Authors: Cindi Madsen
All of a sudden, Jax’s stomach clenched and all the hairs on his arm prickled. Even from several states away, he could sense that Persephone was in trouble.
***
Persephone hated to steal, but there was that whole desperate times, desperate measures thing. And her attempt to get back home was definitely going to be desperate. Hood up, head down, she got ready for her first attempt at unarmed robbery.
The guy working the counter of Collector’s Edge had his attention on a display, and even better, he was alone. One swift kick to the head and he crumpled to the floor. Persephone dragged him behind the counter where he wouldn’t be easily spotted, tossed all the money left in her wallet next to him, and retrieved the key to the glass case. Making sure to keep her face away from the camera, she armed herself with an assortment of knives. The samurai sword on the bottom shelf caught her eye.
Most little stores like this carried junky, dull blades for show. Not this one. The words
display only
in bold print ran next to the curved katana. Lifting it, she took note of the fine craftsmanship. Black, cord-wrapped hardwood handle and a gleaming blade with a razor sharp edge. With a weapon like this, she might just have a fighting chance.
I’ll bring it back. Granted I live through what I’m about to do, of course.
She tossed the key on top of the money and slunk out of the store, keeping the sword tucked next to her. At least not many people were at the mall late Monday night. The demons were still out, though, watching and waiting.
In addition to feeling them, she could now see several sets of red eyes through the glass exit doors.
All I’ve got to do is make it to the car.
Hopefully, the demons would try to follow her, getting them away from the innocent bystanders. Then she could lose them and make her way to her protected house.
Steeling herself for what was sure to be the most challenging fight of her life, Persephone took out the sword and gripped the handle so hard the cords dug into her palm.
Here’s hoping all that training I did with Jax pays off
.
Heart thumping a million-miles-a-minute, she pushed out the glass doors.
Cool air hit her face and glowing red eyes focused on her. The demon standing in front smiled, displaying his jagged teeth.
Persephone pointed the samurai sword at him. “Why don’t you come a little closer so I can wipe that smile off your ugly face.”
The demon didn’t waste any time granting her request. Persephone took a large step forward and swung the katana. The blade glided through his thick hide with an ease she’d never experienced before.
A blow to her right side caught her by surprise. She spun and sliced off the creature’s arm. Demons closed in on her from all directions. She hacked at them as they came, swinging until her shoulder ached. Their warm blood splattered her arms and face. Still they came, massive demons that loomed over her. As soon as she’d take out one, another would appear.
Claws raked down her back. The next swipe cut deep scratches into her shoulder and the sword fell to the ground with a clang. The scent of decaying flesh filled the air.
She grabbed at the nearest demon and put him in a headlock. He straightened, clawing at her arms, and she squeezed tighter. Another demon came at them. Keeping her grip on the first creature’s thick neck, she ran up the other body and flipped over backward. The crack of the demon’s spine echoed through the air, and his body went limp.
Demons circled her. She grabbed one’s shoulders and yanked down as she brought her knee into his nose, then kicked back and took out one of the beasts behind her.
The handle of the sword caught her eye. She swooped down and retrieved it. Crouching low, she swung, slicing at legs. An opening appeared and she dove for it. Her car was only a few rows away.
Pushing herself as hard as she could, Persephone ran. She heard them behind her, coming fast. Keeping her grip on the sword, she dug the other hand into her pocket. Her fingers wrapped around the car remote. She ran her thumb down it until she found the right button. The lights flashed as the locks disengaged.
Just a little further.
“Persephone?” Dean’s voice made her stop dead in her tracks. She whipped her head from side to side, searching for him.
He was standing off to her left, the next row over. “What’s up? Why’d I have to get Danielle if—”
His eyebrows shot up. “What the hell happened to you?”
Persephone ran over to him and linked her arm through his. “Hell pretty much describes it. Where’s your car?”
“Um, you’ve got a sword,” Dean said, pointing at it.
“The car, Dean! Where’s the car?” She ran, dragging him with her, worrying she was going in the wrong direction.
Two demons blocked the path, and it no longer mattered. Chills ran down her spine as one of their ear-shattering war-cries pierced the air. She started to back away, but four more demons stepped behind them—she and Dean were surrounded. On the bright side, three were limping. A pathetic silver lining, but she’d take what she could get.
Persephone raised her blade, sticking close to Dean. “If you get the chance, run.”
All the color had drained from Dean’s face. “That scream—it didn’t even sound human.” His fingers wrapped around her arm, and she could hear his breaths sawing in and out of his mouth. “I don’t understand what’s going on. Why are these men circling us? Who are they? What do they want?”
How to explain to Dean these weren’t men, but evil creatures who projected themselves as men? Simple. She couldn’t. Not while they were surrounded and in very real danger of dying, anyway.
“I’m afraid I don’t have time to explain.”
And I’m afraid I’m out of good ideas.
