Samael had brought a few other demons with him. Bael, Mammon, and Sitri were moving around the sides of the community center, blocking off any other exits.
Samael stroked his hand down my hair and I glanced at him. “Thanks for coming.”
He merely nodded and we walked toward the entrance and into the hall where the hate group had gathered.
There must’ve only been twenty or so humans sitting in a circle on plastic white chairs, and a few of them leapt to their feet as we walked in.
One of them looked at me, looked at the demon next to me, and turned to run. Vas had already moved inside from the other exit, and he raised one eyebrow as the guy desperately swung his arm.
“Alive,” I called out. “We need them alive.”
For now.
Vas shook his head at me. Then he snapped a fist into the guy’s solar plexus and the guy hit the ground, gasping like a fish on land.
The humans were either attempting to run or pulling out weapons. I couldn’t see the sword anywhere, but Cassie had armed herself with a blade the length of my arm. I pulled out my own knife. Hers may be longer, but I’d bet mine was sharper.
A beefy guy pulled out a machine gun and everyone froze. Well, I froze. Samael’s wing pushed me off balance and I stumbled a few steps to the side as the demon casually took a step front of me. I ground my teeth. We would be talking about this later, that’s for sure.
“Go on then,” Samael said. “Shoot me.”
The idiot did. Bullets bounced off Samael’s ward. He held out one hand, and the gun flew out of the guy’s hand. Everyone watched as it lifted into the air and melted until it was nothing but a ball of metal. Then it landed on the ground.
“Well?” Samael said to the room at large.
Everyone dropped their weapons and put their hands up. As much as Samael’s overinvolvement annoyed me, there was no question that he and his demons got shit done.
I stalked over to the guy with the gun. “Not so easy taking down a paranormal who isn’t half the size of you guys and taken by surprise in his own store, is it?”
“Fuck… you.”
“Cool story.” I slammed my foot into his face.
“Let’s get them all back to the Mage Council,” I said. “I’ve got a few questions I need to ask them.”
25
Danica
“Alright, Bob, you know how this goes.”
He glowered at me. “Why would I tell you anything? You’re gonna kill me anyway.”
I shook my head. “I brought you to the Mage Council for a reason. You cooperate, I’m happy to turn you over to the human authorities. They get pissed when you guys mess with paranormals, since they never want to start a war they can’t win, but they’ll just lock you up. Otherwise, I’m happy to have you transferred to Samael’s tower instead?”
His eyes darted and I sat back in my chair as he considered his options.
Vas walked in and whispered into my ear.
“Let’s get a drink after this.”
I frowned and nodded solemnly. He turned and walked out.
“What?” Bob slammed his hands on the table. “What did he say?”
“He said Cassie is already telling us everything.” I shook my head sadly. “She says she had nothing to do with it— you guys forced her to contact Clint and she feared for her life.”
Bob’s face turned a worrying shade of purple. “That lying bitch.”
