Page 95 of Demons & Damnation

“Let me at my grandbaby. NOW.”

Azazel nearly choked. “She’s your what? Kyla is your granddaughter?”

Malcolm fixed Azazel a deadpan stare. “Best remember that for when she wakes up, Zay Zay. You owe her a new car and a decent meal.”

Balthazar sniggered. A muscle in Azazel’s jaw ticked as he scraped his teeth together in an effort to keep his mouth shut.

Seconds later, an older lady walked through, carrying a neatly folded purple cape. Neither demon needed to ask who she was. The piercing blue eyes, the quiet determination, and the general presence of her intimidating nature spoke volumes about her role as Kyla’s grandmother.

She looked at the scene around her and allowed a stray tear to roll down her cheek. “We can fix this,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “But I need the wolves to let go.”

Dylan growled and shook his head.

Sam gave Lily a look of despair. “They’re the only thing stopping her from being fully inhabited.”

“I know, dear, but I can’t do my job if they don’t let go.”

Sam nodded and glared at her brother. He curled his top lip back and snarled in response.

“Have some respect,” Balthazar said, stepping in front of Sam to face off her brother again.

Dylan snapped his jaw and took a step forward.

Balthazar narrowed his eyes at him. “You wanna go again, big boy? Come on then.”

Before the wolf or the demon could do anything, Malcolm leaned down, picked Dylan up by the scruff of his neck, Balthazar by his ear, and threw them both out of the door. Several seconds passed before the thud of bodies hitting the floor sounded their new destination.

The wolves holding Kyla looked at Sam, finally retreating when she nodded for them to let go. Sam glanced at Azazel, expecting some kind of explanation for his sudden submissive role.

“Malpass,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “The General of Hell. Even I’m not stupid enough to piss him off.”

“Do you need any help?” Sam asked, moving to Lily’s side.

“No, dear. Thank you. Just some space and a bit of time.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Have a little fun. Malcolm—can you hold her next to him please?”

Doing just as his wife asked, Malcolm scooped up the limp body of his granddaughter and held her in his arms next to the worthless piece of shit that was Tony.

Lily unfolded the purple cape she’d been carrying. Tying one end around Kyla’s throat, and the other end around Tony’s throat, she stood up, excited to be performing some old school magick after so many years out of the game.

“I do believe,” Lily said, smirking. “This will be the first trans-gender body possession.”

Azazel chuckled. “Interesting. Shall I record it or something?”

Lily scrunched her nose up. “Probably not. It’s not like he’s going to live to tell the tale.” She leaned forwards and retrieved two daggers that were tucked under Malcolm’s waistband. “I need you to listen to me very carefully,” she said, looking at Sam. “The soul escapes the body through the throat. That old witch is buried deep enough in Kyla to—”

“No, no, no, no, no,” Sam said, shaking her head. “I know where you’re going with this. No way. No. I can’t believe you’re even contemplating this after everything she’s been through.”

Squaring her shoulders, Lily glared at Sam. “These are soul knives,” she said, lifting the two knives up in the air. Their six-inch-long curved serrated blades reflected light off them, the amethyst and ruby jewelled handles hypnotising in their beauty. “There are only six of these in existence. They’re incredibly powerful and used in the right way can literally channel a soul anywhere. Could you imagine the havoc he could cause with one of these?”

Azazel held his hand up, like he was in class. “Can I just say that—”

Malcolm narrowed his eyes at Azazel, silencing him immediately.

“You promise,” Sam said, tentatively taking one of the knives. “That this will work?”

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