Page 179 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

I see far more than lust among the separate groups. There’s excitement, admiration, anxiety, amusement, and, surprisingly, adoration.

It seems not everyone is playing along with Draven’s rules of segregation. Something that might work in my favor, should I need it.

A slight shift of energy runs through my body, setting my nerves alight.

There it is again.Butwhatis it?

Since I’ve bonded to my mate, my ability has grown, extending to not only people and supes but also objects and the ground beneath me. Something I’m still working on to master.

Frowning at the ground as if it can tell me the answer, I try to focus on the vibrations beneath it, but come up empty. I’m unable to compare it to anything I’ve come across before.

We arrived on Staten Island a few hours ago, and my senses have been alight since I stepped foot on it. The whole island emits a strange vibration, but in the last hour, a newer type of energy has pulled me in this very direction.

Kai and Axel headed off on their own, to see if they could find out any more information about Draven and the island.

The attacks would have to be bad for the demon leader to have asked for help, but so far nothing has shown up, and the supes who live here have shown no sign of their world being affected.

Something that makes us question Draven’s intentions or if this is some sort of trap.

The vibration hits me again, harder this time, just as shouts and screams start inside the club.

Using the shadows to keep myself hidden, I stealthily make my way toward the club, slipping past the scurrying supes as most head in the opposite direction of the raucous. Only a handful stay to see what the fuss is about.

The security doesn’t notice me as I slip past them, my enhanced stealth and agility allowing me to go undetected.

Lights bounce around the club, and music booms from every corner, adding to the loud screams as people run in every direction.

Suddenly, the music cuts off.

My senses pick up on an oncoming threat. I twist out of the way and watch as a large speaker flies past me. My eyes narrow in the direction of where it came from but widen when I see the source.

So, this is anolddemon.

Standing at least twenty feet tall, the dark demon looked like it was made from black obsidian. Every part of its face and body is sharp, with spikes running all over it. From its face, nose, and jaw to its claws and long tail. Two large horns curved from its ears with another smaller two on top of its head. Cracks run along its hard rock-like body like veins, revealing a substance similar to lava. It pulses as if an entity itself and melts anything that touches it.

Its eyes glow green as it scans the supes around it. A deep growl sounds out, emitting a vibration of its own and sending out a wave of energy to those close to it.

The warlocks, witches, and demons near it fall to the floor, choking and spewing up a black substance.

Focusing on the demon, I can’t sense anything other than malicious intent from it.

Moving closer, I feel my basilisk push forward, wanting out. Without ever fighting this creature, I know we can win. Another one of the upgrades I received after bonding. I can simply look at an opponent or challenger and know instantly whether it is stronger than us.

A demon runs into me, trying to escape the scene in front of us. He turns, a snarl on his face, but freezes when he sees me.

“A-apologies.” He scurries away without a backward glance.

I shake my head, glancing around at the chaos. People are disorientated, most are running in every direction, exacerbating the situation, while a handful attempt to put up a fight against the demon.

I spot a witch and her group standing far enough back from the demon that its growl doesn’t seem to harm her. Her energy is different from the rest—a leader of her coven, by the looks of it.

She eyes the demon, looking for its weaknesses. It turns, giving its back to her, and she sees her opening and throws a spell at it.

But it might as well have been a puff of smoke, as it barely touches the demon.

It twists around and heads straight for her and her group. Her eyes widen as she backs away, hoping to escape, but the demon sees this and slams its fist down onto the floor. A stream of lava flies out of its clawed hand, drawing a line of flames in front of her and blocking her exit.

I move quickly through the last of the supes, rushing to the other side of the demon.

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