Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 98961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
“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?”
I’m thrown back, falling backwards over several pews. Pain radiates through my body and my right wrist, which was already sore, hurts like it never has before. I try to push myself up and falter, quite literally unable to use that arm. “Fuck,” I pant, knowing my wrist is broken. Gritting my teeth, I somehow get up. Blood drips down my face and I limp forward, determined.
“You know,” Paimon taunts as he steps onto the altar beside Murmur, achingly close to Juliet. “I should have waited until you squeezed this thing out from the start.” He pulls a blade from his belt. “Look at her, so useless and needy.” He makes a face of disgust and brings the blade to his face, licking it before holding it over my daughter. “This way, we will be bonded from the start and she’ll learn her place. And that place is at my feet.”