Page 30 of Destined for Eternity
“Please, don’t!” he cried.
Bartol wasn’t sure how it worked, but once a demon looked at a human with their glowing red eyes, few were able to fight back. They could somehow push fear into their victims the way spiders poisoned their targets to slow them down. Only distance could make the effect weaker, but the man and possessed woman were too close. He didn’t stand a chance.
“I’m going to carve you up into pieces and leave them hanging all over this truck like Christmas decorations,” the demon said, leaning down.
Bartol flashed forward and grabbed the creature, slamming its body against the truck. The knife fell to the ground in the process. He kicked it away and stared hard at his target. “And what would the purpose of tearing this man apart be?”
“Maybe I just think it would be fun.”
He squeezed the demon’s throat. “Tell me, now.”
The demon sputtered until he loosened his grip. “Why should I tell you when you’ll kill me anyway?”
“I’ll make your death quick if you cooperate.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” the creature growled, no longer sounding like a human at all.
“It should,” he said, letting his own eyes glow golden. “Because I have learned how to make it painfully slow.” The demon didn’t need to know that he was still working on improving his speed. Slow and painful required a lot of energy, so Bartol hoped to get faster at it for his own sake.
“Your kind aren’t the only ones tired of living in the shadows.” The creature wriggled in his grasp. “We want a place here, too.”
In the distance, he caught the sound of a vehicle coming up the highway. Bartol recognized the hum of the motor as being one of the SUVs from the compound. Some of his competitors would be there in moments.
“You’re forbidden from that,” he said, glaring at the demon. “You’ll never be allowed to stay here.”
“That’s what you think!”
The SUV stopped on the side of the road a short distance from them. Melena and several nerou climbed out and started heading their way.
A bright flash of light appeared to his right, and Raguel appeared. “Finish the demon now.”
“It’s cooperating and answering my questions.”
“Demons lie,” the archangel replied, stepping around the trucker who lay in shock on the ground. “Do not listen to it.”
The possessed woman hissed, “I’m telling the truth!”
“Kill it now, son,” Raguel commanded.
There was something urgent in his father’s voice. Like he was desperate for Bartol to do as he asked before it was too late. He didn’t know what was going on, but he would listen to his sire. Raguel wouldn’t command the kill unless there was a good reason.
Bartol took his free hand and pressed it against the demon’s chest. Pulling the energy from inside with ease, he had it out and dissipated into the air in less than a minute. A personal best for him.
He dropped the limp body and turned to his father. “What was that about?”
“Trust me.” Raguel pursed his lips. “There is more to this than you know. Do not question the demons anymore. Kill them and move on to the next.”
“What?” Melena asked as she walked up. “What do you mean we can’t interrogate them?”
“I have my reasons. You’ll learn them when the time is right.”
The trucker climbed unsteadily to his feet. “Who are you people?”
Raguel turned to him, golden eyes glowing. “Forget about us and the attack. Wait inside your truck for your assistance to arrive.”
The man did as he was told, moving stiffly.
“Answer me, dammit,” Melena said, coming to stand before the archangel.
He shook his head. “I cannot.”
“Why is this happening?” Bartol asked.
“If I could tell you, I would. For now, all of you return to the compound.”
The archangel flashed away. Bartol and Melena stared at each other with the same unanswered questions, neither able to give an answer.
