Whos afraid now? I thought fiercely.
I shouldnt have taken that brief moment to celebrate. Even with a knife sticking out of his face, he was still deadly. His hands closed over my ankles, yanking hard. I lost my balance and fell backward, twisting away at once to avoid his immediate tackle. He landed on sand instead of me, but then his fists smashed into my lower body. I doubled over, feeling like Id been hit by a truck. He held on and started to crawl up my body, his grin visible even through the streams of blood coming from where the knife stuck out of his face.
I couldnt break his grip, so I didnt try. When he made it up to my thigh, my knee smashed into his face with all the extrahuman strength I had in me. Pain reverberated up my leg, but this time, I didnt spare a single second before attacking again. I grabbed his head and yanked it to the side as hard as I could. A crack sounded and the minions whole body went limp.
I managed to roll away, my knees and ribs throbbing so much that vomiting felt like a good way to celebrate. Still, I was exultant. Looks like those fighting lessons had really paid off! In fact, Costa had trained me so well, my actions had felt more like muscle memory instead of a conscious decision to kill someone. I had killed the minion, though, and he wasnt the first one, although he was the first one that Id taken on by myself with only a normal weapon.
Being a killer hadnt been anywhere on my list of life goals six months ago, when Id been a junior at WMU. Since then, Id had to learn how to do that as well as do a lot of other strange, unpleasant things. Thank you, unexpected supernatural lineage. You are the gift that keeps on giving.
With a suddenness that still startled me, the minions body dissolved until nothing but ashes remained. They began to blow away in the same ocean breeze that whipped my hair around like dozens of dark brown scarves. The way minions and demons turned to ash after death was the only considerate thing they did.
Even though everything hurt, I heaved myself up from the sand. Bruised and battered or no, I still had to find Brutus.
I was in the process of brushing the sand off me when my surroundings changed in an instant. The sand turned to sheets of ice, the light became pitch darkness and the sounds from the surf ceased with such abruptness that the new silence was ominous. The worst part was the cold. My teeth began to chatter, and the frigid air felt like it scattered razors across my skin.
Just as quickly, the dark, frozen world disappeared, leaving me back on the beach with a warm, salt-scented breeze and mauve-colored shades of dawn starting to paint the horizon. Still, I felt stiff from more than the cold that seemed to linger on the air. That hazy, alternate version of this area wasnt a full-on sensory hallucination, although all of my former doctors wouldve sworn otherwise. Instead, it was a glimpse of a realm that hovered right over this one.
Physicists call it M theorythe idea that different dimensional layers existed next to each other. I called it a shitload of trouble, because that sunless, icy world was a demon realm. My lineage gave me the ability to catch glimpses of these deadly realms, but for some reason, I hadnt spotted this one before. If Id known that a demon realm existed right on top of this place, I wouldve never walked this beach at all, let alone by myself before the sun was fully up.
Before I could turn around to leave, a large slash suddenly appeared in the air and three people stepped out of it. At once, the supernatural tattoo on my right arm began to burn. I gripped it without looking away, and the part of my brain that wasnt freaking out figured out what was going on.
The minion Id killed hadnt snuck up on me using his supernatural stealth and speed. Hed simply crossed from a demon realm into this one through a gateway that I hadnt known was there.
I didnt have time to wonder if the realm was new, or if it had always been there and was now accessible to this world through an ominous crack. The three new minions seemed startled to see me, but then their gazes roved from the blood on my dress and cardigan to the very incriminating pile of minion ashes near my feet. When the palest one stretched out hands that turned into living, writhing snakes, it was all I could do not to scream.
Not three minions. Two minions and an unkillable, shape-shifting demon.
Standing and fighting would be suicide, so I snatched my knife from the pile of minion ashes and began to run. The demon barked out an order in a language I recognized all too well, then the minions gave chase, and they were fast. If I had been a normal human, they would have had me in five seconds flat, but I wasnt normal, and right now, I was glad about that.
I was also glad I had a mental map of the closest hallowed ground near the North Shore park. In fact, Id memorized every plot of hallowed ground near my house just in case something like this happened. St Josephs Catholic Church was about seven streets away. If I made it, the demon couldnt touch me because demons couldnt cross hallowed ground. Minions could, but Id already killed one today. Why not go for more?
