Granny Thayer, Demon Slayer || Collab with SophieKestrel

Chapter 10: Complicated Curses and Aural Assaults

"Sensei," Violet called down to the over-muscled man hanging at the bottom of their chain. "Do you have any advice?"

"Yep," LB yelled back up. "Don't drop me!"

The demons hovered closer, and Saya's hair swirled around Violet's legs, caught in a tornado of wing-induced wind.

"Everyone, stay calm," said Saya. "If there is anything I have learned from stories, it's that a beautiful girl singing always fixes everything."

Kingsley and Violet both squawked out a protest. "No, don't—"

But Saya had already begun.

Violet cringed. Having fire alarms strapped to both ears while simultaneously wielding a jackhammer would have been preferable to her current circumstance. At least fire alarms didn't wail "I'M A BARBIE GIRL!" off-tempo, off-key, and off-pitch.

But Violet's aural anguish was nothing compared to the demons'. The moment Saya opened her mouth, they began to scream. Their giant ears shriveled, their wings snapped shut, and they plummeted out of the sky.

"Never mind," Violet shouted against the din. "Keep singing!"

As Saya belted "I'M A BLONDE BIMBO GIRL IN A FANTASY WORLD," Violet tightened her grip over the tree trunk, sucked in a breath, and hauled herself onto the cliff. And with each "COME ON BARBIE, LET'S GO PARTY!" Violet dragged another member of their team up over the ledge.

As they lay panting on the cliff ledge, one of the demons—a small, sly creature with tinier ears than its colleagues—crept forward. Before Violet could cry warning, the demon hurled a fistful of dust in Saya's face, and she collapsed in a fit of coughing.

The remaining demons took advantage of Saya's lapse in singing to encircle the group.

If the first wave of demons had been terrifying, it was nothing compared to the expressions on the demons' faces now. The loss of their brethren to Saya's assault seemed to have sparked a powerful rage. Violet swallowed as she saw the biggest demon glower at her, eyes flashing with malevolence.

Kingsley pointed to the glimmer of obsidian between the massive demon's claws. "Violet, your sword!"

She flicked her wrist. "Forget it. That silly toothpick was just getting in my way."

Then she charged.

Violet was surprised to find fighting demons was not really anything new to her. She plowed through the herd like cultivating crops; she dodged claws like evading baby vomit; she smashed together demons' heads like whacking chalk erasers.

With some help from her unearned powers and some from her well-earned life skills, Violet slayed demons left and right. Sparks from banished demons enveloped her in a glittery cloud as she kicked, dodged, and jabbed. But the demons kept coming, and even her supernaturally-powered limbs begged for respite. And the moment her movements slowed, a dozen demons swarmed past her.

Toward Kingsley.

Violet spun, heart in her throat. Kingsley seemed unaware of the demons' approach—he was too busy shooing a growing group of spectators to safety. Despite how empty the town had felt earlier, a sizable crowd had gathered, jaws agape. Even a few zombified turnips had turned up for the show.

Violet hurtled toward the group... but she was too slow—the demon leader was advancing on Kingsley, wrath in its eyes—she was too far away—she wouldn't make it in time—

"KINGSLEY!" she screamed.

Kingsley turned, just as the massive demon reached for his shoulder. The demon's claw swiped a jagged gash across Kingsley's cheek, sending rivulets of blood spattering down the prince's tailored coat.