Page 97 of The Darkest Night

“Watch out!” Nikolai shouted.

Golden light exploded on Dickson’s blade. A focused expression filled his face. He stopped, twisted to the side, and sliced the spell bomb clean in half as it shot past him.

The devil swore and lifted off the ground. “How?!”

Dickson arched an eyebrow. “You mean the sword or the divine power it contains?”

“Both!” the demon barked.

“Let’s just say I know this metalsmith in Chicago with some pretty remarkable skills.”

The air trembled around Barquiel, his fury plain to see. He ascended rapidly and smashed through the metal ceiling with ease.

Dread drenched Nikolai in a cold sweat. “He’s going after Mae!”

He sprinted toward a staircase leading to the upper levels.

Dickson cursed and followed. “Wait up!”

A shape overtook them from above, casting a long shadow on the ground. Nikolai stumbled and almost fell.

Calvarro transformed as she soared up the stairs, her clothes morphing into a raven-black cloak that covered her head and fell well past her feet, the hand holding the scythe shifting to bare bones where it peeked out from beneath a sleeve.

“What—what is she?!” Nikolai stammered.

Dickson made a face. “She’s a pain in my ass, is what she is.” He sighed ruefully. “Her name is Thod.”

“Thod?” Nikolai repeated, confused.

“The Queen of Soul Reapers.” Dickson shrugged, as if he’d just commented on the weather. “Let’s just say she has a bone to pick with Barquiel.” He paused. “No pun intended.”

“Right,” Nikolai mumbled weakly.

Mae’s magic detonated somewhere above them.

Nikolai’s heartbeat quickened. They darted after Calvarro.

Chapter 44

Mae spun,Hellreaver snarling in her hands and Brimstone roaring above her as they deflected the blows and spell bombs raining down on them with brute force and magic. The Dark Council had intensified their attacks once she’d gotten to the third floor, scores of sorcerers and witches appearing from the shadows to fight alongside the demons.

Oscar was still downstairs from what she sensed of his magic. As for Barquiel, it was hard to tell his location with the corruption filling the air.

Claws streaked toward her face. Mae ducked, came up underneath a giant demon’s swinging arm, and pierced the base of his skull with Hellreaver. The weapon hummed ferociously as he guzzled the black liquid pouring down his blades.

Mae yanked him out and made a face while she deflected a magic attack and another demon’s fist.

What?Hellreaver said defensively when he sensed her stare.

“That was kinda gross.”

Movement flickered to her left. She shot up and narrowly missed another barrage of spell bombs. Brimstone grabbed hold of the sorcerers and witches with his jaws and hurled them unceremoniously into a pile of disused machinery.

A shout reached her. “Mae! Look out!”

She whirled around, heart pounding. Nikolai had appeared from the stairs to the south. Her breath locked in her throat when she saw the figures with him.

What the—!

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