Chapter 32

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

ATLAS

B reathe in, breathe out. The cord of the bowstring pressed into my fingertips as I held it tight. My arrow would strike true. I'd sharpened the point to perfection and carved the rest of the arrow myself. It would be quick. It would be painless . . . for him. My friend laughed with madness as he drew odd symbols over the ground in blood. I didn't know what he was doing or why, but I knew this one shot would change it all. He would be no more, and once the King learned of what I'd done, I too would be no more. In fact, I was counting on that exact outcome. By using this bow, he'd know I killed Grayson from a distance. There would be no accident during capture. It would be known that I, Atlas Savage, killed the Prince of The House of Shade.

A blue portal opened a few feet from Grayson and Piper sprinted out, running between the two of us and blocking my shot. The others followed closely behind her, and they started to surround him. Grayson threw his arms up and blood magic exploded out of him and landed like fog over the symbols. The ground lit beneath his feet. It shined a brilliant white light and began to rumble under his feet. The crowd across the river cheered, thinking the light show would soon start.

New Year's Eve . . . the end of one cycle and beginning of another . . . How fitting.

I kept my eye trained on Gray, yet Piper stood there blocking me. She gave her back to Grayson and whatever was happening to stare me down. She gave a shake of her head, warning me not to do this. But my vow tugged at me, pushing me toward the end. My only friend in the world would be no more simply because he asked me to do this for him.

Big Ben struck midnight, and the tolling of the clock blocked out the cheers of the crowd. Fireworks exploded all around us, filling the air with a sparkling display. Bright reds, swirling greens, and showering golds all dazzled the oblivious crowd of humans. They didn't know how close they were to death. They were too busy celebrating their lives while a mad vampire unleashed hell on them.

The ground opened up around Grayson and demons flooded from it in all different directions. It was like watching fire ants swarm from their nest, ready to attack. Their grotesque bodies were shadows of whatever lifeforms they'd once been. They were slightly humanoid with longer legs and arms. Their faces were contorted into elongated shapes, like horses, but their mouths were full of jagged, sharp teeth. Drool and slime seeped from their mouths and dripped to the ground in big wads. Their skin was charred to black, and embers rose up around them as they charged out.

The others all leapt into battle. Silvery magic whipped through the demons, slicing them in half. Balls of fire flew from a guy with dark-red hair and lit them aflame, yet that didn't seem to stop them one bit. It only angered them more. Then the guy who threw the fire leapt up into the air and his body transformed into a phoenix. He swooped into the fray, grabbing demons with his large talons and throwing them back into the pit. A guy with dark, inky hair and crystal eyes placed his hand on the ground and yelled something to another guy with blond hair and blue smoke seeping around him.

A moment later, the dark-haired guy let burgundy magic seep over the ground and fifty stone bullets suddenly lay at the feet of the one with the blue smoke. He smirked, then threw his arms out. The bullets shot from the ground and peppered the demons, turning them into Swiss cheese. My jaw dropped and I nearly lost aim at the display. When a tiger and giant pug frolicked side by side through the madness, taking turns ripping demons in half and throwing the parts to each other as if they were playing catch, I was tempted to join in their fight. But I had a duty to fulfill.

The fireworks exploded all around us, and scorching cinders fell to the ground and over me, burning my skin. I held fast, not moving from my position even as pain melted over my body. Grayson stood in the middle of it all, watching the demons fight his friends. But the Grayson I knew would've joined in this fight. He would've helped his friends defeat these hell demons. The Grayson I knew would not have stood there grinning and laughing at the chaos. I had to face the fact that this was no longer the Grayson I knew. I pulled the string tighter and straightened my arrow.

Piper jumped up and caught my eye. She didn't turn to fight with her friends. No, she stood there offering her life for Grayson's. Just as I was about to drop down and take up another position, a demon leapt from the pit at Gray's feet and dove right for her. It tackled her to the ground and pressed her face to the cobblestones. A scream ripped up her throat as she shoved her hands to the stones and flipped over on her back. The demon crawled on top of her, pinning her to the ground and out of my way. It snapped its teeth in her face as she shoved her hands into its jowls, barely holding it from her face. It raised its claw over her neck, about to strike and take her head.

I had to do what was needed. Deafening fireworks boomed over our heads. The light was so bright it was like walking in midday. And when Grayson spread his arms wide and smiled at the falling sparks, I took aim.

"Forgive me, friend." I let the arrow fly.