Hellbound Hearts

26. Into the Darkness

In an instant, everything veers off plan. Seized by some moment of realization, the demoness takes off running, forcing Eleonora and Kaja to chase her.

This leaves Arthur and me facing two strong demons. Just as doubt flashes through my mind, the suited demon's friend lunges forward, his relentless attack giving Arthur no time to think.

He strikes mercilessly. I don't want to leave Arthur alone, but I can't lose sight of our main enemy, whose refusal to join the fight only raises my suspicion.

"Looks like it's just the two of us now," he says, smiling as he locks eyes with me.

Alone, I stand no chance against him, but there's no other choice. I charge forward, hoping for backup when I need it most. The demon intercepts my attack, blocking my blow with a swift parry. He counters, relentless and precise, trying to trap me in a corner, but I hold my ground, and he senses it.

Tension thickens as the fight intensifies. Amid the chaos, I miss a crucial opening, and his strike sends me hurtling into the wall. Pain flares in my right shoulder, but I grit my teeth and roll it out. It's bruised, not broken, so I charge again.

Faking left, I manage to land a kick on his knees, sending him stumbling. Seizing the moment, I grip his hair and slam his face into my knee. He growls, collapsing to the ground.

I scan the room. Eleonora and Kaja are nowhere in sight, and Arthur is still locked in a deadly struggle with the other demon. The scaly demon cracks Arthur's lip. Arthur snarls and retaliates with renewed fury.

Seeing he's holding his own, I refocus on my target. I lean toward the kneeling blond, but he suddenly grabs my neck in an iron grip. My breath stutters.

After a desperate struggle, I break from his grip, but oxygen deprivation leaves me dizzy, dulling my reflexes. He slams me into a cabinet, and a hot trickle spreads across my forehead as my head throbs. But I don't let him out of my sight.

"We played by your rules. Now we'll play by mine."

The demon extends his hand, and I'm yanked across the hallway along with the cabinet. We crash into the wall, and I gasp, clutching my ribs. The blond demon grins, brushing dust off his fingers. Of course, psychokinesis.

"You good?" Arthur shouts from across the room.

I catch a glimpse of him pinning down the other demon, who thrashes under his grip.

"Finish what you started," I groan, recolecting my strength as I charge the suited man again.

Arthur seems to be holding his own, but my fight is far from simple. I realize that this lunatic isn't fighting for survival—he's doing it for the thrill.

I hope his psychokinesis has limits, but I misjudge his power. After his last attack, he should've paused to recharge, yet I spot a faint blur of energy heading my way. Too late to dodge.

The force slams me into the ceiling, shattering a nearby lamp. I land painfully on the hard ground. I can taste blood in my mouth. Spitting it out, I wince. Fucking hell. I'd bet money I have at least one broken rib.

"Much more fun this way," he laughs, eyes filling with sadistic pleasure.

A chill crawls down my spine as I see his smile stretch too wide, grotesque, as though his skin can't contain it. His lips pull back too far, exposing rows of sharp teeth that gleam in the dim light.

But it's his eyes that freeze me in place. They are cold and lifeless, like the void of space itself—predatory, savoring the pain he's inflicting.

Words are useless now. I don't have the strength to speak, and I know nothing I say will reach him.

"One down. The other escaped, so he's the last one," Arthur's voice cuts through as I feel myself beginning to crumble.

I nod weakly, clinging to that small victory. I try to think of a plan, but my head is spinning. Arthur pulls me to my feet and charges the demon.

Thankfully, it seems his psychokinetic power has drained. Arthur isn't thrown back and engages in a physical fight. But the demon doesn't give up, forcing Arthur to his knees.

A sudden idea hits me, though part of me warns against it. I glance around for shards of broken glass on the floor. As if on cue, Eleonora and Kaja come running toward us. I shake my head urgently; they stop, confused, but there's no time for explanations.

With two of our strongest down, we're more vulnerable than ever. Risking their lives further would be reckless.

I grab a shard and slice my palm open, focusing on the fire within me. Heat surges through my veins, a tingling pressure in my hands that makes my heart race.

Something shifts inside me, and without a second thought, I sprint toward the demon. He doesn't see me until it's too late.

"Arthur, get back!" I shout.

Summoning everything I have, I call on the fire. Blue light flares in my vision, and I direct the attack straight at the blond demon. Caught off guard, he realizes his mistake too late.

My blow is far stronger now. The demon crashes into the wall, pinned by flames that prevent his escape.

A scream of agony fills the air as he thrashes, but I hold the flames steady. With one last burst, I unleash everything I have. As the flames die down, the blond demon falls to his knees, though he doesn't collapse.

He raises his gaze, teeth clenched in rage. The scales on his face smolder and his skin looks badly burned in places. His trembling hands shows the toll my fire took. It didn't kill him, but it left him weakened.

I land a solid punch to his face. He gurgles, but I don't stop, slamming him to the ground. I pin him, pressing my hand to his forehead. Victory is within reach, but he begins laughing, throwing me off balance. When I sense something's wrong, it's already too late.

"Your potential is great, Nathaniel," he whispers with menace. "But your need to protect makes you weak. Still, if you live, I'd enjoy meeting again."

Before I can react, he thrusts a knife deep into my side and pulls it out.

"I'm Leo. And I'm sure you won't forget that name either way."

Everything around me slows as his voice fades into a distant hum. My eyes drift to the wound. A dark crimson stain spreads across my shirt. I press my hand to the injury, but warm blood flows freely, coating my fingers. An involuntary gasp escapes my lips.

Leo shoves me aside. Contact with the floor sends another explosion of pain through my body. My skin burns around the wound, spreading so quickly it feels as though I'm being torn apart.

My vision blurs, the edges of my sight fading into darkness. I hear my colleagues calling my name, their voices frantic as they rush toward me, but the sound feels miles away.

The world slips further, and I welcome it. The pain fades, my breath grows shallow, and then—everything goes black.