Page 26 of Crimson Promises
I winced, propping myself on my elbows. “Back to first person, I see. As pleasurable as that sounds, I will have to pass, but thanks for that appetizing offer.”
The creature’s saliva dripped on my jeans.At least it isn’t acidic like the other one.
Rocking back on my elbows, I kicked the creature in the jaw. It reared back in pain or shock—I couldn’t be sure.
Leaping back to my feet, I retrieved another dagger from inside my jeans; one in each hand. The creature and I both circled each other, trying to anticipate the other’s move. It had no swords or shields, but it didn’t need any. Its clawed appendages were as deadly as any weapon.
I approached the creature straight on, bouncing from one foot to the other, and struck.
The thing with no bones or spine bent backward at an unnatural angle to deflect the shot.
I launched myself in the air, double daggers in hand. The creature held a forearm in defense. I grinned. I had drawn first blood, slicing a minor wound from wrist to elbow.
The creature pushed me back with its knee. I stumbled but was able to maintain my footing. It picked up a fucking log to use as a shield.
Not wanting to lose my momentum, I parried forward my attack relentlessly.I began to worry about how evenly matched this was becoming.Each strike I landed was blocked. I aimed straight for the jugular. The creature sidestepped the maneuver and sliced its talon above my ear.
I roundhouse kicked its claw away from me. The creature staggered back a step and launched its other fist my way. I ducked.
When I repositioned myself, it was ready with an uppercut. I placed one dagger over my shoulder so my right hand was over the handle, the left gripped forward. I side-shuffled forward toward the enemy; the other dagger clutched in my hand against my stomach. My move was deflected again. I swung the dagger around so it was in front of me and aimed for the vulnerable position between its forearm and ribs.
Once I was close enough, the creature threw the shield at me, bent down, and sliced at my ankles. I stumbled, my back hitting a tree. A dagger clattered to the ground.
“Gehennare Agnes to recipere cupient domum.”The fires of Hell will be eager to welcome you home.
My mind whirled. I knew this creature spoke the Old language and was naturally strong and intelligent.
I drew in a ragged breath. “You’re a demon.”
It smiled as if that was an answer to a question I never asked.
Fuck. Me.
“Who are you?”
“Behemoth,” it answered.
The Watchmen. The upper-level demon. Lucifer dispatched Behemoth when all others had failed. He had a twin who was just as conniving and a mirror image of the merciless mercenary before me. The brand on my inner wrist warmed at the recognition.
The demon stepped back right when it had me where it wanted me.
Behemoth was sent to capture or kill Aurora, but the question remained:why?
One of Hell’s seasoned warriors, Behemoth, wouldn’t betray his master no matter the cost. I pushed off from the tree.
This would be a fight to the death.
Behemoth grabbed the wrist that was free from holding a weapon and bent it backward. I spun into myself like I was twirling in a ballroom dance and elbowed him in the face. He released my wrist.
I slashed down and then across. Metal met claw.
As I arched into the air, I twisted, my blade poised and ready to meet flesh, it was denied.
Behemoth attacked with renewed vigor, speaking in an indistinguishable tongue as he dug his fists into the ground. Decayed roots and leaves wrapped around my ankles like slithering snakes. I slashed at them with my blade, cutting them away.
The demon wrenched two Pacific Yew trees from their very roots, snapping each over his knee making them easier weapons to wield. The deafening crack sounded like lightning splitting the sky. With a tree trunk clutched in each hand, he knocked the other dagger from my grip. Withered roots slithered up my arm. I struggled to break free, but they only tightened around me further.
Behemoth shook his head as he approached. He gave me a swift punch to the gut, another to my left eye, and a kick to each knee. Vines held me up the entire time. My eyes fluttered open and closed, pain radiating throughout my body. Once Behemoth was done bludgeoning me to a pulp, the vines loosened their hold letting me crumple to the ground. My arms were still strung loosely a foot or two from my torso.
