Benedek took the head of the demon with the best eyesight, slicing through the neck with a crystal sword he had forged in a replica of Safia Meziane’s blade. Safia was lifemate to Petru, one of the brethren from the monastery. Safia had passed her knowledge and skill as a demon slayer to him and the others, knowing they might be heading to another battle with Lilith and her army.
He continued with the sacred blade, in one powerful motion, taking the demon with the nose for tracking and then the one with acute hearing. Lights burst from the sword, scattering across the sky and mingling with the dark, roiling clouds. The colors streaked through the various shades of gray. Although he couldn’t see them for himself, Benedek knew they were various colors because Safia had shown them to him in her mind. The colors pierced the clouds like spears, surrounding the bodies of the demons, penetrating their mass, so that holes began to appear in their chests, arms and legs.
Benedek was adept with weapons. Killing demons wasn’t the same as destroying them. To prevent them from returning to Lilith, where she could either punish them or destroy them herself out of sheer anger, the hunters had to ensure the demons were completely extinguished. That meant using the crystal sword Safia had so graciously shown them how to forge and use.
As the demon heads dropped toward the ground, Nicu used hiscrystal sword to attack. Lights shot across the sky in various shades, each going through the tumbling heads so that more and more holes appeared through the grotesque masks until the heads and bodies were mere pinpoints of shooting lights.
At the same time, Lojos and Tomas attacked the demons in the cloud they had selected, using the same exact technique. They struck fast, appearing for the briefest of seconds, already slicing the crystal sword through the necks of the demons and using the weapon to annihilate the bodies. Hundreds of holes turned into thousands. When the remains hit the ground, there was very little left of what had once been six demons. The bodies continued to disintegrate, smoke rising to mingle with the rolling fog.
Benedek felt him then, the rage and hatred of the vampire as he witnessed the loss of his spies. The clouds spun and darkened dramatically. Thunder boomed, shaking the ground. The sky lit up as lightning sheets illuminated the grayish shadow figure crouching low, his face turned up toward the clouds.
Whips of lightning cracked across the sky, jumping from ground to cloud, striking at the rocks above the boulder as Mataias attacked. The vampire leapt from the rocks to the ground, shrieking hatred and defiance. The earth trembled, rocks tumbling down while trees and shrubs shook with the violent earthquake.
As Benedek and the others streaked toward the vampire, Benedek saw a crack appear in the ground, widening as it grew. An orange-red glow illuminated the abyss briefly as a tangle of fiery razor wire lassoed the vampire’s feet. He screamed even louder as the cruel rope of fire tightened like a noose around his ankles and the vampire was dragged into the flaming chasm. The earth slammed closed over his head. At once the storm dissipated and the ground settled into calm.
Chapter
5
The moment Tora stepped inside the home of Raik Bootsma, the seaman’s level of agitation rose sharply. He began to clench and unclench his fists. Underneath the swelling on his arm, the dark shade of purple pushed against his skin as if seeking a way out. His eyes instantly became bloodshot. His breath came in short bursts while his chest rose and fell fast.
“You have to leave,” he told Tora, leaping from his chair, nearly knocking Silke over. “Get out now. Get out of my house.”
Imka rushed into the room, followed by Julia. The two of them skidded to a halt when Silke calmly held up her hand and then indicated for them to go back out. At the movement, Raik swung around to face his wife and daughter, his face a mask of near evil.
“Why are you inviting the enemy into my home, Imka? What kind of wife are you to betray me in such a manner?” He took an aggressive step toward her.
With complete confidence, Silke glided in between him and Imka and Julia. Facing Raik, she indicated behind her back for his wife and daughter to retreat from the room. Raik swung at Silke with a clenched fist, the one that was swollen. The purple streak pulsed with rage beneath the skin. Silke easily slipped the punch as she drew her crystalsword from her backpack. She stepped to one side, forcing Raik to face her.
Behind them, Tora lifted her arms to weave a protection and caging spell, making it impossible for Raik to leave the room—or if Silke managed to draw out the demon, holding the demon in place.
“Don’t hurt him,” Imka cried out. She could see Silke drawing the crystal sword and the sacred water she always carried with her. “This isn’t his fault. Don’t, Silke.”
So Imka knew. Silke snapped her one emotion-laden look. “You should have sent for me.”
“I don’t want him hurt.” Imka burst into tears. Julia followed suit.
The display only agitated Raik more. He bared his teeth and actually growled at his wife and daughter and then threw another punch at Silke.
Imka screamed. “Raik, stop. Silke, you and Tora need to leave. We don’t want you here.”
“Imka, go into the other room. No one is going to hurt Raik. We’re going to help him. You’re making things worse.”
Silke flicked a quick glance to Tora, indicating she needed to keep Imka and Julia from interfering. It would be best if they couldn’t see what was happening. Dealing with demons was never easy, and she couldn’t afford to be distracted.
Tora sent a command to Imka and her daughter. The two locked hands and left the room. Immediately, Tora safeguarded the room, closing the door and sealing every crack and point of entry or exit. At the same time, she safeguarded the windows in the event Raik or the demon tried to break out using that means.
Silke let Raik’s intended punch slide just past her head as she tossed the bottle containing the sacred water into the air. The tube spun and upended, spraying droplets of the water into the air to disperse throughout the room. She raised her crystal sword and colors burst through the room onto the ceiling and walls.
Raik growled and rushed her, lowering his shoulder with theintention of hitting her square in her stomach to knock her off her feet. Silke was ready for the move, gliding aside as she began to chant in a soft, compelling voice. The water spilled over Raik and the pastel colors. The light from the sword mingled with the water, turning the colors into soft watercolors.
Is it possible for you to get inside Raik’s memories and then describe the creature that bit him to me?Silke asked Tora.
No problem.
As always, Tora sounded confident. Silke appreciated her composure, no matter the circumstances, and had worked to emulate that trait.
Silke circled around Raik, keeping him moving, keeping his attention on her as he was forced to keep turning to face her. Each time he looked as if he might attack, the crystals in the sword brightened, blasting toward his face to momentarily take his vision.
