Shayla cleared her throat and continued, “Then there are the Evils. They are demi-angels that have flipped sides. They started out demi-angels like us, but Azazel was able to convince them to join forces with him. Their sole purpose is to get you to join Azazel. They aren’t able to do much more than help the other demons. Azazel absorbs most of their power.” Shayla popped a French fry into her mouth.
“After the Evils are the demi-demons,” Jen said, her hands fisting. “They’re half human like us, but their other parent is a fallen angel—a demon angel. An Irin. Their angel parent chose to give up immortality and live on earth, but instead of serving good, they serve Azazel. They have the same powers we do. This level starts getting dangerous. They are able to fight us on an even playing field. Whatever we can do, they can match. If you are caught alone with a group of demi-demons, it’s very likely they could drag you straight to Azazel.” Jen shuddered. “You definitely need to watch your ass around them.”
I watched Jen as she explained the demi-demons to me. When she’d finished, I asked, “How will I know who they are, the Evils and demi-demons? Do they wear some kind of mark, a rune or tattoo?”
“You won’t,” Chay said quietly from the corner of the room where he sat watching the rest of the group. “They look like any other person, just like we do. Now are you finally starting to get it through your thick skull why you have to be more careful?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I think I’m starting to get it,” I said quietly.
It isn’t simple like in movies or on television. The good guys don’t wear white and the bad guys black. We don’t know who our enemies are until they decide to show themselves, and that’s kinda scaring the hell out of me… or into me, whatever.
“After the demi-demons are your standard-issue demons. They’re strong, ugly, and can inflict more damage than any other demon, except Azazel himself,” Jake said around a mouth full of burger. “You do not want to meet one of those bad boys alone.”
“I’m pretty sure I don’t want to meet any of them,” I said.
“Yeah, none of us do,” Drew murmured, “but unfortunately, we have. Well, all except Azazel. None of us have seen him.” Drew was a nice guy, soft-spoken and very polite. With his wavy, brown hair and chocolate-colored eyes, he was good-looking, too, and judging by how often he stared at her, he had a thing for Muriel. I wondered if she knew and made a mental note to tell her after everyone went home.
“You’ve seen them before?” My eyes swung to Muriel. I couldn’t believe she’d been doing something so dangerous, and I had no idea.
Muriel put her hand up, palm facing me. “Just a few times. Another group of demis lost a lot of their group to Azazel. He converted too many, and they needed extra help. They’d sent for help when our group was small and needed it. So we went.”
I puffed out my checks and blew out a breath to calm myself. Licking my lips, I looked around at everyone’s faces. “Okay, now I know about the demons. What else is there?” I pushed my plate away from me. I’d only taken one bite of my burger and ate few fries. My stomach was churning thinking of all the dangers we faced.
This seems like we’re fighting a losing battle. There’s so many of them and just ten of us… not the best odds.
“Hello?” Jake waved his hand in front of my face. “Earth calling Milayna. Are you gonna eat your burger?” I shook my head, and he grabbed my plate, digging into the burger like he hadn’t just eaten two.
“Are you okay? You kinda zoned out there for a minute.” Muriel looked at me. The skin between her eyebrows wrinkled.
“Yeah, I’m good. Just tryin’ to let everything soak in, that’s all.” I tried to smile, but I wasn’t sure I pulled it off.
“Basically, it boils down to this,” Steven said, spinning his Coke can in circles on the table. “Azazel wants you to become one of his Evils, and he’s gonna do anything and use anybody to get to you. You equal power for him. A lot of power. And he wants it.”
“And if he doesn’t get it?” Every muscle in my body tensed, waiting for the answer. I was like a rubber band that was pulled back and ready to be shot across the room.
“He’ll kill you,” Chay said, tossing his half-eaten burger on his plate.
Yeah, that’s what I thought. I’m really not amenable with that option.