Across the room, three demons were converging on Mindy, who had taken off her jacket and was using it as a flail. Jared practically flew to her side, then pulled her out of their converging circle as Allie swooped in and—with one graceful move—used the sword Eric tossed her to spin in a circle and remove three heads in one efficient maneuver.
“Gramps!” she called to Eddie, but Bruce was already hurrying to his side. Eddie waved him off. “I’ve got it, I’ve got it,” he said, then proved his point by shoving his favorite stiletto deep into the beast’s eye.
As for me, I was cursing myself for not having my favorite stiletto on me. Usually, it was always at my side, but I guess being at the academy had given me a false sense of security.
Never again.
I assessed the situation, then saw a demon getting past Cutter, who was holding off a cluster of demons snarling at Laura.
“He’s heading for Stuart!” I called. I was still on the far side of the room, but there was no one else who wasn’t already wrestling a demon. Even Bruce was fighting alongside Ana and Ren.
Cursing and terrified, I raced that way, certain this must be all about Stuart, and knowing with absolute certainty that neither Nancy nor Rita were any match for the demon. Not even with the taser I knew Rita kept in her purse.
But I shouldn’t have worried. I heard the howls behind me, and paused just long enough to look over my shoulder. I gasped at the slaughter I saw. A room full of dead demons, and my daughter looking triumphant as she used Jared’s knife to take down the last one that had turned its attention on Eliza.
A moment later, Allie had retrieved the knife and was sending it flying toward the demon on the stairs. Its back was to her, but the knife lodged in its neck, making it stumble. It growled, then turned—and Allie was right there, having practically flown past me to the demon’s side, even managing to catch the stiletto that Eddie tossed her in the process.
She used the knife to impale the demon. It howled, then collapsed, and everyone in the room turned and looked at Allie.
She shrugged, looking sheepish. “What? I’ve been training, okay?”
“I guess so,” Ren said, awe in his voice.
“Holy crap,” Ana added. “If I can learn to do even half that, that would be seriously cool.”
“Yeah, well, we’ll work on it,” Allie said, her eyes finding Mindy, who shot her two thumbs up.
“So, um, dorms? Want me to lead the way?”
“Great idea,” I told her. “We’ll get this cleaned up, then text you when we’re ready for pizza and the movie.” I turned my attention to Mindy. “Get everyone on a group text, okay?”
“Sure thing,” she said, as if this was just another day. Honestly, it pretty much was. Another demon attacking our home. Another battle to fight it back.
What’s that saying about familiarity breeding contempt? I’m pretty sure it applied to demons.
“Um, excuse me?” Ana’s hand went into the air.
“Yes?”
“How are you going to clean that up?” She nodded at the pile of demon carcasses.
I met Eric’s eyes. “That’s a lesson for another day. Trust me. Not before pizza.”
Ana nodded, then turned quickly away. Allie shot me a grin, then she and Eliza took the lead as they headed toward the dorms. Mindy hung back, then raced to Laura for a hug. “Love you, Mom.”
“You, too, baby,” she said, before Mindy hurried to catch up. “Can we please not do that again,” Laura said once Mindy was out of earshot.
“I’ll second that,” I said, and the others nodded.
Nobody moved toward a body. Not that I blamed them. I wasn’t moving either.
“Looks like Bruce will be an asset,” Laura said.
Cutter shrugged. “Seems a little arrogant.”
“So are you,” Laura teased.
I laughed. “Score one for the girls’ team.”
