Page 27 of Place of Torment

“Hello boys.” I stepped out in the open when I heard their footsteps close enough that I had no doubt I would be able to see them even without my glasses “You looking for me.”

Acting all nonchalant, I folded my hands at the small of my back and cocked a hip as they watched me as if I had lost my mind. In reality, I was doing my best to bring out that red magic in my fingers and hoping they would come a little bit closer so that I can blast them with it . That was my best chance of surviving this encounter.

Another body came flying down from the roof with a loud thud.

Heart racing, I kept flicking my fingers as if the spark somehow magic at their tips. With my other hand, I reached for the potions Rowen gave me, so that I can have that as a back-up if the demon magic didn't make an appearance.

Three Guardians stared me down no doubt thinking I have lost my mind and that they have been punished by being left to deal with a human instead of having an honorable fight with those deemed worthy. Hanging around supernatural beings made me realize that they think we are lesser, but that's not true. They have hundreds of years to perfect their lives. We have 50 years if we are lucky.

Me?

I have 35 the way things have been going.

The Guardian right in front of me smiled wide, and menacing. I could tell when he was ready to attack. Closing my eyes and praying that it would work, I flung my hands out in front of me and screamed from the top of my lungs.

Magic burst from my palms, exploding him into pieces. It spread like a spiderweb from the dead Guardian into the other two, making them burst and popping them like grapes, as well. Blood and body parts rained down on me, like in some horror movie. All I could do was blink and hold my breath until it was over. It lasted but a second, and everything went still.

“Holy shit.” I giggled hysterically.

18

Brooklyn

Thrilled from the opportunity to take all of my frustrations out on the scum in the ranks of the Guardians for the syndicate, I moved like water around them, ripping limbs and throats out as if they were made out of paper.

This

This is what I was born to do.

I was a killer.

The sooner I came to terms with it, the sooner I can accept it and stop fighting my nature.

A scream pierced the night from below, and hearing Alice's voice speared a sharp pain through my chest. I wanted to rush to her to protect her, but there was just so many of them around us that even if I tried, if anyone was going to hurt Alice, I would've been too late to stop it. Taking a page from Alice’s book, I started praying to whoever listens to protect her to keep her safe.

We just got her back this can’t be how we lost her.

Tonight, can’t be the night I will lose a best friend.

The panther plowing through Guardians like they were nothing, craned his head to look at me down the length of his body. Those green eyes were asking me if I wanted to go help my friend. I had no doubt he would do everything in his power to make the way for me. I shook my head no, surprising not just Dominic, but myself as well. Alice had potions the witch had made for her, and she had the demon magic at her disposal. I had to trust that she could take care of herself.

‘And what if she can’t?’ A tiny voice whispered in the back of my mind, but I pushed it away.

A sword flew in my direction, swiping the air right above my head as I ducked, turned and twisted to avoid being cleaved in half. The Guardians were getting more inventive. They were doing combinations of weapons and pure strength, throwing their bodies at us. They were losing regardless of the fact that their numbers were much greater than ours. From the side of my eye. I can see the two demons fighting back-to-back, their style almost like modern dancing, where they lifted and helped each other out turning the bloodbath around them into a work of art. Both Echo and Chester had big smiles on their faces, although, blood was dripping from multiple wounds they had acquired in the last hour or so that we've been fighting.

It took me a second to realize what was happening when I found Rowan standing to the side, bent over with his hands on his knees, panting, and looking around him while Guardians were throwing themselves at the invisible barrier he erected around himself.

“Why didn't he tell us he can do those bubbles?” I asked Samir, jerking my head in the direction of the witch. “I could use one of those protections.”

“The witch is full of surprises.” The ancient Atua said just as he grabbed a head of a Guardian with both hands, twisting and pulling until he separated it from the body. He glanced at it in disgust and tossed it away from him.

“Did you hear the scream?” My panted question made Samir stiffen his shoulders just as an explosion rocked the building.

“She will be fine.” The ancient Atua said with so much conviction, I had to look at him despite my opponent trying to separate my head from my body with a large sword.

“We should've taken the wolf with us.” My offhanded comment only made him angry.

“Yes, well it's too late now for what if’s, Brooklyn.” Re-doubling his effort, he ripped into the Guardians with vigor. “I doubt that they brought explosives with them. I have to trust she can take care of herself.” Flattening his body on the ground, he rolled away to avoid two blades aiming at his middle. He quickly popped up, grabbed each of their arms and tore their appendages off of them.

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