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We stepped out from the side of a building and I scanned the dark parking lot, focusing on the police tape cordoning off the area. The knife attached to my belt gave off a low hum and I traded a glance with Ben.
“They’re still here,” I said.
“What better way to take control. No one questions a cop,” he said and I huffed.
“Think they know I’m alive?”
“They know,” Levi said and glanced over his shoulder at me.
I stared at the taped outlines on the ground and sighed, wondering if one of them was me, or not. I wasn’t sure how this death thing worked, even though I seemed solid enough, I could be a ghost.
“It looks like your dad took one down before he bit it,” Ben said pointing to the figures.
The closer we moved toward the building’s entryway, the more my knife vibrated. “Do they know we’re out here?” I asked, craning my neck to see Ben behind me. He shrugged and Leviathan stopped. The fur on his neck rose in response to a danger I still couldn’t see, and then a low growl emanated from his throat and I knew it was time to gear up for a fight.
I needed to make sure no living being was hurt in this pending altercation, so I put my hand on the building, sensing life inside. Closing my eyes, I concentrated, willing the human occupants to doze off until the morning like they had tumbled into the Wizard of Oz’s poison poppy field. The command rolled off my lips and spread over the building, like a gentle blanket of snow.
If the demons didn’t know we were here before, they surely knew now. Their evilness seeped through the bricks like black death, and I yanked my hand away. The creak of the front door snapped my eyes open and I stared at three demons stepping out onto the sidewalk.
A hundred paces separated us and I unclasped the knife, grasping it and willing it to become the same sword I used to set Leviathan free. The blade glistened in the moonlight and I squared myself for battle.
Leviathan’s growl deepened and fragments of memories assaulted me. The demons had beaten him before. He was too vulnerable in the form of a normal German Shepherd and I didn’t want to see his blood shed again. A quick glance toward the road told me the palm tree cover along with the darkness of night provided ample coverage, and I said, “Levi, I think you should show them what you’re really made of.”
He glanced back at me and I gave a nod, hoping my eyes conveyed enough to get through to him. My underlying meaning registered but instead of an instantaneous change, he employed some theatrics. His dog form grew until it reached natural height. Hell, that would have been terrifying in and of itself, but when he blurred and transformed into his natural form—it was an awesome display tipping the fear factor.
The demon’s eyes widened and it would have been funny in any other situation, but this was much more serious than a cheap laugh allowed. We held tight and the demons reached for their firearms.
Three? I thought there had been at least a half dozen before. Maybe more, but before I could ask, Leviathan struck. He attacked faster than an angry rattler. The poor bastard didn’t even get his weapon out of the holster before Leviathan’s teeth cut him in half.
The other two demons blanched white, staring at the sudden carnage of their cohort. I couldn’t help the smile that surfaced. The one Leviathan killed had been the one who ripped my chest to shreds with a shot gun. I moved my gaze to the other two and my smile faded. Guns were now pointed in our direction, and the echo of the powder charge filled the air.
I didn’t react fast enough and a bullet tore through my shoulder. Pain rippled from the point of contact and I roared my dissatisfaction, sending a fireball in the culprit’s direction. Leviathan’s roar matched mine and a second demon was shredded in his razor sharp teeth.
The last demon rolled on the ground, screaming as the flames licked his skin. Ben doused him with a dump of water and he moaned on the grass.
“Don’t,” I said when Leviathan went for him. He glared at me but didn’t finish the job. Instead, he covered the poor bastard with his talon, holding him to the ground. We needed information and I crossed the distance and leaned down, looking squarely into the demon’s eyes.
“Where are the rest?” I demanded and he tried spitting, but it quickly transitioned into a shriek as Leviathan’s nail pierced his belly. “Where?” I repeated.
Leviathan’s talon sank farther into the demon’s flesh.
“They went to escort the legions of hell through doorway,” he said and I glanced at Leviathan.
If they succeed, the angels weren’t going to give us any time to resolve this. I gave a nod and turned away as Leviathan finished him off. Danny stared at me and I glanced at the arm of my shirt, not expecting the blood soaked fabric. The dull ache in my shoulder served as a reminder that I had been shot and I returned my gaze to Danny’s.
