Page 117 of An Empress of Earth & Darkness

“I have left the relic with her.”

A crawling feeling spread over Gideon’s spine, and his fingers twitched around his bow. “Torin, what colour is the stone in Emara’s engagement ring?”

His brother’s head tilted and a cruel smile spread across his lips. “Red.”

“Wrong.”

Sybil screamed as the arrow penetrated the arm of the knight pretending to be his brother. Gideon released another arrow, but the demon veered to the side.

It was the highest kind of demon if he could take the form of his commander. It had been so convincing in its image of Torin, but everything else had been…off.

A knife flew past Gideon, but it didn’t make it into its flesh. Instead, the knight caught it.

Marcus hissed a curse.

“Warriors of Thorin are my favourite kind of flesh to devour,” the demon hissed, sending pain into Gideon’s head. He tried to fight it. “It’s always a pleasure to rip your bones apart.”

“Get Sybil out of here, Marcus,” Gideon demanded. The demon began to shed Torin’s skin, changing into something more horrific. Gideon took a step into the challenge. “Now. Go!”

He aimed for the demon’s head, but it dove to the side and the arrow hit its shoulder instead. The beast roared as it ripped out the arrow from its flesh, and the dark smoke of its power morphed into something bigger and more terrifying. Its face ripped open, spilling dark gore down the tunic it wore. As Gideon released another arrow, a dagger flew past his face. Kellen threw a small axe, but the demon was too quick. The axe hit off the altar and fell to the ground, the sound ringing through the place of worship.

The only way to kill this repugnant beast would be if he got closer. Kellen was behind him, and another throwing knife flew past Gideon’s head to reach the demon before they did. The blade landed, wounding the nightmare creature in the leg. The creature reached down as it transformed human hands into claws and pulled the blade from its thick thigh. The demon threw it back, a cruel grin slashing across its face.

Gideon slammed into it, taking it to the ground. The disciple of Veles rolled, its strength unbelievable, and slammed a fist into Gideon’s jaw. His skull cracked off the marble floor, and the creature shrieked above him as Gideon’s mouth filled with blood. His mind rang, and the magic in his blood screamed to beat the thing that had just bested him. The knight pulled out a dagger from “Torin’s” belt and slashed out, aiming for Gideon’s throat. Before the steel touched his skin, a huge boot struck the knight in the side, kicking it off of Gideon. The knight tried to get back to his feet, but Kellen ducked and rolled before slamming a short spear through its foot, nailing it to the ground. A roar erupted from the beast, and its claws and fangs elongated in agony. One massive wing batted Kellen backwards and out of Gideon’s sight.

Fear ran through him as the roar from the demon called in a few others. As he scrambled back, he realised they were surrounded. His men fought them viciously down the aisles, spilling blood on books meant for prayer.

I will not feel fear. I will not feel fear. I have war in my veins and battle in my blood. I will protect the Light.

The underworld knight looked to where he lay before plucking the small spear from his knee-high boot. Gideon reached for a small sword on his weapon belt, but the demon moved too rapidly. It knocked the weapon from his hand and curled its claws around Gideon’s throat.

“A Blacksteel crest on your tunic,” the demon hissed. The pungent scent of sulphur caused bile to rise in Gideon’s stomach. “I came across a Blacksteel once.” Its otherworldly voice sent waves of pain through his mind, but he tried to block it out. His years of training were for these moments. “A Warrior of Thorin called Viktir Blacksteel. They said he was the best of his kind, yet he couldn’t best me when I killed his father before him.” Its crimson eyes lit full of dreadful delight. “I bet if you told him my name, the fire of fear would ignite in his weak eyes.”

“Fuck you,” Gideon spat as the creature smiled down at him with blades and blades of teeth.

Its serpent-like tongue slithered from its mouth, and its huge wings cocooned around him. “Once I am done feasting on the blood of a Blacksteel, I am going to drink from the heart of the pretty little redhead you were so keen on protecting—if my brothers of the dark haven’t finished her off already.”

“If you touch her, I will fucking kill you.” Gideon thrashed under him, “I will rip the wings from your back and feed you them as you beg for mercy.”

“That will be hard, little warrior”—the creature lowered itself onto Gideon so that its mouth was in his eyeline—“if you’re dead.” The creature lunged, mouth wide, rows and rows of needle-sharp teeth ready to devour—

A sword sliced through the higher demon’s mouth and almost touched Gideon’s nose.

Gore sprayed onto his face, and a strangled sound cut the demon’s vocal cords.

Torin stood above him and somehow managed to throw the demon’s body across the room like it was a sheet of paper instead of a massive beast. “Don’t ever try to impersonate me again, you vile fuck.”

Torin dragged his focus back to his brother and held out a hand for Gideon to take. Gideon stood on trembling legs. “Do you have any idea how close you were to my face with that fucking sword? You almost cut my nose clean off.”

Torin rolled his eyes, blood covering his face and sword. “Why does everyone question my impeccable accuracy? You should know better, brother. I am very disappointed that you would even doubt me.”

Even though Gideon couldn’t believe that Torin always had time to jest in a full-scale battle, he needed to see his brother’s real smile. Gideon lunged at him and wrapped his arms around Torin. “You are right. He was never handsome enough to be a Blacksteel. I should have known.”

Torin slapped his brother’s back. “Too right. You can’t mimic our genes no matter how powerful you are.”

They pulled back as Emara blasted two smaller winged creatures with air and Breighly jumped at them, ripping them apart with her teeth. Fire blasted across the room in scorching white heat as Emara whirled around to cremate the final few demons in the room.

“I can see your wife has arrived.” Gideon smiled at his commander.

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