“What you need to know now is that these are all bad guys. The worst kind of bad.”
Man, I wish Jax was here.
Persephone looked to the heavens. “Athena, if you could spare a few seconds, I could really use some help.”
The demons moved closer, tightening the circle.
Lightning tore through the sky. The bolt split, striking two of the creatures.
Persephone swung her sword, slashing wildly at anything besides Dean that moved. Two went down easily. Two remained. Every muscle in Persephone’s body was exhausted, screaming for a break.
Yelling, she charged again, ramming the blade into the nearest creature’s stomach just as large arms encircled her from behind. Her feet left the ground as the demon lifted her. With her arms pinned, she couldn’t raise the katana high enough to do any damage. He spun her around and slammed her against a nearby SUV.
The world separated into two of everything, and she struggled for air. Blood ran from the cuts on her arms, and her grip on the hilt of her weapon slipped. He slammed her again, and the sword clattered against the pavement.
A caustic grin spread across the demon’s face as he pulled her to him. “Don’t worry. Soon you’ll realize there’s nothing to fight.”
Persephone’s fingers groped at the waistband of her jeans. Finally, she found what she was looking for. She whipped out the knife and jammed it into the demon’s throat.
He dropped her as his hands shot to his neck, grasping for the knife’s handle.
“Dean, run!”
He didn’t have to be told twice.
Persephone retrieved the katana from the ground. Her lungs and legs burned, but she pushed forward. “Get to your car and—”
“No way,” Dean said, running alongside of her. “I’m not leaving you now.”
With no time to argue, she gave in. They reached her car and climbed inside. The tires squealed as she reversed the car out of the space. “Call Danielle. Tell her to get to the exit as fast as she can.”
Dean made the call.
As soon as the car neared the main exit, Dean hopped out and yanked his sister into it.
“Geez!” Danielle swatted at Dean’s arm. “What’s going on? You guys are acting all whacked out and—” She screamed, and Persephone whipped her head forward.
The headlights lit up the demon in the road. He dropped his projection, revealing himself for what he really was. Danielle’s scream grew.
Persephone slammed down the gas pedal and barreled into him. The demon clawed at the hood, getting a grip on the top of it. Persephone swerved, but the beast remained. She unrolled the window and shouted to Dean. “Take the wheel!”
Dean slid next to her and gripped the wheel. Persephone pulled out the knife she’d tucked into her pocket. Her hair whipped behind her as she stuck her head out the window. Squinting against the wind, she plunged the knife into the gray, knotted hand.
He jerked his hand away and Persephone slipped. Dean clamped onto her leg, barely keeping her from falling out.
The demon lunged for her, but she got a fistful of his hair and slammed his head into the windshield. Cracks spiderwebbed out and Persephone swore. Anger fueling her, she slammed his head again—this time on the hood—and his body went limp.
The grip on her ankle tightened. Dean swerved and the demon rolled off, making a loud thud as it hit the pavement.
Persephone slid back into the car and took the wheel, taking big gulps of air to make up for the ones she’d missed.
“I think I’m having a bad dream. I’ll just wake up and it’ll all go away.” Danielle blinked. Then she pinched herself, and her mouth twisted into a frown. “It’s not going away.”
“You going to tell us what’s going on?” Dean asked.
Persephone glanced in her rearview mirror. “It’s a long story, but right now it boils down to demons are real, and they’re after me.”
Danielle shot forward, an incredulous look frozen on her face. “That…that was a…?” Her skin paled, and her body slumped forward.
“Um,” Persephone said, glancing at the road, and then back to Danielle. “I think she just fainted.”
***
Relief washed over Jax as the awful feeling in his gut faded. Whatever was going on with Persephone, she’d made it out okay. But he had a sinking feeling she wouldn’t be okay for long. He looked out the window of the truck, up at the inky sky.
So much for her promise not to go out after dark. I should’ve known she was too stubborn to listen.
“Can’t we go any faster?” Jax asked. He’d been unable to focus on anything but Persephone and the fact that he felt physically ill over whatever was happening to her, so he’d let Mom drive. Maybe he should’ve tried to get a flight. Of course, homeless and down and out, pretty much described his family’s current financial situation which meant flying was out. But the sixteen hour trip—which would end up being more like a day and a half with stops—was going to be torturous.
Mom glanced at him. “I’m going as fast as I dare. It’s not going to help anyone if we wreck and die on the way to save her.”
“Well if we get there too late, it’s not going to matter what else happens.” He didn’t know if it mattered if they got there on time. They had a caravan of injured people, most of them nowhere close to prepared to fight.
He hoped other Warriors would get the message and meet them in New Orleans. With or without them, though, he was amping himself up for a big fight. He was meant to protect Persephone, and he planned on doing exactly that.
Just hang on a little longer, babe. I’m coming for you, and then we’ll figure out a way to make it out of this mess.
***