Hell's Love

Chapter 14

"When we get in there, we have to work as fast as we can," Dominic told Declan on the drive over to Ava's house. "We don't want to give Zorohm time to escape or grow stronger."
Declan nodded. "He won't."

"The symbol is the most important part. We can't forget it."

"We got this," Declan said. "Zorohm won't win."
Dominic turned to Declan and raised his eyebrows. "You seem so sure of this."
"Ava's life is at stake. I'll do anything to save her."
"Okay. Let's do this." Dominic said as they pulled into Ava's driveway. Both boys got out of the truck and walked to the door. The house almost seemed empty. There wasn't a sound that came out of it. Dominic grabbed the knob as Declan readied the book. They walked into the house. 

I stood in my room and suddenly heard the door open. My stomach dropped as I heard footsteps downstairs. 
"I wonder who that could be," Zorohm said with a grin. The footsteps moved to the stairs and fear rose in my chest. 

Go away. I begged the people coming up the stairs. The door slowly opened and Dominic and Declan walked in. Declan was holding a little brown book with a determined look on his face. Dominic pulled out his cross from his shirt, while Declan followed his direction. They approached me and Zorohm chuckled. 
"Do you think a book and a couple of crosses are going to stop me?" He asked as he pushed us towards them. 
"Maybe not, but we have other means to stop you," Dominic replied and Declan lunged forward. He wrapped his arms around me to hold us still. Dominic began reciting something I didn't understand, but Zorohm did. He roared and threw Declan against the door. 
"Stupid children!" Zorohm shouted. "You can't beat me, especially when a trained priest couldn't"

"Watch us," Dominic replied and threw himself on top of me. He pinned me to the ground, while Zorohm lashed out from underneath. He grabbed a piece of shattered glass from a broken picture frame and sliced Dominic's chin. Dominic's face remained set as he continued reciting the foreign words again. Declan was at his side with a vial of holy water in hand. He poured it on me and Zorohm screeched. 
"You will fail!" He snapped and sent the boys flying into the mirror on my wall. Glass shattered as Zorohm sprinted for the door.
"Ava!" Declan called. He rushed after me and pushed my back against the wall. He held a necklace as Zorohm shrank back. My eyes opened to see a heart necklace with a purple gem in the center. "Do remember this?"
Of course, I do. I thought. It was the necklace he gave me for my 16th birthday. My parents didn't have much planned for the day because of their work, so Declan took me to an amusement park. Just like when we were kids. We went on most of the rides, including the roller coasters, the Ferris wheel, and the octopus. At the end of the night, we drove to his house and I spent the night. As we walked into his kitchen, there was a cake on the table and a little black box. Declan's voice pulled me from the memory. 
"You said that was the best birthday you ever had, even though your parents forgot and weren't home most of that day," Declan said. He placed it in his pocket and turned back to me. "Do you remember when we first met in 3rd grade. A bunch of boys in our grade told you couldn't climb the rock wall in gym class because you were too small. You challenged one of the boys to a race and strapped on a harness. After you two made it halfway, you were terrified of falling, but you kept going. The boy finally gave up after you were most of the way up and you hurried to the top to ring the bell. You seemed more excited about ringing the bell than beating the boy. That's when I knew I wanted to know you." 
"Your words are useless," Zorohm replied, but I felt his hold on me loosen. Before Declan could completely reach me, Zorohm shoved him off and sprinted out of the room. When we were in the hall, I pushed against Zorohm's hold as if it was a wall. As we reached the stairs, we were both fighting to take control. Finally, I shoved the invisible wall back and my body jolted. I fell forwards as my legs collapsed from under me. Suddenly, the wall snapped back and I lost control again.