Wasting no time, I relayed his instructions to the crew of demons, and Serena’s crazy ass mom. Around me, one hundred demons let out bloodthirsty cries, and we descended upon the fort.
Chapter 13
Brie
Staying in the back was a bust. The man in front of me tried to speak, but was unable to with Alexis embedded in his throat. I reeled back, and he slumped to the floor, dead. My tits were most definitely not built for murder. “Shit.”
Usha looked back from the end of the hallway and nodded. “Let’s keep moving before more show up.” She whispered.
“Well done.” Alexis remarked in a low voice. “I didn’t even see that guy coming.”
“I don’t want to be praised for this.” I whispered back, catching up to the other women on wobbly knees. The only saving grace of this day is that our captures didn’t see it fit to give us water. So I didn’t have enough in my bladder to piss myself.
We tiptoed through the keep, following the trail of vines. Their glow grew dimmer with each passing moment and I wondered if the light they gave off was from the magic they sapped from us. If so, then it wouldn’t be long before our captors noticed.
At the front of the group, Usha held up a fist and froze. Light flickered at the far end of the hallway and danced around the shadows of two men. She looked around, then ushered us through a door to her left and closed it when the last woman dashed inside.
When my heart stopped beating in my ears, I looked around the dim room to see wall to wall shelves lined with glittering pink bottles. Familiar looking glittering pink bottles. I moved closer and picked one off the shelf. “Oh, you gotta be fucking kidding me.”
Harmony shuffled closer to inspect the pink brew. “What is it?”
Anger burned in my gut, but I kept my temper in check to avoid screeching out my rage. “These are the ass-hats that were making love potions.” I whispered.
“Wow, these idiots really can’t get women on their own.” Alexis mused. “Is this whole cult just a cop out for men who can’t talk to women?”
Becca picked up another bottle and read the instructions. “Oh, this does not sit well with me.”
Usha scanned the room for any other signs of life, then relaxed. She pocketed her knife and began looking through the walls of potions. “See if you can find a different colored bottle anywhere. If they have the potion, then they may have the antidote in here too.”
Quickly, the group began rummaging through stacks of potions, looking for anything that might free Felix and any other victims from their torment. I pocketed one bottle, just in case we couldn’t find the cure. With any luck, Fallon or someone else might be able to find a way to reverse it.
The door creaked open, and a man stepped inside while reading a scroll. He looked up at our group, who immediately froze in place. Wide eyed, he closed the door.
“Fuck!” Usha cursed. “Grab him!”
Lyric and I dashed after him, damn near taking the door down in our haste. His red cloak billowed behind him, as he sprinted down the hall. “THE WOMEN ARE L-” a shoe hit him on the back of the head, cutting off his announcement. He stumbled forward and crashed into a wall at the end of the hall.
Lyric hopped on one foot while removing her other shoe. She raised it above her head, ready to fire off her remaining projectile. The man stumbled to his feet and frantically looked down at both ends of the hall.
I skittered to a halt in front of him and held the sword to his throat. Swallowing my apprehension, I pressed the blade closer into his skin. “Shout and you die.” I grit out. “Now, tell me where you keep the antidote for the love potions.”
Sweat rolled down his forehead, and he pushed himself back further against the wall. “Just…Just go back to the room you were in and it’s kept in the room right next to it.”
“Umm…Brie?” Lyric nudged my side. I turned to see her staring at a figure making its way up the staircase.
The wretched stench hit me before I even saw it. Icy fear made the hair on my arms rise as a pair of bloodstained antlers rose from the stairway. I snatched the cloaked man by the collar and dragged him in front of me. “Lyric, get behind us and look down.” Her brow furrowed, but she did as instructed. I fished in my pocket for the love potion and threw the sucker as hard as I could at the emerging figure. Then pulled the man’s hood down and ducked my head.
The sound of glass shattering, followed by a pained grunt, met my ears. I felt the man tense under my hold. “Wait. What did you just do?” he asked.
“Chad,” the ghoul crooned. “I’ve never noticed how beautiful your eyes were.”
“Stay back, beast!” Chad hollered. He twisted out of my hold and backed away from the encroaching monster.
The ghoul spread its twisted limbs wide, the branches along its back cracking with the movement. “Don’t run from our love, Chad. We could be so beautiful together.”
“Oh, fuck this!” Chad took off, running down the opposite end of the hall, with the monster hot on his heels.
“Come back!” It screeched, sharp claws ticking against the stone floor. “We can open a bed-and-breakfast together!”
