I drop the offending object and take a colossal step away from it. What. The. Hell.
“I see you got my gift.” An unfamiliar voice sounds from behind me, and I spin around to come face to face with a creature that’s undoubtedly an upper-echelon demon.
At first glance he appears human. Chiseled cheekbones, raven hair, devastating smile—it’s all there. But I know what to look for. That shimmery glamour just at the edges gives him away. If I focus for just a few seconds on that shimmer, it’ll start to fade away and the demon’s true identity will be revealed. This particular demon is strong. After several seconds of trying to uncover the glamour, I’m only able to capture glimpses.
“Who are you?” I ask, grabbing for Solis.
The demon tsks. “Is that any way to repay me? I think a thank you is in order.”
I do the most unladylike thing I can think of and spit at his feet. “There’s your thank you, demon.”
“I’m going to enjoy enslaving you,” he sneers. “I see why Lucifer is so taken with you. You truly are a rare beauty.”
Definitely top rank, if he knows my past with Lucifer.
“Good luck. You have no idea how much trouble you’re in. Coming for me alone? Big mistake.”
He chortles. “You think I came alone? Oh, no. I brought friends.”
He whistles, and the shadows all around me start to form into creatures that get uglier as they materialize.
He brought a horde, and that isn’t good for me.
HELP
I’m completely surrounded. Solis is with me and I’m powered up, but even I would have a hard time taking on this many demons. Demons who are at the mercy of one of Satan’s chief demons.
“Lucifer,” I scream, hoping he’ll come to my aid again.
“He can’t hear you, but feel free to scream all you want.” His eyes darken until they’re completely black. “I live off the fear. Run, little angel. The chase is my favorite part.”
His wicked sneer would typically garner one of my own. Egotistical demons are usually the easiest to take down, but I know that this time, that won’t be the case. This situation isn’t impossible, but it’s going to test my strength more than it’s been tested since falling.
Demons are notorious liars, so I disregard his warning and yell out for Lucifer again.
“Like I said, he can’t hear you.” He taps on a gaudy oval sapphire hanging around his neck.
“Witches.”
“Very powerful witches.”
“They’ll eventually turn on you. Witches have their own agenda. Always.”
He taps his chin like he’s contemplating my words, but soon, a Cheshire-cat grin spreads across his wickedly handsome glamoured face. “You aren’t wrong. It’s the coven leader’s heart in that box. I figured you’d like to eat the heart of the witch that single-handedly doomed Earth.”
I cringe. “Pass. But thank you.”
“Such manners,” he says, walking closer.
His hand shoots forward, and I crouch, but his action only causes the box to lift into the air and fly into his outstretched arms.
“We’re not going to waste a perfectly good heart.”
He puts the bloody organ to his mouth and inhales deeply before taking a bite out of it. I turn my head away in disgust.
“Between the power that Lucifer bestowed upon me and this charm, even Lucy himself won’t hear your call before you’re in my control.” I turn my head back to the demon.
“What do you want with me?”
