Destiny Disrupted (2 page)

On trembling legs, I came face-to-face with Evil Triad.

One of the shorter demons, Thug One, still held a fistful of my long hair and tugged my head back.

I shrieked. “
Owwww!
”

“Ah, you smell delicious.” Thug One’s inhuman voice was grating, like a rock scraping glass. Putrid
eau de demon
, like rotten eggs, emanated from his body, and I fought the urge to gag.

“Yeah, well, you smell like crap,” I spat.

Thug One let go of me, and I raised my hand to massage my scalp. I swear, if I discovered a bald spot, I was
so
going to kick his demon ass. But not now. Not when it was three against one.

The largest demon’s red gaze met mine, with an aura that quivered with ancient power. Older and more deadly than anything I’d ever dealt with. These guys were higher up the paranormal hierarchy, all Upper Level demons.

I squeezed my hands into fists. “Who are you? What do you want?”

Thugs One and Two joined the tallest demon and surrounded me, their hooded robes brushing the overgrown grass.

“Veil us,” the tallest demon commanded.

Thug One nodded and closed his eyes.

The fog steadily rose—viscous and ethereal—and entirely unnatural. The haze was good for cloaking demons. Not so good for me. They were using
Darkness
to manipulate the fog, which thickened around us by drawing on the shadows and night. I could tap into my white magicks to counter their darker powers, but at the moment, I was too weak to do more than slump my shoulders.

If any of my neighbors peeked out their windows, all they would glimpse was a dense mist. Nothing unusual about that in the burbs of San Francisco.

The Upper Level demon, who I assumed was the boss by his stance and height, stepped forward, hands clasped behind his back. His gaze tough as steel. “Good evening, young witch.” His voice was a rumbly growl. “I am Caym, and you are known as Shiloh, no?”

So, Caym wanted to have a friendly chat.
Okay pal, I’ll play along.

Straightening my spine, I looked him in the eye. “Charmed.”

The demon nodded. “You are the notorious, Thirteenth Daughter.” He stroked his chin. “How fascinating to finally meet you in person.”

I shrugged. “Guess I’m popular in demonic social circles.”

He smirked. “True. You are getting quite the reputation.” Caym tipped his head to the side, looking me up and down with a sneer. “
Darkness
pours into your heart. I can sense its essence within you. Why do you fight it?” When I didn’t answer, he added, “You’ll make a fine bride.”

My muscles tensed. “Bride? I’m only sixteen, douchebag. And you’re
not
my type.”

Caym snickered. “Pretty, but not too bright.”

Screw this.

Pure instinct propelled me into action. I let out a fierce yell—one that would’ve made my Native American ancestors proud—and gave Caym an uppercut to his jaw. The demon grumbled, and threw a left hook. I ducked, thrusting a sharp punch to his stomach. Caym grunted and hit the ground on both knees.

Before I could get away, Thug One’s hand seized my arm. His sharp fingernails sliced through my thin cotton hoodie and scratched my skin. With a violent tug, he jerked me backward. Spinning, I kicked out, and my left foot connected with his torso. A
loud
crunch followed and Thug One cradled his ribcage in agony. I’d broken a rib or two. Good.

“That’s what you get for attacking a girl, asshat!”

“You’re a spry little bitch,” Thug One sputtered, clutching his chest.

“Enough!” Caym demanded.

Everyone froze at the thunderous rumbling of his voice. I wasn’t sure if he was talking to his friends or me, or all three of us.

“We do not wish you any harm,” Caym said. “We only want to talk like civilized beings.”

“There’s nothing to talk about. You’re demons and I’m a demon hunter,” I said. “Plus, I’m getting tried and cranky and you guys being here is not helping my mood.” I lifted my boot and stomped
hard
on Thug One’s instep.

Thug Two chuckled, but didn’t retaliate. These demons were your basic ‘ravenous, soul sucking’ types. And super dangerous. They regarded me with impassive expressions, as if trying to decide if they wanted to slurp out my soul like a slushy.

My stomach bottomed out. I could scream or yell for help, but after nightfall the residents were leery about leaving their houses. Not that I blamed them. We lived in Fallen Oaks. My screams wouldn’t even raise someone’s blood pressure.

I drove my fingernails into my thighs, willing myself to remain calm and figure out an escape. If I let panic take control, I would end up dead.

