“Ahhh.”
I turn around just in time to see a screaming Sully being dragged inside one of the rooms. I follow, shooting both arrows as I pass the threshold. They hit the two men who were waiting for me. There are four more inside, pointing their guns at me. But I already have another arrow pointed at the woman holding Sully in front of her. My blood turns to ice as I recognize those dead light blue eyes. Nine is holding a knife to my little chick’s throat,long, red nails gripping his hair, forcing his head back. She is smirking malevolently at me.
“Eight,” she calls me. “A mask.” A chuckle leaves her red lips. “Clever. That’s how you hid from me.”
Noodle jumps out of Sully’s hoodie and tries to bite her hand. But Nine lets go of Sully’s hair and quickly snatches the ferret before it can. Then she hurls it to the floor. The animal whimpers as it hits the hardwood surface, and then remains still.
“Noodle! You bitch!” Sully screams, trying to get free, but she pushes the blade against his throat, silencing him. I see blood sliding down his precious skin.
My chest shakes with anger. “I’m the only one who can make him bleed,” I hiss. My eyes narrow as I prepare my shot.
“Do you really think that your arrow will kill me before I slash his throat?” She sneers, nuzzling his hair. I crack my neck as I imagine breaking her nose with my forehead and then ripping off all her clawed fingers. “He smells good. Mm. I should have my dogs get a taste of him.”
“You should have run when you had the chance,” I grunt.
Her men are still aiming their guns at me.
If I fire the arrow and hit her, I know there’s a possibility that she could kill Sully. But she is going to kill him anyway, I can see it in her eyes. The desire for blood and pain. My pain. I need time to find an opening of some kind.
I keep the target in my sight as she says, “Run?” A bitter laugh leaves her lips. “And miss all the fun? It was time for us to meet, don’t you think?”
My eyes find Sully’s, and he looks frightened. His chest heaving, gaze filled with tears, lips parted, trying to mouth something I can’t understand. I’ll gut her, pull all her organs out one by one, and let her beg for air.
“Why?” My tone is as cold as ice.
I hear footsteps behind me. But I don’t turn around wanting to keep my attention on Sully.
“Oh, you brought the others. Well done.” Nine seems even more excited. “Just in time. Now kneel.”
Raphael snorts, while Uriel scoffs. They are all here except Linda. They are forming a half circle in front of her. Hunter, Ramiel, and Uriel are pointing their guns at her men.
“I’m not joking.” She yanks Sully’s hair, making him cry out. The blade presses a little further into his throat, making Oliver take half a step forward as I grit my teeth.
“Stay, or he gets it.” She is talking to us like one would a dog.
“Looks like we are at an impasse,” Michael states.
Sully is staring at his brother now. They are having one of their silent conversations, but for once, I’m not irritated by it.
“Lori, you are always fucking talking!” Oliver suddenly glares at him.
Lori frowns, then chuckles, turning toward Nine. “How can we be at an impasse with a bird turd.”
“Excuse me?” Nine glares murderously at him.
“I expected a goddess of death, a princess of revenge, instead I’m faced with the stinkiest shit a dog could ever make.”
“You insect, you will die under my boots.” Nine growls.
Bezaliel’s growl threatens her back.
Lori keeps yapping. “Ugh. Those boots?” He points at the ones she is wearing. “They’re hideous. Where did you get them from? The Salvation Army?”
“Do you think I’m bluffing?” she snarls. I see what Lori is doing. What he does best, pushing people’s buttons.
“I think you are pathetic, ugly, stinky, delusional…” Lori keeps going, just as I see Sully slightly nodding at Oliver. He looks straight at me, before suddenly grabbing Nine’s wrist with one hand—to hold the knife still on his neck—while the other falls on her leg, stabbing it with a small red blade.
As soon as I see the knife moving away from Sully’s neck, I pull and release the arrow. It spears her shoulder, making her stumble a step backward and grit her teeth. I shoot another one, which joins the first. Sully is still in the way, and I don’t want to hit him. She is used to pain, so a grunt is the only sound leaving her lips.
