“Don’t even think about it. I’m not afraid to use this on you.”
“You’d hurt your friend?” He asks, taking a step towards me. I raise my bat higher. I watched my ex get killed today, I could certainly smack this demon if I needed to.
“Don’t test me.” I say just as I see a blur of light from my periphery. “Get ready, they’re coming.”
“Yes, but they’re not alone. Close the door, princess. Now!”
“No!” I stand in front of the hidden lever and raise my bat.
“Skye! Watch out!” Graham yells out, his hand waving wildly with Lukas hot on his heels. I glance over my shoulder and see my friends barreling towards us, a demon dog running at full speed right towards us all.
ChapterForty-Seven
SALEM
SONG: LEGENDS ARE MADE BY SAM TINNESZ
Ithink I’ve gone nose-blind to the stench, because I don’t even notice the smell that was at first so overwhelmingly pungent. I take in a gulp of air as I run, a stitch forms in my side as my feet carry me up the dark tunnel. Our flashlights flicker over the ground, barely illuminating the way.
“Skye! Open the door!” Garrison cries out into the walkie.
The ground shakes beneath our feet as the demon dog gets closer.
Walker is right behind me, shielding me from the creature, which is comical because between the two of us, I have the better chance of besting it.
The creak of the door opening ahead fills me with relief. They heard us.
One hundred feet, give or take, separates us from the door. I pump everything I have into my legs. They feel heavy, like they’re moving far too slow to make it out of here.
Graham and Lukas are the first to make it through the door.
Emmet collides with my side as we run, making me slip. I fall hard and Walker goes down with me. His body crumples on top of me with the momentum. I groan. My wrists bite into the ground as I try to get Walker off my back.
There’s no way that Emmet did that on accident. Fucker.
Walker scrambles to stand, going to yank me up when the creature knocks him off me in one fell swoop of its horned head. I stare up at the black leathery figure as it rears up on its hind legs.
I ready my magic, pulling it to me as the dog crawls over me, its fangs bared.
As I’m about to roast the shit out of it, it opens its mouth and licks my leg, putting its head down in submission.
I stay frozen, not sure what to do.
Walker groans, sitting up and scrambling to his feet when he sees the demon dog towering over me. As soon as the demon dog sees him, it begins to growl, standing between myself and Walker.
“No, no, no.” I say, holding up my hands. The demon dog looks back at me, crooking its head. I stand, hands raised, ready to flambé it if it decides to attack us.
It lifts a gnarled paw at me, and I reach out to touch it. I don’t know why, but I feel like we can trust each other.
“What are you doing?” Walker asks with alarm.
“Shh. Don’t scare it.”
“Salem, this isn’t some stray.” The demon dog snaps its head at Walker. I place my hand on its paw and cross my fingers that this thing doesn’t try to eat me. I’m betting on my instincts here, hoping I’m right once again.
As soon as we connect, the demon dog whimpers, putting its paw down and placing its head at my feet.
“What the fuck?” Walker asks, taking in the scene.
