The Demon Hunter (37 page)

When Ellie didn’t respond, he laughed, delighted. “Why, the woman has no powers at all? How very sad. But good for me. She’ll be so easy to kill.”

He was taunting her, attempting to destroy her with her own emotions. She would show no weakness. She knew what she had to do. If only she could get closer to him without dying.

From the corner of her eye she noticed Kipps moving, slowly regaining his feet. If she could hold off the demon, keep his attention on her, Kipps might have a fighting chance.

“How can you turn on your own son?” she asked.

He paused, crossing his arms over his chest, those biceps bulging. “Blood and genetics are highly overrated. Now, we can do this the hard way, or the easy way… yadda yadda. Ye get the picture.”

“Why?” Ashley demanded.

The chandelier above flickered, briefly throwing the room into darkness. His powers?

“Why have I made a pact with the dark side? World domination of course. Plus the health benefits are wonderful.” He smiled, a truly charming smile. “Now, my dear, ye can do one of two things, ye can come with me, or I can kill yer wee friends.”

Kipps surged forward, so fast he was but a blur. At the same time that Kipps moved, the demon spun around and slashed his arm wide. Within a moment, it was over. Kipps stumbled back, falling to his knees, his hands at his throat. Brilliant red blood seeped between the vampires pale fingers. His soulful gaze found Ellie.

I’m sorry,
he mouthed, then fell to the side.

“No!” Ellie screamed.

The demon didn’t pause, but knelt and dragged his dagger across Kipps’ pale throat one more time. With a grin, the demon stood. Ellie came to a halt. Dark blood poured from the vampire’s wound. There was no gurgling sound, no thrashing from Kipps, he merely stared at the ceiling awaiting death.

“Kipps?” Ellie burst forward but before she could reach him, the demon wrapped his arm around her waist and slammed her back into his hard chest.

“Watch and learn, my dear.”

She could merely stand there as the skin on Kipps’ body decayed, wrinkling and turning gray. Within moments, his flesh had disappeared, leaving behind white bone that started to disintegrate as quickly as it had appeared. He hadn’t used the sword for a quick death. No, he’d made Kipps suffer with a dagger.

“Oh God,” she thought she heard Miranda whisper.

But Ellie was numb, shocked and numb. Kipps was gone, only a pile of ash remained. His life over. She couldn’t help but feel responsible in some way. The vampire had stayed behind to protect her. Anger surged through the pain. He would not kill another one of her friends, not ever. Ellie reached up, wrapping her fingers around the crystal.

“I wouldn’t do that.” The demon’s cold breath whispered across her face. “You might be able to take on my powers, but I’m borrowing energy from the outside world. Energy that isn’t mine to loan, therefore you, my dear, can’t use it. That means that even if you take my powers, I’m still much, much more powerful than you.”

Despair overcame her anger. It couldn’t be true. Damn it all, there was still so much she didn’t know. Dare she believe him? Did it matter? She had to try.

Ellie slid her gaze toward Camile. The witch was still out cold, her head resting in Miranda’s lap. Miranda, who was staring at her with wide, horrified eyes because she knew… she knew that they were as good as dead. With Camile out, the safety net around the house was breaking. She could feel the wall of energy crumbling. The beasts would invade soon.

“Poor empath,” the demon crooned, drawing his fingers down the side of her face. “Yer friends are either dead or trapped in a basement where they’ll rot for eternity.” The arm around her waist tightened so she felt for sure her ribs would crack. “Come along with me and perhaps I’ll let yer little human friend be…for now.”

Ellie ignored the monster, knowing he wanted her afraid. “Wake Camile any way you can, and get out.”

“Ellie,” Miranda whispered. “We can’t leave you.”

“Do it!” Ellie snapped.

Miranda bit her lower lip, and nodded.

“Ye can try, but my guess is they won’t make it to the gardens before they’re dead.” He pulled Ellie back a few steps. “Ready, my dear? There are so many things I wish to do with ye. My friends are waiting, eager to see the empath and know what she is capable of.”