Since sand was harder to run on, I headed toward the sidewalk along the park, needing the flat ground to increase my speed. Behind me, I could hear the minions cursing. They hadnt expected me to make them work for this. That gave me grim satisfaction as I darted around benches and tables in the deserted picnic area. My knees and ribs still throbbed from my earlier fight, but nothing was as great a painkiller as survival instinct. As I ran, I counted down the wooden street markers in the park for encouragement. Eighty-Third Street. Eighty-Fourth. The church was just after Eighty-Seventh Street. I was going to make it.
Then, even though he was much farther away, I heard the demon yell, Shes the Davidian! in a rage-filled roar, and I knew all bets were off. My speed might have been preventing the minions from capturing me, but it also outed me as number one on the demons most-wanted list.
The demon was no longer content to send his minions ahead of him like a bunch of hunting dogs. Several quick glances over my shoulder showed him now tearing after me himself, and he made the minions look as if theyd been moving in slow motion. Benches, tables and other large objects were hurtled my way as he didnt just chase me, but actively tried to kill me.
I ducked and weaved around as many as I could, but some still found their mark. I cursed when something heavy smacked me in the back, and while it made me stumble, I forced myself not to fall. Instead, I put all of my energy into running, staying within the limits of the park despite its greater dangers of projectiles. Taking the main road, A1A, would give me a straight shot to the church, but even at this hour, cars were on it. I couldnt risk someone else getting hurt, and demons loved nothing more than collateral damage.
Id just rounded a corner that brought me briefly back onto the beach when something slammed into my legs, knocking me over. I rolled at once, making sure not to stab myself in the process, and was back up when a loud, trumpeting snarl sounded overhead.
Brutus, my pet gargoyle, flew toward me, the dawns rays highlighting his large, beastly form in different shades of pink. I wouldve been relieved to see him, but I was too shocked by the man riding on Brutuss back.
The minions and demon saw them, too, and at their confused expressions, I remembered that they didnt see a large man on the back of a hulking, grayish-blue gargoyle. Due to Archon glamour, all they saw was an angrily squawking seagull somehow carrying his muscular male passenger, and from the way they cocked their heads, they didnt know what to make of the sight.
Ivy, duck! the man yelled.
I hit the sand even as I reeled with shock. Only one person in the world could treat the deadly gargoyle like a winged pony, and that was the same person whod broken my heart months ago, and then disappeared.
Adrian.
CHAPTER TWO
BRUTUS SOARED OVER ME, and Adrian almost grazed my back from how close he came. Seconds later, I heard multiple thumps and a scream. I rolled over in time to see the minions fall to the ground. Only bloody holes remained where their heads had been, and when Brutus whirled back around, his leathery wings were spattered with red.
Then Adrian jumped off Brutus and torpedoed himself onto the snake-armed demon. Two-hundred-plus pounds of pissed-off male slamming into the demon caused him to plow back into the sand. Adrians bulk pinned him down, but those coiling serpents surged toward him, gleaming fangs extended to strike.
Watch out! I screamed.
Before the first syllable left my lips, Adrian had already grabbed the serpents below their snapping jaws. With a brutal jerk, he ripped their heads off. The demon let out an ear-splitting howl and black blood spurted from where the snakes headless bodies still protruded from his wrists.
Adrian, the demon spat. Dont do this! Your father
Is dead, Adrian cut him off, then ripped the demons throat out. I caught a glimpse of something pulpy before I turned away, my stomach clenching with disgusted relief. Demon physiology was different, so what Adrian had just torn out was the equivalent of the demons heart.
Unfortunately, it wouldnt kill him. Only three weapons in the world could kill demons, and one of them had melded into a tattoo on my arm that now hurt as though it had caught fire.
Adrian climbed off the demon. I stared at the snake heads, which, like the demon, werent turning to ash because the demon wasnt really dead. He was just unconscious, so he wouldnt disintegrate and neither would his severed serpentine arms, apparently.
Were they poisonous? I asked, still trying to recover from everything that had just happened.
Adrian glanced at the heads. Oh yeah, he said, sounding oddly amused. Demon poison is the deadliest there is.
Then why did you grab the snakes with your bare hands?
