Curse Of The Aswangs (The Vasquez Brothers #1)[COMPLETED]

36: ARIES

 The bike rumbled beneath us, and I was about to tell Minho to head back when something caught my eye—flickering lights in the distance, far off in the Salihid Mountains.

"Hold on," I muttered, tapping Minho's shoulder.

He cut the engine, glancing over at me. "What is it?"

I pointed toward the faint glow. "Look. Over there."

Minho squinted into the darkness. His eyes narrowed as he focused on the distant lights, which flickered unnaturally in the valley below. The air around them seemed to warp, twisting in on itself like a vortex.

"That's not normal," he muttered.

"No, it's not," I agreed, my stomach twisting. "It's a portal. To hell."

Minho cursed under his breath. "They've started the ritual. We need to move. Now."

I nodded, dread settling in my gut. This wasn't just another step in the search for the Devil's Scroll—someone had already begun the final phase. If we didn't get back to the Vasquez house and warn Jasper and Zade, it was over.

But just as Minho revved the engine, something stirred in the darkness. Shadows shifted, and a growling sound rumbled from the edge of the overlook. My instincts kicked in, my hand going for the pistol at my waist.

"Minho, we're not alone," I muttered, stepping off the bike.

Figures emerged from the shadows—demons, their eyes glowing red, their forms twisted and grotesque. They moved like predators, circling us, snarling as they closed in. They had mandibles on their faces and sharp teeth.

"Ravener Demons," Minho growled, drawing his blade.

There were four of them, but something felt off about these demons—like they weren't just here by chance. They had been waiting for us.

One of them, larger than the others, stepped forward. Its eyes gleamed with a sickening intelligence, its jagged teeth curling into a grin.

"Minho," it rasped, its voice like nails on a chalkboard. "We know why you're really here."

Minho stiffened beside me, his grip tightening on his weapon. "Ignore it, Ash. It's trying to get inside our heads."

The demon chuckled, a deep, guttural sound. "Is that what you've been telling your friend here? That it's all for the greater good?"

I glanced at Minho, confused. "What is it talking about?"

"Shut up," Minho growled, his eyes locked on the demon. "You don't know anything."

But the demon ignored him, turning its glowing eyes to me. "Do you really think Minho is helping you out of the goodness of his heart, Ash? He's here for the scroll. For his own benefit."

My blood ran cold, and I took a step back, my gaze flicking between Minho and the demon. "What is it talking about, Minho?"

The demon hissed, its voice dripping with malice. My head felt funny. Not pain or dizziness but their voices were commanding enough. "He's killed hundreds of humans, just to get closer to the scroll. He's been using you from the start."

I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. I looked at Minho, searching his face for any sign that it wasn't true. But the demon's words slithered into my mind, and I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something he hadn't told me.

"Minho," I said, my voice shaking, "is that true?"

His eyes widened, panic flickering across his face. "Ash, listen to me. It's lying. It's a Ravener demon, for God's sake! They are designed to manipulate your emotions to go violent!"

The voice again. Something about the scroll