“This was too easy,” I said and both Ben and Danny gave a nod of acknowledgement, their gazes traveling to Leviathan, like his presence explained it.
“It was entirely too easy,” a deep baritone came from behind us and we spun, meeting Lazarus’s blatant stare. “And what the hell is this?” He held up a smartphone and pointed at the scrolling list of names and locations.
“Everyone should have one.” Julia jumped on the technology train and was upgrading the reaper world. I felt a surge of pride and offered a smile. “It’s Fate’s new communication method,” I said and turned back to Leviathan. “Levi, you need to show us where that portal is.”
Thunder rumbled and I turned toward the East, expecting to see storm clouds, instead I saw Julia crossing the parking lot. Her outfit sparked a ripple of shock. The girl was wearing chain mail and an armor breastplate and she carried a broadsword. She looked hotter than hell and I had to remember where we were. I also needed to remind myself that this was the twenty-first century and not the middle ages.
“Levi, dog form please,” I said and then stepped toward Julia, meeting her halfway across the parking lot. “What are you doing?” I asked, but her eyes were locked on my bloodied sleeve.
“Where’s Noah,” I finally asked when she didn’t answer me. My question drew her gaze away from the oozing blood.
“He’s driving. I told him to take his time because this area was going to be a hot spot for a while,” she said, sliding her sword in the case attached to her waist. She reached for my injured shoulder and I pulled away before she touched me.
“You shouldn’t be here,” I said and my gaze drifted over her again. “And why are you dressed like you stepped out of the middle ages?”
“What else would I wear to a battle?” she asked like it was a perfectly reasonable question.
“Kevlar,” I said. “And you’re not going into battle.”
Her lips thinned and the muscles in her jaw jumped. “You’ve already been shot,” she said and crossed her arms. “You need me.”
I let out a laugh because she was right. I did need her, just not standing next to me in battle. I needed to know she was safe so I didn’t do anything stupid.
Her gaze narrowed and she reached out, grabbing the front of my shirt and pulled me close. “They are coming. You need as many of us on your side as you can get. If you had the legion of reapers at your disposal, you might be okay, but some of them are doing what they’re supposed to do.”
I was still back on her first sentence. “Who is coming?”
“The demons are now flooding through the gate and I was told the angels have entered Purgatory,” she said.
I stared at her and a chill traversed my back. “Which means it’s only a matter of time before they break through,” I said and she nodded. Mount Dora wasn’t prepared for this type of carnage and neither was I.
“Get your aunt and uncle out of here along with Noah’s family.” I issued the order like she could follow it.
“And how am I supposed to do that?”
“I don’t know. Call them and tell them we broke down and need them to come get us. Have Noah do the same.”
“And where exactly should I tell them we are?”
“Washington D.C. That’ll keep them on the road for a while.”
“I’ll call, but then I’m coming with you, understand?” she said, punching numbers into the phone. I didn’t have a chance to respond before she turned away.
Noah was her first call and I turned back to the small crew waiting on us. I focused on Lazarus. “Go round up every reaper that you can. We can let the souls collect in Purgatory while we fight this battle. It’s looking like the demons are flooding into this realm and the angels aren’t far behind.”
Lazarus disappeared with a pop. Leviathan licked his chops and wagged his tail.
Ben and Danny glanced over my shoulder at Julia and then Ben raised his eyebrow in my direction.
“I don’t know, dude. She’s insisting on fighting with us.”
Danny grinned and turned away.
“She’s pretty good with a bow staff,” I said in her defense. Come to think of it, she was pretty sharp with the sai in our karate classes as well. She had bested me once or twice and I glanced over my shoulder. She met my stare with her own and while I couldn’t hear the words, her tone was somewhere between apologetic and urgent. When she ended the call, I saw her sigh before she headed in my direction.
“They aren’t very happy with us,” she said as she stepped next to me.
“I’m not sure they could handle the truth.”
She nodded and glanced at my shoulder. “Are you going to do something about that?” She pointed.
“We don’t have time,” I said and turned to Leviathan. “Lead the way, boy.”
Leviathan turned in the direction of the high school and trotted off. We followed and I steeled my nerves, mentally preparing for a war.