Page 25 of Place of Torment

More bodies dropped from the roof, Rowen right behind them. Slowing his fall with magic, he grunted when he hit the ground, and all the air was pushed out of his lungs, the sigils on his skin flickering erratically, and rolled to stop his fall. We watched him as he jumped to his feet, grinned at us, exposing bloody teeth, and lifting his robes in both hands, darted toward the front doors to go back up and fight with a crazed laugh.

The witch seemed to be as insane as the rest of us.

“You know what sucks though?” Alice said after Rowen disappeared around the corner. “All of you knew but no one told me. Great friends I have. Good for you.”

“Demons are not what you think.” Dominic was scowling down at her, but I knew he was wasting his breath. She was more stubborn than a mule.

“I don’t want to hear it.” She hissed at him, and I felt horrible seeing her in so much distress. “If my soul goes to hell, you are coming with me buddy. I’ll make sure of it.”

My snort at Dominic’s horrified expression earned me a narrowed glance from my friend. Alice started praying again, popping an eye open every third word to check if we were making fun of her. I kept my face straight, so I wouldn’t upset her more. We had a lot to talk about, but it had to wait until all the vermin were dead on the roof.

“Stay with her, I’ll be back as soon as the Guardians are gone.” I muttered to Dominic, who gave me a sharp nod in answer.

“I heard that.” Alice called out after me when I started climbing the side of the house, clinging to bricks with the tips of my fingers.

I couldn’t help but smile at her spunk. No matter what we are dealing with, she never allowed it to bring her down. Smooth like a piece of paper, she adjusted to whatever life threw at us and moved on. Maybe we could learn something from a human after all I decided as I reached the roof. Lifting myself up until my arms were straight and my waist was level with the top bricks, I swung my legs and rolled onto the rooftop.

“Lovely of you to join us.” Samir grunted at me and punched a Guardian in the face so hard his skull caved in.

Lucky for me, I ended up on the quieter side of the battle where Samir was standing alone picking off stray Guardians who tried to sneak out and attack the others from behind. The two demons and Rowen were standing in a circle, back-to-back, fighting a swarming cloud of Guardians. It was hard to believe so many of them got onto our roof without any alarms going off. We had to remedy that breach when all this was over.

“You’re welcome.” My mouth twitched at his wide grin, and I joined the fight with vigor.

Two swords crossed a hair in front of my face as soon as I moved, the chill from the steel cooling the tip of my nose. My back was arched as I bent backward to avoid having my face cut off, and I took advantage of it hoping to disarm my opponents. Throwing my hands back, I peformed a backflip kicking the weapons out of the hands of my attackers. The blades clanged on the roof tiles, the sound making sounds loud enough that some of the Guardians from the other side who were fighting the demons and the witch, turned and rushed to help their buddies.

“You know I can make them go away or even fight each other.” Begrudgingly, I offered, just as Samir twirled away from a kick aimed at his chest and jabbed his elbow in the Guardian’s face.

“Where will the fun be in that?” my elder griped, and promptly shoved his fist into the Guardian’s chest ripping his heart out. The organ plopped on the roof with a squelching sound when he opened his fingers, and it rolled out of his hand. “I needed this.”

“The attack?” I executed a series of kicks and punches before snapping the necks on both Guardians, one after another.

“To kill something.” With distaste, he wiped his bloody hand off on his pants. “Anything. Or I might kill that damn feline.”

“I don’t think killing my mate would solve your problems.” Avoiding his knowing, amusement filled glance I threw myself at the next Guardian.

“I suppose it would not.”

I still heard what he mumbled under his breath but chose not to comment on it. Good thing too, because the distraction cost me a dagger to my side, which could’ve been worse if I wasn’t looking at the scum when he stepped out from the shadows. My cry of pain and surprise was echoed by a roar of a panther from the ground where I left Dominic and Alice.

Samir ripped the Guardian’s head off clean with his bare hands, but it was too late. I could hear the panther crumbling bricks as he was climbing the side of the house.

So much for keeping Alice safe.

“It was about time he joined us.” The ancient Atua smirked at the shifter as soon as his head popped up from the side. “I thought the only thing you’re good at now is sniffing after Brooklyn.”

I felt the vibration of the roof when the panther jumped next to me, his weight rattling the structure. He bared his sharp teeth as long as my forearm at Samir on a snarl with his ears pinned back on his head.

“Stop provoking him.” I reprimanded Samir, who was smiling from ear to ear like a fool.

“It’s so much fun though.” He laughed and danced away from the swiping paw, which Dominic aimed at his head.

“Males.” I snickered and found the next Guardian to kill.

17

Alice

“There we go.” Hands on my hips, I watched the panther scramble up the side of the building, nearly slipping twice when the bricks crumbled under his paws. “You guys will give me a heart attack one of these days. Pfft!”

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