Fear for him sharpened my voice. It took all the self-control I had not to run over and check to make sure that he hadnt been nicked by one of those lethal fangs. I wasnt about to do that, of course. I might be thrilled that he hadnt been killed, but I was still furious with him over other things.
Adrian let out a contemptuous snort. I know that demon. Vritra is used to everyone running from his snakes, so he never expected me to go right for them. Sometimes, a persons most powerful weapon is also their greatest weakness.
My mind flashed to how close those snakes had come to biting Adrian. Hows that? I muttered, trying to ignore the roughly lyrical cadence of his accent that was as unusual as he was.
Adrians gaze raked over me as he came closer. People count on their most powerful weapon too much, so when its gone, they dont know what to do. The moments before they figure that out is your best chance to kill them.
A cold-blooded assessment, but his ruthlessness didnt surprise me. It was to be expected since Adrian had been raised by demons, hence the snake-armed demons comment about Adrians father. Foster father would be a more accurate way to describe Demetrius, the demon whod snatched Adrian up when he was only a child. Demetrius wouldnt be snatching up any more children. Id seen to that when I killed him.
Whats that? he asked, suddenly lunging toward me. I jumped back, but Adrian had already grabbed me. His large hands slid along the cardigan covering my arms, and I yanked back, refusing to let him touch me. Theres blood on your clothes, he said, sounding concerned. Did one of them hurt you?
Nope, I lied. Yes, I was still hurt, and that counted for more than my physical injuries. Its from the other guy, whos probably blown away by now.
His dark blue gaze narrowed. Another minion attacked you?
Brutus didnt like that idea, either. He stalked over to the ashes of the other two minions, snarling as he clawed them, as if that would make them any more dead. I went over and patted his wing, grateful for the excuse to turn my attention away from Adrian.
Dont worry, boy, I crooned. You got them.
His gorilla-like head dipped as he slimed the side of my face with a lick. I hid my wince. If Brutus saw it, his feelings would be hurt. The fearsome two-ton gargoyle could be as sensitive as a golden retriever at times.
Where were you, anyway? I asked, not expecting an answer. Brutus could grunt, chuff, snarl and roar, and while I was getting better at picking up his mood from those, he couldnt speak a single intelligible word.
With me, Adrian replied. Sorry, we ran late today.
Today? I stared at him, piecing together the subtext. Adrian couldnt be bothered to even send me a text message these past couple months, but hed been hanging out with my gargoyle on a regular basis? I glared at Brutus. Just you wait until we get home, I silently promised the gargoyle. Somebody wasnt getting any raw chuck roast for breakfast after this!
The snake-armed demons skin was starting to blacken and burn under the dawns brightening rays. After everything demons had taken from me, Ill admit that the sight pleased me. If I was just a tad more vindictive, I wouldve videoed it so that my sister, Jasmine, could enjoy it, too.
What are we going to do with him? I said, nodding at the demon. The beach is empty now, but it wont be for long.
Adrians reply was to say something to Brutus in what I referred to as Demonish. The harsh yet disturbingly beautiful language was where Adrians unusual accent came from. I only recognized the word for go, but Brutus understood all of it. As soon as Adrian finished speaking, the gargoyle grabbed the demon and flew off toward the ocean.
Whats he doing?
Dropping him far enough away that the demon wont be a threat to any beachgoers, Adrian replied. If were lucky, his prolonged exposure to daylight will turn him into a withered husk. Demons cant stand our realm in the sun. I told you that.
He had, which begged the question, why had the demon risked such exposure by entering this world right before dawn?
Ivy. The low, resonant way Adrian said my name made shivers roll over me, although Id rather die than let him know that. Its good to see you.
I didnt want to be, but I was glad to see him, too, and for more reasons than him knowing exactly how to take out Snake Arms. Id tried to talk myself out of feeling anything for Adrian during the two months since hed admitted that he had betrayed me and then disappeared. Told myself that what Id thought I felt for him had been due to the extreme circumstances wed found ourselves in mixed with the temptation of forbidden fruit. Some days, when I only dwelled on the cold logic of the situation, I even believed it. The fact that Adrian had made no attempt to contact me seemed to support that theory. And now, after all this time, he thought that showing up, smiling and flashing me a smoldering look would make everything okay?