Think! Think!

My magick might be drained, but I still had my newly acquired boxing skills. Time to go into demon hunter mode.

I tried to kick Thug One, but he caught my foot and twisted it. I stumbled on one leg, swaying. The other two demons crossed their arms as if bored with my lame attempts at fighting them off. Thug One released my ankle and lunged forward, locking his scaly arm around my neck. I strained to loosen his hold, tearing at his hands. The demon only tightened his grip.

“Let her go,” Caym ordered.

“She’ll be the cambion’s only weakness. We should kill her. Tonight,” Thug One said.

Caym shook a finger at the other demon. “Not yet, Leith. No need to anger our prince until he’s taken a side. And that shouldn’t be too difficult once we find him.”

Prince?
They had to mean Trent. An uncomfortable premonition of truth doused me like winter had taken root within my blood, freezing my limbs. The Triad had only one purpose. And it wasn’t killing me. They wanted Trent to become their new demonic boss.

Thrashing my shoulders, I struggled to wiggle free of his arms, but the demon held on tight—the guy had a killer grip.

Since fighting them seemed stupid and useless, I just had to keep them talking long enough to devise another plan. Preferably, one that didn’t get me killed.

“Do not struggle, girl.” Leith’s hot, sticky breath prickled my ear. “Hmmm, your fear tastes divine.” His tongue shot out of his mouth, smacking the side of my face and scraping up my cheek.

I shuddered, completely grossed out. “Someone please get this demon a mint
.
”

Caym lowered his head and shook it, then looked back up at me. “May I ask you a question?” He pulled off his hood and pushed up his sleeves. “Can you tell us where the cambion is?”

Oh, god. He meant Trent. My heartbeat tripled.

“Camb-what?” I asked.

“Release her. Now.” Caym waved his companions off before turning back to me. “Might I interest you in a new line of work? Your life expectancy would be much higher and the benefits are…negotiable.” He flicked a glance at Thug Two, who stood back and kept an eye on me. “In fact, we’re drafting recruits.”

“I’ll need health insurance, Caym,” I said. “And a salary.”

He laughed darkly. “That might be feasible.”

Uh-oh. Did Caym think I was being serious?

The demon nodded thoughtfully. “You may be useful to us. What do you know about killing angels?”

Whoa. Not what I expected him to say.

“I know God will smite anyone who tries,” I said.

“I was referring to fallen angels.”

Did he mean Raze and Malphas? Or were there other immortal creatures in my little suburb?

“Oh.
Them
.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Why come to me?”

His grin was chilling. “We wanted to somehow persuade you to join us.”

“Not really in the mood to become all buddy-buddy with demons.” I backpedaled, bumping into Thug Two. Their hovering was making it difficult for me to escape.

“Do not be uncouth.” The smile slid off Caym’s face like spilled ink. “It is obvious you are still fatigued from the confrontation with the lupines. But you are tough and I respect that.” Caym stepped closer and got right in my face. “Now, where is the cambion? The Son of Esael?”

“Rot in hell!”

Leith and Thug Two blocked my path to the house. Taking a fighter’s stance, I faced the demonic triplets.

“Then you leave us no choice, young witch,” Leith said and wickedly grinned.

The rustle of giant wings swirled crisp leaves into the air. Something landed with a heavy thud behind me on the lawn.

“Am I late for the party?”

The Evil Triad and I stiffened at the deep, familiar voice. Caym and his thugs responded first, stepping away from me.

Raze—the newest and youngest leader of the
Forsaken
—crossed his arms over his chest. He stood over six-feet tall and resembled one of the Norse gods, but definitely more Loki than Thor. Even his outfit screamed dark and mysterious: ragged jeans, black T-shirt, and scuffed tactical boots. Hair the shade of polished coal rested on slim shoulders. Moonlight caught a glint of the iridescent wings fluttering behind him, feathers that appeared to be molded from fragments of night sky.

Totally crush-worthy, if you liked nearly perfect guys without many flaws. And the wings were a bonus if you didn’t like flying coach.

Not that I was drooling over him or anything. Not when I had a smoking hot boyfriend that I was totally into. Honest.

Raze winked at me. “Looks like I arrived just in time.”

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“Nice to see you too, sweetheart.” Raze tilted his head and scrutinized the Evil Triad. “Why are three dumbass demons harassing you?”

