Page 48 of The Witch Queen of Halloween (Immortals After Dark 20)

Hescowled at the growing pile of barbs atop the gravel. “Howlong before those hit me?”

“Inless than twenty minutes, you won’t be able to move.”

Mostpeople would have panicked; he looked resolved. “ThenI’vegot that long to get you out of here.You’regoing to be . . . the final girl . . . if it kills me.”Hereclaimed his sword.

“Bydefinition that means youdoget killed.”

“Youknow . . . whatImean.”

Hewas about to lose the use of his body, and she couldn’t protect him.Shehad no pouches.Noabilities.Noally to save the day.

Anothermace struck, missing them by inches. “Rök, theyaresteering us.”

“Towhere?”

Ahorse’s shriek sounded from the direction of those doors.

Eyeslooking black from the toxin,Röksaid, “Ifthey want us to go to there . ?. . then we head back.Donot go through those doors!”

Shenodded, and they reversed course.

Asnarling mass of foes blocked their way.Thekiller clown and the healed camp slasher had materialized.Thefiend with the razor gloves andJackO’Lanterntoo.Aliensand gremlins emerged from the hedge walls.Anneliseand the other dolls balanced atop thorny limbs.

“We’vegotta break through them.”Rökswiped his eyes. “Stayright behind me.”

“Youcan’t fight them all!”

Hechucked her under the chin. “WhenIsaidI’dtake on hell for you . . .Imeant it.”Hefaced the visitors with his horns sharpened and fangs bared.Raisinghis sword, he roared until the hedges trembled.

Hecouldn’t trace; he had no smoke.Andstill he charged. . . .

Swordand weapons clashed.Parriesand blocks.Musclesslashed, skin flayed.

Hewould slice one foe with his sword while mauling another with his claws.Fireand ice.

Poppyheld her breath as he fought, kept digging into her satchel from habit.Abystander at her own battle, she could do nothing but silently urge him on and flinch with each hit he sustained.

He’d“killed” most of them at least once.Thoughhe’d dispatched five aliens, seven regrouped.Andthe toxin seemed to prevent him from accessing his demonic self.Whichmeant the battle was a losing one.

Thencame the coup de grâce, the strike that ended all hope of victory: one wave of a blank-eyed doll’s arm.

Poppy’sandRök’sbodies left the ground once more.

FIFTEEN

Annelise’stelekinesis launched them down the maze to crash through the double doors.Theytumbled across a hard-wood floor, his loose sword clanging on the wood.

Poppyscrambled to her feet. “Rök!”Sherushed toward his motionless form some distance away, struggling to get her bearings.

Gaschandeliers cast a wavering light over an enormous ballroom.Toweringwindows framed lightning from the storm outside.Betweenthem, grim-faced portraits gazed down at the sheet-draped furniture and statues that lined the perimeter of the room.

“Poppy,”Rökmuttered. “Can’tbloody move.”

“I’mcoming!”Beforeshe could reach him, visitors appeared and blocked her way.Shedarted to her right; more appeared.Toher left, more visitors.

Withinmoments, they’d filled the ballroom.Eventhe earliest manifestations of her curse had shown: vampires, werewolves, and more.

Asthey closed in on her,PoppykeptRökin sight.Theslasher leaned down to grip one of his arms, the killer clown grabbing his other.Whenthey draggedRök’slimp body upright, his head lolled.

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