Page 100 of The Healing Dragon
“Mel?” my father asks with wide eyes. “Have you come to take me to the underworld?”
“I’m afraid even the underworld has standards you do not meet,” Mel says with a grunt.
I’ve never met the demon in person, but his name and reputation describe him perfectly. His golden gaze falls to me and a look of disappointment passes through him.
“You can still do it. It’s not too late.” His expression doesn’t change when I don’t move. “Your soul is just as disgusting as your boyfriends,” Mel says.
“What?”
Mel doesn’t answer me. He turns to my father and extends his hand. Nothing physical or visual happens, but theconnection is made known as my father's screams echo in the forest.
“Wait,” I yell. Mel doesn’t pay me any attention. I turn to my father. “Where is it? Where is the Red Book?”
My father doesn't move, but his eyes turn in my direction. His lips curve at the edges. The expression chills my skin despite the wall of fire surrounding us.
“You’ll never find it on time. The Oscuros will never get it back. Not without war.” He coughs. “The moment my soldiers and I don't return, someone will take it to the King of Paz. He will finally have the thing he needs to destroy Puerto Quinn. My death will be avenged.”
I step back, staring at the hateful eyes of a man who’d rather see the world burn down to ashes than admit defeat. The King of the Human Lands will finally get an upper hand onallmagic kind, not just Brandon. My father has doomed us all.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
JESSE
The abrupt landing throws me off balance as soon as Pedro releases his hold on me. I find myself on my back, observing the sky as it moves for a full minute. I close my eyes and breathe in deeply.
We covered the distance between Fierno and the Black Castle in minutes instead of hours. Angels are speedily fliers.
“I puked after my first fly,” Pedro says and pats me in the back like I did a good job.
I never thought I’d say this.
“Flying via angel is far too personal and my least preferred form of transportation.”
“No hurt feelings,” Pedro says.
Flashes of light thunder down from the sky. Dozens of bright white wings cover kneeling angels as they land one by one. Their presence shocks all, as the fight ceases for a breath. That’s all the time it takes for the angelic creatures to rise to their seven feet. Then they defend the Black Castle.
Swirls of black smoke bleed out of the ground, forming terrifying figures out of nightmares. The demoniccreatures join in with the angels and castle guards as they exterminate the enemy in the most gruesome way I’ve ever seen.
The guards are holding their posts well, not being backed into the castle walls. The angels reinforce their lines while the dark creatures pluck out enemy soldiers out of thin air.
I make a quick and count that every single body littering the ground belongs to the enemy lines.
A rain of black mist engulfs two groups of duendes. Simultaneously, a dozen of them fall to their knees. The mist slips into their bodies, then quickly to follow are agonizing screams. Their bodies drop like flies seconds later. Cloaked in dark mist, Brandon lands like a warrior ready for combat. LeeAnn makes quick work of stepping aside as my brother joins angels and demons alike.
He doesn’t stand back with the line of guards. He lands in front of them and stands there, moving his mist from foe to foe. The screams of agony are the only signal of where he has hit his target.
“There you are!” Roman shouts. The adrenaline-high is clear in his voice.
He is currently battling a giant in formation with a few of his soldiers. Blow after blow, they attack in a coordinated effort until the giant falls. They make quick work of subduing him. No one is being spared. They came here with clear intentions of war and that’s what they’re getting.
A wall of fire off by the clearing shifts in an organized flow, catching my attention. The wall moves further, revealing the fire snake we’ve all seen more than once. It’s as tall and wide as I remember it.
Dexter has been Janelle’s biggest weapon and show of power. She has never openly labeled him, but I’ve caught her speaking to him under her breath more than once. It may notbe considered a gift, but since only Duelos can summon a fire creature, it seems fitting to call it that.
“Her magic is back,” Brandon says, then looks around as if in search of someone but gives up quickly after.
As the wall of fire clears, three figures come into view. Mel is standing just behind Janelle. They are both standing in front of the body of Lord Duelo sprawled on the ground.
