Page 72 of Unleashing Mayhem
Too much was at stake.
Eventually the demon in his clutches went still—paralyzed by Nightmare’s venom—and Nightmare dropped it to the ground, clenching and unclenching his fist as his muscles continued to spasm.
He turned to find Kaisyir cradling a limp Chaos in his arms.
“You have your knives?” Nightmare asked.
Kaisyir possessed demon steel, and its use would be necessary here. A demon couldn’t be killed by human weapons, and even sharp talons were no match for demonic bone and sinew.
“I do,” Kaisyir said darkly.
“Allow me five minutes to search. Then decapitate it. Have Chaos burn the remains.”
Perhaps Nightmare should have mourned the need to end the life of one of his own, but he couldn’t find the empathy to spare. This creature had made its choice, and its soul would return to the realm from which it had come, dispersing there.
It was a better fate than it deserved.
Nightmare crouched down, breathing in the scent of the demon on the floor. Its essence itched Nightmare’s nostrils, and Nightmare’s muscles were still spasming from the poison inside him, but he kept at it, marking the tendrils of the contract this creature had made.
He stood, keeping his beastly shape. If a townsperson saw him, so be it.
Nightmare had a human to hunt.
22
Matty
Everything was chaos outside the Lighthouse, and Matty didn’t mean the demon.
Most of the patrons who’d been shepherded out by Benny were milling around, in various stages of drunkenness and annoyance. Helio looked about ready to strangle anyone who dared speak to him, but Benny was just gently and cheerfully pushing people in the direction of the main street, trying to clear the area without causing a panic.
Matty had his hand in Cooper’s, and he was grateful for the reassuring touch after having to leave Nightmare’s side. They were being guided by a determined Nix through the crowd, but it was slow going with how tightly everybody was packed.
Matty was in a sort of daze. He couldn’t help but focus inward, on the feel of Nightmare through the bond. Matty might have been imagining it, but he thought he could catch a sense of Nightmare’s dark focus and deadly intent.
The pain demon must have been something really vicious, for Nightmare to be so engrossed.
And it was that thought that was sending Matty spiraling. What if Nightmare got hurt? Could he bekilledby this demon?
He couldn’t be—Matty wouldn’t allow it. He’d been promised forever. They’d made a magical vow and everything.
Forever, he started chanting in his head to calm himself as he followed Cooper and Nix through the crowd.He promised me forever.
There was a little sting at Matty’s chest, followed by a warmth that started surface-level at Matty’s skin and seemed to bleed inward. A nibble from a friend. Matty patted at his shirt, at the spot where the little shadow still lay between the fabric and his skin.
He was grateful for the reminder that he still had a piece of Nightmare with him, even if it was a small one. The rest of the shadows had stayed with Nightmare at the bar, and Matty was grateful for it, even if he missed them. He wanted his demon to have all the help he needed.
Matty could be calm. He could be brave.
He took a deep breath.
BANG.
Matty’s big, calming breath couldn’t have been more poorly timed if he’d tried. He inhaled just as a flash of light and a bloom of smoke filled the air. Matty started coughing immediately, choking on the smoke as people started panicking.
Was that smoke from Chaos, or had someone set off a firework? Everything was too frenzied—Matty couldn’t tell what direction things were coming from.
Matty’s hand slipped from Cooper’s as he bent forward, racked with coughs he couldn’t stop. The connection was immediately replaced by a strong grip on his bicep—Nix must have found Matty in the smoke—and Matty was tugged away through the mess of now screaming people and smoke-filled air,the long, quick strides of his companion leading him down the street.
