Page 85 of The Time Of Queens

“Very bad indeed,” she stated, partially changing into her Demon form, enough for claws to grow from her fingertips. Then before I could ask, she bent down and tore the longer part of her dress off, as if she was getting ready to join the fight.

“Just how bad are we talking here?” I questioned as she stepped up to me, and I didn’t even flinch as she did the same to my dress, no doubt to make it easier for me to run if need be.

“Let’s just say that it could potentially mean releasing Hell on Earth…quite literally,”she said, adding this last part after rising back to standing.

“Okay, so that’s bad,” I agreed as she tossed the length of material off to one side.

“Yes, very… wait, you’re not wearing any shoes.”

“I didn’t exactly plan for your house to burst into flames and for Draven to be off fighting an army of Demons. I kind of had other activities in mind.”

At this she scoffed a laugh before conjuring me up some boots.

After which, I couldn’t help but look behind me, gasping when I saw how many of them there were now. Of course, the three men where certainly holding their own, even against such insane odds, as there was quite literally, a swarm of them.

“How is there so many?”

“I don’t know, but my guess is that they have somehow managed to draw on the artifact’s essence after it was unearthed. The longer it remains here, the more Chiyou’s power will be drawn from it.”

Well, that didn’t sound good.

“Which means…”

“They won’t stop coming,” she finished for me, making me gasp.

“Sophia, he can’t fight them forever!” I said, and her worried expression confirmed my own thoughts. This was bad.

This was very bad.

I watched in fixed horror as Lucius attacked, using his bat-like wings as Draven did, to propel his sword into those below. This before spinning round with graceful movements to dispatch those that had gotten too close, slicing them in two. Body parts fell like shrapnel as he swung his sword with speed, taking out those that had surrounded him.

As for Vincent, he looked like some heavenly warrior sent from above, with his stark white wings glowing in the night. The moonlight glinted off his own sword, and sprays of crimson were cast from every swing as he, too, tried to cut the army down in size. However, I could see from my position that the numbers were too great for them to handle. As more and more kept trying to push their way through the barrier the three were trying to create.

Another boom sounded, and more glass exploded from the house, the bellowing flames consuming the outer walls as the fire rose from the now empty windows.

Pip and Adam joined us, now no mortals remained but me. Adam’s eyes quickly scanned the impending threat, giving him cause to grimace at the sight.

“We managed to get the servants out of harm’s way, but you know I can’t stay here, if my beast feels Winnie is in too much danger, this could go from bad to worse,” he told us, making Sophia agree.

“I know, for you are right. Which means you are both better leaving. Follow the servants and try and keep them safe, but if the danger is too great to Pip, you know you must leave before…”

“I know,” Adam said gravely, no doubt frustrated that he couldn’t be of more help.

“Aww, we will miss all the fun,” Pip groaned, making me shake my head at her before grabbing her and hugging her.

“Be safe, my friend,” I told her, knowing that this was probably goodbye. She squeezed me back and told me,

“Only if you do the same, beastie.” Then she winked at me, as yes, I had taught her this new word.

I let her go so they could get out of here before Adam became too unpredictable. At least I knew they would be safe as I watched them both start running once more.

As for Sophia and I, we stayed by the fountain like Draven had asked, but as the threat started to get closer, it was obvious that Draven had made his decision. He looked like he had just finished commanding Lucius and his brother to continue fighting before he took to the skies and flew over to us.

“There is too many of them, they opened a portal on the west side, and it is being fuelled by the seal’s presence. The only way to stop this is to be rid of it. Go and help the others, until I can return,” he said with a grit of his teeth.

“Why, what will you do?” she asked, and he looked down at me before saying,

“What I must…now go!”

---