Page 62 of Demonic Division

How on earth could five demons and a half-human girl fight that kind of force?

Seeing what I have, Kaebl struggles to a stand,pressing a bloodied palm against the walls to balance. He gazes at me one last time, and the sadness in his golden eyes causes my chest to ache.

Take her, Cyprien. Now. Before it’s too late.

Cyprien looks toward Kaebl, then the approaching soldier over the horizon, his mouth settling into a hard line. Without a word, he hauls me to my feet, his powerful palm wrapping like a vise around my forearm as he pulls me toward the exit.

And by the expression on his face, I know what his decision is.

I’m going back to the dungeons.

To die.

35

Kaebl

I gaze outover the horizon, a pit of dread settling in the pit of my stomach as I count the hundreds of tiny black dots infecting the silver sky. How many soldiers was he able to amass? How many soul-crazed demons has he managed to create?

My stomach twists at the thought. It’s been known for eons that demons force-fed an exuberant number of souls eventually lose their mind, turning into mindless, bloodthirsty creatures that will do anything for a taste of suffering. It makes great soldiers, but the morality behind it is so fucked, even Abaddon outlawed the practice of training and creating soul-crazed demons despite the advantage it may have given him.

I guess Slaine doesn’t hold the same ideals.

My lip curls in disgust at the sight of the ill-formed, broken wings beating the air, taking the hordes of demented demons closer and closer toward the castle.

It won’t be long now.

My chest aches as I glance over my shoulder, cringing at the sight of the bone protruding from my shoulder. Mywing is mostly useless, but it should take me to the sky one last time.

Dagny’s words echo in my mind as I turn my eyes back to the horizon—toward the sight of my impending demise. Despite all my logic, despite weighing all the scenarios and coming up empty every time, I can’t help but be moved by her unwavering desire to fight. To make a stand. To go out swinging.

There’re not many people in this world I’d bend for—but for her, I’d snap myself in half just to make her smile. To bring an ounce of happiness into those eyes that are always so, so sad.For her, I have to fight. Because of her, I’ll soar into battle, no matter how futile. No matter how much it hurts to fall. To fail.If I can’t save her—if I can’t save anyone—at least I can die with the knowledge I tried. That I was better because of the short time I had with her—no matter how I squandered it.

Leaving a thick trail of blood in my wake, I climb up onto the window ledge, my body swaying heavily in the breeze, fighting to keep me upright.

If there’s any hope to win, I have to try. If it’s to keep her alive, I’ll do anything. I’ll rip the very skies apart to protect the little creature.

My skin sears with pain as it buckles and shudders with the weight of my transformation. My wings flare out to the sides, catching the powerful wind as I jump from the ledge.

As I fall, I send out a call to Lir, Roark, and Cyprien, warning them of what I’m sure they already know. Calling them to my aid.

The purple, blue, and yellow demons swoop to my sides, falling into formation behind me as five matching battle cries pierce the sky.

It’s time to die.

36

Dagny

I railagainst the bars of my cell, numb to the feel of my flesh splitting against the iron, of the warm blood dripping down my arm to a small puddle on the floor. A great explosion shakes the walls of the dungeon, sending me careening off balance as the very ground seems to tilt on its side. The first blast happened as soon as Cyprien locked me in this cursed cell, and they’ve been coming in increasingly short intervals ever since. Thin fissures spread across the stone slabs of the ceiling, and with every one, pieces of rubble and dust shower the floor.

As soon as the vibrations cease, I right myself and continue pounding on the bars, screaming the name of the red-eyed demon over and over, my voice filling with desperation.

“M! Please…” I yell into the ether as I fall to my knees, choking on the panic squeezing my throat. Another explosion shakes the room, sending a large piece of stone crashing to the floor of the dungeon with a mighty bang. This, apparently, is just enough to stir the demon from his slumber.

A glowing red eye blinks through the shadows, just as another crash echoes in the distance. Immediately, he’s at the bars of his cell, eye narrowed in worry as it searches my face for injury.

“Wildfire,” he breathes, his tone full of wonder. “I thought I would never see you again.”

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