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

36: ASH

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

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

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

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

Trevor 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."

Trevor 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 Trevor 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.

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

Figures emerged from the shadows—demons, their eyes glowing yellow, scaly skin that seemed almost stone-like but rippled with a sickly green sheen whenever it caught the light. Its eyes were narrow slits of molten gold, radiating a predatory intelligence that saw straight into its prey's fears.

Sharp, bony ridges ran from the top of its head, down its spine, and along its powerful, clawed tail, which it dragged behind, leaving shallow grooves in the ground. Its mouth twisted into a lipless grin, filled with jagged, needle-like teeth designed to tear through flesh.

Each breath it exhaled was a toxic mist, smelling faintly of sulfur and decay. Its hands and feet ended in talon-like claws that could slice through metal, and its entire form exuded a chilling aura of malice, as if it had been born from nightmares themselves.

They moved like predators, circling us, snarling as they closed in. They had mandibles on their faces and sharp teeth.

"Corruptor Demons," Trevor 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. 

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

Trevor 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 Trevor, confused. "What is it talking about?"

"Shut up," Trevor 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 Trevor 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 Trevor and the demon. "What is it talking about, Trevor?"

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."