Caym fisted his hands. “You should not interfere with Demon Majesty business, angelic scum.”

Raze stepped forward and smirked. “And who’s going to stop me?” He sized up Caym and the other two demons. “Surely not the likes of you bumbling idiots.”

“Watch your mouth!” Caym lifted his chin, looking down his nose at Raze. “You’re no better than us. I can sense the sin pouring off you like acid rain.”

Leith and Thug Two circled Raze. I staggered backward, smacking into Leith, who pushed me aside. While the demons seemed busy seizing up the big winged guy, I shuffled forward…

Raze’s head turned in my direction and pinned me with his glare. His gaze lowered to scan my body, dark lashes dusting chiseled cheekbones. Was he seriously checking me out while demons were ready to attack us?

I suddenly felt naked under his fixed stare. I shivered and goose bumps exploded all over my arms. This was no time to flirt with me—obvious jailbait. Not when we had the demonic trio to deal with.

Without magick, my powers were diminished, and I wasn’t sure I could fight three Upper Level demons even with Raze’s help. I stood there unsure what to do. Stick to my plan and run inside the house, or hang around and fight?

Decisions. Decisions.

Leith moved closer to Raze, and the other two demons tightened the circle around the immortal. Raze quietly beat his onyx wings in displeasure, before they folded against his back.

Things were about to get bloody.

I backed up, inching toward the safety of the porch.

The cocky grin widened on Raze’s lips. “Don’t take off, Shiloh. This should be fun.”

“Seriously? Getting our asses kicked by three demons is your idea of fun?” I said, waving one hand in the air. “Well, it’s
not
mine. So go ahead. Knock yourself out.”

“I thought we made a pretty good team,” Raze said.

Team? We weren’t a team.

But to his credit, Raze
had
shown up the night of the big lycan brawl with a bunch of teenage hybrids. Although I’d been grateful for his help, I still wasn’t sure whose side Raze was on. Maybe he had his own agenda. Right now I didn’t care.

I edged around Caym and toward the house that still seemed unbelievably far away.

“You’re leaving.” Raze sighed. “I stop by to save your ass, which makes this twice, if we’re keeping count, and you’re ditching me.” He cocked his head toward Caym, puckering his brow. “What does a guy gotta do to earn Brownie points with her?”

Caym scowled. “I do not care if this inferior human likes you or not. I was sent here to gather information—”

“By picking on a defenseless girl? And outnumbering her three to one?” Raze shook his head. “Pathetic.”

Caym flicked a glance at me. “We can always use a hunter like her on our side to eliminate creatures such as yourself.”

“Grow some balls, and do your own dirty work,” Raze said. “Instead of trying to coerce an innocent teenager into doing your job for you—”

“It seems you guys have a lot to discuss, so I’ll just be going now,” I blurted.

My new motto? Run away and live to fight another day.

All four of them glanced my way, and I whipped around, dashing up the path. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to the porch.

Leith slammed into me sideways like a freight train and knocked me against the sedan parked in the driveway. I slumped to the dewy lawn. My hip and shoulder throbbed.

Leith stood over me with both hands on his hips. “Don’t move, girl.”

With a threatening growl, Raze seized Caym by the throat. He lifted him several feet off the ground. “Call off your dogs.
Now
,” he ordered in a low voice.

Spinning around, he flung Caym aside like the demon weighed nothing more than a stuffed toy. Caym struck the wards shielding the house, and his body ricocheted off the barrier. The shimmery lines of the wards spit and crackled. He hit the grass on his hands and knees.

Escape was no longer an option. Getting to my feet, I took a martial arts stance, hoping it might give the demons pause.

It didn’t.

Darkness
, the demonic essence, flowing inside me like a siren’s song, stirred again. My heart galloped, and my skin tingled and flushed. The darker power unwound and spread beneath my ribcage. It rattled my bones, and I clenched my teeth. I’d sworn after the lycan face-off that I’d never tap into that irrepressible magick again. But the
Darkness
rippled through my insides with a terrible hiss. It flowed over my body like molten lava. Pinpricks of black magick slowly rose around me.

Ah, screw it.

Letting the demonic essence wash over me, I charged the demon on my right while Raze fought with Thug Two and Leith. Caym swung at my head, but I ducked and moved behind him. I slammed my heel into his kidneys, and the force of my kick sent him staggering backward with a groan. His body shimmered, and then he just blinked out of existence.

