Page 81 of Wings of Strife
I take a few deep steadying breaths, filling my lungs with the citrusy scent of Raphael, but the terror in my belly never fades.
“If you go, we all go,” Zeke says. “We’re in this together.”
We don’t waste a second in heading to see my parents, only stopping to meet up with Theo and Zeke on the outskirts before flying in together.
Something heavy weighs me down, settling like river stones in my gut.
This damn fear will be the death of me. I have to shove it aside and remind myself that we have time. Time to finish training my parents. Time to make a plan for their safety, and time to figure out what the fuck is going on so we can handle it.
When we land, it takes a moment to recognize the sounds around me, and then another second more to realize it’s coming from within the walls of their house.
Someone is inside, tearing the place apart.
I rush forward, but before I make it past the threshold, I’m knocked clean off my feet.
Zeke is closest to me, and he kneels down to check that I’m alright while Raphael and Theo focus on taking down the asshole who threw me to the ground.
“You should help them,” I tell Zeke, standing up and wincing as my tailbone twinges.
“It’s only an angel. They can handle it. Besides, I know you’re about to rush inside.”
“I have to make sure my parents are alright,” I tell him, preparing to fight him on it, but he surprises me.
“I know. That’s why I’m going with you.”
My heart crashes against my ribcage, beating wildly as we head through the open doorway and into the ruin that is now my parents’ home. The air is tinged with the scent of fear andsomething metallic. It burns my nose, threatening to make me throw up.
This is all my fault.
The words repeat in my head, but I try to push them back. Now isn’t the time for a meltdown. I have to focus on finding them.
At the end of the hall, a hulking figure turns to us.
Demon.
As if matters could get any fucking worse.
Zeke moves into step beside me, not giving the beast a moment to anticipate our movements. He attacks with brutal precision, and for a moment I’m lost in awe of him.
Claws wrap around my shoulder, tossing me against the kitchen wall. The protection amulet around my neck warms, but my side still aches from where I hit the side of the counter.
I’ve never let pain keep me down before though, and I sure as fuck won’t start now.
The demon snarls at me, revealing its sharp teeth and swiping its claws through the air between us, but I duck and manage a blow to its right knee that has it stumbling.
I take advantage of the moment of weakness, trying desperately to summon the sunfire I’m supposed to be able to harness.
Nothing comes. Not a single drop.
We parry a few more times before the demon’s next hit sends me sprawling past the kitchen table. I flip over backwards; the amulet taking the brunt of the pain I know my body should feel right now.
My hair has come loose from the braid I’d tied it in before we left Raphael’s house. It blocks my view, but when I move the strands off my face, I finally notice where that awful smell is coming from.
Blood.
Pools of it lie on the floor. Streaks line the walls.
No!
