When Angels Fall

Chapter 26

My eyes widen slightly at the sight. The demon would have looked human to me, a week ago. But now I can see the odd contours of bones under the skin, the almost reptilian eyes, and the sly grin that stretches too widely.

"I'm here for Mara," I growl, gripping my guns tightly. The demon acts like it's thinking, pursing it's lips.

"Mara...where do I know that name...oh! You mean that weakling of a human I stole?" It lets loose a cackle, and I have half a notion to shoot it right now. But I can't. Not yet.

"Yes, that's who I mean," I snap. "Bring her here!"

The demon looks at me indignantly. "And what would you give me in return for that nasty, useless human? Because she's obviously worth something to you." I take a deep breath, gritting my teeth.

"You want me, I know you do. Give me Mara, and I'll come with you."

The demon blinks, appearing as though I've surprised it, before looking around the alley. I feel Kuzo's feathers brush over my arm, and I have to restrain myself from looking to see if he's still invisible. If he wasn't, I'm sure the demon would already have vanished.

"So you're making a deal with me?" the demon sneers. "Pathetic. For this?" It snaps his fingers, and Mara appears beside him on the ground. She's bloody, bruised, and her eyes are almost swollen shut. It takes all my willpower not to gran her right now. But I can't stifle my gasp of horror. It piques the demon's interest.

"Ah, so this is who you want?" it asks, smirking. I nod shakily, squaring my shoulders.

"Yes. I'm making a deal, you give her back, and I'll let you do whatever you want to me."

The demon thinks for a moment, then nods with a dramatic sigh.

"Very well. Come and get her."

I remember what the angels said, and I shake my head. "No. I don't trust you not to take both of us. You come to me."

The demon nods sagely. "Smart, even for a Nephilim," it muses, then roughly grabs Mara by the back of the neck. She's barely conscious as it is, and I worry for her. The demon drags her my way, and I take a step back so it has to step out of the portal. It hesitates right on the edge, then steps through, tossing Mara beside me.

"There. You have your human. My turn!" It laughs gleefully, reaching a taloned hand out to me. Before it can touch me, there's a whoosh of air, and Kuzo appears beside, shooting the demon between the eyes with his crossbow.

The demon, though it's obviously dying, lets out a howl that sends chills up my spine, and the portal begins smoking again, emitting light and an awful stench. The rest of the angels appear, and Abel stoops to gently pick up Mara.

"Take her to the infirmary," Iathoth commands him, spreading his wings and taking flight a few feet off the ground. Abel nods once, and vanishes again. There's a rumble from the portal, like an earthquake, followed by distant screeching.

"What's going on?" I ask Kuzo fearfully, grabbing his arm. He pulls me backwards, away from the portal.

"Demons," he says, his eyes glowing brightly in defense. "More are coming. I'm getting you out of here."

Before he can zap me back to the Nexis, I yank my hand away. "No! This is my fight, too!" Kuzo gives me a stunned look, but it doesn't last long as demons begin pouring out of the portal.

These look nothing like the one Kuzo just killed. They're scrawny, thin, and look more like skeletons with loose skin and giant, gaping mouths, eyes glowing red. I can already tell I'll have nightmares about them for weeks. I hear Iathoth yell a battle cry, and the angels begin fighting.

I draw my guns from the holsters at my waist and start firing at the demons. The kick of the guns in my hands is familiar, though I've never fired a gun before, and I find I have perfect aim, nailing each of the bastards right between the eyes. But they keep coming in seemingly endless waves.

"The portal isn't closing!" Maxmillian calls in a sing-song voice as he twirls his staff, slicing a crowd of demons in half.

"Yeah, we noticed!" Zöe yells, swooping overhead. I glance at Kuzo, finally feeling the terror. His eyes are blazing, almost hiding his face with the light as he shoulders his crossbow.

"What do we do?" I ask him, staying at his side as I fire. Some of the demons have weapons, long, jagged swords of bone and iron. I didn't notice until now that they're all focused on getting to me.

"We have to close the portal!" Kuzo yells back, using his wings to protect himself from a demon that lunges at him. "The incantation! Repeat it backwards!"

Despite being confused, I put my guns away and hastily pull the slip of paper from my pocket. Kuzo is focused on keeping the demons away from me, so I turn my attention to the words on the paper as I start to read.

Once I finish the chant, the portal grinds loudly. But it won't close, and I don't know why. I definitely read it wrong, then, didn't I? I'm about to ask Kuzo, who is five or so feet in front of me, when I feel something being driven through me, from my back and through my chest.

I gasp as I look down, seeing three inches of shining steel protruding from my chest, coated in my blood. My eyes widen, and I feel my knees buckling just as Kuzo turns to me.

I see the shock on his face, and he dives for me, catching me before I can hit the ground and holding me to his chest. And there are tears streaming down his face. I didn't think I'd ever see him crying, but he is.

"K-Kuzo," I stammer, trying to speak. He shakes his head, pressing a finger to my lips.

"No, no, it's okay. Don't speak," he says gently. I can barely breathe, the pain is so intense. The battle rages on around us, but Kuzo doesn't notice.

"Kuzo," I say again, trying to move. My limbs won't cooperate, and my vision is getting hazy. "I love you..."

"I love you so much, princess," Kuzo murmurs, kissing me softly. I can't return it, my body suddenly cold, and my eyes slowly drift shut into blackness.