Chapter 209

Chapter 209: Chapter 209

Heather

As Morgan turned a corner, the church came into view. The light from the helicopter overhead made it as good as daytime wherever it shone. The cops were firing, some in riot gear. Others just in Kevlar vests. Some hid behind their cars, but the rest were moving toward the demons, shooting their shotguns and reloading as quickly as possible. With each blast, little bits of demons went flying.

But the demons weren’t like the ones we’d seen before. They were the size of large raccoons. Their fangs dripped black goo that scorched the ground it touched. They swarmed out of the church like giant ants. I could see maybe a hundred of them, but more were coming out of the doorway every second.

The maybe thirty cops surrounding the church were barely keeping the swarm at bay. Their shotguns were pretty effective at killing the demon-raccoon things, but I wasn’t sure if that’d last long if minor demons—let alone major ones—started coming out.

We had to hurry. If Luciana hadn’t summoned any bigger demons yet, then maybe there was still time to stop her. In my vision, there’d been minor and major demons in the church. So, the portal wasn’t open yet. At least not all the way.

We skidded to a stop just outside of the ring of cop cars.

I slid down from the van—unable to tear my gaze from the front of the church as a demon leaped at a cop—gaining at least four feet of air—landing on the cop’s face. He cried out as blood spewed. The cop hit the ground, and another cop charged beside him—firing two shotgun blasts at the demon, point blank. Another three officers covered him while he dragged the injured cop to safety.

"Who’s in charge here?" Morgan called, drawing up to her full height as she approached the densest pack of officers with Ramirez by her side.

I shuddered. We needed to get in the church or we might all be dead soon.

Brent gripped my hand. You okay?

I pressed my forehead against his sternum, and breathed in his scent. I’m terrified of going in there.

We can do this. We’ve been preparing for it. We’re ready.

Maybe. But if this was my last moment with him, I wanted to savor it.

"Officer Wilson and Chief Lauler have agreed that being supernatural creatures, you might have some insight into this problem of theirs." Agent Ramirez motioned us forward.

Thank God. "Luciana is going to be behind the altar. I’m going in—straight for her," I said. "As soon as she dies, her spells should die, too, and all the demons will get sent back." Hopefully without me having to jump into any portals.

My stomach knotted, and I felt like I was going to throw up.

Breathe, cherie. I’m not going to let that happen.

We might not have a lot of options.

Then we make options.

"If not?" Deputy Wilson asked.

"Then we kill them one by one," Donovan said.

I turned to the chief. "The only human inside there right now is Luciana, right?"

"None of my guys have gotten through the bottleneck at the door. What’s going on in there is anyone’s guess."

I cracked my knuckles. "Fine."

I turned back to my friends. This could be my last moment with them, but I didn’t want to think like that. I couldn’t think like that. Not now. "Y’all ready?"

There were some nods. Some yeahs and yeses.

I would’ve done a huddle with a go team, but that felt cheesy. So instead I said, "Let’s go get this bitch. And then, let’s go home. I’m tired. And would love to not sleep in a fucking motel again."

"Me, too," Claudia said. "That place was gross."

"Y’all are bunch of whiners," Xander said.

We laughed, and I stepped to Brent. I wrapped my arms around his waist as I looked up at him. If we

get through this, I want to go on a honeymoon.

His dimples deepened. Where to?

I don’t know. A tropical beach with white sand and clear waters.

Sounds perfect. He brushed a kiss on my forehead.

Do you think we’ll get through this? With everything I’d seen, we were still here. I wasn’t sure how much we could change or if it’d be enough.

Absolutely. There’s no other option.

I leaned back from him, stealing some of his confidence through the bond. "Okay."

"Okay."

I nodded. "I’m ready." I said the words even though I wasn’t sure they were true. Not even a little bit. I knew how badly this could go.

I knew that I could die. Brent could die. Everything I knew could be over.

But that didn’t change anything.

We had to fight.

The only thing I did know was that Luciana wasn’t getting out of this alive. No matter what. I was ending this.

Now. Tonight.

With determination burning through my veins, my gaze darted to each of my friends before settling on Brent again. "Let’s do this."

Brent, Serena, Donovan, Xander, Lucas, and Adrian were already shifting. Some of the cops cursed, stepping back as they took in the sight.

You shifted, I said to Brent. You weren’t shifted in my vision.

He stuck his wolfy tongue out and tilted his head. Right. We’re changing that vision. It’s going to be different. Might as well start now.

"You coming, Van?" Cosette gestured and a sword appeared.

"Of course." He was suddenly at her side, already

gripping two swords.

"Show off." She rolled her eyes and conjured a second sword, not to be shown up.

Claudia drew spell knots, warding each of us against the demon blood.

I grabbed two vials. "Everyone have enough?"

Raphael pulled the last vials from Shane’s backpack and shoved them in his pockets. He gave his bat a little test swing. "Ready."

"What about you, Claudia? Vials?"

She grinned, and it was about as mischievous of a grin as I’d ever seen from her. "I’m ready." Lucas bumped her hand. "And I’ve got my wolf."

"Good." Love you, I said to Brent.

But there were no promises in life. No guarantees. I had to live every day like it was my last, and do my best to make my life count. So, that was what I was doing.

And if we survived tonight, that’s what I’d continue to do. "Let’s do this."

A call went up among the cops. Some yelled out to not shoot the wolves. Others yelled about not shooting the witches.

I grabbed out two vials. "With the power of Jesus Christ, I banish you from this earth." I threw the vials, and started running before the explosion hit.