Page 85 of To Ashes and Dust
Flames flickered atop Barrett’s fingertips as he prepped to hit it again. “Ok, fire works on it!”
The creature lunged the moment Barrett spoke, the flames extinguishing as he narrowly avoided being impaled by its claws. God, those claws were terrible, so long it was like it wielded daggers. It would be so easy for it to run one of us through. The alley spun as I remembered how it felt through Elena’s memory to be gutted by the darklings’ claws. This would be so much worse.
“This thing’s smart!” Barrett grimaced, clutching his side.
Zephyr shifted into his panther form, crouching low and growling, dragging his claws against the pavement to draw the creature’s attention. It worked. The creature turned on Zephyr as Barrett recovered. He grasped the shredded side of his leathers where the creature had grazed him, blood soaking into his armor. I looked back and forth between Barrett and the creature.
Flame.Icould use flame Stoicheion too.
I hadn’t dared try since our last attempt when it had fallen out of control. Could I do it? Would I lose control again? Vincent wasn’t here to assist if things went south. I looked to Damien, who met my eyes, and his brows furrowed before I reached into his mind.
I’m going to help Barrett.
He swallowed, but nodded.
She doesn’t hold power over you any longer, Cas. You’re free now. You can do this.
Damien summoned more of the Lupai to assist Zephyr, the wolves rising from the shadows to surround the creature. The demon blindly spun, the shadow wolves snapping their jaws and barking from all directions. One of them leapt onto the creature’s hunched back, biting down onto its neck. The creature stretched its long arm up and knocked the Lupai wolf into a wall. I flinched at the whimper that tore from the Lupai’s throat as it slumped to the ground and disappeared. I reached out to Barrett’s mind.
Barrett, we’re going to tag team it.
Barrett’s gaze snapped to me.
You sure, spitfire?
Yeah. I’ll go first. When it turns on me, get its bac—
The creature sank its jaws into the back of one of the Lupai. My chest twisted at the cry that ripped from the shadow wolf’s mouth as the creature thrashed it in the air before slamming it to the ground. The monster stepped up onto the shadow wolf as it began to fade into nothing, the creature’s massive head turning as it listened intently.
I ducked away from Barrett and spun on my heels as I summoned the courage to call forth the flames. They came to life on my hands, warmth dancing over my skin. Before I could risk losing control, I shot my hand out, hurling every bit of that heat at the creature.
Its head snapped to me and it darted to the side, the flames sliding over its back, barely grazing it. It leapt onto the wall, running along the brick. Barrett shot to his feet, sending a wave of fire at the creature’s back. The flames slammed into it, and the creature crashed onto the ground. It slid to a stop, writhing, but it wasn’t enough. The fire died quickly, and the creature rose, thrashing its head as it screeched. It recovered faster this time, lunging at me before I could react.
“Cassie!” Damien yelled as they ran for me.
There wasn’t enough time. It slammed into me, my back meeting the pavement, the side of my dagger grinding into my palms as I held it between the creature’s jaws. My dagger wasn’t long enough, my hands just barely outside of its jaws. If it moved, it could bite down on me. Would I turn into a darkling? Would it tear my arm off?
The creature barreled down, trying to force its way down to me. My muscles quivered, threatening to give out as it inched closer. Its jaw was physical, the only part of it, it seemed, that was not made up of shadow and mist.
“I can’t burn it with Cas under it! The creature might hurt her!” Barrett yelled. I couldn’t focus enough to pay attention to what the others were doing. I could burn it—was in the perfect position.
A Lupai leapt onto the creature’s back, but it ignored the shadow wolf, slamming its claws into the pavement in such a fury, I struggled to shift out of their path. I breathed deeply, letting the fire come to life beneath my skin, the flame sparking in my palms.
A scream echoed out over the streets, and both the creature and I froze. Its oblong head jerked upward and it sniffed the air. The black mist peeled off his teeth as it growled, and before Damien and the others could do anything, the creature leapt off me, taking off into the darkness.
I lay there a moment in shock, fire doused, chest heaving.
Damien appeared at my side, grabbing hold of my arm and pulling me to my feet. “Gods, are you ok, Cas?”
I couldn’t answer, terror washing over me, but it wasn’t from being face to face with that creature again.
“Was that a human scream I just heard?” Barrett asked, eyes following where the creature had run off.
Damien looked me over, but I didn’t meet his eyes, my gaze locked down the stretch of the dark street. My heart hammered.
The scream wasn’t far.
Zephyr shifted back to his normal form “Shit, if that creature gets a hold of her—”
