I cried out and went down onto my knees.
My magic sputtered out.
And then he was there in front of me.
“I’m truly sorry. This is not about you. It’sExemplarthat needs to fall. And that fucking angel, Abigail.”
“No,” I rasped, before collapsing onto my side as the hellfire continued to ravish my body, spreading rapidly and melting my flesh, then continuing on down to the bone.
My surroundings blurred and I fought not to pass out.
I couldn’t.
I couldn’t let this be.
I was just about able to make out Astor walking away and taking hold of the jar.
He broke my ward with the staff, then opened it and rushed over to Constantine’s body with all the acolytes at his back.
He held it over him and the clear shimmering solution was poured into his mouth as two acolytes held it open.
“Stop!” I rasped.
In the next second, a familiar bright white light tore through the room.
Abi.
Bolts fired at them like a fusillade of missiles, blowing them all back and knocking some of them out. I saw Astor and a few of them taking cover under the table, as some of them tried to return fire, only to slam into a shield she conjured lightning-fast.
I must have screamed, because it broke her concentration and she snatched theHellbornfrom Astor with her magic, then rushed over to me.
“Sweetheart,” she choked, at the state of me being ravaged by hellfire.
A cool sensation permeated my body and after a few moments, I looked to see that the hellfire had been extinguished.
“The damage is extensive. I need to heal you. Immediately, Elliot.”
“No… stop them… first.”
She hesitated.
“Greater… good.”
She listened and then she was gone, battling the acolytes like the fierce being she was in combat.
Some of them worked to keep her busy as I caught sight of others rushing over to the table again while she was over on the right side near my grimoires dealing with the others.
Those to the left were gathering Constantine’s body into their arms then, the magic-wielders calling their power and preparing to teleport.
Shock permeated every part of me as I watched the monster’s eyes flicker open.
They locked on mine and recognition shone a moment later.
He smirked.
And then he disappeared with his acolytes in a cloud of their teleportation.
No. No. No. No!