Ellie gave a quick jerk of her head. The more monsters she could take down, the better. And if she died with them… so be it.

“Good girl.” The demon released his hold, his fingers biting around her upper arm. She glanced back one last time at the spot where Kipps had been. Adrenaline pumped through her body, her heart pounding faster with each step closer to the front door. She curled her fingers, resisting the urge to take him out now.

She knew this was it… the moment of truth. The moment she would either die or turn the tables. He waved his hand and the door burst open, bouncing against the plaster wall outside.

Not quite close enough yet, she had to time it perfectly.

They stepped onto the front stoop. The night air was hot, humid. Sweat beaded on her forehead, but she didn’t move to swipe it away. The entire world seemed to slow down. The sound of cheering from the beasts beyond those bonfires burning brightly along the perimeter of the yard, faded, becoming a murmured rumble.

Hulking beastly shadows lurked just beyond in the darkness…waiting. Hundreds of shadows. The demon jerked her down the steps and across the yard, but she barely felt the movement. Her body was no longer her own. It was as if she floated above. The demon stopped so close to the fire, she could feel the warmth of the flames.

“Tonight,” the demon called out, his voice echoing against the trees and rising up to the watchful heavens. “My friends, we celebrate our victory!”

The monsters surged forward, dark shadows coming closer…closer, so close that even though she wore the necklace, she could feel their energy bouncing off her. Her entire body trembled as she waited for the perfect time.

That much power will kill you,
she heard Devon’s voice of warning.

But Devon wasn’t here and it was a chance she’d have to take.

Without pause, she reached up, wrapping her fingers around the cool necklace. Without thought, without regret, Ellie yanked on the necklace until the chain broke free, letting the crystal slip between her fingers and fall to the grass.

Chapter 21

The surge of energy hit her like a million fists, energy coming from the many beings surrounding her. The pain was immediate. Burning heat rolled through her body, singing her cells.

Ellie knew she screamed, could feel the sound tear from her throat, but couldn’t seem to stop herself. She no longer controlled her own body. No longer heard anything but the surge of her own blood through her veins.

A wave of energy crashed over her, sending Ellie stumbling off balance. The stars in the sky spun round and round as blackness taunted the edges of her vision. She felt her legs give out, knees buckling and she started toward the unforgiving ground, helpless to prevent the impact.

“How could ye be so stupid?” Firm arms jerked her upright. The man holding her came into focus. Broad shoulders… black hair… Cristian?

No, not Cristian. There was no pure energy entering her body, only dark, heavy energy that threatened to crush her, that tore the air from her lungs and made it difficult to breathe. Ellie gasped for breath, looking to the night sky, praying for help. She didn’t want to die, not like this. Her mind was too muddled, pounding with a pain that had her stomach roiling. It was so damn hard to concentrate, but she knew he wasn’t Cristian.

The demon held her.

Reality rushed back on the cry of beasts that surrounded her, the noise coming together in an ear-piercing screech that sent shivers over her body. A nightmare come to life. Her nightmare. Panic taunted, fear producing a bitter taste in her mouth. Ellie cried out, pressing her hands to her ears and falling to her knees. She couldn’t seem to grasp hold of herself. Her entire body trembled, sweat trailing down her form, hot and cold rushing through her at once.

Run. Run. Run,
her mind demanded
.
The urge to flee was overwhelming, but deep in the recesses of her mind, remained the realization that she was supposed to be fighting. Only she could save Devon. She had to get a grip on herself. Must gather the powers and use them for her own, but her brain was thrumming against her skull in a pounding headache that left stars bursting behind her eyelids and made concentration impossible.

Focus, Ellie,
someone said. The words gave her strength. Slowly, she lifted her lashes. There, amongst the dancing beasts with the nightmare faces, stood a man with a long beard and flowing white robe. A pillar of calmness in a world of chaos.

“Michael,” Ellie whispered.

