Page 36 of Wings of Destiny

“Are you sure you’re good enough to keep going?”

She shouldn’t be bleeding this much. Not between Derik’s ability and the rapid recovery time from being Nephilim.

“I’ll be fine. We need to go.” Libby grunted as Derik slipped his arm around her waist, offering her support. She slung her arm around his neck, leaning into him. I gave everyone a quick once-over before we continued our trek upwards through the dense woods and toward the flattened peak of the mountain.

We neared the top, evading any additional Demon run-ins the remainder of the hike. The abandoned building finally in sight. Parts of the roof were caved in, piles of rubble scattered the leveled plot of land, broken windows lined what remained of the outer walls. A massive security fence outlined the perimeter, the only thing not run down or wrecked. In the center of the metal coils, was a single gap, wide enough for us to sneak through.

As we drew nearer, I pulled my sword from my back, bringing it to my side slightly angled as we stalked toward the abandoned building. The others followed suit. Derik clutched his onyx-handled dagger, and Libby drew her gold-plated twin daggers. Josh played lookout, searching for any Demons who may have been lurking on the hunt for their next victims.

I slipped through the opening first, sword at the ready, and scanned the inner perimeter. Libby and Derik followed quickly behind; Josh pulled up the rear. I crouched down as I inched forward until I came to a stop behind several large piles of rubble. I signaled for the group to follow me.

A slight breeze snaked its way across the nape of my neck, chilling the sweat slicked against my skin. A shiver shot down my spine. I swung my arm out, stopping Libby and Derik in their tracks. “Something’s not right. There should be Demons out here patrolling. They never leave their shit unguarded.”

Libby stiffened next to me.

“Move!” Josh shouted, pushing us out of the way. A massive burst of fire erupted into the ground where we’d been hiding, shrouding us in a blanket of dirt and cement debris. Josh had landed on Libby and Derik, taking the brunt of the forceful blast. I, on the other hand, had pricks of pain along the backs of my legs. I rolled onto my back and pushed myself onto my elbows, taking in the fit of flame still licking the ground. “Holy shit.”

I heard Josh grumble, his voice muffled by Derik’s shoulder. Libby took that moment to wiggle herself out from under the two of them. She pulled herself into a sitting position and dusted some of the dirt off her fighting gear. Derik grunted and knocked Josh off his back. “Fuck me, dude. What the hell just happened?” He shook his head, utterly pissed.

“They know we’re here. That’s what happened,” Libby said, her voice on edge and expression grim.

“That’s why we only ran into one Demon hiking up here,” I whispered as I mentally chastised myself for not suspecting the mostly quiet hike to their territory. There should’ve been more out there. My eyes widened, and a sudden realization hit me. “It’s a trap.”

Leaves crunched behind me. “Well, well, well. Look who we have here.” A macabre sneer sent chills down my spine.

I whipped my head around and launched myself upward onto my feet, arm shooting for my sword. Derik and Libby scrambled to their feet on my left. Josh readied to my right.

“You seem to have finally arrived. Your friend has been waiting for you. Well, she was.” They cackled.

I felt my face pale and then a throbbing pain encapsulated my skull, snaking its way through my body. And everything went black. The last visible thing as my vision disappeared was the Demon who stood before us. Smiling.

Erebus.

Chapter thirteen

Seth

My head was pounding like I had the worst hangover of my life. I blinked my eyes open and squinted as my vision cleared. Confusion hit. “Leave them the hell alone,” a woman growled. The sound ransacking the frozen pain that had a vice grip on my chest.

Erin.

My eyes frantically darted around what looked like a medieval throne room. A whip sounded, catching my attention and bringing it directly to where Erin half hung-half stood at the front of the room. Her wrists bound in rope, spread above her head. Her ankles chained to the stone floor. The shirt she wore was shredded, exposing her stomach, shoulders, and chest, with barely a scrap of fabric covering her breasts. The black leggings she had worn were in pieces on the ground next to her. There were lacerations up and down her arms, whip marks across her abdomen and thighs. A single large gash sliced above her breasts. Her steel blue eyes were lit with fire, determined. The Demon, one of Erebus’s lackeys, pulled their whip back oncemore. It cracked, biting her in her side. She bit down, clenching her jaw shut, her eyes locked with mine. I attempted to catapult myself toward her, only to be yanked back by chains anchoring me to where I knelt. Sweat coated her forehead, mingling with the dried blood stuck to her skin. Fury filled my body.

What did he do to you?

The Demon looped the whip around itself, resting it under his arm, and stepped back. Allowing Erebus to make his appearance. He sauntered into the throne room, arms resting behind his back, chest puffed, flaming hair swept back, and wings tucked in. He swept his yellow gaze between myself and Erin. Erebus chuckled, moving in and positioning himself behind where Erin hung. My gut twisted. “Get thefuckaway from her, you piece of shit,” I growled.

An eerie smile spread across his face, flashing his pointed teeth. His tongue jutted out, he slowly leaned forward sliding it up and down the side of her neck. Then, the son of a bitch snaked his way upward and along her jaw to the opposite side, caressing her chin with the ashen purple-hued organ, his pupils laughing as he taunted me.

“Lovely, isn’t she?” Erebus flicked his tongue. “And she tastes just as delicious as she looks.” His tongue began to slip lower and fire erupted, engulfing Erin’s body. Erebus jolted back, hissing as one of his wings caught fire. I peered closer. Her eyes turned a burning red, matching the flames…emanating from her body.

“How. Dare. You.” Erebus snarled as he gathered himself, snatched the whip from the other Demon and struck Erin smack dab in the center of her throat, the whip wrapping itself around it. He yanked the handle back, snapping Erin’s head to the side and her flames extinguished. Her eyes glazed over, returning to their slate blue before closing as her head flopped forward. Her body went limp.

My chest heaved.

No.

My lungs burned as her name fell from my lips.

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