“These aren’t your run-of-the-mill humans,” Jacques points out as if I don’t know. “Controlling this many ghouls means the sender is powerful.”
I look out at the yard, wondering what the fuck I’m going to do with the bodies. “If they’re so powerful, why not come after me themselves?”
Jacques shakes his head, not sure. “Maybe they wanted to test you. Or have you killed while keeping their hands clean.”
“So you think it could be a human and not a demon?”
“Many demons live as if they are human. They’re able to sink their claws into more people if they can blend.”
“Demons are just lovely,” I say, shaking my head and looking at the skyline. They came at the perfect time too…almost as if whoever sent them knew once the sun rose I’d be screwed. My magic was blocked, and my line of defense will be turned into stone in less than five minutes.
Were they expecting the fight to last longer? If they want to kill me, they’re gonna have to try harder than that, and I have a feeling they will. We walk back to the porch, knowing our time is coming to an end.
Thomas and Gilbert come out of the house, shutting the front door behind them. It’s a moot point since my living room window is smashed in. I’m tired. Bleeding. There are ghoul bodies all over my house and yard. And now I need to board up that fucking window before going to work.
“We didn’t see anything in the house,” Thomas says. “I’d look longer but…”
“Go,” I tell them, and hold up the iron fire poker. “If any are left, I got this.”
“You’re badass, Ace,” Gilbert says with a smile, but it quickly fades. “I hate leaving you.”
“You’re not really going anywhere,” I shoot back, not wanting to think about it. They’re here. Within arm’s reach. But they can’t do a damn thing if I’m in danger. It’s so frustrating and so fucking unfair. I need to break this curse.
“Be careful,” Hasan tells me, and takes to the sky, landing on the roof. Thomas and Gilbert go to their spots on the front porch, and I walk around the front of the house with Jacques, hoping to get one or two more questions about ghouls answered before he turns to stone.
I set the fire poker down and bend one foot up to brush gravel from the bottom. Jacques keeps walking, needing to get to his spot before the sun rises. Suddenly, he stops and whirls around, his movements slowed by the sun.
I turn, going for the fire poker, but it’s too late. A ghoul runs along the roof of the porch, holding a sharp and bloodied spear. It’s bigger than the others, and its eyes glow bright amber instead of red.
It lets out a screech, and the sound reverberates through me, making my vision blur. I know I have to move, but the dizziness hits hard and I stumble, falling back and whacking my head against the cobblestone. Pain shoots through me, shocking me and rendering me paralyzed for a few seconds.
My mouth opensand my hands slip as I try to move out of the way. Jacques throws himself in front of me, pulling his wings over his body to try and act as a shield. The spear slashes through Jacques’s wings and hits him hard in the chest. He rolls off me, landing hard on his back. The ghoul jumps down, landing just yards from us.
“Jac!” I scream, scrambling to my feet. The ghoul hisses, fangs showing and amber eyes glowing in the early morning twilight. It bends down and sinks its teeth into Jacques’s arm.
“Get away from him!” I scream, and heat rushes through me, erupting from my heart. Flames ignite from my fingers, and my entire hands are swallowed by red-hot fire. I throw my hand forward, and the flames grow. The heat is so intense it almost hurts.
Good.
My feet leave the ground and I tackle the ghoul, wrapping my hands around its throat. I scream out of anger and fear, and the ghoul slashes its claws at me, scratching my cheek.
The ghoul catches fire and I let go, tripping over my own feet in my desperate attempt to get to Jac. He’s trying to get up, with one hand pinned to his body and the other trying to pull the spear out.
“Ace,” he grunts, and his movements slow. The sun is almost up, and his skin is taking on a gray pallor. I clench my fists and put out the flames.
“No, no, no,” I cry, and put one hand on his chest. “It’s going to be okay.”
“You’re okay,” he says, and stops struggling. “That’s all that matters.”
“Don’t talk like that.” I grit my teeth and grab the spear with both hands. “This might hurt.”
Jacques turns away, bracing himself. I yank the spear free, and he falls to the ground. Blood spills out around him, staining the cobblestone beneath us. I drop to my knees, tears filling my eyes, and slip one hand under his head. He’s turning to stone right before my eyes, and there’s nothing I can do to stop the bleeding.
“I don’t know what to do,” I cry, and my tears splash down onto his chest.
Jacques’s eyes flutter closed, and he becomes completely still.
“Jac!” I bend down, burying my head against his neck. The heat is leaving his body just as fast as the blood. I can’t lose him. My heart can’t handle the death of another loved one. “Jac!”
