Chapter 210

Chapter 210: Chapter 210

Heather

Little pieces of demon bodies rained down on me, turning quickly to ash, as I hit the pavement in front of the church. Claudia’s spell held—their acid-like blood rolled off me without even the slightest burn. There might be a lot of these raccoon suckers, but they were much easier to kill than the bigger demons.

Claudia tossed another two vials, and the heat from exploding potions licked along my face. I reached into my bag, and grabbed two more. We’d made a bunch more at the motel, but we didn’t have a limitless supply. We needed to get in there and get this done before Luciana fully opened that portal.

We were maybe ten feet from the front door of the church. Not much more to go.

"In the name of God, the Father, I send you back to hell." I threw the vial, and more demons turned to ash. Brent jumped on one, ripping its head off with a well-placed bite.

"One more blast and we’ll be inside," I yelled.

Claudia stepped up beside me. "One. Two. Three." We said the words, tossing the vials in unison, and then charged the door.

Inside looked just like my vision. The portal wasn’t open yet, but there were at least twenty minor demons and half as many major standing in the circle Luciana had drawn in front of the altar.

Pews were turned on their sides—some ripped apart. Red flares lit the inside, giving everything a hazy, red glow. The helicopter’s spotlight shone in through the broken stained glass window.

My throat tightened. Brent? I felt him beside me, but I didn’t dare look away from what was in front of me. He sent me strength through our bond, and I could breathe a little easier.

I stepped into the church, focusing on the altar in the back. There was movement back there.

Luciana.

She shouted something in a language I didn’t understand, and the demons started moving toward us.

A major demon caught my attention as its red gaze stared. Its scaly gray skin glistened pink with the flares. It was taller than the rest, with muscles that looked like it could rip me apart. "Heathheer," it hissed.

I didn’t hesitate to reach inside my bag. "In the name of Jesus Christ, I send you back to hell." Three vials hit it at once, but it kept coming.

"You’re mine, Heathher," it said as its leathery skin smoked, burning from the spell.

"Not likely," Cosette said as she swung her sword, severing its head. "Did they send a demonic memo around with your name?" She asked as the demon turned to ash, and was sucked back where it belonged.

"That was creepy as fuck." I reached in my bag, and my fingers brushed the bottom. Only three more potions, and then I was going to have to rely on my spells—which I sucked at—or go wolf—which wasn’t my best fighting form.

The pews were all over the place. I stepped over one, and a small demon—no bigger than a child—clawed at my foot. "Try that again, fucker!" I shifted my free hand, going half hand, half paw—thick, razor-sharp nails extended.

I slashed its arm, and it fell to the ground with a satisfying thud. Black sludge spewed from the dangling limb and the demon leaped at me, baring a full mouth of pointed teeth.

I twisted my body and slashed, and the demon burned as it died, turning to ash.

Not a move I normally would’ve tried, but it worked. Confidence boosted my energy level.

I needed to get to the altar. I jumped on one of the overturned pews and could still see Luciana moving behind the altar. I took a quick glance around the room.

Xander was fighting a demon with Raphael. His bat swung, slamming a minor demon in the head.

Cosette and Van were caught up fighting two major demons. They were holding their own, but those demons were fast. And two more were coming up behind them. "Behind you, Cosette!" I shouted.

She heard me and whirled, just in time.

The wolves were fighting, claws slashing wherever they could find a target. I spotted Claudia, and started for her. "Do you have more vials?"

"Take Shane’s," Raphael yelled from behind me. I spun around as he tossed me the backpack. "I’m doing well with the bat."

I caught it, and knelt to the ground, dumping the vials into my messenger bag—much easier access.

I lifted my head just in time to see a demon’s nails coming right for my face.

Brent leaped into it, knocking the demon to the ground just before it made contact. I activated a vial, throwing it at the demon. Brent slashed its neck as the vial hit, and the demon turned to ash.

Hands shaking, I went back to dealing with the vials.

That had been way too fucking close. Brent came up beside me.

I’m heading for the altar, I said. Watch your back. Don’t let my vision happen.

He yipped.

I took off running, leaping over demons and dodging around them. I reached into my bag, pulling out two more vials. "In the name of Jesus Christ, I banish you." The vials activated.

I was almost to the altar, only two feet away. I raced to it, but a flash of light blinded me as Luciana finished her spell.

I flew through the air as her slimy magic hit me and my back slammed against the pew. I lay there, shaking off the hit, and a demonic howl echoed through the night. Followed by another.

I sat up enough to see the portal open—a bottomless pit. The jagged circle yawned deep into the ground. Its edges were tipped in red, making it look like glowing charcoal. I couldn’t see down it from here, but the scent of sulfur was so strong it was almost unbearable.

It made my eyes water. There was a rumbling from deep within the pit. The little demons that we’d fought outside were still coming out of it, but something else was working its way up.

I had to close it before whatever that was made it to the top.

Brent was still in wolf form. I closed my eyes for a second and saw the fight through his eyes. He was dealing with two minor demons. Pain from a long scratch along his back beat against him, but he was ignoring it.

This was it. This was my vision.

Now I had to change it.