Okay. Way strange.

Raze grabbed Leith by the scruff of the neck and rammed his head into the hood of the sedan. Thug Two yanked Raze off his demon buddy and punched the immortal in the ribs.

Leith rushed around a fighting Raze and Thug Two, and ran straight at me. As soon as he got close enough, I smashed a hard left into his jaw, sending him reeling backward. I grinned, shaking out my hand.

Oh, yeah, that felt good.

Leith stepped closer, ready to strike. I snapped a kick at the demon, catching him right in the gut. He grunted and punched me square on the chin, whipping my head back. White spots obscured my vision. I pressed my fingers hard against my face, breathing through my mouth. My knees buckled.

Leith snarled. “You’re way out of your league, young witch. I’ll kill you before you can even take another breath.”

“Oh, goodie. The witty banter portion of the fight.” I rolled my eyes. “Demons do like to ramble.”

I lashed out with both fists, each of them connecting with demon flesh. Agony flowed along my knuckles, but I didn’t stop my assault. He doubled-over for a moment, then a swirl of black magick encased his body and his arm sizzled with demonic power. He used the force to backhand me. Hard. My head snapped back, my cheeks stinging from the unexpected blow.

“Feel my power. Feel my rage. To us you are nothing but a weak plaything.” Leith smirked. “A soon to be dead thing.”

I lifted my chin, meeting his heated gaze straight on. “Oh, easy on the rhyming. That should be left to professionals—like
me
.”

The demon charged forward, his fists pummeling into my body with cold precision. When he went to strike again, I quickly grabbed Leith by the shoulders, yanking the demon downward, and his chin connected with my lifted knee. Leith lurched back a step, spitting blood and teeth.

Before he could fully recover, I elbowed him in the nose. A burst of
Darkness
zipped over my skin and centered in my fist, which I drove into his solar plexus. His legs went out from under him, and I swiftly brought up my knee again to catch him in the face. The crunch of cheekbones breaking was like music to my ears. Leith’s face was a bloody mess.

Yeah. This was the stuff.

I glimpsed Raze engaged in his own deadly dance with Thug Two. He caught my eye and winked. Raze was toying almost playfully with the demon, like a cat with a laser pointer, by allowing him to get in a hit or two, and then he’d let go with a lightning-swift series of vicious kicks and punches.

Leith stood up slowly. Like I’d seen Esael do once, he threw his head back, his mouth gaping in a silent howl. A pulsating stream of smoke vomited from his parted lips. His opaque bile created an electromagnetic vibration, which left a sulfurous residue in the air. The smoky entity formed a thick black serpent.

Holy mother of crap.

Raze was on his own. This was my cue to get the hell outta there.

The enormous snake-like creature floated above us. Raising its huge head, the phantom demon-snake moved closer to Raze. Its ocher eyes blazed with hunger as it flashed sharp fangs. It struck at Raze, who ducked and dodged the creature’s wide mouth.

“Get inside!” Raze yelled.

Don’t have to tell me something twice.

I darted past Leith and sprinted up the path. I didn’t bother looking back. With one frantic blast of adrenaline, I dove onto the porch and through the protection of the mystical wards. My shoulder crashed into the closed front door. I lay on the cold cement, breathing hard, with the doormat poking my cheek.

Thank. You. God.

I gripped the porch railing, its paint flaking under my fingers, and pulled myself up. The two demons hit the wards to go after me, but bounced off the magickal blue lines like wrestlers off the ropes. The barrier surrounding the house trembled.

Raze produced a gleaming sword out of thin air and slashed the smoky-snake-demon in half. It dissolved into mist. The two demons backed away from Raze. The heavy fog dissipated.

Leith’s cold, reptilian gaze locked on me. “Until we meet again, Thirteenth Daughter.”

The demons rushed around the side of the house in a blast of shadow and fog. Probably searching for a weakness in the barrier.

“You okay?” Raze asked, and I nodded. He saluted me, and his massive wings beat softly, lifting him off the ground and carrying him into the wintry night.

I leaned on the front door and searched the night sky for Raze. Only clusters of stars sparkled overhead, oblivious to my near-death experience under their watch.

At least I was safe. For now.