The moment she said his name, the man disappeared.

Dredging what control she had left, she tried to focus on the area around her. Beastly gray masks leered back at her… demons, vampires, werewolves… wrinkled faces, pale faces, red eyes glowing, muzzles snapping closer…closer. Her heart leapt into her throat. Ellie tore her attention from the monsters and studied her surroundings. There must be something… anything…

Fire,
the word whispered through her head
.

Flames danced wickedly around the lawn, jumping and hissing, taunting with their heat. Fire could kill vampires, werewolves, even demons. Fire could kill anything. A tingling awareness of success shot through her body. She clung to that feeling like a lifeline, used it to pull herself from the pits of hell.

Hands gripped her once more, but she ignored their burning touch, ignored their angry words of frustration. They knew they were losing her. Focusing on her remaining strength, she drew the dark energy up through her body, felt it claw its way through her muscles and bones. The monsters seemed to disappear, their cries and roars fading, the only sound left was the pounding of her heart.

Was it her imagination, or did the flames waver, swaying back and forth? She focused harder, even as firm fingers pulled her to her feet, drawing her back.

Surge, surge, surge,
she repeated over and over in her mind.

The flames burst upward, a wall of orange and red heat. She didn’t know whose powers she was using, didn’t care. A woman in front of her released a startled cry. The witch stumbled back, her wide, dark gaze on Ellie. As she fell to the ground, the fire swept toward her, licking at her robes. A grin of satisfaction lifted Ellie’s lips, but she had no time to gloat. If she could only keep a grip on the powers surging, thrumming through her…

“She’s controlling the flames!” someone cried out.

The hands released her and she fell to her knees, but she didn’t relent. Her hair fell in waves around her face, jeans soaked with dew, but she barely noticed. Slowly, she lifted her head and narrowed her eyes, focusing once more. Most of the demons were beyond the flames. If she could control the fire…

The flames burst upward and outward, drawing started cries from the monsters nearby. Sparks of light caught the breeze and swirled through the air like red snowflakes. Pretty really, and the fact that she was responsible made her almost giddy with pride.

“Damn ye!” Cristian’s father cried out, dropping to his knees beside her.

That close, the demon’s energy flared through her body, overtaking the others. Her heart beat slowed, two beats, together. His and hers. He gripped her shoulders and drew her up close. In his gaze, she could see the reflection of the flames around them. His blood surged through her, his soul nestled deep within.

Her concentration lost, the flames around them wavered in and out of focus. Her gut twisted, burning, and she fell away from him, hitting the hard ground as bile raced up her throat. Before she could give into the temptation to vomit all over the front lawn, massive palms gripped her upper arms, pulling her to her feet. Sharp claws bit into her sensitive skin, jerking her left, right, both directions at the same time. Something shifted within, climbing its way to the surface, something dark and murky…her last shred of strength.

“We have to kill her. She’s lost control,” someone cried. “Use the fire!”

Oh God, they were going to burn her alive.

With a growl, she tore free from their grip. The energy shifted, refocusing. As they came at her, she waved her arms through the air, much like the demon had done inside the pub. The beasts swept through the night sky, their bodies twisting and tumbling, their cries covered by the hiss of burning flesh.

The fire had been fed. Appeased, she turned, surveying the garden, looking for Cristian’s father. Ellie felt oddly renewed, determined. She’d managed to block half the beasts with the ring of flames that swept around the front lawn, jumping into the night sky. But there were others, always others. Some were fighting amongst themselves, some fleeing, others coming toward her.

A demon with the face of a bull charged forward, smoke billowing from his wide nostrils. She could see every shift of every brown hair on the animal’s head and neck. She knew he weighed 405 pounds. And she knew he’d cry like a babe when she ripped his head off.

The desire to kill, to tear his bulky arms from his body, was forefront in her mind. Her fingers curled, her nails biting into her palms. How she wanted to see his blood soaking the ground, to breathe in the scent of his decaying body.