Page 36 of Alien Dragon's Bride

Chapter 20

Megan

“No!” Megan choked out against Levx’s hold. Her friend Alice fell to the floor, the devils swarming over her body.

“Time to die, human,” Levx snarled. His fingers on her throat were like an iron grip and she had no weapon, the bottle of ketchup she’d been holding fell from her grip as soon as he had grabbed her.

Darkness danced at the edge of her vision. She kicked at him again but he was so strong and held out away from his body. Her nails raked down his hand, the stench of sulfur stronger. Is that what people smelled before they died? And Alice…her friend needed help…no way was Megan going to give up and let this bastard kill her or Alice.

Taking a chance, she groped in her pocket for her keys. Her fingers fumbled. She couldn’t breathe. Please work, please work.

Her hand shook as she brought the keys up and slammed them into his eye. Levx howled, dropping her. It was an inhuman sound that made her stomach clench.

“Alice!” She scrambled over to her friend.

One of the demons bit Megan on her leg. The pain shooting up her spine like a spike had been slammed against her bones.

“Get off!” Megan punched the creature that shrieked. So the bastards could be hurt? No time to think, she ran into the kitchen and grabbed one of the skillets. Then she dashed back to Alice, whooping one devil after another. “Go away!”

Levx roared and the small demons shrank away.

“Leave us alone or I’ll hurt you,” Megan held up the skillet, ready to strike.

His arm snaked out faster than she’d have thought possible and when she swung with all her strength, he merely caught the pan in his hand, crushing it like it was made from soft clay.

Not waiting, she dashed to the rifle Alice had dropped and picked it up with shaky hands. “Last warning, asshole, leave and take these things with you.”

“You think your human weapons can hurt me?” He laughed. “Look upon my true form and fear me.” His body shimmered, transforming into a monster. Black hair covered his body, a forked tail, dark leathery wings and black claws.

“Demon,” her voice croaked. What hurt a demon? Holy water? Her gaze darted across the street to the Catholic Church but she’d never make it that far with as fast as Levx had moved.

He shrugged, showing off his serrated teeth and long fangs. “You’re stronger than I thought…the Renjerian chose wisely when he picked you.”

“What? Demonic babble. I’ve a gun now, so leave us alone.” She hosted the weapon up higher, her finger on the trigger.

“Shoot then.” He smiled. “And when you’re out of bullets, I will give you the honor of breeding to produce more of my kind. Our children will wipe out this city and move onto the next and the next.”

“M-Megan?” Alice moaned.

Startled by her friend, Megan’s finger jerked. Before she could blink the gun went off. The bullet struck Levx in his chest, yellow blood bloomed. Her body trembled but she kept the weapon pointed at him.

Then the blood dried and he didn’t stagger or flinch.

Fuck! “Alice, come on.” She raced to her friend, keeping the rifle, and tried to help Alice stand. “We’ve got to get out of here.” Maybe if they could make it to the church, the demons couldn’t cross holy ground, right?

The bell over the cafe dinged and three small kids strolled inside. Megan’s heart squeezed. No, not children.

“Go! Run!” she screamed.

But they didn’t listen to her.

Hauling up Alice, she draped the woman’s arm over her shoulder and dragged her forward to intercept the boys and the demon. The small devils behind them hissed and snarled.

“I see you’ve brought me a snack,” Levx said.

“Run, get out of here!” But the kids didn’t budge. Were they too frozen in fear to realize the danger they were in if they didn’t flee?

As one, they lowered their hoods. The young kids from Levx’s company. Where they demons too? Megan’s feet skidded to a stop. If Levx was a monster and they were his sister’s kids, then they could be demons too.

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