Page 58 of Greed

She crawled as far as she could, with a tentacle still wrapped around her ankle. She gripped the closest rock she could find and lifted it above her head. Her arms shook, but her aim was true as it slammed down onto the disgusting thing. The long tentacle let go as Syliss’s body convulsed on the ground, black foam bubbling out of his mouth.

Not knowing if the little pen would actually kill him, she stumbled to her feet. Feeling a draft, she realized that her pants had ripped during the struggle, leaving her with them hanging open and flapping as she moved.

Reaching down, she grabbed the sides and pulled, finishing the rip around her leg, giving her the ugliest bootie shorts ever. Dropping the material, she ran for the lights she’d seen. She didn’t make it very far when something crashed in the dark forest beside her. She pumped her arms hard as she tried to get away, but the yellow-eyed demon jumped out into her path.

She skidded to a halt, almost falling on her ass once more. He looked like he was part cat and part scorpion with strange spikes all over his head. She stared at him for a moment as her eyes tried to make sense of what she was seeing. Minetta looked behind her only to see Morris on all fours, his body as black as his eyes, step out on the bank behind her.

“You got much further than I gave you credit for,” the yellow-eyed demon said. “It’s a shame we have to kill you. I’d have enjoyed playing this game with you again.”

“Well, that only makes one of us,” she said, his cat face pulling up in a strange smile.

Movement in the forest to her left and on the other side of the bank confirmed that she was indeed surrounded. This was not how she pictured her death, and it was not how she feared she would die.

Wrapping her arms around herself, she closed her eyes. If she was going to die, she didn’t want to see it coming.

There was the sound of a loud snarl, and her body tensed for the impact, but nothing hit her.

“Run!”

Her eyes snapped open at the sound of Penny’s voice. She was as she’d seen her at her house, except now she had bright, fiery, red wings that looked like rubies glittering in the dark. Her unearthly sword had cut the demon across the bank, the body bursting into flames as Penny floated toward her, Morris, and the other two remaining demons. She was beautiful. Her pale skin looked like porcelain, her eyes glowing orange as her vibrant red hair floated around her shoulders. For a demon, she was breathtaking.

“I can’t leave you to fight them on your own,” she said.

Penny looked at her and smiled. “Do you think you can take on one of them?” A graceful eyebrow lifted up.

“I took that one out,” she pointed back the way she’d come and watched in horror as Syliss stumbled to his feet. “Or, maybe not,” she mumbled, stepping behind Penny.

“You’re a traitor,” the yellow-eyed demon growled.

“Run, Minny, and don’t stop, not for any reason.” Minetta stared into her friend’s face and then grabbed her arm, giving it a quick squeeze.

“Thank you,” she said. Doing as she was told, she bolted along the bank away from the action.

Snarling and roaring sounds grew louder behind her, but she didn’t dare look. Penny said not to stop, but with each footfall, the guilt of leaving Penny behind to defend her clawed at her soul.

A woman’s yell of pain sounded, and unable to help herself, she spun around to see Penny being held up by her throat by none other than Michael. The angel glowed in the darkness like a miniature moon. His massive, white wings were spread wide. His chest was bare except for a few straps of white leather that showed off his toned chest. His blonde hair floated behind him like a breeze was blowing while his blue eyes glowed. It took her a moment to get over the initial shock of seeing him in his natural form. Even knowing what he was, didn’t stop the astonishment.

There was only one demon left, and it was running in her direction. But it was the smoke rising around Michael’s hand as he effortlessly held Penny off the ground that scared her. She ducked as the demon leaped over her and continued to run away from the famous archangel. Michael lifted a great long sword in the air, and at first, she thought he was going to strike Penny down with it.

A silent scream ripped from Minetta’s throat as she lunged forward. Without even looking Michael threw the long sword and she watched in awe as the shining, glowing blade spun end over end as it sailed above her head. It was with mixed fascination and horror she stared as the sword sunk deep into the last demon’s back, the thing bursting into ash instantly.

Shaking her head to rid it of the million questions she wanted to be answered, she ran for Michael and Penny.

“No,” Minetta screamed at the top of her lungs. Her muscles began to seize and revolt—her tired and unstable legs screamed in pain, but she ordered herself to keep going. She was reduced to hobbling but kept moving as Michael shook Penny by her throat and then threw her off to the side. Penny slammed into a large tree, the impact so loud it sounded like a shotgun had just gone off. Wood splintered and fell to the ground as Penny slid to her ass. She didn’t see Michael move, but in the blink of an eye, he had Penny held up by the throat again and pressed against the tree. Penny’s eyes were wide as she smacked at his unwavering arm.

Minetta screamed for him to put Penny down, but he didn’t even glance at her.

Penny’s eyes swung in her direction, and sadness mixed with undeniable fear lay bare.“Put her down, you fucking asshole,” Minny yelled. She was angry enough to spit nails.

That got his attention.

Michael’s head turned in her direction, and she bent to grab a handful of mud and hurled it at Michael as hard as she could. He may have been one of the good guys, but as his glowing blue eyes met hers, all she felt was cold fear. A cool power drifted over her skin and made goosebumps rise on her body. He looked at the small splat of mud that hit his side. It was the only thing to mar his glowing perfection.

Her anger beat back any trepidation that was in her chest as she continued to stumble on weak legs toward him with another handful of mud.

“Let her go! I mean it, you pompous asshat! Drop my friend right this minute, or you will have to deal with me!” Her fists clenched as she stared into the blue eyes, slowly losing their brilliant glow.

Michael laughed a hearty sound that shook the leaves on the trees. Penny stared at her with wide-eyed horror. It probably was the stupidest thing she’d ever done, knowing what he could do to her, but she didn’t care. She wasn’t leaving Penny.