Page 48 of Wishing Upon a Monster
I felt her concern as I surveyed the O’Shea property from a large pine. The house was in disarray, the front door blasted off its hinges and in the yard. Evidence of a battle, marred landscaping, jagged, broken windows, appeared as I leapt closer.
The enforcers swarmed, one trying to radio and shaking their head. I checked my phone, noting the lack of bars. Trying to call the enforcer's headquarters was futile; the call would not go through.
I watched them as they searched, until Rocio transformed into her dragon form and twisted through the air to gain altitude.
Then I heard the wail of a banshee. It was the most unsettling of sounds. It gutted you, made you feel the most negative emotions and the vilest of thoughts. I clamped down my mental shields, dampening the effect. The three seasoned male enforcers and the boojum collapsed, clutching their skulls.
I flew towards the sound, the men gesturing painfully to the women to go.
Rocio roared, diving through the trees almost a mile from the property, the other female enforcers tearing through the woods towards the danger. Still trying to respect my wife’s autonomy, I stayed in the trees, lightly touching down for a moment before leaping. I arrived moments before they did and saw Irene, beaten and bedraggled, hugging Nash’s prone and bleeding form to her body, her wail keeping the ring of monsters and... the enforcer Kenton Hemlock at bay in front of a large metallic building.
20
Aurora
All of the hair on my body stood on end in the destroyed kitchen of the O’Shea home. A banshee’s wail, Irene’s, pierced the walls, the sadness calling me to action. The cry of a woman in need was powerful, and I dashed through the house, drawing my stiletto blades from my holsters. Our teams ran, Selene shifting into her panther form, Cece throwing herself onto Selene's back, Isla running by my side, as Rocio bellowed from above. We ran, breaking through the foliage to find Rocio snapping at a horde of female lesser demons and haints who were throwing hellfire and orbs of darkness at her. I tumbled into a somersault to avoid a flying blade. Isla jumped and shot torrents of water at the offending demon. I popped up, unsheathing my daggers, ducking and stabbing a grounded harpy, her shrill cry lacking the depth of Irene’s call.
I hacked and slashed my way forward, staying as close to Isla as I could until we emerged close to Irene, who was frozen in place, her mouth wide as she screamed with all of her might. Banshees could scream anywhere from two to five minuteswithout needing to take a breath. It was obvious she was weakening; tears were streaming down her face as she clutched Nash’s limp body. Male lesser demons and haints surrounded her, and I faltered in my steps when I saw Kenny clutching his skull, a strange dark silver sickle in one hand. I did not see his usual sword.
Is this why he hadn’t been answering? Had he been taken too? Or maybe first? Why did it seem like he was in line with the lesser demons and haints?
We broke through the line, bludgeoning as many demons around Irene and Nash as we could. With a pained wheeze, Irene collapsed, falling forward, her body lying protectively over Nash’s. The remaining conscious haints and lesser demons surged forward. Isla and I clashed with them, defending our fallen comrades.
Kenny burst past the line, and I watched in horror as he raised the sickle high over his head, moving as if to strike Irene.
“Noooo!” I cried, turning, taking a slash to my left side.
A sound like metal rending, being crushed and torn, filled the air as Olan appeared, slamming into the lesser demon who cut me as I tackled Kenny to the ground.
He held fast to his weapon as we skidded in the soft mud. Wrenching my body up, I drew my daggers back to strike, only to be kicked in the torso. I slammed with a groan against the side of the large metal building.
Olan roared again, his shadows ripping from the umbra cast by the large metal building, forming a huge shadow beast that took off with reptilian grace towards the cadre of lesser demons trying to maul Rocio.
“I will kill you, you pitiful man,” Olan bellowed, putting himself between me and Kenny, advancing on him as I struggled to draw air into my lungs and pull myself to my feet.
Kenny’s laugh was unhinged. “I got this just for you, theilah alqatil,the god killer. I didn’t realize I would get to use it so soon!”
Olan surged forward, Kenny lifted the sickle into the air, and I knew. I knew if that weapon were allowed to touch my husband in any way, it would kill him. I tried to run, but that fucking luck of mine tripped me up and made me fall forward.
I sent up a wild plea like I did almost two months ago, thinking of the Goddess, of Olan’s gods, and I wished.
I wishto have the power tosave him. I love him.
Time slowed, like everyone was in a vat of molasses. Sweet air filled my lungs as I regained my footing. I ran, sliding in between Olan’s legs at an unnatural speed and popping up to my feet. Raising my arm with my onyx and gold bracelet high in the air, I blocked the blade for the being I loved, with the strongest magic I had, our bond. I felt the sickle connect, and time resumed.
I screamed as searing, blinding light exploded from my wrist, throwing everyone in the area back, the sickle shattering into pieces as Olan wrapped his arms around me before we were thrown to the ground.
Sounds of the battle ceased, and Rocio roared to the sky in triumph.
Dazed, I groaned in Olan's arms. Sounds around me were fuzzy, the world was doubled, and it felt... quiet. I couldn’t feel Olan, nor could I hear his thoughts. He was there, though, kissing my cheeks, my nose, my forehead, words of love pouring from his lips as I struggled to bring everything into focus. I felt his energy, dark and beautiful, healing my side, stitching together my flesh, soothing hurts I didn’t acknowledge during the fight.
Finally, my head cleared, and I could see him, ruby eyes filled with worry, with love, with hope. “Marry me,” I said, reaching up to caress his face, my wrist bare of my bond. Iknew what I was saying, what this meant. The life debt had been paid. I was no longer bound. That sickle would have killed him, and I, magicless, luckless, me, saved the life of a god.
With the help of other gods, to be completely honest. Thank you, if you’re listening.
His lips crashed into mine, his love for me just as apparent as it would have been with the bond. I eagerly kissed him back, pushing all the love and joy I had for him to him in spite of my lack of mental connection.
He pulled back. “Min elskede,”he said, reverently kissing me again.
