Page 89 of Blood of Night (The Thorne Hill)

ChapterThirty-Eight

Iscream, and the next thing I know, Lucas is on the ground next to me, pulling me into his arms. “They took her! They took her!”

Everything happens in slow motion and we both fall back, not wanting to believe this to be true. Our daughter is gone, and I have no idea where she is. I turn, burying my face against Lucas and scream.

“We’ll get her back,” he tells me and I ball my fist, hitting him in the chest.

“How? How?” I fall forward, unable to stop my tears. I didn’t think I could go on without Lucas, but I’m not myself without my daughter. Losing her is like losing half my heart, and I can’t go on like this. I don’t want to because each pump of my broken heart hurts too much. The pain is searing, burning and freezing and cutting and slicing me open all at once.

“Callie,” Lucas tries, struggling to hold it together. The floor vibrates and someone else comes into the attic.

“She’s alive,” Eamon says, kneeling next to Kristy. “Just knocked out.”

“They took her,” I cry and bring my fists down onto the floor.

“Where would they take her?” Lucas asks but I can’t answer. “Where?” he demands, giving me a shake. “Callie, where?”

“I don’t know,” I cry. “I don’t…” I blink, sucking back a sob and feel Binx trying to talk to me. They traced the zombies back to a church. There’s some sort of warding around it, keeping them out. But she’s there. They can sense her.

“Church,” I say and sit up, breathing in deep. “That white church downtown. They’re there and they have six more sacrifices. It’s all they need to open the Gates.” I look at Lucas, hardly able to see him through my tears, but I don’t have to say it for him to know. They’re going to open the Gates and take Juliet to Hell, using our infant daughter in some way to rule.

Eamon scoops up Kristy and eyes the both of us. “I’ll drive.” He takes Kristy downstairs and lays her on the couch. Eliza is up, moving slowly as she heals.

“Please stay with Kristy,” I ask softly, not wanting her to wake up alone. “I know where Juliet is.”

“Kill those assholes,” Eliza says, lip trembling.

“I’m going to kill every single one of them.”

Tears escape Eliza’s eyes, and she bobs her head up and down. “Good.”

Lucas takes my hand and we run through the house. Everything happens in a blur, and somehow, I’m able to find my keys. Eamon takes them and fires up the Jeep. Lucas gets in the passenger seat and I get in back, not bothering with the seatbelt.

“Go downtown,” Lucas tells him and Eamon just nods. He’s gripping the steering wheel tight, and I hold my breath, tipping my head up.

Dad, help me. Please,I beg.They took Juliet. My heart breaks and my bottom lip quivers. She’s not dead. She can’t be. I’m going to find her and save her and we’re going to go home and do bath and bedtime and everything is going to be okay.

“Turn here,” Lucas says and Eamon guns it through a stoplight. I’m not worried about getting pulled over. There’s a witch and two vampires with the ability to hold you spellbound in this car. I’m still praying to my dad and Uncle Lucifer when we finally get to the church. Eamon drives right up to the front, stopping in the grass. I get out before the Jeep is in park. All of my familiars are here, unable to get through the circle of black smoke.

“Stand back,” I tell everyone and go right up to the wooden doors. Vines of smoke crisscross over them and I plant one foot behind me, reaching deep down inside myself. Hellfire flares into one hand and bright white light into the other. Fueled by desperation, I scream and throw them both forward. They collide, erupting into a beautiful explosion. I can feel the stretch and power as the wings spread out behind me, my gorgeous black wings. I push forward again, using my dark wings to fan the flames. The black smoke hisses and burns up, shriveling away.

The second the door is clear, Lucas bursts through. I drop my hands, aware that Eamon is staring at me with his mouth agape. I stand still for one second as I feel something warm around my head. I reach toward it and realize it’s a crown of hellfire. Whether it’s blue or red or a freaking rainbow doesn’t matter right now. It may be just what I need to save my daughter. I run into the church, going through the greeting area and into the sanctuary.

Seven people kneel before the altar, chanting something. They’re holding knives in their hands, ready to carve Murmur’s sigil into their chest. My familiars shadow around them, subduing the victims and taking the knives away before they can break another seal. The demon Murmur is behind it with my daughter in his hands. Juliet is crying, her little arms and legs moving in protest.It’s okay, sweetheart, your mom is here.

Lucas speeds forward, making it to the last row of pews before an army of ravens attacks, but it doesn’t stop him. I throw my hands out, telekinetically shielding him. He rushes forward, but as soon as his feet hit the first step leading up to the altar, black smoke rises from the ground and yanks him back.

“No!” I shout and jerk my hands down, shoving the ravens to the ground. They squawk in pain and I pull the ones that are still alive up only to shove them down again. Eamon sprints forward, going around a different way. Murmur looks up, long dark hair, covering half his face, and Eamon goes flying back, getting pinned to a wall at the back of the church.

“Give me my baby, asshole,” I say through gritted teeth and hellfire springs from my fingers. Murmur, dressed in a long dirty black cape, brings Juliet closer to him, knowing I won’t hurt him if it puts my daughter at risk. “I swear to fucking god if you—”

“You’ll what?” A voice comes from behind me, and a chill goes down my spine. I know that voice.

“Paimon.” I whirl around, watching him shimmer into view. He twists his hand, and the tendrils of smoke that are wrapped around Lucas tighten, breaking his bones. I wince, breath hitching in my chest. Is he astral projecting again? If he is, then I can’t kill him.

And if he’s not…he’s much more powerful than before.

“I’m waiting,” Paimon says and throws his hands out, sending me flying back. “You’ll what?”

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