Page 27 of Eternal Sacrifice
“Wow,” Mor said, sitting back in her chair. “You have put a lot of thought into this.”
My blood felt like fire, charring my insides, but it never failed to surprise me how quickly she doused the flames.
“It sounds like a solid plan,” Ryan said.
When I looked around the table and saw nodding, smiling faces, the pressure in my chest eased away. Leaving me free to breathe like a regular demon again.
Wearrivedthroughaportal into the middle of a serene forest. Warm rays from the sun filtered through the trees, along with the sounds of cars and humans nearby.
“Alright, Justice, you’re up.” Zeb opened his arms, and Justice hopped up to be cradled. Zeb was powerful enough to protect Justice’s body while he entirely went into one of the small birds. Justice’s body went limp, draping over Zeb’s arms like a green and white cloth. A bird swooped down a moment later, landing on Mor’s shoulder before attempting to fly down her shirt.
“Hey,” Mor laughed as she twisted and pressed her hand against her chest to block him. “We will play after.” She smiled at the bird, and it bowed its head before flying away.
There wasn’t anything to do but wait, since Justice couldn’t report back telepathically. If something happened to Justice’s bird, his soul would simply return to his body, and he could tell us what happened.
“Yup, she’s there alright,” Justice groaned a few minutes later as he jerked back to life in Zeb’s arm. “I made it to her cave, and then BLUE!”
“Blue?” I asked, pulling a sheet of notes from my pants pocket. “I don’t remember Black Annis having a blue power. Was it electric or ice based?”
“I’m pretty sure it was face based. Fucking terrifying, too. She came out of the darkness with all this blue skin and one of those old hag-style noses. And these giant finger claws.Rar.” He clawed the air, stretched his neck forward, and stared into my soul.
“She killed you by looking at you?” I asked to clarify.
“I’m not sure?” Justice frowned before hopping down from Zeb’s hold. “She kills quick.”
“Then let’s repay her in kind,” I said, feeling the war inside me rising to scream that this was our mission and purpose. I looked around and noticed similar looks of determination on the other demons’ faces. “Stick to the plan. Stay in the sunlight.”
We made our way through the thick underbrush of the woods, crashing through it on the way to the cave. I led the way with Zeb by my side as the others fell in line based on where they would be positioned in the fight.
“Springfield didn’t come back to the hunting cabin after we left the bar,” Ryan said, poking his head between Zeb and me.
“How many times do I have to tell you I didn’t fuck Aggie?” Springfield groaned from behind us.
I laughed, shaking my head. “Amira might not want to procreate with you, but fucking her little sister would be too offensive for a Prince of Hell to let slide.” I stopped walking, and Zeb and Ryan continued forward, but Springfield ran into my back. I looked at him over my shoulder as he recovered from walking into a brick wall. “You realize Amira can rip your body into a million pieces with the snap of her finger, right?”
“As long as I’m in Hell, it won’t kill me,” Springfield answered, patting me on the back before moving around to continue after Zeb and Ryan.
“What was that about?” Jax asked as he and the rest of my pack caught up.
“Just Springfield being Springfield,” I laughed.
Formation lines were abandoned as we continued forward as two packs. We trudged through the trees until we saw a small clearing with a crumbling cave made from ancient stones. A large oak tree sat at the mouth. The thick leaves created a dark shadow, giving her shelter from the killing rays of the sun. We stayed on the opposite side of the clearing, getting back into the proper position.
Zeb and I made our way across the grass, feeling confident. The sun’s rays beat down on my back, and there wasn’t a cloud in sight. We stopped inches before the shadow of the imposing oak, and I peered into the dark abyss inside the cave.
I couldn’t see a thing.
I turned to look at Zeb and nodded. A fire roared to life inside my palms while the hairs on my arms rose. Crackling electricity discharged from Zeb’s fingertips, arching between his fingers in neon webs. As one, we directed an attack into the cave. Only the darkness inside the cave seemed to swallow our power whole.
“Ryan, freeze her,” Mor said, causing me to turn to look behind me.
Mor was pointing into the cave with her finger and an incredulous look.
“She’s right there,” Mor said, gesturing this time with her hand.
“We just see black, Princess,” I said gently.
Her face lit as she understood. She looked at Jax, and they exchanged a silent conversation. Jace headed toward her before his eyes vaguely glazed over.
