The hairs on the back of his neck rose as he felt the hand of unsavory evil prowling toward the tavern.
Scowling, Will glanced about. “Do you feel that?”
“Aye. It’s come ashore as I said it would.” And headed for the largest gathering of victims … just as Devyl had also predicted.
Meanwhile, the humans in the tavern went on, oblivious to the malignant force that was headed for them.
Devyl rose, intending to keep them in their ignorance. But he only made it halfway to the door before it opened and three plat-eyes came in, wearing the skin of regular sailors.
Will pulled up short behind him. “Sailors from the downed fleet?” he whispered in Devyl’s ear.
Devyl gave a subtle nod as he debated how best to deal with the unholy bastards who’d come to feast on the innocent and take their souls back to feed their mistress. Part of being a bound Hellchaser was to let no one know that neither he nor Will had come to battle these demons.
Unfortunately, the plat-eyes didn’t have a Code they were tied to. They passed an evil grin to one another, then went on a vicious attack that resulted in the three humans closest to them being ripped to shreds.
Utter chaos exploded as the humans sought cover and escape.
Devyl cursed as he was forced against the wall by the tidal wave of terrified humans who were hysterical over being trapped inside by inhuman predators. With their preternatural abilities, the plat-eyes had sealed the door so that no one could flee them.
They thought to feast tonight.
Groaning and shoving at a drunken male who was trying to reach a window, Will made it back to his side. “What do we do, sir? I can’t get near them for the crowd.”
Devyl pulled his coat off with a flourish, then handed it to his quartermaster. “Have I ever said how much I detest the sound of screaming humanity?”
“Really? Rumor has it, it was once your most cherished melody.”
Hitting the release for his sling bow, Devyl passed an annoyed grimace to him. “Nay, the sweetest music to my ears has always been the death gurgle of an enemy slain at my feet as he gasps his last breath.” Completely calm, he loaded the small bolt and released it straight into the skull of the nearest plat-eye.
The beast fell back and exploded into a black cloud.
Stunned, the other two turned to gape at Devyl. Then they must have realized who and what they faced.
Their eyes widened in unison before they shifted into wolf form and ran for the door.
But Devyl’s power was greater than theirs and he held them inside.
Will grinned. “That got their attention, Captain.”
As soon as the plat-eyes realized they couldn’t escape, they shifted into their true hideous demonic bodies. Then they each split into three more beasts to attack.
Will cursed. “Vulnerable spot?”
“Between the eyes. Decapitation.” Devyl caught the first one to reach him and twisted his head off. “But it won’t kill them.”
“Pardon?” Will visibly paled.
He took out two more before he turned to face the man. “Creatures of vengeance and lapdogs. These are shadow manifestations.” He caught a fourth one with his knife and drove it straight through its skull. “To kill them for good, we have to find the bodies they assumed when they entered this realm and destroy them.”
Will growled before he drew his sword and dispatched the one that came at his back. “I hate me job, Captain.”
Devyl finished off the last, then quickly spread a compound of yew, salt, and ground jasper over the doorframe. That would keep more plat-eyes from coming inside to prey here again.
Will retrieved Devyl’s coat and rushed to join him as the crowd began to realize the danger had passed. Now, they wanted answers neither of them was at liberty to give. And before the crowd could compose themselves further, Devyl and Will made a fast exit.
Outside the tavern, the moon had turned an eerie bloodred, and clouds hung thick in the sky, making it even darker.
Handing the coat to Devyl, Will grimaced. “So those are not the beasts we seek either?”
