Page 24 of Place of Torment

“She’s going to bring the house down.” Brooklyn hissed and darted toward her friend.

I was right behind her.

16

Brooklyn

Darkness offered good protection, we were not battling supernaturals but that was the hand dealt to us and we made the most of it. The picture of Dominic ripping the Guardian in half played over and over in the back of my mind as I raced to reach the mansion so that I could start climbing the walls. We fell for the oldest trick and rushed outside where they kept us busy and only the two demons were left to fight the dozens of Guardians who managed to climb on the roof.

“I thought we had wards around the property for this reason.” I made the comment to no one in particular but Dominic who shifted back to his two-legged form answered anyway.

“We did. We do?” sounding uncertain he reached a hand and snaked it around my waist so he could pull me to the side, and I don’t clip the tree which popped up from seemingly out of nowhere in front of me. “Well, we should.”

“Thank you.”

“This is so adorable.” Alice chirped from next to us when we reached the side of the house and squeezed my upper arm with excitement. My face heated up from her comment and I pretended I didn’t hear her.

“I think Alice should…” I started but a thin finger stabbed me in the ribs and made me jerk away from my friend.

“If you say Alice should stay hidden in the house, I’m going to lose my shit, Brooklyn.” She poked me again with the same finger, so I frowned at her.

“That hurts.” I told her through clenched teeth. That finger of hers was like a thin sword stabbing me between the ribs. She successfully managed to shove it between my ribs for more impact.

“You’ll hurt more if you try to leave me behind.” She held that forefinger between us threateningly. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed Brooklyn, but every time you leave me somewhere, you end up regretting it because I have a talent for getting into trouble. Tilting her head she smiled innocently, which I didn’t buy at all. “Trouble finds me, actually, not the other way around. I shouldn’t be left unsupervised.”

“She’s not wrong.” Dominic piped in although no one asked for his input.

“Umm, hey guys,” Alice shuffled closer to me and tugged Dominic by his t-shirt to crowd us. “I didn’t want to say anything until later but look what I can do now.” She lifted her cupped hand between us, and a red glow appeared low at first but was getting brighter with every breath.

Glancing from me to Dominic with wide eyes, she slowly closed her fist extinguishing the magic.

My heart jumped hard enough to punch me in the throat.

“Don’t do that.” I hissed at her, and snatched her hand tucking it into my belly. “What is the matter with you? Do you want to die? Or worse to be taken?” my neck hurt from twisting it this way and that to check if anyone had a chance to see us.

“You all have superpowers, Brooklyn.” Getting in my face she sneaked her free hand between us to push her glasses up. “Why is it such a big deal that I can have some too? Maybe it’s contagious and I caught it from you guys. Like a virus.”

“Did you show anyone else?” ignoring the ridiculous blubber, I pushed her at Dominic. “You stay with her while I go help the demons. It sounds like Samir and Rowen are already there.”

Sounds of shouts and screams echoed in the night from the roof with an occasional body, or a body part raining around us as if falling from the sky. When I saw Dominic’s jaw clinch and a muscle started jumping on one side, I knew he wouldn’t agree easily to my plan. I should’ve known he would be easier to deal with than Alice. Good thing the damn wolf shifter was left in the house.

“Who should answer first?” Alice twisted her mouth like she tasted something sour. “What? It’s rude to talk over people.”

“It has never stopped you before.” I pointed out.

“Yeah, but that’s you. I like irritating you.” She grinned humorously at me. More like she bared her teeth ferally. “It makes you show emotions instead of keeping everything inside. Like right now. Look at that glaring face.” She was talking to Dominic with that comment who was trying his best not to laugh.

I wanted to punch them both.

“We need to talk so I can explain everything to you later, Alice. Please, I beg of you, don’t show this to anyone else until we do.” Holding her owlish gaze, I beseeched her with everything in me. “What you showed us right now is demon magic.”

“What?” she squeaked and jumped away from both of us, her hands stretched in front of her as if to ward us off. “Dear Lord in Heaven, please forgive my sins and deliver me from evil. I promise I will pray every day and have faith.”

“You are not religious, Human.” Dominic had enough of her antics it seemed, so he glowered at her all annoyed.

“Oh yeah, well I wasn’t aware demons existed either, and do you know what that means?” widening her eyes, she wiggled her head strangely at him. “If demons are real, angels are real, and guess what? The One who made them is real too, probably all pissed off at me for saying He didn’t exist.”

“Alice,” I started, but she shoved a finger in my face to shut me up. Dominic’s eyebrows hit his hairline at the audacity, but I was not impressed.

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