anyway.

"Okay. Let's go."

We moved en masse through the double door entrance, which was unlocked and unguarded on the inside. Red flags went up in the back of my head. Either no one was here or they wanted us to go in this direction. I pushed forward, using the light from the demon fire to guide my steps. I took the safety off the pistol, keeping it pointed down so I didn't do anything stupid like shoot someone if I got startled. Felix and Hendrix checked doors to the left and right as we walked down the hallway, but they all turned up empty.

When the hallway split, we took a second to consider our options. It was hard to tell just how big this place was in the dark, but we didn't want to end up lost in here. This was already taking too long. I was about to suggest going forward when Felix tipped his head with a frown.

"What's that sound?"

Without the sound of our footsteps, the quiet was overwhelming. Everyone else tipped their heads, listening, but I couldn't hear anything. Callum pointed down the main hallway.

"That way."

As we continued forward, the noise they'd heard finally got loud enough for me to hear it. A steady flutter, like dozens of wings coming from the double door at the end of the hall. We hesitated outside the door. Whatever was waiting on the other side wasn't just one or two guys. I wasn't sure how we'd hold up and I sent a silent prayer that Ollie would forgive me for this in the future.

A gut wrenching scream propelled me forward. It sounded like Aziel, and it was like I could feel the pain in my chest as he screamed. I launched myself at the door, throwing it open and darting inside.

Time slowed and stuttered, only bits and pieces filtering through my brain. Pools of blood. Aziel on his knees, blood gushing down his face. I couldn't comprehend what I was seeing at first, until time sped back up again and I watched along with a goddamn audience as they literally ripped one of Aziel's horns off his head with a loud crack. Aziel screamed again, agony etched into his face. The pistol came up automatically, and I fired at the female demon standing over him triumphantly. I never shot a pistol in my life, but I was so pissed, I pulled the trigger over and over until I got her in between the eyes. Her head jerked back, and she stumbled, collapsing on the floor behind Aziel.

A loud cackle drew my attention to the demon sitting on a literal throne, watching like it was a fucking show for him.

"I told you he'd join us eventually, Aziel! Look! Now you can watch him die before we finish you off!"

Aziel's head lolled. He didn't hear a word of what that asshole was saying. The rest of the room did, though, and descended like a swarm. Callum appeared in front of me, throwing out a ball of fire that blasted several demons away. Felix, Hendrix, and Malakai followed suit, surrounding me as they fought back.

"Get to Aziel! Go!" Callum bellowed.

I waited for an opening before darting forward. I used too many damn shots on the chick hurting Aziel, so I didn't bother firing at the demons swooping towards me. I let the guys handle them and fired instead at the demons holding Aziel prisoner. I got one in the shoulder, but my aim sucked and I missed the other twice before I finally got his leg. They dropped Aziel, barreling toward me, but Malakai knocked them away before they could get to me.

Aziel was lying in a pool of blood, unmoving, when I landed on my knees next to him. I shook his shoulder, but he was out cold. I'd need to move him myself, but there wasn't a chance in hell I'd get through that swarm without a little help. The guys were fighting hard, but it was four against dozens. They were busy. I pulled Aziel's arm over my shoulder, hoisting him against me, but he was like a deadweight. I grunted with the effort of lifting him, struggling just to get my feet underneath me .

"Pathetic. Do you really think you can save him? He's not worth saving."

The demon on the throne watched with amusement, not moving an inch out of his seat. If I didn't have Aziel to contend with, I would've shot him for enjoying this so much. Heaving Aziel up, I leaned him against me to readjust my grip. Frustration and fear burned through me, tears pricking my eyes. I refused to let them fall, growling as I hoisted Aziel a little higher.

"Fool. You should have run while you had the chance."

I never saw the demon move from his throne before he was standing over us. He grabbed Aziel by the hair, tossing him like a rag doll away from me. I tried to keep my grip on him, but it just meant we both went skidding across the floor. Turning over, I aimed at the asshole I had to assume was Aziel's uncle, firing shot after shot until there was no ammo left and the gun clicked a few times. I didn't hit him once. He was too damn fast. He blurred as he moved, laughing like it was a fucking joke. When I ran out of ammo, he appeared in front of me, an evil grin on his face.

"You and the rest of your pathetic race will die screaming by my hands. Maybe I'll start with your little brother. Where is he tonight? All alone without you there to protect him."

Bile rose in my throat at the thought of this asshole getting anywhere near Ollie. I had to remind myself several times that he was safe, surrounded by paranormals who would protect him. It didn't make it any less terrifying to hear the threat out loud.

"What the hell did we ever do to you?" I demanded.

He chuckled, the sound evil and cruel. "What did you do? Nothing. You wouldn't be able to hurt me if you tried. No, you just have the unfortunate circumstance of being disgusting and pathetic. When I rid the world of your filth, they will thank me for it. Well… eventually anyway."

He was a nut job. No wonder Aziel was so desperate to cling to any chance he had at getting away. He spent a lifetime under this guy's thumb. I'd lie too, if I had a chance to get out.

A shout from the door distracted him long enough for me to draw my legs up and kick out. I hit him square in the dick, hard enough to send him to his knees. It didn't keep him down for long, though. I barely got to my feet before he snarled at me.

"You're going to regret that, you little shit!"

He was close enough that when he lashed out, his claws slashed across my chest. Not deep enough to kill me, but it stung like a bitch. Any closer and I'd be dead meat. I looked around for anything to use to protect myself, but there wasn't a damn thing. The room was empty aside from body parts and blood.

"That's right, little mouse. Try and flee from me. Aziel is not worth protecting. Maybe if you're fast enough, you'll get away before I'm finished with him."

There wasn't a chance I'd leave Aziel behind. I resigned myself to a fist fight I had no chance of winning and glared at the asshole who had finally pushed to his feet. Bracing myself, I drew back my fist, but before I could connect with anything, a loud rumble shook the room and light exploded from the middle of it.

"No. No!" Aziel's uncle screamed. He whipped his head around, baring his teeth at me, but he was more focused on the newcomers. I had no idea who they were, or if they were good guys or bad guys. I didn't wait around to find out. Once Aziel's uncle was busy with his new friends, I used all my strength to get Aziel off the ground. He groaned, the first sign of him being awake, and I whispered to him as I dragged him out a side door.

"It's okay. It's gonna be okay. Just hold on."