Page 34 of Place of Torment

“Nothing is moving. Literally.” Frowning, I turned slowly to look at my mate.

His profile was so perfect it took my breath away, regardless of what situation we were in. I watched him scan the entire area multiple times and finally he locked gazes with me.

“You are right.” A line formed between his brows.

“Look.” I pointed at some wrapper a human tossed on the street that was rolling gently over the sidewalk. “There is a breeze between the buildings, but nothing moves there.” My finger stabbed the air in the direction of the building.

“It’s an illusion.” No sooner than Dominic uttered the words, all hell broke loose.

“It’s a trap.” Echo shouted, just as dozens of Guardians dropped in front of us from the roof.

A dozen or so more rounded the side of the building swords drawn, and ready to end our lives. Dominic and I both reached for Alice and tucked her between us in hopes of keeping her safe. Back to back, we faced our opponents and readied ourselves for a fight.

“What is taking Samir so long?” I hissed through clenched teeth just as the first sword swung at my head.

“Let us hope they didn't get to him first.” Dominic reached over my head, grabbed the Guardian trying to stab me in the throat, picked him up and threw him at the wall like he weighed nothing. “The male is unbearable when he is being himself. I do not want to try and see how he is if he's wounded. Or the gods forbid, they wrinkled his shirt.”

Snorting, I kept fighting, trying my best to keep the Guardians away from Alice. To her credit, she was not cowering behind us. Every chance she gets, she will reach her hand out and send a blast of demon magic at our attackers. Each time she dropped one on the ground, she would giggle, pump her fist in the air and shout ‘Bingo’.

“Wasn't bingo what old humans play?” Dominic asked at one point.

“I wouldn't know. She is the only human I know.” I told him in earnest.

Echo and Chester yet again stood back-to-back, executing, perfect fighting styles, combined with the use of their magic, and again, I was left disappointed that I couldn't just stand and watch. Maybe after all this was over, I would ask the female to show me some of the moves. Their technique was immaculate and effective. Piles of bodies grew around them, but the sea of attackers never stopped.

“Brooklyn.” Alice’s shriek made me duck instinctively and cold sweat trickled down my spine when I felt the blade cut the tip of my ponytail. “Die!” My friend screamed and slammed both of her hands onto the Guardian’s chest.

Bright light illuminated the night, giving everyone a sinister feature from the shadows dancing on their faces as the demon magic wove through the Guardian from the inside out. But Alice was not done. Stepping over the few bodies we collected around us, she started moving into the sea of attackers, pressing her palms at the center of their chests. By the time they realized what was happening, we could see an end to the cluster.

As the group around us thinned, I wish I couldn't see what's behind them. My mouth cried out. I watched as rows and rows of witches lifted their arms and prepared to chant.

“Dominic let me deal with this, get Alice out of here.” I shouted through the screams hoping beyond hope that he would listen.

“I'm not leaving you alone.” My mate snapped. “She's safer here with us.”

“Yeah, because you know nobody needs to ask Alice.” My friend chirped from right next to me. I didn't even see she was there as I fought my way to her. “Oh look, Alice in person and she can speak for herself. Why thank you, Brooklyn. I am perfectly fine here.”

“This is not a time to be difficult, Alice.” A fist connected with the side of my face and bright light exploded behind my eyelids. The taste of blood filled my mouth. so I kicked blindly in front of me before spitting at whoever clubbed me in the head. “That hurt.”

“There it's fixed.” Alice drawled after she shriveled the Guardian and turned them into a mummy. “I just learned this, it's less messy.” She grinned. “Didn't you say they placed the demon magic on the door to keep Rowen out?”

“Who?” I kept fighting, and I couldn't keep up with her train of thought.

“The demons, Brooklyn. Are you paying attention?” Her eyes widened while she was looking over my shoulder, and I didn't need a warning to know a Guardian was there/ Bending forward, I tackled my friend, and both of us rolled over dead bodies to escape the two swords that clang loudly on the concrete where we stood not a second ago.

“Thanks.” Alice panted.

“Don't mention it.” Jumping to my feet, I offered her a hand and pulled her up to her feet. “If you won't let Dominic, take you away, can you please hide. I can't fight Alice if I'm worried that you are going to get hurt.”

“Or, I can do this.” She glared at me stubbornly and turning her back to me she lifted both arms. Red light burst from the center of her palms and formed a dome that grew in size and pushed the Guardians away.

My jaw unhinged and I stared dumbly with my mouth wide open. My friend created a barrier between us and our attackers. The Guardians stabbed at the dome, kicked it, tried to punch through it ,but nothing worked. The witches stopped holding hands and gathered in a circle conversing animatedly, wondering, can they break the seal?

“Alice, no.” Echo was trying to fight her way to us. “Don't do that it, will kill you.”

The panic I saw in her eyes nearly doubled me over. The demon female was horrified, and I look at Chester, who confirmed that something was terribly wrong. Not wanting to wait and see what happens, especially, since Echo said it could kill my friend. I did the only thing I can think of. With all the strength I had in me, I tackled Alice again.

She didn’t even scream. The moment I collided with her, her arms dropped down like a string that has been cut off and she crumbled on the ground exhausted. Dominic was right there ready to fight so he can keep us safe, and I had time to check her pulse. She was alive. And the fact of hearing her heartbeat made me lightheaded.

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